woohoo!

In my long list of To Do’s before I die…learning how to surf the waves is one of my targets. Did I mention that I looove the beach and watersports? Oh yeah, my blog’s all about that. Haha. I never thought that I could do it one random Saturday morning, not to mention that it’s only 15 minutes away from my home. Club Manila East is a nearby resort located in Manila East Road Taytay catering to the water babies of Rizal, Pasig and Metro Manila. Best of all, PSA (or the Phil Surfing Academy) has put up surfing classes there for everyone to enjoy. Now how’s that possible? Well, it’s the wave pool, baby…

I decided to get stoked 2 hours before the scheduled class at 10AM-12nn. My mom was excited for me, can you imagine? So I ate breakfast, packed my stuff, wore my bathing suit, board shorts, scratch guard and drove to Club Manila East quick. I met coach E-jay and 4 other classmates (or surfmates, naks). He briefed us about the parts of a surf board, surfing etiquette, the proper ways of doing the surf stance and all the safety rules. The fee is Php 1,500 and that includes your surf board rental, entrance fee to the resort, use of the wave pool and training with the coaches. The wave pool’s also open to other guests so they put dividers (via rope) to separate the swimmers from the surf students.

I also learned that I have “goofy foot”, meaning I use my right foot forward when I do my surf stance. The usual stance is left foot forward…hahaha.

After the briefing and practicing our stance on the floor, it was time to hit the wave pool. And boy was I nervous! From the shore, you have to ride the board on your belly, paddle out, turn around and wait for your coach to catch a wave, push you out..and then you hear UP! UP! I was like, what? I have to stand now? Ok…I tried to remember how to do my stance in split second, but for my first and second rounds..I got wiped out! It wasn’t the best feeling in the world because I scratched my knee for falling on the shallow part of the wave pool…ouch. I grabbed my surfboard and tried for the third effin’ time. I was telling myself, I’ll get the hang of this! Breathe!

I’m standing! Haha!

The third try was bliss, indeed. I was able to stand and maintain my balance. The best part was my coach yelling, nice one Jules! Ooohhh wow, I couldn’t believe I was moving with the waves…I was ecstatic! It made my day… The next few tries were okay too. I got to learn my mistakes and how to improve on my stance. The latter part was focused on how to catch a wave on your own and paddle out without the coach pushing you forward. It was exhausting but it was so much fun. I must hit the beach waves soon!

PSA and its coaches do organize surf trips for beginners and pros alike. I am so excited to be able to join them soon. I know it will be different on the beach but heck, at least I tried it on the wave pool the safest way. I really recommend this to career women like me who would like to change the usual working out in the gym routine. It’s a good workout for your legs, shoulders, arms and abs. Seriously, I had muscle pains the day after… but it felt good. It’s also great for kids and parents for a fun outdoor bonding activity…also for couples who need to get off their asses and get a little competitive. Hahaha.

Two thumbs up! You guys should try it before hitting the beach waves…

Visit http://surfingacademy.multiply.com

we survived Coron!

To say that our trip to Coron was adventurous is an understatement. It was a whole new beachcapade for my friends and I as we were used to just bumming around and chillaxin’. We were lucky enough to book a 4-day vacation during the holy week. Holy week in the Philippines is the time to revisit our Roman Catholic roots and pay our respects for our religious traditions. An example of which is through penitence (or “penitensya”). It’s also the usual time when working people file for vacation leaves to make most of the holidays. We chose Coron as our destination simply because it hasn’t been too commercialized. We just did not know that we were up for an unforgettable back-breaking leg-swelling adventure.

One of my officemates recommended Coron Village Lodge. We availed of their tour package for a group of six because it was safer for us to have someone arrange all our activities, since none of us had gone there before.

Coron Village Lodge at night

FACILITIES: Most (if not all) accommodations in Coron are located in the town proper. Coron’s geographical make up is mostly mountains of limestone, therefore, beachfront hotels with sandy shorelines are non-existent. These sandy shorelines have been kept for day trips only to preserve their beauty. It makes a lot of sense because banca rental services have become one of the main sources of income of the fishermen. Coron Village Lodge used to be an old house for the Fernandez family. Ms. Rebecca Fernandez (the owner) was very kind to tell me about its history. When Coron was not yet popular, very few people started asking her caretaker to accommodate them in their rooms. She started allowing people to stay, and even served meals for a minimum cost. People started to know about Coron, the airport in Busuanga became bigger and airline companies started booking more flights. The rest is history! Ms. Bec renovated her ancestral home, which also used to be a mini-factory for her crafts. Now they have around 20 rooms, 1 indoor resto and 2 outdoor (garden) dining areas.

The rooms are basic. They have air conditioning, clean shower and toilet, plus towels are provided. We were lucky to have our own nook in front of our rooms. So choose rooms 11 and 12 if you want to chill in your own garden too. Oh! I cannot forget the biggest key chain of my life! A 12-inch wooden statue! Well, it’s supposed to prevent guests from bringing and losing keys…heck, we still brought them anyway. Hahaha. I felt like I won the immunity idol of SURVIVOR!

RESTAURANT: I will not argue about the food because it’s really good. They serve authentic Filipino dishes…although the choices are limited. The price is somewhat average. Viands to share cost around 80 to 200 pesos. If you’re on a package tour, all meals are included. Our boys enjoyed the unlimited rice so much. But your food will be served as if you’re in your house…not buffet style.

on top of Mt. Tapyas!

Banol Beach

BEACHFRONT: Nada! Like I said, it’s in the town proper. You have to ride the tricycle to reach the wharf, then ride your banca to go to different islands, lakes and reefs. It’s only a 10-min ride to the wharf anyway. The roads are cemented too so no painful bumpy ride here. A tricycle can fit 7 people!

PRICE: Our 4 day / 3 night package cost Php 6,400 each for 6 pax. Our PAL Express ticket RT MNL/Busuanga is 5,400 pesos. Cebu Pac offers cheaper flights around Php 3,500. I will never ride PAL not-so-Express ever again… they were delayed twice! I suggest you take Cebu Pacific. Book early!

trekking Barracuda Lake

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Like I said to Ms. Bec, she was the most accommodating of all, except for her STAFF (you won’t miss her, she’s the petite lady in her 60s who smiles a lot). She admitted that her staff is new so she has to train them more. Be sure you pack a lot of patience because some waitresses can be snooty, hehehe. Or maybe it’s the culture? But I loooove Coron so I will go back for sure!

HOW TO GET THERE: MNL/Busuanga via Cebu Pacific or PAL Express. Van from Busuanga airport to your hotel/lodge in Coron town (45-min trip).

snorkeling at the gun boat

MUST-TRY: You have to go to ALL DESTINATIONS as much as possible. Here’s a list of what you can visit there (ok…breathe!): Cayangan Lake , Lake Barracuda , Twin Lagoon, Caliwantay Beach, Siete Pecados (coral reefs),  Banol Beach, Makinit Hot spring. 786 steps of Mt. Tapyas for a wonderful sunrise and a panoramic view of the town and the islands (guaranteed 2-month  workout and penitence in one!). Calomboyan Island , Coral Garden , WW II Gunboat for snorkeling. Calauit Animal Sanctuary.

You have to ask beforehand if the WAVES are safe enough to sail in. Coron’s waves tend to be erratic…and it becomes dangerous to take the banca in the open sea as waves can reach sky high even on a perfectly sunny day. So ask about the wind direction! We actually missed two islands because we had to sail back as it was dangerous to push through. It’s exciting though! Haha.

Do tour the TOWN PROPER. It’s an interesting trip for the walkaholics, like me. You get to appreciate the unique charm of Coron…how people live there…and wonder how the hell they entertain themselves everyday! Good photo ops too! I also love visiting the sari-sari stores. They still have old candies, chips and softdrinks which I used to have years ago. Sparkle and Cheers anyone?

Things you should not forget to bring: AQUA SHOES (you will trek the stoney lakes and hills, giant sea urchins are scary to step on too!), SNORKELING GEAR (if you want to buy. but you can rent for 150 pesos a day at Unico Hijo store), VEST (a must for the non-swimmers), CASH (no ATMs there, but you can send yourself some cash via Western Union located near the market), lots of water (you will sweat a lot!) and UNDERWATER CAMERA (you can’t miss taking shots of the fishies and the sunken ships).

Visit http://www.coronvillagelodge.com/index.php

guardian of the sea

the huge room

This is long overdue. I’ve been to this place long before I ever created this beach blog. But I still remember my experiences in this place. Negros Oriental (Dauit) is not a popular go-to vacay beachcapade destination, but it sure has its own charm.

FACILITIES Bahura Beach Resort and Spa never sounded appealing to me. It sounded like I was going to a nearby garbage chute. But lo and behold, it’s a beautiful place in Dauit. Although, it does not have its own beachfront, the facilities are awesome. They have sprawling swimming pools with lots of water features. Non-beach lovers will enjoy this place for some R and R. I love the fact that its massive lot can accommodate a lot of activities. Plus, it’s a popular wedding reception for the upscale market in Dauit. Our room was GIGANTIC….The bathroom was so big, you can literally do cartwheels inside it. The bed was huge too…and we had our own private patio. Great room service.

RESTAURANT Big resto, good food. I particularly enjoyed its breakfast buffet. I felt like I was going to die the next day. Waiters and chefs are attentive to your needs. If you want your eggs done in special ways, they can do it for you.

BEACHFRONT Again, it’s not a beachfront resort. The beach is a mere 10-min walk away. However, the sand is not that nice (black sand, not my type). People do rent bancas to go to the APO ISLAND, which is a totally different beach place to talk about. Woohoo!

PRICE I got here because of my previous job as a media practitioner (aka tv host slash producer) hahaha..so it was free! It was sponsored by Toyota Motors Phils. I actually miss thos free perks, anyway, I’m back in the corporate world, and I’m still hunting for more beaches!

HAPPINESS FACTOR Happy! I will go back if and only if I do decide to visit Apo Island again.

HOW TO GET THERE Cebu Pacific plane MNL to Dumaguete…or Cebu to Dumaguete via Ro-ro or Supercat.

MUST-TRY Massage! I’m a sucker for massages. I tried theirs and I slept like a baby!

Check out http://www.bahura.com/

the huge bathroom (that's half of it)

docking in Apo Island

with teammates at the Apo Island

Amorita's infinity pool

It was a week of beachcapade with my siblings. Our itinerary was tiring as we tried to go to 2 beaches in one go. Manila to Bantayan Island to Cebu City to Panglao-Bohol to Cebu City and back to Manila. Whew! No wonder why our parents never bothered to join us. Since I already posted a review on Budyong beach resort in Bantayan Island, I’ll just focus on Amorita Resort in Panglao, Bohol.

Bohol is one of the major islands in Visayas region, Philippines. It’s only 2 hours away from Cebu City via the Supercat (a nice ferry from the same company of Super Ferry).

FACILITIES: We stayed at a deluxe room which is good for a maximum of 4 pax occupying 2 queen-sized beds. Amorita is the only resort on top of a cliff. It has a private access to the beach downstairs (only 16 steps, don’t worry). Since it’s on top of a cliff, it affords you a panoramic view of the sea. I so loooove its infinity pool…very relaxing. The resto is near the infinity pool amidst the breathtaking view especially during sunrise and sunset. It also has a mini game area for Foozball and game boards for everyone to use. Best part is its high speed Wi-fi access, so just find your favorite spot, plop your laptop and you’re good to go. Right now, they are also constructing a designer spa (Mandala Spa) near the deluxe rooms. Couples should try getting the private villas to have your own mini dip pool, an outdoor shower and some romantic privacy. They also have their own Dive Shop and Intro Dive Pool for those who want to try scuba diving.

RESTAURANT: Breakfast buffet is inclusive in your accommodation. Not too many choices but they’re tasty. If you’re on a budget, I suggest you try the many restos along the beach because Amorita meals are more expensive and served a la hotel. The farther you walk from Amorita, the cheaper it gets!

BEACHFRONT: Fine white sand, but not as powdery as Boracay’s. I just don’t like the sea grass that abounds around 10 meters off the shore. Clear waters…not too crowded. A lot of Europeans.

PRICE: Our 4 day / 3 night package for 4 pax inclusive of buffet breakfast and Countryside Tour cost us 40,000+ pesos total. Plus add around 3,800 pesos per pax for roundtrip airfare Manila to Tagbilaran via Cebu Pacific.

Visit  http://www.amoritaresort.com/

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Great staff, great facilities, great service! It’s one of those semi-luxury trips that you have to save up for. But if you want to enjoy Panglao as a group without spending this much, try Alona Tropical resort or Alona White Beach resort. If you want romance, privacy, serenity and adventure, Amorita is the best.

HOW TO GET THERE: MNL/Tagbilaran via Cebu Pacific (1 hour). Transfers from airport to Amorita is included.

MUST-TRY: It’s non-sense to go to Panglao (Bohol) if you don’t try the Countryside tour (with private van and tour guide). They will take you to the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier encounter, Loboc river cruise, and more. Ask anyone in the beach to introduce you to a licensed tour guide to arrange a trip (best to go right after breakfast so you can have lunch at the Loboc river cruise).

You should also rent a banca to go to Balicasag Island for a day of snorkeling! It’s a sanctuary for lots of fishies. Bring some bread for fish feeding! You may also have your lunch right there…locals offer “paluto” meaning you choose from their fresh catch and wait for them to cook for you, plus rice and drinks (very cheap!). After Balicasag Island, head to Virgin Island for the best sandbar and photo ops. Dolphin watching is possible depending on the season.

the smallest primate in the world!

 

 

the chocolate hills..they turn brown during summer

Virgin Island (sandbar heaven)

We recently stayed for a few days in Two Seasons hotel Boracay to attend a beach wedding. I must say that I was quite impressed with its facilities and friendly service.

FACILITIES: We stayed at the Family Suite with veranda amidst a nice pool view. There are 3 queen-sized beds. 2 beds are outside with their own TV, and the other bed is inside the master’s bedroom with own cable TV too. The whole room has 1 side floor to ceiling windows with Roman shades and a nice view of the infinity pool below. There’s a dining area, a huge bathroom with 2 sinks, a separate toilet , rain shower, big closets, lots of hangers, blow dryer, lots of towels and toiletries. I love how the room’s designed…very cozy…mix of browns, gold, native and wenge finish furniture.

RESTAURANT: Two Seasons resort has a beachfront resto, a bar, and a deck bar/restaurant. Unfortunately, the buffet breakfast was not so good. There was very little variety. So we opted to hop to other better restos in the island.

BEACHFRONT: Still the same pristine white beach of Boracay. Since it’s located in Station 1, it is not that crowded!

PRICE: The Family Suite may range from 12,000 to 16,500 pesos per night depending on the season. It can house 6 to 8 guests.

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Yes, happy! I love the room..actually, I spent most of my time there to rest and chill. It had a nice panoramic view so it did not feel like I was just inside a room. I just cannot nod on the food though. So I suggest you eat outside, more bang for your buck. But I must say that the service is excellent. Great staff!

HOW TO GET THERE: MNL/Caticlan via Cebu Pacific, PAL Express or Seair. 1 hour max. Then ferry boat from Caticlan to Boracay Island. Tricycle or official transfer via your own hotel.

MUST-TRY: Massage either inside the room or beachfront! Best to go to Boracay during the summer season (March, April, May).

This is by far the best beach I have ever been in the Philippines. The blog space cannot accommodate all the photos I took there! Marine life here is highly preserved and cared for. If you are the type who wants to get upclose and personal with the fishies, and you enjoy lots of island hopping, exciting ocean activities and utmost VIP treatment…and budget is not an issue…then this is the best beach for you! El Nido is a group of islands off the coast of Palawan mainland, Philippines.

FACILITIES: There are 2 world-class resorts in EL NIDO: Lagen island and Miniloc island. The only difference is that Lagen has the bigger facilities, restos and area…mostly cemented walking areas. While Miniloc is the more private and rustic resort (huts, cabanas etc.). Miniloc has the best beachfront for scuba diving and fish feeding. While Lagen is the more expensive one because of its facililities and swimming pool area. We stayed in Miniloc island, and we don’t regret at all! Our cottage in Miniloc resort is tropical-themed, but the features are hotel-like (beds, sheets, shower, towels, etc.). They also have their own Spa for that relaxing massage after a day of kayaking and windsurfing.

RESTAURANT: The restos serve a la carte and hearty buffet meals everyday. Very good food!!! International meals and a wide aray of desserts will delight you. Your package in accommodation comes with buffet meals either in the resort or in the many island restos you’ll go to. It feels like you’re going to 5 different beaches in 1 trip!

BEACH: In the package, you will have your own coordinator who will suggest your itinerary for your trip. You will just choose among a long list of activities to enjoy. For our trip, we did the following: -Kayaking in small and big lagoons, fish feeding, bottom fishing, island hopping in Entalula island, Pangulasian island lunch and sunset viewing, Snake island, Lagen island breakfast, spelunking in the Cudugnon caves with lots of bats, windsurfing in Entalula island, hobbiecat sailing, sunset cruise, snorkeling in the big lagoon and infront of Miniloc reef, Intro scuba diving, suntanning, massage, island buffet lunches..u name it! You will be brought to and fro by your own private speedboat…

PRICE: I forgot the exact price but our 5D/4N stay was around 40,000 pesos per person. It’s worth the price! Contact your reliable travel agent for this as El Nido resorts rely on reservations made by agencies. Or else, the price will be more expensive (published rate). Visit http://www.elnidoresorts.com/

HAPPINESS FACTOR: 200% I love it! Must go back…maybe with someone special! Truly world-class!

HOW TO GET THERE: There’s only 1 airline flying straight to El Nido islands in Palawan. Island Transvoyager chartered plane. Their airport is also within the domestic airport of Manila, but they do have a separate receiving area with lounge. You will get to the rustic and tropical-themed El Nido airport in 1 hour and 20 mins.

MUST-TRY: Swim with the huge Jack fishies just in front of Miniloc resort. Get a big bread from your buffet breakfast, sit in the water holding area stairs, and see hundreds of fishies eat your bread from your hand in 3 seconds!!! Lagen island does not have this perk!

This is what we call “the next Boracay”, without the crowd! It’s my sandbar heaven! We stayed at Budyong Beach Resort. Even though we read bad reviews in other websites, I still feel that this resort offers the best beachfront, one of the cheapest in accommodation rates and very accessible to the nearby restos and quaint market.

FACILITIES: Budyong beach resort is very basic. Rooms are in cottages or “huts” located in a sprawling beach lot with lots of palm trees and other foliage. They do have a small resto, but the food isn’t good (and expensive too). They have roomy cottages with big bathrooms (no heater, sorry). Rooms have aircon, balconies with either 2 double beds or 2 single beds, 1 queen with single and so on. Choose cottage numbers 10 and 11 for the best sandbar and ocean views, only steps away from the shoreline! Do bring your own pillows because they only have around 1 or 2 pillows per bed.

RESTAURANT: Like I said, there is a resto but the food is lousy and expensive. However, nearby restos such as Hard Kock Cafe, buffets and market bbq’s are mere 5-min walk away. There is also a cheap burger station nearby.

BEACHFRONT: Powdery white sand and heavenly sandbars in the afternoon! Great for boogie boarding!!! Clean clean clean!!! It’s the best rustic island getaway!

PRICE: Budyong beach cottage 10 or 11 is at 1,300 pesos per night. Can accommodate 2 to 4 pax. Extra bed is at 150 pesos per night.

HAPPINESS FACTOR: 90% It would have been great if the staff of Budyong is more attentive. But it’s ok. I looooove the beach here! Must go back!

HOW TO GET THERE: Manila to Cebu via plane (Cebu Pacific offers the cheapest); Cebu airport to Hagnaya port (north of Cebu) via rent-a-van or bus (3 hours). Hagnaya port to Sta. Fe Bantayan Island via ro-ro (ferry boat) at 145 pesos per pax (1 hour). Tricycle or pedicab ride from the port to Budyong beach resort (15 mins). Call 032-4385700 look for Vicky.

MUST-TRY: Tour around the town of Bantayan to see the oldest church in Visayas! Ask around. Also, talk to a fisherman to just cook meals for your group. 1,000 pesos for lunch/dinner can afford you a caserole of rice for the whole gang, with inihaw fish, shrimps, bbq pork, softdrinks etc. Can feed 7 people! PLUS, hire a boat (banca) to bring you to VIRGIN ISLAND and have your picnic lunch right there!

 

I have been here four times already. It’s one of the best beaches that is accessible from Manila by land (car/bus). This is one budget-friendly, private and classy resort you can go to in Batangas.

FACILITIES: Great resort facilities! They have a nice restaurant area situated on top of a big tree. All wood dining area disarming a great view of the ocean. White curtains and reclining wooden chairs with throw pillows are simply gorgeous. The rooms are beachfront “huts” or in a 2-level rustic cottages at the back of the dining area. They all have glass sliding doors covered with curtains that you can sweep aside to let the sun shine in. All huts are suitable for a couple or triple sharing only. They also have beach bonfire, beach volleyball, foozball, mini billiard table and darts. The resort is limited to guests with reservations, so do call ahead of time. This also means no strangers lurking around.

RESTAURANT: The food is great! When you reserve a slot, you have to pay the accommodation packaged with buffet meals from breakfast, lunch and dinner depending on the duration of your stay. Snacks may be arranged separately or you can just order from the resto. You must bring your own bag of junk food and alcoholic drinks if you want to have a beach drinking party at night by the bonfire that they will set up for you. No corkage fees, just don’t drink in the dining area. Besides, the beachfront cabanas are great!

BEACHFRONT: Don’t expect white sand in any Batangas beaches. One thing is that the beach here is clean, no seaweeds, and you can feed some fishies in the shallow waters. Bring bread and snorkel gear for this!

PRICE: Normal rate for twin sharing is Php 2400 (with aircon) per pax for overnight stay. Inclusive of 3 buffet meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast the next day). Choose the beachfront cottage 1 or 2 for that spectacular sunset and sunrise views! Back side cottages have the same price.

HAPPINESS FACTOR: 100%! Great staff! Very friendly, accommodating and attentive to your needs. Value for your money! I recommend this place if you need some time out from the city, or if you want to spend quality time with your loved one or even your whole family. Great for wedding events too! It’s very private..so you won’t have any problems with strangers sharing your dining area.

HOW TO GET THERE: Manila to San Juan Batangas by car (3 hours). Or take a bus! Call 02-2402927 or 09295376304 look for Jasmin. Ask for a map.

MUST-TRY: Ask for a masseuse for a great massage in the beachfront cabana – only Php 350!

 

On a random weekend, we went to Cebu City to have an R & R. It was raining in Manila, but the weather in Cebu was perfect for suntanning. My comments below…

FACILITIES: We stayed at the old side of Tambuli which is the East. It reminds me of those 80’s resorts in Laguna. Very basic. Big bathroom with marble finish, hot and cold shower included. The aircon was freezing. Cable tv included too. We had 1 small pool on that side of the resort, which you will eventually share with a bunch of Koreans learning english and scuba diving.

RESTAURANT: The food was expensive and a bit lousy. We had no choice because there were no other resorts in the area aside from their own Tambuli West and Cebu Beach Club (walking distance). Our rainy season promo included breakfast buffet and either Lunch or Dinner. So we had to bear with a la carte meals that were not so tasty. There was no snack shop too, so I suggest you pack up your own bags of junk food.

BEACHFRONT: Not so nice. Too many seaweeds and a bit rocky. But it was conducive to jetskiing and parasailing. So if you love watersports and do not care so much about the shoreline, then I guess this is ok.

PRICE: Rainy season promo (August to Nov.) standard room twin sharing is at 4,000 per night. Inclusive of breakfast plus lunch OR dinner buffets.

HAPPINESS FACTOR: So-so… If you’re on a budget, then this is good enough.

HOW TO GET THERE: Plane trip from Manila to Cebu (Cebu Pacific offers the cheapest) 1 hour only. Taxi ride from Cebu airport to Mactan Island (400 pesos fixed rate).

Honestly, I’m not the person to go to when it comes to local gossip. In fact, I tend to be one of the last persons to know, or maybe I’m just a little too discerning of a story’s juice-worthiness. The only gossip I regret not learning quickly about is the newest (and hottest) tv series today –Gossip Girl.

To call me an avid addict is an understatement. I found myself watching 3 episodes straight ’til the wee hours of the night…or was it four? I forget to eat, I drop my work and I don’t bother checking my cellphones. I don’t know why but the story’s scheming ways made me glued on it, not to mention Chuck who keeps me on my toes (and at the edge of my seat).

The character I somehow relate with is Blair (just her character, not her social status). She reminds me of myself when I was younger and a little manipulative of my friends… and frenemies. I tend to get my way around things with a smile. Little Jenny keeps me in awe especially how she manages to work her way around Blair’s brattiness with utmost wit and style. She’s the perfect blank canvas of a Blair-wannabe. I’m sorry to say but Serena bores me the most. She looks bad when she cries (Blake Lively is not a pretty crier) and her character lacks that ooomph for me. Or maybe she keeps the right balance (like your creamer that blends with the strong black coffee), but that’s all–sweet and dull. Vanessa is Vanessa…the one who creeps and ruins the bed scene (with bad hair).

Oh Chuck Bass..Chuck Bass: if he was real, I would kidnap him. Skip the hi – hello’s..and just hangout at the backseat of his limo (*lol). He keeps me excited when he gets jealous of Blair and Nate. He’s the angel lucifer who can fool anyone for a quick bite of the forbidden apple. Absolute juiciness! Evil + Charm = Dangerous. Dan goes well with Serena. The ideal Romeo and Juliet of the 21st century (you and me against the world..errr just the upper east side of Manhattan). He’s the perfect boyfriend “formula” of any girl on the street: sweet, intelligent, goodlooking. The prodigal son of a dysfunctional family. Nate is Nate. Cute. Desperate. Boyish. He’s all that…all that Blair wants –giant engagement ring attached.

I am soo scared to see the last episode of Season 1 because hell..I just don’t want it to end! It’s my second love next to Sex and the City (yes, I watched all episodes from seasons 1 to 7, and the movie twice!). Can you please make the Season 2 quick??? And if you’ll ask me, I want Chuck and Blair to end up together. (true!)

And by the way, I loooove the outfits. I even try to squeeze in some Gossip Girl looks at work (despite my boring and uptight corporate culture). It’s a fun series. I really recommend it. It’s a good way to deviate from your real world. Haha. XoXo.