Back from Kota Kinabalu

'Just got back from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia with Des, Joy and Lara.

This is the first time in a veeeeery loooong time that I traveled abroad without R.

I didn’t really know Joy and Lara before the trip. D. was the sole friendship connection of the girls. We were all introduced at the airport – barely 2 hours before the flight. It’s a relief that everybody got along well.

Needless to say…

WE HAD A BLAST.

It's one of my most adventurous trips ever - what with the all-girl posse', white water rafting, parasailing and getting lost in the streets of KK.

I've been meaning to travel sans the boyfriend - something I'd like to tick off in my personal achievements list. Sometimes, a girl needs to do some things without the man.

And the ladies severely bonded like glue.

It's nice to make new friends - and to discover that what's seemingly different might just be quite similar after all.

D. and I wanted to blog while we were in KK, but… nah. We were too busy having too much fun!

Let some of the photos speak for themselves.

D. and I on our way to KK via Cebu Pac

D. and I right in front of Waterfront - where the party's at

D. and I - super early happy hour at Cock and Bull, Waterfront. Waiting for the sunset!

Lara, Joy, D. and I - happy hour at Kohinoor

Striking the fish pose

White water rafting at the Kiulu River with our 2 kulit raft instructors

Getting ready for the turbulent water. Brave girls! That's me right in front with Misol!

Moi at Beach Bums - on the way to Pulau Sapi and Manukan Islands

Joy, D. and Moi - just arrived at Manukan Island

2 kick-ass girls getting ready to parasail

Up in the sky! It's D. and Moi! Cool Mr. Smiley, no?

Resting after the parasailing adventure

Sharing the humongous pizza with new gal pal beauty Joy at Little Italy

Pakalat-kalat sa kalye ng KK

Us at Yogur Berry for dessert

Moi and D. at the clock tower. Di kami mashado masaya.

A very tanned moi on day 5

Uncomplicating the complex

Last night, I met with a couple of old friends.

Barely 10 seconds that I got there, the quintessential question was thrown at me:

“April, are you faithful?”

No cognitive processing was necessary for me to reply a resounding:

“Yes. 199%.”

The context of the question was for a friend to validate whether long distance relationships can actually work.

Scratching the surface even harder, the question came from a friend who has a problem with both monogamy and simplicity.

At the end of the evening – or to be more accurate, at past 3am, I texted Arlene:

“…in a way, I’m glad we choose to live happy, peaceful lives.”

I realized, although people saw me as this complex, conniving, high maintenance bitch and that this reputation preceded me for a very long time, I just wanted things to be --- for lack of better terms – solid, steady and simple.

At the end of the day, it is one of the best feelings to be able to look at myself in front of the mirror, knowing that I may not be perfect, but I’m trying to do things right.

When you are earnest, the right thing is not exactly difficult to do.

Yes.

I am faithful.

199%.

If and when he doubts it again, I know deep in the crevices of my spirit that I did the right thing.