Toronto

Charles-isms

I first met Charles five years ago when he was almost two years old. He’s such an adorable kid… and I so so so love him dearly! 😀

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Click the links below to read the related posts:
Mr. Anderson Where’s Charles?
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Up to this day, Fritchie (Charles’ Mom) and I still shares a good laugh whenever we recall Charles’ funny antics. 🙂 Here are some new ones that are truly remarkable. Read on!

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SENSATIONAL SPELLER
Charles got an award in school. Sensational Speller

Charles: Mommy, I can spell anything now! My level is grade 3 level… that’s what Ms. Whiteside said
Mommy: I know Charles, you did a really good job in school and we are so proud of you.

(as Charles enters the house…)

Charles: Daddy… Daddy! I got a trophy! I’m the best speller in our class, grade 3 level. I can spell anything now.
Daddy: Ohhhh really? Spell “anything”
Charles: E N I T H I N G

Mommy and Daddy looked at each other stifling a laugh and they both tried to sound out the word “anything”.

Charles: I know! I know! A N Y T H I N G I told you I know!

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BEDTIME
In bed… Daddy was snoring, Charles couldn’t sleep, and Mommy was pretending to be fast asleep.

Charles: Daddy, Daddy… I’m bored… I can’t sleep… Can I have the remote please?
Daddy: Go to sleep
Charles: I can’t. I’m too bored. I wanna watch TV.
Daddy: Count the holes on the wall
Charles: What? There’s holes on the wall?
Daddy: Pretend there are holes on the wall and count it.

(Mommy was trying hard not to laugh because she’s supposed to be fast asleep.
After two minutes)

Charles: But Daddy I can’t see the holes. Can you please turn on the light?
Daddy: Charles go to sleep

(After few minutes….)

Charles: I can’t really sleep. I need the remote.

(Daddy ignored Charles)

Charles: Can I watch TV now Daddy? I will sleep if you give me the remote.

(Then, Daddy eventually gave him the remote)

After ten minutes of watching TV, Charles’ finally fell asleep.

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CHRISTMAS CARD

Mommy: Can you write a card for Mlle. Dorman? We will go out tomorrow to buy her a present.
Charles: Ok Mommy. (then he proceeded to get his markers and paper)

(After 10 minutes, Charles went to the kitchen to show his work of art.)

Charles: Mommy I did it. I even did it in French and I made the letters in patterns like red and green. (He also drew a Christmas tree)
Mommy: (wondering) Charles, how did you know the French words for Merry Christmas?
Charles: Mommy I searched it in Google. Everything is in Google you know, Mommy.

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See??? Isn’t he adorable? 😀 See you again soon!

Boston

Shara, Juvy, Fritchie and I have talked about travelling together so many times but it has never materialized. One lazy weekend… we were chatting about needing a short break to recharge and before you know it we agreed to meet up in Boston in two weeks time! Woot!

It happened so fast that we were scrambling to find cheap flights… a nearly impossible feat! If it weren’t for Aeroplan points, I wouldn’t even have made it. However it wasn’t only flights that were expensive… everything in Boston was!

Thankfully, a generously awesome goddess (code name: Atlantis) covered the hotel bill and two angels named Richard and Julia lovingly prepared and packed a delicious home cooked meal for us. Salamat po (Thank you)! 🙂

What I love most about Boston is the European feel, magnificent tourist spots, awesome food choices (love the Boston cream pie!), and most of all, the superb and friendly Lift drivers.

Would I like to go back? Absolutely! I want to complete the exploration of the freedom trail, take a more detailed tour in Harvard and probably, join the 5K Boston marathon. 🙂

Check out the highlights of our trip:

Hotel Marlowe

chillaxin’	watcha doin? 🙂
lobby	Mickey Mouse Pajama Party!

Cruise

Harvard (my dream school…)

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) / Kendall Square
My curiosity heightened about MIT when I started watching The Big Bang Theory. 🙂

Downtown



Ralph Lauren shop	Newbury

Lobster Attack!


more vinegar please! 😀

Budding Photographer Mode (My Best Shots!)

The Next Top Mowdelz… (promising right? 😉 )

It’s probably the only vacation that I’ve ever taken that I hardly contributed to the planning of the itinerary. Come to think of it, I didn’t even book my own flight this time. Thanks S, J and F… especially to G and K! You all rock!

Next trip, I’ll borrow the scissor for Fritchie. Promise. 😀 Kitakitz (See you)!

British Columbia

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Click below to read related articles:
Ontario

Alberta

Banff & LakeLouise	Calgary Zoo	Pacific Place
Crosslink	road trip finale

Saskatchewan

snow	summer party	winter party	“warm” weather
the berry barn	airshow 2011	folkfest	single ladies
mineral spa	danceland	flea market	big fat ass
luau?	beach(?)	tent	camping
MoSo	barcamp

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British Columbia (B.C.), Canada is definitely my next target after enjoying the tourist spots of Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. I was planning to travel last June 2012 but for some reason, it got pushed back from my bucket list.

Later on, my cousin, Jaime (a.k.a. Chancee), informed me that he’s flying to Winnipeg for a study tour and asked me if it’s possible for us to meet up. We both agreed to see each other in Vancouver and stay in one of our relatives place whom I haven’t met.

I was so pumped! I’ll be hitting four birds with one stone! Err… it would also be cute to say, with one airfare. Well, it’s surely worth it. I’ll be able to:
*** Chat with my cousin
*** Meet & bond with my new-found relatives
*** Take a well-deserved holiday
*** “Get to know” British Columbia

Indeed, God is good. Through His “magical hands”, the wonderful trip took place and it certainly paved the way to connect some of the missing links of my life.

So, what happened during the trip? Hmmm… I’ll let you know in a bit. :p

towers

Alright… I confess… I have this thing for towers and other skyscrapers (in which I still prefer to call as tower… :p). Being drawn to towers is one way (I think) of conquering my fear of heights. Is it psychological?

Towers do make me feel tall (since I’m extremely petite :p ) and powerful! From the top of the sky high tower, I feel like I’m the Queen of the world looking down at the “microscopic” objects and “tiny” creatures called human beings. :p Well, climbing a tower is more attainable than aspiring to fly. Ha!

Looking back, below are the towers I’ve visited and climbed so far:

Menara Kuala Lumpur (considered to be the 7th tallest tower in the world)

Located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Visiting this tower is very interesting because you can also have the option to ride a horse (not inside the tower! ), stopover at the animal “kingdom”, watch cultural shows, and become an “F1 driver”. 😉 Since I’ve been there thrice, I practically did most of the activities except riding a horse :p


my nephew

CN Tower (the 3rd tallest tower in the world)

Located in Toronto, Canada
I particularly love the “transparent floor”. It scared the hell out of me. (see related article -> Toronto)

Eiffel Tower (dubbed as the 30th tallest tower in the world)

Located in Paris, France
I personally consider this as the most magical tower in the universe! Call me hopeless romantic, but I had goosebumps while watching the sunset from the topmost part of the tower. It’s the most magical feeling I’ve ever felt! And I want to be there again in this lifetime. (see related article -> Eiffel Tower)

Petronas Twin Towers (Menara Berkembar Petronas in Malay)

remain as the tallest twin buildings in the world ever built (according to Wikipedia)
Located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
There’s no entrance fee but you need to queue at day break to be included in the lucky 100. If my memory serves me right, they only allow 100 visitors per day. One thing that I find interesting about Petronas Twin Towers is the connecting bridge. It’s like the hands of the two towers are “intertwined” tightly with a promise not to ever let go. 😀 (see Kuala Lumpur related article -> lost momentus)

I’m looking forward to checking more towers and buildings …and I surely have a long way to go. Ha! Check out my “wish” list in my next post. 😉

Where’s Charles?

… and automatically, Charles will say “right here!”… 😀
(with one hand pointing at himself and the other hand waving excitedly)

Charles, the little prince, is Bob and Fritchie’s 2 ½ year old son (see related article -> Ontario). He’s completely adorable and a leader in the making! How? Well, he always made sure that everyone should strictly follow his “planned” seating arrangement in the dining area.

no... this is not the dining area. :-p — no… this is not the dining area. :-p

When I use his favorite chair… he just stares at me with, “that’s my seat” look evident on his face.

no... this is not the chair. :p — no… this is not the chair. :p

He loves saying the following “words of wisdom” in his own very bubbly tone:

“Oh no!”
“You ok Daddy?”
“Hi Guys!”
“Right here!”
“What you doing Mommy?”
“Mommy, don’t make a mess!”
“Where’s Tita?”
“Tita went home at the airport”
“Don’t cross my river”

His favorite shows are:

	Thomas & Friends

Charles loves to watch Diego whenever we travel. He has his own DVD player with the Diego DVD repeatedly viewed with so much enthusiasm! Mind you, that “Go Diego Go!” song kept playing in my head for the longest time even after I left Toronto. 🙂

Before, I didn’t even know that Diego exists. Also, I learned that Diego is Dora’s cousin. Whoa! I’m not sure if that’s suppose to be a secret. 😉

Meeting and bonding with Charles was one of the highlights of my trip. It made me feel (and look?) young again. Ha! See you (soon?) Charles!

Toronto

Toronto is an improved version of Metro Manila (Philippines) and somewhat a bigger Singapore. The malls remind me of Megamall in the Philippines and Ion (and the mall near Somerset -forgot the name- is it 316?) in Singapore.

Toronto is an ideal place to do some “tourist-ty” things (check out the Ontario article for more photos). My trip there did do me good because aside from completing my errand without a glitch, I was able to relax, walk around and do some fun stuff like: