First State - Illinois

Okay, so this was our first trip to the US. My cousins made a video that sums up our stay there. :)

Illinois 2014 from Trina Burgos on Vimeo.

Love,
Trisha

Japan for Less

Lights, Streets, Costumes, Buildings, Music -- these are all Japan. I [we] had always wanted to go to this vibrant country but considered others first because of its “expensive” connotation. It wasn’t on the list of most expensive countries for nothing, they say. Well I guess we and that list were wrong after all! As long as you have a map and you read about the important information about the main cities, everything will run smoothly; you’ll even be surprised to have spent less than you expected. Lastly, expect to get a little lost when you go around huge cities like Osaka and Tokyo.

I never thought that traveling to Osaka and Tokyo would be that cheap and a bit easy. That’s why I want to share with you guys some tips to enjoy your trip as much as we did. It’s up to you if you’d consider me as reliable :).

So first, of course you need a tourist visa. Japanese Embassy only accepts processing from an accredited travel agency. We chose Reli Tours & Travel Agency in SM Mall of Asia as we read good reviews online. Just provide the complete requirements (click here) and carry good intentions (haha!), Voila there’s a good chance that your application will be approved. Plus, interview or personal appearance is not necessary, that should be easier. We got ours in one day. :)

It’s also up to you if you’d risk getting a plane ticket prior application. In our case, we did. All because of the promo :). For this trip, we had three (3) airlines. Of course Cebu Pacific is the stingy ones like us’ best friend. Next is Jetstar, also a pal. And the best, Japan Airlines (JAL) - FAs never wiped the smiles off their faces and they made sure you’re all right. I’ve to admit, I felt mayaman with JAL.

When you travel, you need a good place to stay in. This will at least give you a good rest after a loooong walk or ride. Hotel Hillarys in Osaka was awesome with their big room and free drinks, I mean all kinds of drinks! Hotel Empire in Tokyo was uhmm, not as good as the last one because of its small bathroom. It was okay though, who needs a big bathroom anyway if you’re not a fan of bathing. Of course I’m joking.

Now that everything’s set, here are some of the things/ places to do/ visit in Osaka and Tokyo.

1. Dotonbori in Osaka. Eat lots of street food, take a picture with the huge running man. See men and women in weird-in-a-good-way dresses (or are those costumes??).

2. Take the trains and never a taxi (OSA and TYO). Taxi rate starts at JPY710 (PhP310) while train fare at JPY120++ (PhP55). Take it from there.

3. See Anime everywhere (OSA and TYO)! Whenever you see drawings, go inside and be surprised with figures in all sizes. Some of these are not for kids though.

4. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bldg., Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, HEP Ferris Wheel in Osaka. These places offer a breathtaking view of the cities, night and day. Whatever the cost to get to these sites, it’s worth every Yen.

5. Shibuya. This is my favorite place, the busiest and brightest I have seen. Green pedestrian lights simultaneously turn on making all people from all blocks cross the street at the same time. You’ll recognize this from the movie “Lost in Translation”.

6. Hachiko Statue in Shibuya. He’s the most loyal dog who waited for his master for years not knowing he’s (the master) dead. Then the “Hachiko Exit” was built.

7. The famous Harajuku in Tokyo. Another place for men and women in weird-in-a-good-way dresses. Wanna see cosplayers? Anyway, you’ll find these kinds of people pretty much everywhere in Japan.

8. Akihabara. Electronics ba kamo?? Here!

9. DRINK WITH THE LOCALS AT AKITAYA YAKITORI. The beer and pork liver were soo good. Here you’ll feel foreign as no one speaks even a little English. It was a fun challenge.

10. Drink Sake and eat Sushi! This doesn’t need a reason.

11. Pray at Meiji Shrine. We were also lucky to catch a traditional Japanese wedding here – just like the movies.

12. Tennoji Park in Osaka and Ueno Park in Tokyo. Perfect for Biking.

13. Umeda in Osaka. The ferris wheel is here.

14. There’s a lot more but I think this page isn’t enough!

Also, there’s so much to try but my time wasn’t enough. I’m not sure when, but I’m coming back for more of Japan! uku, uke, shi, etc. are now my favorite suffixes. Remember, your map and energy drink are the most important things that should be in your backpack. Til next, konichiwa!

click for larger image






Trisha

Written

April 20th
Office

I went for a swim with the people I've been longing to be with in a very very long time. Well, I consider few weeks a long long time. It was just last Saturday when I realized that I have never laughed so hard as what I did for how many weeks or months. My jaws missed every drop. Planning with those certain people has never been a pain in the ass but always a tickle in the tummy. :]

Ok. It's been forever since I last posted. I'm writing today in my new workstation, seeing new people, sitting in a colder room, and being called with a new nickname. I always feel scared being a newbie but it makes me feel better when my workmates tell me "Ganyan talaga pag simula". Things now are, if not completely, way different. So far, it has been good. I don't think I'm ready to get busy just yet though.

As I get bored, my eyes roam around. There's a calendar in front of me. I noticed that there's 31 in the month of April. Then I flipped it on May and the last number's 30. Isn't it May that has 31st and April, 30th? Then when I checked on the right side, there goes the publisher's name and under it, "The Philippines' trusted publishing company". Now I see how THE supposed to be "trusted" things could MISLEAD you. Did I just sound bitter right there? Haha! So ironic that this calendar is so timely.

Another! I saw a pile of magazines on a table. I looked at each of it and the last one's tag line was "Always on top". I looked at it and thought. . . "Then why are you at the bottom?!". Haha, I could be a weird (you can all it stupid) observer when I'm booored! :]


Off,
♥trisha

Sure They Do

March 8th

People come and go like rain.

Forty-Eighth

September 19th
11:26p

I went out with the family because it was my mother's birthday yesterday. It's always nice to have meals when all the seats are taken by people you oh-so love.

Ok so I'll tell you some things about my mom.
**She's the best at telling funny stories because she's very good at making gestures and imitating people's actions. Sometimes it gets so awkward when she does that but in a very funny way. :)) There's a lot of humor in our family.
**She cooks adobong pusit like every other Friday because she knows we like it.
**She's smart. I'm not saying it because she's my mother, it's because she really is! From politics to sports, she knows a lot. From Gloria Arroyo to Barack Obama, from crosswords to Sudoku, from here to there, and much more. I often ask her random questions and she never fails to answer them. Like earlier when I asked her who did Nadal beat in the 2008 Wimbledon championships. and she yelled back, "Federer!" and then the other day when my sister asked her what Celine Dion's nationality is, and my mom answered back, "Canadian". Yea, simple random questions like those. Sometimes all I can say is, "Bakit alam mo yun?"
**She doesn't stay mad for long.
**She knows the names of my friends.
**She's crazy about Gaby.
**She wants my brother to get fatter.
**She often baby talks. She calls us "Tina and Tisha". I know. Lol
**She's just great.

Yesterday when we were in the car and talking, I heard my mother told my father, "Pag nag-asawa na yung dalawa, wala na, hindi na natin makakasama mga yan."
It's just... It's never gonna happen. Ever. No worries. I promise.

I want to greet you a happy birthday. To the best nanay one could ever have. I dunno if my mother will get to read this because she doesn't go over the internet. But if ever you come across this, I just want you to know that someday, I want to be a mother to my children just like exactly the way you are to me, to us. Thank you and I love you.

♥trisha



Currently listening:
Your Mother Should Know
By The Beatles

Sassy Boy

Aug. 4, '08
7:15p
Haven't seen the Korean version so I don't really know which is better. I'm not really a fan of subtitles, because it's kind of uncomfortable watching with those. Like you pay attention to the language instead of the pictures. :] I heard the story of both (Ko and Am) are exactly the same. Soemtimes they do "twists" with remakes yea? But Joel said it's just the same except for some details. I know Joel, you didn't tell me, but you told Trina. :]

Anyways, yea it's cute. I don't think a guy who watches Gladiator or Pearl Harbor would like it though. In a shorter way, it's a chick flick! :]
Don't you think it's fun to be with someone who's "sassy"? I mean, yes they would give you tons of reasons why you shouldn't be with them, and give you just a SINGLE reason why you should. BUT that single reason can make it ten thousand times harder for you to leave the person. Aww. Might as well listen to this:
haha.

I would loove to meet:

• The one who would make me get the Police Station sign for him.
• or the one who would take me to trespass at someone else's swimming pool and tell me "At common law a trespass was not criminal unless it was accomplished by violence or breached the peace. So let's fave fun... be quiet... and avoid getting caught."
• The one who would find my home when I have too much to drink and not carry me into his apartment.
• The one who would keep me waiting in a restaurant for hours because his Mom doesn't want him to leave yet.
• The one who would give me Katakataka instead of roses and tell me, "Screw the flower! Throw it and it's gone. But with this, throw it anywhere and it will sprout into a young plant." haha, that's funny. I dunno why I came up with this thing and associating it with "sassy". Hopeless. :))

Now where's my sassy boy?
Or better yet, I'm the one who wants to do these things to/with someone. :]

It's always amazing to meet spontaneous and random people. I'll always believe this. and I'll keep saying this.

Ok, that's it. I just shared some thoughts after watching the movie. I'm a cheeseball. And I could be worse during rainy days. You can tell.

xoxo
♥trisha

Three In One

*Wrote this 2 days ago, March 31*
Today's Monday, and then Tuesday, then Wednesday, then boom! the Graduation Day. I dunno what I'm really feeling today, is it excitement or is it something heartending. I honestly don't know. Not until the exact day. I intended to write earlier and post it later after few days so I will know the difference about the feeling.

-What I'm feeling now. (Monday -- Three days to graduation day)
I don't think about the graduation day that much, except for what will I look like when I'm wearing my dress on that day. Plus I can't help imagining myself wearing a toga. I'm a little (just a little, and I mean little) excited about tomorrow (the Baccalaureate Mass). After long months, I will have a chance to wear my school uniform again for the last time. I always get this weird feeling whenever I hear the word "last". So strange. Right now, I don't want the graduation day to be the only thing to look forward to. I want to have as many other events after that to keep me busy. I hate it when I'm bored and sad at the same time because it's the worsst. That defines "cry".

-What I'm feeling now. (Tuesday -- Two days to graduation; Baccalaureate Mass)
I'm getting more and more confused on what I'm feeling right now. I dunno if i want to say "I can't wait for tomorrow!" or probably "Can i ask for few more days?" I'm dealing with two EXs here. EXcitement OR EXtension. I don't know. We went to Memay's and I remember my friend Maan saying, "Alam mo simula practice pa lang bilang na ako ng bilang." She's talking about the days left before graduation day. I was doing the same until this very time.
Going to the Baccalaureate Mass. The "peace be with you" part was very nice. I just realized that my father was more vulnerable than what I thought. I kinda knew that my mom would cry, but my father? I wasn't expecting. When we went up to them (parents), my mom was sitting and wiping her tears. I didn't know that my father was doing the same. His eyes were red. Then he wore his sunglasses. I told myself "Umiiyak ang tatay ko". I almost cried, I was close to. But I held it. I could see that they're really proud of me and my sister. Two daughters graduating at the same time? Big time! and by the way, thank God we didn't come dramatically late like we used to during the mass. Whew.
The huling hirit thing at Memay's was great. Why is it always great when I'm with them? :)
I guess that's all for Tuesday.

-What I'm feeling now. (Wednesday -- A day before the graduation)
I'm kinda getting what I'm feeling. Of course I want to graduate, who doesn't. But I don't think I'll like the goodbyes. Remember the two EXs I wrote yesterday? I think I'm more on the EXtension side and a little on the EXcitement side. One day and I'm outta college. Hay. Maybe I just had the greatest years in Lasal with the greatest people that's why it's hard for me to take goodbyes and hear "lasts". I wonder what will it be tomorrow. I'll let you know. I'll save a space on my blogspot for tomorrow and I'll try to sum up the four wonderful years I had in college. (Tomorrow, I will be officially jobless but definitely not friendless)

I'll see you. Sigh sigh sigh. . .

xoxo,
♥trisha

FIRST..

hi everyone.. this is my first post and i wonder how this will look like. i can't think of anythin to say. mmm, today's friday and my parents will be home later. they're in calatagan and come home every friday and leave on mondays. it's 12:30 pm and i jus woke up. no, not really JUST WOKE UP but it's already 11:30 when i got out of bed. and that's pretty late. me, trina (my twin sister), and ate reby slept late last night 'cause we had this movie marathon. ROFL. we rented some films. they were sisterhood of the traveling pants, ice princess, and the skeleton key. yah, i know those movies were like girlie flicks but they're alright. i liked ice princess. it has competitions and all that, and i like that. sisterhood was alright, not great. we jus watched it because amber tamblyn was ther. lol. skeleton key? don't ask. today? this will be just like other days. wake up, eat, surf, watch, and sleep. it's fun though. i think i have to go now and finish this thing. so, iL be seeing u again guys. bye bye. iL try to make a long one next time. lol. this is your new girl, TRISHA..

-XXOO-