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De-Clutter Your Room

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Yesterday, I spent most of the day re-arranging my bedroom. I moved cabinets and drawers. I got rid of a few tables, big and small. This is nothing new of course. In the family, I am known for trying to make something new out of my room. However, one major difference this time around is the fact that I moved my bed.

It’s amazing what a difference moving one piece of furniture can do to a room. Instantly, I have this huge space in the middle. I’m thinking of putting a carpet there, actually. I have also gotten rid of years and years’ worth of paper. All that time, I had stored them in some cabinet or drawer, vowing to one day sort them out.

You might be wondering why I’m telling you about all this. Well, aside from having a nicer room, I realize that my mind is also more organized. Now that I don’t have clutter hanging around in every nook and cranny, I can breathe easier and also think clearer. I am less stressed.

Here are two important tips on how to de-clutter your room.

* Have a plan
Sometimes, diving into such a big task (such as cleaning your room after a long time) can be daunting. Unless you have a concrete plan, you might end up not finishing what you started. All you’ll have is more mess than what you had to begin with.

* Do not wait until tomorrow what you can do today
Obviously, I procrastinated and procrastinated until kingdom come. And I ended up wearing myself thin with more than six bags filled with paper. While they’re good for recycling and selling at junk shops, I must have spent the better part of the day just going through the documents.

* The simpler the better
Incorporate the zen way of living. I found out that the more desks and drawers you have, the more you are tempted to just stack your things on or in them. Aside from gathering more dust, they just add complication to your life. I have to admit that I love collecting interesting stuff. But if you don’t have any room for them, take a pass card.

A Humble City

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Hoi An is like setting foot inside one of those old Chinese movies. The elements are all there. From the low-tiled roofs to the narrow streets, Hoi An is a picture perfect replica of what ancient Vietnam used to be. The small city is located in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. In the 16th and 17th century, it served as one of the major trading centers in Southeast Asia, attracting a lot of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and even Dutch people.

Now, Hoi An is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite being a relatively small city, it has been enjoying a boom in its tourism industry in the recent years. A lot of visitors are taken in by the number of shops selling arts and crafts unique to Vietnam. Visiting the city’s main attractions require coupons. These are available at the Hoi An Office of Tourist Services.

The city also has a place for modern technology. There are a number of restaurants, bars and Internet cafes by the river. However, the locals make it a point to shut off such modernities every 15th day of each lunar month. This means no fluorescent lights. No neon lights. No television. Not even modern modes of transportation.

On this day, Hoi An celebrates the Buddhist way of worship. This is going to be a more interesting experience for those who want immerse themselves in the city’s culture and history. Paper lanterns will hang everywhere, giving the city a most intimate glow. There will also be incense and singing, transporting tourists to a time long passed.

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Awaiting Speed Racer

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I remember watching “Speed Racer” way back when I was still ten or eleven years old. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s a little background information. Speed Racer was one of the first anime series that ever made it big outside of Japan. The manga (comic book) was created by Tatsuo Yoshida and was later turned into an actual animated series. Basically, the story revolves around Speed Racer and his love for automobile racing.

The characters include his father and creator of the Mach 5, his younger brother Spritle and his pet chimpanzee Chim-Chim, his girlfriend-of-sorts Trixie and the mysterious Racer X whom Speed Racer is determined to defeat.

Now the reason why I’m digging up these childhood memories is because of a trailer I saw in a movie theater just recently. Apparently, Warner Brothers has picked up on the potential of Speed Racer as a commercial film.

The characters didn’t change much from the original story. In fact, I have to say that they made the film as authentic as possible and yet managed to give it the modern appeal for today’s audience.


Emile Hirsch stars as Speed Racer. You might recognize him from his recent film “Into the Wild.” I was first introduced to his talent a few years ago when I saw “The Emperor’s Club.” And once again in “The Girl Next Door.” Both movies are inspiring and deal with the subject of courage and dignity albeit in different ways.

I’m a little glad to see him move away from that genre and into something more mainstream. And may I just say that apart from his acting skills, he really does resemble Speed Racer from the original series. They share the same boyish looks and determined eyes.

Christina Ricci portrays Speed Racer’s girlfriend Trixie. If I remember correctly, Trixie’s character is a bit more energetic and loud so this should be pretty interesting. I haven’t seen her on the big screen lately either.

This sounds like a promising movie and will hopefully be worth the money. Other huge stars included in this film are Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman. Korean superstar Rain is also included in the stellar cast.

The film is set to be shown in theaters in May. Better mark your calendars! Think “The Fast and the Furious” for the whole family. This is one movie you don’t want to miss.

Day Trip to Tagaytay

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I know I posted an article about Tagaytay before but we just came back from another Tagaytay trip the other day and I knew I had to dedicate another entry to it. We didn’t go to the same places this time. And although we only had a day to enjoy Tagaytay, we were equipped with a guide who knew the area well. My Mom’s friend– Auntie Mila. For the record, it had been colder than usual. Jackets were a must!

Our first stop was the Moon Garden. Tagaytay is a nesting ground of gardens. Because of the wonderfully cool climate, flowers and plants thrive. Their fruits and various herbs are also popular among tourists and locals alike.


Anyway, Moon Garden is a lovely garden filled with lots of moon stuff. They also have an orchard of sorts with large paintings of flowers standing guard. If you’re a real flower lover, you will have great appreciation for all the flowers in Moon Garden. My Auntie Mila is one such person and I can’t even count the number of times she stopped by a tree and pointed out the characteristics of each bloom. I have never been much of a flower person (except when it comes to flowers given on Valentine’s Day) but I was still able to appreciate the beauty of them.


We had lunch at Royale Tagaytay. From my point of view, it’s basically an exclusive golf membership club. But the food is delicious! We stuffed ourselves silly with all kinds of pasta, cake, salad, chicken, beef… You name it! There were a lot of people that day. The kids almost outnumbered the adults! Perhaps that’s why they built a pool and a playground for them to play in.


We also stopped by Sonya’s Garden, one of the most popular spots in Tagaytay. Before this trip, I already had an image of the garden in mind. But what I saw there blew me away. Sonya’s Garden is a big garden! There were a lot of guests coming in and out, too! It had a bakery of its own where you can pick out a lot of wonderfully unique souvenirs like special coco jams and the famous Alamid coffee. There is also another souvenir shop in front where you can marvel at antique items. I think I spotted beautiful white linen somewhere in the back. The people there are all so friendly, too.

Sonya’s Garden has numerous dining areas. All of them have the charm and allure of the old Spanish-era Philippines. There are antique tea cups displayed in cabinets in some dining areas. And flowers as far as the eye can see. Once again, my Auntie Mila was enchanted. She has been there before (being the owner’s friend and all) but the flowers and the absolutely beautiful scenery still holds a power over her. There is also a spa service inside the garden for those who want to just kick off their shoes and relax. For those who want to stay overnight or for a couple of nights, they can avail of the beautiful houses built inside the garden. The rooms are fully furnished with the same Spanish-Filipino flair and provides a very romantic setting.

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon so perhaps a trip to Tagaytay will make the day more memorable.

Goodbye Heath Ledger

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Heath Ledger is dead.

It’s a little hard to believe I know. He was only 28 years old after all and fans have been excitedly waiting for the showing of The Dark Knight where the actor played the role of Joker. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that he gave us an excellent performance in the groundbreaking film “Brokeback Mountain?” I remember watching it in the cinema and crying uncontrollably by the end of the scene. Nobody was able to predict this happening.

According to reports, Heath Ledger was found lying in bed with prescription pills. It didn’t appear to be a suicide but an accidental overdose. Apparently, he had been having serious sleeping problems– sometimes only getting two hours of sleep at night. Sources also share that the actor had been having difficulty choosing scripts for movie projects. He was also in the middle of filming “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.” The film is about a traveling theater company. It’s something I had been really looking forward too as well.

Heath Ledger was recently divorced from wife Michelle Williams with whom he had a two-year-old daughter. No word yet on how the rest of his loved ones are coping with the loss. All I know is that the industry has lost one of the most intense and amazing actors around.

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