[1085] OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G

This OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is probably the last OnePlus phone I will buy and own. Let me explain why.

While this is probably their mid range phone I'm not really that ecstatic about it. Yes it does the job, but I do find it a bit slow. I got it for around PhP14k or so, and to be honest I could probably have gotten a way faster phone for a few thousand pesos more.

Times have changed and my budget and priorities for a mobile phone will limit me to mid range phones. OnePlus isn't it. I'm seriously considering getting whatever latest Poco X(n) Pro model is current when I do decide to change. Actually the Poco X5/6 Pro was the biggest competitor of the Nord when I was looking to upgrade.

The reason why I didn't get the Poco was because the stupid Shopee app wouldn't let me pick "cash on delivery" for the payment method, and sadly Poco doesn't have any physical stores in Metro Manila. It may be under Xiaomi as a brand but the Mi stores don't sell it.

OnePlus' motto used to be "Never Settle" and I think I will follow through on that by choosing a better brand and bang for the buck phone the next time I change phones.

Out.

[1084] Rainy Day Exercises

Now that it's the wet/rainy season here in the Philippines I know there will be days when I won't be able to go on my morning walks. Fortunately I have come up with alternatives to do in the house when it is raining.

My HIIT/Tabata session is the main thing. I'll do 4 sets of alternating cardio and 20 lbs kettlebell exercises and it lasts for around 20 minutes. My goal doing this is to change up my morning walks, as well as do some light lifting and core exercises. Truth be told I try to do this at least once a week, and have recently started doing less reps in twenty seconds but making sure each rep I do with a kettlebell has better quality movements.

Another alternative that I tried earlier today is riding my bike on my indoor trainer. It's not a fancy indoor trainer that I can connect to those online bike apps. It does get the job done though. Sadly I find this a bit boring, and was pleasantly surprised with my 16-minute workout earlier. That's one of the longest I've done on the trainer that I rarely use. I prefer riding my bike outside, I guess. Plus this also depends if my folks are at home, since I don't want to wake them up with the noise from the trainer if they are here from the province.

I'll probably consider doing HIIT/Tabata exercises that are all cardio instead of sprinkling in some kettlebell workouts. These will probably be my main replacement for my morning walk / jog when it is raining.

I'm trying to be consistent with my exercising. I'm trying to target doing at least three to four exercises a week, with one of those involving the earlier mentioned HIIT session. I still prefer doing walks, and the occasional jog.

Out.

[1083] The Older I Get

I recently entered my mid-40s. These are some ramblings of some random person on the internet. Health is the biggest priority for me now. Not just physical health but also mental health.

Physical health seems to be the easier priority to address. I try to be consistent doing my three-to-four-lap walks during the week. Now I also try to add one or two HIIT sessions just to do some activity that increases my heart rate past the fat burning zone.

Mental health is the more challenging one. I know my weaknesses but I also cannot seem to address them. It's a roller coaster of highs and lows for me.

I'll probably leave it at that. I dislike posting my really private thoughts online.

Out.

[1082] More Beetle Musings

I recently saw yet another FB Marketplace entry for a Beetle being sold locally for a really low price. I am wary about the description. It states that the Beetle looks that way because they're going for a rat rod theme. Oh and the floor has a hole.

That doesn't sound good. In fact it sounds like a really expensive problem to have. Sure you may save a lot of money because of the relatively dirt cheap price, but the cost for repairs may cost the same as the cheaper Japanese cars with automatic transmissions being sold here locally.

If you're serious about fixing it I'm pretty sure you just won't get any piece of metal to fix the floor. You'd want to buy some floor pans from reputable Beetle parts manufacturers abroad. Those cost a lot already, and shipping and taxes will add even more to that. Then bodywork to fix dents, remove rust spots, and maybe a fresh coat of paint. That only fixes exterior aesthetics. You'll want to fix the interior as well.

So basically no Beetle for me in the near future. In fact, if I get to save enough to be able to buy a used car I'll probably buy a modern, automatic transmission Japanese car with air conditioning just because that would be more practical to use here.

Out.

[1081] Volkswagen Beetle

Lately I've been seeing quite a number of classic Beetles being sold locally in Facebook's Marketplace. Price ranges from really cheap to really expensive, and condition is from total project to (at least from the pictures) really awesome restoration.

The Super Beetle is my dream Beetle variant and there is one being sold, but that's the really expensive restored one. It's a beauty but at the same time it's already a finished product from what I've seen.

It can also be a jumping off point for modifications, but really would I want to do that to a well restored car? Not that I should be getting this as a car. I think it has air conditioning but it's still a forty to fifty-year old car.

Besides I'd rather get a running Beetle that needs work so that when you start fixing it up you can start incorporating the modifications and improvements you would want.

Out.

[1080] Shopping

While I do see the uses of those online shopping apps that are famous locally, I still prefer doing most of my shopping in person.

Shopee and Lazada do offer interesting bargains, but it is at your own risk. Even if you just buy from Laz Mall or Shopee Mall it does not guarantee you will get a good product. It has happened to me where I bought a mic from a Shopee Mall seller and got a crappy webcam. The reasons why I never tried to get a refund were because a) it was really cheap and b) it wasn't worth the hassle.

Actually it was that incident that swayed me to just going to the mall with a list of stuff I need. I will still buy some things from the online sellers, specifically bike parts.

Clothes? Size is risky, specially if it isn't one of the big name brands. I'll buy shirts and underwear from Fruit of the Loom or Burlington, but if the seller is a relative unknown I've had hits and misses. Some sizes are still too small, they can't be serious with "Asian Size" and I still can't fit in a XXXXL?

So that's it. The first time I got my Shopee app and account was to buy components for my bike build. After that I rarely use it. I still buy my coffee beans from this one seller I found that gives great bang for the buck, and it's still cheaper than what is sold in retail.

Out.

[1079] Birthday Wishlist 2024

It's that time of the year where I start getting materialistic and wishing for stuff because dreaming is free. Here is my 2024 Birthday Wishlist.

1. Toyota Yaris Cross S 1.5 HEV (White pearl / Attitude black mica). Modern technology and a hybrid system will hopefully mean this car will help a lot with fuel expenses. I'm also picking the Yaris Cross because it should be smaller than the Corolla Cross HEV right? Right?
2. Ritchey Outback frameset based gravel bike. I'll only list the frameset since I don't have time nor patience at the moment to list down other components. For sure it will be a 2x drivetrain, all mechanical. Meaning cable actuated brakes and cable actuated shifting. Let's also include a bike carrier bag, roof mounted bike rack, and other bike accessories for number two.
3. Fujifilm X100VI camera. With a case and other useful accessories. I want to get back to photography and I'd rather use the best gear possible.

That's it actually. Honestly I've been too busy with real life that I honestly have no time to even think about dream material items.

Out.