May you have auspiciousness and causes of success

May you have the confidence to always do your best

May you take no effort in your being generous

Sharing what you can, nothing more nothing less

May you know the meaning of the word happiness

May you always lead from the beating in your chest

May you be treated like an esteemed guest

May you get to rest, may you catch your breath

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨

And may the road less paved be the road that you follow

Here’s to the hearts that you're gonna break

Here's to the lives that you're gonna change

Here's to the infinite possible ways to love you

I want you to have it.

Here's to the good times we're gonna have

You don’t need money, you got a free pass

Here's to the fact that I'll be sad without you

I want you to have it all.

***

Borrowing words from a Jason Mraz’ song (he sang it best!).... There are moments this year that I felt like giving up but there are times, too in which I wonder why I even doubted when I should have just put my trust in His plans for my life. 

I'll never get tired of proclaiming how grateful I am for everything that has happened this year. Mind you, it has not been always good. There are days when it is so bad that I would just cry it out at church or cry myself to sleep. I even had to delete my social media apps on my phone at some point, I am so tired -- seeing your life not working out the way you initially plan it to be. I focused on the things that I lack instead of the things that I have. I drown myself in worries. When you thought it could not get any worse, it can and it feels like you cannot do something about it. But you can do something about it. I... prayed. Harder than I have ever had.  And then gradually I realised that He's been sending me hugs in many forms, I am just blinded by my worries to see it, but it's definitely there. It could be in the form of company, of my family, my cat and friends. It could be through the comfort of my favourite food or through listening to my favourite songs. It could be the joy of getting to try and explore things for the very first time. Maybe things are not working out because you deserve something better (You definitely do.) Maybe He is preparing you for something bigger. We've all been down there. And we can get better.

See, it won’t always feel like it’s the best life, but life indeed gets better. Plot twists are everywhere. It’ll make you cry, make you doubt. But there will be blessings and they are everywhere, too. 

Thank you, 2018! I’m forever grateful for your lessons.

Cheers, 2019. Let’s have it all, April x

***

It's the new year's eve later and it'll get so busy at home so I posted this early. I still have a few things to blog but I thought, there is no deadline as this is my own virtual journal and I could do it some other time. I have not been writing a lot or reading and a lot of things have changed all year long, I have figured. We're getting older..? haha. But I still find this cathartic so I'll try to write and share more. Til then! x

While trying anything matcha out is on top of my list when we went to Japan earlier this year (I have even made a separate blog post for it and you could check it out in here), we were also able to try different meals ranging from authentic Japanese set meals to Korean (I have put up a separate post for this here) and Spanish treats as we YOLO our way wandering around our dream destination. 

I swear the Japanese people love to walk (no wonder they are all so fit, too!) and their idea of a walking distance is quite different from the usual that we've known so you really have to load up on carbs. Amusingly, even though we had rice meals everyday, I didn't gain that much weight because we were able to burn it from all the walking that we have done.

Japan...is weird. But if anything, convenient and effective.

Gyudon set (miso soup, salad, egg); Matsuya Price range: ¥700-¥1000, way cheaper than the sets in Manila

Custard-filled pancake of sort at the Fushimi Inari stretch. Yummy!

You can even eat them on-the-go! Price range: ¥500-¥800

*drooling*

It's raining tonkatsu!

• Udon/Soba: Nishiki Market (Nakgyo-kyu, Kyoto) 
• Ramen: An small, unknown resto near the bus station in Osaka in which I’d like to call “rameng gala” (a pun to our very own maming gala). Apparently it’s an “eat and run” (eat and then leave) place that the servers albeit all friendly are giving us looks. “Nakatingin si kuya, nagagwapuhan yata sakin.” Our Jungkookie even said. Truth is, maybe they are thinking why we’re talking animatedly and why it’s taking us too long to leave? (oops? Sumimasen, gomen nasai minna~san heheh) Anyway, the food is good. We were also so hungry then so no photos were taken.
• Ramen part 2: Kamakura Ramen Place (Dohtonbori, Osaka) HUGE ARSE SERVINGS, I am telling you. Have I mentioned how I love Japan yet?
• Udon/soba: Nishiki Market (Nakgyo-ku, Kyoto)
• Nissin Instant Cup Noodles Museum: We get to customize our cup noodles from its content and flavour up to its packaging. Fun experience!

Udon with fish cake toppings!

This is my customised cup noodle. I drew Tata, Chimmy and Mang (it was BTS' Hoseok's birthday then.)

You just gotta! Taken outside the Kamakura ramen bar.

Woo hoo Chijeu-buldak (Fire chicken cheese)

잘 먹었습니다! 맛이 있어요! Komawo, ahjumma for preparing our meal uwu

Tteokbokki and bujimgae, anyone?

BT21's RJ posing with his medium rare steak in a Steak House in Kōenji.

Ginger ale!

I don't know what this is, probably some vegetable but it is good?

BOCA Mexican bar in Tokyo

Cheers, mate!

A proper feast!

It is almost the winter again and I still have a few Japan-related stuff to post. Stop lazying, self. Until then.

April x

Maybe completely desecrated is not the proper term to coin it but I did appreciate the book better than the actual movies in the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series. I mean, it has a lot of potential to be as huge as the Harry Potter franchise story-wise. Uncle Rick's writing is something that is so engrossing, inclusive, innovative and fun. I cannot help but admire his wit and the way he presents old Greek and Roman mythology and tradition in a fun and modern way. It is presented in an enjoyable and comical  way that even though there is violence (you know how mythology is) and the way demigods are conceived may confuse the hell of the younger readers, the flow of the story is easy to grasp. Moral and relevant lessons include acceptance of one's disability, exposure and acceptance to/for the LGBTQ community, love, trust, friendship, family and faith. The Trials of Apollo spin-off is also a hell of a fun ride (it is currently on its third installment and I am loving every bit of it.)

But what exactly went wrong? Timing, perhaps? The world is not ready for another fantasy-driven series (and because Harry Potter is so huge that the general public tend to compare the two.). They are not ready for another teen hero. Most of my bookworm friends loved both HP and PJO series, though and that is all I need to know.

I love Logan Lerman and the other artists and to be honest I think they were perfect for their roles (Alexandra Daddario did kick arse!). Whether it is the promotion, the production team itself, or maybe the way they have presented the plot that it felt lacking to some? I don't really know. I enjoyed it back then (I remember rocking hard to Fall Out Boy's My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark when it has played during the film, I wasn't aware that it was a part of the official soundtrack) and if they are to reboot it, I am down for it, too. I look forward for the series to redeem itself. 

Maybe the world is ready now? (Netflix, come on! Do it!)

***

I decided to update this book challenge. It's been years and yet I am still halfway through it??? I hope I could update it often. We'll see.

April x

2018 is a great year for fangirling and music and we had the chonce (you know I had to) to see two of the five lads from One Direction (in separate concerts) namely Harry Styles and Niall Horan and they both did not disappoint. Their style and genre are different but they have both delivered as we all know they would.

Hazza's aesthetic has always been the 70's and his set has more of that rockstar vibe. I am an old soul meself, that is why even though the lyrics from his debut album may not appeal that much to me, and that I don't find it as honest and genuine as what he would describe them (honestly speaking), I do admire his passion and I liked the self-titled album enough for me to try to get a hold of the ticket as soon as the event is announced. I even went as early as 7AM to queue surprising some of my Harry stan friends as they all know how much I love Zayn more than the others and yet I would not mind giving maximum effort for us to get a good view of the stage from our standing pit then.

Our favourite Irish boy, however, bared his whole soul and heart with all those heartstring-tugging lyrics and acoustic/alternative rock vibe. (Who hurt Nialler? The world may never know). And I really looked forward to hearing everything from Flicker as those are my kind of jam. I chose a seated area for our location because his set is chill and that you just vibe with it without body-slamming and stuff.

I enjoyed both concerts and I also loved getting to spend my time with my friends whom I know appreciates them just as much (and my cousin who is a major fan as well).

I just hoped the bouncers would learn the difference between a non-pro/point and shoot camera and a DSLR because it is such a hassle to try to argue and explain to them every now and then. It spoils the whole experience as they would threaten to confiscate or kick you out of the venue even though you have paid for it and basically you are following the guidelines that were posted. Not that I'd capture everything because I am more of the be in the moment kind of concert-goer too but we all have those favourite songs that we would like to watch over and over, is what I am saying and them having to interrupt you is really a pain in the arse.

That didn't stop us from enjoying the concerts, though!

***
HARRY STYLES LIVE ON TOUR
SM Mall of Asia Arena
Manila, Philippines
May 1, 2018

The setlist:

Only Angel

Woman

Ever Since New York

Two Ghosts

Carolina

Stockholm Syndrome

(One Direction song)

Just a Little Bit of Your Heart

(Ariana Grande cover)

Medicine

Meet Me in the Hallway

B-Stage:

Sweet Creature

If I Could Fly

(One Direction song)

Anna

What Makes You Beautiful

(One Direction song)

Sign of the Times

Encore:

From the Dining Table

The Chain

(Fleetwood Mac cover)

Kiwi

***

NIALL HORAN: FLICKER TOUR IN MANILA

SM Mall of Asia Arena

Manila, Philippines

June 10, 2018

Hello, all! So while slacking with the Japan trip blog, might as well update a couple today as I have missed writing (sort of) and I have not been doing this in a while. It is not that I have been so busy because it's been a pretty chill life with bouts of anxiety attacks once in a while (I mean, nothing too exciting except living the daily life, I guess) but yes, life.

Being friends who've met only met online, residing and working far from each other, I am glad Rhiane and I still find time to meet at least once a year (twice if we are lucky) and catch up like the previous get-together activity has happened only yesterday. It usually starts with me messaging her or vice versa out of nowhere since we are the kind who don't get to talk every day, but you know the usual "Hey, are you free this coming [insert date]? I  haven't been to [insert place/museum] so...wanna hang out?"  with an itinerary that goes like:

(1) hearing the Sunday mass in the morning (it's the only day that we could meet because of our schedules)

(2) going to a museum (We've been to the National Museum and explored some 3D museums together) or whatever activity that we have decided to do

(3) going on a food trip, hanging out and basically hangout the whole day. 

There may not be a perfect friendship to exist in this world but our kind of low-maintenance friendship is perfect for us. A friendship requires effort on both parties for it to work and it's been nearly fifteen years and we are still making it work so it's really a win for us. I am glad to have her as one of the friends that I'd trust my life with if a situation would ask me to. (I am such a sap but it's the truth haha). 

ANYWAY, so for this year's art escapade we went to The Dessert Museum!

The place is very accessible as it is located on a hotel near the largest mall in the country so basically people flock in the area. It is very Instagram-worthy although the free desserts are basic for my taste. (Also, the lack of chocolate basically concerns me knowing that it is the preferred dessert of most people that I know? And it's a dessert museum, so I was expecting more? I didn't check the website prior to heading there apparently.)

The aesthetic will give you a run for your money somehow. We did have a good time and took as many photos that we hardly noticed that it's already been two hours. It is also nice to note that the staff are friendly and most of them would even help you have your photos taken (and you can purchase some of your photos at the souvenir area, too)

Here are some of mine (as taken by Rhiane):

***A PHOTO SPAM, you've been warned***

We capped the day off feasting with some Korean food and Taiwanese tea (as I go on with my matcha fix) and talking about anything under the sun. We all deserve that chill kind of day spent with our friends. Til our next museum adventure!

***

***

THE DESSERT MUSEUM

Location: Unit 124, 126, 127a, S Maison, Coral Way, Conrad Hotel Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Barangay 76, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila

Contact No.: (02) 838 7927

Entrance Fee: 799.00 php (walk-in), 699.00 php (online booking)

Japan isn't just the land of Totoro and matcha but of.... *drumrolls* the boy band, Arashi. 

Well, given their status (fifteen years since debut and they are still as famous as ever), meeting them at random and/or getting to score a ticket (when you are not a Japanese native) to one of their shows is almost impossible. But going to Japan and taking pictures of every Arashi promo/stuff that we see is very much possible. And so, we took the chance to do it!

READY?

Here we go!

You are my SOUL! SOUL! 

いつもすぐそばにある

ゆずれないよ　誰もじゃまできない

体中に風を集めて　巻きおこせ

A・RA・SHI　A・RA・SHI for dream

LASTLY, the best one yet:

Tsukushi Makino vibing. #hanayoridango #domyoujiditoname #wherenayou

A post shared by April Ann (@aprilskelter) on Feb 19, 2018 at 3:03am PST

In our defense, we did not see the "Don't take pictures" sign on some of the places that we've been to (especially in the Shibuya stretch) before taking them. *facepalm*

すみません. ごめんなさい(or not). *winks*

April x