Another Beach Episode. Sampaguita, Bauan, Batangas

Alright, so I posted on Facebook thru my recently-acquired Twitter account that I'll be posting something on my blog if I were sober yesterday. I wasn't able to post anything, but it wasn't because I was drunk, but I was dead-tired. Don't know how I got that way, but I just laid back for a power nap and the next thing I knew when I came awake it was 10:45 PM.

I hope you like this one.

My buddies decided to tag along with another friend's family outing yesterday, and since we were pining for a bit of beach and sun action, well, the opportunity just presented itself. Now, unlike our previous outings (Re: Batangas Summer post), we decided to head out to one of the more secluded, yet really better-than-your-average beaches here in our place in the province. We went to Sampaguita, where the water is cooler, the sand is cleaner, and the road to get there is more exciting (three dangerous curves ahead, while riding downhill from a climb up a mountain where only one car can fit). Too bad my camera was in my bag so I was not able to take a photo on how the way going there looks like, but needless to say, if getting there by road, one must be driving a vehicle like some sort of SUV or truck (which we rode on - one of those big-ass trucks used for hauling softdrinks much like the same one we rode on re: Good Friday Hike post).

I have been here years ago. Just before graduating from high school. I can notice that nothing much has changed, except for the fact that the troublesome sea urchin population dwindled, much to my feet's relief. I got stuck by one of the buggers the last time I came here, and the pain was tolerable and what annoyed me more was the fact that it itched like anything. A few drops of vodka would've been welcome at the time (or is that for jellyfish stings only?). I settled for some calamansi juice applied sparingly on the affected area with - by the advice of a classmate - vinegar. Don't know if the calamansi or the vinegar did it, but nevertheless, the pain disappeared after less than an hour. Back to present.

The writer, gawking again, this time
with friends so that he won't feel left out.

 Some of the pictures I took were around 7AM so there's more shade and the sun hasn't yet peaked. Our hut was spacious enough and the owners of the resort let us use more than the two tables we rented. You can notice how clear the waters are and despite the presence of rocks, the sand feels great around your toes. It is relatively shallow up to 25 or so meters, probably more than that, and beyond 40 meters out into sea will it really get deep with rocks you can step on. Just watch out for sea urchins. They hurt. More photos include our view from the hut on both sides, and later from a neat place we noticed.




 Not too many people around, and some were arriving by boat from nearby Mabini, which is the secondary route if you don't want to get here by mountain. It's not a crowded beach so there is ample room for everyone to swim and frolic in the sand. Some were playing frisbee. By that time I wished I brought along my football so we can play a game of beach football. We were expecting tourists like Koreans, but maybe they are all in the Mabini side, where it's known for its increasingly growing reputation for water sports and dive spots.

See how clear the water is? I just couldn't get enough of it. Usually, the beaches we go to have darker sands and even darker water. You can also notice very little garbage littering the sand. You can't really see it here in the photos but compared to other beaches here in Batangas, this is the cleanest I have ever been in.

One of the best photos I took. That's my buddy over there, testing how to pose for a killer pic. For the sake of decency, I won't be posting here our other shots. We sexy and we know it. 'Nuff said.

Then we noticed some sort of ruined remains of a port jutting from the waters some distance away from our place. We figured it would be a cool place to check out and my buddy and I waded onto it. We had little trouble getting there, since our only concern was the occasional sea urchin, and it was really fun making our way there. We took a bunch of photos here and after more than half an hour having fun here, we notice that the other people on the beach started wading after us. Maybe they were just waiting for someone to make it across the rocks without disappearing under the waters or rolling in pain before they tried it out.

No sea urchins here. Good.

 Sorry for the crappy layout, I haven't had this much difficulty with posting an entry with photos before, but I just wanted you guys to see as much as I feel that will make you appreciate the simplicity and serenity of this place so I just chose a select few photos. Unless you want to see us turn one of the kids who tagged along with us into a sand-mermaid with a huge, er, tail. Anyways, there's also some fishermen who rent their boats out to tourists and for a hundred bucks per head, you can snorkel and dive around the hidden coral reefs and shoals about 20 minutes away from the beach. Based on what I heard, the dive spot is great and if I return here, maybe I'll check it out and might borrow an underwater camera.

Below are more photos I took for the remainder of our day spent there, and as you can notice, the sun's already up, and while just as intense as anywhere during the summer at noontime, the heat can still be beaten by a quick dip in the water with a constant cooling breeze. That and plenty of water.

Ironically, like I said, we didn't get drunk this time (Again. Last year's outing no one bothered to bring alcohol). But maybe if we'd get inebriated this time, we won't be able to really appreciate this beach and not enjoy it fully. In the last pic the sun is starting to go down, and we were already packing our things and getting ready to go home.

I can say I really, really feel better doing one of these "semi-travel blogs", since I really like to travel and get to new places. Maybe I can do a few more of these in the future and maybe do some reviews on other things, not just places but more. So far I had a blast, and as early as now, my summer would've been complete, if only my better half was there with me.

Enjoy the remainder of the summer, ciao.

Mmm... Vodka.

On video games, and getting out more for some sunshine.

Some people rarely notice, but yeah, I play video games.

I may not be really hardcore, but I do enjoy certain genres and I do have my own preferences and style, if you will, of playing. Not only that, I keep an open mind on what games and genres are out there, and as much as possible, I'd update myself of what's new, what's good and what's not, and all of that since getting information about these things are a lot simpler now as if it's just like the daily news on paper or on the telly. But like I said, I have my preferences and would not readily agree that this game is better than that or would understand what another player is talking about, because mainly of personal preference and taste.

I get a lot of people asking me what IS a gamer, actually? Well, anyone can be.

Historically, the term "Gamer" was used to identify those who play only particular genres, namely, role-playing and war games (Not necessarily video games. Remember the time of Dungeons and Dragons table-top games?). I am not quite sure, but I do believe that those players who prefer card games like Magic The Gathering and even some games like Yu Gi-Oh! fall under this. But by now, since the usage of the word necessarily include those who play video games, like I said earlier, practically anyone can be a gamer.

Now, there exists sub-cultures of gamers. They can be Casual, Mid-Core, Hardcore, or for some lucky bastards, Pro Gamers. Casual gamers play just for the fun of it, and like the term suggests, they don't really spend that much time on them. Mid-Core gamers are necessarily a notch higher, meaning that they will play a wide variety of titles, genres and on different consoles, even, while not really devoting much time to it as opposed to the Hardcore type, which , the main difference I can say, is that the latter is more competitive while the former may just play without the same competitiveness attitude. Worth noting is that Hardcore gamers make it a habit to take time to practice and to excel in their games, even engaging in competitive areas of play, as like I said earlier - either locally, or in different leagues depending on their ineterests. While the last - those lucky bastards - are Professional Gamers, who, in the full sense of the words used, get paid just for playing. Now, it may sound like a "dream job" but as all of us would later on realize, it is a job. And a job is, well... a job. It has its highs and lows, and still face the regular perks and peeves or a normal job.

Well, I did day-dream of being a "Pro" someday, but now... I kinda like were I am. I may not be that Hardcore much, but I do enjoy when I sit down with a game and suddenly find myself enjoying the fact that I got better at it. I don't really practice, but I do spend much time lately especially during long breaks from school and whatnot. Mostly, I just want to have fun.

Going back to what preferences of titles and genres I like to play, I can say I tried everything. Of course, we all went through the platform, side-scrolling days of the NES and the infamous Family Computer days. Flashback: Mario doing the hundred lives trick on a turtle (Ah, pixelated nostalgia). I tended to go for fantasy-themed ones, and games based on science fiction. I did tried a lot of RPGs back in the day and I still consider Final Fantasy 7 the more influential title as to what I consider when it comes to that bit. Then came Diablo and Diablo 2 (I remember me and my cousins doing a Diablo 2 24-hour marathon, but can't seem to figure out who gets to play on certain shifts so, we ended up doing it randomly and failing at that). And when the era of consoles came back with Sony developing a cool machine and naming it with an even cooler name, that was where I got a hand on every possible genre there was. Not only that, I would make some references to certain games and include gamer-slang words when applicable (so far, I've been using "Noob" or, 'newbie' - a person who is either: new to the game and thus, haven't acquired the necessary basics of the basics; or, one who totally sucks - quite often, because I think I still am).

I did jump on one of those MMORPG bandwagons and had a "jolly good" of a time with it, but right now, I find it tiring and too time-consuming... And I do like to go out for some sunshine every now and then. And that sort of game, especially here, cost money. Which, I do not have at the moment.

So I'm turning 26 next month and so far as my parents are concerned, this is supposed to be the time when I'd fill my Christmas or Birthday wishlist for what? New silk neckties that would match equally sophisticated shirts; a good pair of casual or formal shoes; a dress watch; possibly a car or new stereo for the old Toyota; or possibly a round trip ticket to some foreign land where I can immerse myself in culture, history or a job opportunity. Not with a new CPU filled with the latest specs to run the coming Diablo 3 (drools) game which will go on release a few days before my birthday; a three-page list of titles I'd like to play; or a good set of headphones for the PS3 so I can hear the noobs talk to each other while I go to where they are camping and just shoot them all up on one rushing. They certainly wouldn't accept those.

Well, check one of my previous post on the Azkals. You'd get the idea what I'm talking about.

So, yeah. I do play games, but I do go out of the house more often than not, too, since it is still the summer break. I'd get the same satisfaction with hiking up a mountain just as well as me having my character level up (See my Good Friday Hike entry). I'd like to say it's just about striking a balance between the two, because as it is, the games I play are indeed JUST GAMES. I don't go rage-quitting while shouting profanities at somebody from across the globe who happen to shoot or cast in-game spells faster than me. Remember the "Angry German Kid" on YouTube? I mean, I do get frustrated when I'm not having a really good game day, but rather than be a total ass about it, I'd just turn off the console and pick up a book to read, or go outside and meet up with my friends (who, considering the old saying, "Yowe telleth me whoeth thou friends are, and I'll telleth who yowe are"), which most of the time we either end up drinking a few or playing more video games. Good times.

And we are still under the process on where we will hold our annual summer outing and possibly a road trip somewhere cool.

So, yeah. I just wanted to write this down since somebody got the notion of me not getting a life. I mean, hey, I do have one and it's just a part of it, really, nothing serious, just a hobby. If I were still stuck in my room playing until the wee hours of the night (which although is quite a few often these days, it is summer break after all), then I wouldn't have time posting this up as an entry. And with that, I'd like to say:

You noob.

Summer Break Comeback

Ah, hiatus... Finally ended your streak.

So, yeah, I've come back to the Necropolis. I got bogged down by school requirements and paperwork and finals that I barely had time to post and entry. Since I badly wanted to post something, I'd start of with a little but of rambling and hopefully, my next posts will be more interesting for the most loyal of my readers (and I really wish they'd suddenly multiply like, well, mushrooms in our backyard after a thunderstorm).

We ended our school year in a rather interesting way. Our class, together with another that was merged with ours for our Evidence class under Commissioner Rene Sarmiento made a book. The book will serve as a simplified guide much like the "Idiot's Guide to ____" books - a handbook-slashie-manual if you will, a handbook, really, for law students and for laymen to understand a rather popular topic in the past months or so: IMPEACHMENT.

Our editors decided to entitle it: A Posteriori. I don't exactly know how or why they chose that but it is eye-catching, even if I have no idea what it means. Nevertheless, we had a blast in our launch. Commissioner was there, as well as several associates who played the role of panel in case they would like to ask questions, which indeed they have. Because my groupmates were my close friends, and our editors decided to pick one of each group to present a short report on our parts in the book, my group decided I should do it. Only that I had a few reservations about it. You see, when you are cooped up in a dorm room with only your books and a broke-ass netbook with a broadband stick as your company, you tend to just browse the net and watch streaming videos to kill time. And it so happens that the last clips I watched before I knew I was to speak in front of two classes and a panel of lawyers and our dear Commissioner himself was Eddie Izzard's Glorious and Dress to Kill. Full shows. Streaming.

So, what do they have in connection with me presenting a report? Well, I tend to make everything I do while standing up talking into some sort of comic experience. Not that I'm funny or a comedian of sorts, I just tell things as they are. But things like that happen, so there. My reservations include among other things: What will I say? Will they like it? Will I keep myself from blurting out cuss words and keep the whole thing formal? And what will I wear? In the end, I secretly wished that my group mates would change their minds in the last minute and pick another one in my stead. But no, and after my report, well... I ended up messing my own head next and finished my report in lackluster fashion.

But they seem to like it.

One lady classmate thought I was drunk at the time.

Awesome.

No one really knew this, but what I said there was half-baked, and I ended up omitting the other bits because I was afraid no one would get my material. Just to get this out of my system, a long narrative of events was what I was supposed to say. Rather lengthy, if you ask me, and that was one of the reasons why I decided to cut up the few bits and insert more on the more substantial bits of our paper. I admit I took a few off from Eddie Izzard, but I like the guy and his work and his humor just gets to me more than other comedians.

So yeah, our group had a blast doing the paper and of course we had a lot of things going on that sort of, hindered or bogged down our progress. Nevertheless, we finished it and the book was finished, and I think it will turn out okay.

So you're working on a paper on a deadline, and when you're a law student and deadlines just keep popping up, you cannot help but think how conveniently they put the word 'dead' in deadline. It keeps building up. It builds up, builds up, builds up, and then the next thing you know you're neck deep in work that you won't know what to do first.

And so you decide to go for the overtime. The all-nighter that you have done for the last three, four, or in some cases, five years of law school which you have been doing night in and night out. Except that you'll be doing it with a group and you feel like you'll finish it, and you are like, 'Nothing can go wrong, we'll finish this! Let's get it on!', and you get a car, and laptops, and books, and drafts, and notes, and coffee, and a toothbrush, and gatorade, and coffee, and more coffee, and your personal secretary, some jam, more books, and pens, and highlighters, and more jam perhaps, your slippers,  and bring the kitchen sink with you, and a thermos of coffee. Only one problem: you're lugging all that around Manila in the middle of the night and you realize, 'We're driving for hours and we haven't started yet.' You see, we didn't get a venue that night and the four of us - one was out due to something lodged up his throat, and the other was a woman so we couldn't expect her to go driving around Manila with four other guys.

So yeah, we drove around the city and when all the Starbucks closed down on you, you have no other choice but to swallow you're pride and do more of the unorthodox methods of paper-making.

Get a room in a hotel.

But it was the fifteenth of the month then, and everyone knows what that means... Fresh cash in the stash for a late-night mash... I don't know what the hell that means. But basically that means all the cheaper rooms in the more respectable hotels are booked. And we ended up driving across the more seedier parts of the Metro just to find a decent room. But when none comes up, well, we gotta swallow our prides and check-in in one of the more, well, red-light district... Sleazy, even... all for the sake of finishing the work that would immortalize us.

So we ended up in one of the backstreet motels in Pasay City, and when you see four blokes driving inside a motel, then well, it gets interesting.

I have no idea why they wouldn't believe us. They wouldn't accept the fact that we are really doing a paper! I mean, come on, I know you got a policy of two-in-a-room, but this is academics!

Us: We'd like a room, please. For the four of us.
Busboy: Sir?
Us: We're just here to make a paper and do research. We like to coop ourselves up so we can concentrate.
Busboy: Riiiiiight...

What? Do you honestly think we were there for a sausage party? Come on, man.

Busboy: We can't have all of you in a room, sir.
Us: But we're just going to finish this paper...
Busboy: Sir, it's our policy to have only two in each room...
Us: Can't you see? Bugger, we got tons of photocs, and two laptops here, and books, and...
Busboy: Sir, unless you-
Us: OKAY! OKAY! WE'RE HERE TO HAVE SEX!
Busboy: ... Keys right here, sirs...

So we ended up like that and when it's 2 in the morning, well, as if we have a choice.

It's not the first time I did this, though... There was a time when me and my friends came back from a "E-Gamers'" convention of sorts and needed a place to crash since we were all punch-drunk. We did the same thing, only that we got separate rooms. And when you're with four other drunk blokes driving into one popular chain of motels around the metro, well, the results may be the same, but a bit totally different. But that's another story.

So things ended up well enough and most of my class binged in the "after-party". I'm back home in the provinces playing COD and whatnot, and well, just spending my summer away with all options open for anything that may come by. Whatever this summer may bring, I think I'll enjoy it while it lasts. I mean, when you're thinking whether you'll get kicked out or what, you tend to do things that make you forget of your worries.

Maybe more of Eddie Izzard then. Man, that guy just cracks me up.

(Now listening to Island in the Sun by Weezer)