My 2014 - Part 1

Yes, I know.  I am fully aware how less I blogged in 2014.  I posted the fewest blogs in a year from the time I started blogging.  Let me just say that my hands were indeed full.  Nevertheless, to cap the year that was, here is my 2014 summary.

JANUARY

I celebrated New Year's Eve in one of my favorite cities in the world - Melbourne.  And on the first day of 2014, took a plane from Melbourne to Manila and from Manila to Davao City.

Happy New Year from Melbourne! 

Of course, I was very happy to be a part of my friends' special events - attending Teen's birthday and thanksgiving party as well as Cloud's baptism.  

 With law school friends at Teen's party (Ate Jo not ready for the picture .. hehe)

 Godparents at Cloud's baptism

 And there's that once in a blue moon beach outing with law school friends.

Beach time at Paradise!

This was also the year I turned 33.  I was very lucky to have people greet me before, during and after my birthday.  I feel so special having celebrated it with family and friends.  

Turning 33 at Yakimix!

How sweet!

Simple but fun lunch with this bunch!

FEBRUARY

My February usually starts with a joint birthday celebration with Lyn.  This time, we spent it at Vikings!

 Mukhang busog na ako dito :)

Teaching wise, I was very flattered having a talk with my former teacher now my co-teacher in undergrad.  

And of course, my BL Entrep Class was very amused with my perfect circle in class.  I do not have any picture of it, but my students surely took a picture of it.  I just drew a circle on the board and amazingly, it looked as if it was a perfect circle.

MARCH

I had a sumptuous dinner sometime the first week of March with friends.  

Food galore at Cellar de Oboza

Things happened so fast towards the last week of March.  It was quite shocking and surprising for the whole family and we just all hoped for the best.  To this day, I always thank GOD for the strength He has given our family as we went this ordeal together. 

Taken at 1 am after we fetched Jeni and Ally from the airport.

Our dad was very surprised when Ally was the one who woke him up at 1 am! 

Paradise again with family!

APRIL

One thing I will be always grateful is that of GOD's presence in my life.  Without Him, I have already faltered.  But what is amazing is that my faith remains steadfast in Him.  Our family has truly been blessed by Him, and with that I am always thankful.

To be continued ...

Mmmmm .. Melbourne!

I love Melbourne!

I was really blessed to have been given an opportunity to one of the best cities in the world.  I was assigned to work there for a total of 11 months and I still relish that experience to this day.

When my sisters decided to further study and work in Australia, I gave them my all out support to stay in Melbourne.  And I am pretty sure they love it!

I was ecstatic when we got a chance to visit them last Christmas -Mom, Dad, JJ and me visiting Johanna and Bajeck.  Jeni is missing .. next time hopefully.

So we left on the 22nd of December for Melbourne ... (Considering that I writing several months after our trip, the events are not necessarily in order)

First stop .. St. Francis Church right.  I used to attend Sunday mass here.  Sometimes I just go inside whenever I am near the area, which is just a walking distance from my workplace.  And they have a Filipino mass here!

Tram ride!  One of the reasons I love Melbourne is because of its public transportation.

Of course, we have to eat! (for lunch)

 We also got to eat at Crown (buffet dinner) .. I used to watch movies at Crown, too!

Pictorials at Yarra River!

Right across the iconic Flinders Station.  I told my sisters that we should laugh while the picture was taken.  We are so naturals! (And yes, we decided to wear maong for that day!  OOTD coordinated!)

Since it was the Christmas season, lights were all over town as well.  This one taken at Bourke Street (just near my previous work place!)

Noche Buena is not practiced in Melbourne (except for Filipino families perhaps)  But for us, along with the friends of my sisters, we really stayed awake up until midnight.  We played charades and ate.  We woke Mom and Dad just in time for Noche Buena! (With the cute Christmas tree!) (By the way, that crown thing is apparently a Melbourne/Aussie thing)

We also got to eat sumptuous dinner courtesy of Tita Cybele and family.  Busog!

Meeting the animals at Melbourne Zoo

Of course, we took the Great Ocean Road tour.  The mini-bus we rode kept on conking out and so we finished the tour late.  Nevertheless, it was still an experience worth remembering!

My first helicopter ride was right there at the 12 Apostles!  Johanna and I, who experienced it before, kept prodding our mom to take a helicopter ride.  After much thought, she decided to go for it, reasoning that the more she gets old, the less probability that she will get to experience.  Live and experience now!  Johanna and I rode experienced the helicopter ride again!  

I just can't get enough of this view!  I have been here at least 3 times, as far as I can remember!

At the Gibson steps!  I didn't go down the stairs anymore.  I just enjoyed the view!

We also went to Frankston Beach ...

Jump shot!

                                     

... to see the Sand Sculptures! (Jumanji!)

Best Actresses! (Angry Girls!)

We're all "J"s! (with Joan and John)

Living life at The Edge!  (Rialto used to be the building for a view of the city)

Brighton Beach!

And how did we spend New Year's Eve?  Together with the rest of the people of Melbourne.  We had to be early so we could get good seats ...

The gang's all here!

Last night in Melbourne!

We surely had great fun.  I am looking forward to go back to this wonderful city!