Stay Golden

Lover of life, singer of songs

[inkycherie]

Back in Italy after ten years. Spent the long weekend with one of my good friends, Laura. It was my first time in Sardinia. She showed me around Cagliari and taught me Italian (one of the languages I’ve been meaning to start learning).

It was a fun little vacation 🇮🇹🌺☀️🤍

[inkycherie]

Springtime 🌸🌷☀️🍃

[inkycherie]

I’ve discovered book lovers in Switzerland and have realized that there are some English bookstores all over the country that I never knew about.

I am reading a few simultaneously :

MYTHOS - Stephen Fry

THE WOMAN DESTROYED - Simone de Beauvoir

(and on my KOBO) :

TABLE FOR ONE - Emma Gannon

SO THRILLED FOR YOU - Holly Bourne

I also just finished BLUE SISTERS which I did enjoy.

[inkycherie]

I had an accident recently that has left me immobile for nearly three weeks now (which explains why I am so active on Tumblr lately). I am at home resting and trying to get my energy back so I can hopefully be better very soon.

I also have a trip to Paris coming up and I get to see my best friend again. I want to recover as soon as possible because I wouldn't want to miss this trip for the world !

Last time my best friend and I were in Paris was in 2023, and we were there for only two days. I still have so many places I want to bring her to, and so many pastries I want her to try.

To keep myself entertained these days, I watch a lot of cheesy Christmas films, and I listen to my jazz favourites while I skim through my old blogs and look at old photographs.

I have also decided that for summer next year, I want to bring my parents to Switzerland. I miss them, and I want to spoil them and I want them to see all the beauty I get to witness daily.

I have so many plans, and I am getting really excited. I hope everything falls into place.

[inkycherie]

Random film photographs I have taken during some of our travels :

Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Joshua Tree Park, Malibu, Taipei, Furkapass, Ascona, Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Valensole, Byron Bay

I only once ever dreamed of owning my own camera and seeing the world. 20 year-old me would have been so proud. x

More film photos HERE

[inkycherie]

Photos from Australia

We spent a wholesome family Christmas in Sydney, rented a gorgeous boat to spend New Year's Eve watching fireworks at the Sydney Harbor, went shopping and swimming in Byron Bay, dining while enjoying the beautiful sunset at Fremantle, and sunbathing and wine tasting in Perth from our villa just a 2 minute walk to the beach.

Our last dinner in Perth, on our balcony overlooking the sea, we grilled steaks, had garlic prawns, beer, and delicious Australian wine, and we saw Kangaroos in the wild just hopping about.

It was amazing.

[inkycherie]

Summer in the south of France 🇫🇷☀️

[inkycherie]

All that truly ever matters is that I live my life to the best of my abilities, that I treat everybody with kindness, that I share my blessings with my loved ones, and that I keep making my parents proud.

[inkycherie]

I admit. I fell in love with New York City.

[inkycherie]

Started reading again. Finally.

I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t finished a book in a year. I’ve let life get in the way of my love for reading, but I’ve decided to get myself out of this slump.

Thankfully, I have sisters who encourage me to get back in to it. I’m currently buddy reading Crying in H Mart with my older sister, Hanna. What a beautiful but sad read ! I am glad to report, however, that I am almost finished. My first book of the year !

What are you currently reading ?

[inkycherie]

First time in New York

[inkycherie]

Missing my best friend every day.

Difficult to be continents apart, but we make it work. x

(Valensole, France / summer 2023)

[inkycherie]

Summer in the south of France

[inkycherie]

Hello. I turned 33 a few days ago. Had an intimate celebration with family, received thoughtful messages from special people, and was surprised with the most beautiful bouquet of birthday flowers ✨ - It’s winter now. Everything feels so dreary and sad. On some rare occasion when the sun is out, I take myself on quick walks around town and enjoy my quiet times people watching. - Work’s been quite hectic lately so I spend my evenings cooking and baking which I always found to be very therapeutic. - My everyday walks to work allow me to witness the most beautiful scenery so I take advantage and enjoy every minute. Grateful for another year added to this crazy beautiful life 🥂

[inkycherie]

Woke up in Paris

[inkycherie]

I have had the most amazing summer. In July, my best friend came to visit. I brought her to Paris (her first time), showed her around my town and other neighbouring cities around Geneva, and we drove to the south of France. I made different meals for everyone to enjoy, danced to the loveliest music, and drank the best wine(s).

The third week of August, I went back to the Philippines. We had a long overdue family reunion. Our uncle from Canada also came to visit with his family, and my cousin who works for months at a cruise ship extended his vacation.

We all flew to Zamboanga del Sur to surprise my grandma and our extended family whom we haven't seen in 13 years ! We spent a week there living the simple life, eating pandesal for breakfast, and singing karaoke kahit brownout.

The first few days of September, I spent back in my hometown. I saw Bowie again. I didn't let any minute pass without cuddling him. Whenever I'm in the PH and everyone else is back home, my sisters and I stay in one bedroom with our parents (and Bowie), chatting away until we all fall asleep. These nights were even more special because we were all cooped up in one room while there was a storm outside. Felt just like the good old days when my sisters and I would spend nights holed up in our parents room trying to pass the time until electricity was back on.

I was also sooo happy to walk around the malls with Christmas music already playing in the background ! We bought surprise presents for our parents. My sisters and I chipped in to buy papa his dream TV, and mama a new iPhone. The rest of my money I spent on groceries, more presents for the fam, pasalubongs for Jon, books, Cheetos, Spicy Century Tuna, Vienna sausages, and Spam. lol

We spent my last week in Manila. Took mama, my sisters, and our aunt on a date - brunch in Wildflour and shopping at Rockwell, and then continued to shop in MOA. I wanted to make dinner for everyone, so I made sinigang na baboy which was perfect for the stormy weather. We had drinks with our cousins before bed (red horse, spicy Oishi, and isaw at bbq).

The next day, I brought my parents to IKEA so I can buy them stuff for the house. I could tell mama was so excited to drive back home so she can start using everything we got. Uncle flew back from Zamboanga later than everyone else so the day after he arrived, he went straight to the condo so we can spend more time with him. We asked him to make lola's bistek Tagalog as he is the only one who can make it exactly the way lola does. I am glad to report that I watched him closely as he was making it - even volunteered to be the sous chef - so I will make it for dinner tomorrow.

The day before my flight, the entire family celebrated my aunt and cousin's birthdays. I made some of my specialty meals, and we ordered a bunch of other food. Of course, there was cake.

I flew back to Switzerland on the 7th. I arrived on Friday at 8 in the morning, unpacked my stuff, ate pancit canton, and fell asleep at 16hr. I woke up at 3am still tired, but I managed to clean up and do all the laundry. I was hanging clothes at the balcony even before the sun was out. I found it hilarious. The rest of the day, I spent on the couch still feeling quite sluggish and brushing off the fact that I was having chills, and my nose wouldn't stop running.

Jon and I went on a quick café date and I couldn't taste the coffee nor the pastry I ordered which I found strange but thought nothing of. We did errands and bought groceries but I started feeling sicker as the hours passed. As soon as we got home, I checked to see if I had covid. The test came out positive. Dinner wasn't much fun. I was much sicker so I couldn't enjoy the food Jon prepared for me - he made me the perfect steak which I couldn't taste hahaha and some soup to make me feel better.

This morning, I woke up at 5am and called my family right away. The symptoms are getting worse, and now I have chills, body pains, and constant headache. I will rest more so I can feel better by tomorrow. I just find this to be a silly end to an incredible summer.

[inkycherie]

Back in Paris for summer.