Pig Loves Cow

It can get pretty cold in KSA, especially during the winter. So when I cam to the Philippines, I never get cold easily. My blockmates used to tease me that they’ll build me an air-conditioned coffin because even if they were all already freezing in the room, I still wasn’t cold.

6 years later, I got accustomed to the sun. I would feel cold from the slightest drop of temperature. Heck, I always wear my jacket even if it was sunny!

Anyway, when I came to Victoria, I don’t feel cold easily. I’d even go out without a jacket; I’d just hang it onto my arm or bag. I don’t know why suddenly I’m back to not being cold again. It’s weird especially because the locals here wear jackets while I just walk like it’s always sunny!

I’m here. I flew to Seattle and took the ferry for 2:45 hours to get here. I received my work permit from the customs officer at the inner harbor. We arrived at Richard’s apartment at around 8 or 9pm already, yet the sun was still up. Yes, the sun’s still up until 10pm. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t. I like it because it allows me to go out until 10pm without realizing it’s already 10pm. I don’t like it because I see less of the night, and I’m such a night person.

I’ve been here for a week and I’m loving Victoria. I love how the city seems to be one with nature. I love how friendly and laid back the people are. I have yet to discover more things about this lovely little city in an island called Vancouver Island (not to be mistaken for Vancouver).

Bastion Square

The Empress Hotel

Horse Carriage

I take the bus to the office, located in Sidney, everyday. It’s just about a 20 min drive from Victoria but the bus takes around 30-45 minutes to get there. I love how there’s no traffic jams or too many people in a certain area. I love how you can walk anywhere without feeling scared (oh I’ll miss the horror stories in Manila). I especially love the fact that the whole country is on air-conditioning mode…and that you need a heater instead. I can’t wait to get to know more of Victoria!

I know the two titles are very much unrelated, but these are stories that are in my mind lately.

I have recently read the book Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I had seen the movie first before the book so I already knew the story. I still enjoyed the book, but this is probably the first time I would say that I liked the movie more than I liked the book. In the book, there is no humor, everything is fantasy and serious. Also, Tristran (Tristan in the movie) had “powers” in the book, which comes from being the descendant of the royal family. He’s a pathfinder…he knows where things in Faerie are when you ask him, even if he hasn’t even heard of the places yet. Also, their time at Captain Shakespeare’s ship wasn’t detailed (oh and the captain isn’t gay in the books. He’s not a terror either). But what really disappointed me was the fact that no fight scene occurred at the end. Septimus (the last surviving son of the King) was killed because he opted to revenge his brother by burning the witch’s hat, but the witch summoned/turned into a poisonous snake and bit him. Tristran also didn’t leave the star Yvaine without any warning, as he still had feelings for Victoria. Victoria had feelings for Mr. Monday…she never liked Tristran and was set to marry Mr. Monday. Tristran also wasn’t allowed to cross the wall coming from Fairie at first. He returned to Wall only to realize that he loves Yvaine, and said goodbye to Victoria and his family. When he came back, he fell asleep and Lady Una talked to Yvaine. When she left, the witch came for Yvaine and told her that she was going to cut her heart out (the witch seemed nice!), but Yvaine said that it wouldn’t be possible anymore because she had already “given her heart” to Tristran. Oh and they got married but didn’t rule yet; they traveled throughout Faerie for years before they decided to rule.

On Sunday, after Mark’s basketball game, we watched Sherlock Holmes (last full show) at 10:45 at ATC. We also bumped into Tel who was going to watch the same movie at the same time. I enjoyed the movie! I love the whole bohemian effect to it, and the fact that it was all about logic and mysteries. It’s an old movie with effects of the 21st century, yet the charm remains and wasn’t butchered. I love how every major character played their role. It’s a bit similar to The Prestige…wherein magic relies on scientific inventions, and the secret(s) is/are revealed at the end. The only thing I didn’t like about this movie is Watson’s fiance. I couldn’t seem to like her, and had always been hoping for her to be the bad guy.