The Year 2015

2015 in a nutshell.

The year 2015 started off with a chorus of lovely fireworks, accompanied by good company. I have traveled quite a fair bit for the year as well - Korea, Bangkok and trips to Singapore. Having experienced an end of a relationship during the first quarter of the year, I am glad and fortunate that I have met some of the loveliest people thereafter. It's part and parcel of fate playing its part in life. 

Overall, I would say that 2015 has been a very great year. On track with goals in life, fit and healthy (despite the occasional overeating), closer knit between family members, adorable Kitty is still around, friends are healthy, happy that I own a wonderful place called home, have a lovely housemate, made some really great friends, expended my network, and having a very healthy balance sheet.

For 2016, my resolutions are keeping my goals on track, stay fit and healthy, wishing Kitty will continue be healthy and live to a ripe old age, fostering an even closer relationship with family and friends, continue making new great friends and maintaining a healthy balance sheet. My wishes for 2016 would be: achieving the stated resolutions, may my family and friends stay healthy as ever and Kitty living to a ripe old age.

Looking forward to an awesome and shining new year - bring it on, 2016!

 

Brussels

My friend and I decided on a random trip to Brussels on the 22nd - 25th October this year. The trip was really random as I was browsing through Ryan Air flights and found return tickets for around €30 per person. So our trip was decided in a flash. It was an approx. 2 hour flight from Milan Bergamo to Brussels Charleroi airport. Upon reaching, we queued for bus tickets to the city - Midi train station and before it was our turn to purchase the tickets, a nice lady came over and asked if we'd prefer to share a 8-person taxi to the city - Midi train station (as it costs the same as taking the bus). So she managed to gather 5 other travellers and off - us the group of 8 negotiating with the taxi driver. 

First photo taken at Brussels Bourse station 

Brussels Stock Exchange

With one of the comic paintings on the wall

We had lunch at Chez Leon Restaurant. Highly recommended! The mussels were so fresh, tasty, good service and atmosphere and the price was very reasonable. A pot of mussels, frites (fries) and house beer costs less than €15. It's located at 18 Rue de Bouchers. Do take note though, that while walking towards Chez Leon Restaurant, you'll pass by dozens of other restaurants and the staffs will take every opportunity to grab customers.

Menu

My pot of mussels. SO MUCH LOVE. YUMS!

At Grand Place/Grote Market

Then we bought some chocolates from Nehaus. Yum yum!

Then we came across this interesting shop which sells classic film posters, memorabilia, books, etc.

Chocolates... chocolates everywhere!

As we walked pass this candy store, I told my friend that the name of this shop sounds wrong. A random American tourist overheard our conversation and agreed with me.

In the City Hall's compound

Apparently it's good luck to touch the statue. Misophobics would find this extremely terrifying.

Home of beers!

Mannekin Pis statue.

Another chocolatier!

We then walked around with the intention to this place where we were told to expect some city panoramic views. However, after what seems like hours of walking (probably just 30 minutes in real time), we ended up in a small park outside a cathedral. It's autumn... so one should grab the opportunity to take some photos of the colourful autumn.

3 days and 2 nights at Boracay Island

Arrived at the airport and there wasn't any need to fret over how to get to the port to Boracay island. There are 5234654312 vendors who will try to get your business. One can opt for bus or a mini van (not much price difference anyway). It's a 2-hour journey to the port (it could be longer if the mini van picks up passengers on the way to the port). Usually, the package includes a ride to the port and boat ride to the island.

Upon reaching the port, we bought our tickets, or rather... paid for the environmental fee and jetty fee. The boat/modified sampan ride was around 15-minutes.

Finally arrived @ Boracay and the first mode of transportation in the island we took was the tuk-tuk! Can you imagine 4 adults fitting and luggages fitting into this small tuk-tuk? Yep... we managed to squeeze our asses in this little transport.

Took the tuk-tuk to our accommodation

 Just in time for sunset!

 Checked into our accommodation: Nigi Nigi Nu Noos. Had a villa each and the room was lovely! :)

 Towels folded into swans. The cleaners will fold a different type of animal each time they clean the room.

 One of the first food that we tried - some grilled sausage from a random stall

 Bought our souvenirs

 J just gotta have his coffee after dinner

ET & I tried their local brew. I still prefer Hacker Pschorr.

 Our villa for the next 2 nights

The next morning after breakfast, we opted for a tour package from the hotel vendor. Selected a package that consists of parasailing, jet skiing, island hopping, snorkelling, ATV ride to the mountain top, zipline and sunset sailing. All for PHP18,000 for 4. It's the low season, so we had the bargaining power.

 Beautiful... just beautiful ;)

 Hello from above!

 Island hopping

 One of the islands that we stopped by so the guys can show macho - cliff jumping. Fun fact tho, for almost everything you do @ Boracay, there's always a certain environmental fee that you need to pay.

 Aloha!

 Riding the ATV all the way up to the mountain then climbed up the stairs to the observatory deck for a birds eye view of the island

 Zip line after enjoying the view

 Ready for sunset sailing!

While sunset sailing... breathtaking view!

We were lucky that even though it was the monsoon season, the daytime weather was superb! Sunny all the way until the end - after dinner where it rained heavily. 

Got burnt and got a tan. Tanned and happy :)