A Dream Come True with Nicholas Sparks...♥

It still felt surreal meeting for the first time the international best selling and my favorite author Nicholas Sparks in person last October 28! I could not remember how many times I’ve gotten over the page of my book where he signed. i just could not believe everything. And when I woke up the following morning, first thing that came to my mind was the book. And once again I looked at his signature. I guess that’s what you call could-not-get-over-it-state. lol. Looking back, the excitement never really receded from the moment I learned that he’ll be coming here in the Philippines up until the day of the book signing. I could still remember asking my sister to call National Book Store a couple of times just to make sure how I can get to the event and that’s pretty tiring for her. Haha.I bought the book a week before the event and since I started reading it, I couldn’t stop turning the pages anymore, haha. It was like watching a great movie where you don’t wanna miss anything.

I started to love him and his novels. In 2002,I watched A Walk To Remember  and sufficed to say, I fell in love with the story so I started reading The Notebook and I was riveted!

Came the event, I woke up at five o’clock in the morning  which is not my usual wake up call, mind you. Right, that’s for Nicholas Sparks..:)) Left the house twenty minutes past seven but arrived @ the Podium thirty minutes past eight due to traffic as usual and imagine my surprise to see a long queue already. My hope for an early bird pass just dropped. But I still prayed to win the lucky draw and my efforts paid off because I got a “YES”! And it’s amazing how people reacted when they got a yes too, priceless! The queue reached the highest level of the mall, that’s how many people wished to have a chance to meet Nicholas Sparks. Everyone was screaming & really excited to see him. When he was on stage, he can’t even say a word because once he attempts to open his mouth, the crowd will just start screaming crazily! 

He was really nice in person. He said “do you like my shirt? It has a Philippine map on it!” like he was really proud…JI think that’s the coolest thing he ever said during the interview, haha.

As I approached him, he said “hi, how are you?”I got star-struck and all I could say was “I’m fine, thanks” when I all I really wanted to say was “I’m great, meeting you is just a dream come true! Your novels are so moving that makes me hope for a love that truly abides!”

I don’t know when can I get over it but one thing is sure, I will forever cherish that moment when he smiled at me after signing my book !It was so warm and tender, it was like seeing Noah, Garrett, Landon, Will, Travis, John & Dawson altogether.

What’s amazing about all these that made the event unforgettable is meeting really nice people. At first, we were just talking then exchanging numbers and before the event ends, we all parted  ways as friends..:))

 Thanks Nicholas Sparks and to those who made this possible!

OLD TOWN WHITE COFFEE

This is one reason why I truly love coming back to Malaysia. You can call it addiction,obsession or whatever but I find it amusing now that we actually went to 7 outlets in just almost 2weeks.4 in ipoh,1 in genting,1 in penang & 1 in kuala lumpur airport. And how in every visit, I usually had mocha freeze and kaya & butter toast.just ordered signature hot chocolate in genting where the weather was freezing cold and when my throat was not good. I really wish there will be one in Manila soon…J

my asian trip 2011

Didn’t miss the chance to take a photo w/ the petronas twin towers as my background.it’s awesome with the lights on at night…:)

we were able to visit a new mall called The Pavillon where chinese new year’s spirit was really in the air.there were 4 kinds of drums to beat.love,hope,good health & prosperity.of course I beat all four and here is one of the shots…:)

Woke up early to get in time for the petronas tower but unfortunately, our efforts seemed futile because the only schedule left was the next morning that’s out of our plan. so we headed to St. John’s Cathedral to hear Mass. the place was huge & crowded.it felt good how people from all walks of life unite in faith. We ate at the sidewalk where there were Filipino foods available and it tasted really good. We even had a free!

We were so excited to have that free taste of beryl’s chocolates. There was this particular chocolate which I describe as “to die for”. It’s their tiramisu and of course I also bought the melon flavored chocolate.

i was so excited because our first weekend is to genting highlands,my most favorite place in Malaysia. Long queue to ride the cable car was never boring .it was raining on our way there but I didn’t expect it to be that freezing cold!but I super enjoyed the fog and everything about genting. For me it’s a place where you simply keep coming back…:))

Touched down hat yai Thailand at exactly thirty minutes past eight in the morning. We tried to explore the place on our own but we ended up taking the tour instead after a very tiring trip which was a great idea after all.took a lot of photos with thailand’s famous buddhas then came the most exciting part…shopping! So much more to see so we made a note to book a hotel the next time we go there.

Gong xi fa cai!!!luckily, we were able to spend Chinese new year. We drove for two hours and reached queensbay mall penang @ exactly lunch time.we checked different cuisines @ the food court but we ended up dining @ nando’s,the best roasted chicken I’ve ever tasted in Malaysia.

we also took time walking with the bay alongside.where everyone get to enjoy flying kites, eating street foods and take photos with the penang bridge behind us. Then we headed to ate ellen’s house to stay for the night. We had grilled fish called “talakitok” & tinola and really enjoyed it. Imagine how full we were so we decided to have coffee @ no other place than old town white coffee!

On our way back to Ipoh,we stopped at St. Anne’s Cathedral,one of the grandest churches I’ve seen in Malaysia. The place is so perfect for pilgrimage…:) wasn't able to count how many steps we took before we reached the top but it felt great. We even got the chance to get holy water…:)

OMG…A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE FOR ME!!!

July 10, 2010, Saturday… one of the most memorable events in my life that I will never forget. I didn’t have the slightest idea that they’re staging a surprise birthday dinner for me because I am the one usually doing that for them. So imagine my reaction, to say that I was surprised wouldn’t suffice. I was extremely overwhelmed and ecstatic to the core! As emotional as I am, I fought the urge to cry. I wanted that day to be full of smiles and laughter! I was deeply touched by all your wishes.

THANK YOU Ate Annette, to the rest of the family and friends for sharing a delightful night with me. It wouldn’t be special if not for your presence. May God bless us all…:)