eliceinwanderland

[eliceinwanderland]

Experiencing the Paradise: EℓyXiOn in Manila 2018 [II]

WELCOME TO PARADISE

And this is where the magic starts. With mixed emotions, we quickly made our entrance to the venue. The standing pit in concerts is really a blood bath so you must know how to act fast and smart, that's why upon entering, we waste no time and secured our place. We were standing at the 5th row since there's already a lot of people who entered the venue before us. Our queuing number, by the way, was around 290. The view from where we stand is good enough since the stage set up was on eye level and actually nearer compared to their other concert stops. Below is the photo of our view.

Not bad, right? But just like other fan girls, our goal was to reach the barricade and enjoy the concert at the first row of standees. And good news! It's possible! You just need to strategize a bit, go against the flow of people, move one step at a time and be ready to protect your place no matter what HAHAHA! Especially, to some rude fans and fan sites.

So, going back to the concert, the paradise opened with an angelic harmonization of Chen and Baekhyun's voice. Really, is this how heaven sounds like? 'Cause if yes, I'm willing to go much earlier. Lmao. But kidding aside, I really had goosebumps and chills upon hearing their voices. FYI, the lights were still out that time and all you can hear are their honey-like voices. And when the lights went on, EXO was revealed onstage wearing their royalty themed suits. Aah, nothing but respect for my kings.

For those who don't know EXO, Chen and Baekhyun are to of the most talented vocalists in the K-Pop scene and yes, their voices sound so angelic. You can check the video below for reference and some eargasm. (Video not mine. It was from the Elyxion in Japan DVD.)

It was followed by the performance of their hit songs such as The Eve, Forever (with its moving doors props on stage), Kokobop, Growl and Xiumin and Baekhyun's dance battle (on an elevated stage).

Unfortunately, for SVIP, it's quite hard to watch stages like this since it goes higher than it is in the photo, way beyond what our eyesight can reach haha! And another downfall is that, you can't help but tiptoe since their first performances are located at the main stage and our area is near the extended stage and wings already. But the palabang fan girl in me says 'never give up!' Good thing there are these so-called 'concert VCRs' which serve as break time for both EXO and the fans.

The next stage was Kai's solo dance performance and I swear I did all my best (aka tiptoeing at its finest) to be able to watch it properly because it was performed at the main stage. EXO Kai is one of the most prominent dancers in K-Pop and seeing him dance live was truly an honor.

Kai's solo stage was followed by the 'bar stage' wherein members performs in dashing suits. It includes songs such as Call Me Baby, Touch It, Chill, Sweet Lies and For Life (Eng. Version), which is one of my personal favorites. And I am not kidding, almost everyone in our area was crying during this part because the way D.O. sang it was so pure and full of emotions. You can listen to it below. It's an audio straight from the DVD release.

I swear, D.O.'s voice in records and live is very much the same. I'm picking this song as one of my wedding songs in the future! LMAO.

After the heartfelt performance of D.O. follows the Ment or the introduction of the members. This part is where idols and fans interact and share stories such as that time when Sehun spent his vacation in Batangas and when Chanyeol got his diving license in Bohol.

Other stages by EXO includes performance of their B-side tracks such as Boomerang, Sing For You, and Ka-Ching. EXO's leader, Suho, also had his solo stage wherein he performed Playboy and damn, those hip thrusts on the table was to die for!

Another solo stage which I really loved was Chanyeol's. I must admit that I cried during his performance of his self-composed rap entitled 'Hands' which depicts his hardship coping up with the issues and problems EXO faced in the past years and how his members helped him stand up again. *cries an ocean*

The second half of the concert started with EXO wearing an all-white suit while singing Cloud 9, Tender Love, What U Do and Walk on Memories.

It was during this part that I was able to reach the barrier of the stage. Finally! Though it was really a hard work. I'm thankful for those signed balls that they kept throwing to the fans. While everyone was chasing those balls, I'm busy going against the current of people and making my way to the front. It was also this time when the almost stampede happened. Yes, all because of the signed balls.

Moving on, I was really happy that I reached the front row right before my bias (in non kpop dictionary it means 'favorite') had his solo stage. My bias, btw, is Chen. Yes, the one who opened the concert and the gates of heaven with his angelic voice. With this, I was able to watch him properly and I guess my soul ascended to heaven after. He's really that good. He sang the jazz version of 'Heaven' which is popular for its first line that says 'Hello, angel'. We get it, Chen. You're an actual angel who has an angelic voice greeting the angels wearing that damn all white suit! We get it! Aaaaah! I just love him so much, I'm sorry. Below is the video I took at the concert. I apologize since it's not the HD type and kinda shaky.

Adn now, off to my favorite part of all EXO concerts - the Club Time! It is during this segment that they perform their party songs such as Run This, Coming Over, Diamond, Drop That and Power. It is when everyone's energy is on peak and everybody in the arena are just jumping and dancing like there's no tomorrow.

It was also during this part when Sehun has his solo stage, which I'm very proud of. Our maknae grew up really well. Also, what I love about this part is that this is when I had my closest encounter to Chen. I still can't believe how near I was to him! For heaven's sake, my favorite boy was just inches away from me! *cries an ocean again*

The party stage is then followed by the encore stage, also known as the last stage, which consists of songs like Don't Go and Angel. But as we always say, "There are no good byes, just see you soon."

And yes, I'll be seeing my kings again in two weeks! Let's shimmie shimmie kokobop for the last time!

Post concert feels and additional photos on my next post! 'Cause two posts aren't enough to contain my fan girl heart.

[eliceinwanderland]

Experiencing the Paradise: EℓyXiOn in Manila 2018 [I]

'Elyxion' means "the paradise where only the selected ones can go."

It was derived from the word 'Elysium', also called as 'Elysian Fields' in Greek mythology. It is originally the paradise where heroes whom the gods conferred for immortality were sent. In Homer's writings, the Elysian Field was a land of perfect happiness at the end of the Earth. And in this way, EXO's fourth concert tour was born - a paradise where EXO and EXO-Ls (name of their fandom) can enjoy a moment of bliss.

ACCOMODATION:

Since I've been looking forward to this concert since last year, I really took the extra mile and filed a leave of absence a day prior to the concert (I'm sorry, my fangirl heart can't take it and needs at least a day of preparation lmao).

The plan was for me and my friends to stay at a condo unit near MOA Arena so it will be less of a hassle to commute. So thanks to one of our friends, we booked a room at Shore Residences which is 5 minutes away from the arena (by car) and like 15 minutes away if you opt to walk. Our room is good for 4-5 persons l. It has 2 double beds, a free Netflix account, a kitchen area, and 1 bath (which has an advanced technology toilet bowl like those in Japan HAHAHA). And just like other SMDC units, it has a small balcony overlooking the swimming pool.

Before going to the condo, we bought some foods and drinks first since cooking is allowed inside the room. After dinner, we spent the remaining time dipping in the pool while waiting for airport photo previews of EXO arriving in Manila lmao.

CONCERT DAY:

This is it! We're finally seeing EXO for the first time!

We woke up at around eight in the morning to prepare for the concert which will start at six in the evening HAHAHA! Well, aside from excitement, we really need to start moving early since we still need to cook breakfast and we are five in the room and all are girls so prep time is really long. You get it, more or less.

When everything is set, we booked a grab and arrived in the venue around lunch time. And mind you, the whole MOA area is so jampacked - fangirls, security, crew, sellers, and shoppers who doesn't have a clue what's going on. And since we arrived at lunch time and the heat was no joke, we decided first to look for a restaurant to settle down and quench our thirst; but given the situation, all restaurants near the arena were full already - from fast food restaurants to coffee shops, I'm telling you, every store was occupied by fan bases and fan girls. Luckily, there's this one cafe in Coral Way which was not full yet.

When we were settled, my friends started their concert giveaways, hence, time flew fast. Around 2 PM, we decided to order foods to boost our energy during the whole concert later in since gates will open at 4 PM and once we enter the venue, chances of going out to eat, drink or use the comfort room is near zero since we are in the SVIP section.

After eating, we roamed around the arena to get some freebies and banners and meet some of our friends.

And of course, the mandatory shot of EXO lightstick and concert ticket can't be missed out. (Thank you to my friend who lend me his EXO ver. 1 lighstick! You're a life saver. Ang tagal kasi dumating ng lightstick ko huhu)

We started lining up at around 4 PM and got inside the venue before 6 PM. Yup, that was a two-hour long queuing, plus two more hour standing during the concert itself (SVIP ka pa, girl). But as the saying in the fandom goes, "Basta EXO, worth it yan."

Our actual concert experience and post-concert feels will be featured on my next write up!

xoxo

[eliceinwanderland]

T House Tagaytay: Healing Time for Tea-tas at Heart [II]

Okay, so for the second part of our Tea-ta Time, after having lunch at Morielli's, we went back to T House to have an Afternoon Tea. Yes, I know! We just ate our lunch and here we were eating again! *burps* Excuse us haha! But as they say, there's always a room for dessert.

We were ushered by one of the staff to the T Restaurant. Firstly, we were served 2 types of tea: Mint Tea and Tarragon Tea. And I must say that both taste good. Along with teas, they also served us various pastries such as banana chiffon cake (which is my favorite btw), pan de sal with kesong puti, meringue, s’mores, adobo sandwich, etc. Over all rating: 5 stars! The set is so perfect for an afternoon catch up and good laugh with your friends. 

After enjoying our second meal of the day, we went back to our room and get ready to dip in the hotel’s outdoor pool. 

We're lucky enough to have the pool area all for ourselves - perfect for "do-it-for-the-gram" time.

NIGHT AT T HOUSE TAGAYTAY

When the sun set, we decided to go back to our room and this time prepare for our Spa Time! This part is the one I'm looking forward to the most!

Their spa lodge is located behind their room accommodations which gives off the vibe of peacefulness perfect for relaxation. Upon entering, we were greeted warmly by the staff and directed us to our respective rooms. Two rooms were allotted for us since each room can house two persons only.

We availed of the whole body massage which lasted for an hour and I must say that they do have a commendable massage service. I felt so relaxed after.

The massage was then followed by dinner in which I found my newest favorites -the Onion Rings with Salted Egg sauce and the Bulalo Noodle Soup. I am a huge fan of anything related to salted eggs and this combination of onion rings and salted egg is a bomb! I swear, I can't get enough of it. Additionally, their hearty serving of bulalo noodle soup is also a must try! Bulalo is a famous to-go food when in Tagaytay and mixing it with noodles is really mouthwatering and perfect for a cold, chilly night in Tagaytay.

For dessert, I opted to order Turones de Saba and as expected, it also suits my taste.

After dinner, we decided to stay at the benches outside the restaurant and just listen to some music while continuing our story session. It was a good, chill night with my girls and we couldn't wish any better.

MORNING AT T HOUSE

The morning at T House is as dreamy as it could be. A tranquil atmosphere wherein you can hear the birds chirping, the sound of the bell coming from the church nearby and the smell of flowers and trees surrounding the area. Really, it's a scene straight out of a book. It's surreal.

So, of course, our morning started with s sumptuous breakfast prepared to us by the staff. We opted to have breakfast at the outside benches of the restaurant to enjoy the atmosphere of the hotel more. For my plate, I ordered Crispy Tawilis with Egg and Fried Rice. What really got my attention is that, aside from their delicious tawilis, is their homemade Nata de Coco atchara. I'm not fond of anything pickled but this one is an exception. It has a perfect blend of sweetness and sourness. And because I really loved it, I ended up buying two jars of it.

We went back to our room to clean up and prepare our things since we need to check out at around 12 in the afternoon *sobs* . And since we managed to be ready as quick as we can, we still got time for some photo time.

OVER-ALL EXPERIENCE

5/5 ★★★★★

From the tranquil ambiance, excellent service, friendly staff and delicious foods, T House Tagaytay is the perfect place for people who are looking for a quick break from the hustle and bustle of Manila. I will definitely go back!

[eliceinwanderland]

T House Tagaytay: Healing Time for Tea-tas at Heart [I]

T House is one of Tagaytay's hidden gem. Known as an events place, this haven is also perfect for those who are looking for a quick weekend getaway. Surrounded by lush green trees and various blossoming plants, this place is great for healing time. Just the exact place that me and my friends are looking for. Doon tayo sa chill lang.

GOING THERE

We arrived at T House Tagaytay at around 1:30 PM in the afternoon of April 14. We had quite a long travel time since it's a weekend and the queue for the bus going straight to Tagaytay was really long. That's why we decided to just ride the bus going to Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Upon arriving at the Balibago Terminal, we tried booking a grab taxi for easier commute but failed. So we opted for a jeepney ride going to Tagaytay Public Market. The ride lasted for an hour and was kind of stressful given that it's exactly noon time and the heat from the sun was really no joke. But it's part of the adventure so let's just move on. When we arrived at Tagaytay Public Market, we then ride a tricycle going to T House. FINALLY!

SPENDING THE DAY

All the stress that we encountered commuting went away when we finally arrived at the T House. The place is so serene and cozy. It's not your typical hotel outside of Manila. T House has that "a home away from home" ambiance. Surely, we're away from the toxic buzz of Manila.

Their staff are really friendly and accommodated us warmly. While waiting for our room to be ready, the staff at the front line already gave us the list of menu that we can order for our Afternoon Tea, 3 Course Meal Dinner, and Breakfast Plate for the next day. Everything is well-organized.

After finalizing our set orders, we were accompanied by one of their staff to the "Earth Zone" where our room is located. Note that their rooms are classified into different zones which depict natural elements such as Air, Water and Fire. Lakas maka-Encantadia, mumsh!

So for the room talk, ours was upgraded from Luxe Room to Serenity Balcony (luck was on our side! HAHA!). The room was not too big nor too small. It was just right for 4 occupants. It has 1 King size bed and they added 2 more pull out beds. So given that, some space were occupied by the pull out beds which made our room quite packed. But no worries, we can still move comfortably. Our favorite part of the room was the balcony! It has no special views or what but the balcony lets you see and feel the tranquility of the hotel. On the other hand, it was unfortunate that their Wi-Fi connection was under maintenance when we visited but it turned out to be a plus factor of our stay, honestly. We got the whole time to talk to each other and catch up since me and my high school friends rarely see each other. One of us came even came home from Doha, Qatar to have a vacation. And that's why we decided to have this mini getaway. 

(Sorry, but I don't have a photo of our room. But here is a photo of us inside the room and in the balcony. You can get snippets of it in the photos. I hope.)

So after our picture taking, we decided to head out and find something to it for lunch. All of us didn't have the chance to eat breakfast and we're reaaaally starving! Sadly our lunch for that day wasn't included in the promo package we availed. So we went to the reception, since it's the only place that has a Wi-Fi connection (even 3G is quite slow inside our room) and upon scrolling we stumbled upon Morielli's Inn and Diner. It has a home-y and cozy vibe and was just a 5 minute walk from T House so we decided to go for it.

And it didn't disappoint! Morielli's is a family owned diner and you can expect nothing but the best home cooked foods ready to party in your palates. As for me, I ordered the favorite of every Juan, the tapsilog (a combination of cured beef, egg, and fried rice). And their tapsi didn't disappoint. It wasn't too dry unlike at the other restaurants and the beef was sliced thinly for easy consumption. Unfortunately, since I was too hungry, I forgot to take a photo lol. But one thing that sets Morielli's apart from other diners is their little "souvenir" for the first timers. One of their staff suddenly asked us our names and came back with this adorable present.

They searched the meaning of our names and other related stuff. Mine means "sent from Heaven" HAHAHA! I kept on laughing because of this while my friends side eyed me like 'Really? You're from Heaven? Unbelievable." HAHAHA! Well, truth prevails. Just kidding! But I really love this gift. Everything written in it speaks about me. Daebak! Also, before leaving, one of the staff took a photo of us and uploaded it on their Facebook account. Overall, Morielli's is a great restaurant to visit. It gives off a taste of your childhood since the foods are home cooked and their recipes are passed from generation to generation. Additionally, the whole place is decorated by children's various drawings. I guess there is a pre-school or summer school for kids further inside the resto. So cute.

Alright, so my post is quite lengthy already. Allow me to cut the Part I from here. Continuation will be posted after a while. ❤️

[eliceinwanderland]

Hello, bonkers!

I finally took the courage to make a blog after several attempts. Well, I really don't know what this blog would actually contain. Maybe just anything under the sun - random thoughts, feelings, life misadventures, poems, whatever comes to my mind, probably. Okay, look, I'm not that much of a planner, really. But one thing is for sure, I am fond of writing. I am not much of a talker; I would rather weave my thoughts into a series of lines and paragraphs because this is what I am comfortable with. It's my breather from the somehow chaotic reality, my rabbit hole to the magical Wonderland.

So, if you happen to stumble upon my realm, then I welcome you with a cup of tea. Enjoy reading and don't be afraid to get mad. 'Cause you know what? All amazing people are. 

Come on, let's get lost together.