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Gary V in Salt Lake, UT

Gary V in Salt Lake, 2017

The last time I saw Gary (other than TV and the Internet of course) was during his Gary V by Request Concert in Iloilo City, Philippines back in 1997. I was doing an internship at Sun Cable TV as a dakilang p.a. then and I was so honored to help facilitate Gary’s press conference. What stood out to me, and it still lingers in my memory, was Gary’s warmth to the people around him. I was just there in the background, perhaps looking awkward, Gary approached us (the Gary V yan ha) and started a conversation with me and another staff. He shared how they had Sun Cable at home, too and stuff. You know when you are new and young in the media world, you are just like - in the dark. Gary took me out of the dark (pun intended, Gary has a song, "Take Me Out of the Dark, My Lord") from that experience and of course, made my day. Ano ba naman, fan eh. He spoke with spark and sincerity in his eyes and even introduced us to Angeli, his wife. That act of random kindness, as I would consider it, meant a lot to a novice press person. It meant so much to a fan. Wham!

Fast forward, 2017, in Salt Lake City! Gary V, up close! With the same energy and spirit. That’s 20 years later! Philippine’s Mr. Pure Energy ignited the audience, bringing back his top hits in the 90s and of course, the sentimental ballads that were an anthem to a lot of Filipino drama addicts in the audience. Gary’s signature locking dance craze is still there, still fluid and vivacious.  Even more special this time, his daughter, Kiana, joined him on the mic. What a gorgeous and talented young princess she has become. It’s great to see their tandem on stage.

The meet and greet was like, hey I got this rehearsed and I have an agenda in mind. So I am so so sorry for holding up the line, guys. So let me share this … I showed Gary my picture of him in 1997 told him my “telenovela” (hahahaha). I had a chika-chika time with Mr. Pure Energy, wished him the best in life and told how he is an inspiration. He is an inspiration, a gift to the world! Tapos, the staff whispered, Oy , ang tagal mo na! Bam. Tapos ang moment.

This blog woke up!

So yan, VIP ako nito, ha. First class, pun intended :-)

pointing as Angeli as he introduced a song Angeli wrote

with the sweet, Angeli ... I quickly spoke with Angeli and I just muttered, "Aren't you so proud of your family?", with a sweet smile, she said yes. Then click, picture-picture.

Grabe, close kami. Mega-chika! We were laughing about what Gary shared before about his daughter Kiana, how she would literally sing her mind, like, "I am going to the kitchen ... I am a princess, I am a princess,la la la" ... now she is singing real songs ... What a beautiful young woman you have become, Kiana!

This was in the 1997, that internship, fun memory with Gary ... I got him to sign it ... and additional for my sister ...

I have a confession ...

So I took two weeks off from work. It's not a vacation, nor a staycation but an "errand-cation," how about that? You know how it is when you have so many errands in between, and you have to hurry back to work? For two weeks, I didn't have to feel harassed due to time limitations to get things done. The added bonus is that you get some "diversion" in between. How about that?

First off, thanks to those who supported my little photography gig. I opened my home studio to family and friends, and it was a treat working with the little ones with their bright smiles. Since I will be back to work now, I can ONLY do some WEEKEND photography after 2 pm. Location shoot starts at $125 for an hour session.
From doctors appointments to day-to-day errands, I would probably be on the other end of the US, just driving all day. And of course, shortstops are rather a necessity while you are on the road to unwind. Here are a few stops: 

https://www.facebook.com/luxebeautydayspa/

I had my facial there at $45 only and what a difference. I am coming back for next peel. I have mild to deep acne scarring, and I am hoping to smooth out some blemishes and even out skin discoloration. My aesthetician, Sherri, was such a pleasure to work with, as she explained the procedure and the products she used on my skin. They use natural products as a peeling agent. For the session, she used pumpkin and chocolate concentrated extract on my skin. It stung for a little bit but very tolerable and rather seeing noticeable exfoliation from the procedure, I experienced tightening and luminosity on my skin instead. I have two more sessions and I hoping to see some dramatic results. I will post some pictures soon. Oh, also, she gives a nice neck and hand massage during wait times.

https://www.facebook.com/Saigon-Sandwich-UT-622648931228705/

The spa is in a complex and there is a new Vietnamese food chain nearby, Saigon Sandwich. They also serve Pho and that's what I was just craving. I am a regular at Pho Hoa and I can only compare. Pho Hoa serves better brisket and portion. The Saigon place is not too bad and it's nice to be greeted by an English speaking person at the counter. I will be back there when I am the area though to try the sandwich. I got my first loyalty star. They give you something free when you get to 10. So, not bad.

Korean Drama ... I don't fall into the addicted category yet as I only watch this, more of a background while I edit photos. I got into some of the episodes, and I am more into the era drama, the dynasty era. I just love the cinematography, the costumes, the narratives and I've come to love the language even though I don't quite understand it.

photo from: http://www.dramabeans.com/tag/moonlight-drawn-by-clouds/

After watching The Moon Embracing the Sun years ago, I just fell in love in Korean Dramas. I would say, it's my first love Drama and the recent Moonlight Drawn by Clouds parallels it. I was attracted to it because of Kim Yoo Jung. She was just a delight to watch in the previous drama as a child actress. As a teenager in the newer drama, she did amazing and not to mention the chemistry between her and Park Bo-Gum. They are so cute together. It was so good that I wish they would have created more conflicts, drama and romance for more episodes.
 

photo from: http://asianwiki.com/Moon_Lovers:_Scarlet_Heart_Ryeo

I have watched Scarlet Heart Ryeo  ... it has good ride to it but it was hard for me to watch at first with the casting as the leading lady role seemed to struggle to fit in at first. It got better in the end. The storyline ended up gloomy, so it left a sad feeling to a lot of fans.

photo from: http://asianwiki.com/File:W_(Korean_Drama)-p1.jpg

Two Worlds: Oh, it was fun, at first then it got so twisted, confusing and chaotic with its sci-fi theme, its characters teleporting from the alternate universe of webtoon and present-time reality. It was a just ride, it reminded me of the series, LOST. However, Two Worlds is better because it ended with an ending, and a happy one. OK?! A happy ending always win!

photo from: http://asianwiki.com/images/5/51/The_Flower_in_Prison-p2.jpg

The Flower in Prison ... it's still going ... going ... going slow. Every fan is waiting for the lead characters to ... KISS. It's already on its 50th episode yet no KISS ... they are holding it up to keep the viewers ... for that KISS. Goodness, can you relate?

If you want to know the premise of Korean Drama/Romance series, watch Drama World, available on Netflix

photo from:   https://1.viki.io/c/29149c/dramaworld_poster_780x436.jpg?x=b&s=460x268&e=t&f=t&cb=1

There is no period  because I have not made a confession yet

Metamorphoses

The very first thing I did on my blog site … can you guess? I just changed the title to: metamorphoses. It had been Madame Butterfly for years, but Hubby pointed out the obvious or what not. But hey, I have my own story behind it. And yes, that’s the corny metamorphic story of the butterfly and how it relates to the making of my person. I don’t want to swerve away from the whole idea because, number one, I still like that corny story and I just love butterflies myself and I like my lady butterfly banner. MetamorphoSES for a title sounds like the best thing since sliced bread.

Do you know that this blog is 8 years old now? And, no more google, adsense Ads.  But hey, where did the years go. How did I get here? As the great Abraham Lincoln once said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that counts. It’s the life in your years.” As I turned, as what people say where life begins at … I am like really? I honestly get confused, oblivious of the years that passed me by, not sure how many candles to put on my cake. I will ask mom. But one thing for sure, life is good!

Life is indeed good … just turn your TV off! Right? I don’t know where to begin. One of the lessons taught in Sunday school was The Battle of Armageddon and the battle of the Gog and the Magog. Armageddon, the word itself conjures up scenes of vast armies, anguish, and extensive desolation. In the scriptures, you will find Isaiah saying the Lord will pout out war upon all the world; Jeremiah saying the same thing and speaking of these terrible things; Daniel saying so; Ezekiel saying so. We find Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, all proclaiming that in this last day, the day when the sun shall be darkened and the moon turned to blood and the stars fall from heaven, that the nations of the earth would gather against Jerusalem. All of them speak of it; and when that time comes, the Lord is going to come out of His hiding place.”

Mom shared about a horrifying speech posted on FB from a group I- cannot- speak- of which is somewhat a precursor to what Ezekiel prophesied on the battle of the Gog and the Magog. There are so many prophetic records by prophets from different dispensation, all from different books and prophesied by several prophets. The sequence of what comes first and of the final signs of the "end of the world" is still a blur. One thing for sure, as the Lord told Ezekiel “He would miraculously save His people from the armies of Magog so that all nations may “know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:23). I am just armed with my prayers and faith at this point and will continue to hold on to that moving forward… I have a 72-hour kit, too.:-)

So life is indeed good especially when you know whose side you’re on. Those who are still with us, we are triumphantly surviving it. We have survived havoc before our eyes including - the continual of end-of-the-world assertions, with exact dates and time even . How many end-of-the-world have you all survived? Our generation is one tough cookie, don’t you think? And oh, let’s just love one another. Let’s keep it simple.

Southern Utah Escapade

I just thought I needed the weekend to do some photography outside Salt Lake Valley. I was hoping to capture the fall colors in Southern Utah with the Sand Cliffs at Zion National Park in Springdale, UT. It’s not quite Fall in Southern Utah but the park was, regardless, stunning.  It was my first time and didn’t know what to expect other than what I learned online. Scroll drown for the Courts of the Patriarchs photos.

Value without the E

I planned this to be a photography escapade with hubby and didn’t want to spend much on lodging.  And, we got what we wished for and what we paid for. It occurred to me as we drove into the driveway that the Inn’s name was actually not misspelled. The signage confirmed it to be the – Valu Inn. They left the e out for its value, I guess. Pun intended. I thought the reviews were just exaggeration so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. It was benefit-of- the- doubt OK because the Absolutely-No-Refund sign at the concierge compelled us to be a good sport for a couple of nights. The concierge, by the way, seemed to have not been updated since the 50s or something.

First thing I did was to check the sheets.

Good move. There were spots of pet hair on the sheets. A young man on a loose, sleeveless shirt, saggy pants, tattoo all over his arm, no-deodorant- on came to change them. He did a great job but he left his no-deodorant scent behind, unfortunately. Since Wal-Mart was just close by, we gave the room sprits of air freshener with disinfectant and kept a wax warmer on for some kiwi-sugar-plum aroma. It made a big difference and not to mention, it's cheaper than not getting a refund and paying for a new hotel.   

We made it work and we had a good laugh on our being cheap.

We just wanted a good night’s rest so we could capture the sunrise at the Court of the Patriarchs at Zion National Park.

Time to Reminisce

The night was young and I promised a friend a visit. I normally don’t hang out but hubby and I had fun visiting an old friend, one of the missionaries who once shared the gospel with our family back in the Philippines. Meeting his family was a treat and reminiscing the good old days and remembering common friends were quite fun. I even saw my pictures back in my Young Women’s days, including my entry on his BR, Book of Remembrance. It was customary back then for missionaries to have ward members sign their journal or Book of Remember. This is so much fun to read what I wrote back when I was 16 …

BR entry. This is fun to relive. Look at the hat!

With former Elder Jenkins, 20 years later, with his beautiful wife. How great is this? Cellphone captured.

I had my siblings entries there as well and lots of fun good-old-timers' photos.

some 20 years ago!

We said we our goodbyes a few times but our chitchat just could not end. Just fun, fun, fun evening.

After the Sunrise

We left the Inn 5:45am, hoping to greet sunrise at 7am.  It was pitch black when we left but the light rose up so quickly. We came at the park 7am. From the National Park’s main entrance, the Court was the third stop. The skies were already showing its disparity from the puffy white clouds. The weather was spectacular and the colors were nevertheless beautiful. The light at 7:30 was just perfect to capture the contrast of reddish hue of the Sand Cliff against the blue skies. 

From the Trail view, we crossed the road down to the Sandbend trail to get to the waterfalls. We had a find our way to find the safest way to cross the river and to get a good angle of the waterfalls. 

I did multiple exposures to capture the river, the foliage, the peak and the blue skies as I planned to stitch three exposures in HDR.This what I came up with:

from the "falls" between 7 and 8am

from the sandbend trail across the Virgin River, between 9 and 10am

After this shot, I realize my limbs were trembling. Crossing the current with my backpack and tripod took its toll. Hubby was watching me the whole time while crossing the river, coaching me which rock to step on to ensure stability. I felt so cared for. Awww. Until he yelled, “That way, you don’t want to drop your camera!” It’s the camera, of course! 

Zion’s River Walk

This is the easiest hike at the park. The paved trail follows the Virgin River from Temple of Sinawava up to the mouth of the Narrows, under hanging gardens, past pools, brooklets and towering cliffs and accessible to strollers and wheelchair. The scene was just beautiful!

 

Weeping Rock

The Virgin River

 We left the Park around 1pm. Did I mention that Rangers were kind to let us in without charging us? We thought we were supposed to pay at the exit but no one was there. We could not complain. 

Southern Utah is beautiful! We’ll be back next time and perhaps camp at the ground to catch the sunrise.

breakfast at The All American Diner

We left stuffed. The All American Diner serves real American pancakes! As the server said, "Yeah, this is your plate and we don't mess around with our pancakes!" Indeed!

Hello 2014

Picking up Where I Left Off

There is nothing much coming out of my brain right now but I know I have to break the silence. It’s been nine months since the devastating Haiyan exited the Philippines and the country still needs our prayers and support. On the other hand, my own reality took over since the super typhoon. Gladly enough, the year of the horse kicked off with better opportunities, compensating for the hardships 2013 brought. 

Recently, I took a short vacation with my husband, and for the first time, without worrying about the job I left behind. You fill in the blanks. 

Why Gamble Fun Away?

Nothing grand but there is nothing better than hitting the road early in the morning to beat the highway rush to – Vegas. The early drive was just the beginning of fun. OK. What’s fun about driving in the desert or counting Joshua trees? Well, call me corny but the 6-hour-drive, away from the normalcy of our lives, was just what we needed to start our 10^th year wedding anniversary.  By the way, for ultimate vacation experience, we left our DSLR’s at home.

We don’t go to Vegas to gamble, believe it or not. We just want to ensure that we have fun. We don’t go there for the heat either, who does? During the day, Vegas is … OK, stay in door. For starter, we stayed at Royal Resort. I was thrilled to see the charming lobby with actually no casinos! Can you believe? Even better, across the street is – Ross! A light bulb just lit up. I do need a sundress!

Royal Resort Poolside, Thanks to: https://mymotels.com/propertyimages/258708/royal_resort_photo5_las_vegas_nv_unitedstates.jpg

We held it up ‘til close to dinner to make it all worth it. Fiesta Filipina on Jones Blvd and 33^rd serves traditional day-to-day Filipino dishes. My favorite is their lechon kawali while my husband always goes for the barbeque. Affordable dinner plus free a teleserye airing on cable television made the experience more like a trip back home to the Philippines. 

Wishing for Zen

Adjacent to the restaurant was a spa, a zen in an oasis. That’s what we just needed! I think I self-hypnotized myself with that zen in mind, the receptionist didn’t have to speak English to explain their services.  I opted for a deep-tissue massage. Bad idea, especially when you already have a Thai masseuse. First off, my feisty attendant stripped the sheet off of me. What the heck? I was shocked as I covered my top with my two hands while she was explaining to me to use the towel instead. Oh, I see.  I forgave her although she didn’t say sorry. I let her do her job. Here comes the - deep-tissue massage.  I am Asian but I have not had a Kung-Fu Panda kneading my back. Imagine. I went out of that place sore and the outdoor heat even at sundown didn’t help. Right when we got to our place, I plunged straight into pool. Whoa, the water was as warm as the summer breeze at 8pm in Vegas, not the cooling off I was expecting. The jetted tub across looked - torture!  

It was not all the terrible as I am recounting the experience because I got a kick out of it. I didn’t need Tylenol PM for the night, I was over and out without further ado. Zzzen at last!

Vegas’s Center of Attraction

We stayed out of the strip because it’s really not the main attraction in Vegas.  It’s actually the – Vegas Temple. First thing first: to the beacon of light in the City of Glitz. 

Thanks to: https://www.lds.org/bc/content/church/temples/las-vegas-nevada/images/las-vegas-nevada-808x480-CWD_100714_JAnderson.jpg

Sitting on the eastern edge of the city, 13 miles NE of McCarran International Airport, the Vegas temple was first LDS temple built in Nevada. “The six soaring spires rising from the building echo the arresting red desert peaks of nearby Sunrise Mountain (Las Vegas Nevada Temple, 2014).” The experience inside is no comparison to the stereotypical glitz and glamour of Vegas Strip. I am just glad there’s a temple in Sin City. 

Cirque du Soleil LOVE

Credits to: http://vegasfamilyevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/LOVE-by-Cirque-du-Soleil-Valentine-Day-Giveaway.jpg

 You know Cirque … the last thing my husband would husband to choose to see. But hey wait, it’s the Beatles!  We got a good compromise. For him, the best part was the -- Volkswagen Beetle! How predictable! It was volley of visuals and surprisingly not much of stunts for a cirque.  The Cirque Du Soleil construal of the evolution of the Beatles in dance, mime, effects and props, cultural icons, ornate costumes was like a salad bowl of intriguing, multicolored fruits from the – tropics. There were a few times during the show where I had to focus somewhere else, observing the technological automation of the platforms and the mechanism of the pulleys. The Mirage Theater alone was quite a fascination to me. The show was fantastic but I am not sure if I really liked it. I like some of the acts and of course the dancing and but some were just too bizarre. The little kids with the blank faces were kind of creepy and the walking boots were cool but there was something eerie to it. It’s all a combination of Wow, cool, Wow, weird, cool, wow, okay, weird, why. Oh, I was too dizzy to clap at the end of the show and that’s probably I didn’t hear much of an applause from audience either. Well, it was quite an experience. I am glad my husband took me to LOVE Cirque du Soleil, but it’s not all we needed.
 

The Hoover Dam

We know what a dam is, a big concrete barrier for water reservoir as source of hydroelectric power. So, what so different about the Hoover Dam?  Well first off, it is really colossal! It’s one of the biggest man-made structures in the world and one of the world’s largest producers of hydroelectric power. 

thanks to my android phone

Constructed in the during the depression, the dam was constructed  to prevent flooding as well as provide much-needed irrigation and hydroelectric power to arid regions of states like California and Arizona. Just imagine how much of attraction it was for thousands of men who lost their jobs during the depression.  The influx of workers turned the quiet town of Vegas to a bustling city.

Hubby was quite surprised to see I was enjoying the dam tour. 

Crepes Expectation and a Walk at the Botanical Garden

We went to crepe heaven and had breakfast for lunch. We were offered a drink as if it was the best part of the meal and perhaps more expensive than my 9-dollar crepe with my usual strawberry banana filling. We had apple juice and we’re good, off to our next destination – Bellagio.

my crepe plate

Hubby's plate

Grand at no cost, the scene was spetacular. Directly off Bellagio’s front desk is the elaborate botanical garden display. This is when I wish I had my DSLR, but cellphone also worked. 

  

Botanical Garden

 

especially taken with daughter in mind. She loves horses!

Oh wait, how I can miss the gelato. Vivido is a Gelato heaven!

Vivido Gelato on 1000 S Rampart Blvd

Saving the Best for Last – Seafood City.

I am just surprised that they didn’t much this time. I didn’t see the Barrio Fiesta Bagoong Sweet flavor!  And, no UFC banana ketchup and no UFC sweet chili sauce! The mangoes are the best – $9/box! When we went home, I realized that it’s from Mexico.  But … they are still yummy!

Cutting this short ... 

Call me corny, but the 6-hour-drive back to Salt Lake put a grand finale to our 10^th year wedding anniversary celebration.   

12 years ago

Las Vegas Nevada Temple. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2014, from http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/lasvegas/