Why get inked?

When I was a freshie, I wanted to know how it feels like to have piercings on my ear cartilage. Thus, I had my ear cartilage pierced a couple of times. (See to it that the equipment that will be used are sterilized or at least washed in alcohol. Apparently, mine wasn't so I got sick after.)

Come my sophie year, I wanted to know how it feels like to get inked. Thus, I got myself inked:

Cheshire cat of Alice in Wonderland

This was done by Joey Viar of Ouch Tattoo in Robinsons Ermita. We were supposed to make the eyes glow in the dark, but I don't remember what happened... In the end, it wasn't made to glow in the dark. Regardless, I am pleased with my first tattoo.

During my junior year, I wanted to know how it feels like to get inked in other parts of my body, so I tried getting inked on my waist.

Seize the day 

Honestly, I am not exactly sure if it was Gene Testa who made this tattoo since, all I remember is that I had this done in Robinsons Galleria. HAHAHAHA as for the guy beside me, I was just playing with his belly while waiting for our next class. I am such an artist! HAHAHAHA

When I started working, I wanted something that would constantly remind me of what I should be willing to do or not do for my ambitions in life. I wanted something that I would always see, but I didn't want others to see it as much. Hence, white inked tattoo

ambition & virtue

This one was made by Totoy of Sin City Tattoo in Katipunan. White ink is a little tricky as the color doesn't really stay white but it serves its purpose (in guiding me with my actions everyday. - NUUKSS kakaiyak) Friends also tell me that the first time they saw this, they weren't sure of what they were seeing. Thus, they had to stare longer and sometimes, they just can't help but ask me about what's actually written.

Just recently, I found a design which I really liked. And then it happened:

Warrior

I am incredibly pleased with all my tattoos, especially the last one. That being said, I guess, this might be my last tattoo. (Or not coz I have way too many years ahead of me, HAHAHA)

Why get inked?

Just because.

Just because you want to.

Happy kid,

Arlet

P.S.

1. Getting a tattoo is not really as painful as you imagine it, but you will feel some sensation - especially if your tat design is so intricate that the session has been going on for almost 6 hours.

Eyebags... coz I'm so sleepy, and it's been hours since the session started 

2. It would make you feel comfortable if you trust the artist, so make sure to find that artist first.

3. Lastly, I was highly impressed with Bert (Elbert Batioco, from Paranaque), the one who did my warrior tat. He is definitely skilled and accommodating. He even gave us some ice cream and let us eat dinner at his house. Just tell me if you want to get him as your artist. I think he's good with linearts and solid colors, and his price is easy on the pocket :)

Yay, thanks so much, Bert!

Your body is a temple, but how long can you live in the same house before you redecorate?

Hunter x Hunter movie could have been better.

I've been waiting for this movie for a long time so I anticipated it to be very good. Unfortunately, high expectations inevitably result in disappointment.

The movie didn't offer anything new at all when it comes to Gon and Killua's friendship. We go back again at Killua's internal dilemma which was almost the highlight of the movie. Rather than being a great story about friendship and adventure, the movie turned out to be a poorly executed film on cheesiness and shallow character development. Maybe the meager 1.5 hour screen time is one of the culprits for this.

courtesy of movieseer.com

On cinematography and soundtrack 2/5

One thing is for sure, it wasn't breathtaking or notable in any way. 

On the story and characters 2/5

At first I thought that the movie will center on Kurapica and the gang but it was more of Killua and the gang - which would totally be fine, had the story presented something fresh. Sadly, it didn't. 

Meanwhile, Retz and #4, the only new characters introduced, were not properly built up in the film. We see former Phantom Troupe member #4 as a caring brother with incredibly low EQ to misunderstood his little sister's feeling. We see Retz as a delayed hero without much character. As for the rest, they're nothing new. 

On certain scenes

1. Did Killua have to run (again) from himself/ Illumi? Haven't we seen this dilemma so many times before (Hunter exam, Greed island, Ant hill, etc) When will he truly resolve this? The part where he was implied to be crying while running away was absurd considering that his character is a top assassin. His devastation could have been portrayed differently and more gracefully. 

2. Oh yeah, I am not sure if this arc happened before or after Greed Island? Perhaps before? That would explain why (1) Killua is still insecure of his integrity to remain friends with Gon, (2) Gon & Killua are so weak as to not defeat mere puppets. 

3. There is a post-credit scene so stick until the end. I can't make opinions on the post-credit because I didn't stick around to watch it, because I didn't know that there will be a post-credit :| lalala

Overall

I would not recommend the film to (1) people who are not familiar with Hunter x Hunter since they will have a hard time following the plot, and (2) die-hard fans of the story who do not want to get disappointed with the story's execution. Otherwise, you might enjoy the film.

Arlet

P.S.

Have I mentioned before that Hunter x Hunter is my favorite anime series of all time? I even planned on getting a Hunter x Hunter inspired tattoo (silhouette of Gon fishing while sitting on the crescent moon - like that of Dreamworks production.) HAHAHA 

"So help me, Gon," also became my motto during my challenging thesis days. HAHAHA 

"Mr. Spock, not Spark." said the Trekker

How did you find the movie? said the Trekker.
I love it, Spark is my favorite character! I exclaimed
Mr. Spock, not Spark, retorted the Trekker 

I didn't plan on watching Star Trek, because I am not a fan. No, not a fan would be an understatement; I was absolutely clueless about its story, characters, etc. Hence, the above correction, and the following request to kindly inform me should you find any misinformed opinion on my part.

courtesy of hdwpapers.com

On cinematography 4.5/5

The very first thing I noticed about Star Trek was the vividly-produced graphics. The movie opened with such rich colors and effects, that I told myself, "Perfect, now I have something good to say about Star Trek (since I was not expecting to enjoy the movie)." This fascination of mine, however, did not sustain until the end of the film.

On story 3.5/5

I like the plot, because it didn't alienate me. Moreover, there were plenty of audio-visual content to guide non-fans in understanding the contexts of the film. After watching Star Trek Into Darkness, I got interested in watching its earlier versions. That's a good thing. 

Despite that, I felt that the themes presented in the movie are nothing new. 

On characters 4/5

I love Spock! HAHAHA even if I got his name wrong. His lines (though I don't remember) made me chuckle.

As for the others, they were not my cup of tea. Kirk reminds me of Thor, portrayed as a brash but caring leader. Khan is a typical villain with a reasonable backstory. Uhula was, well, a love interest for Spock - she didn't serve any purpose in the film but to force Spock to explain why he chooses not to feel. Scotty was conveniently around to help save the day, but his pep talk on Enterprise crews being explorers and not a military body delivered the point to me. Oh, Sulu! I like him a bit because he reminds me of power rangers and because Bones wouldn't want to piss him off, HAHAHA.

On being science-fiction 3/5

Is this really science fiction? Or was it based on science fiction? 

Sure, the events took place in some distant future, but there weren't any new possibilities (presented) due to science advancements. It didn't make me think about science at all. I hoped that the content writer deconstructed at least one science concept and then reconstructed it differently to hold the film together. But I guess, science doesn't sell that much to our crowd anymore. 

On certain scenes

1. Was Dr. Carol's half naked shot really necessary? I heard myself internally groaning at that part. 

2. The shots on the Enterprise reminds me of Vandread 2nd Stage :)

3. Seeing London in the future, with mostly skyscrapers, bothers me. I want a future with more trees and mountains than buildings. However, I agree that the future with less trees is more believable. 

Overall

Star Trek was a pleasant surprise. I'd recommend it to mostly everyone! -except to people who gets bored with action films. 

BTW why was it entitled Star Trek Into Darkness?

Halalan 2013: Who Holds the Key?

What:  2013 election for the following positions:
            12 out of 33 senators
            1 out of 4 House of Representatives
            1 mayor and vice mayor, 8 council members
            1 partylist

When:  May 13, 2013

Disclaimer: I am writing this post solely to have an idea of who the candidates for the 2013 elections are. Should there be misleading / incorrect information, don't hesitate to put it out in the open.

A. Senatorial Candidates (Upper house)

Taiwander: My first is in Taiwan =)

But that's the glory of foreign travel, as far as I am concerned. I don't want to know what people are talking about. I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can't read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can't even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses. 

― Bill Bryson, Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe

Right now, I have made myself believed that one of my purposes in life is to understand the world and its people through travelling without prejudice. Easier said than done when you still value society's advice to save first for your future. Perhaps, the only way to do it is (1) book that flight (and worry about the finances later - follow at your own risk, HAHAHA), and (2) be mindful of your thoughts about others. 

Pre-departure: VISA application

Prior to this trip, I am guilty of having prejudices against Chinese due to the hassles I've gone through in getting a visa to Taiwan. I found all the TECO representatives to be rude and disrespectful, but after thinking about it carefully I've accepted that they were very efficient in doing their jobs. And sometimes, one cannot be efficient and nice at the same time. 

Departure: Immigration interview

Often, anticipation is worse than the actual situation. This is actually my first travel abroad, and I'm alone. You could imagine how uneasy I was feeling. During the immigration interview, I was asked if I was excited, I told her that I was scared. She jokingly asked me if I would rather not go and she would just deny my visa. I just gave her a graceful "oh certainly not, ma'am" HAHAHA

Arrival: Taipei and around

Day 1

It is very easy to go around in Taipei - that's saying a lot coming from someone who lacks average navigation skills. I didn't get lost in Taipei (Holla! I always get lost in Metro Manila.) HAHAHA. 

Riding a gondola to get to Maokong Mountain

The texts I got from Taiwan

I have a sim card which I don’t really use, but I check it every now and then just to read old and new messages. Last week, I checked it and saw that I received some international texts from Taiwan. Here goes: 

Saturday

1. It's 1 am and I just landed at the airport. I'm nervous.
2. Everything is written in Chinese. Chinese characters scare me.

3. The cab driver didn't give me enough change, but he was smiling and all so I didn't bother. After all, I'm too overwhelmed by the fact that I'm alone in a foreign land to argue over $2.

Sunday

1. Too bad, no one is here with me to take my photos. 

2. Wow, people are much disciplined in lining up - the left side of the escalator is for overtaking only. People who wish to just ride and stop in the escalator must stay on the right side and not occupy the whole space

3. I'm now in a Gondola station. It is very noisy - Chinese noisy. HAHAHAHA I'm excited and scared.

4. Taiwan is highly modernistic with their tall buildings and praiseworthy landmarks yet the place maintains its trees and mountains, an urban forest in my standards.



5. MRT, buses, and roads have distinct spaces for the elderly, pregnant, and disabled people. It's amazing how people on wheelchairs stroll the city without any companion or help. It just goes to show how easy and safe it is to go around the city.

6. It's almost my departure time and I'm not in the airport yet; I fell asleep on the bus and got passed my destination. I'm lost in a province where it's difficult to find someone who understands English...

It is very scary when no one understands you. 

Monday

Compared to the Philippines, Taiwan, the country, is more tourist-friendly: there are english maps everywhere and the transportation system is such a breeze to follow. Moreover, Taiwanese people are generally helpful - just not as cheerful, approachable, and English-savvy as Filipinos. That said, Filipinos (the inhabitants of the Philippines) are more tourist-friendly than Taiwanese. 

After all has been said and done, I still love the Philippines dearly, but Taiwan is a country that we could learn from.

Arlet

P.S.

Did I mention that I was in Taiwan last weekend? HAHAHA I have a crazy habit of texting my old sim card about my feelings and insights everyday. Unfortunately, I forgot that international texts is enabled in my postpaid line. Why, hello 15php per text! 

Achievement Unlocked @ 21

I promised myself that I will learn to ride a bike this year.

But first. I had to get myself a bike. Otherwise, I'll always have a reason not to try it. Yet, my embarrassment in learning cycling at my age seems like a bigger challenge: I didn't want to practice it in our neighborhood. I don't want people who know me to see me struggling in learning a skill that can be done by 7 year old kids. Hence, I had to schedule a day to learn it in some place else. 

Self esteem issues HAHAHA brad, salamat talaga sa concern mo sa self esteem ko ha.

Yesterday, I finally tried biking. I asked help from my dad so we could bring the bike in UP. He was also on standby in case I needed help in stopping myself from heading to the gutter or from running someone over (which happened quite a few times, Acad Oval is not as straight as I imagined it to be.) Thank heavens it was raining hard yesterday, there were few people outside to witness my training. HAHAHAHA, cough cough #feverish. 

I studied and continued biking in the rain for about an hour and a half. I can't bike straight yet, I'm still wobbly and I find it challenging to cycle in uneven pavements, big road humps, very fine/ smooth pavements, etc, but I'll get there.

Sometimes, we only need to start. 

Arlet

P.S.

My hands, shoulder, neck, and butt hurt. And I have fever, but I'm very happy :) I'm 21 years old and I just learned how to ride a bike! Booyah!