My TWO Moms

It's no secret that my mom has an identical twin. I grew up knowing both of them, but I never ever really got them mixed up. As far as my siblings, my dad and I, are concerned.. they're really as different as night and day. They look quite different for us too!! But nevertheless, so many people mix them up.. especially when they both started living in different countries. They have countless stories of people bumping into them and waving, looking all friendly, when they have hardly any idea who that person is.. "Hmmm.. Must be someone my sister knows.."

My mom got married a lot earlier than my Tita did.. So when I was growing up and my Tita was still based in Manila, my Tita would always take care of me, and take me along on weekends. She actually used to stay over almost every weekend. She had her wedding in our garden, and I was a flowergirl (my sister too..) -- and she moved to Singapore, where her husband (Uncle Nigel) hails from.

During summers when I was growing up, I'd spend a month or two with my Tita Peena in Singapore.. I lived in almost all the houses she stayed in. I saw her boys when they were babies. She knows me, just as much as my Mom does.. And I've always dreamed that we all lived in the same city. How fun our weekends and get togethers would be, with two brothers (my cousins Sean and Sidne) to hang out with too!

It's been quite awhile since they spent time together longer than a week. Mama and Tita take turns visiting each other... And now that my Tita is based in Australia, we were fortunate enough to have spent 10full days with her family. It's the longest that the twins have been together... And I know that the vacation was cathartic for them both.

They'll always be twins, and the best of friends. Their kids and their husbands know that. Although they don't talk or see each other often, they always tell us that they somehow have this bond that no one can take away from them. There really is such a thing as a "twin" connection. Weird. They can really read each other's thoughts, or feel each other's emotions, without explanation.

It's amazing though how different they are.
One loves to eat, while the other detests food like the plague.
One is exceptionally healthy, while the other has all sorts of aches and pains.
One is gregarious, the life of the party, while the other prefers the quietness of being alone, all curled up with a good book on hand.
One is the ultimate people person, while the other usually keeps to herself.
One is very painstakingly organized, while the other LIVES in chaos.
One is pretty much career oriented from the start, while the other chose to start a family and then establish a career.
One loves to talk, while the other prefers to write.
One loves to cook, while the other CAN cook but claims to just follow the recipes.
One can do everything at home (fix the door, change the lights), while the other is as dependent as I am to Mang Romy (our do it all manong at home).
One drives like a MAN, while the other CAN'T drive, EVER.
One is short-tempered, while the other remains calm and collected.
One loves coffee without any sugar, while the other loves her coffee with milk and sugar.
One always wants to remain clueless (or at least claims to be), while the other has amazingly fast pick-up.
One tricks the other into doing her chores when they were younger, while the other does both of their chores.
One studied like crazy, excelled like crazy, while the other just did her best 'coz her sister did.

The list goes on and on and on...

But they do share some things in common..

They both love the Lord and have devoted their lives to serving Him.
They love their families so much that they would do readily do anything for us.
They are both really pretty and exceptionally smart. Beauty and brains. Enough said.
They both look so youthful.
They both love to keep their body fit. They exercise like crazy and watch what they eat.
They love their parents and their siblings to the last bit!
They are true role models in their chosen fields and in their family lives as well.

Oh, and yes, they both love me too...
And that makes me so lucky to have two of them in my life.

I love you Mama and Tita!

**Please check out their pictures at My Multiply** I can't seem to upload hiresolution pictures here in blogger..

What's up with the weather?

Well.. this is just one of those nonsense posts.. 'coz I'm in no mood to write something profound right now.

I'd just like to gripe about the damn weather these days. The day starts out freakingly hot.. with humidity as high as the sky... The sun is out, the sky is clear... Then slowly throughout the day, it gets even hotter... All of a sudden, clouds appear... the sky gets gloomy. And then the rain starts to pour out of nowhere. NOT just a drizzle, or a shower, mind you -- BUT raging rainfall that can compete with a storm! Then it stops after some minutes.

Then everyone gets sick from the change in weather, or because they get drenched.

Hmm... there must be some sort of 'connivance' between the skies, and the doctors. Buti sana if I was moonlighting. Then there'd be all those consults for sore throats, runny noses, fevers and muscle aches.

Darn. It's just this stupid global warming thing. And it's ALL OUR FAULT too.

Snapshots..

nahuli ako!!
the breathtaking Yarra River, Melbourne

obligatory tourist picture with a KOALA..

they aren't the least bit huggable, or cuddly :)

downtown melbourne.. pics you take when you travel alone :)

Heaven-sent..

After nearly a month of being in Oz, I'm pretty sure of one thing.. that someday I will live there.. NOT permanently but for a few years just to save some moolah.. but LORD-willing, I will.

THE whole trip was a blessing. Every single moment had me and Mama praying and trusting Him. I almost didn't make it to my flight to leave Manila.. coz the flight was full and they were having problems, to the flight back home where I was almost bumped-off. If I didn't make it to that flight to Manila, I think I would've gotten here in 2weeks time pa.. coz it's the term break over there, so it's high season to ANYWHERE.

Heaven-sent. Everything was. We got the best accomodations in Melbourne (for free) in Crown Towers, no less. The weather was great. I had two city tours, and a tour to Sovereign Hill, Balaarat, all for free. Explored the city on my own.. Walked almost an hour from Queen Victoria Market to the hotel. And I never regretted it. Despite the cold, and the aching feet. I discovered the South Bank, and Melbourne Central. Great big malls.

If that wasn't enough, Tita Peena (my Mom's twin sister) was in Brisbane the whole time we were in Queensland. Which is quite an impossible feat. Coz she's usually travelling, or in Papua New Guinea (PNG) or in Singapore. So, Mama and I were able to drop off our large luggages before heading off South. We got a free ride to the Goldcoast, courtesy of the lovely people at the Airtrain (super slow though!!).

Our accomodations at Broadbeach were great. Penthouse, 1 bedroom condo, facing the beach.. For free again. Mama got us FREE entrance tickets to Dreamworld and Movieworld. So-so themeparks.. Nothing comes close to Disneyworld. Enough said. Just had to have that obligatory pic with the Koala. You've never been to Oz if you don't have that picture :)

Brisbane and Indooroopily were the best. Staying at Tita Peena's place was like being in a dream where things were all paid for. A cruise ship vacation on land. More about my mom and her twin sister in the next posts. But I did grow up with her around.. and I'd usually stay in Singapore with her family on vacations when I was in elementary, so being with her is like being with my Mom too. They're identical twins too.. so they're actually genetically the same person. We had all the food we needed.. And all the comforts of home. Mama and Tita haven't been together for more than a week since 20+ years ago? So this was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Thanks to the fact that Qantas only flies Brisbane-Manila once a week. And Mama's free business class ticket for the conference didn't allow a domestic ticket in it.

Uncle Nigel (her Singaporean husband currently based in PNG) came home to take us out of town to the North of Queensland, Noosa in the Sunshine Coast. We saw a LOT of the suburbs and the quaint little towns. That trip, TOO, was God's gift. Sidne, my cousin, entertained us nonstop.

Oh, and to add to this all, I got my very own digital camera for my birthday (thanks TITA!).. and a number of great accessories. Kettle chips. And Lindt Pistache.

And by the way, a Havs addict like me didn't get a single pair of flipflops down under. NOT even when I spotted the Leopard Gold in a store in Sunshine Plaza. Rehab? :)

Yeah right.. Just gives me more than enough reason to get back to Australia soon. I really really really hope so.

**Can't seem to post pics in this particular post. Will upload some later in the next posts :)

I fell..

I've been around far and wide (thanks to my parents..) and a few places enchant me enough to make me want to live there (or at least for a while) someday. I thought I found my match in New York or San Francisco. I've never really dreamed of living in Europe (too expensive), and Canada seems to common..

So here I was all tired from reviewing and thinking about where I'm headed in the future.. and surprise of all surprises.. I got a free ride to the Land of Oz :)

I fell instantly in love with a city called Melbourne. Lucky me, I went on this trip with so many freebies handed to me on a silver platter. I tagged along as my mom attended her travel conference over there where she got herself a suite (for free, of course) at THE Crown Towers, with its plasma tv, fully fitted beddings, walk-in closet and a tv in the bathroom.. Got myself some free meals 'pre-conference' with a full course steak dinner and a lunch of duck all in two days. I went around the city by myself. My mom booked a half-day city tour, and a whole day out of town thing (for free again) -- and all the while, I went walking around the whole place, from as far as the Victoria Market to the Yarra River.

The city does have something for everyone.. It has its fashion, shopping, food, the arts, the gardens, the history.. and the people are quite friendly. It's one of the most liveable cities in the world, and I've never met anyone in Oz say anything bad about Melbourne. People who live there seem to really love living there.. and are damn proud of it too..

I love the quaintness and the feeling of being in Europe. I loved the comfortable feeling I got when I was walking around a foreign country all on my own. I love the ever-changing climate. I love the open spaces. I love the beauty of the gardens. I simply love that there's a little bit of something for everyone.

I fell in love instantly.. and I'd really like to return sometime soon. More of the trip on my next posts. As for now, just allow me to bask in the splendor and the rush of my trip to Melbourne.

It's how I felt the moment I fell in love with Stel. :P

I'll be leaving for Oz in a few hours.. Be back with more kwento.. and hopefully something concrete for my future plans of training.. :) Wish me luck!!

It worked!!

Surprise!! I gave Stel my surprise today... and he was definitely shocked (and touched) with all the kind words, and pictures everyone shared. Thanks so much to his ever cooperative friends and family who helped make it all possible.. I'll be posting the site soon for everyone to see. As for now, I'd really like him to enjoy everything for now.. :)

He had a sweet surprise for me too. He gave me this journal where he wrote a letter for every single day I would be away.. Awww.. Isn't that so sweet?!! It would take a lot of EQ for me to be responsible (and honest) enough to just read one note a day. That's kinda hard.. Hehe..

He's quite stressed about his 1st major exam for residency training.. But I know he'll do really well. He always does. And everyone's praying for him.. So he'll do well. What timing huh? The day I leave is the day of his exam.. So we couldn't really go on any real dates before I go!! Argh.. Oh well.. I won't even be here to celebrate with him after the test. And I won't be here for his birthday, and I won't be here for my birthday either.. We can't really have everything, can we?