I, Stardust

accounts of just another speck in the universe

[shadowandstardust]

How I Started Cutting My Internet Usage

As part of the smartphone and social media age, I am prone to the negative effects of pointless excessive use of mobile phones like lack of sleep, decrease in productivity and a stunt in creativity. I have tried implementing no-internet-after-10 and no-phone-after-12 rules. I have also tried setting my phone to automatically change into Do Not Disturb mode on a set time; silencing notifications and killing the WiFi or mobile data. However, these time-dictated regulations counter my workshift hours. They were entirely ineffective. With the main goal of proper expense management, I accidentally discovered an effective way to keep me off my phone: Make it a bother to connect to the internet. We have no WiFi connection in our dorm so I was stuck to spending 200 to 300 pesos a month only for mobile data. My primary data hoggers are Mobile Legends and Instagram. I stopped watching animè when Globe discontinued their free Facebook promo. (I only use FB for animè, messaging and travel stuff. I got no friends haha.) So G told me about an app that allows him to get free mobile data. Fortunately, until this time of writing, it works for me like it did for him. The downside is that I have to open two apps to get it to work. It takes around 20 touches to actually be connected. I have been relying on that trick for about two weeks when it dawned on me that I have been using my phone less and less for basically non-essential reasons: social media and online games. All because it was a bit if a hassle to start a mobile connection. I have stopped the seemingly endless scrolling in Instagram. When I do open the app, which us seldom, I just search my friends (the real kind) and see their pages. I also look up people that I genuinely care about but haven't been in constant communication with. Instagram should just create a list feature similar to Twitter's. I have had a break from Mobile Legends since I started limiting my data. (But I still don't have the heart to uninstall it! Haha) As of late, I mainly go online for informational and financial purposes. I may have just added points to my adult score. Haha. So right now, I'm trying to be productive and to be back in writing, which I clearly pitifully fell behind on. I'm cutting myself away from the useless social media browsing and rekindling my relationship with words. Hence, this blog.

[shadowandstardust]

A Relief For My Skin

My childhood included episodes of flaky skin on my inflamed eyelids. Through the years, the symptoms went away. However, during my college years, they came back worse than before. There were times that I could not go to school because I couldn’t open my eyes. Sometimes, they would even bleed and scab.

I already went to an eye doctor, whose prescription and diagnosis didn’t help. I went to Dr. Edward Tan, a dermatologist in Angeles City. That was when I learned that it was contact dermatitis. He prescribed medicines and creams that actually worked at first. It was a long time before the symptoms showed again. I wanted to go to him again. Unfortunately, I also had a seemingly abnormal mole I wanted to be examined. It was located on my breast part, so a female dermatologist was preferable.

I’ve heard about Dra. Macarayo from Shan, and decided to see her. She asked about my previous medications regarding the dermatitis, and commented that the medicine prescribed to me was too strong. She suggested this alternative medicine she described as “pang-bingut.” The medicines and creams worked at first too. I thought about going back to her (I had a scheduled check-up), but decided against it as the medicines were too expensive, even if I have a medical insurance that would shoulder the cost partially. Also, I underwent an excision biopsy which costed a lot, procedures and drugs and all. Haha.

To be honest, I like using natural remedies instead of unfamiliar mixtures. So I’ve already tried honey for my eyes and it worked for a while, until it felt like I got allergic to it. It sort of worsened the itchiness.

Luckily, I have accidentally discovered something that works! TADA~!

I have used sunflower oil before but I was too lazy to apply it frequently until I stopped. For the last months, I have been using it again as a facial moisturizer. And I noticed that I have never had swollen eyelids and itchy and flaky skin around my eyes! It has been months! Wait, probably a year. Haha.

I use it after washing my face before going out and before sleeping. Sometimes I miss 😁 but I guess that’s okay. It acts as a moisturizer, among other things. In its advertisement, they say it does 21 miracles.

Well. I hope it won’t stop working for me. Hahaha.

[shadowandstardust]

SPACE: Sinagtala Farm Resort, Bataan

It was an outing sponsored by the company that brought me here. And I would say there’s a massive relief that extra food was my only financial damage for this particular trip, because this is possibly the most overrated resort I’ve ever been in. Online reviews on their Facebook page and on Trip Advisor are confusingly stellar. Well, since I only spent 150 pesos for this, I’m giving this space a leeway on comments below.

THE BRIGHT SIDE The resort is good for a few pictures (or a lot if you’re into it). I have to say the place is pleasant, and green. The infinity pools are lovely. There are other things to do aside from swimming (pool bumming). Zipline and guided treks, among others, are available. The overnight cabins and houses are cute and inviting. The shower rooms and rest rooms are satisfactorily clean. Also, it is only an hour to an hour and a half travel from Dau, so a one-day getaway is possible. Leeway ends now.

THE DARK SIDE The entrance fee is expensive. It was a bit surprising that they charge that much for not much of a place. The other activities can be expensive too. We couldn’t get over the 100-peso hanging bridge. When asked why it was so expensive, they said they’re going to move the bridge for the guests. I presume that it’s not manual shaking.

The ‘waterfalls’ in their waterfall trekking is so disappointing. I’m not even sure if it’s considered a waterfall. The guide told us (when we were already there) that it’s dry during summer. Bummer. We were 11 in that group and had two guides. One was at the front of the line, the other was at the end. While trekking, Manong Front Line didn’t bother to wait for the rest of the group (there were 2 or 3 who went with his pace) until I called him out on it. Yeah okay, there was another guide. Sure. But nope, no, he didn’t know the way. Big WHAT?!!’s were almost visible above our heads then. Because honestly, WHAT?!!

There are only two pools, and they are very far from each other.

The shower room door and dividers are very lightly frosted that a person who is more on the conservative side would find it a hassle.

STRIKE BACK The possibility of me coming back here is almost zero. It will depend on who I’m going with.

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