The feeling that I am turning 20 is sinking on me now. The word teen shall be dropped off my age in hours time. Shit! Is this what they call Quarter Life Crisis? Yes, No, perhaps. . Maybe? I'm not very certain about how I feel right now. How I feel about turning 20 or "Twenteen" as people in this situation would prefer calling it so as it won't sound really scary.

I'm upset at the same time thankful for all the things, the people, the events, that made me what I am today. But I don't think I'm ready to be 20. Like, this is the time where I'll be faced with new responsibilities, priorities and goals in life. And looking back I don't think I've been responsible enough.

I almost cried watching RPG Metanoia last night. Like that movie deliberately made me reminisce my childhood life. Now I started asking myself what I've accomplished the past 20 years of living in this dearly planet of ours? What have I contributed to the world? Who am I? LOL. Baliw lungs!!! HAHAHA!

I could say that this is the most depressing birthday ever. Like before, I would count the days until my birthday and feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world. You know those times in your life when you just needed to worry about if you have a birthday cake or not? And this time around, Oh my God! I'll be twenty (Thank you though) but the thought of being Twenty is haunting me emotionally!

I know I couldn't contemplate much about these things in my head right now because while writing this - time passes by. Minutes, seconds, milliseconds I'll be 20 and I know people would tease me about how old I have become. Fine I'm twenty! As if I could do anything. But on the brighter side, it's good to know most of my friends are older than me. Meaning, I'm ONLY TWENTEEN and. . .

 #FUCKYEAHIWROTETHISWHENIWASNINETEEN! 

It was a very hot afternoon when I was on my way to Ranchero. Following a woozy ride back from Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort one is likely to develop a major headache. Now double the major because the sun's heat was worse than Day 1. This time, I thought I was being roasted.

Ohh..their Crispy Pata is fit for the Gods! Nmmm...

And Oh! How can I ever forget the tender, juicy, succulent, luscious and sweet-smelling baby back ribs? No wonder it's their best-seller!

After a delicious lunch, we went for some adrenaline-pumping adventures at Zip City and Zorb Park.

"No way. . .I'm never gonna try any of those!" I said to myself along the way.

Chicken? No way! Though I must admit that zipping would force me to spill out all the curses in the world. It's just that Zip City's Zipline didn't look very challenging at all.Well, Zip City is claimed to be the friendliest zip line in town!  But I've been through what seems to be the "otherwise" (at least).

As for the Zorb ride, I really wanted to try it but unfortunately I didn't have a partner so I ended up saving my adrenaline for more food adventures coming up next!


Crepelato

After the adventure, we went to Crepelato for some cooling snacks - GELATO!!

Their Gelato is mild and sweet to the tongue and the crepe together with the toppings made the taste intensely flavored.I don't really know what's the difference between Gelato and Ice Cream. Perhaps Gelato is richer and healthier but I couldn't care less because Crepelato's Gelato was certainly ravishing!

Lachi's Sans Rival Atbp.

Dinner time! I was lucky enough to try Lachi's last year along with the participants of DFAT 2010. This time around, dining at Lachi's is what I have been looking forward to, now finally as a participant of Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2011!

Owned by twins Mike and Melvin Aviles, Lachi's Sans Rival Atbp. is perhaps, the best restaurant in Davao City. Serving glorious dishes like Laing, Beef Tapa, Breaded Tofu, Pork Marinara, Kaldereta and the unforgettable PORK RIBS!!!

Ohh..I super love their Durian Sans Rival!!! Lachi's cakes are to die for also. .pak! I will definitely come back to Lachi's on my birthday! >.< That's tomorrow, actually. <3

All in all, the second day of DFAT 2011 may have started with mild sun burns behind my neck. But like what old folks used to say "In every desert there's an Oasis, in every Adventure there's a Paradise!". And in the 2nd day of Davao Food Appreciation Tour I got the chance to get a taste of Food Paradise!!

I feel so flattered yet embarrassed of the sudden votes I received from awesome people across Philippine Blogosphere on this years' Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011. I didn't really expect it, that I went crazy over the simultaneous "Hey, Mark I nominated you!" PM's on my facebook account.



Like before, I would campaign so as I would be listed on any award-giving blogging projects and yet now they came along unexpectedly. I woke up late this afternoon because of the stress given by having two of my teeth removed last night. And when I turned my laptop on,  I was so surprised when I learned that some bloggers nominated me for the said blogging project.

I usually dread the thought of having dental extraction but if my teeth costs heart-warming nominations and flattering remarks then I would go to the dentist every day.LOL

Kidding aside, I never really thought any of this would happen. I didn't even had any intention to join Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011 because I'm quite insecure of myself. But thanks to the people who nominated me! They made my day extra special and I never felt so good about myself until today.

Because of that, quite surprisingly also, I will be joining this year's Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011! So anyway here's my list:

1. Eat's Terrific by Orman Manansala - From his personal blog, Gandaeversomuch, Kuya Orman have branch out with a food blog which serves the best Cooking 101 tips and Food Trip Adventures among the few food blogs I know.

2. Kikay Much - perhaps the only and the most prominent local kikay blogs I know.She blogs about beauty and fashion and sometimes share tips like having a "KIKOY KIT" for boys like me. :)


3. The Geek Travels - Authored by Renz Bulseco, I'm not quite sure if he's a newbie or not but when I checked his archive it looks like he just started blogging this year. I was really impressed with his writing style and his travel adventures are so interesting. We used to share something in common about Kadayawan but now he's ahead of me because he's officially a Kadayawan-virgin no more!

4. Kitchen Hopping - Owned by a good friend of mine, Leah Valle. Here she features all the food that would make you salivate every time you get to see the photos. She's very influential when it comes to food and very generous too, in fact, personally, because of sticking around with her I was able to try a variety of dishes she just can't help but share! And I've gained quite some pounds too. O_O

5. Markable - Of course, I had to be on my top 5 at least. Haha! Pwede namang i-nominate ang sarili diba? Adik.


6. Blogger Manila - It wasn't too long ago when I last heard something from Kuya Jonel. But he's always been so kind and supportive on me when I intend to secretly penetrate award-giving activities in Manila. LOL. But not only that, he was able to put up a series of blog which are branded with "Manila" on their names and I think it's really an amazing thing. Hmm..Kuya Jonel, you just gave me an idea!? Hahaha.

7. Me Likes Art - by Will Cabrera. He's not a cousin of mine not even a confirmed relative but because we share almost the same set of interests like, mostly film and art I'd like to think we are. LOL! Hi there cousin! Haha. I think it's noteworthy to say that both of us write on awesome Asian movie blogs, I contribute on Asian Movie Pulse and Will does so at Japan Cinema!

8. Libotero - More than envying Sinjin's Libot Map!! I find his travel blog unique because aside from sharing his travel adventures with friends, its amazing to note that he is most of the time a lone traveler.

9. Tiaralets - Not only that I was somehow responsible for the catchy name of Tiara's blog but she's one of the most likable Davao Blogger (who is now based in Manila). I super love her adventures and she's indeed one hell of a girl. Like, she's so courageous for taking The Plunge, now she's claimed to as the "Daredevil Goddess ng Pilipinas"!

10. Tripsaholic - Owned by another good friend of mine, Kuya Faust Principe's travel blog features his adventures around Mindanao. I like how his travel blog looks! So elegant and the logo is cool. Haha!

So that's it! :)

Win or Lose, I'm going to treat each vote as a birthday present. I'm turning twenteen this 13th of September by the way, so keep the presents coming okay? LOL.Haha!

My sincerest thanks and warm gratitude to the people who have included me on their list of this year's prestigious Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs. Awaaard!!!

The Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs is a writing project that aims to identify new and emerging blogs that are making an impact to its reader. This year is the 5th year of this writing project. And this writing project would not be possible if not for the following sponsors:  Cyber Monday Deals, TRIbeca Private Residences, How To Videos, Palawan Beaches for Sale,Green and Natural Lubes Philippines, Philippine data center, Philippine online shopping, Singapore Jobs, Pinoy Party Food, Manila rentals, and Great product deals.