Ferrari World

 

It is my second trip to Abu Dhabi and it only gets better! This time I'm not riding solo but, with a gang! Call it "Mafia Pinoy" which the term I learned from a (new) friend of a friend. The striking desert heat and Ramadan season did not stop us from quenching our thirsts for adventure! Living in a fast-paced, routined and stressed kinda life in Dubai makes you want to pull your hair out. Therefore, a speedy getaway to Abu Dhabi and leaving Dubai all behind was definitely a lifesaver!

He got the world's largest indoor theme park and world's fastest roller coaster, Ferrari boasts everything lux, fast and wow! We were hyped to try out all the latest attractions and rides there is! I feel like a kid again, going for the first time to Disneyland, only in a more matured, edgy way and minus the mouse! Haha :) It's all about cars and finding your drive. I would've taken home that 'bumblebee yellow' Ferrari and drove it myself! The high-end Ferrari Simulators of Scuderia Challenge gave us a chance to drive Formula One-style! Viaggio Italia magically literally brought us to a trip in Italy, I can believe it! Instantly listed it to my favourites (and bucketlist!) We kept coming back and couldn't get enough of the Fiorano GT Coasters. That, and all the other rides took most of our time. Everyone in Ferrari World were so friendly (including the camel and bear mascots *wink wink), I appreciate the mix of different cultures and races working all together. They were as much fun-loving as we were! And it was so nice of them to let us take four rides in a row! I tell you, that is not for the fainthearted! I kept laughing, screaming "SARAAAP!", hands up in the sky and wanting more! I loved the thrill and the adrenaline rushing through my body! The still shots from the roller coaster were hilarious, I'd even make fun of myself! Ferrari World is also know by its alias Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world. Which, in my research, can reach up to speeds of 240kph in 4 seconds! Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime worth of try. But then again, for some reason, it's unfortunate that technical difficulties should arise while we were there! I dislike missing out, I'm declaring I have the FOMO. Di bale, now there's a reason to come back to Ferrari World. And absolutely will! ;)

#SoManyFerrarisSoLittleTime

Let's go!

 

 



Welcome to the World of Everything Ferrari

Selfies!!

Halftime!

And for the finale...

Keep Calm and Briton

Finding a shot of inspiration is something I'd want to keep, and amazingly ironic, share! We've always had that dream house, or thought of living in a palace or the Windsor Castle. (But mine has always been living in a beachfront, InshAllah!) At this stage of my life, I already do want to have a pad or space of my own. Not just exclusively, but something that's me! I opt for the minimal muebles, natural bright lighting, functional and colorful (probably pastel) fun pieces, my photographs and cats & dogs inside the house! A quick overnight in this British Family's home gave me (and our fam) a wonderful weekend and a concrete idea of how I'd want my dream space to look like. (See how cosy I was?) You would know a Breton is housed there because of the "Keep Calm" posters and frames found in each and every corner. I loved their quirky pieces and oh-so-beautiful portraits (which were  literally the first things I saw there) of iconic stars, or should I say women - like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. I too made new furry friends with their pets - Rambo, Eddie and Paci (I just love animals!) and slept with the cat on the bed. I'm glad I wore my pink "Barbie Wants To Be Me" t-shirt, it really worked it! (Haha) The highlight of the house, was the lap pool right out the patio. And in the morning, I like when we pulled-open the curtains, the sun beamed the girls' bedroom.

I wish I have taken more pictures!

Benilde

There's no place like home

6th of July was one defining day of my life. That was the day I finally graduated from College which... I didn't want to end (actually).

I will try my best to relinquish those happy memories, fun experiences and lifetime learnings in a time capsule.

It was Summer of 2010 when I was scouting for Colleges and Universities. If ambitious is what to call it, I took admission tests in the renowned and prestigious Universities in Manila (hint, the Big Four), carefree if I weren't smart enough or capable enough (financially) to enter those esteemed schools. My goal as a highschool-girl-entering-college self then, was to take European Studies at De La Salle University, and nothing more. Grateful, I did make it to two of the Universities of my choice, one was Travel Management at the University of Santo Tomas, and got reconsidered for the other. Not convinced to where I was heading, I still took another entrance exam to a school I've never heard of and didn't even know existed! I've developed the interest when I learned it from a friend in High School, who was planning to take the programme Consular and Diplomatic Affairs in De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde, during their extended entrance exams. I recall my course choice was Consular and Diplomatic Affairs and the other options I put were Multimedia Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management. My Mama was even oblivious about it since I already took several tests and should start focusing on one. By that time, it was a choice between UST and DLS-CSB. And you bet! I was rooting for the former. We were ready to pay for the reservation slot but for some reason, I was "dethroned" from UST. I was losing time and schools for college. I was already sad not getting in and at the same time worried on what course I should take. On that same day, my mom and I commuted from Dapitan straight to Taft. And there on that day, that reservation made me an official student of De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde. 

First Block Picture! (Circa 2010)

My LF1U Family

MusikaIndie with Coro San Benildo

#Throwback to my first ever PhilMUNs, and the countries I represented. (Circa 2010 and 2011)

Diplomatic Dinner at Intercontinental Hotel, Makati. October 2012.

And finally...

Ever since Day One - the Frosh Orientation Program, Frosh Solidarity Night and to meeting my blockmates was a blast! I felt welcomed, accepted and belonged. For the first two terms in College, I am glad to be part of LF1U Family (my block that rocked! haha!). There, I've made a lot of new friends, shared lots of laughs and (of course) focused on our studies together. I remember us as froshies always going in cluster to the Caf, LRC, (then) Cubes or the "secret caf" in AKIC. We'd tag each other on our schedules every term, checking out whether we have the same classes. We were solid! I too joined different orgs from Coro San Benildo to Corps of Diplomats. It was also in College where I did everything! I met wonderful people, went to parties, got drunk, experienced the Model United Nations, attended Diplomatic Dinners, had sleepless nights finishing papers and processed loads of information in one sitting! (Charge everything to experience...) You get to know yourself better there. It is also a time where you are not confined in one box. CSB gives you the chance to meet people from different blocks, courses and schools. Now you're campus does not just include Mutien Hall, but also the artists' turf at SDA and the hotelier's place at AKIC!

We, the Diplomats-in-training, are housed in Benilde Main. I was happy with my course. I am privileged to learn from the brightest Professors, Ambassadors and Practitioners of Diplomacy. CDA made me a well-rounded person, it broadened my horizon and understanding of the world (theoretically and personally). Now, I know that it's not only about me, but also growing with others and striving to make a difference... (This, I shall dedicate in one post)

Every single day in College was full of excitement! Everything was worth it! It was a time where I lived most of my life. With the gift of hindsight, I can say that things do happen for a reason... This story was a truth to me that, no, God really lead me and wanted me to be in CSB. And it was the best. Sometimes, getting lost isn't a bad thing, it might just direct you to where you are meant to be. You should only trust. Now, it has been exactly a year since I graduated from DLS-CSB and I couldn't be anything but GRATEFUL. Thankful to La Salle for teaching minds, touching hearts and transforming lives. Benilde made me Shine. Remember, we in Benilde do ordinary things, extraordinarily well. Those past three years went by #TooFast.

Love always,
ID 11068876

#AnimoBenilde #AnimoLaSalle

Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever.