Pong Thoughts: The Sunshine Blogger Award 🌞

Hello everyone! 😚

It's been a while and it has been so busy; finding all the time I need to squeeze in everything has been a challenge. The last couple of weeks or say January has been a roller coaster ride. But all is well. So far, 2018 has been so so great!

So what is this post all about? I have been nominated by the multi-talented, chill and by the person I really have not met yet but it's as if I know her from my past life, haha - Erika Ramona. Go check her beautiful online journal here - http://www.ekachamporadodiaries.com/. There, you'll see how this lady loves life so much, makes you want to grab your bags and go! ✈

As a nominee, I will be answering some questions from Erika. Here we go:

1. When and why did you start blogging?
[pong] I started writing when I was in 4th grade. Blogging - Multiply Days, maybe 2008? Really can't recall but I decided to publish blogs again last December, 2016. Writing has always been my outlet. Once my "writing soul" arrives, I just had to.

2. Which movie or book do you think is ridiculously overrated?
[pong] Uhm, maybe Fifty Shades of Grey? This is the first thing that I thought of.

3.You have $100 to burn, all your friends are busy and you have the whole day to yourself, what do you do?
[pong] Pack my bag and go to the nearest beach.

4. Food for soul or music for soul? 
[pong] Music for the soul.

5. What is your favorite hobby?
[pong] Right now, am into badminton, traveling and blogging. Taking pictures and stuff.

6. What is your idea of fun?
[pong] Beach/mountains + music + beer.

7. What makes you say “What was I thinking?” when you look back on your life?
[pong] Well, I was about to be promoted when I was caught drinking Tanduay Ice with some of my office mates while on shift. Fun times! Haha!

8. What is the best meal you have ever had on vacation?
[pong] The grilled fish I had in El Nido. Super fresh from the sea!

9. Are you a morning person or a night person? Why?
[pong] I guess I am a morning person. I function well and am just asleep at night, so there. Haha!

10. Who was your childhood hero?
[pong] Can't think of any but NikNok and Kombatron from Funny Komiks were the first ones I thought of! Haha.  Maybe, Captain Planet.

11. Can you share one quote or saying you love, that keeps you going in life?

[pong]  Life is the best gift ever, might as well live it to the fullest and happiness is a choice. 😉

Now, it's time to nominate some thrill seekers and individual explorers I know:

Marie Patinio - http://www.marieblog.com/
Claire Madarang - https://iamtravelinglight.com/
Milet Miranda - http://www.projectgora.com/
Allandale Antenero - http://www.utopianwanderer.net/
Celine Reyes-Murillo - http://www.celineism.com/
Dennis Murillo - https://www.facebook.com/thedennismurillo/
Mujee Gonzales - https://eatsinthephilippines.wordpress.com/
Jinkee Umali - http://livelifefullest.com/
Ruel Umali - http://ruelumali.com/
Gina Alward - http://thehereandwow.com/
Kayla Burk - http://buytheplaneticket.com/


Rules:
1. Thank the blogger who nominated you for your blog post and links back to her blog.
2. Answer 11 questions that the Blogger asked you.
3. Nominate 11 new bloggers to receive the awards and write them 11 questions.
4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post on your blog.

Questions for my nominees:
1.Where is your dream vacay destination?
2. If you can change one thing in this world, what is it going to be?
3. You are to write an article for someone, who is it going to be for and what will the article be about?
4. Describe yourself in three words.
5. What are the things you can't live without when traveling?
6. The beach or the mountains?
7. What makes the sunset beautiful?
8. What is that one thing you learned from traveling?
9. If you are to take a picture of your life, what is it going to look like?
10. It's the end of the world tomorrow, what will you do?
11. Message to aspiring writers/photographers/bloggers. 


Thanks, guys! 💕

speak from the heart,
pong 🐢💙

Pong Eats: Kko Kko ㉿ (ft. Lai)

Hello everyone! 👀

Before 2017 ended, Lai and I had a catch-up eating session at this Korean restaurant near our offices. She liked it here, so, go. It's called Kko Kko - Home of Seoul Chicken. 🐔 

Located in Ortigas Central Business District, it's has a cute and cozy spot in Garnet Road. It's not your typical Korean restaurant where you get to eat your Samgyupsal with lettuce, grill it yourself and stuff. You are allowed to cook noodles though (with a stove) - how cool is that, right? It's like doing a mukbang. 🍝

We tried the Chicken Cheese Fondue. It's the bomb! If you are a cheese lover, then this is for you. We had the spicy variant - has chicken, onion rings and fries and look at the cheese!! 

Chicken Cheese Fondue

I am a fan of Samgyupsal. I ordered it and it is in a lunch-box type container. The taste is just fine, it has a sunny side-up egg on top. I still prefer it with lettuce though. (Hmm, was not able to ask if they have lettuce, maybe on my next visit)

Kko Kko's Samgyupsal  with Kimchi, Egg, and Anchovies

Lai had her fave, the Snow Chicken.

Snow Chicken - cheesy! 

I have some snaps to share. Kko Kko - Home of Seoul Chicken is worth the try. If you happen to be in Ortigas, give it a go! 

They have draft beer too

Some snaps on the wall

She knows what she wants. Chili Cheese! Okay?

Menu - a bit blur, sorry

🐋🐳

Interior

LOCATION: 35 Garnet Rd, San Antonio, Pasig City 1605 Manila, Philippines
HOURS: 10AM - 10PM
PHONE #: 02 535 7689
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/KkoKkoPH/



Planning to go to India? Make sure to check: http://travoxi.in/
(thanks, Travoxi!)



speak from the heart,
pong 🐢💙

Pong Thoughts: Happy New Year! It's 2018! 🎉🎆

Hey hey hey! It's 2018! Happy New Year!! 🎉🎆

How did your Holiday season go? Well, me just had a couple of days off, still had to work and attend to some year-end office stuff, so it was a bit busy, but the year ended on a happy note! 😉

2017 was a good year, I must say. There were ups and downs but overall, it's still a great year. Am thankful to everyone who've been part of my 2017. ♥

Let's do a simple recap of my 2017. I hope I can do this right and I won't forget anything.

Well, I almost lost my iPhone. It almost gave up on me. I lost the photos, contacts and everything on it as I had it reformatted. I want to buy a new one but bloody Apple, it is so damn expensive.

Lobo, Batangas. Finally, another tick off my bucket list. Suprisingly, my blog about this trip is one of the popular posts on my site (check: Lobo, Batangas). Super budgeted. Sulit!

2017 - the year I decided to get fit and be active again. Joined the Smashville squad, trekked Mt. Batulao. Joined a Fun Run held in Cavite. Did some swimming - beach and pool.

Being active has a catch, was injured last June 17th. I was sidelined for 6 months. I guess, it's life's way of saying that I need to slow down. So I did. I learned a lot during this stint though. I get to spend time with people whom I seldom hang out with. And yes, how could I forget, am back to writing again. ❤

Went back to Puerto Galera. Another tick off my bucket list: was able to swim with the whalesharks in Oslob, Cebu. It was surreal. No canyoneering though as am still injured that time.

Have experienced blogging and pongtograpiya perks - Diving Specials recognized my whaleshark photo and sent me the buddy watcher. And being invited in a festival is just an unforgettable experience. Met Simon Enciso. The Moffatts. Lots of people who are yeah, part of who I have become. Lost a good brother from another mother, Ton. God, I miss you, Ton. I wish I could just hug you and tell you lots of stories. All the people who've been part of my blog are pretty special too. You know who you are. ❤

December is simply an amazing month - I get to play badminton again!!!! After 6 months,  I just missed the game and the people so much.

That's Andrew, right there

My team has been great too. We had challenges, but we're able to recover. We had our Team Pong shirt and I love it!

just some of my team

My highschool friends - last year, we're only 4, now we're 5. Thanks for just simply being there. Jason Landas is the man. Haha! Good times.

love these girls

But Andrew - I must give this month to you. I never thought we could get along very well. Am happy just by seeing you and just by talking to you. I guess, new folks always bring something fresh, yes? More than your endless hanash and your pretty face, thank you. 😍

candid

To more adventures and hanash this year! 🍻


speak from the heart,
pong 🐢💙

PS my writing soul is a bit off today. I did something that will fire back at me anytime soon, but I still opted to post this. This post should have been way better. Please forgive me. Good night.