I shall return...

Despite everything that has happened to me in the Phils....no water, dirty environment, hearing stories about all the robberies, kidnapping, hold-ups, getting sick...etc.......I'D STILL GO BACK THERE. Actually, I didn't want to leave. Why???

Firstly because the food and drinks are great and are cheap! For NZD$350, you can have a laureat banquet table for 12 people consisting of food like Shark's Fin soup, Abalone with sea cucumber, Peking Duck, fried Pigeon, Crab, steamed Fish, different kinds of Cold Cuts, Prawns, Scallops with cashew nuts, and 3 different kinds of dessert! Also, where else would I get fresh fruit shakes (for less than NZD$2) and fresh fruit juice and Cali Shandy! Also, tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, papaya, rambutan, lychee, Star apple, lanzones, Chico, jackfruit, dragonfruit, pomelo, guava, aratilis....hmmmmm they're so irresistable!

Secondly, the shopping is fantastic! Most of you will know how much I love to shop. If you spend NZD$1000 you will be over the weight limit at the airport cuz you've bought so many bags, shoes, clothes, DVDs, books, etc.

Thirdly, having drivers and maids is a big bonus! Call me lazy, but I hate to do household chores. In the Phils, the salary of servants are so cheap: 300pesos a day for the driver (less than NZD$10 a day), and 2000pesos per month for stay-in maids (about NZD$70 a month). That's probably the reason why a lot of the fresh uni graduates there want to go overseas, even though they get hired as maids...cuz the pay is so much higher.

Fourthly....FAMILY! This is definately the most important of all. I love spending time with my relatives! Hanging out with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins is great and fun, and I have so many wonderful memories! and of course, MY FRIENDS!!!!!!! Friends and god-siblings that I've had since I was a little kid....and i've kept in touch with since I was 8....It just feels so good to come back and know that we're still friends. We have a great bond and I know we'll be friends for life!

So, in short.....I'LL BE BACK!

~*MoSqUiTo BiTes*~

You don't expect to be sick while overseas on a holiday, right? Well...while I was in the Philippines, I had the flu just before Christmas. Then I got better. Then...suddenly after the new year...I suddenly got sick again. Except this time, it was a lot worst than last time. My mum found out cuz I started throwing up everything I ate...as in immediately. I had the fever...on and off and I started to get rashes. Silly me, I told my mum that it was no big deal, just the flu and probably my allergies acting up again. She made me go see the doctor who said: "It looks like dengue, so you better have a blood test to make sure." So I had a blood test and the results came out almost immediately. Hrm. Turned out that I did have dengue...but just the early stages. The doctor said: "You're very lucky that your dengue was detected! If you had waited till the fifth day to see a doctor and get treatment, your white blood cells would have gone down to zero and you would have been dead!" Fortunately, he said I didn't have to go to the hospital. He said that all I need to do is to take his medicine, because he is a very experienced doctor when it comes to dengue cases. He then proceeded to give me 7 different kinds of medicine....2 of which were to prevent me from bleeding and throwing up blood. I also wasn't allowed to eat certain foods like yellow fruits and veggies, beef and tomato (><") ! Fortunately, after about 10 days of rest and medication, my white blood cells were back to normal. Yay! No more dengue! =Þ