Isolated and Locked Down

The Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was enforced in Manila starting March 15. It was a good thing that there have been considerations on individuals who have to go back home so I was able fly from El Nido to Manila on March 16.

I voluntarily did a self-quarantine not just for 14 days but for almost a month. I isolated myself from everyone during the first few weeks of the lockdown. Good thing I have a place of my own. But the question is, was I really ready to live by myself without human interaction?

Living independently has been one of my biggest goals in life. I grew up dependent on the people around me. Up until college, I never really knew how to take care of myself because other people always did. Before our kasambahay woke me up, everything has been prepared: 1. water has been heated (we never had a water heater so this was done manually) 2. all the things I needed from my towel, my uniform and all my things were ready for me to use 3. the driver would bring me to school. Looking back, this actually continued on until I was already employed.

My journey towards independence is a long story that I possibly should write about in a separate blog one day. I struggled a lot in the process but the great thing is that I am happy to reach a point in my life where I can finally support myself and live on my own.

To be honest, I am not fully independent yet. In fact, I am still halfway through it. There are a lot of things that I still have to discover. So this is exactly what I am focusing on during this unplanned free time.

Like they say, focus on the things that we can control. And these are the things I have been busy with:

COOK

A long overdue goal that I finally got around to exploring. I started with Adobong Manok. It was edible, thankfully! That was my cue to trying other recipes like Chicken Afritada, Filipino-Style Spaghetti, Cream Chicken, and Sinigang na Baboy. I tried to eat more vegetables so I would steam broccoli, carrots, potatoes and string beans then mix with melted butter.

DO THE GROCERIES

I was like those daddies sent to the grocery to purchase everything on their wives’ list. There were a lot of ingredients that I didn’t know where to find and didn’t know how they looked. Haha!

But of course during the lockdown, this became the highlight of my life. It was the only time I was able to leave my unit, went under the sun, walked on the streets and had human interaction.

WORKOUT

My relationship with workout is an on and off thing. It takes so much discipline to turn it into a routine. Thank goodness gyms and coaches started to share their trainings on IG Live and YouTube.

READ

Buying books is a hobby. But reading took a backseat for a long time. I use the lame excuse of not having enough time. And now, I got all the time in my hands. I continued the book I was reading called “Hippie” by Paulo Coehlo. To be honest, I struggled reading it and later on realized it’s just not one of Paulo’s best creations. After that, I promised myself to read a lot from the stack I have at home.

I would read work-related books from time to time but never got a chance to read novels so that’s what I wanted to focus on. On the next blog, I will write all the books I have and will read during the pandemic.

WATCHING ON NETFLIX

Saw Kdramas “Something in the Rain” and “Itaewon Class” then switched to a Filipino series with of course my favorite Kathniel, I rewatched “Got to Believe,” haha! B

going to sleep, I’d watch “FRIENDS” so I’d sleep with a smile on my face.

HOUSEHOLD CHORES

Washed my clothes and cleaned the house! I didn’t have a choice but to do these myself but to my surprise, I actually enjoyed doing them! Haha!

Here are snaps of my bed and since I don’t have a balcony or hamper, I hung my laundry in place of the curtain haha! Next time I will show photos of the dining when it’s more presentable.

TIKTOK

Yes, I gave in to Tiktok! My excuse is that I wanted to encourage my models and students to join in the fun so they will have something entertaining to do during the lockdown. In reality, that same reason is for myself haha!

LIFE GROUP

I am a Catholic through and through but I attend Christian worships and life groups. This is my secret why I have kept sane these days.

VIDEO CALL

From asking how to chop vegetables, asking for the recipes, making sure the pork is cooked, to just really chatting with friends.

EXTEND A HELPING HAND

At first I got so frustrated that I couldn’t help because I didn’t have online banking accounts. After a while, I found out that some banks were open so I went right away to send my help. I felt so lucky and blessed that I couldn’t sleep at the thought of not being able to extend a helping hand. So I did.

 

The day before the Holy Week started, my brother picked me up so I could finally be with my family.

That El Nido Trip Right Before the Lockdown

March 10, 2020. A lot of questions were popping in my head. Should I board the plane to El Nido, Palawan? Should I stay in Manila where I could stay locked up in my unit to ensure my safety? Am I crazy for pushing through with this trip amidst the pandemic?

An increasing number of people all over the world were getting infected by Covid-19. People started to wear masks everywhere and there I was on the way to the airport about to ride an aircraft where I could possibly get infected by the virus. No one can see the enemy, no one knew if it was airborne and worst there wasn’t any vaccine yet. But in the end I decided to go on with my trip.

It was a birthday gift to myself. I turned 33 days ago. My cousin, Raf, who lives in the US was also in the country for a week, and we made this plan long ago to go see the beauty of this island.

In the plane, I was so quiet… well it was a given since I traveled on my own. But I couldn’t bear to be excited like I normally would in all my previous trips. This was different. It wasn’t fun seeing all the passengers in face masks and sanitizing their hands every once in a while. They too were scared. But just like me, we were all putting a brave face on.

An hour later, I arrived at the Puerto Prinsesa airport and found the bus that would take me to El Nido. It was a 4-hour land trip. I sat infront beside the driver because I didn’t want to sit so close to any passenger. A few hours later, this foreign guy started to cough so badly. I would glance his way and stare at him. I was so annoyed that I wanted to shout at him and ask him to leave. Good thing I didn’t. In the end, I realized it was just the AC because it was on full blast the entire time. I was just paranoid.

I have embraced the “Traveling on a Budget” way of thinking so I do enjoy staying in cheap hotels or hostels. Since I tried staying at a hostel on my Bohol trip about two (2) years ago, I have considered staying in them on my next travels because 1) it is affordable and 2) everyone is friendly because almost everyone are solo travelers. As recommended by my friend who lives in the island, I stayed at Frendz Hostel. They gave me a warm welcome. Right then and there, my fears vanished.

After settling at the lower bunk of this 4-bed sharing room, I went straight to the beach and oh my gosh! El Nido is a place that’s so easy to fall inlove with. I have never seen anything like this before. The rock formations, the clean water, fine sand. A few hours later, I met with my cousin and his friend to have lunch. It was a boodle fight! We used our hands and finished everything on the table — fish, shrimps, squid, chicken, some vegetables and lots and lots of rice!

I can finally understand what people mean by “El Nido is a paradise.” I have never gone outside Asia but truly, this is a treasure, a feast to my eyes. I am lucky that I live in this country where I have an easy access to it. I can just go there when I can and enjoy the majestic view.

Here are 3 things I discovered and experienced in El Nido:

NACPAN BEACH

It was a 40-min land travel going to Nacpan Beach. It is far from being crowded and no one is partying by the shore. I am so done with the party scene so I always look forward to just staying under the sun and spend time with myself. I absolutely enjoy listening to the waves, playing with the sand, getting a tan and falling inlove with the view.

I remember my younger years, I would go to the beach and just flaunt my flat tummy (or maybe abs?) and my new swimwear. Haha! Me and my friends go to the beach without getting into the water. Aura lang talaga. Lol! Plus numerous photos to post on social media. How superficial.

Well I admit I still make sure I get nice photos when traveling. But my whole trip doesn’t revolve around that anymore. I really hold on to the moment and thank God for giving me an opportunity to experience this kind of life. I am always in awe of the beauty of nature.

BIG LAGOON

A trip to El Nido is not complete without going on island tours. We picked Tour A (Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach). It was a whole day tour. Aside from the boatmen, we were the only Filipinos in our group. We started to drink Rhum and Coke on the boat. With Kuya Bankero as the DJ, it became a party boat!

We went snorkeling but didn’t see a lot of fish because of the weather. We also had lunch grilled and prepared by the boatmen at Shimizu Island. I loved how they did it. They brought a huge table too and afterwards made sure that we won’t leave any trail.

 

The highlight of the whole tour for me was the Big Lagoon! The rock formation was just wow! In order to see the entire lagoon, we had to kayak. Luckily, I was with 2 machos haha! I was like a princess in the middle just letting my cousin and his friend paddle while I enjoy the view.

It was a bummer because I wanted so much to take a lot of photos but we left our stuff in the boat. Good thing some guys from our group went back to get their cameras and phones. I just asked my cousin’s friend to take my photos haha!

SUNSET IN PANORAMA

I love watching the sunset. The best place to see this? Panorama or Outpost Hostel. El Nido just gives me non-stop scenic views.

In between going out, partying, meeting new people and enjoying the trip, I couldn’t forget the fact that there’s a pandemic going on. I would keep a safe distance from people, I didn’t want to stay long in bars and I would sanitize my hands from time to time. On March 13, the president announced the lockdown starting March 15. Right then and there, I rebooked my return flight to March 14. Lo and behold, CebuPac cancelled that flight on the day itself. Sucks.

We always say “I wanna get stuck in paradise.” But I realized when I was about to experience it, I didn’t actually want that to happen. I wanted to go home so bad because staying in paradise during the pandemic means my bank account will suffer and that I will be more exposed to the virus if I stay in the hostel. Of course I would be sharing a room with strangers and I didn’t like the idea of that. And most important of all, I wanted to be close to my family should everything get worse.

During that time, AirSwift was the only reliable airline. Nothing else was operating. I patiently waited in line at Art Cafe where tickets were sold. Without any assurance that my time under the blazing heat of the sun and staying in the long queue won’t be wasted, I stuck with that plan anyway. There was no other way so I took that chance. Everyone wanted to leave the island, scared to get stranded. Hours passed before it was my turn to book a ticket. I took the only flight available on March 16 to Clark, Pampanga. They said the government allowed flights until that day. I took that risk once again… I really wanted to go home.

That Sunday, which I claimed would be my last night in El Nido, I made sure to attend the Sunday service online. It was so unlike me to be scared because I always believe that whatever happens to us is our destiny. I realized the reasons for my fear: 1) I didn’t know much about Coronavirus. 2) Though I was confident that my body is strong enough to withstand the virus, I was worried more about getting someone else infected should I become asymptomatic. But then I got to thinking, just like almost everyone at this point, it’s normal to be scared because the news makes us paranoid. Who would ever want to get infected, right? No one does.

Thankfully, I have found my anchor. I am glad that I am back to listening to God’s words and attending Sunday service or mass. And that night, I felt relieved and found peace.

The next day, it was so quiet at the airport. No one was speaking to anyone. Is this flight going to be cancelled again? What is waiting for me in Clark, Pampanga? How exactly am I gonna go to Manila from there? But one promise I made myself as the plane took off: I will go back to El Nido, Palawan at a happier circumstance.

When I reached Pampanga, I had to fall in line to get on a bus. No one was complaining even if everyone was on queue under the blazing heat of the sun. Social distancing was being implemented by buses so they were only allowed to have half the normal number of capacity of passengers — one seat apart.

I got off at NAIA and took a GrabCar from there. Manila looked so different after just a few days. EDSA wasn’t packed with cars and there was absolutely no traffic. Not the Manila we know.

For the first time in my life, I was so happy to have gone home from a trip.

 

Struggled as I see the Beauty of Mother Nature at My 5th Mountain: Mt. Ulap

After two (2) years of countless excuses (knee injuries, busy schedule and sickness), I was back on the mountains yesterday. I conquered Mt. Ulap in Benguet! Yay!

It wasn’t a difficult mountain to hike to be honest, but I struggled so much at the descend. Good thing I was with the right group, they were patient with me as I put one foot infront of the other. Those were the slowest movements I’ve had in my life! But at the same time, those made this hiking journey one of the most memorable.

Personally, Mt. Ulap reminded me that the power of the mind is greater than any physical pain. There was no other way but to keep walking. Slow is better than complaining. But oh my g! My knee injuries were killing me! Still, all the pain was worth it and I’d do it again.

So anyway, I was craving for adventures these days and I’m happy I went on this trip. There are a million reasons why I am supposed to be jumping for joy. BUT there’s one aspect in my life that suffers at one point. So I had to go to a beautiful place to see how amazing life is.

I wanted to scream at the mountains and ask them “why?” But it wasn’t their fault, it wasn’t mine, and it wasn’t anyone’s either. That’s just how life goes. Our shattered dreams aren’t the end of it all. And as lovely as this mountain that I got to see yesterday, this life afterall is wonderful.

Can’t wait until my knees are better so I can see the world from up the mountains once again! Which ones should I hike next time?

Four Ways to Enjoy Moalboal, Cebu

April 14-16, 2017 (Moalboal, Cebu). First time to fly with the handsome man! The journey started off with a bus trip to Dau, Pampanga, spent the night there so we won’t have a problem catching the first flight to Cebu from Clarkfield Airport. From Cebu City, we took an Uber to the bus station to Moalboal then took a tricycle to the guest house.

These are the four (4) reasons why Moalboal has a special place in my heart:

1.  Truly, there’s a whole new world under the sea! Seeing the turtles or pawikan swimming, eating and just being so cute just before my eyes was just priceless. It was even more amazing when I got to see the sardines free (and not dead in cans) in the water. I’ve got no underwater photos though because I didn’t bring any underwater camera… but I’m telling you, it’s better to be free from those gadgets when you’re out to see these things. I sure got to enjoy that precious moment! But surely I’ve got photos before jumping into the water, hehe!

 2. To give a little more excitement, we rented a scooter so we could go wherever and just invent our own adventure. We found the way to the coldest hot springs (weird I know haha!) ever called Mainit Hotsprings. We also made sure we find out why everyone wants to see Kawasan Falls (again, no picture haha!).

3. And it really wouldn’t be perfect if it weren’t for the place we booked! We discovered Herbs Guesthouse which has just been running for only 2 months. Owned by a Filipino (Kiko) and German (Sabine) couple, they really made a “home away from home” for their guests. With only three (3) rooms, we surely had our own quiet time during our stay. And the food! This couple makes delicious meals with a lot of vegetables that they pick from their garden of herbs! Dinner is just the start of the endless exchange of stories from the owners and the guests. Kiko and Sabine have seen the world and they just love to share their interesting experiences to everyone! What an interesting couple.Anyway, the guest house gives an authentic buhay-probinsya experience: there’s no air conditioning and no hot shower. The place has proper ventilation plus the electric fan is very strong that I call it “helicopter” and they have tabo and timba (search if you don’t know!) instead of the hot shower which actually saves a lot of water and electricity.

And to top it all, it’s just one minute walk away from the beach where we saw the turtles and about 3 minute ride from Panagsama Beach where we saw the sardines!

Jan and I just right outside our room.

Filipinos represent!

Before leaving Herbs Guest House with Kiko and Sabine.

4. The fact that there’s crappy internet service actually worked its wonders! We were detached from the cyber world and we just enjoyed our time together. 

Now that we’re both recharged, we’re ready to be back to our regular programming! 🙂

My Pursuit of the Bali Magic

On my 30^thbirthday, I promised myself I’d let go of all my baggage. All the sufferings I’ve experienced for years, all the wasted sacrifices, the shattered dream, and my mistake of choosing a wrong mentor. I had to be reassured that all the stress of the past was part of a higher plan.

I booked myself a week of solo travel in Bali, Indonesia in the hope of healing my worn-out soul. In the movie, “Eat, Pray, Love,” Julia Roberts found love in Bali. But for me, I wanted peace of mind to be back in my being.

On my first two (2) days, I got thrilled when my Indonesian friend, Fita Pamela, told me that she also had plans to go to Bali and told me we should go together. She even picked me up from the airport, what a darling! We wasted no time! As soon as we deposited our luggage in the hotel, she toured me around… she drove a rented scooter and I was riding at the back. First we went to Padang-Padang Beach. It was about 40 mins away from our hotel in Kuta. On our way there, I smelled the familiar scent of Indonesia. I don’t know why, but I felt like I was home. I felt like I was within the comforts of a safe zone — no one and nothing to harm me.

On the way back, we got a flat tire. Fita drove the scooter and I had to walk when we were looking for a vulcanizing shop. Even this couldn’t kill my vibe. I told Fita, it’s still a good day!

When our scooter was good as new, I was brought to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Uluwatu. Majority of the population in Bali practice Hinduism and this cultural park is devoted to the Hindu God Vishnu and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who became his companion (source: Wikipedia).

Last stop for the day was the famous Kuta Beach. I didn’t really see the point of all the hype about this beach, to be honest. I didn’t see anything special about it. But still, I enjoyed seeing the sunset, as always!

The next day (and Fita’s last day in Bali), we went to Oceans 27 and Bali Garden Beach Resort just at the back of Discovery Shopping Mall which was a 5-minute walk from our hotel. I loved it. I told myself I have found my perfect spot.

 

Meet the cantik (which means beautiful in Bahasa Indonesia), Fita! Thank you very much for showing me around! 🙂

After that was the beginning of my solo trip. My friend, Michael Lastimosa, introduced me to his friend who’s based in Bali. He was probably scared for me for doing this trip on my own. Hehe! And so I got invited to a beach party in Finn’s Beach Club, Canggu thanks to Oan Sevilla and his boyfriend Nico Nico Mare. Although the DJ wasn’t really good, I had a ball with my new friends. Plus, I met Gary Marsiano and her group! Such cool people! I ended up tagging along with them the whole night. We went to different clubs and finished at around 5am! Haha! I ended up staying at Gary’s house too. Yes, she adopted me!

The next day, we went to Love Anchor Canggu. And in that instant, I fell in love with Canggu. I should have gone straight there. I love how peaceful and laidback it was. I wish I had a chance to wander more but I had to go back to Kuta.

On my last night in Kuta, I experienced another “first.” I went to party by myself! Hahaha! I went to Potato Head in Seminyak. I wish I went there a little earlier to witness the sunset. It was one of the best spots to watch it while having a cocktail. Anyway, a few minutes later, someone approached me and we became instant friends! Her name is Melyna and she’s from Mauritius. I really enjoy meeting people and sharing stories with them! Here’s a photo of us:

And the much-awaited visit to Ubud has finally come! I fell in love with Kuta, then realized I was more in love with Canggu but when I got to Ubud, I knew it was what true love is. Haha!

I stayed in Swan Inn (near Monkey Forest). Later I found out that this is how traditional Balinese houses are. It’s dominated by pavilions and a central courtyard. Each house has different functions. They also have a family shrine in their compound. Ours is a modern version… with the pool and more houses than the original basic houses.

Every single day I was in Ubud, I made sure I go to a Yoga class. I went to Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio, Yoga Barn and Ubud Yoga House (my favorite because it was located in the outskirts of Ubud and you’ll pass by the rice paddies). I felt very calm and relaxed. The practice just brings out optimism, relaxation and positive energies. I loved every single class I took plus I even got to enjoy a beautiful view of the rice paddies and I could hear the sound of nature too.

Another thing I appreciated most about Ubud was that I got my “alone time.” I enjoyed going to restaurants with nice ambience and just read a book I bought in a book sale. I liked eating by myself too without having the need to speak. These are moments I treasure because I like spending time with myself.

And suddenly I realized I had to see more of Ubud… so I booked a cycling tour. I got to see the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, saw how Luwak Coffee is processed, and I got to cycle around for hours! It was non-stop downhill and a little uphill. We didn’t really use the pedals that much, haha! It even rained but of course I didn’t give in. Good thing there was a couple in our group who wanted to continue the tour as well. I felt so free as I go around with my bicycle!

On my last day, I had the best yoga experience at Ubud Yoga House and Balinese massage afterwards. I wanted to stay longer but thank goodness I got everything I needed out of this trip.

Kuta, Uluwatu, and Canggu served as distraction from all the pain and suffering I dealt with during the past years. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed every single thing I did but Ubud… Ubud was where I found the Bali Magic. The whole place just brought peace of mind to my lost soul. I realized there will always be people who will drag you down, who will never be happy for your achievements. I also realized I can always build new dreams… dreams that will allow me to be happy. I spent years trying to save a sinking ship. But you can never save a sinking ship with a passenger who doesn’t really care about the ship. It’s just there but it’s letting you save it yourself. Even if you know it can really help you, it still won’t. I got burned out so I just left the ship. I swam and found peace in the ocean until I found the shore. I saved myself.

I thank Bali for casting its spell on me. I got to save myself before I started this trip but I had to save my soul. Yoga and the peaceful vibe in this trip just made me love life once again. The old me who used to be inspired every single day, motivated to work all the time and the me who was full of optimism died… and Bali resurrected my old self. And that to me, is the Bali Magic.

A Colorful Start of the Year at the Color Manila Run 2017!

January 28, 2017 – Found myself covered with colors at the ​Color Manila Run 2017! Sure was a bright way to start the year! 

It was a morning of fitness and party at the same time! I joined the 5k category and walked after 1k because my knees were killing me. I’m still in physical therapy because of knees, hips and shoulder injuries but I’m a hard headed so I went on with the fun run. No regrets because I had the best company ever. I ran with my friends Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, Angely Dub and Paula de Asis. 

Look at how the countdown went:

​

Party in every kilometer!

​
A must to have the “before photo.” So here goes:​

Waiting for the gun start:

First kilometer, purple:

2km, blue:

Happy to see Van Luzarraga who’s the new Marketing Manager of Color Manila Run!
Can’t wait for the next Color Manila events! Especially the one in March… And I heard there’ll be obstacle courses! Woah woah woah! 

Mt. Batulao – The Rappelling Experience

November 30, 2016 – My trekking gears were used once again as I climb my mountain # 4, Mt. Batulao in Batangas!

By far one of the most challenging I’ve climbed so far as we had to endure the strong wind while walking by cliffs. My knees were literally shaking as I put one foot infront of the other. But of course I kept my game face on. Saying out loud that I was getting a bit dizzy because of the heights wouldn’t help. And so I tried my very best to keep a slow pace and stop from time to time to appreciate the beautiful view (my effective way of distracting myself).

Going up the summit, I got too excited that I walked past my friends and another group… Until I reached my favorite part of the trail, RAPPELLING! One group was too far ahead of me and my friends were too far behind. I was too excited that I did it by myself. And that’s the reason why I don’t have any photos or videos while doing it! Wow! I felt like a daredevil when I was holding on to rocks and the rope! I loved every bit of it!

The only thing I hated about the whole trail was seeing garbage all over. The Leave No Trace (LNT) policy wasn’t strictly enforced. I was deeply sad that the mountaineers and the guides get to enjoy the beautiful view but have no discipline to take care of the mountain.

To all mountaineers and hiking enthusiasts, please please be responsible and make sure that everyone follows the LNT policy. This will definitely be good for Mt. Batulao and all mountains so we can still enjoy hiking them.

I made a VLOG on this trip. Kindly click on this: FARAH RAMOS ON YOUTUBE! 

Skin Care: Got WHIPPED!

On my “Journey to 30,” I decided to include taking extra good care of my skin. My job exposes me to too much stress and so I need to see to it that I start pampering myself whenever possible.

This afternoon, I went to Whipped (Sugar Waxing and Scrub Salon) at 2/F Forbestown Center, BGC for Half Leg Sugar Scrub and Waxing. I was actually scared at first because it was my first time to have my legs waxed. To be honest, I am blessed not to have too much hair. But I must also admit that I have annoying strands of hair on my legs that I so wanted to get rid of!

I am so glad to have Ate Nympha as my technician. She started scrubbing my legs with orange and tangerine and it felt really good! Afterwards, she got the wax (made up of sugar with lemon). She didn’t have to warn me before doing the actual procedure because it was surprisingly pain-free! Isn’t that amazing?

Good riddance, indeed! I left Whipped with soft and smooth legs! Yey!

For more info, here are 10 Benefits of Sugar Waxing:

1. It’s all good and natural. Made from sugar, water, and lemon. That’s it!
2. Goodbye, Good Riddance! Hair is not only gone from the surface, but the roots are taken out as well!
3. Soft, smooth, unwanted hair. Wow. Regrowth of unwanted hair is softer, smoother, and therefore easier to remove.
4. Finer and thinner hair growth. Reduces volume and thickness of unwanted hair growth over time.
5. Strip yourself of dead skin cells. Sugar wax only adheres to dead keratin cells, leaving skin soft and smooth.
6. Reduces chances of hair ingrown. Since the hair is removed in the same direction of hair growth, we don’t intervene with the growth patterns.
7. Less painful and little comfort. Since sugar waxing sticks only to dead skin cells and hair, it is less painful than most hair removal practice.
8. Minimizes risk of breakage. Sugar Waxing minimizes the risk of hair breakage because it pulls in the direction of natural hair growth.
9. Healthier skin. Since the sugar wax is stripping off the dead skin cells, this procedure removes impurities in the skin. Also, lemon has citric acid, which tightens skin.
10. Sanitary and non-comedogenic. The sugar wax is hypoallergenic and does not clog pores. Due to high concentration of sugar, bacteria doesn’t and cannot breed in the sugar paste.

 

Do’s and Don’ts of Sugar Waxing:

1. Do exfoliate. Exfoliating can help minimize hair ingrown and will make hair removal process a lot better and easier for you.
2. Do drink plenty of water. Hydration will help with the pain. The more water you drink, the better.
3. Do shower before your service. Because you cannot wet serviced area 4-12 hours after the treatment.
4. Do the service regularly to maximize results. To reduce volume, thickness, and easier hair removal process.
5. Do drink pain relievers if you have low pain tolerance. Drink mefenamic acid 30 minutes before your service to minimize pain further.
6. Don’t wear tight clothing post treatment. Friction caused by tight clothes can create some irritation resulting in redness.
7. Don’t pick at ingrown hairs. The bacteria found in an infected follicle combined with inflammation weaken the pore lining. If you squeeze these ingrown, it could cause greater inflammation, infecting surrounding pores. Just let Whipped technicians do their job.
8. Don’t apply lotions, gels, or creams after treatment. There may be increased sensitivity and irritation in your pores and follicles.
9. Don’t go to the beach or workout just yet. Sun exposure may cause skin to damage due to heat. Also, sweat has uric acid and salt and could irritate the tender area, possible resulting in prolonged redness or breakout.
10. Don’t get serviced when you’re peeling. Your skin (not just the dead skin cells) might go with the sugar wax, causing your skin to bleed, damage or irritated.

Here is the list of their services:

You may also visit any of their branches:

2/F Forbestown BGC

3/F Fairview Terraces

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhippedSalon/
For Appointments: 0917-240-5330 | 931-12-88

Adventure: Mt. Batolusong and Kay-ibon Falls

As they say, “third time’s a charm!” Mt. Batolusong in Tanay, Rizal is the third mountain I trekked. And again, there are not much photos as I am still getting the hang of walking uphill. I’ve got to be honest, I experienced shortness of breath here compared to Mt. Palaypalay in Pico de Loro where I felt it was easier to trek (wow, yabang haha!) because this mountain is more steep  (while Mt. Palaypalay is rocky).

I am still deciding whether or not it was a good idea that we trekked last Sunday (July 31, 2016) since there was a thunderstorm, haha! It definitely made it even more challenging!

Seeing the “sea of clouds” is one of the highlights when climbing Mt. Batolusong. You will see all sorts of blogs and Instagram photos attesting this, but oh boy, since there was a thunderstorm, we didn’t get the chance to see any scenic view! So as soon as we got to the camp site, I already felt the freezing cold! And it was such a good decision not to bring any jacket nor umbrella, I was already starting to chill by this time (ayan kasi).

Here’s a photo taken a few steps from the camp site:

These are Marisca and Marie, the two cool and strong girls I met who’ve been climbing numerous mountains!

As mentioned, there was no view that can be seen because of the nimbus clouds so here’s the group at the summit! We were glad to have reached it still:

And so we descended and went to Kay-ibon Falls:

It was already raining by this time. But even if I was already chilling like hell, I was still so stubborn enough to go into the freezing cold water!

On our way back to jump off area, the trail was muddy. It was raining so hard! Check out this short video I made on YouTube to see how challenging the descent was: FARAH RAMOS on YOUTUBE (Disclaimer: I know it’s not the best quality of video that you’ll see but I promise I’ll try to do better next time! 😛 )

I felt like a real mountaineer having experienced something as extreme as this! So I am definitely gonna do this again! 🙂

Watch out for my next adventures! Send me a message if you’ve got questions or if you’d like to know more about my trips! 🙂

Trekking: Pico de Loro, Mt. Palaypalay

It took me ten (10) long years to hike again! My mother mountain is Mt. Maculot in Batangas and I intend to climb a whole lot more mountains!

Last week, me and my friends trekked Mt. Palay Palay in Pico de Loro. My strength and endurance were definitely tested. But the ever competitive me just kept going and going, trying to keep up with the fit mountaineers.

It was challenging because of the wet rocks, it was so slippery. But all in all, it was a fun mountain to climb!

Here are some photos when I was almost at the summit:

And here are some photos at the summit! I was at awe with mother nature’s beauty. I’m just so glad I am given this chance to enjoy this beautiful view. To stop for a while… to ponder, to appreciate and to love the things that my eyes are so fortunate to see.

And now I know that climbing mountains will cleanse my soul in a different level… so I intend to trek more! On to the next!