i HEART the philippines

Sheda and Arezo...just for you


So I've been back from the Philippines for almost 3 weeks now. And all I can really say, is my heart lives there. The original reason for my trip was because my aunty was sick. My mum went for two weeks to help out and I followed soon after, u know to help out with her healing process - after all it is as if I am the family clown that can make people laugh.

It was my first time travelling alone internationally but it didn't bother me although I was wondering who I'd talk to for a whole day. Noone.

I had a 5 hour stop over in Malaysia and decided to sleep in the waiting area like a real person in transit. I then walked around, shopped, ate, internetted then jumped on my next flight.

MANILA - What can I say? I embrace Manila. Let me sum up a few of my observations that really makes this place what it is:

- When driving, if you can squeeze 6 cars into 4 lanes then do so.
- If you want to take over an oncoming lane so that there are 2 lanes going one way and 4 lanes going the other (instead of what originally was 3 and 3), then do so.
- Noone wears shoes and socks - it's thongs, thongs and thongs.
- There are no prams for kids, they are either in your arms or already walking (even if they look too young to be walking).
- Air con and temperature are ALWAYS two extremes.
- Everyone sings and CAN sing.
- There are so many shopping malls that it blows my mind.
- People have drivers and maids.
- Ice Tea is as common as water.

These are just a few things that really stood out for me.

Anyway, back to the trip - I spent the first four days shopping and shopping with my mum before she left back to Australia. I would spend most days at home doing work, heading out for lunch here and there and then visiting my aunty in hospital.

My mum and I were also very fortunate to have dinner with the Laurel family at the Shangri-La Hotel. We met most of Paolo's family which was really lovely (Paolo is a friend of Fan's who lived with us for a few months)


I managed to fulfil my duty but just for one night in the hospital as care-taker. Unfortunately the night that I stayed there was a blackout. No light or no aircon for most of the night. Not a pleasant way to be spending time in a hospital.

Mons in hospital mode:

Oh, and I walked downstairs one day to see the people downstairs preparing for a party and cleaning their own chickens. It was definitely something I had to take pictures of...

I also got a chance to jump on a bus to the Bicol region. In particular, Camaligan where my family live. After an 8 hour bus ride (lying down on a lazy boy recliner!!) I arrived in the wee hours of the morning to be greeted by my Uncle Joy, and my cousins Adrian and Glenn. By the time we got home, the kids were up and getting ready for school. I spent a day in the town of Naga, exploring the markets and shopping centres.

Here I found some dried fish which is a real delicacy!

The streets of Naga...YES they have McDonald's!!

Here are some pics of my family members (aunties, uncles, cousins...)

I got back to Manila and spent a night out with some of my Aunty's employees - Arlene, Yvette and Rodney. We had a great night out down at the Baywalk (where we ran into a hilarious midget man), rode on a horse and carriage, and finished up at Karaoke!!


And another GREAT thing...all you can eat Japanese for 10 aussie dollars!! Yeah, all that food was for two people...


And that was almost it. I had another dinner with Peter and Maia which was really nice and saw some of the girls I had been out with the week before when I went with Peter and Maia to Tanya's birthday party. We went to Quezon city where all the bars are and I got to 'spin' at one of the bars which was awesome!

And then it was all over. Time to pack my bags (which were 15kgs over!!) and head home to Melbourne. My aunty was home and feeling much better. It was sad to leave...but not without plans of heading back soon.

My Aunty Beq

For more photos head to
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10125&l=8a3ba&id=729616350
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=9457&l=7fa24&id=729616350

Manila here I come...

I'm heading to Manila this weekend. 2 weeks. and you know what that means - time to revitalise my blog!!

I'll be around with more stories and pics!

The Chevron

I bet you didn't know that Kylie and Danni Minogue have bought apartments at the new Chevron apartments in Melb...

But really, we don't care about them, it's the fact that Bec and Nima have now moved there. And Bec and Nima moving in pretty much means I have moved into there, Pedro has moved into there and Naysan has moved into there too. After all, we do like the group situations. Something about separation anxiety comes to mind.

Anyway, Bec and Nims, congrats on the fun new place, where I'm sure lots of fun times are to come!

Bec at the front door

Pedro in front of the foyer art...interesting...

Mr Bellamy in Melbourne

I felt like i disappeared for 2 weeks, and here I am, even more weeks later trying to write some posts.

For two weeks we had the pleasure of introducing "English Steve" to the finer parts of Melbourne. A few trips to Ramsay St where Neighbours is filmed, some fun nights out on the town, and most of all lots of LATE nights at the Jafari household (late nights where I would still have to get up after 3 hours of sleep for a full day's work). But you know what, it was GREAT fun. And nothing short of what we show all our guests when they come to Melbourne.

Anyway, here are some pics of what we got upto...

A trip to Dandenong for the Afhgani Kebab - Fanny, me, Steve, Jilla & Sussie

Some Cirque De Soleil - QUIDAM

Coffee on Lygon St

Milkshake's in Mt Dandenong

And what is a trip to Melbourne without a kebab day in Lilydale

ohhh K-Mart...

Fan, Sue and I had an excursion...to K-Mart.
It was very random but we managed to have a bit of fun...

In the shoe section...

Shoes that we wanted to buy for Yuta

Sussie's formal shoes maybe?


These were just funny!!


And then we moved onto the bag section...



And this is at the point where we heard "Security Section 3, Security Section 3" and we resumed shopping like NORMAL people.

Jelly anyone?

Yes, I used to spend my time at work making jelly. Actually, I really used to spend my time at work defending myself and this is how I did it...

So this was one of my best office pranks. I can proudly say I don't think this one has been beaten in our office to date. I'm a proud proud employee :)

Some friendly faces

WE LOVED THIS

(and just so you can see each and every one of us, I have flipped the photo)

Dandenong - Where the best Afgahni Kebab resides

For those of you who know how much persians love their kebab, you will understand the great feat that occurs to go to Dandenong in order to eat some kebab.
Fairly often, people decide to embark on what some would deem a 'feat' to head all the way out to Dandenong just for some kebab. Although don't let me fail to mention that the kebab we eat in Dandenong is actually Afghani kebab. But here in Melbourne, it's the closest thing we can find to persian tasting kebab!
Nonetheless we try to do it often enough to satisfy our cravings!!

So here is the Jafari family plus a couple of friends at our last kebab dinner...