ehersisyo

i was not into exercise mainly because i'm lazy and it makes me feel tired. rewind to two and a half months ago, you couldn't convince me to go to the gym...even drag me to it.

some months ago, the captain have noticed that i easily run out of breath when we were walking with Fasu up to the small hill in our neighborhood. it's nothing compared to Skåla, but really, it's an effort to climb up there. but of course, i just made excuses until my own excuses didn't convince me anymore.

so, like every story, there's always a twist. mine happened when i was doing my work practice in one summer house in Herrala. my co-worker and i had to lift a tarpaulin filled with rose twigs that we trimmed, up the hill. i had to ask Mirja to stop after every five steps so i can catch my breath. it was a terrible feeling! i tried my best to catch up with her. she was so kind to wait for me and let me gasp for air. 

to make the long story short, that was my turning point. the harsh moment that woke me up. i wasn't (and i'm still a work on progress) in a good shape. 

that realization made me enroll to the gym. it wasn't easy to start. i always felt lazy when i have to go to the gym. sometimes i felt tired just thinking about it over and over again until i give up and just slept over the thought. 

but with pushing myself and just going to the workout place, i've overcome my laziness little by little. i've actually started to enjoy going there and join the group exercises. zumba is my favorite 😀 i've also joined classes that were too much for me. well, le mills programs are tough, but i like the body step exercise.

i joined the pilates group once. i positioned my mat in front of the class because everyone else came too early and they left just the frontline vacant. the teacher came and she placed her mat opposite to mine, so we were facing each other. she showed how to do the move once and sat down and she talked about the benefits of pilates and blah...blahs. i thought she was just talking to the class so i just sat there and listened to her. little did i know that everyone else was doing the exercise except me! 🙄 gosh! i felt my face warming when i noticed the situation. after that, i always check the other people in the room. i haven't been back to pilates class after that. maybe this week, coz i don't have a class on wednesday.

just last friday, i joined another class for the first time. it was like "for toned arms" class. when i went into the room, there were about eight lolas there. i went out thinking that i was in the wrong room. but i bumped into the teacher on my way out and he confirmed that i was with the right group. oh, it was so much fun doing the workout with the lolas. they talked a lot, sometimes forgetting to do the exercises. the lolas handled the workout well. it would be embarrassing if i complained how heavy the weights were.

so yeah! the gym has been the thing that keeps me busy these days. i even feel bad if i miss one day at the gym. i'm not aiming to have a super sexy body. i just want to be strong and push my limits. and i want to prepare for more mountain climbing next summer 🙆

and as my teacher on les mills body step always say, hiki on hyvä juttu!

forgotten sunsets

i have been moving photos from my phone to my pc because my mobile's memory is too full. then i found some pictures that i took during my first summer here. i suddenly remember the happy feeling when i was taking these pictures at the harbor. 

for a sunset-lover, this is a treasure! i'm glad that i was able to immortalize this one. i wish i could have spent more time at the harbor this summer...

bye bye botanic gardens

last friday, i said goodbye to my baby plants and co-workers in the botanic garden. i feel a bit sad that i won't be able to see the garden's beautiful creatures on a daily basis. but, that's life! we end doing one thing and move on to do new things. 

on our feedback meeting, my fairy-gardener-mothers reminded me that what i had in the garden is just one of the many steps towards attaining the right skills. and learning never ends. this lifetime should be all about learning.

and they never let the moment pass by without telling me that, yes, they were surprised at first hearing me sing along the hallways or when i'm working. they said, it's not so normal for people to do that. but somehow, they found the positivity in singing my lungs out and have gotten used to it eventually.

all my bags are packed, i'm ready to go,

with my baong cactus and baby duck

Stanhopea hernandez

the botanic garden's ylipuutarhuri gave our group a tour around the garden today. it was very interesting to see the old landscape, know the history of the buildings and it feels good to just walk around the garden on a rainy day.

our first stop was the greenhouse. ylipuutarhuri showed to us the old fireplace which they used in the good old days to warm the greenhouse. but what caught our eyes was the orchid hanging by the wall with blooming flowers beneath its healthy leaves.

 the newest star of the greenhouse,

Stanhopea hernandez

our last stop was at the aisti puutarha. this is one place in the garden that i haven't been to a lot, so i was amazed to see all the plants there.

 the edibles

 the greenhouse, a view from the aisti puutarha

the giant sunflower

🌻

what a lovely way to end the week!

have a nice weekend! 

back to the garden

on monday, i went back to my training at the botanic gardens after being away for 7 weeks. there were new flowers in bloom , plants that have grown taller than me, some peonies that i didn't see bloom, new and same friendly people at work. it was nice to be back. i'm just a little stressed about my paperworks because i have been very lazy to do them during the summer break. so now, it's "aja!" time 😂

 foggy early morning walk to the train station

my playground

🌸

dalaw

i always love going to new places and most of the time, i fall in love with them. 

last weekend, the captain and i visited my sister and we spent the weekend in the beautiful village of Abcoudje. we drove to the village just when the sun was signing out. the moment we parked by the river bank, my heart was filled with awesomeness. it got me right away! if i will be able to choose to live somewhere, i'll choose to live there. 

the people in this village are so friendly that we received greetings from everyone that we passed by while walking around.

i am so happy that i was able to spend quality time with my sister. we had the whole saturday just for ourselves and we decided to wander the city of Amsterdam. the city was packed with locals and tourists, but it wasn't chaotic at all. it was like a harmonic commune of humanity.

after we had brunch in a homey cafe, we started our search for "the bench" where they shot one scene from "the fault in our stars". we followed the steps where google maps directed us to. many times we got out of the way, then went back where we came from then moved forward again. it was fun! it's true what they say that, "it's the journey and not the destination that counts" (or something like that 😁). by getting lost, we were able to see more of the city and loved the undimensional structures of the apartment buildings. they were lovely!

on sunday, we went to Zandvoort with the captain to see the dtm race. it was a lovely sunny day spent at the track with the loves of my life 😘

until the next dora adventure 😋

ang bilis!

it's been half a month after my operation and on monday i'm going back to my training. 

i'm half-hearted right now about this field that i chose. i guess, being away from the garden for a long time has a lot to do with it. my interest drifted away and now i feel like i want to do other things. also, i'm not so sure if i'm well enough to work. i feel better, of course, but doing heavy work....hmmmm...i might not be ready for it yet.

ang bilis ng time! i will miss waking up late in the morning 😇

madaling araw

the harbour is such a beauty at night

makulay

i finally found my coloring book! so today, i was happier sitting on the sofa with my colored pencils 😀

who said being on a sick leave is boring?

🍭

independent na si inday

i woke up in a better mood today. my stiches weren't so painful, and i found that i could walk a little bit faster than yesterday. that means i'm healing little by little. that must be the wolverine in me! hahaha!!! super powers!

so, to start my day, i made myself a bowl of porridge and blueberry-strawberry-redcurrant smoothie. 

my healthy breakfast (and my pain killers and 

the little prince in the background)

i walked around the house until my back ached then settled myself on the sofa and watched the travel channel (which made me think that i should travel to Alaska someday. and i also want to live in a tree house 😏). 

i really really want to have a walk outside, but the weather isn't that appropriate at all, so i'm just enjoying this scene from the living room window...

plus i gathered my yarns around me, so i'll surely survive this day 😹

in sickness and in health,

my dear yarns,

'til death do us part 

(naks! drama!)

🐵