doniq

• Royal British Hotel, Edinburgh,Scotland

• Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and London Eye

• Scotland - Aye!

• (Fake) Celebrity encounter (MadameTussaud's Museum)

• Feeling princess at Windsor Castle

• Vacation at Lola's sa Nasipit

• Firedancer_Puerto Galera

The first time we went in our hotel in Edinburgh. This big room just for me and Louise! :)
Louise tumbling all over the floor mate!

Center of the fire being played by the Firedancer at Puerto Galera

May 28,
It's not actually cold but in the brink of freezing if I remove my lace top, cottonwool jacket & leather jacket.
Edinburgh seems to be a place of greenery. I greatly appreciate the smell of grass, It was also amazing that there are a lot of ice cream shops in the park.

We stayed at Royal British Hotel which I enjoyed the room we rented. It was cozy though the floor we were in was under construction. Nevertheless, the room was beautifully furnished. We boarded a tour bus w/c I really got sleepy hearing the tour guide talk about the sites. This always happens to me when I don't seem to understand their accent.

I got quite pissed off after drinking my Costa coffee and momi instructed me to find a trash bin which I never did! Louise & I roamed the whole station and I didn't see one single trash bin! I went back to the coffee shop table we sat on & there I left my cup & the paper wrapping of the panini I ate.

The coolest thing that happened to us here was our coach home to London. When we boarded the train, I was surprised to see & smell people partyin'! Alcohol was everywhere, the lights were low & reflected pink, the people were jeering and looked drunk. And I know this doesn't look good. We went for our seats but the drunk men told us that we should look for other seats at the back. I wanted to rage but kept myself to hold on because I don't wanna argue w/ drunk tall men! Even the other new passengers couldn't get their seats because of the ongoing "Hen Party" (that's what they call for Bachelor parties for women there). Our family, a band of men and an Indian family were standin' and waiting for the attendant to kick out those people. I approached the Indian & talked to her about it. I was very suspicious that we were taken advantage again. But thank God, they grabbed their alcohol & some of the women unloaded the coach but some of them were still left w/ us travelling.
What was funny, daddy was separated from us and we were left sitting with a Scottish guy who introduced himself to us. Bryan Hamilton introduced himself as someone working w/ multimedia. Then we discovered he was with a group of guys which I guessed were a band. And so after a few minutes, we learned they are a Scottish Rock Band - Cnocantursa! (see last two pix below) Bry told me to check out their MySpace account & their I discovered that they're playing Death Metal! It was funny because I asked them to play for us & they refused. Now I know why. Haha, they were really friendly, especially Tam Flynn & Bryan. I told them that they're other bandmate, Rene, looks really familiar. It was fun to talk to them considering that they were always the one who ask me/us questions. At first, I was thinking, Bryan was hitting on my mother! Haha..momi's too beautiful that she has to tell him that we were her daughters. Haha..that part was funny. Louise was a bit shy. It was Tam & Bry who were always talking to us. And I was a bit disturbed w/ Alan who always say "Look at those Tattas...(they're keeping me hottah)" hahahaha..and he waved a porn mag & showed it to his mates & sticked it on the window & said it again. I was a bit scared because he came off to me as a pervert but nevertheless, they were really nice & gave us a CNOC AN TURSA shirt & got their autographs. There were a lot of things we discussed but can't remember much (like drinking, LOST TV show, hotness in the Phils. etc) There were a lot of times that I requested for them to repeat what they're saying because I can't really catch up w/ their Scottish accent. It's really different from British! The words just twirl from wherever they say it. But meeting them was "the highlight" of out trip. All of us went down to London station and they invited us to watch their gig at Fiddlers, Camden Town at 8pm on Saturday. But momi didn't want us to come since we were tired from our whole day tour and was afraid that we get into Fiddlers, w/c is famous for punks (w/c I really don't mind going to) We were at the mrt & I was joking Louise that I get off to Camden Town station bcoz I really want to go to their gig. Hayyy...lost the chance! Bryan said that someday maybe he could visit Asia & esp. Philippines. Yehey! =) Hope Pilipinas will be cleaner when the band pays us for a visit. =)

May 27, 2010
If you'll notice, there's nothing much to see in these range of pictures. We arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland at lunchtime and ate at a Chinese restaurant (because we want rice!). We headed to British Royal Hotel and we're very delighted with our rooms =) Scotland seems to be a very relaxed place. Since it's a Friday, there are a lot of people walking on the streets but compared with London, population seems to be lesser. But definitely, colder and windier!

We took the usual tour bus that brought us around Edinburgh. But we didn't left off the bus. Some of the words of the tour guide man (funny term to call it) I can't understand. And you know what happens when I start hearing mumbling, tumbling tongue-cut words in a Scottish man's tongue, my head starts to sway left to right and so does my eyelids go from up to down.


The afternoon was spent at New Look and I get to use my British accent speaking in public! (Bell De Jour Goal#54 achieved). I love shopping here, the greatest styles are still not out of stock and few salesladies! I bought beige open toe heels and two tops. I was delighted to see how the cashier scratches off the barcode at the desk to mark it as sold. Fancy! McDonald's New Orleans burger special...seems interesting, I took home one and their MnM's McFlurry. Two Scottish boys kept looking at us while ordering, flattered! Back at the hotel, there were some Filipinas who recognized us as their kababayans so they called us to go to them. But since Louise and I were too tired, we rushed to get on the elevator to escape them! We finished the day off by watching the finals of a European singing contest on TV and I dozed off having my laptop on sending emails to God knows who :)

May 24, 2010 - Freakin' hot and we have to walk to all of these sites. Got (quite) lost but not hungry though temp. still cold; failed to see Prince William escape from the palace; VIP fastlane pass to the ferriswheel (London Eye). But totally fun because we were a complete family on tour on Central London.

As much as I want to bring an umbrella, it's embarassing to. Good thing I did not get sunburned. It was nice walking in straight pavements and seeing different kinds of people who are happily enjoying the sun. I remember the first I walked in Leicester Square, not one does the same thing. There were African looking people gathered & betting on something, teenage blonde boys sitting on the doorsteps of a closed shop just observing people or kind of waiting for something, an Italian looking man offering to draw you on the spot w/ his artworks displayed behind him; lots of couples strolling the night streets or lying on the grass tuned on their iPods; tourists taking pictures of themselves; chattering gorgeous tall women clutching their shopping bags; friends having coffee; and many more..
I wasn't in the state of culture shock. I was greatly amazed by the diversity of the people living and breathing here in London. No one cares what you wear or what you speak. Everyone seems to respect each other's differences. I like to live in London because of this. It seems that I feel freedom and not worried of any stranger's criticism.

I just love LONDON!

May 24, 2010 - Our itinerary for the last day of Nicole & Kuya in London is to visit the world famous Madame Tussaud's Museum at the Central. There were lots of people who lined up to enter which you'd mistaken the place as a jam-packed party house. It was good that we're allowed to take pictures, unlike when the Wax Museum was in the Philippines.

My favorite poses:
Breakfast at Tiffany's / with Audrey Hepburn
Sunny day with Tom Cruise
Touch Football defense
At the Shooting site with Steven Spielberg & Drew Barrymore

May 23, 2010

This happens only once in two years but my father goes to Lawis every August Fiesta. Though we never really did celebrate the fiesta at Lawis, most of our time was spent hanging out at the beach resort where we checked in (Amontay Beach Resort). I'm mighty glad that they're developing this sight into a resort since you can't really find anything to do there in Lawis. But if you're with the right people and with the right attitude, you can have fun wherever you go!

We went kayaking, a thrilling ride at the back of the Elf truck (see my uber gulo video), beach videoke (super love this night..windy & having your voice heard all over the resort...I think I did over 12 songs) and sat at a karton on the back of my Tito's Strada.

On the second night, we gathered and made a dramatic contribution to Lola Justa. All of us cried or at least were teary eyed for remembering and telling stories that exemplify Lola's kindness and laughed at the funny memories of the Migraso siblings. I do wish that me and my siblings would have the same bonding someday. Though Daddy, Tita and my Titos have their own hurts and successes, they still manage to laugh and tease at each other regardlesss of their painful past. I greatly Thank God for providing my Migraso relatives this strong and happy bond.

My Lola at the age of 86 is wrinkled, with a poor eye sight and having wobbly knees, but still caring, compassionate and faithful to God. I think it was our Lola's prayers that helped her kids survive poverty and become successful now. Her faithfulness ti God was also passed on to all of us. No doubt why even my Tito who's a licensed Engineer, decided to leave his profession and fully serve the Lord. Regardless if we all have different Christian religions, we still have that same bond to serve God.

Lastly, our flight home was scary. According to the pilot, the Cumulo-Nimbus clouds, the drizzle, and light turbulence caused our plane to jolt. I shrieked along with the other passengers. It was also announced that we were the 11th plane to land and our plane had to circle around the air while waiting for our turn. It was quite funny, that this small little Japanese-looking kid kept on screaming when we finally touched the ground.

We went to Seven Senses Spa at Marikina after and had a whole body Swedish Massage. (Promoting..only 500PHP inclusive of use of shower, steam bath/sauna, choice of massage & drink) Whoah! What a wonderful way to end the day!