2018 Recap: Highlights of the Year That Was

What's your 2018 theme?

I am not sure how this thing started or if there are others who also do this, but from ever since I can remember, I always start a year with a THEME. There was that year when I said YES TO LIFE more so I treated myself to things I love such as art and crafts classes and expensive concerts and fancy solo dining. There was that year I said I will be FEARLESS so I traveled solo, traveled with new people turned friends, got into a risky business, got a tattoo, and even entered a teaching job.

For 2018, I said my theme will be, well, the popular French phrase JOIE DE VIVRE. The Joy of Life. I want to experience more of the goodness that life has to offer. I thought that this meant getting into luxury bags and a Euro trip, but I guess it meant much much more.



A Year of Many Firsts

In my 32 years in this planet, there are lesser things written on my bucket list as most have already been ticked off.. Or so I thought! This year brought me more new experiences, even unbelievable ones not written on the list!

I experienced riding a helicopter for the first time for free as part of a bloggers engagement:


I also tried skiing in Korea last January, which I failed lots of times but I super had lots of fun because snow:


It was also my first time to fly on a hot air balloon. It was wobbly during take off, trying to balance three people on a flying basket! 😂 People always say "just like in movies" during magical moments in their lives, but this scene here is more of a "just like in cartoons" so it's better!!!




I also slept in a tiny and shady sleeper train (that goes inside a ship!!) from Sweden to Gemany. It was weird and scary coz it was my first time, but definitely another story to tell to my future grand children!! 😂


And more on weird places to sleep in, I also spent nights in a capsule hostel! I've been to guest houses and dormitories, but nothing's more legit than Tokyo's capsule!


And of course, it was also my first time to try horseback riding on snowy pathways of Jeju Island. This barely lasted for 30 minutes of our tour, but everything's just unreal, sparkling right before my eyes! ✨⛄


I Love My Job!

It was also the year that I fully embraced my work as a blogger. It took me years to finally say it straight to a stranger's or relative's face when asked What do you do for a living? and not feel awkward or low, or write in visa application forms or airport immigration sheets with so much pride haha. Well, I am a blogger because I still write these long posts on a website I own and not just IG, I earn from them, and pay taxes because of them! Haha!

Because of my job, I went on a 7-day luxury cruise! This was one of the best and unexpected trips for me for 2018. Ahhh, nothing more luxurious than the cruise life!

I also finally visited beautiful Siargao, the place that made me really really proud to be a Filipino living in this country with the BEST beaches in the world! You don't have to go too far to travel.

If not for this job, I also won't easily see Korean girl group Momoland this up close! And for free!

And of course, you know that I will line up and spend on these Korean actor fan meetings. Kaligayahan ko talaga to the past two years. And kahit walang free, I will buy my own ticket like how I did with Nam Joo Hyuk, Jisoo, Park Shin Hye, and Jung Hae In.



BUT! This year, and again because of this job, I was lucky I got to attend Lee Jong Suk's Crank Up for free! I even had spare tickets to share to friends and followers! What a dream.

Got invited when Innisfree opened its first store in Manila:


And got paid to fan girl on stage and talk about my passion project, the Kdrama Tours!

Travel Buddies!

As much as I love traveling solo, 2018 taught me bigger lessons in traveling and life when you compromise with the people you're with. It's not always about you! Haha!

I got to enjoy sights through the eyes of other people--and this year, I went back to Taiwan this time with Ava, who spent most of her childhood here because of her mom:

The Great 20-day European Escape with my Ate, the original ultimate OC itinerary maker! Haha! We went to Oslo, Stockholm, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Krakow. Now I know where cobblestone roads and castles these Disney dreams are made of, haha!

Back to being on the wheel! Went to Hokkaido during autumn with our youngest sister Cea, and this time I am back to planning the nitty gritty of this trip--everything to make this an enjoyable experience for the bunso, hehehe. I love this part of Japan, it was more chill but still very beautiful because of all the nature sights!

So Many Wins!

They say that blogging has no end goal, unlike office set-ups, there are no promotions in this job. We also had no dean's listers and Top 5 unlike in school graduations. So when I won Instagram or blogging contests this year, I realized that what we had are these recognitions!! I will keep all these like medals.

This year, I won an Instagram contest and went to Bali for the first time:

I also got two blog awards from Nuffnang and Megaworld! It's a more visual era, but these certificate and trophy inspired me to stick to what I love the most--and that is writing. ❤

And not just with Dara!!! But with other Korean actors and Kpop idols!!!! I was screaming inside during the whole shoot!

I have countless mundane moments this year when I felt so contented and satisfied with life. The real Joie De Vivre. Masasabi kong mas masaya pako than purchasing luxury bags or winning awards.

Having hot convenience store instant noodles when snow was falling outside on that freezing night in Jeju:

And my best sunset yet with a wonderful view of Gamcheon's colorful houses, hot cup of latte in my hand while I was seating alone on a rooftop of a coffee shop in Busan:

In the coming year, I will try my best to become a better blogger. I want to write more stories from the heart, but this time I will try my best to make my posts more substantial BUT concise so people will still find interest in reading. I know long-ass posts don't work so much anymore, unless they are very well written. I want to be that kind of writer pls! I really hope to get more creative writing juices in 2019!!

I also want to inspire more people positively not just through my blogs, but also on my other social media accounts. Making a difference is now underrated. These days people are all about pretty travel pictures, loud videos, and engagements. But what I want is to touch people's lives. I don't know how, but let's give it a try??

And after listing these, here's my takeaway for you dear reader before ending my last post on the last day of the year: There really is so much more in this world than what you've ever dreamed off or listed on your bucket list. Ang dami dami pa. The grander, "just like in cartoons" experiences are yet to come!

I'll carry this in my heart in the coming new year. Let's dream together, shall we? :)