CyberShopping: A Whole New (Addicting) World to Explore

The only item I buy online are my contact lens, and that’s just because I have no other choice but to do so.

Most of the shops I like, such as Walmart, Target, etc., don’t ship here to the island of Guam. If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll know that it’s been a challenge for us finding basic necessities here – at a reasonable price.

This morning, my co-worker told me a few websites that do ship here; And one of them is Forever21! OH-MY-GOODNESS! Such happiness! I was so happy to discover this new world! Finally, summer dresses for less than $12.00! Shirts that are less than $10.00! What a happy me! The only thing bothering me though is I can’t try it on first, but what the heck! I can always return it for free if I want to.

What a wonderful new world! I’ve been browsing through the websites for hours now and I am scaring myself, as scared as my upcoming pay check. =P

Trial HMU

We’ll be having our pre-nup shoot the same day we arrive in the Philippines. Well, technically the next day, since we’ll start at midnight. Haha.

We had our shoot originally set for September but due to really bad weather, we postponed it for December. The only free time the photographers, videographers, and us have in common is December 23.

Given that I need to start preparing for the shoot around midnight, it might be too awkward to ask for my make up artist to help me out that time. Besides, I’d like to explore my own ‘artistic’ abilities too.

So today, I woke up early and had nothing to do. Therefore, it was the perfect time to practice doing my hair and make up for the pre-nup shoot. It took me more than an hour to finish everything. Viola! I looked ridiculous posing by myself but what the heck, I need to start practicing now. We only have 1 month left! Whoa!!!

Anyhoo, so here are some samples of the Magic that hair and make up does:

Above HMU by my make up artist Kris Bacani. She’s so good!!! She has magic hands. Hahaha!!!




For both pictures above, HMU is done by *ahem* MYSELF! Yeah! It isn’t as grand as what my make up artist can do, but pretty good for someone who doesn’t know anything about make ups. This is good for our pre-nup shoot I guess. Agree? :)

New Found Favorite!

We have a new found favorite restaurant/date place here in the island! Woot woot!

Presenting: Hotel Nikko Guam’s Toh Lee restaurant. It’s located at the 16th floor of the hotel. For $15.00 you can go for a buffet lunch of Chinese cuisine. It’s located at the corner of the famous Tumon Bay area, providing you with a magnificent view of the ocean and the hotel strip.

I got to know this restaurant last week, thanks to a lunch treat c/o work. They used to go there because they love the view and of course the food. I couldn’t agree more. So while devouring the good food there last week, I told my husband I definitely need to bring him there for a lunch date soon.

Today is the day. Veteran’s day. Quite fitting to go to somewhere special today.

I am very glad my husband loved everything. From the noodles, down to the Buchi. Though the menu they offer is not as many and as ‘grand-looking’ as most of the buffet lunches that the hotels have in the island; that didn’t matter. Every dish you see there in Toh Lee is satisfyingly delicious. The restaurant doesn’t have a fixed buffet menu; they change it every week, which makes it more interesting. Makes you want to go there again and again. Haha!

Here are photos I took using my husband's cellphone. We'll definitely bring our Nikons the next time.

Now we know where to bring our friends, and our families when they come to visit. :)

[Photos hyperlinked from sources]

Updates Updates Updates

1. Wedding

Been busy planning our church wedding, we went to visit the PI for a week last September, but it was nothing like a vacation. Our schedule was so packed, there wasn’t much time to relax nor spend quality time with our families. We’ll be back there for more than 3 weeks next time. AM SO EXCITED!!! This is the best picture I got from my visit there. How I miss my niece. :(

2. Regarding my previous post (Uod):

Well my calamansi plant has probably been able to produce at least 4 butterflies already. For some reason, the plant became a caterpillar haven. Probably since they don’t have predators flying by in this side of the building.

Then there were around 4 storm warnings during the past weeks. None of the storms actually hit the island, but there was this tropical depression that caused all our things from the balcony go topsy turvy. Our lounge chairs were down; my plants fell and it’s pots are 2 meters away from it, the soil still intact. Hehe. Even the huge calamansi pot fell and got off-potted. Thus, no caterpillars on the plant now, the plant itself is still recuperating from the recent abuse it got from these freakin’ harsh winds.

3. Work

So I’ve been in my work for 4 months now. I have to say I am still adjusting and have got a lot of things to learn about the technical stuff. As all other jobs, there are days when you want to give yourself a pat on a back at the end of the day; and there are moments when you leave office wanting to hit yourself (or some colleague).

4. Air Show

Unlike in the mainland, the US Air Force Air Show doesn’t happen here every year. In fact, there’s no regular schedule. Luckily, they planned one for this year. It was supposed to happen 30 Sept, but due to typhoon alerts, it was cancelled. They moved it to 07 Oct but shortened the show to a half day.

I have been planning to watch the air show for months. Couldn’t miss it for anything. Then October 7 came, I was all set, I already got permissions from the bosses that I can leave around 3:00 PM, right in time for the Thunderbirds Demo. Then at 2:50 PM, the phone rang and I received a message that meant we got a lot of major issues at work. Can’t leave. Can’t go. Can’t watch the air show. :’(

My husband was able to watch the Thunderbirds and here are the shots he did. I did the post-processing but I tell you, my heart was sinking the whole time I was editing these photos. I should have been there. Yes, I cried like a little child.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Uod

A few days ago, I was doing my daily routine of checking up on my plants. I have a few potted flowering plants, chili plants, and a calamansi plant which is becoming really big. I usually check if their leaves look “happy” and if the flowering plants still continue to have buds on them.

Then I saw this:

Was it looking into the camera? Yikes.

Full "body" shot.

I know caterpillars love calamansi leaves. That’s where I got my skin rashes when I was a kid.”Nahigad ka,” said the elders and they washed my arm with vinegar. Mahapdi yun, but I guess it worked.

I don’t even know how it got there. We live on the 18^th floor. Maybe a bird put it there? A butterfly flew 18 floors up and left it there? I can’t even focus right when I was taking pictures of it this morning. I feel an unexplained fear and disgust especially when I am trying to take a macro shot. Ewww.

So far it ate around four leaves of my plant. It’s either I’d ask my husband to take it out, bring the caterpillar to the ground floor, and transfer it to another shrub in the complex or…

I wait for it to undergo metamorphosis and become a butterfly. That’s probably interesting to take photos of too. I wonder when that will happen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It must be a childhood thing because all of us siblings (at least all of us sisters, not sure if my brother would agree too) are not very fond of these creatures. My mother had anturium plants back in the 80s and she would tell us to help tend to the plants. And every time, we would see those huge white worms with huge brown/black eyes in those anturium leaves. Not to mention a really big glossy, colored, animal book we had when we were kids, it had a spread page of one macro front shot of the same green caterpillar. We used to make use of that page to tease my big sister, she’d cry whenever she sees it.

Right now my parents live in a house with a bigger garden space. She is gifted with a green thumb that she can even resurrect plants that she just picked from somewhere. She could never kill any plant. That’s probably the reason our friends describe our house as “The Hobbit House” or “a house from fairy tales like Hansel & Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood.” It looked like a hidden house inside a thick forest. Hehehe.

My $200 Challenge

Our house looked like it has been hit by a tornado. No thanks to our week long, on and off, cough/cold/fever. Our house looked sick too. All our stuff, trash or not, were all over the place. Our kitchen sink still had unwashed dishes. Our last week's laundry hasn't been folded; it was on our couch the whole week.

So yesterday, my husband and I cleaned the whole house. Laundry was folded and kept in the closets, throw pillow cases changed to new, vacuumed the whole house, cleaned the kitchen, trash were gone, and the dining table looked like a table again. Of course, after all that cleaning, the house smelled really really great, it looked brighter, and was sparkling neat.
It looked too neat, too white. It looked bare.

We've been living in our suite for 7 months, but until now, we still looked like we just moved in. Our house only has the necessities: sofa, bed, cooking wares, dining set, etc.

Before we left Maryland, we said to ourselves, we better just keep our shipment light, we'll buy all the rest of our stuff in Guam. Besides, they call this island "duty free shopping island." Then we got here, and to our deepest disappointment, everything here is expensive - and scarce! Of course, everything is imported from off the island. We should have known!

We don't buy a lot of stuff yet too, most of it we'd rather try to look for when we get back to stateside, or at least once we move out to a more spacious house next year (hopefully a house with wood walls so we can easily put up our wall arts). We are avoiding wall decors that need to be drilled onto the wall since we will move again anyway.

So now, every time we see a commercial from Target, Walmart, Ikea, Lowe’s, etc., we feel a little pinch of sadness, a grain of angst, and a drop of anticipation in our stomachs.

Hence, after seeing our oh-so-clean-yet-bare-looking space, I had the itch to at least do some decorating at home. Thus began my $200 dollar challenge.

Store 1: I went to SM (siyemps, SM - they've got it all for you!) where I will buy new throw pillows, and decorative twigs. I also found a contemporary wall clock that’s really unique. Also bought a couple of woven abaca rolls that I plan to use to frame the photos for the wall. Also found, ahem, new pants, hehehe.

Store 2: Then went to Ross, where everything is on sale. I bought a couple of plant stands on sale, I plan to just spray paint it to match the other black furnishings we have. Also found two decorative vases for the twigs.

Store 3: Home Depot. I was hoping I could find some contemporary seating and shelving here, but I didn't. I ended up buying a lot of stuff for gardening. I bought an indoor plant, four flowering plants, several pots, gardening gloves, spray bottles. I still find it amazing how a little pot of plant could enhance a space.

Well, I ended up with a little change, and I did fill out the trunk of my car but it was really not a lot. I still think it's best to do your home-decor shopping in Quiapo.
:)

* photos courtesy of the www thru google.

Air Force - Static Display

Held last 3 Mar 2009, under the very very hot noon sun; The Andersen Air Force Base (Guam) opened their hangar 1 to the public (well, the military public) for a two hour long Static Display of a few of the technologies used by the department.

We probably stayed for not more than 15 minutes here. It was too hot, we just did a few fast clicks and left.

It makes me anticipate the US Air Force AIR SHOW this year!!! Woohooooo! Just thinking about it reminds me of sleepless-excited-nights-before-field trips from childhood days.

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

Meet our newest toys (and dream come true)…

Hihihihi.

I’ve been planning a surprise gift for my husband and this bike was supposedly it. We all know though, that plans are almost always not realized. Yesterday, we were driving home from lunch and I was contemplating whether or not to tell him about the ‘biggest’ bike shop here in the island. I figured, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise anyway since he could always check our credit card activity online. So right then and there, we decided to check it out and told him to pick his bike – 1 month earlier from his birth day.

Of course we had to buy me a bike too. Ahem, happy birthday to me too. Hihihihi.

We would have wanted to have different designs but this was really the best one we like and is within budget. Giant Upland SE mountain bike - Model 2010.

The sun was already setting by the time the bike was assembled, tested, and all that. We went home and parked the bikes inside our extra room. We agreed to take it for a ride first thing in the morning.

So we did. We went out before 7:00 AM and biked from our condo to the nearby campus. Since I only know how to ride a cruiser bike, I knew nothing about the technicalities of bike riding. It was my first time to try out bike gears and was also almost bothered by how high the seat should be (so as not to injure your, ahem, long legs). 30 seconds after riding the bike, I immediately realized the importance of those gears and that high seat. Can’t help but chant “wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii” ala Pong Pagong as we pass by the ocean and mountain views:

The “wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii” turned into frequent short breaths after almost an hour of pedaling; especially since the road going home is uphill. My knees were already shaking by the time we got home. It’s worth it though; we’ll do it again tomorrow. :)

I Heart MJ

I watched CNN before going to work and it said Michael Jackson was in cardiac arrest. It never occurred to me that he might die because, uhm, hmm, well, he is the MJ. At work I got an email from my husband with an article confirming his death. I was shocked and in denial.

I told my co-worker the news and the reaction I got: “buti naman, para mabawasan ang bakla sa mundo.”

That’s how some looked at it, but I bet they have at least one favorite MJ song and I bet they tap their foot happily and secretly every time they hear it.

I think everyone is an MJ fan, in the littlest or most fanatically absurd way, I think everyone must have loved at least one of his songs, or at least admired how he was as a performer, or how he had such an effect to millions of audiences in the world.

I was driving home from work and all the radio stations were playing his songs non-stop. Yes, non-stop. I am baffled myself but I got teary eyed while listening to his songs. Sorry na lang sa mga sa sasakyan sa likod ko kanina, but I was really just daze-driving home today, thinking of how much we have missed because his upcoming concert will never happen. MJ songs were such a big part of my generation's music. No more new songs from MJ.

My favorite MJ song is You Rock my World, or maybe it’s Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, or, hmm… maybe it’s The Way you Make me Feel, or Man in the Mirror, or Earth Song, or Rock with You…

Or maybe, just like elementary slumbook days…

it’s TMTM… TOO MANY TO MENTION.

No one will ever be able to hiccup in a song. The head-tone-hooooo-hoo’s and heeee-heee's will surely be missed.

='(

_____________________________________________________________

Another co-worker of mine, upon getting the news of MJ’s death, went to buy MJ DVDs in Amazon. He was clever enough to think ahead that these MJ stuff would probably get out of stock soon.

Facts of the Day

I had a part time job for a huge chain of Furniture Store here. I worked there for a few months as Assistant Designer/Marketing Coordinator. Since I'm used to the corporate world in Makati, naubos ang pisi ko (kahit bumili ako ng madaming extra!) due to unacceptable management (19^th century – you are my slave even if I am crazy Management style) and superb unprofessionalism of the owner, I left that job. I dread the day that I have to see the people there again because it’s just full of bad memories.

Right now, I am working as a Design Coordinator/Apprentice Architect in an Engineering firm. They coincidentally are moving to a new building thus are shopping for new furniture. So where do they decide to buy their conference table from? Where else but the Furniture Store I worked before.

My boss went in the store, and again coincidentally, saw a local newspaper where I have an article in. He got excited to see my name on the paper so he got a copy of the paper and mentioned he knew the writer, and of course, the sales clerks from the Furniture Store knew me too. They chatted about me right then and there.

Fact #3: Sabi nila, maliit daw ang mundo. Pero ang masasabi ko, NAPAKALIIT ng Guam.

~~:~:~:~:~:~~

My husband and I were craving tuyo since, since, hmm, since forever. Tonight, we finally gave in to the craving, bought a pack of Tuyo for $2.99 (hold up!). We cooked ginisang upo as "side dish" and of course, hot rice. In the process of my frustration to take out the fish bones, I blurted:

Fact #1: Nung bata ako, mataba ang mga tuyo.

~~:~:~:~:~:~~

I was trying to do a healthier diet so I decided to try not to eat rice for the day. I had cereals for breakfast, then had grilled chicken, salad, and jello for lunch. At 6:00 PM, I was driving home from work, and I turned left on a hi-way intersection even if the left turn sign was not green. I almost got hit by oncoming traffic! Waah!

Fact #3: Not eating rice will kill me. No rice diet? NO WAY. Pinoy ako eh.

~~:~:~:~:~:~~

A Day Planned to Find a Daily Planner

I have been complaining to my husband that I have been looking for a daily planner for so long (see blue route in below image), but all I found were bulky leather organizers. I was only looking for a daily planner that could fit my purse and of course, light weight. Something you could buy for less than fifteen pesos in Manila.

It was a 4-day weekend. The military declared Friday (22 May) family day and it was Memorial Day yesterday (Monday - 25 May). So come Friday, we decided to allot the whole day looking for my daily planner. I tell you, we searched all possible shops in the whole island.

Starting from Point A – Home.

To Point B = Guam Premier Outlets, Ross and Bestseller bookstore.

Guam Premier Outlets (GPO) is the biggest (and I think only) premier outlet store here.

Ross – my favorite department store when it comes to finding best buys.

Bestseller bookstore – I believe is the biggest bookstore in the island. We did find a perfect and oh so gorgeous planner here, only, it had a catch – the planner dates starts on September 2009. Uhm, hmmm.

We then went to Point C – Ben Franklin’s Crafts Store. We figured, since it is the biggest crafts gallery in Guam, it might have something like a planner in it or something I can use to make them. Well, still negative.

Point D – the naval base. It has a bigger department store/mall compared to the Air Force base so I was kind of hoping we could find something there. Well, I was wrong.

Point E – K-mart. They did not even have any school supplies there. Booo!

Times like these, I really miss National Bookstore. Second to any Home Department shops, I could stay in National Bookstore all day and not complain about it. I can just browse through all the craft materials there (not so much of a book person though) and think of a lot of projects I can do. Painting, stationery, cards, gifts, pens, notebooks, notepads, etc etc etc etc. Owning a National Bookstore franchise remains one of my greatest dreams. Hehehe.

Well, as they say, if you can’t find them, make them!

So I did! Since I always design and print and bind my own notepads, why don’t I make my own planner too? I printed using plain white bond papers, cut them, then used a spare checkbook case as cover. A customized planner fit for my needs without the cost.

Ahhh… the products of creativity and desperation. ;)

My Very Own Mug Shot Collection

I always dread the days when I have to fall in line to have someone take a photo of me for some ID card. My mom saved some of my school IDs since kindergarten and I wish I have saved a copy of all the IDs I've had since then, including those company IDs that you have to surrender after resignation. I've never looked great in any of my insta-photos (like Photo Me AKA Gulat Me!). I even have one from 3rd year highschool where my school ID had a bunch of hair in the middle of my face because the photographer took the shot along our corridor in a very windy day, and he is not known for counting before clicking. He didn't even take another shot. Even early on, I've accepted the fact I am not a model-material.

Thus, here are some of my very own 'mug shots' collection. Such work of art. Hehehe.

Philippine Driver's License.

I do look too happy, drunk happy, don't I? I have never met anyone who looked sane in their Philippine Driver's License. How could you look "good" when they had you wait at least 2 hours sitting under the oh-so-hot tin roofed waiting area in LTO then have you stand by a blue board not knowing the actual photo was taken a few seconds ago already.

US Visa

This one isn't really a mug shotsince it wasn't taken on the spot. It however deserves a spot on this category because it can actually win Best Mug Shot ever. This picture was a photo I submitted together with my Visa application. I remember walking out of my Makati office during high noon, no lunch taken yet, then hurriedly asked the photo station to take my picture for the US visa. No hanky nor a tissue, no comb, no kikay kit with me. The photo personnel said smiling is not allowed (but I later found out, you actually can). They even required me to have a collared coat, but I don't have one. Good thing a friend of mine accompanied me there so I took her coat and wore it for 10 seconds, click! Done.

Military Dependent's ID

This one made me compile all these mug shots. It actually looks like a mug shot taken from a DUI violation but it is actually from my military dependent's ID card. The camera they used was about 60 degrees above your eye level so that means composition-wise, your forehead will be the actual focal point of the photo. Hehehe. This is the photo ID card I'd present everytime I enter any military base. It doesn't really bother me (anymore) because I know almost everybody in the military would have a similar photo as mine.

Guam Driver's License

Yes, the Guam DMV is reminiscent of the LTO experience. They would ask you to sit by a white wood and 3...2...1... click! Voila! Done. He didn't even let me see how I looked like. It was one take, final take kind of shoot. To think on this one I actually prepared for, I have eyeliners on, pink blush, I combed, made sure my blouse color is okay, etc. Well I guess normal make up doesn't show in mug shots. Better use the Santacruzan-inspired make up next time to show some color.

US Employment Authorization Card

For this one, I'd like to blame the computers who are producing the IDs. For some reason it shrunk the photo vertically. With their distortion effects, I have Jollibee-cheeks and droopy eyes. Not to mention the 'oh-so-lively' color.

US Government ID

Fresh from the oven! This was just taken today. This is the same camera that was used for my military dependent's ID. I'd like to believe this one looks better but of course, the forehead is still the focus. I just hope they would decrease the contrast. I'd like to be someone who has a nose bridge and full eyebrows. Hahaha.

Click!

With this, let me acknowledge everyone who are in love with Photography. We are making the world a better place you know? We deserve an award. Hihihihi.

Salt Water Pool

One lazy weekend afternoon, we decided to stop by McDo to grab some burgers and fries then head off to the famous Inarajan Salt Water Pool.

It's a natural salt water reef area which is also called Salugula Pool. The ocean waves would be around 8-feet high but they would come to a calm 'swimming pool' once it hits the natural rock barriers surrounding the area.

There were fishes and creatures swimming by the pool, which makes it all the more interesting. Some of areas are just waist deep but some, I don't know. There were a lot of kids playing around though. Jumping from the rock formations at least 20 feet high. It is a real place for adventurous water lovers - young and old.

As for me, I was content and happy just clicking away.

Beach Jam

In connection to my previous blog entry, I am posting this song, Falling by Iration.

One of my favorite local songs. They are into Reggae music here. Makes sense though, when you have the Pacific Ocean on your right and the Philippine Sea on your left, thus the beachy sound. Makes you want to grab a ripe mango shake, wear your sunglasses, and relax by the sunset.

Love this one:

falling - Iration

Lumayo ka man sa Laklak

Ito ang top songs sa countdown ng Megamixx 101.9, the one and only Pinoy Radio Station in Guam.
They have corny jokes, tacky voice-over commercials, gossipy DJs, and of course, the pinoy music. Nevertheless, we still find them entertaining and it's the closest we can get to the sound of home.

Lumayo Ka Man Sa Laklak - Moymoy Palaboy

I give you 10 stars for kuwela points, though. :P Ang lakas dumikit nito sa LSS brain cells ko.
Ito, masakit sa tiyan. Ay, hindi ko ata kayang tapusing pakinggan yung buong kanta:


Ito pa, ito pa, goshness. Na-LSS ako dito one time. Hindi masayang experience. Hahaha.


Ito kaya ay epekto ng "globalization?" =P

Beach Jam

In connection to my previous blog entry, I am posting this song, Falling by Iration.

One of my favorite local songs. They are into Reggae music here. Makes sense though, when you have the Pacific Ocean on your right and the Philippine Sea on your left, thus the beachy sound. Makes you want to grab a ripe mango shake, wear your sunglasses, and relax by the sunset.

Love this one:

falling - Iration

Cold Summer Nights

A Filipino radio station here in (Megamixx 101.9) had a tribute to Francis Magalona yesterday. They played his songs and read his blog articles in between.

The last article in his blog was on January; and the last song they played was Cold Summer Nights.

Haay. Truly a great loss; especially for the young-“er” ones who did not get to know him and the depth of the messages behind the catchy tunes.

Isang malalim na buntong hininga...

RIP Francis M.

Mahnemis

For those engaged women* who will be changing their names soon.**

Marriage Certificate

Note that this is the last time you will be writing and signing using the name you had for at least 2 decades. It’s not something sad that you’re changing your name, but it should be something treasured, Yes, I am sentimental. Hehehehe.

Write Your Name

Practice writing your new name. There will be a lot of forms that you will be filling out and it would be really embarrassing to have an erasure on those forms in the NAME FIELD, right?

Say My Name Say My Name

Hehehe. The song just popped in my head. Anyway, what I mean is, try saying your new name aloud. People will be calling you in that name (Mrs. ____ ) and you better acknowledge it is you they are calling and not your husband’s mother. Hihihi.

Try saying your name too. It would also be very awkward to stutter when asked what your name was and you still end up saying your maiden name.

Signature

Invent your new (and improved) signature. Again, you will have new forms and identifications and all of them need your signature. Practice practice practice. Your signature has to be consistent, especially with bank related documents.

When we were getting my Military Dependents ID card, I did not think I had to fill out the form and then sign it. I got stuck for around two minutes or so. I had no idea how to sign the document. The personnel was waiting for me so I had to be creative – fast. I did sign it with the best I could think of at that moment.

I probably have around 3 different versions of my signature in different documents. Tsk tsk tsk. No worries, I already know my final signature.

Passport

Your passport has to be amended after your wedding. You don’t need a new passport; they will just put an amendment note at the last page of your passport.

My husband and I are planning these trips and it’s not until someone mentioned during a military spouse orientation (yes, they do hold a monthly Military Spouse Orientation/Workshop which is greatly helpful for military-newbies like me) that since we just changed our name, we would need to have our passport amended so we can still use it for travel.

Other Documents

Start asking your banks, license offices, what happens to your account/IDs after getting married and changing your name. They might be requiring some amendments too.

** This is probably just applicable to those who will be changing their name.

* Wink wink to my sister… CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT! :)

Drive Drove Driven

I took the Guam Driver’s License Written Exam last Thursday. After taking the exam, my husband picked me up, he then asked how was the exam and what did I say?

“Ano ba yan?!?! PERFECT!!!” Hahahaha.

Unlike my experience with LTO, getting a Guam Driver’s License is far from easy. In LTO, back in 2001, we had a ‘runner’ so all I had to do was “take” the written exam (for which the questionnaires contained the answers already) then fill up the forms and voila! An instant driver’s license! =P

The Philippine Driver’s License is valid in Guam for 30 days (unlike in most of the States for which it was valid for a year). You would need your passport (or SSN or a denial letter for SSN) and another ID (I used my military dependent’s ID) to apply for Guam license. You can then ask for LTO to fax a certification to DMV Guam (which has a sub-story*). After that, you fill out the application form and get a schedule for a written test. I didn’t need to take a road test since I have an LTO certification.

So the results were posted today at 12 noon.

My score: 39 out of 40.

Tsk. =P

Now all that’s left to be done is go back to the DMV office, have your picture taken, your eye checked up, and then finally pick up your license. With all that hassle, it’s good to know the license is valid for 3 years.

Whewww!!! ;)

* LTO Sub-Story

I asked my brother to file for the LTO certification in my behalf. He handed over my authorization letter to the LTO personnel. The letter states that my license certification be FAXED over to Guam DMV, etc. He paid 100 pesos fee. He was then asked to go back to claim the transaction after 1 week.

I was confused why LTO had my brother go back since they only needed to fax it anyway. So when my brother went back to LTO, he asked about the faxed transaction and what did LTO say?

“Ahh, i-fa-fax ba???”

Road Trippin'... Road Clickin'

Together with my husband, my sister and my brother in law, we drove from Los Angeles to Arizona (Grand Canyon) to Utah (Mcdonalds for Lunch hehehe) then to Las Vegas Nevada.

4 states in 2 days!!!

We left LA at 3 AM then arrived at Arizona around sunrise. We ate breakfast at the ever-reliable Mcdonalds then continued driving to the Grand Canyon. After 1 and a half days in admiring the canyon, everyone was satisfied with the pictures taken but not with the views seen. We are planning to hike down the canyon someday during a non-winter season.

By lunchtime the day after, it was time to leave Arizona and head towards Las Vegas, Nevada. It was really clever for my brother in law and sister to pick the longer route going to Nevada, the route that crosses Utah, the one with the breathtaking scenic route; instead of the faster, boring freeway.

We didn't see much in Utah aside from a lot of snowy mountains. When we finally saw civilization (meaning a town), we decided to stop and eat late lunch at where else but Mcdonald's! Hahaha. Mcdonald's for lunch, that is my Utah experience. Hahaha!

After 4 days in Vegas, we drove back to Los Angeles but we had a quick stop at Hoover Dam. Wooooooohooooo, for someone like me who has fear of heights, the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam is more than an accomplishment. Hahaha! We didn't stay too long at the Hoover Dam area because of the biting cold weather and because a lot of construction was ongoing there. We then arrived at LA right in time for Christmas eve. :)

Here are some of the views we saw during that road trip adventure. Most pictures are nothing compared to seeing it for real. We didn't have time to take as much postcard shots since we were moving 70 MPH while taking these.

Photos by Kayan and Mac. Copyright 2008.