ONE SATURDAY WITH FROGS AND CAMWHORES

Yesterday, July 7th was no ordinary day for me. 

It was a warm Saturday and I had to work, i had to open the faucet to fill the water container in the wash room and after about an hour the lumpia and taho vendor dropped by the office and yes, out of routine, i bought a piece from manang and a cup from kuya -- well, THAT part .. was ordinary, but the next series of events were not because yesterday, I made two things happen.


Firstly, finally after one year of planning and for the first time, my friend and I attended Yoga classes then second, again after more than a year of contemplating, I finally signed up for the Baguio Photographers Club. 

I have always been curious about yoga and the wonders it does but I've never really been motivated to do it. I'm too lazy to read about it and i'm just too bored to follow instructional videos. A year ago, while I was too jaded to think of what to do with my life, my super friend Ice opened up the idea of  yoga. I was like, sure! .. just because I thought I needed something to keep me distracted. And so, plan plan plan we did but never did it push through for some reason I can't explain .. until last Saturday. 

the TREE pose  [pic googled]

I didn't know what to expect. I was giggling doing the first pose - stretching and all. The yoga mats didn't really smell nice, I kept on wondering which part was supposed to be the head part. We were asked to do the classic "tree pose" and I lost my balance. That was challenging all right! We were asked to perform the "warrior" pose and do some serious stretching when the yogi commented several times that my knees were tight and that I had to practice stretching more. Nevertheless, I took that as "you're fat, lose weight!". I was perspiring, I could feel my heart beat racing and I was catching my breath -- and I thought this was all about meditation and relaxation? .. then down to the last 5 minutes, we were in "corpse" pose relaxing, taking deep breaths, releasing the tension, feeling the love (the words of the yogi) and hearing frogs croak on the swooshing sound of the lake .. then when I snapped back to the reality, I could smell those mats again, time's up! 

YOGA AFTERSHOCK! tired but happy! :)

I am a shutterbug! In awe of photography and stories behind the lenses. So, when I learned about the locally acclaimed Baguio Photographer's Club on January of 2011, being the hyper one that I am, I told myself excitedly how much I wanted to join but I didn't have a dslr so I was instantly discouraged. But then I started having sleepless nights because of that and so I checked my options one more time. A high school batch mate was a member of the group so I got in touch with him and hurrah! He said that I can definitely join and that I didn't need an slr to do so, digicams are accepted. So, I took a few photography tips from him -- basics, lights, rule of thirds then .. The end. Seriously, I wasn't motivated enough to join.
I was too preoccupied with not having an slr and my random fears .. so either i cancel at the last minute or I turn down every invitation to attend the monthly assembly for one year! It just didn't feel right yet .. until last Saturday. 

this made me feel gooey all over! 

I didn't think much about it when Neil (my batchmate who is now the club president) sent me a facebook invitation to attend the assembly so I replied in a text message that I will be attending. So on July 7, 2012 -- I am officially in! It was intimidating to be surrounded by camwhores. Totally overwhelming but it was a friendly and exciting atmosphere. I had a sheepish grin the whole meeting and no one ever guessed why. Haha! 

my new social circle: camwhores! :) [photo by Neil Ongchangco]

I know both of these sound like its just a run-off-the-mill but not if you're me. Its not party-worthy, i know! I didn't even need fireworks to celebrate .. just me grinning ear to ear with my mini-accomplishments. It felt good to be doing something I've always wanted to do without limiting myself and without the fear that I might not fit in. 

Deciding to attend that yoga class, I admit I went in unprepared. I didn't have any idea on what to do, I didn't even know it will make me perspire! .. Saying "yes" to join the assembly when I don't have the slightest idea on ISO, aperture and shutter speed. I don't even have my own dslr to take with me and just settled for a digicam. 

These are things that took me aback a year ago and I realized that that it was not because I was too busy with work or that I didn't have time to do these things, it was just because I had reservations, was too scared and conscious. But hey! I can work on my stretching and i will soon be able to have a good balance while doing the tree pose and I don't need a dslr to take amazing shots right? a digicam can do just fine or my phone!

Somethings in life does not really need a plan. Maybe its true that when you want something, the whole universe will conspire to help you achieve that dream -- no matter how big or little it is. 

It always will be in HIS perfect time then you will just know that on that certain day and moment, everything is extraordinary.