All aboard the minitrains

If you're looking for a wholesome family fun in Auckland then look no further than the minitrains in Mangere. Cheap as chips at $2 per ride! Fun activity for everyone!

Sophia's first birthday

Feb 28, 2014 - Happy birthday my beloved daughter, Sophia. Thank you so much for enriching our lives and teaching us to be "present" everyday. It is true what they say that it's not until you become a mother yourself that you realise and appreciate the magnitude of your parents love for you. I am very grateful to have my mother and father's love. I promise, Sophia, that I will love you unconditionally and raise you well so that you will grow up to be a beautiful person inside out.

Triple J's in action

Feb 19, 2014 -  went for a long drive with my friends and colleagues Joy and Jaytee. Straight from a night shift, we headed off to a coworker's batch in Doubtless bay - about five hours away from Auckland. It was a great trip with lots of action and sightseeing, i.e., visiting the world famous Hundertwasser public toilets in Kawakawa and a funny interaction with one of the locals, sampling the sumptuous chocolates at Makana's chocolate boutique, frolicking at the Coca cola lake, sampling Manganoi's famous fish and chips shop (which was nice but overpriced), sunbathing and swimming at Copper's beach (which unfortunately ended with Jaytee getting concussed from what we thought were harmless waves) and finally, sand boarding and sightseeing at Cape Reinga (the tip of north island).

Great company, good times filled with lots of laughter and bloopers. These are memories I will treasure forever. I am certainly looking forward to many more trips with these lovely gals!

Triple J's - Jaytee, Joy and Jodie

Hundertwasser world famous toilet

At the Coca Cola lake

About to hit the sand dunes

At the tip of the North island

Up, up and away

Parasailing with my husband in Denarau, Fiji during our mini-moon in Feb 2011 was so much fun. I thought I might get vertigo but that wasn't the case at all. It was an awesome experience - floating like we were on a giant kite. It's always lovely to share such an amazing experience with my other half.

Chinese lantern festival

This is our annual visit to Albert Park, Auckland for the Chinese lantern festival. This year is more special because Andrew (my husband) and I were able to share this event with my daughter, Sophia. Although it meant  braving the crowd and fighting for a car park, I still think it was worth the effort because of the delicious food,  the beautiful life-size lanterns and the festive mood that the occasion invoked.

 

Meet my lovely husband and cute as a button daughter enjoying the sweet and sour pork

 

 

 

Long drives with the siblings and cuzzies

I'm currently reminiscing my long drives with my younger siblings and cousins. I miss those days! We haven't done it in a while. Mostly because I'm concentrating on being a mom. One day perhaps...

I've sifted through the hundreds of photos and every time I look at them, I feel immensely happy. I'm lucky to have them in my life. They keep me grounded, they keep me focused on what's important in life and they always make me feel young at heart :) 
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 Goofing around in Rotorua

 

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Taking the plunge in the blue lake

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Multiple pit stop - Matamata, Hamilton, Tauranga and Taupo

Spookers in Karaka, New Zealand

I must admit, I am a long time lover of horror movies. Admittedly, I end up having nightmares after watching them but I still watch them anyway. Hence, i am also a big fan of horror booths or rides which were very popular in the Philippines. I remember having gone through the horror maze during high school which was fun rather than scary, particularly, because I recognise the people who were trying to scare the hell out of me. So you can probably guess my delight when I discovered Spookers - New Zealand's only haunted attraction theme park. It's complete with a haunted mansion (set in an old mental institution), crazy corn maze and black forest. Click on this link http://www.spookers.co.nz/ to check it out.

I've been there four times and I still scream in terror and delight. I laugh mostly at my male cousins who go in there with a lot of bravado but then end up screaming and scared like the rest of us. Lol! Here some photos of my scary encounter :)

Family in New Zealand

If you are Filipino or if you know one, you'll understand the importance of a big extended family. I've been fortunate enough to be a part of a strong clan of at least 50 relatives (growing more and more every year) in New Zealand. We have our ups and downs but I love them to bits. I am who I am now because of their influence. New Zealand feels like home because of them. I consider them as my close friends and allies. My relationship with them is certainly the relationship I want my daughter, Sophia, to have once she's older and able to grasp the importance of family.

Our annual Christmas and new year's gatherings are always a blast. These are events I look forward to every year. Here are some photos of my beloved clan.

 

Black water rafting in Waitomo cave

April 21, 2008 - I went black water rafting with my friend, Margaret, at the Waitomo cave. And boy, was it fun! Despite the wet suit and the cold autumn air, it was simply an awesome experience. It was 3 hours of pure fun navigating through the cave and culminating with the spectacular view of the glow worms which lit up the ceiling of the cave like stars.