I keep looking back at all the entries I’ve made since I started this new blog and it’s pretty much a hodgepodge of content all along the lines of ‘What am I thinking about right now.’ We have reviews & in depth character analyses of movies/TV characters, snippets of emo book lines & song lyrics, the written text equivalent of ‘routine vlogs’ as youtubers do nowadays (lol sorry I came of age in the blogger & livejournal era), and then them travel listicles. Well, welcome to the mind of a Gemini. Heh. I also have about 7 drafts of entries that I just never got around to finishing. I’ll get to it one of these days haha.
You know how in songwriting you have to just live life to have something to write about? I guess I’ve been doing that and, heyo, will I have something focused to write about now. Here’s the big life news: I’m going back to school. Grad school.
Weee!
(Here’s hoping I’d still feel like that when I’m in the middle of a paper or midterms or whatever.) And the kicker is, it’s not simply grad school, it’s grad school abroad.
Yup, I’m picking up my life and cramming it in 2 suitcases (and a carry-on) for the time-being.
In all honesty, I’m really excited to see what this next year or so will bring about for me. I traveled alone once before and I absolutely loved it. The independence, the freedom. I thought it’d be scary but I never felt more confident and, for some reason, disciplined. Haha. Sartre was right, once you’re thrown into the world, you just inevitably shape up and become responsible for everything you do. I guess this is gonna be that solo travel experience x100.
throwback to when i so proudly navigated the subways of tokyo
I’ma try to put everything into this blog so I can make sense of everything and have something to look back on once it’s over. Maybe I’ll do a special Grad School tab even haha. Let’s see.
I turned 28 recently too, so that’s something. I’m basically living the last year of my twenties in another country, doing a whole new thing, and being fully alone as an adult. Monumental life change indeed.
Rachel Green is often written off as your typical pretty, popular queen bee who grew up to be that girl with the same charmed life and an “epic” will-they-won’t-they love story. Like her life was destined to be a rom-com. But if you really think about it, it was more a legitimate coming of age tale ‘cause Rachel basically had the best arc throughout the whole ‘Friends’ run. At a time when sitcoms didn’t really put much focus on anything but jokes & punchlines, her character development was remarkable in the realest, most relatable way.
Often you find flat and/or inconsistent characters on comedy shows. While there was some of that in Friends (there were many plotholes), it was always cool how they managed to move the story forward according to the Six’s life stages at one of the most significant periods of their lives. Maybe this is why it’s experiencing a resurgence right now, what with Netflix getting all the episodes on and everybody still having that millennial/twentysomething fixation. But don’t talk to me if you’re one of those ~woke~ individuals who just find the show insular and problematic — it was a different time! (Say that to the tone of ‘We were on a break!’ haha) Of course there are some things you can’t joke about now. But that’s beside the point. If you’d do the same original pitch for the Friends pilot now, and there hadn’t been a show like it before, it would most probably still get picked up:
This show is about six people in their 20’s who hang out at this coffee house. An after hours insomnia café. It’s about sex, love, relationship, careers… a time in your life when everything is possible, which is really exciting and really scary. It’s about searching for love and commitment and security… and a fear of love and commitment and security. And it’s about friendship, because when you’re young and single and in the city, your friends are your family. – Marta Kauffman & David Crane
So nice, right? Well that pitch could not have been truer for Rachel who really lived it. Spoiled rich daddy’s girl to would-have-been bored rich housewife to trained-for-nothing 20something to minimum-wage coffee shop waitress to big NYC department store assistant buyer to merchandising head at designer fashion house to expat in Paris… All in a span of 10 years! Not bad for someone who was too scared to get cut off at 24. (I mean yes it’s a show but for argument’s sake pls) I’m just all the more pulled in because I’m also in retail and I know only too well the work that comes with merchandising/marketing roles in that world hahaha.
She was actually impressive. Even if you’re not into the so-called corporate ladder, she’s still career/personal growth goals! She matured too, emotionally. Ross might not have been the best decision on the love life front, but she was always cool and sensible, and could stand alone with or without him. She was also a fun, sincere friend to both the guys and girls and, eventually, a devoted, caring mother. She was far from perfect, for sure. At her worst, she was selfish and image-conscious, but she was also well-rounded, vulnerable, and strong. Woman goals, tbh.
And she did it all in style. Her clothes were some of the best things about the show and many of the outfits she wore, especially the workwear, are still very much wearable today! So let me end this fan-post (brought about by a random nth rewatch of Season 6) with some of my favorite Rachel outfits that may or may not be my workday #ootd pegs for the week:
*All images screen-capped from Google
On the Friends set at Warner Brothers studios. 2015.
Tokyo is officially one of the best places I’ve been and going over there on a solo-trip was just a whole new experience. Apart from just to travel, I did the trip to visit some old friends from an exchange program back in high school. We hosted each other both in JP and the PH, kept in touch from HS to college to our early working years, and now here we are! It’s amazing how giant the world is and yet you can stay connected with people and places if you really want to. It took so long for me to get back to Japan, but hey, had to grow up, get a job, save, and make it happen! Cheers to achieving goals. 😉
Here’s a wonky travel video, which is basically just a compilation of my IG stories from the time. I’ll get better at this I promise haha:
It was daunting going around the city at first. I thought I could just wing it the whole time and not plan anything. Turns out you kind of have to in Tokyo, at least a bit, so you can map out your routes. This is particularly necessary if you have a JR Pass and you wanna utilize the metro stations that accept it. The Tokyo Metropolis is basically a dense web of many (large!) cities and you need to move around efficiently by targeting specific sites and neighborhoods.
It took a lot of research online to put together even a rough list of where to go. But blogs & personal reviews were the most helpful. So here’s my contribution– a sample trip itinerary & notes for ten days in tokyo, including a short sidetrip to osaka & yokohama, to help shape your own plans for a trip!
Day 1 – Arrival at Narita Airport, travel into Tokyo, Settling in homebase
Got JR Pass from the Narita airport –> I got a 7-day JR East pass voucher through Klook for around $255 (P13,700)
Bought a regular metro ticket (didn’t use JR Pass yet to save the 7-days’ validity) to get into Tokyo
Settled at Kanda area (residential ward between Chiyoda and Chuo city border) –> good to stay at places outside tourist areas for a cheaper but still accessible base
Explored area. Saw local mall & movie house. Ate ramen at local eatery. Stocked up on supplies from nearby Ministop and Family Mart.
Nearest JR station: Bakurochō Station –> my main access to everything in Tokyo!
Day 2 – Tsukiji, Ginza, Roppongi
Turns out Tsukiji and Ginza are connected through one big boulevard! Easily walkable.
Points of interest: Tsukiji Market, Tsukiji Hongan-ji buddhist temple, Ginza kabuki theater, Ginza Crossing, Chuo Dori street, Ginza Six, Tatsuya bookstore, Uniqlo flagship store (8 floors!), GU, Roppongi/Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Tower
Roppongi area is a bit farther, but this is a nicer district. Dress accordingly! Plenty of restaurants and bars for dinner. Best views of Tokyo Tower from Roppongi Hills mall area!
Tsukiji Hongan-ji buddhist temple
foodtrip at tsukiji market! torched scallops, king prawns, squid ++
fruit is expensiiiive
there were so many kinds of tamago, but got myself a classic
Ginza kabuki theater
Chuo-Dori street for shopping! Find an 8F Uniqlo, GU, Ginza Six, Tsutaya Books, etc
Roppongi for nightlife!
Day 3 – Tokyo Station, Marounochi, Imperial Palace, Shibuya, Harajuku
Start day at Tokyo Station (which in itself is a full itinerary haha)
Very walkable to Marounochi (business district- don’t wear denim cutoffs like I did lol) and Imperial Palace area!
Points of interest: Tokyo Ramen Street (inside the station!), Gyoko-dori avenue (tree-lined giant avenue), Imperial Palace East gardens, Shibuya109 & Shibuya Parco (personal fave, came back 3 times lol) for bazaar shopping, Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko shrine, Takeshita Street (for crepes and bargain-hunting!), purikura arcade
beautiful promenade infront of tokyo station
heart of shibuya
the famous hachiko shrine
entrance to takeshita street
crepes for dinner!
Day 4 – Ginza & Tokyo Station again, Yotsuya
Made Ginza/Tokyo Station my primary reference point for every daily excursion
Started using JR Pass this day to start off my unlimited 7-days
Points of interest: Sophia University, St. Ignatius Church, student-friendly Shinmichi-dori eat street! (lots of izakayas and cheap ATM-ordering type meals! funnn)
they have their own station basically
colleges are the same everywhere around the world ❤
rare green space within Tokyo. trust a jesuit uni to have one haha.
St. Ignatius Church
this is only worth P150!
eat street yay
Day 5 – Harajuku, Omotesando, Shinjuku, Tokyo Skytree
Start the day from the Shibuya/Harajuku station, then walk over to Omotesando –> super nice relaxed shopping/commercial area. Don’t miss out on the sidestreets!
Points of interest: Tokyu Plaza (for that glassy escalator!), Lattest Omotesando Espresso Bar (if you’re a Terrace House fan, you’ll know why haha), Robot restaurant, Muji Shinjuku (world’s largest muji store! it’s basically a mall)
Shinjuku and Tokyo Skytree areas are out of the way and you need to take the train straight to these areas
The Tokyo Skytree viewing deck is BEAUTIFUL. If you have to choose, choose this over Tokyo Tower. You have to splurge a bit for the ticket up the tower, but it’s worth it.
tokyu plaza!
so clean!
Shinjuku Station. Average number of people passing through daily? Over 3 million. Amazing how much of the place was under renovation and yet no part of the commute was a problem. Loved how all the stations were so… ergonomic. Just look up, look to the side, follow the path, and you’ll find the right way. Signs are everywhere too.
stunning nighttime view from the 350-meter viewing deck shows Tokyo in all its glory. No doubting it’s the biggest metro in the world with this sight! By day, Mt. Fuji is seen on the eastern side.
Day 6 – Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Station to take the Shinkansen!
took it a bit easy this day and just visited the park –> Yoyogi is so alive and bustling with activity – nice to people-watch
Points of interest: Torii gate to meiji jingu, “secret” park (the super quiet surrounding forest to the shrine, just beyond yoyogi park), sidetrip to Harajuku if you have time!
This was the weekend trip to Osaka. Took the bullet train/shinkansen from Tokyo Station! Even with the JR Pass, you need to get a ticket for the trip on the shinkansen (instead of the usual flash-the-jr-pass-to-get-through-gate). It’s a 3hr ride, so either eat first or buy food & drinks to take on the trip.
Day 7 & 8 – Osaka!
My only goal in Osaka was to visit Universal Studios Japan again. Just needed to see Harry Potter land at USJ ’cause it wasn’t there yet 10 years ago, haha!
If you have the time & a JR pass, very accessible from here are: Nara and Kyoto (under 1hr) and Hiroshima (2 hrs vs the 5 hours from Tokyo – double if not on shinkansen). We were already based in Osaka in highschool so I didn’t need to go around again.
Points of interest: USJ, green spaces, laidback vibe, less people, authentic takoyaki
HELLO
the only thing on the menu of this place was takoyaki (10pcs a plate) and beer. all you need, really.
most perfect takoyaki ever
Day 9 – Yokohama
On the bullet train back to Tokyo, you can actually get off in Yokohama just to see the place. A port city, it’s actually already the capital of the Kanagawa prefecture (basically a whole other region vs Tokyo and Osaka, but still really accessible).
Points of interest: the big flashing lights & giant ship at Minato Mirai business district, the Cup Noodle Museum, Ramen Museum
Take a regular JR train (using your JR pass) to get back into Tokyo as normal. Yokohama is just 30mins south of the city.
delicious bento dinners with friends!
scenic city skyline
Day 10 – Tokyo Station, Shibuya/Harajuku, NEX to Narita Airport
Spent the last day just going back to the places I’d been already, eating around, and shopping for souvenirs
Had to exchange some cash – you can do that at Tokyo Station just before exiting to the Marounochi side or in Takeshita Street in Harajuku. On the right side, just after the entrance arch, near the purikura arcade, there is a money exchange ATM area where you can securely get some cash.
Took the Narita Express for an absolutely stress-free trip back to the airport. It’s covered by the JR Pass! Just perfect.
make sure you see the tokyo station area at night!
some convenience store provisions for the day
my only non-japanese meals for the trip
bye tokyo 😦
And that’s it! Hope this helps. Tokyo is definitely a place you can go back to again and again and again. Can’t wait for the next time!
“Loving life is easy when you [travel alone]. Where no one knows you and you hold your life in your hands all alone, you are more master of yourself than at any other time.” – Hannah Arendt
I figured early on that traveling was going to mean much to me. So thank you Facebook Memories for reminding that exactly 7 years ago today, I had just come back from a life-changing college trip all over Spain for the 2011 World Youth Day / MAGIS Meet which was like a summit for Jesuit schools from all over the world:
See those mountains, beaches, and hikers from 00:42 onwards? That was my group. Yup. Un-athletic me did a five-day hike all over the Spanish countryside with strangers that inevitably became new friends. I was with a group of other Filipino students, Australians, Venezuelans, and Ukrainians, along with our Spanish hosts, who all bonded over the experience (check out my [unfortunately edited] article about it haha: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/24129/a-pilgrimage-of-faith-and-self-discovery/). The hike really set the tone for an unforgettable trip that, years later, we all still have vivid, heartfelt memories of. Should you ever find yourself in Spain, here are seven things I promise you won’t regret trying:
Walk the Camino de Santiago
It’s less a religious retreat than a spiritual, finding-yourself experience. Think Eat Pray Love with bonus Spanish grandmas of the countryside fussing over you and randomly letting you in their houses for water & pee breaks. Stopping just short of Santiago de Compostela, we took the Camino del Norte which is decidedly the most scenic (yet most difficult) route. This takes you through what’s called ‘Green Spain,’ covering the Asturias, Basque, and Cantabria regions. Sights include endless panoramic coastal and mountain views and charming little villages straight out of a fairytale. You’ll get to see the Picos de Europa, mountain town Covadonga, and the city of Oviedo (where you can find some amazing 8th century structures– yes, eighth century). Trivia: these northern areas of Spain were never occupied so they’ve got the purest heritage. If you’re a culture/history/nature geek, you have to try this.
Have cheese and sidra like a local
Asturias is apparently known as the land of cheeses because they produce so many kinds locally. Don’t miss out on their cabrales blue cheese! Best had with crusty breads, fresh tomatoes, and none other than sidra asturiana, their locally-made, light, tart cider drink with just the slightest sweetness. It’s traditionally poured with flair: hold the distinctive green bottle above your head and let it pour like a spout into a glass held down low in your other hand. Sidra makes for a great souvenir too – only about 2 euros a bottle! (Php118)
Before…
After!
The “escanciar” method produces the best flavor from your sidra.
That face is too happy.
Visit Loyola (yes, that Loyola)
This might be more interesting if you’re Catholic or from a Jesuit school, but it’s still a cool historic place to see. St. Ignatius’ birthplace was literally a castle with grounds so wide and green, you really see how much he gave up upon entering religious life. But he had a greater call of course and all that. The restored 14th century castle is now a museum/shrine with perfectly preserved medieval interiors & artifacts, and beside it is the baroque-style Basilica of Loyola.
Shop at Gran Via and Puerta del Sol
When you’re back in the capital city, exploring the many grand boulevards is a must and starting point should be none other than Gran Via. This busy shopping street is right at the center of the city and is basically Madrid’s Broadway/Times Square. Bisecting Gran Via is this wide pathway leading to Puerta del Sol, a gorgeous public square which is “Kilometer 0” of all Spanish road systems. You can get so much shopping and eating done in this whole area with its endless shops and cafes. Not everything is high-end designer label either! Zara is cheap in Spain as it is, but did you know it has a discount brand here called Lefties? You can find many familiar big brands and some hipster boutiques for one-of-a-kind finds. Tip: go through the little streets with the no-name shops and have a chat with the shopowners. Bet they’re just as curious about you as you are about them and you might just get the best, true local recommendations.
Gran Via at sunset
When you see that Mcdonald’s, it’s down the road to Puerta del Sol.
Touchdown at Puerta del Sol.
Stroll down Calle de Serrano
If Gran Via is to Broadway, then Calle de Serrano is to Fifth Avenue. You can do a nice stroll and some window shopping here minus the crowds and pick-pocket scares (a reality in Madrid :\). Designer labels and high-end boutiques line this much quieter tree-lined street. There is another famous plaza here that for some reason just has the biggest flag in all of Spain. Nearby is a subway station that can already get you to the Palacio Real and the Museo del Prado in just one or two stops. Def an ideal place to pass through as you explore the city.
Plaza de Colón or Christopher Columbus square with that giant flag screaming “colonizer” (jk haha)
Enjoy cheap eats in Madrid
Madrid is, of course, a major cosmopolitan city with plenty of gourmet offerings. But when you’re a student with a limited budget, you’d be on the lookout for simpler pocket-money-friendly fare. Good thing that like any big city, Madrid has plenty of hole-in-the-walls, street stalls, and lowkey but decent sit-down places. We found these two in particular – Nebraska, a chain restaurant with full “value meals” that reminded me of Pancake House in the PH, and Sigland Cocina Internacional, a random buffet restaurant that became our refuge for rice haha. We’re Asians, what can I say. Runners up are Rodilla (quick-serve sandwich/pastry shop like Subway) and this nondescript pizza-by-the-pound stall in the middle of Puerta del Sol. Please don’t laugh, Spanish folks. We still went on the hunt for authentic paella and churros! We had paella at this super nice place but I didn’t get to take a photo! Safe to say it was nothing like I’d had before. And I love paella.
Nebraska – hearty complete meals plus some burgers, breakfast goodies, and even churros.
Sigland – cheap all-you-can-eat Spanish, Mediterranean, Chinese, Japanese food. Go figure.
Rodilla salads and sandwiches for less than 5 euros!
that no-name Pizza stand!
Catch a live bull fight
East of Madrid, there is a still-active ’30s era “bull ring” called Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas where you can watch real live bull fights. It’s a pretty mesmerizing sight– you wanna look away but you can’t stop staring. It’s also just fascinating to watch actual matadors with their flamboyant outfits and choreography. The Las Ventas arena is a sight to behold too. It’s one massive red brick structure that’s apparently the largest bullring in all of Europe and a sometime concert venue that has hosted the likes of The Beatles, Diana Ross, and Coldplay.
Not your regular sabong!
Take a trip to Barcelona
With an 8-hour bus trip (that passes through Zaragoza where you can do a quick stop-over), you can easily get to artsy Barcelona. You can instantly feel the vibrant, bohemian character of the city especially in the summer. Gaudi structures are all around and there’s a seemingly constant football frenzy. I made the mistake of wearing an old P.E. jersey with my name on it and some little boys kept calling out to me asking what “club” or team. Lol. Don’t miss a night of sangria at La Rambla (but please take care of your things because there are so many pick-pockets here–one of our friends had her bag slashed open), visit Sagrada Familia, walk through Old Barcelona, go up the Montjuic hill for a panoramic view of the city, and if you get a chance, ferry off to Ibiza right from the Barcelona port! Ferry tickets range from 50 to 100 euros. Also, eat! The seafood paella and pizzas here were just extra good.
Casa Milà
Casa Batlló
Park Güell
Sagrada Familia
One part of the panoramic city view from Montjuic castle!
Had the best tan ever from this trip lol. Summer in Spain is intense!
Make friends!
The best way to enjoy a new place in any season is to leave that “visitor” hat behind, and just immerse yourself. Do what the locals do in the summer. Talk to the people who live there. Visit the supermarkets. Outdoor markets are even better. If opportunity permits, visit their homes. Ask about their day-to-day lives: where do they go? What do they like to eat? What are their hobbies? It’s always best to go beyond the internet Top-Ten lists and the “Must-See” restaurants or shopping streets. Even if you’ve been to some famous tourist-city many many times, you can never claim to know a place if you haven’t experienced what’s real. So, as best as you can, shed off that “tourist” vibe, forget yourself, forget what you know, and just take it all in. Live like a local. Even just for a short while. How many other chances can you get of making genuine connections? You’ll be surprised at what you’ll discover about yourself and people and the world.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
Ernest Hemingway said “Write drunk, edit sober.” Well, I’m drunk on flu meds right now and my birthday is coming up reaaally soon – a sobering fact as I am turning 27 – so no better time than now to start this, right?
I was 12 when I first started blogging. This was the xanga/livejournal/blogger era and I think all I wrote about were school, pop culture, chain letters, and personality quizzes. Thank goodness Buzzfeed has those covered now and all you gotta do is click, lol. I wrote listicles too, straight from my handwritten childhood diaries, when listicles weren’t a thing yet, so I’d like to think I was already on the write track (hi, pun).
Fast forward to my college years, and I had my first wordpress site filled with the angst and anxiety of the teen-to-twentysomething transition years. Interesting stuff, I tell you. But now, having lived a little, seems to be the perfect time to start anew with a bit more perspective and hopefully more substance.
To be honest, it still feels a lot like transition years, but on a grander scale. I used to always say that the post-college graduation years from 21 to 25 feel like a blur of all the same things. You’re juggling a lot: entering the workforce, establishing a career, learning your true likes and dislikes, getting to know your not-student self, maybe entering new relationships, struggling to maintain old ones, and basically figuring out how to be a self-sufficient, independent individual.
Suddenly everything you do now comes straight from your own personal choices. Your job? You choose it. Your money? Yours to spend. Your side-hustles/hobbies? Your liking. Your travel plans? Your decision. No teacher, professor, parent to dictate or impose what you do (ideally speaking) yet you do crave their advice now more than ever.
It’s a delicate mix of freedom and pressure, especially when you’re not yet fully independent.
I’ve come to mark life stages by era and not specifically by age. Friends, family, and workmates taught me that through the years. We’re all going to have a different status at every age, but will likely have mostly the same experiences to go through in adulting (shucks, I was hoping I could hold off on using that word this whole post haha).
So while this blog is entitled “26 & Over: Notes on life after twenty-six,” it’s going to be more of a documentation of the grind – not to compare notes but just to reassure that it’s all happening, and we’re not really alone.
Here’s to hoping that with this new year of life, more questions will be answered, more dreams satiated, more things will be learned, and more opportunities will come through. Cheers!
26 & OVER 
