 | | Mar 31, 2005 |
No sky too big
No dream too high
No star too distant
to which I can't fly | Start: | Mar 20, '11 3:00p | | Location: | RCBC Plaza, Makati |
Please come and watch NEXT TO NORMAL on March 20, 3PM I bought the show, and I'm selling tickets to this specific show. Starring Menchu Lauchengco Yulo and Jett Pangan Directed by Bobby Garcia Staged by Atlantis Productions Winner of 3 Tony Awards including Best Musical in 2009 Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize For March 20 (Sunday, 3 PM) tickets: 0917 537 3040 tintinsamson@gmail.com See you there! Be sure not to miss this! 
Please come and watch NEXT TO NORMAL and buy tickets from me.
March 20, Sunday at 3 PM RCBC Plaza, Makati
Starring: Menchu Lauchengco Yulo Jett Pangan Bea Garcia Felix Rivera Markki Stroem Jake Macapagal
Tickets: Orchesta Center 1,500 Orchestra Side 1,300 Loge 1,100 Loge back row, sides 900 Balcony 700
|  | 2 June 2010
Quite a few people told us about this outlet called La Vallee Village, and I also happened to Google it before our trip. And this is where the Longchamp outlet is, so we just had to check it out.
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| | 31 May & 1 June 2010
It was great exploring Paris at our own pace. I really enjoyed these two days with Mom, just having fun and taking in all the sites. We weren't rushing to keep up with a group, and we could decide where we wanted to go. It was a nice break from our fast-paced tour the past two weeks. =)
We got the two-day pass, and started by the Eiffel Tower stop. First stop we got off at was Place de la Concorde. I found this really pretty when we would be driving around in the Insight tour bus, so I wanted nice photos here, where we're actually out of the bus.
Then I really wanted to go to Palais Royal because of a celebrity who said that was her favorite place to escape to when she lived in Paris. I just had to find this place, and see what she called her "secret garden." I was so excited when we were there!
Wish I had seen The Da Vinci Code so I could be more excited about the Louvre. But it was magnificent and exciting being there nonetheless. =) We really had lots of photos here, haha. Good thing Mom was being so patient with me, and also very game to pose for photos. She was also becoming good at taking my photos, too -- sometimes her shots were much better than mine!
We also made a quick stop inside Jardin des Tuileries. Pretty!
Lunch stop and some souvenir shopping near Notre Dame.
Hooray, it's Champs Elysees! We finally got some shopping done! Hahaha. Yes, the shopaholic is satisfied. =p
The next day, we headed to Sacre Coeur upon a tour groupmate's suggestion because they had seen it the day before. So glad we took their suggestion. It was breathtaking and very beautiful! Though we had to climb all those steps, it was worth it. But then when we were near the top, we found out there was some sort of vehicle that could take us up, hahaha! Oh well.
Other sites and favorite photos from the two days of exploring Paris:
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| | 30 May 2010
It was time to say goodbye to our tour groupmates. The tour really takes us back to our starting point at the Thistle Marble Arch Hotel in London, but some of us opted to be left behind in Paris. So Mom and I still woke up early that day to make sure to be able to say goodbye to the people heading back to London.
Awww, I felt really sad saying goodbye to them in the lobby. And then we went outside as they were boarding the bus and I started to cry, hahaha! I couldn't help it. You get attached and you get to know them, then it's really sad not knowing if or when you'll ever see any of them again... At least there's always Facebook and emails.
Then we had breakfast with Liz and Les at the hotel, and also said goodbye to them after. Then we headed back to the room, and Mom and I caught up on some sleep. It was nice to sleep without worrying about the time after being on a tight and jam-packed schedule everyday for the past 2 weeks. So we afforded ourselves this luxury for that day.
We woke up around noon or early afternoon, and we talked to Tita Patty who was very familiar with Paris, and she suggested stuff we could do. So we planned out the rest of our stay in Paris.
That afternoon, we checked out Musee du quai Branly, which turned out the be the pretty building with the flowers and plants on the wall, and the see-through glass. We took an audio-guided tour of the Collections. I just found it very odd that the Philippines wasn't listed as part of Asia, instead it was part of Australia. Hmmm...
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| | 29 May 2010
- Morning drive around Paris
- Went up the Tour Eiffel
- Took a tour of the Louvre
- Watched the Feerie show at the Moulin Rouge
We saw a bit more of Paris, and I was loving everything we were seeing. I was just going crazy happy and snapping away with my camera. I was falling madly and deeply in la-la-luhhhvvvvv. Or should I say falling in Louvre? :)
It was the last full day of the tour, and I was getting sentimental with the tour group. I tried to make sure I had photos with everyone.
The visit to the Louvre, albeit very brief and leaving us wanting much more, was very beautiful. Walking around and trying to take everything in, I really wish we had more time here.
Oh yeah, about Moulin Rouge, the costumes and the whole production was indeed spectacular spectacular! But ALL those boobs? Really? Was it really necessary to have that much of it? Hahaha! After a while, all the dances seemed similar already (all of the dancers were perfectly in sync, amazing!), and you know there'd be more boobs coming. So I enjoyed more of the acrobatics, contortionists and the ventriloquist. Oh yeah, I also just wish we had a wee bit more space in our seats and table. But apart from that, it was a memorable experience. Glad to have experienced a Parisian cabaret.
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| | 28 May 2010
Our final stop on the tour was... *drumroll please!*
PARIS, FRANCE!!! :D
THEY DEFINITELY SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST!
I was really looking forward to Paris, the City of Lights. And wow, was it magical! The first sight of the Eiffel Tower from afar was just so exciting and nakakakilig!
Imagine what it felt like seeing it upclose. (And our hotel was so super near the Eiffel! So every time we'd step out of the hotel doors, there it was, as if saying "Bonjour, Tin!" And so I'd always also greet it back, "G'morning, Eiffel Tower!" or "Bonjour, Tour Eiffel!")
And then imagine seeing it all lit up as night would fall -- and then with all those sparkling and flashing lights every hour. Aaaaahhhhhhh... =) I was already falling in love with Pah-reee!
It was everything I dreamt it to be -- and so much more. =) I am definitely returning to Paris. And hopefully it's gonna be with someone I am in love with, in this place I fell in love with. ;)
- Drove from Switzerland to France (a rather long trip)
- Hello, Tour Eiffel! =) OMG OMG OMG!!!
- Driving around Paris in awe
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- River Seine cruise
- Driving around some more, with lights starting to light up the city
- View of the Eiffel Tower with the shining, shimmering, splendid lights!
My photo with an imitation Eiffel Tower in Genting Park in Malaysia, 2007...
...to the REAL THING! =)
(Yes, you will be seeing many different photos from different angles and on different days of our stay here.)
I still remember that exact feeling when the lights started shimmering. =) I can only wish every person gets to experience the same thing. Loooove it!
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| | 27 May 2010
- Carriages & Countryside optional tour
- Went up Mt. Pilatus via cable car
- Chapel Bridge
- Bucherer watch store
- Insight dinner
The Carriages & Countryside tour was absolutely delightful. We got to meet some local farmers and were taken to a home via horse-drawn carriages. I loved our carriage ride and our trip to that home with very yummy lemon cake, and good coffee and homemade apple juice. The people were very warm and friendly, too.
And we met the cutest Swiss kids! Blonde hair and the bluest eyes. Oh wow, that little boy was so handsome, and the little girl was the cutest! They made me miss my nieces Bianca and Andie even more.
Then the cable car ride up Mt. Pilatus was exciting and Mom and I also got to ride with Rica and Vince, so that was nice. That huge cable car that our whole group rode (it can fit up to 40, I think!) was a bit scary because we were going so high -- and we were so many. It was so cold up in the mountain, and we were totally not dressed for the freezing cold. We also got to eat very good barley soup.
We headed over to Bucherer and walked via the Chapel Bridge on that leisurely afternoon. The weather was perfect, and I wore flip flops and didn't bring a jacket, just to savor the nice cool weather. The Chapel Bridge was beautiful. We got to go with Rica, because her parents decided to stay in the hotel and rest.
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| | 26 May 2010
We crossed the Swiss border and headed to Lucerne.
Off to the land that's known for the best chocolates and watches, cheeses and knives (haha!).
- Lion Monument or The Lion of Lucerne
- Lake Lucerne cruise
- "Dine Around" where we had a choice of 3 restaurants. We chose the 2nd restaurant.
I wasn't too crazy about Lucerne on this first day. There was something about the air that smelled like horses wherever we went that day. And I hated that our room's airconditioner was broken, and they couldn't transfer us to another room -- all they could do was give us an electric fan, which was making such awful sounds. =\ In the others' rooms, the AC was super cold naman.
But all that would change the next day. =)
(My love for Lucerne that is... Not the hotel room situation.)
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| | 25 May 2010
We bid Rome goodbye, and we were off to Florence, which was our last stop in Italy.
- Academy Gallery to see the original David statue
- The famous Duomo to see Giotto's Belltower and the Gates of Paradise
- Signoria Square
- Leather goods demo in Peruzzi
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| | 24 May 2010
This was a very tiring tour day for me. We had previously signed up for an optional tour in the evening as well,
but Mom and I were both tired, so we begged off on that one.
We just had room service and went around the hotel a bit instead.
- The Catacombs
- The Colosseum
- Vatican City (St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel)
Being in the Catacombs was a bit scary. The Colosseum was really nice and spectacular.
I wish I had known more about it prior to visiting it so that I could've appreciated it more.
The Vatican City was really amazing. I'm not a very religious person nor do I practice much of my being a Catholic. But being there was something special. Also being there and seeing it up close (and it was sooo huge!) was like, WOW! I only see this place on TV whenever the pope says mass or special events like that. Galing. St. Peter's Basilica was also very nice.
I have to admit I was disappointed with the Sistine Chapel. There was so much build up before you get to it, and when we FINALLY did (one long hallway after another), I was like, okaaay, this is it? Haha. I guess I had high expectations for it kasi. (Unlike the Mona Lisa at The Louvre, I was warned that it's small, so when I finally saw it, I was like, oh it's not that small.) The hallways leading up to it were even nicer, hahaha. Too bad we weren't allowed to take photos in the Sistine Chapel.
I really enjoyed our time in Roma (yes, say it with the Italian accent with matching hand gestures).
Ciao bella! =)
(Oh BTW, it was funny how our tour groupmates were so scandalized by the traffic in Rome, while Mom and I were just laughing it off because we're so used with Manila traffic.)
We had our group photo taken outside The Colosseum. =)
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| | 23 May 2010
- Spanish Steps
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Piazza Navona
I was really looking forward to visiting Rome. I made sure that, aside from Paris and London of course, Rome was part of the places we'd be visiting on the tour. Roma, you did not disappoint! :D
I will admit one of the reasons I was excited about Rome was Mary-Kate and Ashley's movie When In Rome (hehehe). I feel bad I hadn't seen Gladiator or 300 to appreciate more of The Colosseum. I hadn't started reading the book at the time, but I wish Eat, Pray, Love (the book; I was disappointed with the movie) mentions the places she ate at, haha.
The Trevi Fountain was one of the highlights of my trip. Approaching it from the side pa lang, I was jumping up and down like a kid! It was so magnificent seeing it up close. I was in AWE! I threw in a coin, so that means I'll be coming back. =)
The Spanish Steps were much bigger than I expected. The Pantheon was beautiful. And I could spend the whole day in Piazza Navona. The gelato was delightful -- maybe even too delightful that I wasn't even aware when our tour guide was counting heads, and she didn't see me.
That was quite embarrassing actually, because I hadn't put my transmitter/headset earphone thing back on after the gelato break, so I didn't realize she was doing a headcount. I was somewhere in the back, and you know how short I am. So she was missing one person, and she kept counting. Then suddenly, this path clears up in between the tour guide and me. And I could hear a few tour groupmates saying "here she is!" while I was still licking my ice cream. YIKES. And yes, my mom was no help. Hahaha!
Oh, our hotel (for two nights!) was very nice and modern -- with free, fast and unlimited internet. Yahoooo!
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| | 21 May 2010
- Our drive from Innsbruck, Austria (awww, goodbye, beloved Austria) to Venice in Italy (we also say goodbye to the
cool weather and say hello to the sunny warmth of Italia!)
- Took a ferry to bustling St. Mark's Square where we saw the Basilica and the Clock Tower
- Murano glass-blowing demontstration
- A traditional gondola ride along the canal!!! =)
- Rode the ferry back to Lido island where our hotel is
- A sit-down dinner where we shared a table with Liz, Les, Ted and Susan
- Didn't join the optional tour na, and we just called it a night
From an imitation gondola ride at Genting theme park in Malaysia...
...to the real thing in Venice, Italy! WOW!
It was nice sharing the gondola ride with Mom and fellow Pinoys we met on the tour, Tita Nette, Tito Rico and Rica. Mom and I also kept thinking of Tata and Peter, because they went here and rode the gondola also on their honeymoon back in 1999.
Here are some favorite shots from the gondola, and also some sights in Venice.
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| | 20 May 2010
Austria is LOOOOOVE!
Most especially because I love The Sound of Music very much,
and we got to see two places where TSOM was filmed. =)
Before going on the trip, there was already a list of optional tours
we could take, and there was a "Sound of Music Tour" so that got
me excited. But on the actual tour, it wasn't offered by our tour
director. And when I asked him about it, he said it's because we will
get to see some places na in our included tour. So pwede na rin.
We got to see Mirabell Palace and Gardens which is where a lot of
the scenes from Do-Re-Mi were filmed. WOW! :D That garden was beautiful!
Galing no? =) Except we were on the other side, from the inside with the view of the outside. They were at the entrance, so you can see the inside of the garden from outside.
This one, it's not so obvious it's the same because we were on the opposite side again. But yup, that was the exact fountain in the middle of the garden!
And we also went to this plaza with a fountain. I recognized it from afar, but thought the scene was the one on their way to the picnic before Do-Re-Mi, but it was in "I Have Confidence" pala. The tour guide even reminded us about Maria splashing water from the fountain.
And the tour guide also said it was the place used when you see the nazis marching, and I was like, oh yeah! The one when Maria and the Captain were on their honeymoon!
After our morning tour, we had lunch on our own (we chose McDonald's lang haha), and met up again with the group for an optional tour up Eagle's Nest, which is where Hitler would have his meetings before. Eerie... =\
We went up by bus, then went through a tunnel, and up an elevator all the way to the top of the mountain. Wow, breathtaking views to get up! =) Yay, we saw snow -- my second time to see snow in my lifetime!!! =) I wasn't expecting to see snow at all on this trip, so that was a great surprise! =) Sooo cold, it was 1 centigrade up there, and of course we weren't dressed for it, and my shoes got so wet!
Really nice tours, and I so loved my Sound of Music moments! =)
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| | I absolutely loved Austria! =)
Of course it's also because of The Sound of Music (more of that in my next album),
but also because everything is so beautiful. =)
- Left our hotel in Rhineland, Germany
- Headed to Marienplatz in Munich, Germany
- Chose to have cheap (relatively cheaper) lunch in McDonald's ;p
- Headed to Hotel Penz in Innsbruck, Austria
- Went around a bit with the group, including a visit to Swarovski
- Some free time before dinner at the hotel
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A bathroom we were lucky to have used in Cafe Reichard in Cologne, Germany!
Mom and I considered this the best €1 we spent.
It's a short (bitin!) video, but really funny, if I may say so, and also if you know what went on here.
Mom and I went to use this bathroom. We saw that the doors were clear and we could see the toilets on the other side of the doors.
Tin : What's that?! How will we make weewee? Mom, go inside nga and let's see what happens when you lock the door before we go and make weewee.
So Mom went in and when she locked the door, the door became frosted!
SOOOO COOL!!!!! :D Hahaha!
So we did our business and washed our hands. After, I knew I had to take a picture or a video. When we went back to the cubicles, we saw a lady inside one of the cubicles doing her business -- SHE DIDN'T LOCK THE DOOR!!! So of course we could see her sitting down in the toilet with her pants down. Errr, okaaay...
So anyway, we went past that lady's cubicle, and Mom and I took this video. =) And after we did, there was another lady who saw us taking the video, and she gave us a thumbs up sign. =)
ENJOY!!! :D
Download this and other original video files with Multiply Premium. | | 18 May 2010
- Left our hotel in Brussels, Belgium
- Drove to Cologne, Germany
- Went to Cologne Cathedral
- Lunch in Cafe Reichard (where we saw the coolest bathroom!!!)
Check out the video HERE!!! =)
- Went on a Rhine river cruise from Boppard
- Walked by Karlsplatz and one of the bridges along the Rhine
- Arrived at NH Hotel in Rhineland where we had dinner and a free night
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And here's a video of the guards playing Lion King's The Circle of Life, the end part of it.
Isn't that cool? =)
 | Hello there! :) | |
 | 
don't miss the final run of "the musical that changed broadway forever..."
9WorksTheatrical's RENT is back!
Catch THE LAST SUNDAY NIGHT on Feb 27 8PM, the at the RCBC Theater Makati
www.rent-feb27.weebly.com
for tickets contact 0917-519-7009 ❤
NO DAY BUT TODAY! |
 | Thanks so much for remembering, Mich and Guy! =) |
 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TIN!!! :-D |
 | Hi Tin, just wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday!!! in advance. I hope you enjoy your special day. =D |
 | Great article on CATS, Tin! (applause! applause!) |
|  Celebrate the 'season of love' with RENT! =) Running in February 2010! February 27, 3:30PM at the RCBC Theater, Makati City RESERVE TICKETS NOW WHILE THEY'RE STILL AVAILABLE! =) Call or text PEACHY at 0906.331.5961 Measure your life in love! <3 |
| sorry for the late replies... guy and gi, thank you so much for the bday greetings! :) and bing, thanks also for posting here in multiply. i saw the one on facebook first. thanks! :) |
 | HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And have a very happy year ahead :> |
| Have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIN!!!! :-D |
| |
