For today's VERSUS, as promised, let me take you to these two interactive 3D museums in the metro, Art in Island in Cubao and the Upside Down museum in Pasay City!

Visiting museums seemed to be a trend for millenials these days. Not only because are they so aesthetically pleasing and Instagram-worthy (hashtag feedgoals), they are almost everywhere and are easily accessible. One will definitely enjoy them especially if you are into arts and stuff most especially these days when they are even interactive as inspired by our neighboring countries'works (Malaysia, Thailand and Korea who are the pioneers of this kind of art museums.)

Both AII and USD are accessible as they are located in the metro! It's an easy treat to your group of friends or family if you're sick of the usual weekend at the mall bonding. The entrance fees are also affordable and they are giving discounts for children, students and the senior citizens.

Ticket prices for AII are P500.00 for adults and P400.00 for students, senior citizens and PWDs. Do take note to bring your ID to avail the said discount. Children below 3 feet are FREE of charge. (What a treat, right?) 9:30AM to 9:30PM.

Art in Island

175 15th Ave. | Cubao, Quezon City, Luzon 1109, Philippines

Upside Down Museum

AII is huge in land area and there are so many artworks and pieces for you to choose from: 

It is even hard to pick one from the amount of photos that you will definitely taking once you go to this place. The only downside is that, more people actually flock to this place so it is a must to go early for you to be able to experience every single thing.

I remember not taking photos of some pieces because of the number of people lining up. Also, you feel rushed and that you don't get to fully enjoy everything. This also make you miss the best angle for the optical illusion that is needed for the artworks to actually be 3D-fied. (THE BEST ANGLE is the key for better photos, apparently or it may seem like a typical photo on a museum and you don't want that, of course.)

USD is relatively smaller with only 15 galleries/features but whatever that USD lacks in land area (1,700 sq. ft only), they made up with the services. Also, lesser area means lesser people for you to be able to take your photos in peace.

There are people (actual people!!) assigned to every gallery to assist you in achieving your perfect photos. They even give pointers for you to come up with the best pose that even if you decided to go experience this place alone (in which there is nothing wrong, although it's more fun if you are to go with a company), you will still be able to go home with your Instagram-worthy portraits.

The Floating Corner, Upside Down House (my favourite!!), Mirror House, Giant Sneaker, Giant Headset, and the Inverted Steel Bridge are just some of the areas that you will definitely enjoy seeing.

I've been to AII in 2015 and they might have new features that I am yet to see so it's exciting if we ever decided to come back. 

I don't get to update the blog as often as I would like / should, so whenever I get back on and the internet at home is not as crappy as it usually is, I try to introduce new things on the blog (and hope to be able to get on with the concepts  for a long time). 

On a quite unrelated note (but somehow it is), Zayn is going to work with Donatella Versace for a campaign/line that will be released in June, I think and it is called Versus x Versace. Actually, it has sort of inspired this concept. But instead of going on about fashion, in which I knew nothing, really, I decided to put up two almost similar things, places, food and the likes up versus each other to emphasize its good points and points for improvement and rave about what I loved the most about them. Also, to give insights if you are to try them as well.

Basically, this part of the blog is a huge excuse to share some of my experiences as we travel and devour anything edible, being a certified foodie that we all are. So for the first ever edition VERSUS, I am going to go for the staple comfort food whenever life gets too stressful, at least for me: RAMEN!

Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish served with meat, eggs and vegetable topping in fish-based, soy sauce or miso broth. To be totally honest, I cannot differentiate them aside from the color of the broth (Ramen Nagi has black, red and green broth, I think?) and the obvious fish-meat difference and I do not have a specific toppings preference. I personally would choose laksa (Singapore's authentic noodle dish) over ramen in a heartbeat but I love ramen as another person does. The heat may be on for most parts of the year but the ramen craze is here to stay even on summer days! Recently, my friends and I have tried Ippudo Ramen and Hokkaido Ramen Santouka in Manila and it's now time to see how they fare against each other!

IPPUDO RAMEN

versus

HOKKAIDO RAMEN SANTOUKA

A little background:

Ippudo first started in Fukuoka by Shigemi Kawahara, the CEO of Chikaranomoto Company. "Ippudo" means "one wind hall". The restaurant got its name because at the time, there were dark clouds over the Kyushu ramen industry, and the founder CEO Kawahara intended to "blow wind and revolutionise the era". (Straight off of their Wiki page)

The Place

Do note that this may vary depending on the branch that you may visit. Ippudo in SM Megamall is fairly okay, if you are into submersing to the actual culture and Japanese ambiance. They have long tables in which you could share with strangers who share the same cravings as you. The Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Mall of Asia branch has smaller area but it has separate tables, if you are more of the private type AND they have better lightings which also means: better selfies and photos taken.

Point to: Santouka (because of the better lighting, haha come on.)

The Food Aesthetic

* service charge not yet included

Point to: both (I cannot choose, really)

Value for the Money

Both are worth its price although if you are on a budget and you also want side gyoza and full bento rice dishes, Santouka may have an edge on this one. It gives you more value for your money. Maybe it's just me who prefer a spicier broth but I had to add some spices to my kara-miso ramen. But of course, preferences. 

Point to: Santouka

The Service

Santouka people are more accommodating but considering the size of the place and the number of  hungry customers during our visit, I guess the Ippudo staffs are nice as well.

Point to: both

Overall Tally

Ippudo: 2

Hokkaido Santouka Ramen: 4

But I love both and would 100% recommend. Also, RAMEN is life so let's try more ramen dishes and eat as much as we can!

And in Japan, too, soon... hmm? ;)

***

The next VERSUS post is about museums! I am excited to share them though I really hope I'd get to finish the post within the month. It's been a loaded one, being the birthday month and all but we'll see.

x

It's that time of the year again, to create some playlists to set to mood before we head to the beach! (as if the hot weather isn't enough to figure. Anyway.) Summer is almost kind of here! I might have indulged a bit and some are probably included on my previous playlists but here are some of the songs that are on loop on my player at the moment. Also, expect a lot of Instagram captions off of these songs for our summer escapades this year.

Here's a bunch of new stuff from Ed Sheeran, Computer Games, The Maine and oldies from One Direction, James Reid (I dare you to judge me) and a couple of random old and new mixes. Enjoy!

PS: I've made a Spotify playlist in here but our internet connection has decided to be a bitch today that I cannot add all of the songs from my actual list. But I will be adding them as soon as this technical mishap is fixed. Check out the few that I have added for now!

Cheers to the summer!

x

I haven't been blogging for quite a time so I am giving you a combo of awesome new releases from one of the most genuine bands in the biz: The Maine. They are also probably the nicest in meet and greets. Their music makes you think. They make you feel. Underrated band as they may seem, but they are here all for the love of music.

I already have scored a ticket for their headlining show this coming August as they come back to Manila for Bazooka Rocks 5 (A music festival). It still a couple of months away so for the mean time, here are two of their latest singles off the new album which is going to be called Lovely Little Lonely, dedicated to all those who's helped them be heard.

MAKE THE WORLD EMO AGAIN! Can hardly wait for the release of the album in April!

Before You Exit may have previously performed plenty of times here in Manila already but there is always going to be that one that will be more special than the other and this leg of the Asian tour may be it for me. Probably because I am totally digging the songs from their latest EP, All The Lights and I am buzzing to hear them perform its entirety live. Also, because I was able to "meet" and greet (and hug and talk albeit quite short) them. It was definitely an awesome time.

After a week of extreme PCD-ing (despite the ruckus that is day job / life), let us relive the awesome night, shall we?

One of my favourite things about attending certain concerts and/or music festival is meeting the Other Kids. Got to love spending time catching up with the old but gold friends and creating memories with the new ones. We share a bond, a commonality despite the differences and that is what making it extra special. Love for music unites people of difference races, beliefs, gender and ages.

They proceeded to belt out the good ol' ones: Dangerous, Settle For Less, and a snippet of Three Perfect Days and I kind of wished for them to sing End of the World and would have volunteered to do the rap part (just kidding) if it means getting to hear them sing it but no such luck. ANYWAY. The old hits are immediately followed by Radiate which is my favourite song from the EP (though it's tough to even actually choose just one) and oh, the joy. They performed Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud as well, the first cover song of the night.

Does @connormcdonough always tear up during Soldier? It's okay, kuya. We got your back :) @mikopotatoo @itsarpee @mmilive #whenpcdstrikes #beforeyouexit #mcdonoughbrothers

A post shared by April Ann (@aprilskelter) on Feb 28, 2017 at 6:09pm PST

And the light that you left it helps me to see

A way through all the bitterness

A way to who I really want to be

Oh, light up the streets, oh

Please just tell me you're alright

Are you way up in the sky

Laughing, smiling, looking down

Saying "one day we'll meet in the clouds"

Up in the clouds.

A post shared by April Ann (@aprilskelter) on Mar 3, 2017 at 3:54am PST

That moment when @connormcdonough "won't stop" & got us all #SHOOKT #BYEinManila2017 #whenPCDstrikes @Manilaconcerts pic.twitter.com/n35h508VYO

— April Ann (@AprilDeGuzman) February 24, 2017

Seeing them made me feel five years younger!

Capping off the memorable night, they sang I Like That and Model.

Team Tameme. Of course, took that chance to be pictured beside my favourite McDonough boy. ;)

Highlights of the night in photos.

If all else fails, though, Manila will always welcome you home, boys.

And with that, our Asia 2017 tour sadly comes to an end. We love you all and can't wait to come back ❤️ pic.twitter.com/oYi7KeCNZ5

— Before You Exit⇞ (@beforeyouexit) March 4, 2017

'Til you come back home.


PS: Oh, and friends, if you miss them you could always just...

PCD is real, mga bes @beforeyouexit @byerope @manilaconcerts hahahahaha pic.twitter.com/V559fElIod

— April Ann (@AprilDeGuzman) February 26, 2017

x

We may be past the celebratory holiday season already but I still am on a holiday high as we recently had our annual Gryffs party (which usually takes place on the Chinese new year weekend) and Joe, the person-in-charge for the programme and all that jazz for this year has introduced a refreshing twist for the exchanging of gifts.

The rule is pretty simple (yet complicated):

1. Every person is asked to spell out and assign a person to the first six letters of their name (omit the repeating letters, e.g. for my name April Ann, I used APRILN.)

2. You will be using the letter that has been assigned to you by a person as the first letter of the gift that you will be giving them come the party. Each gifts should cost at least 200php.

3. The kind of complicated part (it  vary to some if you are going to adopt this gift-giving twist): If you have been assigned to multiple A's then you will have to combine them as one and create decoys (gifts with no content) for the other. For example, I got three A's and so I will just have to buy a 600php worth of gift and leave two (A) dummy gifts.

As for the biggest twist which was revealed to us the last minute, the 600php worth of gift was given to our special guest friend that night and the other two 400php gifts were given to the winners of the different challenge and activities that we had.

4. Do Pinoy Henyo to guess the gifts that you will be receiving for extra fun.

We've been fans of The Soshal Network and this calls for some serious flatlaying techniques (as was previously shared on their hilarious and witty site). And so here goes our party hauls.

***

LEE JORDAN

(Joe)

The gifts get even better!!

E - Eye cover

L - Luffy

I - Islander slippers

Z - Zoo ticket

M - Measuring cups

***

DEAN THOMAS

(Kenon)

FREDA WEASLEY

(Cora)

The cutest, tbh.

C - Concept

O - Organizer

R - Rosaries

Z - Zebra plushie

N - Neck pillow

***

Lastly,

GEORGIA WEASLEY

(My hoards!!!)

P - Poster

R - Red Book

I - Itim na pouch + Harry Potter eyeglasses

L - Libro (Team Real)

N - Neem Soap

 (Like what the actual heck is a Neem?? Turned out, it was a plant)

Additional 400php gift: I have acquired red Artwork pouch/doodle notebook.

Each of us has received five awesome, quirky gifts and here's where we kind of get to show our creative thinking with all the gifts the we have acquired and given. I also loved the fact that we were able to choose the gifts based on each others personalities (my art/book set!!). We knew each other that well, I guess. YAY to our eight years of friendship and here's to more years! (And travels!)