LIFE IN PHOTOS: LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, SUMMER IS SOON HERE.

Instagram photo's from today. I've confined myself in the comfort of my home today. Went out to buy a few things from the store, went home, clean and cook dinner while dancing like a mad man. It is a happy day today, all by myself amused by own craziness. A relaxing way to end the week and enjoy a glass of white, or bottle. It doesn't matter. All I know right now is that I live my life rather well enjoying the simple things life have to offer. I know I'll survive with just little and simple things. I am glad. I hope all goes well with all of you!

THE PERKS OF BEING A WORKAHOLIC

Is that there's no free time for other things therefore there's not much fun happening in my life. To be honest, though my work is fun, it is not something I would like to share to you guys too often. Anyways, I bet you don't want to hear too much about it either. On the other hand, I am on the process of finishing one painting and that is exciting! I found a little time to indulge on something I love although that means no social life but who have a social life after midnight on a weekday anyways? 

So, here's a sneak peek on the piece I am working on.

This lady is not even half way through but so far it has tested my patience already and it wasn't all so beautiful as she will become at some point. It has been a constant learning progress from beginning till now and I came to a point whereas I wanted to throw her out of the window. Seriously. Apart from her I am also trying to find my illustration style and hopefully at some point I get it all together and find a sort of original evankristine trademark on all of my future paintings. I am really into colorful illustrations lately, something which isn't so hard for the viewers to look at. No deep meaning paintings. I am not a big fan of paintings with deeper meaning either, I just simply don't get them. I like straight to the point pictures and I like my paintings to be like that too. Of course I adore paintings which are done with deeper thoughts, they are beautiful and the artists behind them are wonderful. I just came to the point that it isn't my style at all. I really only hope she'll turn wonderful as I imagined.

Other than this, nothing too spectacular is really happening in my life lately except for some tiny bit of future travel plans. I know for sure that I will be in Tallinn, Estonia this summer but besides that I am looking forward to something a bit more exciting. I am really thinking of going to Greece or to Iceland or maybe somewhere on the Eastern side of Europe for a week or so in Autumn. I've been also constantly nagging my brother who now resides in U.S to write me an invitation letter therefore I can visit them soon. Yeah, I wrote myself an invitation letter, forced him to sign it and send it to me by mail. I could be super persistent if want to. That is just one of the few downsides of having a Philippine passport and it can sometimes be stressful but I have no problems with that so far. I've dealt with worse things in my life.

Also, I mentioned earlier that I've been trying to live healthier. Well that's happening too-- except for that bag of chips I finished last Sunday. 

I love chips. Who doesn't? Besides, I still consider Sunday as my cheat day. That will never change I guess. Apart from all this and because summer is closely approaching which means I'll be even more busier than usual but certainly not for a relaxing moment that's why when I found this lovely café you can easily hang out at any time of the year and day (except sundays whereas the whole Finland shuts down for some reason.) which recently opened, on the same building as the restaurant I am currently working at, called 'Sweet Vaasa', I was delighted. It is the calmest café in town which became the latest meeting place of all the hispter kids in town who loves to drink Chai Latte. I am no hipster kid but I love to drink Chai Latte in that place. They also serve home made pastries, now, who can say no to that?

That's if from me. I hope you guys a wonderful week and tell me, how's life treating you all? All good I hope. All smiles and good luck on everything!

E.

LIFE, EXPERIENCES AND THE UNIVERSE

At Abu Dhabi heritage village. A great visit and an absolutely eye opening experience regarding the life in the middle east from way back. 

(Flickr, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

Lately, I've been trying hard to unearth myself in this world. I mean, imagine yourself moving out of your parents home or in my situation-- out of your home country at the age of sixteen. Sounds simple right? But no, it was not simple at all. For the last six years I've done and gone quite far from that sixteen year old, all innocent and childish "Oh I wanna be an artist" persona. I've grown so much and faced really hard decisions in life. Decisions which are far from 'Which outfit should I wear today so my friends would like me more?' or 'What should I do this summer?', it was so easy to be young but I was faced with reality quite early in my life. I moved to a different country with different a culture with no parental guidance, no money on my name and absolutely zero friends. It was hard I tell you. Plus, fellow Filipino's seem to not like me because I am weird so it was hard for me to make friends with them. I was pretty much on my own and I have to face every single challenges alone without anyone to rely on to, well except my sister of course but that is different if you know what I mean. I am talking about personal things, What do I want to be? What do I want to do? Do I really want this? Am I really making the right decision? A lot of questions pops up in your head once you start to realize that there's more in reality other than all that pretty cute pony's you used to have in your pink princess room. To be fair, I learned a lot of things. Upon arriving I didn't know what kind of things to expect, I have so little idea on what Europe might be. So little I felt so bad in the beginning for not knowing much. I came in Finland to study and hoping to work if I am good enough afterwards. That was the plan and the plan happened but the experience wasn't all sugar coated. I mean I was sixteen right? Hormones sparking and great looking European boy's on my trails and the mixed personas of who I should be are all confusing. Seriously, at some point all I want to do is get married and have kids. At sixteen. Seriously. Eventually things got better after I discover the world of employment and boy was I hard working! I worked and studies at the same time and I was exhausted like hell all the time but of course the pay was rewarding as ever but I wasn't having fun. I was perhaps about seventeen then and still no friends, just a few acquaintances. It wasn't really easy for me to meet new people and not because I am shy, I was just really so weird. Anyways, while in school I did a series of different jobs at different restaurants in this small town I live in and afterwards I score a sweet (not really) job in Helsinki just shortly after school. I was only twenty when I faced one of the greatest decision in my life, moving out again. Of course, by then I was already used at changing environments and all but still, big move. Hello. I trusted my guts anyways and grabbed that opportunity which I wrote a blog post about earlier. I loved Helsinki and sometimes I wished I didn't move out but the city ate me and that was one of the moments in life whereas I learned more about my self. My two years stint in Helsinki taught me a lot, it taught me not to trust people so much and to be tough. I learned that I have to hold on to some little faith therefore I don't fall down and break into pieces. I learned that there are more opportunities in life to grab other than the ones offered to your face. I learned that even though you have friends to hold on to, in the end yourself will always be the only person you have to trust and depend to. The last six year felt like a decade of experiences and so far I keep on learning and still proving to myself that all I learned are as a matter of fact. I have to be strong, independent and tough at all times to avoid having someone, or myself even, hurt me. Anyways, now that I am a workaholic twenty-two year old young lady who temporarily settled down for a while, have a few friends who I cherish, still weird and somewhat enjoying life still keeps on setting goals for the future and still keeps on living. I won't complain about anything because everything which happened in my life sums up to who I am right now. I am not doing bad for my age though sometimes I feel old and grumpy and loves it when people calls me crazy, who-- I meant myself,  is also on the verge of being an alcoholic anyways, one way or another, loves life and doing my best to live the most of it. Except this last few days I was off from work, jeez man, it feels like I haven't slept for years! I seriously slept like a hibernating chipmunk. I was seriously out of energy. The sleep was like a chocolate sundae on a sweet summer day. It was that good! Nevertheless, I haven't found who I really am in this universe just yet but I am little by little starting to know who I am and when that happens, I would certainly know what kind of human I am to this universe we live in. I, anyways, bid you all a great week ahead and do not forget to live! That is a great gift to give yourself. Not everyone got the opportunity to do that, cherish it. 

Oh and before I call this a post, I am deliberately living a healthy lifestyle.. again. So wish me luck?

E.

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HOW DOES PARIS' METRO LOOK LIKE DURING NEW YEAR'S EVE?

A NIGHTMARE. Certainly not as pretty as the city itself. Many trains, many people, one destination: The Eiffel Tower. Yes, we got stuck there on the eve itself and was forced to bid goodbye to 2012 underneath the beautiful city looking at these people fit themselves in the effing metro unsuccessfully. It was fun though.

E.

DESIRES PUT ON HOLD.

A mosque in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. My fourth stop during my voyage, 2013.

(Flickr, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)

Sunday, time check: 15.30 and I just almost woke up. One of the small perks of working in a fine dining kitchen besides the obvious workload is the undying evening and weekend shifts which sometimes feels like it will never end. When ordinary office people set off to work, I am perhaps just about to sleep and when they are on their way home I am on my way to work. We are the night people, those who make things happen when ordinary people are out and about to enjoy their night. Anyways,  it is Sunday and I am off and munching on a burnt store bought pizza; don't ask how I managed to burn it, I just did. Nevertheless sometime last week, as I recall, I was having sushi with a good friend of mine as she tell me how her summer's all planned out and how she's been saving up for a long haul travel and how she plans on making that happen from after summer to next year. I have to be honest, even after recently tasting a slice of the world I cannot hide that little hint of jealousy I have towards her ongoing plans. I am so sure she'll make everything happen and I am simply hoping the best for her, I'll force her to write about her adventures too so we all can share thoughts on how beautiful she sees the world. I hope I am with her on this trip but due to the obvious I really can't. A lot of things are well planned out ahead of me and being laid-back is the last thing I can do for now, it sucks big time but for now I really have to settle down for a while and get things done before its too late. They anyways say that there's no age for traveling so I am bought to believe that it will be never too late for me to see the rest of the marvels of this world. This pretty, wild world. I will indulge for now on smaller holidays put larger desires to rest for a short time while I save up and find myself clear in this little thing I called my life. Have a wonderful sunday and a great week ahead!

E.