karengkeng's VirtualTourist Home Page

Kumusta?.

Did I mention that I found running to be a joy? Now I am torn between running and badminton!

First week of December, I flew to Singapore to join the Women's 10K Standard Chartered Run. It was an unbelievable experience! They said 40,000 runners participated and everywhere I look I can see people's excited faces. Check out my singapore photo album below.

Because of that, I have decided to sign-up for the Hong Kong Standard Chartered run. My cousin and I joined the 10K race last Feb 2008.

After Hong Kong, I've joined two more local races. Soon I'm taking the scary challenge of doing the Mizuno 15K. Yikes!!!

Where I plan to go this year....

2008
Jan - Boracay
Jan - Subic (for the Subic Marathon)
Feb - USA (Boston and California)
Feb - Hong Kong (for the Standard Chartered Marathon)
March - Cebu
April - Boracay
June - Malaysia
June - Bohol
Sept - US
Oct - Singapore
Nov - Boracay
Dec - Singapore

Wishlist: Camarines Sur and Cagayan De Oro

2007
Jan - Boracay
Feb - Hong Kong, Boracay, Cebu, Baguio
March - Baguio
April - Boracay, Palawan, Singapore
May - Thailand
July - USA (Denver, Orlando, BOSTON!)
August - Australia
September - Boracay
December - Singapore

2006
Oct 1 - Cebu
Sept 2 - Boracay
Aug 18 - Hong Kong
Holy Week, May, July, August and Halloween - Boracay
July - USA (Boston, Florida, NJ & NYC)
March 17 - Phuket
March 10 - Davao
March 8 - Singapore
February 16 - Hong Kong
Feb 3 - Macao and HK
January 30 - Bohol
January 24 - Cebu

2005....

Hong Kong - Nov 25
Thailand - Nov 17
Boracay - Halloween!! (gee must be obvious how much I love this place!)
Singapore - October 18
Cebu - Sept 22
Boracay - Sept 16
Boracay - Aug 20
USA - July 14 (Ventura, CA, Atlanta (MY FIRST VT MEET c/o Balfor/Chris!!), Jersey, NYC)
Davao - July 7
Grande Island, Subic Bay - June 2
Puerto Galera - May 28
Boracay - May 18
Cebu City - May 5
Boracay - March 22

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If only I could spend the rest of my life traveling all over the world and immersing in other people's culture, I would do it! Unfortunately, reality jolts me back from my dreams.

I may not provide anything insightful in this page. Maybe because I have to find the right time (which is never) to convince my lazy self to start populating this page. But at the very least, it is like an announcement to say that "I love traveling!!!" and I hope YOU catch the freaking wanderlust flu.

Returned to Bantayan Island in Cebu late last year. Spent three blissful days on the beach or just exploring the quiet town of Bantayan. One day we decided to rent bicycles (PhP150 or $3.00/day) and pedal our way from Santa Fe to the town proper which is kilometers away. After a glorious day doing that and on the way back, I had a flat tire. Good thing there was a nearby vulcanizing shop so in a matter of minutes, we were back on the road. Two kilometers to go, I suffered another setback and the same tire blew out. The experience didn't dampen our mood, we waited till a local makeshift jeepney helped us back to the resort. Woohoo!

Was reading Angels and Demons in Boracay and decided to get another henna tattoo. I asked the artist if he can copy the Fire ambigram for me. After about ten minutes, he came up with this. What do you think?

I adore ABBA! Admitting you're crazy about them is akin to suicide for some people. BUT! I just don't care anymore.

Some love hip hop, some love classical, I try to appreciate all kinds of music but listening to ABBA songs makes my day brighter.

When I was small, my parents keep on playing all their ABBA and Beatles albums during weekends. ABBA must have made quite a big impression to little me because my fascination for the group never ends.

SWEDEN is absolutely in my wish list!

Watching musicals is a passion for me. I am lucky enough to be able to travel to the US and watch fantastic shows.

When I stay with my friend in Jersey City, I take the path train to New York and just walk around all day and checking out broadway musicals. I am always on the lookout for cheap tickets and with my budget, it is almost guaranteed I can only see the matinee shows. I'm not complaining. This is the highlight of my trip!

I have seen Rent twice here in Manila. I am impressed with our local talent and wanted to see the Broadway version. You know what? I was equally amazed. One of the boy band NSync was the lead and he has a great voice.

Of course by this time, my love for ABBA is already obvious. So it's a mortal sin to go to NYC and NOT see Mamma Mia! Indulge me for a minute and forgive me for my obsession, but honest to goodness, they were just playing the Overture and I was already teary eyed. Waah! Will definitely watch Mamma Mia again!

Living in a tropical country, it's impossible not to love the beach.

I think every Filipino family makes it a point to spend at least one weekend during the summer to go to the beach.

I am not much into travelling in style. My travel buddies and I have a common denominator. Find a great beach in the Philippines or a nearby country and see how we can get there the cost effective way.

Being mere slaves to the companies we work for, it is essential to get the best value for your money. We have no money to burn. And since there is more to the Philippines that we have yet to discover, we need to master this art.

If only I was introduced to the wonderful and exciting game of badminton when I was young, I would've pursued this. I really want to be on the national team. YES, IT'S TRUE!

It all started when a friend, Rina, asked me one day in 1997 to play with her at Camp Aguinaldo . Since then I was hooked. I took lessons. I recorded all the badminton games aired on ESPN and StarSports. I bought a Yonex racket because that's what Susi Susanti used.

For a time, I was really into badminton. Obsessed would be the perfect term. Until my badminton parter, Rina, broke her leg.

I stopped for a few years and took up the sport again in 2001. Now I am more relaxed, I pace my games and do not lose sleep over winning or losing. Enjoying the game is key.

What is wrong with a girl with a healthy appetite? Eating and enjoying your food are life's simple pleasures. I am curious to check out new places and new food. I am not too risky on certain kinds of food but if the smell is right, what the heck! I'd go for it!

Makati City or the whole of Metro Manila have a thousand and one restaurants. If I can afford it, I would have loved to check out each place. I have a few favorites yet I am always on the look out for new establishments offering tasty food.