Travel Philippines: Sand Dunes, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

Swimming in Sand

That has been the busiest 25 days of my summer! I've literally just got back home and now before I start my meeting-up with friends campaign, I'm going to publish photos taken during the Holy Week. It's weeks late, I'm aware, but never forget that my blog's motto is the undying "better late than never". The first batch is all about the sand dunes in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. 

At 5:30 am, just before the sun completely showed up, we were already in the Sand Dunes, which is highly recommendable to anyone who wants to experience this as well. The sun can be very unforgiving especially when the ground it's shining high above on is made of sand. 

I wasn't expecting the 4x4 ride to be as daredevil of a ride as it had been. I expected it to be a little rough and perhaps a little scary due to the truck's huge wheels but I wasn't prepared to face its ferocity. It's been wild! I wanted to just sit down and strap myself in a seat belt but I couldn't because there's no where to sit on and there's no way I could find anything to strap myself in. More than the sand boarding, I believe the whole sand dunes experience is all about the ride on the 4x4 trucks.






We went down when we passed by the shore. And then of course came the sand boarding.




I'm not a morning person. But I would sacrifice my morning sleep anytime for the adventures on the sand dunes of Paoay. At least now I have new photos to replace my memories of the place. The first time I went here, I barely remember anything save for that instance where I ran after my cousins while in my red Mickey Mouse pyjamas. Although I haven't outgrown running after my cousins, at least I've bidden good bye to those PJs. That's considered a passage of maturing for me, at least. Haha!

Travel Philippines: Ilocos Sur

Demons of Oblivion in the City of Angels 

Last summer, my laptop's iTunes was on a Lana del Rey loop. This time, I find myself excessively listening to Thirty Seconds to Mars' Love Lust Faith + Dreams, Bastille's Bad Blood, and Imagine Dragons' Night Visions. I wanted to think of a witty portmanteau of my favorite singles from each album but my creative juices are failing me so I did the second best I could - come up with a title using the three. 

 

I wanna hide the truth

I wanna shelter you

But with the beast inside

There's nowhere we can hide

- Demons

When you play it hard

And I try to follow you there

It's not about control

But I turn back when I see where you go 

- Oblivion

All my life I was never there

Just a ghost running scared

Here, our dreams aren't made

They're won

- City of Angels

It's tobacco season in the North!

Behind the Pink Dream House

I was entertaining myself with images of the so-called Human Barbie, Valeria Lukyanova, when I thought that the real albeit plastic version (I just can't stop dropping puns, sorry) appears more fascinating to me. You see, other than having an enviable drool-worthy wardrobe, she lives in the dream house, with her long-time boyfriend Ken whom she has a very public on and off relationship. Her story can easily be Googled so it is no wonder that there are interpretations of her life and relationships created by various artists. One of these artists is photographer Dina Goldstein. She has previously shot the alarmingly Fallen Princesses photos where she thought beyond the happily ever after Disney princesses were told to have. Her other work was entitled In The Dollhouse.







I was amazed at how intricate the set has been. Even the models who played Barbie and Ken looked their part. They gave justice to the dolls who would forever be icons. To see the rest of the photos, click the link I provided above.

On Principles While In Culottes

from Note to Self

Recently, I finally succeeded in coaxing my mom into buying me a pair of 'investment' shoes. Thus the reason behind the chosen words. Aside from, of course, there's brilliance in Alexander McQueen's mind as proven by his inimitable collections under his eponymous label pre- Sarah Burton era. Although to be fair to her, her vision is a polished and wearable version of his. Anyway. I completely agree with what Lee McQueen had said. There's no point in doing anything that you yourself find difficulty in believing in. Perhaps the only difference that we have is when we start believing in what we've done. One of my many flaws is impulsiveness. More often that not, I act on instinct rather than reason. So once I've already done something, that's when I convince myself that what I've done is acceptable. Whereas the quote implies that you should do things only if you believe in it. Whether your belief is present before or after an act, I think what's more important is that, no matter what the consequences are, you stand your ground. Or maybe that's just me again. Haha!

Top: Zara | Necklace: Aldo | Shoes: Pedro | Culottes: Zara | iPad Bag: Kipling

I love anything high-waisted, be it pants, shorts, or skirts, or in this particular set, culottes, as they visually cheat my proportions making me think that I have longer legs than usual. There's a restriction though. This may be the longest pair of shorts I'll ever wear as it cuts my already short legs. Oh well. 

I'll never outgrow the monkey of Kipling, I think. Since High School, my choice of everyday bag has always had the monkey.

Arecaceae

I've just been on a 10-day hiatus. In those 10 days, I didn't have any access to the Internet because I stupidly forgot to bring the pocket wifi with me. So I'll compensate my absence with numerous posts over this week. I'll start my Holy Week photo documentary posts with this set.

 I attended a relative's wedding held in Ilocos Sur. To be attuned with the season, I wore what I deemed was perfect for the resort-summer theme. I used my skirt as a tube top, tucked it in a formal white with gold accent dress shorts given to me by my best friend, and finished off with a colorful necklace. I threw on my overused white blazer just to uphold the solemnity of the rites while in the church. I'm more of a fan of an intimate gathering than a grandiose celebration. I love lavish occasions in general but anything that has to do with the Sacraments, I prefer it to be private and exclusive only to the closest relatives and friends. 

Skirt used as top: Zara | Dress shorts from my best friend: Forever 21 | Blazer: G2000 | Block heels: Topshop | Necklace: H&M | Watch: Anne Klein | Bag: Coach

with my cousin Rayne on my right and her cousin Jamille on my left

Aside from the palm trees print on my top, which by the way is the more common term for the title of this post, perhaps the color  I can associate with summer the most is white (whether white is a basic color or not as debated in some articles, for all purposes involving myself, white is a color). 

Ladies Who Do No Wrong: The Courtin-Clarins

I have a lot of cousins. But there are a few minor hindrances that keep me from being with them all the time. Like 8 of my 10 first cousins do not live in this country. And that of these 10, 7 are 11 years old and below. Of the remaining 3, only 1 is a girl. I don't mind though because she's enough to encapsulate the "partner in crime/ best friend/ my person" character. But then, there's another fact that we have to consider - she lives in Canada. So most of the time, it's just me. If I would have it my way though, I prefer we always go to places together while dressing up in coordinated outfits. Hah! That would be the dream.

The object of my envious, drooling, and awed self is none other than the elite heiresses of the Clarins empire. Their fathers are the acting owners of the giant cosmetic brand. Very tall, exceptionally gorgeous, inspiringly fit, what more can they ask for? Here are Jenna, Prisca, Virginie, and Claire Courtin-Clarins. Or you can call them the girls who have them all.

Photos from The Multi-Hyphenates