What Emerald Santos thinks...

My Christmas Vacation in Chiang Mai : Shinawatra Thai Silk Factory

2015-01-30T05:17:00.000-08:00

After Romborsang Umbrella Factory, my 2nd Stop on my first day in Chiang Mai...Shinawatra Thai Silk Factory.

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2015-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

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My Christmas Vacation in Chiang Mai : Romborsang Umbrella Factory

2015-01-11T23:03:00.002-08:00

December 24, My Thai Landlady arrange a Half Day Tour with me. I was scheduled to be pick up at the guest house by 12 noon by a Red Taxi. Luckily, the Driver who at the same time my tourist guide for that day is so kind and his English is quite good. Normally, I am having a hard time talking with Taxi Drivers. Anyway, he is a very jolly person and nice to talk to during the trip.

My First Stop : Romborsang Umbrella Factory

Tourist Buses

Talented Workers who do the Assembly of Fan

Paints and Brushes

Personalize T-Shirts, On the spot Self-Portrait on your Shirt

Personalized Handmade Print for your Cellphone Cases

Cashier

All Items sold here are cheap compared to Night Markets and Bangkok. So don't hesitate to buy your souvenirs here. Besides it is also tax free and you are helping the Locals in Chiang Mai :)

You can buy plain umbrellas too. And you can have it painted with your preferred design.

Refreshements!!! I like the Blueberry Smoothies with Yogurt. And it is also cheap. This place is a Winner!!!!

My Christmas Vacation at Chiang Mai: The House That Keeps Me Warm

2015-01-10T01:08:00.000-08:00

Since I am tired living at, working at, surrounded by concrete walls, I decided to live in a provincial life and that includes to be sheltered by a typical Lana House. Glad I found one and that is Your House Guest House 1, located at the heart of the Old City in Chiang Mai.

The Facade

Yep...there are other houses, Your House 1 is the Oldest House that they have

The Reception Area

Shoes off if you are going up to your room

And this is my room, too big and it can accommodate 3 person. But since it is just me and the pay is still for 1person (200 baht), I can choose which bed I want. Of Course, I chose the big one.

This guest house has an outdoor restaurant. Where I always have my breakfast with these French People. Nice people, they always greet me "Bonjour" I am also amaze that my Thai Landlady can speak French Fluently.

Thai Brewed Coffee to start my Day

Dinner by Candle Light starts at 6:30 pm

My Christmas Vacation at Chiang Mai: Christmas Eve

2015-01-09T23:50:00.000-08:00

I spend my Christmas Vacation 2014 at Chiang Mai...the Northern Part of Thailand. It was a great place to spend your Christmas in peace with a cold weather. At first, I hesitate to go there because it's my first Christmas alone...so away from my family, friends, especially my kids. But glad I did. Anyway, I would like to share all the photos I took when I was there.

Hitting the road as early 3am towards Don Mueang International Airport

Just passed the first obstacle course...which is the Check in. Now taking the second one...Long long walk on these carpeted floor.

Boarding Time

Took the Airport Mini Bus

And this makes me smile :) Who are they? They are the lead star couple in a Thai Soap opera : Torranee Nee Krai Krong...and I love the show...cute, romantic and informative.

While waiting for the plane to take of, I saw these and I can't help saying Hmmmnn...

Overview of Bangkok

...and now the Overview of Chiang Mai. Now I feel my heart leap

AirAsia lands safely at Chiang Mai International Airport

Please check my next Blog about my next adventure in Chiang Mai. Thank you very much :)

My First Portrait Sketch

2014-04-30T00:42:00.001-07:00

...done by my dear friend and former classmate at Fashion Institute of the Philippines... Andrea Dela Cruz. This was done last Saturday, while having our first try out art session together at Red Mango, somewhere Fort Bonifaciio. We where so excited to try our newly bought Stabilo colored pens, including the Metallic pens by Sharpee. Here are some of the pics taken during our Art bonding and my Portrait Sketch done by her. Hope you like it.

I am looking forward to do this again...:)

My Son Vince Joins The Search for Mr. C A S T 2014

2014-03-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

My January 2014 started with my son's 1st time experience as candidate for Mr. CAST 2014. He was requested to join to represent his College, which is College of Arts and Science and Technology at De La Salle Araneta University . At first I was telling him not to join because it is expensive and my budget for this year is not so good. I am raising alone my 4 kids. Two of them are now in college, one is in secondary year, and my only daughter is now elementary. But anyway, to make the story short. He joins the search for Mr. CAST 2014.

I admit, I am excited and for the first time, I experienced this wonderful event. I am not saying that my son Vince Alfred is very handsome, but for me he is (of course! :) ) Let me share some of his pictures during the event.

One of the plan is not to spend a lot of money for the pageant. So I let him use some of my RTW stocks from my online store "The Glam House Fashion Depot". He said he needs some preppy outfits for the fashion show. He don't usually wear this kind of attire. He usually wears simple plain shirt and jeans. Bold prints and colors is something new to him.

During the fitting, I learned that pleasing your own kid is indeed more challenging than other people. I almost give up actually. I even ask other members of the family for their opinion and ask them to help me get approval from Vince on what to wear.

"Nope!" I heard him say this a lot during the fitting.

Finally...after series of Preppy attire, this is the one he chose. See the smile :) ?

Next Step...For the TALENT SHOW!!!!?????

Now I am worried!. I know he is shy type of guy...and prefers basketball and DOTA. At first he wants to sing with his guitar. And I doubt it so much because he is just a beginner when it comes to guitar playing. But what I know he is good in whistling. So I suggested the song " Patience" by Guns n Roses. He did practice that song and he is actually sound good. But he feels the song is too old for him. So few hours before the Talent show, he downloaded a karaoke version of "Na 'yo Na Ang Lahat" by Daniel Padilla. Here are some pictures

Because of the screaming of his classmates and schoolmates, he is having a hard time to keep up from the beat. Although, he got the highest score for the Audience Impact. And that's another new experience for him.

After the Talent Show, the Coronation Night of Mr. & Ms. CAST 2014. Let me share some of his picture during that event.

Of Course, He needs to put make up before the Pageant...again this is his first time to wear Make-up. Thanks to my sister-in-law. Because I wasn't at the pageant. I feel sorry I missed this one. But from time to time I am texting him before the show. And I was so touch that he called me few minutes before the show begins.

Preparing for the PREPPY ATTIRE !

This one...SPORTS!

And He got the "Mr. Charity" Title for selling most of the tickets. Thanks to my office mates who are so generous to buy the ticket. Each ticket is worth P20.00.

and now the Question & Answer Portion!!!! This is when they will wear the Formal Wear Attire.

and He got the 1st Runner-up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...and everybody is Happy :)

most especially Me

Picture source: Random photographers, from Camillesuarez photography, some pictures are shots by my own camera

Reminiscing My 2013...As Much As I Can Without being Senti

2014-02-11T06:34:00.000-08:00

The Year 2013 was not a good year for me, but I learned a lot from it . According to Chinese calendar it is the Year of the Snake, so I guess that explains it. It was a a very slow and cold year for me and I found out that some of my friends are deceiving and using me. Sad but true.

I noticed that I don't have any blogs written last year. As in ZERO. As far I can remember, I have few attempts to write at least one...but nothing came out from me. As if everything in my mind all boxed up and locked. But don't get me wrong, I am not hiding nor running from anything. I am in a state of self-preservation, self-healing, troubleshooting my own problems without bothering my other friends. It is one of my traits that I hate about myself. I am not a type of person who shares my problems and pains to other people. And the reward from it is indescribably painful. Being silent is like killing yourself without noticing it.

Imagine how hard to cover someone's ass especially if that someone is a long time friend. And some people whom I think friends, turned out to be "snakes" wrapping its bodies around me to death. But I am still thankful to God, that there are still whom I considered "True Friends" who stays with me unconditionally and support me all the way. With all of these, good and bad things that came my way last year surely mold and teach me so much. Make me love my kids more and appreciate "Life". Gain true wisdom and bring me closer to my God.

Now, it is 2014...Year of the Horse. And I think I am going to kick some ass before they kick me and hurt me again . I will "Run" cheerfully, just like the what Horse do. I will be bold and strong but stay low key. Hmmm....What else? I think I will blog more this year. Pour my brains and heart out . Make myself heard and learn from reaching out. What do you think? :P

Wall Of Intramuros, Manila Philippines

2012-10-05T03:44:00.000-07:00

I just want to share some videos I recorded using my HTC One X. These are my experience while I was at the top of the Wall Of Intramuros. This Wall is located within Manila and was established during the Spanish colonial period to protect the city from foreign invasion. It was heavily damaged during the Battle of Manila during the Second World War and glad that it was prioritized for reconstruction by the former First Lady Imelda Marcos during the Marcos regime. Here you go.

P i s o Bridge

2012-09-18T07:38:00.001-07:00

This if very common here in Manila. This Piso Bridge is detachable because it is only present whenever there is flood. The people who assemble the bridge are the one who collected coins or PISO from the people who wants to pass through. It is made of planks of wood that is why it is detachable anytime. Here is the best example of PISO Bridge, which I took last September 23, 2012, and it was a rainy Sunday...at the intersection of Rizal Avenue and Recto..known as AVENIDA, one of the busiest intersection in Manila.

Shopaholic...A Good Disease? is it for Fashion only?

2012-09-01T13:02:00.001-07:00

Hard to say or agree to this one, because me too... love shopping. Few minutes ago, I watched again this certain movie " Confessions of a Shopaholic". A friend of mine lend me her book about this movie and unfortunately I can't wait...and as soon as I finished chapter 1, I decided not to read the whole book (but don't get me wrong, I love reading books, but I THINK this story would be better and will be appreciated visually.) so I watched the movie instead.

The movie focuses on shopping, being a shopaholic, feeling of acquiring things, and being addictive to shopping for Clothes. The movie, did touch my heart. In fact, I love this part where Luke ask Rebecca ,"Why do you shop?" and Rebecca replied with all her heart..."When I shop The World gets better, The World is better...and it is not anymore...and I need to do it again." I agree with Rebecca to this one. I (Sometimes / Always) shop to make my world better and needless to say...comforting

But on the other hand... somehow the movie gave a negative impact about FASHION. Is Fashion not a necessity? Is Fashion considered only as Vanity? I just hoped the writer didn't see Fashion this way. Please.

I am an aspiring Fashion Designer, and of course I am looking forward to be known. Not just to be rich...but be known for my designs. Creating A DESIGN for clothing is NOT as EASY as what other people think. It's 2012 and imagine how many designers (since then) had created designs already for clothes until present...and I am one of these new designer who carefully NOT TO REPEAT it again and trying hard to be innovative by thinking carefully and by being sensitive to other people's needs for their clothes. Another thing is that...since I have limited income and most of the times I want a dress but my great taste for it equates to its worth. I know you might say life is unfair...Unfair for those who can't afford. On the other side, the designer deserved good pay for their creations. And this leads me to having my own Glam House. I started to create my own designs for myself and lately I realized that I would love to do the same to others, so I opened my own fashion store,few minutes away from my work. The Glam House is like a big closet for me. I get all the stuff I like as if I am buying all theses fashion things for myself. Gowns, Dresses, Shoes, Accessories...name it! It's a fashion depot that I would like to share with my Co-Shopaholic out there, But of course, all stuff in the house are marked in a reasonable price.

If you will ask me...Shopaholic is Economics. Alfred Marshall says, Economics is a study of man in the ordinary business of life. It enquires how he gets his income and how he uses it. Thus, it is on the one side, the study of wealth and on the other and more important side, a part of the study of man. Even Lionel Robbins defined the subject (Economics)...perhaps the most commonly accepted current definition, that Economics

is a science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.

And being a Shopaholic is a human behavior. Another individual player in the market. An ACTIVE ONE, and It is normal and it defines Economics. Imagine, what would happened if we don't need anything? What would happened if we don't want anything at all?

Again, Shopaholic is not just for fashion, but also for other things that satisfy our wants and needs...and I guess anything that makes our day.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics
https://www.facebook.com/TheGlamHouseFashionDepot

Fresh Fish Forever...anyone?

2012-08-27T09:48:00.002-07:00

While rushing through the busy street of Recto, within Divisoria, this colorful sandals caught my attention.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.6

The Heart Shape Bite

2012-05-29T00:17:00.000-07:00

...yes I unintentionally bite my apple in a heart shape form and didn't notice it until an office mate of mine told me excitedly that it does look like a heart and I should took a picture of it. And so I did. Here you go, you tell me what you think.

Cristina Garcia...the Model I like

2012-05-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

http://emeraldsantos.deviantart.com/art/Cristina-Garcia-301192432

I don't need to know more about a person, but when I look at them and get this sudden urge to paint him or her, there's no stopping me to do my art interpretation. Here, when I saw this pretty woman, from the first issue of Rogue Magazine, I can't help myself not to include Cristina Garcia on my list of subjects to paint. I did some art pieces of her, and this is one of those. Hope you like it.

Manila International Auto Show ( MIAS )2012 At World Trade Center, Manila

2012-05-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

My Very 1st Car Show I've been to..I still don't get it How Cars and Chicks are related. I know I sound ridiculous...anyway hope you will like the pictures :)

My 1st Day in Malaysia, I Visited Batu Caves

2012-04-26T00:32:00.000-07:00

Cave within the City...Malaysia is Truly Asia.

Been To Kuala Lumpur Bird Park in Malaysia....2012

2012-04-20T05:26:00.001-07:00

I Saw Malaysia... ( Part 2 )

2012-04-18T03:32:00.000-07:00

I Saw Malaysia...

2012-04-17T10:03:00.001-07:00

Let my EYES Speak about this beautiful country...

Featured Artist : Blane Rosales

2012-03-05T01:14:00.002-08:00

Little did you know about Blane.. A down to earth, yet talented artists who is currently working as Digital Matte Painter at Underground Logic. Well I am proud we graduated from the same university, University of Santo Tomas.

Below, you will see some of his works..and these are his Thesis works and sad to say, he is about to sell it to some guy from Myanmar. For me, selling our works is a mixture of sadness, accomplishments, and recognition. Anyways, since this will be the last time we are going see his works, I took this chance and capture this moment with my other colleagues here at Underground Logic, holding one of each Blane's Painting with Proud.

Christmasing at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital Patients

2012-01-04T23:38:00.000-08:00

December 15, saw a tweet from BBC about mothers giving birth at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. I know ever since that this place is a " Baby Factory ". I remember my parents told me that my older brother was born there when they cannot afford to a decent hospital. Imagine, one bed is occupied by 3 - 4 mother with their new born babies.

Since Christmas is near, something tells me that Fabella Hospital is like a manger where Jesus was born but in a modern version. So I decided, to donate something for the patients together with their babies. I even asked my friends, co-workers if they are interested to join. Glad they did. It was my first to organize this kind of gift giving to total strangers.

Because of my sudden interest with this hospital, I learned that it has an authorized bed capacity of 700. Realistically I cannot accommodate huge number of patients, so we decided that we will just donate for 100 mothers together with their babies. And also, I only have 15 days to collect ,buy and packed .

2 days before Christmas, my kids helped me packed. It was very tiring actually, but we don't mind at all. Then, December 25...the actual gift giving. My friend ,my kids thought we are like the 3 wise men who presented their gifts to the infant Jesus. Our gifts are no compare to gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But we can say our gifts to Fabella hospital patients were sincerely appreciated and it shows from their faces. I think that's more than enough.

Cinderella Stories, the Collection : The Indian Cinderella

2011-12-05T02:08:00.000-08:00

The Indian Cinderella

Native American On the shores of a wide bay on the Atlantic coast there dwelt in old times a great Indian warrior. It was said that he had been one of Glooskap's best helpers and friends, and that he had done for him many wonderful deeds. But that, no man knows. He had, however, a very wonderful and strange power; he could make himself invisible; he could thus mingle unseen with his enemies and listen to their plots. He was known among the people as Strong Wind, the Invisible. He dwelt with his sister in a tent near the sea, and his sister helped him greatly in his work. Many maidens would have been glad to marry him, and he was much sought after because of his mighty deeds; and it was known that Strong Wind would marry the first maiden who could see him as he came home at night. Many made the trial, but it was a long time before one succeeded.

Strong Wind used a clever trick to test the truthfulness of all who sought to win him. Each evening as the day went down, his sister walked on the beach with any girl who wished to make the trial. His sister could always see him, but no one else could see him. And as he came home from work in the twilight, his sister as she saw him drawing near would ask the girl who sought him, "Do you see him?"

And each girl would falsely answer "Yes."

And his sister would ask, "With what does he draw his sled?"

And each girl would answer, "With the hide of a moose," or "With a pole," or "With a great cord."

And then his sister would know that they all had lied, for their answers were mere guesses. And many tried and lied and failed, for Strong Wind would not marry any who were untruthful.

There lived in the village a great chief who had three daughters. Their mother had long been dead. One of these was much younger than the others. She was very beautiful and gentle and well beloved by all, and for that reason her older sisters were very jealous of her charms and treated her very cruelly. They clothed her in rags that she might be ugly; and they cut off her long black hair; and they burned her face with coals from the fire that she might be scarred and disfigured. And they lied to their father, telling him that she had done these things herself. But the young girl was patient and kept her gentle heart and went gladly about her work.

Like other girls, the chief's two eldest daughters tried to win Strong Wind. One evening, as the day went down, they walked on the shore with Strong Wind's sister and waited for his coming. Soon he came home from his day's work, drawing his sled. And his sister asked as usual, "Do you see him?"

And each one, lying, answered "Yes."

And she asked, "Of what is his shoulder strap made?"

And each, guessing, said "Of rawhide."

Then they entered the tent where they hoped to see Strong Wind eating his supper; and when he took off his coat and his moccasins they could see them, but more than these they saw nothing. And Strong Wind knew that they had lied, and he kept himself from their sight, and they went home dismayed.

One day the chief's youngest daughter with her rags and her burnt face resolved to seek Strong Wind. She patched her clothes with bits of birch bark from the trees, and put on the few little ornaments she possessed, and went forth to try to see the Invisible One as all the other girls of the village had done before. And her sisters laughed at her and called her "fool"; and as she passed along the road all the people laughed at her because of her tattered frock and her burnt face, but silently she went her way.

Strong Wind's sister received the little girl kindly, and at twilight she took her to the beach. Soon Strong Wind came home drawing his sled. And his sister asked, "Do you see him?"

And the girl answered "No," and his sister wondered greatly because she spoke the truth.

And again she asked, "Do you see him now?"

And the girl answered, "Yes, and he is very wonderful."

And she asked, "With what does he draw his sled?"

And the girl answered, "With the Rainbow," and she was much afraid.

And she asked further, "Of what is his bowstring?"

And the girl answered, "His bowstring is the Milky Way."

Then Strong Wind's sister knew that because the girl had spoken the truth at first her brother had made himself visible to her. And she said, "Truly, you have seen him." And she took her home and bathed her, and all the scars disappeared from her face and body; and her hair grew long and black again like the raven's wing; and she gave her fine clothes to wear and many rich ornaments. Then she bade her take the wife's seat in the tent.

Soon Strong Wind entered and sat beside her, and called her his bride. The very next day she became his wife, and ever afterwards she helped him to do great deeds.

The girl's two elder sisters were very cross and they wondered greatly at what had taken place. But Strong Wind, who knew of their cruelty, resolved to punish them. Using his great power, he changed them both into aspen trees and rooted them in the earth. And since that day the leaves of the aspen have always trembled, and they shiver in fear at the approach of Strong Wind, it matters not how softly he comes, for they are still mindful of his great power and anger because of their lies and their cruelty to their sister long ago.

Source: Cyrus Macmillan, Canadian Wonder Tales (London: John Lane, 1920), pp. 116-19.

Cinderella Stories, the Collection : The Turkey Herd , Native American (Zuni)

2011-12-05T02:06:00.000-08:00

The Turkey Herd

Native American (Zuni)

Long ago at Kyakima lived a girl who spent all her time herding turkeys. She never did anything for her sisters. Nobody would comb her hair. It was all in a snarl. Her sisters would tell her to cook. They would say, "Why do you so love the turkeys?" She did not answer. After her sisters had cooked, she would take the bread and go out and tend the turkeys.

At Matsaki they were dancing lapalehakya (lapa>lapapoawe, "parrots;" lahakya, "tell").

They were dancing for the third time, when the turkey girl said, "Younger sisters [ahani]!"

The turkeys said, "What?"

The girl said, "I want to go and see the dance."

The turkeys said, "You are too dirty to go."

She repeated, "I want to go." The turkeys said, "Let us eat the lice out of her hair!"

Then each ate lice from her hair.

Then an elder-sister (kyauu) turkey clapped her wings, and down from the air fell women's moccasins (mokwawe). Then her younger sister (ikina) clapped her wings, and down from the air fell a blanket dress (yatone). Then another elder sister clapped her wings, and down from the air fell a belt (ehnina). A younger sister clapped her wings, and a pitone fell down. An elder sister clapped, and a blanket (eha) fell down. The little younger sister (an hani tsanna) clapped, and a hair belt (tsutokehnina) fell down.

An kyauu said, "Is this all you want?"

The girl said, "Yes." She put on the moccasins and the ehayatonana.

The turkeys put up her hair in a queue.

She said to the turkeys, "I will come back before sundown."

She went to her house, and made a little cloth bag, and filled it with meal. Then she went on to Matsaki.

Her sisters said, "Has she gone to the dance?"

One said, "Yes."

-- "She is too dirty to go."

After she reached Matsaki, as she stood there, the dance director (otakya mosi) asked if she would dance.

She said, "Yes." She danced all day. When the sun set, she finished dancing, and ran back to the turkeys.

The turkeys had said, when she did not come, "We must not go on living here. Our sister does not love us."

When she arrived, they were not there. They were on top of a little hill, singing:

Kyana to to
kyana to to
kyana to to ye
uli uli uli to to to to.

They flew down to Kyakima. They went on as fast as they could until they came to turkey tracks (tonateanawa). There they drank at the spring. Their tracks were from north, south, east, west. After they drank, they flew to Shoakoskwikwi. They reached a high rock. They sat on it, and sang:

Kyana to to
kyana to to
kyana to to ye
uli uli uli to to to to.

When awan kyauu arrived, the turkeys were not there. She saw their tracks. She followed the tracks on a run. At Tonateanawa she saw where they had drunk. She ran on. Then she lost their tracks. She went back to her house. The turkeys had flown to Shoakoskwikwi, to the spring there. That is why at Shoakoskwikwi you see wild turkeys. The girl came back to her house crying.

Her sisters said, "Don't cry! You did not return on time. You did not love them."

The girl stayed and cooked for her sisters. Thus it was long ago.

Source: Elsie Clews Parsons, "Pueblo-Indian Folk-Tales, Probably of Spanish Provenience," Journal of American Folklore vol. 31, no. 120 (April - June 1918), pp. 234-35.
Parsons' source: "Tsatiselu of Zuni."
Note by Parsons: "This is, I suggest, a Cinderella tale, the pattern in regard to the sisters being confused.

Cinderella Stories, the Collection : The Wicked Stepmother, Kashmir

2011-12-05T02:03:00.000-08:00

The Wicked Stepmother

Kashmir

One day a Brahman adjured his wife not to eat anything without him lest she should become a she goat. In reply the Brahman's wife begged him not to eat anything without her, lest he should be changed into a tiger. A long time passed by and neither of them broke their word, until one day the Brahman's wife, while giving food to her children, herself took a little to taste; and her husband was not present. That very moment she was changed into a goat.

When the Brahman came home and saw the she goat running about the house he was intensely grieved, because he knew that it was none other than his own beloved wife. He kept the goat tied up in the yard of his house, and tended it very carefully.

In a few years he married again, but this wife was not kind to the children. She at once took a dislike to them, and treated them unkindly and gave them little food. Their mother, the she goat, heard their complainings, and noticed that they were getting thin, and therefore called one of them to her secretly, and bade the child tell the others to strike her horns with a stick whenever they were very hungry, and some food would fall down for them. They did so, and instead of getting weaker and thinner, as their stepmother had expected, they became stronger and stronger. She was surprised to see them getting so fat and strong while she was giving them so little food.

In course of time a one-eyed daughter was born to this wicked woman. She loved the girl with all her heart, and grudged not any expense or attention that she thought the child required. One day, when the girl had grown quite big and could walk and talk well, her mother sent her to play with the other children, and ordered her to notice how and whence they obtained anything to eat. The girl promised to do so, and most rigidly stayed by them the whole day, and saw all that happened.

On hearing that the goat supplied her stepchildren with food the woman got very angry, and determined to kill the beast as soon as possible. She pretended to be very ill, and sending for the hakim, bribed him to prescribe some goat's flesh for her. The Brahman was very anxious about his wife's state, and although he grieved to have to slay the goat (for he was obliged to kill the goat, not having money to purchase another), yet he did not mind if his wife really recovered. But the little children wept when they heard this, and went to their mother, the she goat, in great distress, and told her everything.

"Do not weep, my darlings," she said. "It is much better for me to die than to live such a life as this. Do not weep. I have no fear concerning you. Food will be provided for you, if you will attend to my instructions. Be sure to gather my bones, and bury them all together in some secret place, and whenever you are very hungry go to that place and ask for food. Food will then be given you."

The poor she goat gave this advice only just in time. Scarcely had it finished these words and the children had departed than the butcher came with a knife and slew it. Its body was cut into pieces and cooked, and the stepmother had the meat, but the stepchildren got the bones. They did with them as they had been directed, and thus got food regularly and in abundance.

Some time after the death of the she goat one morning one of the stepdaughters was washing her face in the stream that ran by the house, when her nose ring unfastened and fell into the water. A fish happened to see it and swallowed it, and this fish was caught by a man and sold to the king's cook for his majesty's dinner. Great was the surprise of the cook when, on opening the fish to clean it, he found the nose ring. He took it to the king, who was so interested in it that he issued a proclamation and set it to every town and village in his dominions, that whosoever had missed a nose ring should apply to him. Within a few days the brother of the girl reported to the king that the nose ring belonged to his sister, who had lost it one day while bathing her face in the river. The king ordered the girl to appear before him, and was so fascinated by her pretty face and nice manner that he married her, and provided amply for the support of her family.

Source: J. Hinton Knowles, Folk-Tales of Kashmir (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner, and Company, 1893), pp. 127-29.
Type 511.

Cinderella Stories, the Collection : The Baba Yaga Russia (Aleksandr Afanasyev)

2011-12-05T02:01:00.000-08:00

The Baba Yaga

Russia (Aleksandr Afanasyev)

Once upon a time there was an old couple. The husband lost his wife and married again. But he had a daughter by the first marriage, a young girl, and she found no favor in the eyes of her evil stepmother, who used to beat her, and consider how she could get her killed outright. One day the father went away somewhere or other, so the stepmother said to the girl, "Go to your aunt, my sister, and ask her for a needle and thread to make you a shift."

Now that aunt was a Baba Yaga. Well, the girl was no fool, so she went to a real aunt of hers first, and says she, "Good morning, auntie!"

"Good morning, my dear! What have you come for?"

"Mother has sent me to her sister, to ask for a needle and thread to make me a shift."

Then her aunt instructed her what to do. "There is a birch tree there, niece, which would hit you in the eye -- you must tie a ribbon round it; there are doors which would creak and bang -- you must pour oil on their hinges; there are dogs which would tear you in pieces -- you must throw them these rolls; there is a cat which would scratch your eyes out -- you must give it a piece of bacon."

So the girl went away, and walked and walked, till she came to the place. There stood a hut, and in it sat weaving the Baba Yaga, the bony-shanks.

"Good morning, auntie," says the girl.

"Good morning, my dear," replies the Baba Yaga.

" Mother has sent me to ask you for a needle and thread to make me a shift."

"Very well; sit down and weave a little in the meantime."

So the girl sat down behind the loom, and the Baba Yaga went outside, and said to her servant maid, "Go and heat the bath, and get my niece washed; and mind you look sharp after her. I want to breakfast off her."

Well, the girl sat there in such a fright that she was as much dead as alive. Presently she spoke imploringly to the servant maid, saying, "Kinswoman dear, do please wet the firewood instead of making it burn; and fetch the water for the bath in a sieve." And she made her a present of a handkerchief.

The Baba Yaga waited awhile; then she came to the window and asked, "Are you weaving, niece? Are you weaving, my dear?"

"Oh yes, dear aunt, I'm weaving."

So the Baba Yaga went away again, and the girl gave the cat a piece of bacon, and asked, "Is there no way of escaping from here?"

"Here's a comb for you and a towel," said the cat; "take them, and be off. The Baba Yaga will pursue you, but you must lay your ear on the ground, and when you hear that she is close at hand, first of all, throw down the towel. It will become a wide, wide river. And if the Baba Yaga gets across the river, and tries to catch you, then you must lay your ear on the ground again, and when you hear that she is close at hand, throw down the comb. It will become a dense, dense forest; through that she won't be able to force her way anyhow."

The girl took the towel and the comb and fled. The dogs would have rent her, but she threw them the rolls, and they let her go by; the doors would have begun to bang, but she poured oil on their hinges, and they let her pass through; the birch tree would have poked her eyes out, but she tied the ribbon around it, and it let her pass on. And the cat sat down to the loom, and worked away; muddled everything about, if it didn't do much weaving.

Up came the Baba Yaga to the window, and asked, "Are you weaving, niece? Are you weaving, my dear?"

"I'm weaving, dear aunt, I'm weaving," gruffly replied the cat.

The Baba Yaga rushed into the hut, saw that the girl was gone, and took to beating the cat, and abusing it for not having scratched the girl's eyes out. "Long as I've served you," said the cat, "you've never given me so much as a bone; but she gave me bacon." Then the Baba Yaga pounced upon the dogs, on the doors, on the birch tree, and on the servant maid, and set to work to abuse them all, and to knock them about.

Then the dogs said to her, "Long as we've served you, you've never so much as pitched us a burnt crust; but she gave us rolls to eat."

And the doors said, "Long as we've served you, you've never poured even a drop of water on our hinges; but she poured oil on us."

The birch tree said, "Long as I've served you, you've never tied a single thread around me; but she fastened a ribbon around me."

And the servant maid said, "Long as I've served you, you've never given me so much as a rag; but she gave me a handkerchief."

The Baba Yaga, bony of limb, quickly jumped into her mortar, sent it flying along with the pestle, sweeping away the while all traces of its flight with a broom, and set off in pursuit of the girl. Then the girl put her ear to the ground, and when she heard that the Baba Yaga was chasing her, and was now close at hand, she flung down the towel. And it became a wide, such a wide river! Up came the Baba Yaga to the river, and gnashed her teeth with spite; then she went home for her oxen, and drove them to the river. The oxen drank up every drop of the river, and then the Baba Yaga began the pursuit anew. But the girl put her ear to the ground again, and when she heard that the Baba Yaga was near, she flung down the comb, and instantly a forest sprang up, such an awfully thick one! The Baba Yaga began gnawing away at it, but however hard she worked, she couldn't gnaw her way through it, so she had to go back again.

But by this time the girl's father had returned home, and he asked, "Where's my daughter?"

"She's gone to her aunt's," replied her stepmother.

Soon afterwards the girl herself came running home.

" Where have you been?" asked her father.

"Ah, father!" she said, "mother sent me to aunt's to ask for a needle and thread to make me a shift. But aunt's a Baba Yaga, and she wanted to eat me!"

"And how did you get away, daughter?"

"Why like this," said the girl, and explained the whole matter. As soon as her father had heard all about it, he became wroth with his wife, and shot her. But he and his daughter lived on and flourished, and everything went well with them.

Source: W. R. S. Ralston, Russian Folk-Tales (London: Smith, Elder, and Company, 1873), pp. 139-42.
Type 313H*.
Ralston's source: Aleksandr Afanasyev.