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Archive for February, 2008
Summer Sale!
Li’l Spa Adventure-Callospa
Last Feb 16, Sho and I set to our li’l spa adventure, but unfortunately I never got to write about it immediately afterward. So here’s my long overdue post about our visit to Callospa in Antipolo.
Yep, our spa of choice (more like mine only) for our Valentine celebration was Callospa Resort in Antipolo. Since I wanted a hint of nature and outdoors while we have our massage, I solely decided on availing the “Affordable Escape” (P650) in Callospa, which was both a spa and resort tucked away in Antipolo City.
The first thing that greeted us in Callospa was a little garden by the stairways which was covered with mist. The resort entrance bore an earthy scent and promised an even better view inside so we wasted no time in entering the vicinity.
Upon entering the huge gate, what only welcomed us were a little closed door with a Visa credit card logo and voices singing along with the videoke. We followed the voices and soon realized that the entire resort was rented by a family. So we went back to the little closed door and finally found the spa—our promised haven. Since we set an appointment a day before, the Callospa staff were already expecting us. They led us to a little room with lockers, a Jacuzzi, two shower rooms (one with a massage bed), and a sauna room. The staff gave us our locker key, cute Japanese slippers, and clothes to change into. My clothes were a spaghetti-strap top that exposed my stomach (more like a midriff top but slightly longer) and an oversized pair of shorts (that was the smallest size they have). Sho, meanwhile, was given floral shorts.
Sho and I took a shower first and then went inside the sauna room for our “invigorating eucalyptus-scented sauna bath.” We were served with two glasses of water while we basked in the heat of the sauna room. The room, which can only accommodate a maximum of two persons, had little wooden seats and reeked of eucalyptus. Since I was feeling cold during the time, I sat on the topmost ledge so that the heat was directly on me. After a few minutes though, the room got hotter and hotter that Sho and I had a little difficulty breathing. After 30 minutes or so, Sho and I got out of the room with red cheeks and glowing bodies.
Then it was time for our “luxurious hot Jacuzzi bath” with floating kafir leaves, pandan, and AHA calamansi tops. This was our favorite moment in our spa experience. The warmth of the Jacuzzi bath, the relaxing current in the water, and the soothing sound of water in the background were all just too perfect for our tranquil escape. While having the Jacuzzi bath, we were served with two small cups of hot tea a la Japanese style. Sho and I lounged in the glorious bath for 30 minutes or so, until a Callospa staff told us our little fun was over.
Alas, it was massage time, our ultimate reason for coming to Callospa in the first place. We were led upstairs by two masseuses in the common massage room. Luckily, there were no other customers during the time so we had the room to ourselves. The massage room has four beds, which can be separated by curtains if you want privacy. Callospa’s signature massage was Swedish-reflex Thai massage in their own sequence. It included a massage of the legs, thighs, arms, back, face, head, and even chest. After 30 minutes or so, our masseuses left us with soothing instrumentals to sleep. Although I loved how my masseuse massaged my always tensed-up shoulders, the entire massage was basic to me. It was not relaxing enough as I would’ve wanted it to be, which is why I did not fall asleep. Once our masseuses realized that Sho and I are “already” awake, they gave us another set of massage, which was better than the first one. While sitting on our beds, our masseuses massaged our backs and carried us in the air while massaging our bodies with their feet. It was an interestingly different kind of massage that we experienced. However, that massage was only good for 10-15 minutes. After that, our masseuses left us yearning for more.
Supposedly, our spa adventure was over after the massage. However, since Callospa also offers facial services, Sho and I decided to have our faces cleaned, or so we thought.
Callospa’s basic facial included an application of facial cream (I don’t know what kind) steam, and extraction of blackheads/whiteheads. I actually thought that after my facial, my whiteheads would all be gone. But as it turned out, the Callospa staff only chose the whiteheads/blackheads that she wanted to remove. By the end of our session, I could still feel a lot of whiteheads on my face. Oh well, so much for 250 bucks.
After the disappointing facial service, Sho and I went downstairs to take a shower and change. We tried to get a few pictures here and there but my camera phone just isn’t that reliable in dark places. L
All in all, our spa adventure cost us Php1,800—650.00 each for our “Affordable Escape” massage, 250.00 each for our basic facial. Our other expenses include transportation and tips (which were mandatory).
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nice comfortable place to chill out in, with a relaxing nature feel
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affordable services in comparison to other spas
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includes other amenities such as pool resort, videoke, badminton court, multi-purpose hall, and apartelles for overnight stay (We didn’t get to tour the entire place but Callospa is actually bigger and prettier than we thought.)
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not-so-satisfying massage
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disappointing facial service
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rushed services: since Callospa is short on staff, the staff are always in a hurry to finish their services to accommodate other customers
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mandatory tips: after each service rendered, the Callospa staff hands you a small brown envelope which says: “Thanks for the tip!”
For more info on Callospa, visit www.callosparesort.com
**High-res photos were from http://houseonahill.net/travel/callospa-resort/
Smitten
Oh gawd. I was having a particularly bad day and I was pestering Sho with endless rants about my job when I decided to just spend my idle time surfing travel blogs. So I visited the ClickTheCity.com and browsed through blog entries under the Boracay category. Guess what (or who) lifted my spirits: Marc Nelson! Haha!
There was a girl who wrote about her all-expense-paid Boracay escapade where she rubbed elbows with celebrity hunks such as Marc Nelson. Her entry included a picture of a deliciously appetizing hottie Marc in boardshorts only, with other hunks that don’t matter at all (at least to me, haha). That picture alone put crazy thoughts in my head: What if I moved our planned Bora trip to March, April, or May? Maybe I’d get to rub elbows with Marc as well. I might get to introduce myself, have a little chat, walk hand in hand with him on the beach. (Hahaha. Excuse my wishful-thinking self again.)
I never really liked Marc before. I never found him handsome, simply because his look isn’t the rugged type which I like. I even partly believed in the rumors that he was gay (sorry, Marc). But after watching him in Amazing Race Asia 2, I’m a Marc convert. I doubt any woman can resist his charm, wit, and sense of humor. I would kill just to see him in person now. Haha. Although he and Rovilson didn’t win the race, he’s still a winner to me. I am definitely smitten.
Musings
Something nice and unexpected made my ego swell today: Speed Magazine’s editor in chief Manny de los Reyes who I knew through my bf (he’s a graphic artist of Speed) and whom I exchanged several smiles and e-mails with was asking if I was happy with my current job. When told that I was currently on the lookout for a more interesting job, Sir Manny asked if I wanted to apply in their company, supposedly hinting at pirating me. (Haha. That’s just wishful thinking.) Anyway, he was asking if I’d be interested to work for their other magazine, Action & Fitness, because its EA was resigning. Since their company has a strange (really strange) rule of not accepting couples, Sir Manny said he’d talk to their publisher about the matter if I’m interested in the position.
Hmmm . . . That got me thinking until now. One, because I’ve been wanting to work in a lifestyle magazine since I graduated; two, because I want to get out of my job ASAP; three, because working at Airo meant I’d be with Sho every single day (which also means free transpo going home every day); and four, because the job promises monthly travel benefits and lots of seminars and events to attend.
Hmmm . . . Could this be the non-safe job I’ve been waiting for? Could this be my chance to finally assume a position that doesn’t entail rotting out in an office cubicle?
I’m still thinking. Still thinking . . .
War and Paint
I’m not an athletic person. The last thing anyone would mistake me for is a player of any kind of sport. Blessed (or cursed) with an unflattering thin frame, I never felt the need to keep myself physically fit or active. But now that I’m getting older and my metabolism’s getting slower, I figured I at least have to try interesting outdoor activities out there.
Fortunately for me, Mel, my former office buddy, invited us to a paintball game at Global Gutz in Manila during her last day at the office.
We originally intended our first battle to be a boys-versus-girls game. However, us girls were just too ‘smart’ for a boy’s game such as paintball that we never attacked. We waited for the boys to come. Haha. So upon the suggestion of the Global Gutz umpires (err.. I don’t know how to call them), we started playing a real game and the fun began.
Okay, I’m not a good shooter; I never played war games before so you can’t blame me if I wasn’t able to shoot any of my office mates. Besides, half of the time I was struggling with standing up and army crawling while carrying my heavy gun. Excuses, excuses, I know.
Although the whole adventure highlighted my miserable health condition (I was panting while I was hiding behind wooden props; my knees were weak and shaking as I struggled to move from one place to another), I had fun pretending to be a sporty gal for half a day. Hehe. I’ll definitely play again with a larger group of friends. And I just might do some exercises before I go out into the battlefield. 
Paintball Adventure:
Pros:
Fun game for big groups
Decent “battlefields” complete with props, designed for beginners and pros
Cons:
Heavy gun and gears (not too ideal for people with petite frames like me)
If you have no reservations and there are lots of people, you’ll end up waiting forever for your turn to play.
Skylights
Another something to look forward to: 3rd World Pyro Olympics!
Yep, that’s right, the 3rd World Pyro Olympics will be held here again at the back of Mall of Asia in Pasay starting March 29. With just 100 pesos entrance fee, you’ll get to see the night sky litterally glowing with amazing fireworks display from various countries (including Philippines, of course).
Having tremendously enjoyed both World Pyro Olympics 1 and 2, I sure am not going to miss this third one. Though you may have to endure heavy traffic (including human traffic) before, during, and after the event, the breathtaking experience is worth all the effort.
Drool, marvel, and sigh in awe as you see different fireworks formations in the sky! Check out the schedule of this year’s world pyro olympics. 
Check out fireworks photos from the previous pyro olympics here.
**just a li’l tip: if you can’t afford to attend every show, better choose to watch on the last day because that’s when they throw in all the grandiose fireworks
**bummer for the day: i left my digicam at home! got to content myself with my 2 mp camera phone in documenting our li’l spa adventure. 
Post-Valentine spa
So it was Valentine’s Day yesterday and Sho and I didn’t really have anything planned out for the day. However, we did originally plan to go to Matabungkay Resort in Batangas since they have a couples promo for the whole month of February, but we decided to ditch the plan coz we’ve already got too much beach dreams for this year. So instead of frolicking under the sun, we opted for a spa massage in a garden resort. 
I won’t say where we’re going yet, but tomorrow’s the big day and we’re both pretty excited. We’re both looking forward to a day of ultra-pampering: no more, no less.
P.S. I’ll write about our ‘lil spa adventure as soon as I get the chance. Hopefully, I’d get to include some pictures.
Starting Over
The Chinese New Year has just sped by so I figured, why not start a new blog? Now that I’m facing my new year with a promise of optimism, I leave my dark and full-of-angst blog behind. It’s time for me to start anew with WordPress! This blog will only contain fun stories of my life–from everyday happenings to my awesome travel adventures (I vow to have lots of these this year!). No more rants and curses for me. If ever I do feel the need to vent, there’s always my other blog for that (see blogroll).
So cheers to me for a refreshing start! I’m already loving WordPress. 
