5 - virgin active fitness club

here's a photoblog. sorry not much photos right now. im trying to take snaps from my phone because i dont want to keep taking my camera out in public especially when im just walking down the street. i dont want to seem like a tourist so i just try to blend in most of the time. i'll try to email more photos to myself via my blackberry. it's hard to log in on the wifi connection here at the flat. my roommate is getting on my nerves because she always wants to borrow my laptop now and go on skype and facebook. FML. not just that too, she's just getting to be very annoying in general. i hate girls.

sorry for that rampage. i guess im pms-ing :)

we only had one casting today. i had to dance again. LOL. this time we're on stage. gosh, never a dull moment.  we rented a car. i swear i almost snapped at my roomie today. IM SO ANNOYED. and her accent is bothering me. damn europeans.  she rents a car and didnt specify that she's not comfortable driving standard. and she wouldnt drive alone without me. so today, i almost died.

we went to camps bay. again so very beautiful, my goodness.  but i'll try to post pics in order, so here are the pics of the gym. my sister emailed me last night and she gave me the idea of doing a video. i think im going to post a "room tour" of our pad so im not going to post pics of our flat yet. photos above are just of the gym. im so amazed how great it is.

4 - walking around the 'hood

the walk back to the apartment from the gym was better. the sun was going down so there was a nice breeze. the view was impecable because i can see the sun setting on to the sea and i snapped a photo with my phone and sent it to A with a note saying, "wish you were here..."
i had another blonde moment as i walked home and got a little lost. i blame it on being distracted by the nice scenery! i didnt panic much but i was hoping to find my way because it was quickly getting dark and just my luck, i was going UPHILL. my legs were already so tired after walking that whole way.  i was so happy to finally find my way back as i was very exhausted and hungry.

when i got home my roomie asked if i wanted to go out for a drink. she's been bugging me to go out and if i hear her say, "i wanna go to pahhty" one more time i am going to lose it. i told her that i was tired and i want to relax. she begged me to go but i firmly said no and that i'll go out with her on the weekend. i felt kind of bad leaving her to go out on her own but i was secretly hoping she would go so that i can have some alone time. i will go out with her eventually. she did do my laundry for me afterall.  i had to make my own food last night but my roomie has always prepped it for us. i am going to shamelessly admit that i cant even make a proper hard-boiled eggs. i will try again tonight to see how i do.

after dinner i made myself a hot bath and soaked myself in there for about an hour as i read my book. i wish i brought my lush bath products with me. taking a hot bath is definitely a luxury that i dont get to indulge in that often back home. im going to the store later to get a nice foam bath and maybe some candles and i will take baths regularly (that sounds odd).

basically i had a very relaxing night. my first casting this morning was at 9am. the jobs here in cape town are mostly commercial (and they pay the most money). my very first casting earlier this week, i was asked to dance. this time, i was asked to ride a bike and say something in german. i wonder what's next? this totally builds my confidence in front of people and just be shameless. what is there to be ashamed of anyway? i am an actress in front of the camera. lots of cheesy smiling and energy.  this is the only thing that can tire me out here.

i attempted to walk today from one casting to the next. it was ''walkable" but by the time i got to the next one, i was so hot and sweaty. i had to stop by a nearby shop to grab a cold drink, a sandwich and freshened up my makeup. again, it feels totally liberating to be walking on my own and finding directions all by myself. if you know me personally, you'll know that i am terrible at directions! so if i sound like im making a big deal out of this, that's because it is.

i am at the agency right now to pick up more z-cards because i am running out, and i am taking advantage of their free internet service so i thought i'd blog. my next casting is not until 4:30pm so maybe i'll go back to the flat for now and get some rest.

sometimes i take a moment to stop and think about everything. being a full time model is crazy. i mean i did the whole running around from casting to casting while i was in TO. aside from my university text books i had my portfolio with me and sometimes i have to go to a casting in between classes. but this time it's ALL i do. it's quite a funny feeling, to be living a different life right now.

3 - getting around

today was a very chill day. we didnt get any casting calls so we went to victoria wharf which is a huuuuge mall right by the marina. we went around and browsed in and out of a few shops. we had (an overpriced) lunch overlooking the marina and it was just picturesque! i almost didnt mind that my pasta didnt taste as good as it should have been considering what i paid for it.

we went to our flat afterwards and just chilled.  we talked and played some games on the computer. after a few hours of relaxing we felt a bit bad for being so lazy so we decided to get our asses to the gym. i decided to jog to the gym (also to save on cab money) but my roommie hates walking so she took the cab. i am here on the free internet cafe within the gym. i swear this gym is the best! i think this is where i'll be updating this blog most of the time because i dont have a free wifi at home. i cant catch the superintendent of our apartment, but i'd like to ask him how we can connect to the internet.

i am quite proud of myself today. i jogged/walked to the gym all by myself. that sounds simple but it means a lot! 1) i hate walking anywhere, but the route is just gorgeous i couldnt pass it up 2) i went by myself. the sun was beaming and i am in a pretty safe neighborhood. i know i still have to be cautious but i feel so liberated 3) i didnt get lost 4) i went to the gym again and i conquered laziness! all this = big win.

i am starving so i am going to walk back home now before the sun goes down. i am too cheap to pay for cab so i have to walk it. it's a bit cooler now and it wont be as hot as when i walked here. the SA sun is terrible! i already saw tanlines on me. crap. time to exfoliate. i am craving for a hot bath. i think i will stop by the store to get some bubble bath :)

2 - adjusting

i had 3 castings today. the very first one i went to, i was required to dance. yes, you read that right. but i promised myself that i will give 101% to everything i do and i danced in front of that camera like no one is watching. it was pretty fun actually. i also had my first test shoot. my cheeks hurt from smiling too much.

my roomie and i went to the gym again and we did the 'body conditioning' class. OMFG, that was painful. but i felt great afterwards. we also did our first load of laundry today!

my nights can get a bit quiet around here and i was especially sad tonight because it is my 6 year anniversary with my fiance and we are in different continents and different time zones. i was almost in tears when he texted me at midnight (my time) and told me to reach into the back pocket of my luggage. in there he slipped a card and i went to the bathroom to read it because my roommie was already asleep. i wanted to cry but i know how my eyes get the next day so i guess i will have to reschedule the crying session on a day when i know that i can afford for my eyes to get puffy (lol, im so kidding). but really, i was extremely touched.

1 - home sweet home

my first day in cape town.

i arrived in the afternoon and was driven directly to my flat. i learned that i'll be staying with only one other model so i was ecstatic! i thought i had to stay in a model house with 5 or more other models and i was seriously dreading that. i think i would have completely lost my sanity.

i met my roommate and she's from germany. gorgeous girl. she makes me feel like chopped liver, but to each her own right? her english is not the best and she has the cute german accent. it's her second time here in CT so she said she'll give me some tips. i guess i definitely lucked out.

our apartment is what i would call "cozy". it's self service meaning we have to do everything on our own: cook, clean, laundry, etc. it's fully equipped though so the first thing my roommie and i did was grocery shopping for our supper. everything is walking distance which is great. our apartment is situated less than three minute walk to the sea and everywhere you look, there's a mountain backdrop. we have a little outdoor  patio thing and everytime i look out, i smile because the mountain is right there and it's a constant reminder that i am lucky to be in such a beautiful place.

i unpacked my stuff and i realized (as well as i was told) that i brought way too much stuff. i always do this when i travel. funny thing is, i only brought one luggage. go figure.

i sufferred from a bit of jetlag. my roommie and i talked until about 1am. we were instant bffs and i know we'll get along quick.  i also know that she will get on my nerves, but this is something that i have to deal with. what's important is that she's not a bitch. for that i am grateful.

the next day we went to our agency around noon. we did some business stuff and i was told that my portfolio needs to be more "commercial". there isnt much high fashion jobs in cape town and if there is, it doesnt pay as much as commercial and catalogue work. oy vey. i hate commercial work. ive done a few back in toronto and i always dreaded going to casting calls for them because i am bound to make a fool of myself.

after the agency we did more grocery shopping and then went to the closest gym to our place which is about a 30 minute walk (less than 10 mins by taxi). the gym is called virgin active and it's right by the stadium where the 2010 world cup was held. very cool.  the gym is NICE. all high tech and i was totally impressed.

my roommie has been bugging me to go out for a drink and to party but ive managed to decline my way out of it so far. she's been here before so she knows a few locals as well as some returning models. i am not being anti-social. i just know that every move i make will cost me money and i am trying to be responsible and kind of space everything out. but at the same time im not going to deprive myself. i will live it. but ive always been the responsible one. ive done all the partying in my younger days, but having fun never gets old so you bet your bottom dollar that i will be partying it up here as well.

0 - getting there

i dont know what it is but everytime someone in my family leaves to go somewhere far for more than a month, we make it a family trip to the airport.  same goes especially when someone arrives from somewhere far (usually from the philippines). this time's no different. i had my whole entourage with me to see me off at the airport. my aunt, uncle and cousin also came to say their goodbyes despite the fact that they just arrived from the airport the night before.

serendipitously, i was amazed who i saw at the airport also departing from toronto on the same day/time as me. it's father carlos (our priest who will marry us in october)!  he will be bringing his parents back to the philippines and will be taking a short vacation as well. i was so excited that i asked to take a picture with him to send to A with a text title, "look who i saw". this is definitely going on the next issue of our wedsite! anyway, i took this as a good sign of my journey ahead.

after six hours, i arrived at the heathrow airport in london, uk. i hate riding the plane especially long flights. i could never sleep and i can never be comfortable. my body's just not made for domestic flights! my layover at heathrow is 12 hours - yes you read that right. everything was all last minute for me before i left toronto so i didnt get to plan out a travel plan to london. i thought about winging it but i realized that i only have a light sweater on my back and london at this time of the year is 'bloody' cold. so i almost died waiting at the airport but it wasnt as long as i thought it would be for some reason. they had couches in the lounge and i was too tired to care so i just fully lied down in one of them. hey, everyone else was doing it.

note to self not to travel with a heavy hand carry, along with a laptop bag and an overpacked purse. everytime i had to go to the washroom i had to lug everything with me. it was quite a nuissance! lesson learned #1.

before i know it i was boarding my flight to cape town, south africa. i was still getting anxiety attacks as i really do not know what to expect out of everything. but i guess i was given another lucky sign. i was bumped to the business class cabin! it still wasn't first class but im happy with the upgrade. i sat beside a cape town native and he was such a chatterbox. he also smelled of alcohol so i pretended to be asleep most of the time. i only talked to him when i need his help with my luggage :)

i arrived CT after a long haul flight of 11 hours.  i took a sleeping pill and i drank some wine so i slept a bit but still not the best experience. another travel lesson: do not overpack especially when travelling alone because the luggage is too heavy to be taken out of the conveyor belt. but if you must, act like a damsel in distress and most likely, someone will help you out. oh and p.s. i had a blonde moment and left my passport on the trolly *slaps forehead*. i dont know why im even writing that here. im sure i would get a slap over the head for this one.

"shai" was written on one of the boards as a local cape town-er welcomes me. home at last. (at least for the next 3 months).