Friday, January 10, 2025

September 15-21, 2024 in Taiwan Photo Diary 3 of 5: Sun Moon Lake Day Tour in Nantou County

This post may contain some affiliate links related to tours and travelling to and around Kaohsiung or just Taiwan in general. A click on those links and a purchase supports this blog (and the blogger, herself). As always, thank you for your support and for visiting, reading, browsing through this space. 


Now THIS, this one, this part of this trip, I liked very much. I'm the very chill person type and this tour is the very me in a nutshell.



I copped this at a 7-11 at the one stop we did on the way to Sun Moon Lake on September 18. I got somewhat addicted to it, still kind of am, I wish I bought 2-3 more packs of this thing to bring home even if it meant I have to like, suffer bringing this around while exploring the lake. 

So basically, I booked me and my aunt the:


....and set the pick-up from or around the hotel we were in because I knew we might not make the pick up point mentioned on the tour. I also booked this one a day or two before the flight to Kaohsiung, Taiwan so we were all set for a day out of Taipei and into a more relaxed Sun Moon Lake area in the Yuchi Township of Nantou County. It's a totally different but nearby region of Taiwan from Taipei or it's even closer to Taichung. It's about 3-hours ish from Taipei by drive/van. 

If you want to book the tour as is, with the hostel/hotel pick up option unchecked, the meeting place would be somewhere around the Taipei Main Station and you would have to be early there. 

Anyway, so I'm quite addicted to this one I can't help but feel...I should've gotten 2 to 3 packs of this one to bring home just because...it's just THAT good for a Taiwanese snack I wish they sold it somewhere out of Taiwan too. I'm sadt now and missing snacking on/eating this one.



We made it to Shuishe Pier maybe around 8 or 9 in the morning and started the day tour from there.




The first place we visited was a Christian Church...more like a chapel because it wasn't as big as a church by the said pier. I don't remember who had this one made there but he was or is a prominent figure of Taiwan History. He had that church made for his wife or so, if I recall correctly. Based on what our guide told us of it.

I would say the view of the lake from the chapel is beautiful because it is but I didn't take any photos of the chapel itself for some reason. Well, someone there did make us try tea with mint and it was sooo goods so that was nice. I'll leave it at that.





The views of the lake, like, every part of it are beautiful so I had to take pictures.  I took as much of it as I can during this trip. A good number of those photos were taken on our way down to the Sun Moon Lake Shuishe Wharf where our ferry waited to take us to Xuanguang Wharf to see the Xuanguang Temple across it.

Before we went down to the wharf, however, we first visited a Christian church by the pier for a quick second. The tea they offered there for us to taste was immaculate. It was refreshingly minty.







The views here on the way to the Buddhist temple is also really nice but the smell of the ocean, as my aunt said/commented, isn't exactly the best. 

By the way, no one swims in the lake every year. People are not allowed to swim there except 1 day in the year as our tourist guide told us. I forgot what day of the year that was he said to be or I think it could be the leap year which is every four years... Hmn... I don't think the water's that clean for swimming anyway. It's color is beautiful but yeah...nope, it's not it for swimming.


I like going on trips to do stuff like hiking, walking, maybe bicycling and well, mostly those. It's the activity around nature that gets me going on trips like this. So going to Xuanguang Temple from the wharf there was just that, lots of going up flights of stairs towards the temple and what waited for us was a treat of black tea boiled eggs from the tour guide, our group's tour guide.

Anyway, there were more pretty views of the lake on the way up to the temple and going back down from it so more pictures and a photo of the entrance to the temple as well. The entryway part to the temple had some benches with trees as shade so it's a good place to eat, have a picnic and rest from the hike up before going down and we did just that.

Other than this temple, further along this area is a pagoda I'm curious about, the Cien Pagoda. I heard it's really pretty and like this temple, is also quite the hike especially inside the pagoda and to the top of it to get the prettiest views of the lake but yeah, we were pressed for time so we didn't really go to that one anymore. 

I plan to make the Cien Pagoda again on a trip solely just in and around Sun Moon Lake. I'd actually not mind staying there, within that area for around 5 days or so to just relax, chill, and explore it. I plan to see more sights then than I did during this day tour and maybe do some cycling around here. This place, I have been reading and heard or watched from others' vlogs on youtube, has a very good scenic cycling trail. Of course, I'd like to do cycling here, too!





After the Xuanguang Temple, it was back to the wharf, into the ferry and into the, what is to me the highlight of this trip, the ferry ride to the Yidashao Wharf close to it where the Ita Thao Visitors' Center that has a cute and very quaint souvenir store I got some cat magnets from for white boards or refrigerator doors and the Ita Thao Market I'd been looking forward to checking out the whole of this day trip are in.



Random 'fit check at a store along Ita Thao Market that had locally made stuff!

Shacket: old, it's thrifted from a favorite thrift store in Dumaguete City and I'm still the most obsessed with this thing I am never without it when I travel now
Bag: kipling defea in blush/rose
Tote bag: anik-anik on instagram
Shoes/sneakers: found in Marshalls in NorCal and gifted to me by an aunt there Asics from maybe 2 years ago or so (2023 ish...so, just almost 2 years ago)


The only decent lunch we could find in and/or around the market. Hehe.


I didn't really buy a lot of things to bring home but I anticipated that there'd be tea, loose tea leaves to buy there since I've read the area around or before the lake is into farming tea, so I brought just enough money to get those. I got a couple of different loose tea leaves across the beef noodle place we ate lunch at, at the Ita Thao Market.

I've just opened the red bag and I drink this one lately with a squeeze of calamansi (a squeeze of lemon will also do) and some sugar or with milk and some sugar. I normally drink these iced so they're even more refreshing and they keep me from having to go to my favorite boba place here, Chingkeetea, to get my regular dose of milk tea/boba and others.

I didn't take much photos of the market but it's a good one. Just one whole street of it. Most you can find there are souvenir stores and the one I was most curious about were the ones selling flavored vinegar. They also have their own brewed wines if you're into that. Their vinegars are very fruity, they're very different from the ones we're used to here for cooking, making food, etc. 

I don't drink alcohol anymore so maybe I'll skip on the wine they make/brew there should I be able to come back to Sun Moon lake again on my own and have more leisure time or so to spend there.


Another random 'fit check at the bathroom/toilet at the Ita Thao Visitors' Center. Their bathroom/toilet is pretty nice.


I bought this milk tea to try before going back to the Yidashao Wharf for our ferry trip back to the Sun Moon Lake Shuishe Wharf and Shuishe Pier. This was only milk tea number one of this trip for me because the other I had in Ximending was a cocktail of fruits tea kind so I'm slow on the boba/milk tea intake during this trip. I know other tourists that's not me and my aunt would've bought milk tea number 5 or 6 by now at this point of the 5-day trip in Taiwan if they are there for this one. I wasn't. I wanted to really immerse myself in sight seeing and getting lost in Taipei for this trip instead as it was something I didn't get to do last time I was here back in 2018, for the Pentagon Prism Concert Tour stop. Heh.



This staircase apparently has 365, 366 steps representing every day of the year (including the leap year). There're also famous people's names inscribed per step coinciding with their birthdays. If you're birthday is in September 17 like mine, then you might like to look for that step here to see which famous person you're celebrating your birthday with. Ah, and these people's names inscribed per step here aren't just Taiwanese, some are also celebrities, maybe some heroes, too, from all over the world!

I do wonder who has the same birthday as I do...hmn...








Something about Taoist temples get me. It's probably because there is one that's just a few steps away from here at home in Cagayan de Oro City. I used to play in their lawn as a kid with my then teenaged and/or early 20s aunts. Toaist temples are also something you'd see in Filipino-Chinese movies. I see them there anyways and how people worship and pray to the deities there. Taoism and Taoist temples are likely the most familiar to me of all East Asian religions or belief systems.








I like that this temple has a lot of room. It's one massive temple made up of smaller temples or shrines to different kinds of deities Taoism has. The last photo is of a room where you pray to find love or something like that.



This one is where you make wishes and throw coins into the mouth of the dragons so your wishes can come true/get answers. I didn't have any luck with this one compared to the claw machines in Taipei. Haha.



....and this was our last stop for this sight seeing tour in Sun Moon Lake in the Yuchi Township of Nantou County in Taiwan. It was a pretty relaxing and chill day trip there. We went to a souvenir and treats shop for pineapple cakes etc. before we drove back to Taipei, Taipei Main Station specifically.

*****

You can DIY your Sun Moon Lake stay and tour via Taichung if you wish...this something I'd do in my next trip there. Or you can also book a day tour there from Taipei and from Taichung. Buses going to Sun Moon Lake are in Taichung hence this is more accessible from there. There are also those from the bus station in Taipei but it'll take you longer to get to Sun Moon Lake if you took that one instead of those in Taichung.

I opted to book a tour with the Klook site, app for me and my aunt because it was easy and convenient and were going to be in Taipei for like, 2 days and about 2 nights anyway. This is a join in tour so we had two other Filipino men with us and about 3 white people---a couple and 1 other girl---with us for this tour.

Here are some of the Sun Moon Lake tours you can book if you choose to go for this one on your trip to Taiwan:


I've forgotten if this was the one we took but yep, you can take this one.


I think this is much more expensive as it is a private tour but this is ideal for families and those who do not like join in tours and prefer privacy in their tours/travels.

I don't mind join in tours (and even staying in hostels now) so I wouldn't really go for this tour package unless I want the day tour or so to be more intimate.

Here are some Sun Moon Lake day tours that depart from Taichung:




You can also do a combined tours with Sun Moon Lake and other interesting places in Taiwan:


This one departs from Taipei.

Or if you just want to hang around Sun Moon Lake and explore the place, you can always take the buses from the high speed rail station in Taichung or the shared transport to Sun Moon Lake here:



Should you plan to stay around Sun Moon Lake to explore the place for like, 3-5 days for example, as I wish to the next time I'm there, here are some activities there you can partake in:


I've read from blogs, tourist reading materials, and watched from vloggers who went to Taiwan solely just to go to Sun Moon Lake and chill and explore the outdoors that this place has a good cycling trail. Renting a bicycle and going around the lake and explore the areas of it I've never been to like the Cien Pagoda is in my bucket list for the next time I find myself there. I can ride the bicycle, yes, I don't do, like, stunts in them like other cyclists do however.


There are some places of interest for tourists in Sun Moon Lake that are easier access with the yachts or boats/ferries. The two wharfs we went to here in this post are examples of these. If you want to access these places by ferry or boat, you can get a private tour like this on the Klook app and/or site so you can have the guide, the driver of the yacht, too, to yourself.


If you prefer to DIY your trip to these other wharfs in Sun Moon Lake and see what they offer there like the souvenirs, locally brewed wines, fruity flavored vinegars, tea and more from Ita Thao Market, you can always get this boat ticket to get there via Klook app and/or site.

I went there in a join in tour group so I didn't really need to get the boat ticket through the app and/or site. The tour guide got it for us and it's included in the amount we paid for to book the tour.


There are other rides like the cable car in Sun Moon Lake. This is, I think, like, a few steps from the Ita Thao Market? It's around that area anyway. If you have the time for this one, you can book this to see Sun Moon Lake from above. 

You can choose from any combo of their offering on the app and/or site for this one. I would personally go for the bicycle rental, boat ticket, and cable car combo if I had more time to spend at Sun Moon Lake back then. I'd definitely go for this one when in Sun Moon Lake again one day and that would be when I have more time to explore the place! 

Yes, they allow people to board with their bicycles in the ferry or the boat so you can definitely do any of the bicycle rental and boat ticket combo here.


I like tea---it doesn't matter if it's black, green, flower teas, strong, mild, moderate although I'm currently very much into Hongkong style milk tea again lately all thanks to both Gongcha (their house blend black tea is sooo good. It's totally my thing. Yep.) and Macao Imperial Tea House so...---so I think I'd be the type to enjoy this activity. I like doing stuff with my hands as much as I like to do stuff with my legs and body while running, jogging, hiking, and bicycling. 

If you're into tea like I am, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one too!

There are many other activities to do in and around Sun Moon Lake though I like that I can just chill and relax in there for days because it's just really pretty there and there's just nature everywhere...plus Ita Thao Market is my vibe because it's not that big and everything Taiwanese you might like is there (like it was or is in that one market I went to in Cijin Island or...two markets...I think?) including milk tea so yep, it's a great place to be in when in Taiwan.

This place is good for solo travelers like yours truly who just wants a place to chill and relax in and also do some nature-related activities for physical fitness and more. But you can also come here with a plus one and just chill. Yep. Any of the two will do. Yes, please.

*****

3 down, I still have 2 more to go for this Taiwan travel series' photo diary of sorts (with some chatter at the beginning, between some photos, and at the end, of course).

See you in the next one!

-K

Saturday, January 4, 2025

a review of 2024 in 'fits

This post may contain some affiliate links fashion, clothes, accessories mostly based in the Philippines and all over South East Asia. A click on those links and a purchase supports this blog (and the blogger, herself). As always, thank you for your support and for visiting, reading, browsing through this space. 



I feel like I explored a few new ways of styling things, clothes (went full on tropical island girl or coconut girl over the summer and the rest of the year) and revisited old styling of clothes this year or...I don't know. I just stuck to being me and my moody dressing self all throughout 2024.



I got into Leisure Supply (on Shopee PH) like this cropped tank top in the second photo and the bag in the first one.


I still definitely bought some random new stuff from my go-to, Zalora PH, but usually went for those that are on sale like this tie back hibiscus print tank dress from H&M on Zalora PH. I don't think it's still available since this was acquired some time ago. Maybe early into the year last year.

My latest Zalora Ph discovery is Sunjoy Underwear and it's made in the Philippines. Sunjoy Underwear Shopee Ph is also available for those who prefer this one, of course. It's a men's clothing store, more like a men's underwear store but I don't discriminate re: clothes and wear whatever so I don't mind men's clothing at times (thrifted or brand new). I stumbled upon this brand when I was looking for henleys. They called theirs camisachino or camisa chino which is what we call men's tops or so here and I got 2 of them in gray in different sizes (XL for a large, oversized loose fit, and M for a size closer to my women's large, almost women's XL frame) last December 2025 and they arrived on time~ I'm excited to put these two to good use. Yes. I had around Php 350-400 (about 8 USD converted) in cashback on the site so I was able to get one with that and just paid Php 350 for the other one to receive it when the courier handed the package to me at the gate.

I'd like to shop at Zalora more but I'm just there for the bigger things like maybe new running shoes I don't often get (I can kind of get by for a year or two...or three without a new one anyways) and some others. Also, Shopee Ph, that orange shopping app I always am found using almost daily to play games for coins etc has much better deals over Zalora Ph so yeah...you get where I'm going with this one (my preferred app between the two lately).


More Leisure Supply (on Shopee Ph) and I'm looking to get into them even more with their linen and satin lounge pants I'm looking to get the soonest I can. I'm currently debating between that and:

Costura Esencial (on Shopee Ph)'s Costura Isla lounge Pants (pinstripes) lightweight w/ pockets

which is cheaper that I also like but yeah... Going back to Leisure Supply (on Shopee Ph) however, I feel like my wardrobe mostly comprise of pieces from them that daaanng! they should sponsor me at this point /jk yeah, well, I guess that's just how it is now. Haha. But seriously, I have 0 regrets buying stuff from this local, Philippines made brand because they're local, homegrown, they employ our own people, and they're (I hope) pretty sustainable which is up my alley. Tl;dr: at least with a brand like this and most others I support here in the Philippines, I know exactly where my money goes: onto their workers' wages, local resources they use etc.

Leisure Supply (on Shopee Ph)'s pieces are also quite Philippines' weather, climate-appropriate so they're pretty good to have in one's closet here. They tick all the boxes for me, they're basic, they're for lounging and can also be taken out to casual outings, and some of their stuff, you can also take with you to colder places when you're travelling to those any time soon. Some are also airport wear-ready which, as an occasional jetsetter lately, I really appreciate. They're definitely mid-priced for a local brand but they're not as expensive as, say, Uniqlo that's not on sale, at least.


I also got into a local, homegrown, Cagayan de Oro City-based brand, Tsaya CDO (here on instagram). They customize shirts and stuff for you, too. I just ordered 3 tshirts some time ago for a friend (1 tshirt) in Quezon City and me (2 tshirts) and I got them fine, just right before I left for Metro Manila the second time October last year for a concert. Big Time Rush's (BTR's).

Their t-shirts are soft and comfortable though they lack that looseness, flowy-ness I like in most of mine. They do have cute designs for shirts and bags you can gift away to people at affordable Kagay-anon born and raised, local price points so definitely check their stall out at the malls or at Chingkeetea Velez St. or Tomas Saco St./Macasandig whenever they have pop-ups! They're not anymore on Chouette's Collection, a boutique along Hayes St. in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City. If you want custom made stuff, you can also message their instagram account to arrange those with them. They do about 1-2 weeks' processing and delivery locally if you're fine with waiting. They don't rush their production, really.



Since my last trip to the U.S. of A, mostly in California (both SoCal and NorCal) to visit family back around really late 2022 to really early 2023, (I spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's eve and day there), I've also gone back to thrifting have been continuing to thrift between the rest of 2023 and last year, 2024.

I thrift online on:
  • Instagram - curated stuff are overpriced there so I make sure to choose my thrifts wisely and/or buy stuff whenever my favorite instagram shops are running sales. This is one pro-tip I can share when thrifting there.
  • Shopee Ph
and also offline but mostly in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City until I decided to take a break because some suspicious character of a woman who's likely snatching stuff off of thrifters at my favorite shop there came in pretending to shop one day late last year (around November) and had customers and store owner, store attendants on edge. 

I know we should not judge people especially the homeless but here in the Philippines, we have a different breed of this people called the Badjaos, you can just look them up if you understand some of the language in forums like Reddit because they can be quite sinister and not at all like the homeless in the U.S. or anywhere else abroad who don't really harm people that much at all. I'm not saying they're dangerous or they harm others but they can be pretty rude and haughty. They earn a lot from the donations of people here who get duped by them (like about Php 5K or a 100 USD converted daily in coins) they just use later to satisfy themselves, not even buy necessities or save up for something big like a house or something so yep, those types of homeless in a nutshell. 

Anyway, I haven't been back to that favorite thrift store of mine in a while but I'll go again, maybe, when I have very little to carry around and I'm just really there to thrift and maybe get some refreshments, food here and there, that's all. 


We-- I'll have to satisfy us-- myself with online thrifted stuff for now or maybe those I thrift when I travel. I plan to thrift in Iloilo next since I'm flying there again on the 23rd and staying there until the 28th. The Dinagyang Festival is on the 25th of that week but I'm honestly NOT THAT interesting in it because I know all or almost all of Iloilo will be crowded by then and you know me who's been blogging here and on LiveJournal (and now, even on substack, occasionally) and crowded places, cities: I detest them. Well, specific places that are super crowded, especially. 

The best friend here in Cagayan de Oro City and I tried going to the mall in uptown (SM Uptown) on city fiesta holiday once some years ago and we got home later than expected due to traffic and the crowd...there was an event with Filipino celebrities (national celebs) at the mall there and we swore since to never again, NEVER AGAIN...I'm sticking to non-crowded places now and I might just high tail it to a beach in Iloilo on the 25th or so to avoid people. LOL. I'll try to see if I can book an Isla de Gigantes day tour or so from the Klook app and site for that day or on the 24th or 26th. This isn't my first solo beach trip, I've been to a few some years past and the latest was an overnight trip to Initao (Initao, Misamis Oriental) which is just an hour from here with a friend and later, on my own.

Tl;dr, I like crowded areas like maybe some cafes but the sparsely crowded type, I detest the uber crowded city/town squares with events going on that isn't maybe a rave or something else music-related (at least with artists whose music I like anyway). 



In line with the thrifting topic, my favorite saying now is "thrifted and well-loved Uniqlo is better than brand new Uniqlo" that promotes overconsumption among people here. The military/army green utility skirt here is one such well-loved thrifted Uniqlo piece that has seen the light of day and some of the night out because it's super easy to wear and comfortable to run around in and you can't drag me to the Uniqlo store to buy this thing new because I balk at Uniqlo prices not on sale in the first place. I don't know how people buy stuff new anymore these days because I don't and I spend more on food, drinks, and skin and health care stuff instead now. Also, travel and experience.

I admit I almost did buy 2 tank tops of the same style that were on sale at Php 290, USD 5 when converted -ish a piece from a Uniqlo branch/store in Festive Walk, Iloilo but I'm glad I didn't go for it because when I got home and browsed my saved stuff on instagram (mostly thrifted vintage, second hand stuff) I found I prefer those and they're fraction of the price of these two brand new tank tops that are on sale. Heh. I'm also currently getting an overrun tank top from a shop on Shopee Ph that's v-neck in style at less than Php 150, USD 3 converted, in my size in white which is a color/shade I like and can never get enough of so... I can't complain that I passed up on those 2 tank tops from Uniqlo at all~

The thing is that, Uniqlo is still fast fashion and it, alongside GU are flooding the thrift, vintage, second hand market lately and frankly, I'm getting sick of seeing them everywhere there rn especially since most of them are super basic and aren't into the style I like which is currently leaning towards...fairy core and some indie sleaze. Note that or/and keep in mind that I don't really adhere to or subscribe to only a specific -core and to this day, I still don't have a specific style and keep defaulting to basic but, you get my drift...where I'm going with this one... I just currently have a thing against Japanese, extremely oversized basic-core. If you're into laidback Japanese minimalist anything, you'll know this styling or -core, whatever it is. I just prefer clothes that fit lately and mixing proportions, that's all.








2024 also got me into another more active lifestyle-leaning local brand: Stitch it by J and C (on Shopee Ph). I don't remember how I discovered them...maybe it was thanks to Instagram but I fell in irrevocably in love with their very versatile:


I ended up getting this one in different colors, shades of blue, one in sepia brown and one in what they mistook as me getting the lemon yellow shade when I meant to get the buttermilk yellow set. I've been careful about ordering from them since and ask to double check to see if they're sending me the correct color, shade now. I have yet to get the buttermilk and gray sets somehow. I'm not at all sure if I want to get the black set because I know I'll be using the skort half more so...hmn...

Thanks to their pretty alright price point, they're definitely my go-to for active stuff now in the locale with Miggy's Apparel (on Shopee Ph) for other for active lifestyle basics and some undies.



I travel most times lately due to new places acquire by the family that need taking care of so cozy, relaxed travel 'fits are also a thing for 2024 and more of it again for this year, 2025 starting with the trip to Iloilo again, the second since December 13's to 15's last year, 2024, with the dad. By cozy and relaxed, I mean an oversized t-shirt in light colors (white, mostly) and from Hanes and/or Fruit of the Loom (though I have white shirts from other brands, too, local and non-local) and shorts and/or linen pants, a skirt.

Now that I have my Sunjoy Underwear (on Zalora Ph) henley shirts, I'll add that one to the mix of t-shirts for cozy and relaxed airport wear. Hehe. 

You can get the henleys here:


and sadly they're not on sale anymore. They were when I got two of them December last year, 2024. I got them at Php 350 or USD 7 converted a piece. They're Php 600 or USD 12 a piece now. This is still on sale here on the orange shopping app, site, however:


and it's also available in different sizes in different shades, colors, too! They have more choices here than they have on Zalora Ph, I'm not gonna lie now.

The white tshirt is back, yes, and it's a must-have for me that I get that's either this:


This is available in the lay flat collar version too:


or this:


I might stock up on more, I dunno yet, or just their undies because those are very comfortably too, the ones for women, anyway.

I get stuff in packs of 3s and more because they're pretty well-priced for shirts and undies and they keep me from buying so much over the next few weeks, months or over a year or two or so. I rotate my plain white t-shirts, basic tops with graphic t-shirts anyway so they both last longer.




Speaking of linen pants, linen anything...what started me in on this one was a pair that was on sale at OXGN on Shopee Ph I got for even less that the Php 400-ish selling price there with coins and coupons used for the purchase. And then, I found these from Penshoppe (on Zalora Ph here) in store in SM City Marikina.

Story time: I spotted this super relaxed pair in a light color I normally like that's not at all super white and is just right at SM Mall of Asia (MoA) in Pasay City while I was there to look around for stuff for the new family's place in Metro Manila at Ikea Ph next door to this massive mall. MoA is the biggest SM mall around. It's even bigger than the one in Iloilo where the other new fam's place is in or around in and even more massive than the tiny SM Downtown Premier we have here in my area/'hood. I was looking into stuff, clothes, trends and such at fast fashion shops there and I didn't really find much that was within my then-budget for clothes and stuff until I found this at the sale rack at the Penshoppe store there. I only shop both Bench TM Ph and Penshoppe (our two age-old tween but also for older people local, homegrown clothing and apparel shops here in the Philippines) when stuff are on sale so I'm also not likely the type to spend for anything fast fashion (American Eagle Outfitters, Uniqlo, etc) full price. Heh.

Sadly, the first ones I tried from this store of Penshoppe (on Zalora Ph here)'s weren't right. I think their large was pretty small on me? So I decided to wait 'til I could check out other branches of the store in my new fam's place area/'hood in or near Quezon City (Katipunan, Quezon City to be precise). I found the perfect pair with the perfect fit in store in SM City Marikina when I was getting ready to go home, back here to Cagayan de Oro during my May 2024 trip there. I'm still pretty gleeful rn at how I copped this at Php 599 or USD almost 10 converted since Penshoppe stuff can skew expensive, around Php 1000+ or USD 20+ converted at full price (not discounted like how and when I got this one). Unaffordable for the average wage paid Filipino, yes, price point (even for me).

Speaking of discounts, the store is running a 30 to near 50% sale here rn if you're looking for something you've been stalking for a while now or just browsing around:


and if you want to use Shopee coins you've been quietly earning, saving up and their vouchers, if both shop and platform has any such as when they run sales monthly, you can also check on this store online here:



The photo above is me trying this pair of linen pants out in my size at the Penshoppe store's fitting room in SM City Marikina. And this is the one I got, of course.

Now, if you ask me whether I like Bench TM Ph or Penshoppe Ph better, and this is an old Filipino thing who was born and raised here their whole life thing, I would ideally answer Penshoppe Ph because I like their minimalistic designs lately but in reality, for me, it'd be whoever saves me more Phps/USDs during sales in store and online. Lol.

Quality-wise, I think Penshoppe Ph is better than Bench TM Ph but if you're into some sustainable stuff, Bench TM Ph also has a nice selection of those every now and then. Just watch out for the Made in China tags and opt for the Made in the Philippines ones. They have stuff made of bamboo cotton, organic cotton or so every now and then like my white v-neck shirt in a series of photos above with the pink silk skirt...? And that's a pretty good/high quality t-shirt that I still wear on and off until today so yeah...it hardly really matters between these two for me.




The only things Uniqlo, GU, and Muji stores are good for, for me are for 'fits photo taking on their mirrors in some of their racks. Heh. I've been doing this since the Taiwan trip and then again, during the December 2024 Iloilo trip. 

My dad did buy one Uniqlo shirt that's more for an active lifestyle at Uniqlo Festive Walk Iloilo as it was on sale so...still...Php 590, USD 11 ish converted, for something new that's not Philippines-made is something I wouldn't really spend much for, for just 1 item at a store. I think this price is more suited for a bottom that's on sale or so.

I'm sticking to overruns and thirfted stuff on Shopee Ph and Instagram for my basics and especially the elevated basics I like lately since they're not as expensive as like, Uniqlo's stuff that are on the sales rack and their full priced stuff. Thank you.





And then there's the concert 'fit that's a thrifted cotton top I am obsessed with and the sepia brown skort from Stitch it by J and C on Shopee Ph! And my Asics I've been wearing for ages now, of course.

I'm lately drawn to these three colors/shades: brown, yellow, and blue. I dunno. I've never been much of a pink girly and my favorite color is and has always been: blue...since I was a kid. Something about it is just relaxing while some pink can be...blinding...for me, anyways. Sorry not sorry to the pink girlies here, reading this. Let's just say...pink is a color I'd relegate to accessories but not really for clothes except for maybe some occasions like valentines', all hearts' day and such like it. My blue, brown, and yellow and also gray stuff are definitely catching up to my white and cream, neutral, earthy light stuff in my wardrobe lately. In terms of number of these I have in different styles etc anyway. For blue, I think my best color/shade would be the smoky, grayish blue...? I dunno. That shade of blue just gets me the most these days.

This year, you'll see me more in these colors, shades and in more tropical prints and easy going 'fits, for sure. Athleisure too since I lately can hardly contain myself from thrifting athletic or active-lifestyle stuff like (sweat) shorts and capri pants. Vintage, secondhand, thrifted Adidas (on Zalora Ph) and Champion have been hitting it out of the ball park for me lately and of course, Puma (on Zalora Ph) for their running caps/hats when they're on sale. Haha.

Will I be purchasing some new stuff from these two, three active lifestyle brands? Hmn... Time will tell and when I chance upon a sale that brings stuff I like from them at a more affordable, more accessible price point, I guess. *wink* I'm currently happy with my vintage, secondhand, thrifted athleisure, active wear stuff for now~

Anyways, 2025, here we come! 

I have to go out today and prepare for the next trip...back to Iloilo for the Dinagyang Festival although I know I won't be going out much of the condo unit there anyway because of how crowded the city, like, almost all of it will be during the fiesta week. I already mentioned earlier above I despise, I detest going out to places on weeks and days like this because...I'm not at all that fond of being around a lot of people unless it's a cafe or something where they're or we're more spread out.

Until the next post which is very soon, btw! I have a lot on the drafts rn.