Outstanding Blogger Award

Hi there, Homo sapiens! I’m doing the Outstanding Blogger Award today! This is one of the several nominations from Carl, thank you, and I guess it’s high time to start doing them. 😉 Please do visit and follow Carl’s blog here if you haven’t yet.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Rules:

1. Provide the link to the creator’s original award post. (very important: see why in step 5)
2. Answer the questions provided.
3. Create 7 unique questions.
4. Nominate 10 bloggers. Ensure that they are aware of their nomination. Neither the award’s creator, nor the blogger that nominated you, can be nominated.
5. At the end of 2020, every blog that ping-backs the creator’s original post will be entered to win the 2020 Outstanding Blogger Award!

Carl’s Questions:

1. If you were given the power and the opportunity to rewrite 2020, how would you rewrite it?

There are several things I’d add and remove in my life if I were to write 2020. But in a bigger picture, I’d remove the pandemic and typhoons that caused trouble to many specially in the Philippines.

2. Which fictional subterranean world would you choose to be trapped in and why? It could be Murakami’s underworld, the Greek underworld, the labyrinth of Piranesi, or some other fictional world.

Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings. Need I say more? 🙂

3. I have a varied and diverse taste in music. What song would you recommend for me?

Hmm… The Flame by Cheap Trick.

4. What is something you are looking forward to in 2021? It could be a movie, a book, or a specific event.

Coming home for vacation (or for good) after 12 years.

5. Who is your biggest role model and what made him/her your personal hero?

My queen mother. She’s just wow!

6. You just won the lottery, what are three things you are going to buy first?

1. Apartment buildings for the homeless.
2. Land.
3. More lottery tickets perhaps.

7. Give five fictional characters you would want to travel the world with.

1. Gandalf
2. Anakin Skywalker
3. Holden Caulfield
4. Joker
5. Cersei Lannister

Thanks again, Carl, for nominating me. It’s sure fun doing stuff like this. I hope to do the other ones. Haha!

The Nominees:

1. Silver Button Books
2. Keep It Alive
3. One Book More
4. Susan Loves Books
5. Snoopy Doo’s Book Reviews
6. Mani’s Book Corner
7. Mariam Shittu
8. What Cathy Read Next
9. Lady Book Dragon
10. NottsReader

My Questions:

1. How did the Covid-19 affect your life?
2. What one special thing would you like to do for the world?
3. It’s almost the end of the year, what one thing do you want to accomplish before saying goodbye to 2020?
4. What do you look most forward to in 2021?
5. What is your favorite song of all time?
6. What one book would you recommend to everyone?
7. What one question would you like to ask me?

I would love to hear the answers from my nominees but just please do it if you want to. And to all those reading this, consider yourselves tagged, too.

Keep safe everyone!

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The Mystery Blogger Award #3

So, it’s April! We’ve just passed the first quarter of 2020. I hope everyone’s safe and doing well despite the current situation covid-19 has caused.

Anyways, let’s get into some good news.

I was tagged for the Mystery Blogger Award! This is just so sweet and so huge thanks to Carl @ The Pine-Scented Chronicles. Do visit and follow his blog (if you haven’t yet!) specially if you’re a book-lover. He shares very interesting books and reviews. He also writes about his travels so I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy his blog.

So, the Mystery Blogger Award was created by Okoto Enigma to recognize “amazing blogs that haven’t been discovered” yet. It is the original creator’s aim, through this award nomination, to “create a friendly community and build a link between bloggers in the blogosphere; as everyone gets nominated and they too can spread the fun by nominating more people for the award.” (I literally just copy-pasted this from your post, Carl, sorry!)

Let’s have a look at the rules and and get started, shall we?

The Rules

• Put the award logo/image on your blog.
• List the rules.
• Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
• Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
• You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.
• Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
• Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
• Share a link to your best post(s).

3 Things About Me

1. I play the drums. It’s the only musical instrument I was able to learn how to play. I started to try learning the guitar last year but failed to continue due to work and life, you know, but I still intend to learn though.
2. If given the chance, I would love to attend a culinary school.
3. I haven’t been back to my hometown for 11 years now.

Carl’s Questions:

1. Is there a country you want to visit because of what you’ve read in novels? What country is it and why do you want to visit it?

Japan. At first, I only wanted to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two atomic bomb sites during the second world war. I love history and the most interesting parts for me are the war years. Don’t get me wrong but I have a keen interest reading the war parts of history. Over the years, I became more interested in everything about Japan, the people, the food, Japanese literature, culture, etc. So I hope to visit Japan someday.

2. Do you always finish a book you’ve started? Why or why not?

I used to always finish any book I’ve started even though it’s not as interesting as I expect it to be. But since last year, I told myself that I should learn to dump it if it doesn’t entertain me anymore, there’s still a lot of books out there that’s worth my time reading. 🙂

3. The world of literature is very broad. What particular genre or what part of literature do you want to read more (e.g. historical fiction, Asian or Japanese literature)?

Russian literature and graphic-novels.

4. Tell us more about why you write and what are your inspirations when you are writing.

I write because it’s better to just write whatever comes to mind rather than hearing it straight from my big mouth. Not that I write well, no, far from it. But I find it safer to say things by writing them down.

5. Choose a literary genre that can sum up your life or who you are. Why does this genre exemplify you?

Not sure how to answer this at the moment but I’d say it’s a combination of rom-com, drama and suspense. The few people who know me very well will understand this. 🙂

The Nominees:

I’m nominating/tagging the following people this time:

Kerri McBookNerd

Mani

Cassie

Taruna

Kira Jeanette

Caz

Amankumar000

Accidental Blogger

Pascale

Sohanpreet Kaur

My Questions for the Nominees:

1. If you can ask the president of your country just one question, what would you ask?

2. What’s the oldest thing you own?

3. What is your least favorite thing about humanity?

4. What language would you like to learn and why?

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My Best Post

I haven’t really thought about what my best post was so I’ll instead share the link of one of my favorites: What Did You Want to be When You Grow Up? It is one of my favorites because I get to interact with people more than usual and we started emailing and stuff and most of them are my really great online friends now.

The Awesome Blogger Award

Hello there, homo sapiens! I hope everyone’s safe and cool and doing great. There’s been a sudden increase of corona virus cases here in Kuwait so it’s pretty alarming but all of them who tested positive are quarantined at the moment. It’s crazy that there’s nowhere to buy masks anymore! Damn! Anyhow, I hope things will get better and hopefully no more additional cases of the virus here.

But you know what’s awesome, though? This.

I was nominated by the wonderful blogger, Carl @ The Pine-Scented Chronicles. Thank you so much, Carl. It’s really very sweet of you to think of me for this though I really couldn’t fathom why. But I’d happily take it. 😀

The award was created by Maggie @Dreaming of Guatemala. This is an award for the absolutely wonderful writers all across the blogging world. They have beautiful blogs, are kind and lovely, and always find a way to add happiness and laughter to the lives of their readers. That is what truly defines an awesome blogger.

The Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Credit the creator.
3. Tag this post with #AwesomeBloggerAward.
4. Answer all the questions given to you.
5. Nominate some people.
6. Write 10 questions for them to answer.

Let’s get started with Carl’s questions:

You were given an opportunity to have a tête-à-tête with an author, or an historical figure. Who will it be and what will you talk about? You can also choose figures who’ve already passed away.

I would definitely enjoy a tête-à-tête with Ferdinand Marcos. I would love to know the kind of books he loved to read and which one is his favorite. Also I’m curious what were his plans for the Philippines if it weren’t for the people power revolution.

I would also be very interested for a private conversation with Adolf Hitler. And I think it’s easy to guess why.

Since it is the month of love, who are your top three favorite literary couples?

1. Hazel and Augustus – The Fault in Our Stars
2. Ennis and Jack – Brokeback Mountain
3. Ali and Noah – The Notebook

If you were to travel to a place you’ve never been before, where would it be?

There’s a lot of places I would really love to go to but my top three priorities for now are Japan, Egypt and Africa.

Which author do you want to write your life story?

I would love Haruki Murakami to write my life story but I’d also consider Laura Hillenbrand and Khaled Hosseini.

In times of distress, what are your top five go-to books?

1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
2. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
3. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
4. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
5. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

What was the first book you’ve read loved? Tell us more about why loved the book.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Wonderland is my favorite place to be. And I can very much relate with Alice’s curiosity and sometimes her childishness.

You’re in the bookstore and all the books you want to have are on sale. However, your budget is limited. What five titles will you buy?

Hmmm… this is a tough question and a tough situation to be in! Well, at the moment I’d go for:

1. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
2. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
3. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
4. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
5. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Which do you prefer – the sound of the waves or the tranquility of mountains?

The tranquility of mountains all the time!

What are three things, or activities, that you are most passionate about?

Reading, tennis, travelling.

If your life is to be made into a movie, which genre will it be – drama, comedy, fantasy, horror or suspense? Which actor/actress, in your opinion, will give justice to your story?

Definitely not fantasy or horror. More of comedy and suspense with a little bit of drama. I would love Emily Blunt to play as myself and I would love Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino and Kit Harington to play a part in the movie. 🙂

Now I’m tagging…

Alison

Sadje

Yassy

Sammie

Mariam

No worries if you don’t feel like doing this, it would be fun to know your answers but no problem if this isn’t your kind of thing. You’re not obligated unless you want to.

My questions (just in case)…

1. If you could have dinner with one celebrity/author/historical figure (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
2. What three things would you want to achieve this year?
3. If you could live in any place in the world, where would it be and why?
4. Do you like spending time alone, why or why not?
5. Your current favorite song.
6. What sports do you play?
7. What’s your favorite food/dish?
8. What’s the first thing you notice in a person?
9. How do you like to relax?
10. If I’d be fortunate to visit your city/country and get the chance to meet up with you, what would we do?

I’m looking forward to the nominees’ answers and for anyone reading this, consider yourself tagged. You can either write a post or simply answer the questions in the comments section.

Thanks again, Carl! I enjoyed doing this!

Happy weekend, homo sapiens!

Real Neat Award

Good day, homo sapiens! I am doing another blog award post today and it’s the Real Neat Blog Award! This is a first for me and I am so very thankful to Sadje for this! For my blog to be recognized/nominated by other bloggers for awards such as this one certainly gives me great joy! I am flattered/honored to be noticed. Do visit, follow (if you haven’t yet) and enjoy Sadje’s writings on her blog Keep It Alive.

Now let’s get started!

The rules for the real neat blog award

1. Display the award logo.
2. Thank the blogger who nominated you and post a link to their blog.
3. Answer the questions from the blog who nominated you.
4. Nominate seven to ten bloggers.
5. Ask them seven questions.

Sadje’s Questions:

1. Where does blogging fit in your life?

I don’t set a schedule when to write for my blog, I just write whenever I can — a haiku, an elfchen, book reviews or whatever comes to mind then put it on schedule on my blog. I sometimes write when I have free time in the office or when I’m in a coffee shop alone to think and unwind.

2. Have you ever tried to do:

         a) Paragliding?

Yes. I have tried paragliding twice in Georgia and both times were really, really fun and amazing. I will do it again when I get the chance.

         b) Horse riding?

Yes. I started riding horses when I was 8. Fell from a horse when I was 14, didn’t ride it again until I was 20. But since I worked abroad, I didn’t really get the chance to ride again. However, while in Jordan for vacation last 2016, I was able to ride again though only for a very short time.

         c) Deep sea diving?

No. Never. I am not comfortable with water so the idea of trying such and the likes of it is a big no for me.

       3. Do you celebrate your birthday?

Not really but my friends prepare some dinner or get-together on my birthday so they celebrate. Haha! But I personally prefer to just let the day go as any usual day. I do appreciate my friends’ efforts though!

       4. If you have free time at hand, would you go for a walk or a long drive?

A long drive sounds more fun but as I grow older, I prefer going for a walk. It’s more relaxing and I get to think about life and things in general in a better perspective.

       5. Your best friend calls in the middle of the night and asks you to meet them at a deserted place, will you go? BTW, this friend has known to pull pranks!

Yes, I will go. It’s alright to get pranked than to regret in the end that I didn’t go. Who knows, my best friend might have really needed me by her side at that moment, right? So yes, anytime! 🙂

My nominees:

1. Accidental Blogger
2. Shweta Suresh
3. Earthwalking
4. Elganspo
5. Mariam Shittu
6. Ayesha
7. Chocoviv

My Questions:

1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grow up?
2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
3. What is your favorite holiday?
4. Which famous person would you like to be best friends with?
5. What’s the one place you’d really love to travel to?
6. What is the last book you’ve read?
7. What’s the most exciting thing in your life right now?

There you have it! Once again, big thanks to Sadje for this nomination. Congratulations to all the nominees, I hope you find time to get to it, I’m so excited to read your answers! And for everyone reading this, consider yourselves nominated, too, or you can answer the questions in the comment section if you want to so feel free, I’d be delighted to read them.

Have a wonderful day, homo sapiens!

WWW Wednesday (23-Oct-2019)

Hello there! Welcome to WWW Wednesday, hosted by Sam from Taking On A World of Words. Just answer the three W questions:

1. What did you recently finish reading?
2. What are you currently reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

You can leave a link of your post in the comments section so I and other readers can check it out.

Recently Finished:

I’ve finished Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant and I liked it. I think it was the right choice as an introduction to Anne Tyler’s works for me. I’m looking forward to more.

Currently Reading:

I’ve finally started with A Dance with Dragons and what a delight to start with Tyrion’s chapter! I’ve also started with A Monster Calls during my coffee break yesterday. Both books started quite good.

Up Next:

I’m still not sure what to read next since A Dance with Dragons is a lengthy read and I don’t have much time to read these days. I am considering The Russian Concubine, though.

By the way, I have also recently reviewed Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. You can check it out here. I’m always late with my reviews but I’ll add them here from now on whenever I get to write something.

 

How about you? What’s on your WWW this week? Drop a link on the comment box, I’d be very delighted to read them all!

Happy reading, homo sapiens! 🙂

Sunshine Blogger Award #9

Big thanks to Nen & Jen for my 9th Sunshine Blogger Award! Nen & Jen’s site goes by the same blog name. It’s one of the few blogs I’ve chanced upon and followed right away because of interesting contents and friendly blogger’s attitude. I am so glad to be interacting with them, they are really very friendly so do make sure to check on their blog as well. You won’t be disappointed, I assure you!

Let’s get started!

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

The Rules:

• Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
• Answer 11 questions the blogger asked you.
• Nominate 11 blogs to receive the award and write for them 11 new questions.
• List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Nen & Jen’s Questions:

1. What was the first book you really obsessed over?

 

I got really obsessed with The Kite Runner. I wasn’t even done reading the book at that time but I talked about it to literally anyone. It is one of my all-time favorites and one of the books that really touched my heart so deeply. I think most people I know knew about this book because of me.

2. Which book was your last 1-star rating?

I haven’t rated any book with 1-star. The lowest rating I’ve ever given a book was 2-stars.

3. Name your ultimate (specific) book + food/drink pairing.

The Kite Runner + black coffee (and tissues)

A Gentleman in Moscow + black coffee & pumpkin pie

The Book Thief + black coffee

4. Do you ever read a book without reading its synopsis?

 

No, never, except very recently for Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. One of my best friends loved it so much, we actually agree almost 100% on books so I thought of just diving straight to it. I ended up disappointed, though, so I won’t do it again.

5. What is your favorite type of blogging post?

I like reading book reviews, book tags, travels or any random experiences the blogger is sharing.

6. What is your least favorite book troupe?

Love triangles. (Does that count?)

7. Who was your favorite childhood author?

As a child, I didn’t really care much about the authors of the books I’ve read so I didn’t have a favorite author then.

8. Do you like to write or only like to read?

I like to write but I don’t have the talent to do so but I try to, sometimes a haiku, an elfchen, and some “reviews” about the books I’ve read.

9. If you can turn any book into a film, which would it be?

 

At the moment, I would really love Pachinko turned into a movie or a TV series. It’s a very interesting and informative book that I would love non-readers to know about.

10. What genre do you wish you could read?

I would love to try to read a graphic novel.

11. What made you decide to get into book blogging?

Same reason why I started this blog: boredom. A few years ago, there weren’t too much work to do in the office and I was on a reading hiatus. So to kill time I thought of writing about the books I’ve read. This eventually got me back into reading again.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

The hardest part in this awards is choosing the nominees. Consider yourselves tagged all of you and here are my nominees this time:

1. Mani
2. Jessica
3. Rebecca
4. Mohamadha
5. Kristina
6. Diana
7. Sammie
8. Emma
9. Yvo
10. Lisa
11. Jen

My Questions:

1. What attracts you to a book?
2. What genres do you love to read about?
3. Paperback or Kindle?
4. Your perfect reading spot.
5. Your perfect company while reading.
6. Your all-time favorite book character.
7. What movie adaptation do you think was better than the book itself?
8. What do you think of classics?
9. A popular book you dislike.
10. What is your favorite book quote?
11. Recommend one book you want me to read.

Thanks again Nen & Jen for the nomination, I enjoyed answering your questions. 🙂 Until next time!

I’m looking forward to all of your answers, the comment box is yours again, homo sapiens! Have a wonderful day and week ahead!

Friday Fun Day Challenge – Game On – You Name It!

Hi there, homo sapiens! I got tagged for the Friday Fun Day Challenge – Game On – You Name It! Thank you very much, Richa! Do visit her blog guys if you haven’t yet! Lots of interesting stuffs to read there! Just click here. You can thank me later! 🙂

RULES:

1 Thank the nominator
2 Answer Q1 – Q19
3 Nominate three bloggers of your choice and notify them.
4 Each selected blogger MUST answer 16 of the asked 19 questions, but also insert 3 new questions to make up the 19 compliment. Every time a new blogger is selected they MUST only answer 16 of the asked 19 questions as well as answer their own 3, and choose 3 new bloggers. Each time a new blogger sees the questionnaire it will be completely different to the next blogger along.
(Hint: delete three of the questions you don’t like or have no answer for and insert your own in its place)
5 Q19 & Q13 Must always remain intact.

Let’s get started:

1. Are you currently reading a book, if so what is it?
A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin & A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking.

2. Toast or cereal.

Toast without the crust! With peanut butter and jelly!

3. Choice weapon for survival during the zombie invasion?
A remote control with buttons for different weapons/options to kill zombies like:

1. Bludgeoning
2. Bomb / gas explosion / other explosives
3. Crossbow
4. Decapitation by chainsaw or a katana
5. Flame thrower
6. Kill by firearms
7. Traps

4. Horror or comedy films
I’d go for horror! I like comedy but I’d choose horror over it!

5. What food are you currently craving for?

All Vietnamese food! Pho, banh xeo, banh cuon, chao, etc. Plus ca phe, too!

6. What was your favorite sweet/candy as a kid?
Curly tops, chocolate cakes and chocolate ice cream.

7. Going to the party or the library what’s your preference?
This depends largely on my mood at that given moment. Libraries always give me the peace and solitude I need/want but I enjoy parties, too! I’m one party animal as well! 😉

8. What is your favorite tipple [drink]?
Definitely beer! And whisky and vodka.

9. If you were coming back as an animal which is the least you would like to return as, BUT knowing your luck you just might? [Provide image]
Hmmm… I don’t ever wanna be a hyena!

10. If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends and family assume you had done?

Murder. Mass murder.

11. Which is that final destination or goal you’re aiming at and want to achieve no matter what?
To have a business of my own.

12. If you could have one super power what would you pick and why?
The power of time travel. I want to experience life mostly in the past in different places at different eras/ages and see how the world became as it is now and I wouldn’t need a time machine if I possessed that power!

13. Which 3 questions will you be deleting to add your own in?

Skinny dipping or mud wrestling.

Ok, you are going to be shipwrecked on an island that has food and water, what three items would you need to have with you?

If we didn’t know what the color ‘mauve’ actually looked like, how would you describe it?

14. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Whoever who’d have the interest to do that should entitle the book as “Just Me, The Just in Case.”

15. What was the longest plane trip you have taken?

The longest plane trip I’ve ever taken was from Amman, Jordan to Hanoi, Vietnam. It took 15 hours including a 6-hour layover in Dubai.

16. Where would you like to be in 3 years time from now on?
Three years from now, I hope to have started my small business and hopefully doing volunteer works while traveling.

17. What one item do you always have to get when grocery shopping?

TOMATOES!

18. What music is currently your favorite? [Provide link]

It’s a really sad song but it’s very relatable since my last relationship ended. So even if it’s sad, it’s always on my favorites list and yeah, current favorite.

 

19. The three bloggers you are nominating are?

MissteriosoDas, Pradita and Swalia. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be fun reading their posts when they accept to do this!

There you go! Thanks a lot, Richa! It was sure fun doing this challenge! ‘Til the next one!

Happy Friday, homo sapiens! 🙂

Sunshine Blogger Award #6

Big thanks to Indishe for my 6th Sunshine Blogger Award! It took me quite a while to accept and do this but here it is now! Thanks a lot! Do visit her beautiful blog if you haven’t yet, just click here.

Here are my answers to Indishe’s questions.

1. What is your secret desire?

I do have several secret desires and I intend to keep them as secrets. 😉

2. What would you like to be in the next birth?

I would love to be a dolphin in my next life.

3. What one thing would you like to change?

If I could change one thing in the world, I will make the rich, poor and the poor, rich.

Below are my nominees:

Jyoti

Roth Poetry

Realistic Beginner

Darol D’Cruz

LittleMissSunshine

My questions for the nominees are:

1. What do you do to get rid of stress?

2. What’s your favorite number and why?

3. Who brings the most joy in your life?

4. If you had to change your name, what would it be?

5. What are you best at?

I’ll limit it to 5 questions this time. I hope the nominees would accept and do this! And to everyone who wants to answer the questions, feel free to do so in the comments! 🙂

Thanks once again, Indishe!

Have a wonderful day, homo sapiens! 🙂

Friendship Blogger Award

I never really thought there’s a Friendship Blogger Award thingy until I was nominated by Shreya who happens to be one of the friendliest bloggers I’ve interacted with here on WordPress. You can check out her blog here: https://readnewweb.wordpress.com/ Big thanks to Shreya for thinking of me! Haha! Cheers! I don’t really feel being quite friendly the past few weeks but interacting with Shreya and other bloggers here lift my mood when we get to interact with each other and discuss each other’s posts or anything that comes to mind.

This award was created/invented by Novus and this is for those we cherish here on WordPress, to show them affection and to offer them our friendship.

The Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you in your blog post and a link to their blog.
• Nominate other bloggers to receive the award.
• List the rules and display the Friendship Blogger Award logo in your blog post.

My nominees:

Mbura

Ushnish

MissteriosoDas

Sohair

InAMessyWorld

littlemisssunshine

Shayra

I can nominate more because there’s a lot of you who deserve this award but I’m pretty busy, but consider yourselves nominated, too! Thanks again, Shreya!

Happy day, homo sapiens! 🙂

Get to Know Me Tag

Hi there! Today is the Get to Know Me Tag day! This is another first for me and I’m so delighted to be tagged by Shayra! (At least I kinda feel like someone’s interested to get to know me more somewhere out there! Haha!) Thanks for tagging me Shayra and do visit her blog here.

Let’s get started!

 The Rules:

• Thank the blogger who tagged you.
• Answer the questions asked.
• Nominate/Tag 5 or more bloggers & let them know by commenting on one of their posts.

The questions and my answers:

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WEARING?

Black slacks, brown top with puff sleeves, black windbreaker and black doll shoes.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?

Hell, yes! 😍😊

DID YOU EVER HAVE A TERRIBLE BREAKUP?

Yes and I think any kind of breakup is terrible if the person means a lot to you.

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

A little older than you are, Shayra! 🙂

HOW TALL ARE YOU?

Less taller than you…

HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH?

I stopped checking!

DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS?

Ear piercing.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TATTOOS?

Nope but I think of having one sometimes. Though I’m pretty sure I won’t do it just the same…

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK?

Beer! And whisky or any alcohol! But since it’s not allowed here, black coffee.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SONG?

I have a lot but recently All I Ask.

WHAT’S YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO SHOWER?

15-20 minutes on weekdays. Longer on weekends.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SHOW?

Game of Thrones and House of Cards.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BAND?

The Beatles, Green Day, Maroon 5, Backstreet Boys, Coldplay, Eraserheads.

SOMETHING YOU REALLY MISS?

Disco!

WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU’RE SAD?

Here in Kuwait, I just lock myself in my bedroom when I’m sad. In my hometown, I used to take a walk in Camp John Hay or go to a bookstore or the public library. At night, I grab a drink at a bar or something.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET READY IN THE MORNING?

Excluding shower, 15 minutes.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A PHYSICAL FIGHT?

No. Never. I don’t like fighting. Haha!

WHAT TURNS YOU ON?

Kindness and intelligence.

WHAT TURNS YOU OFF?

Arrogance and stupidity combined.

QUALITY YOU LOOK FOR IN PARTNER?

Kind, intelligent, sweet, good sense of humor, PATIENT.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?

Recently, black. Read here: https://happymesshappiness.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/the-mystery-blogger-award

LOUD MUSIC OR SOFT?

This really depends on my mood.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.

-Rick Warren

FAVORITE ACTOR:

Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise

DO YOU HAVE ANY FEARS? WHAT ARE THEY?

My mom and an empty fridge. Earthquakes. Spiders.

WHAT’S THE LAST THING THAT MADE YOU CRY?

When I was left hanging… clueless… I felt stupid and worthless. 😢

MEANING BEHIND YOUR BLOG NAME?

Here -> https://happymesshappiness.wordpress.com/2017/06/20/liebster-award

LAST TIME YOU SAID YOU LOVED SOMEONE.

Apart from my family? Hmmm… maybe 2016? I loved someone after that but I never really got the chance to tell him. My bad…

LAST BOOK YOU READ.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.

THE BOOK YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

LAST SHOW YOU WATCHED?

Game of Thrones Season 7.

LAST PLACE YOU WERE?

Office.

LAST SPORT YOU PLAYED?

Tennis.

WHO’S THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO?

My boss.

LAST SONG YOU SANG.

Swept Away by Christopher Cross. Check it out here, it’s a beautiful song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZQwf7kaFuY

FAVORITE CHAT UP LINE.

Hey!

DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?

Oh, yes!

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND THE LAST PERSON YOU TEXTED?

Colleague.

FAVORITE FOOD.

Korean and Japanese food.

PLACE YOU WANT TO VISIT.

A lot! But I’m looking forward to Egypt and India this year. And a second visit to Jordan.

LAST TIME YOU WERE INSULTED?

Can’t remember…

FAVORITE FLAVOR OF SWEETS?

Chocolate, of course!!! Anything chocolate!

WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY?

Drums.

FAVORITE PIECE OF JEWELRY.

I’m not a fan of jewelries but a ring or an earring is fine.

LAST TIME YOU HUNG OUT WITH ANYONE.

Last weekend with the flat owners of the apartment where I’m living. They pretty much treat me like their youngest sister. 🙂

I’m tagging:

Ushnish

Dilip

Elly

Samita

Queenyasa

Mahin

And everyone reading this! Or you can answer some of the questions on the comment section! Let’s get to know each other more, homo sapiens! 🙂

Thanks again, Shayra and let’s all have a wonderful day!

The Mystery Blogger Award

I momentarily stepped away from work to accept this nomination for The Mystery Blogger Award! A first! How cool is that? Huge thanks to Jyoti for nominating me and sorry for doing this so bloody late! Make sure to check out her blog here. She’s got tons of wonderful stuff to enjoy there.

The Rules:

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog.
2. List the rules.
3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
4. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
6. You have to nominate 10-20 people.
7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice.

The Mystery Blogger Award was created by Okoto Enigma where he says:

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.”

Three Things About Me:

1. I’m a frustrated singer.

2. I can’t whistle.

3. I’ve consistently been writing a diary since 2009 until I stopped writing for a while some time last year. I started to write again a few months later and finally decided not to write anymore since the new year.

Jyoti’s Questions and My Answers:

1. Are you happy with your life? If yes, explain your happiness in one word.

I don’t have everything I want in life and things turned out differently the way I planned my life to be but I’m certainly happy as to what and where I am now. So if I were to describe my happiness in one word, it would be: blessed.

2. Which is your favorite color and why?

I’ve had several favorites at certain moments in my life. Like when I was in elementary school, I was so obsessed with green. I think I was really into nature at that time. In high school, I liked white a lot. Most of my shirts were white then. When I was in the university, I was into gray. I was a bit uncertain of the things that were going on then. So I always settle on things in between. Decisions weren’t too easy to make. I don’t know if that makes sense to you but it does to me during those years. After graduating though and until now, I find purple lovely and I like black a lot. Most of my clothes now are black. Helps me look a bit slimmer, too! 😉

3. Explain your way of life to your viewers.

For those who have been following me for some time now, you know I’m currently residing/working in Kuwait. I go to work Sundays thru Thursdays and have my days off on weekends (Friday & Saturday) which I usually spend reading, writing or sometimes watching. There’s not much to do around here unlike back in my country so it’s a bit boring actually. I have a very laid-back lifestyle and I don’t concern myself with fashion or the latest trends. I mostly eat out or order for delivery  because I’m not a good cook.

4. What do you fear the most?

My mom and an empty fridge. 😂

5. Do you think the one who nominated you is a good writer/blogger?

Definitely! 👍

The Nominees:

Laleh Chini

Pankhudi Singh

Bethany

Chhaya

Swalia

Jeni

Tashnee

Pradita

RoughBandit

Yaskhan

My Questions for the Nominees:

1. Space or ocean exploration and why?
2. What’s your dream job?
3. The first thing you’ll save from your burning house?
4. What’s your current favorite song?
5. If you could be anywhere else right now, where would you be and why?

There you go! I hope you all enjoyed reading and I’m looking forward to the answers of the nominees as well, I hope you accept the nomination. 🙂

Once again, thanks a lot, Jyoti!

Have a wonderful day, homo sapiens! 🙂

Liebster Award #5

What a way to start the new year in this blogging community! Another Liebster! This is just so sweet and cool and at the same unexpected really! Thanks a lot, Mab! Do check out her blog here. You will enjoy all the stuffs she has there for you! 🙂

The Rules:

1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated your blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions.
3. Nominate 11 other new bloggers to encourage them.
4. Ask them 11 questions.
5. Let them know you have nominated them.

Now here are Mab’s questions and my answers:

1. What is your favorite pet?

Dogs, dogs, dogs! I’ve been bitten by dogs like more than five times when I was younger but I really love having a pet dog. I took care of all our dogs back home since me and my brothers were still kids. Both of them like cats and birds so the dogs are all mine. 🙂

2. What is your favorite snack?

I love food so it’s not easy to choose a favorite but at the moment I am addicted to pajeon.

3. Which place in your house do you like the most?

Back in the Philippines, my mom’s kitchen and in the living room beside the fireplace.

4. What is your biggest hobby besides blogging?

Reading. And eating, too! But before I came here, I also played tennis very often.

5. If you were able to possess magic, what kind of magic would it be?

Black magic! Witchcraft! Haha!

6. What is your biggest wish?

Hmmm… right now I wish I’m rich because there are a lot of things I want to do that requires a lot of money like building homes for the homeless, creating workplaces where jobless people can work and earn money, and other stuff where I can be of help to other people.

7. Would you like your blog to be your job and why?

I always mention I’m not a writer, I’m far from it though I sometimes seriously wish I am. So I never really considered blogging to be my job. But then, who knows?

8. What did you like the most in 2017?

The times I did things for the first time like breaking my “personal” rules.

9. What would your perfect holiday be like?

Somewhere far from all the hustle and bustle of cities. A cabin in the woods is ideal. Winter and snowing. With friends and family. Lots of food and booze. But no internet so everyone will talk with each other. Focus on each other present at that moment. No instagramming, twittering or facebooking!

10. What is the meaning of education?

I think, any enlightening experience is education.

11. How did you create the name of your blog?

I think I’ve answered this before on my first Liebster… I often feel that I’m such a mess, a walking chaos and so on but a happy kind of mess and all, and so the blog name… 🙂

Choosing who to nominate is always the hardest part here because I want to nominate almost everyone whether they’re new bloggers or not. So I just randomly choose every time I do this.

The nominees are:

Kumar Shresth

Rohini

Megha

Anugrah

Sophie

Brown girl on a budget

Geetadhaar

Vikash Goyal

Len

Nisha

PrimeOptimum

Preparing the questions to ask the nominees are easier as I usually ask whatever questions come to mind…

The questions for the nominees are:

1. Do you like to read? If so, what’s your favorite book?
2. Do you like movies? What’s your favorite?
3. What’s your all-time favorite song?
4. What are you more good at, singing or dancing?
5. What did you want to be when you were younger?
6. Where do you see yourself in five years?
7. How would your friends describe you?
8. What makes you angry?
9. If you can pick any talent, what would it be?
10. If you can pick one person in history to have dinner with, who and why?
11. What one question do you want to ask me? 🙂

So there you go… I hope you enjoyed reading and I’d be waiting for your answers, too! Thanks once again, Mab!

Seize the day, homo sapiens! 🙂

Sunshine Blogger Award #2

I am so thrilled to accept another Sunshine Blogger Award, this time from a very kind-hearted lady with a lovely name, Tashnee! Do check out her blog if you haven’t yet here.

The Rules:

• Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
• Answer the 11 questions that the blogger asked you.
• Nominate 11 blogs to receive the award and write for them 11 new questions.
• List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Now here are Tashnee’s questions:

Since you started blogging what have you learned from other bloggers?

What I’ve learned from other bloggers aren’t actually blogging/writing tips. What I usually learn from them are things that happen in their worlds. I also get to learn a lot of general information from them and that’s what makes it all fun and interesting.

Who is your mentor?

Actually, no one. As I have mentioned several times, I’m not really a writer. It just so happened that I’ve got things in my mind that are sometimes better written than spoken. There’s this one person though whom I ask once in a while when things are a bit confusing or when I need an opinion on something or when I need better vocabulary words. If you can call that a mentor, then he’s the closest I’ve got. 🙂

What makes you unique?

Oh, I think I don’t know… though I’ve always believed that every person is unique, I can’t still pinpoint what makes me unique among others. I’d want to believe I’m normal though because I am very often described by others as weird, strange, naughty and very recently, dangerous.

What motivates you to blog?

I actually only get to write something when I’m feeling too much. So I guess, it’s the emotions/feelings and everyday experiences/observations that actually motivate me to write.

What are your fears?

My mom and an empty refrigerator. Haha!

What’s your blog about?

Just about anything…

How do you grow your blog?

I’m afraid I’m not doing anything except for commenting and replying to comments and visiting other interesting blogs as well. I should probably work on this. 😉

Describe yourself in two words.

Naughty and rebellious. But I really think I’m nice! Haha!

Which blogger do you look up to, if you have and why?

As long as I enjoy what I read in their blogs, I think that’s something to look up to.

What type of music you like?

I can listen to most types of music but I listen to alternative rock more.

The Nominees:

Priti C

Bethany

Hussein

Sharon

Seema

Orange

Sophie

The secret blog of a 30 year old

Umaima

Akhila

Aman

My 11 Questions for the Nominees

1. Do you like history? Why or why not?

2. What part of history would you like to go back to if you could?

3. Would you change history if you could?

4. What does home mean to you?

5. What do you like most about your hometown?

6. What do you prefer, city or countryside? Why?

7. What country would you really like to visit someday?

8. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

9. How do your friends describe you?

10. What’s your favorite quote?

11. What’s your favorite book?

There you go! I hope the nominees will have time to answer my questions because I am so excited to hear your answers. 🙂

Once again, thanks Tashnee! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Happy day, homo sapiens!

Happy Two Years!

Well… it's really a surprise to me that I've now been blogging for two years. I am pleased that what started out of boredom turned out to be pretty much an outlet of many things and feelings. I didn't really think I can keep this up for a month, let alone two years!

It's amazing to look back and see how much have changed and how much more left to do. Part of me wants to think that I'm improving in this blogging experience and I hope my entries are becoming better as well. My life has also changed a lot in the past two years. I'm blessed to have visited new places, try new things, learn new stuff, meet new people though I lost some, too. Well, it's all a part of life so I'm just very grateful for every experience.

Also, I think this is one of the best time to thank all my readers for always taking time to read my entries. Thank you to everyone, wherever you may be. I am glad to have come across your blogs and to have met some of you as well. I hope you'd still enjoy the entries this coming year and I'm always looking forward to yours, too.

Thank you and Happy Sunday, homo sapiens! 🙂