My Hot New Italian-Korean Lover
I’m usually afraid of commitment, but for you I’d dedicate 2 years (on a postpaid plan), or however long we’ll be happy together.
You inspire me to write. I’ll be able to post more frequently and immediately.
You help me get my life on track, which is especially useful now that I seem to be busier with more appointments. But I’ll always have time for you of course, specially since you make it faster for me to get things done.
You may not have six pack abs, but you’ve got killer apps, and that’s what a girl should look for. And I love that you’re big but not obscenely so; I love how you fit in my hands.
I’ve only been with you one day, but already, you’ve changed my life. To those who read my blog, get ready for more gushy posts on my love for Phabrizio (yes, that’s the name I’ve decided to give my sexy new phablet for now).
XOXO
![“Up” and About: An Age-defying Love & Adventure Story :)
On the long bus ride from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, I also couldn’t help but notice the couple seated in front of me through the gap between their seats. I’m a sucker for old couples, so I was really curious about their story.
When we got off the bus and boarded a tuk-tuk to the centre of Luang Prabang, I was fortunate enough to be in the same tuk-tuk as they were in. My Luang Prabang travel-mates, Yasuko, Mako, Jenney and I then learned that they’ve been traveling for 10 years now, with their sailboat. :) SOBRANG SWEET.
I knew at that moment I had to take their picture and get their full names and email address. I knew I’d have to write about them.
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When we got to town, we parted ways because we couldn’t all be booked at the same guest house. But I really hoped to meet them again in Luang Prabang. With Luang Prabang seeming like the prime example of “It’s A Small World”, we bumped into them on our trip to the weee!-inducing Tat Kuang Si.
There I sealed a deal to meet with them as I felt that there was so much more I wanted to know about their adventure. :)
Pierre and Catherine Neidhart have known each other for 20 years now, and let’s just say that Catherine is 50-something, and Pierre is 60-something, and they only got married 10 years ago, for practical reasons, just before they started traveling.
They travel with their sailboat which they park at docks or drop anchor at designated points, then either just stay around the area or travel by land to relatively nearby cities/towns or countries. :)
I can’t even really fathom the boat life, but they sail their boat with just the two of them, with each one having to keep night watches to make sure that they are on course and that they don’t crash into anything (cliff/boat/etc). There was a lot more I wanted to ask, but kept myself from prying too much as it was only our first time hanging out. :P
Nonetheless, with what they shared, it sounds like a wonderful life, and Pierre and Catherine’s similarly leisurely approach to traveling as mine is refreshing especially when meeting travelers who usually dedicate no more than 3 days per destination.
[Sharing Beerlaos and street food with the Neidharts :)]
Stupidly had my camera on the wrong setting so Catherine’s face was always blurred. And I think she got tired of all the pictures. :P
There’s no expressing how happy I was to spend time with Pierre and Catherine. It was simply precious…like having the comfort of parents around sans any potential nagging. There’s so much more I wish to know about their story, and one evening with them simply isn’t enough to hear all about their sailboat adventures, so I hope one day, the sea pushes them my way, and I can be a part of some of their future stories too. :)
Hugs to you, Pierre and Catherine!
Big grin on her face,Jen :D
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“Up” and About: An Age-defying Love & Adventure Story :)
On the long bus ride from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, I also couldn’t help but notice the couple seated in front of me through the gap between their seats. I’m a sucker for old couples, so I was really curious about their story.
When we got off the bus and boarded a tuk-tuk to the centre of Luang Prabang, I was fortunate enough to be in the same tuk-tuk as they were in. My Luang Prabang travel-mates, Yasuko, Mako, Jenney and I then learned that they’ve been traveling for 10 years now, with their sailboat. :) SOBRANG SWEET.
I knew at that moment I had to take their picture and get their full names and email address. I knew I’d have to write about them.
Death & Despedidas: Pre-departure Week in Manila
The other morning, over my scrumptious vegan breakfast here at Hariharalaya, my “housemates” Joel & Nick briefly conversed about death, and how for some people, speaking about it is taboo, when in fact it is an idea we should embrace. Personally, I believe that the acknowledgment of death around the corner just helps us live our lives more fully.
Ready to Fly or Die
This may sound a bit melodramatic to more seasoned solo and/or long-term travelers, but in the last week prior to my departure for my 2.5-month solo trip around Asia, I really felt like I was preparing for my demise.
8 Reasons Why I Love Working On PdP
In my last post, I talk about part-timing PdP to pursue a personal passion.
This is not to say I am “resigning” from the company, but more that I am finally giving myself more time to explore things I’ve long put on the back burner.
PdP still isn’t perfect, and there are things I still want to change about how we do things, or the direction we’re going, but I’m certainly happy about our PdP-losophy (which I planted onto my desktop so that I am reminded of it everyday).
And my top 8 9 reasons for loving the work I do at PdP integrate the very values from our PdP-losophy, which are also a lot of the things I value in living my own life as well. If you care to read the lengthy ramblings of an entrepreneur with ADD or are just curious about what motivates me to keep on with Punchdrunk Panda, come, kill time with me.
Belated Valentine’s Post
I am Ms. Anti-Valentine’s.
I feel it is one of those “occasions” invented by greeting card-makers and other commercial enterprises so that they can boost sales during this lean period. And I’m sorry, but yeah, Punchdrunk Panda tried to capitalize on this too hehe.
Single people do not need this Single Awareness Day.
Couples have anniversaries. Or birthdays. That pressure is enough.
Couples can enjoy each others’ company on any other day, why make a big fuss on Valentine’s?
But anyway, in spite of my contempt for it, I must say that this viral Valentine’s video/campaign by Dove Men + Care Deodorant is a big winner!
And while I’m sure I would be rather embarrassed if the guy I was dating suddenly broke out into “I Want It That Way”, I would be really amused and oddly touched even, especially when it seems like he orchestrated it along with all these other back-up singers. LOL. But yeah, I would cringe too, and repeatedly shake my head most likely. :P
Love,
Jen
P.S. Karlo, I would prefer a goofy dance number vs. a song. FYI. :)
#Sendong fund-raising bazaar last FRI, Dec. 23 :)
So yeah, this is what I’ve been up to this Christmas eve.
Writing this blog post for Punchdrunk Panda’s Tumblr. :P
It felt like a rather Christmas-y thing to do.
And typing it up keeps my hands away from the fork that continuously pokes into the whole cheesecake I had beside me (I have now safely tucked it into the freezer).
I was looking forward to all the wonderfully useless things I would do come the Christmas vacation (Dec. 22 for PdP), but it was nice to have this fund-raiser so I could somehow dent the universe a little with some help for CDO.
Christmas love, y’all.
I’ve another short Christmas-y post coming up. :P
#Sendong fund-raising bazaar with @bloggers_united & @punchdrunkinc at @moonleafteashop last FRI, Dec. 23 :)
* In the photo: Jonver (former PdP marketing intern/social media manager), Robbie (blogger/illustrator), Jen (Punchdrunk Panda mismo) & Nica (PdP’s super sidekick)
When we heard about Moonleaf’s (Punchdrunk Panda’s close “brand friend”) relief drive for Sendong victims, we really wanted to do something to help as well. We’re not as über popular as Moonleaf, but we did our best to disseminate information to our social media networks about relief efforts for Sendong, but we felt it wasn’t enough.
On MON, we contacted Thysz, Moonleaf’s fabulous marketing manager and shared our intention of having a fund-raising pop-up shop on WED (our last day of work, supposedly). However, after further deliberation, we felt that Punchdrunk Panda alone might not be able to raise significant funds, and that it might be more beneficial and efficient for PdP team members to just contribute what we could, individually.
But on WED, we were happy to find out that Bloggers United was going to round up some bloggers for a mini Bloggers United at Moonleaf that FRI, so with the combined pull, we decided to join in the effort. :) We were set on selling older PdP designs at marked down prices (so that people would be more willing to spend), then we also gathered sellable clothing to help augment fund-raising sales.
All in all, our humble booth managed to raise almost 9k, and combined with sales by the other bloggers, Karl, Melai, Ana, Gellie, Angela, Je, we all managed to raise a total of 23k (if I’m not mistaken?)! :D
It’s amazing what we can achieve when we band together for a cause.
We certainly hope things will be better for all our kababayans in Northern Mindanao, and that somehow, in spite of their loss, they still feel the love pouring in from strangers out to help.* Awesome photos c/o Jaja Ferrer of When Eyes Shoot
* PdP Team photo c/o Jen’s camera, shot by I forgot who
* PdP shoes on the table photo c/o Arnie Villanueva of Raid My ClosetHappy Christmas, everyone!
Roasting chestnuts on an open fire (in my head),
Jen
