Daghang Salamat Cebu

Sitting at the airport lounge waiting to board the plane that will take us back to Manila. Sad to be leaving Cebu so soon. 5 days in the Queen City of the South is not enough. I hope to explore more of Cebu's charm next time.

I definitely fell inlove with Bantayan Island. The people are very warm and friendly. Makes me more proud to be a Filipino. Daghang Salamat Cebu! It's definitely more fun in the Philippines.

-Relentless Karla -

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Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Greetings from Cebu!

Today is the first time that the Philippines is celebrating the Chinese New Year as a National Public Holiday. To be honest this has been long overdue considering the vast contribution of our Tsinoy (Chinese Filipino) brothers & sisters. This is definitely a step up to a more unified Philippines!

Let's all welcome the Water Dragon Year with a bang. I wish everyone great health and wealth!

GONG XI FA CAI!

Photo Credit: Chris MetalPaw

- Relentless Karla -

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Book Review: Before I Go to Sleep

“I cannot imagine how I will cope when I discover that my life is behind me, has already happened, and I have nothing to show for it. No treasure house of collection, no wealth of experience, no accumulated wisdom to pass on. What are we, if not an accumulation of our memories?” ― S.J. Watson, Before I Go to Sleep

What happens if one day you wake up and you have no idea where you are and who you are? A massive case of hangover? How about if you can't remember

much about your past and you've also lost the ability to create new memories?

Welcome to Christine's life.

When I first saw the book at the bookstore I was drawn to it by the image on the front cover. As I read the synopsis I got intrigued and then I thought to myself, "Sounds like 50 First Dates or The Notebook."

I quickly went to Amazon UK site to check reviews. Surprise, surprise! Currently it's #1 on the Top 100 Paid Kindle e-books!

The book is so much more intense than the movies I mentioned above. I'm glad I gave it the benefit of the doubt. The story line is very raw! Very well engaging. I started reading it with an intention of just reading a few pages however I couldn't put it down until I've finished it. It's amazing to think that this book is actually SJ Watson's first novel.

The book was only released in 2011 and has been published in 37 countries and is now an international best-seller. Not only that, in the same year Ridley Scott bagged the film rights. Oh you know, THE Ridley Scott! Remember Gladiator, Black Hawk Down & American Gangters? Not bad for a first novel huh?

I cannot hardly imagine what it would feel like to be stripped of my memory. Let alone not being able to remember the people I love most dearly!

Moral of the story - to treasure the significant people in your life and treasure your memories with them and build more. Most importantly don't miss the chance to say I love you everyday and live life with no regrets.

-Relentless Karla-

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2011 - Looking back

    

Looking back at the year that was, 2011 - albeit a little late. I feel this post is mandatory as I had an amazing year! 

Here's a rundown;

JANUARY 

Spent Chinese New Year in Philippines second year in a row.
Each year the goal is to visit a new place. This year - Coron, Palawan.

and catching up with dear friends from CVG & College.

FEBRUARY 

I started writing again. My 29th birthday present to myself, 

my own domain www.relentlesskarla.com - Relentless Karla was born! 

Abangers weekend get-away! - Batam, Indonesia

MARCH

Celebrated Mom's 60th birthday in Singapore.

Never say goodbye! *sob*

APRIL

#14 crossed off my bucket list. Enrolled in SLAP & Pole Classes.

MAY

Discover Scuba Diving. Crossing #16 off my bucket list!

JUNE

Revisited Hong Kong. A quick get-away before rejoining the rat race 

plus to celebrate the new job. After 3 months of being unemployed, 

I'm a Lady of leisure - no more!

JULY

Signed up to the Standard Chartered Singapore 10km Marathon 2011.

Charlotte visited Singapore.

       AUGUST

Moved house. Goodbye Azalea Park - my first home in Singapore for 2 years.

Our Journey

SEPTEMBER

Long weekend w/ friends in Bangkok, the City of Smiles.

OCTOBER

M!SK Clothing was launched!

NOVEMBER

LASIK - check! Crossing #26 off my bucket list.

An early Christmas treat from my girlfriend Frankie! She took me to
see Hollywood Actor Kevin Spacey in Richard III, directed by Sam Mendes.

DECEMBER

Completed the 10km SCB Marathon Singapore 2011! Crossing #16 off my bucket list. 

Bath Abbey, Roman Baths & the Pump Room. My first time in Bath, certainly not the last!

Finally, my dream to see Les Miserables & Wicked at the West End came true!

What a relentless year that was huh?

It was indeed one of the most memorable years of my life. A year of self-development and self-discovery. Goodness me, I have done and tried more new things in the last 12 months than I have in the last 12 years! 

 

-Relentless Karla -

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Reality Bites

Another day in the office. Except it's the first day back after a 3-week long Christmas holiday. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm going away again in 2 weeks time for Chinese New Year I would have had major holiday blues. 


I'm thinking of printing some holiday snaps to put on my work desk, especially ones I took of Bruges - a charming Belgian medieval city, the Venice of the North! Definitely one of the places I would want to go back and visit again one day. Such a romantic place! I regret staying overnight in Brussels instead. Oh well, there's always next time.

I wonder how long before I recover from this bloody jetlag! I can't believe I'm actually missing the cold. I swear A/C is unhealthy especially in public places. My cold is just getting worse. Probably the sudden climate change. Anyway, enough chit-chat. I better get on and clear my 250+ emails. If only it will clear itself. I guess I can always hit the delete all button - tempting!

Gotta snap out of this daydream. Ciao!

Water Dragon Year

According to the Chinese Calendar, 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon. It's fascinating how time flies. Another year has gone by. The saying "time flies" I fell is somewhat of an understatement. 2011 swift by so quickly that before I knew it - it's 2012!


Going back to work on Monday from a 3-week holiday. So many great new experiences! Definitely a great way to wrap up the year and start the new year's.

During a recent visit to the Anne Frank's House in Amsterdam I saw a quote on the wall. "To build a future you have to know the past" - Otto frank 1967. Otto was Anne's father. She dreamt to be a journalist and a famous writer and through her diaries she indeed became famous. Sadly she didn't see it happen. Her courage was very remarkable especially at such a young age. Truly an inspiration.

Anne Frank House
Prinsengracht, Amsterdam

Otto was right. We need to look back to be able to create a better future. The holiday helped me put a lot of things into perspective. During the long plane, car and train journeys I found myself reflecting a lot.


Though life is not always great, rough times I think is a blessing in disguise, it reminds us memories of the good times and then we get to appreciate it even more.


The New Year is the perfect time to reflect. To see where we have gone wrong in the last year and to try and do things differently to hopefully make them right this year. For me personally, reflecting helps me to assess and rearrange my goals and priorities and see what and where I've gone wrong in the past year and cross my fingers and hope that next time it will work out better.


I have been extremely blessed. I have so much to be grateful for. Hence, I count my blessings not just in the New Year but everyday the whole year round.

-Relentless Karla -

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