.:: My Little Moments ::.

Living in the Past

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:10:00 +0000

It's already February but I'm still in a Christmas-y mode. My heart, my mind and my thoughts are still lingering with memories of our wonderful winter vacation in Hong Kong and Macau.

Ergo this entry provides me with the perfect excuse to post more Yuletide pictures from our trip, even though it is already February! :D

MGM Grand Hotel, Macau

Senado Square, Macau

Hong Kong Winterfest, Statue Square, Central

The Body Shop along Queen's Road Central

Along Hennessy Road, Wanchai

The IFC Mall with the theme "Where Dreams come True"

Statue Square, Central

Lan Kwai Fong

The Pacific Place Mall

Leal Senado Square, Macau

Macau

IFC Tower One Mall

Grand Lisboa Hotel, Macau

Hong Kong Disneyland (December 22, 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:28:00 +0000

In all my 43 years of existence, I've never set foot in Disneyland ... until December 22, 2011. Imagine that!

A few days before Christmas, we decided to have an early start and shoved off to the amusement park to see Mickey Mouse and his friends.

Unlike Universal Studios in Singapore where it was sooo warm and humid, exploring Disneyland in 14 deg. C weather was quite pleasant.

We took a bus across the street from my sister's flat and alighted at the MTR station. From Hong Kong station, it is a scenic 25 minutes ride all the way to Sunny Bay station where you alight to transfer to the Disneyland train. (15 minutes ride)

I was amazed that the train was jam packed with people even though it was a weekday. So I guess they were mostly tourists (like us) visiting Hong Kong. Naturally there were long queues to all the rides. My parents were with us so we were quite selective when it came to the rides. So no roller coasters (not that I would even attempt) and no rides where you might get wet.

But everyone agreed that we would all go on the carousel. After lining up for almost 20 minutes, it was our turn. Here's where it turned into a funny incident. When it was my turn, 'the horse' was quite high. I couldn't reach the pedal to haul myself over it. I was getting flustered. My parents were bowling over in laughter. While D who was a few horses away had no idea of my predicament and by that time he was already in his 'photo shoot' zone.

After several embarrassing tries to get on the horse, I nearly gave up. Until D finally realized what was going on so he practically carried me so I could ride the carousel. It was way too embarrassing. I was laughing so much I almost peed in my jeans. It was an experience I would never ever forget! Until now they still tease me about that hilarious carousel ride. :D

My favorite part is when darkness fell and the entire Disneyland was all lighted up. I bought a Minnie Mouse headband and didn't feel embarrassed at all even if I looked like a kid!

The fireworks display near the main Tinkerbell castle at 9pm was amazingly awesome!

Photographs and Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:50:00 +0000

They say that when you travel with your partner that's when you truly discover his/her true personality. Well I'd have to admit that is quite true. On our recent trip to Hong Kong, I discovered that although D is quite adept in packing and repacking matters, he was/is the ultimate photo trigger happy person. He took pictures of everything and I mean everything!

The thing is we are the proud owner(s) of only ONE digital camera. Heck I would even go as far as saying that it is MY camera. It was a gift from my sister and I'd had it way before we got married. But since I'm a kind person, if I may say so myself, I would let him use it.

You see, D has developed this keen interest in photography. I admit he has a good eye when it comes to capturing unique angles. My sister has her iPhone which she now uses for everything even taking pictures. So I 'borrowed' her Sony digicam for the entire duration of the trip. So D had 'my' digicam at his disposal.

Eventually 'his.wandering.off.to.take.pictures.persona' totally irritated me to no end. There were moments when I had to stay behind and let my parents and sister go ahead because I had to wait until he got back from God knows where to take pictures. He is what you call a 'slow' photographer, for want of a better word. He would wander off and study the area, position himself from awkward angles just to snap a picture of let's say the dome of a church. He would also take pictures at his own pace which in my opinion is quite slow.

At one point, I was so irritated I just left him and went ahead with my family. When he was finally able to catch up with us, I gave him the silent treatment for 2 days. It isn't in my nature to do so but enough was enough. :D I believe he got the hint because the next day he gave the digicam back for me to use.

My main issue was not the fact that he was hogging the camera. Honestly I didn't mind. What I minded was his slow pace. He was traveling with 4 other people who had to constantly wait for him to 'show' up. It got on my nerves.

For me, a trip is about bonding together and enjoying the scenery. It goes without saying that we should take pictures to capture the moments. But when the trip turns into a big photo shoot opportunity then it ruins the entire picture.

Speaking of pictures from this recent trip, I've been quite busy sorting out the thousands of photos he took. He wants me crop and edit the pictures before he uploads them on FB. So while he is quite adept at taking pictures, he isn't patient enough to do his own 'editing' since he is busy with work. Me, I'm not open to the idea of 'photoshopped' pictures. I posted the ones I took as they were taken. Naturally I picked out the ones where I didn't look like a fat cow. :D

How about you? Do you edit your pictures before you upload them on FB or Flickr? I'd like to hear your comments on this tedious chore.

Gastronomic feast

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:30:00 +0000

They say the best way to immerse in the culture of a nation is by partaking of their local cuisine. Eat where the locals eat to truly enrich your visiting experience. But after a while, your taste buds tend to savor something different than the usual fare. Thankfully, Hong Kong has an interesting mix of various cuisine to offer!

Since it was very chilly outside, hotpot where you cook your own food was a favorite hangout. This was taken at the Budaoweng HotPot Cuisine located at iSquare Mall, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It is located at the 23rd floor of the mall so it offers a fantastic view of Hong Kong.

Ebeneezer's had really appetizing shawarmas. It has several branches all over Hong Kong. After we explored the Lan Kwai Fong area, we decided to take out from this kebab place. It was yummy!

We had Beijing cuisine at a small nook on Caine Road. The restaurant is called Hometown Dumplings and it served mostly mainland (Beijing) Chinese food.

I ordered this Hokkaido Scallop Ramen from AjiSen Ramen, a Japanese restaurant. It was huge but I was famished so I managed to gobble it all down.

We dined at Thai Pad on New Year's day. They serve authentic Thai food which aren't too spicy for our discriminating palette.

Naturally we had Portuguese food when we visited Macau. This oxtail stew at NOW Cafe was delicious!

We merely had to cross the street from my sister's flat and voila a hotpot restaurant for you! We loved it so much we ate at Ying Kee Hotpot Restaurant quite frequently due to its very convenient location.

This 3 kinds of roasted meat was one of our orders at a restaurant in Queens Road West. Until now we don't know its name since the sign (as well as the menu) was in Chinese characters. We had a difficult time communicating with the staff who didn't speak English and ended up ordering by pointing at the pictures on their menu!

It was German cuisine at King Ludwig Beerhall located at the Murray House in Stanley. Huge platter of different kings of sausages filled our tummy after a long day of exploring Stanley.

We had lunch at Cadogan Pho, a Vietnamese restaurant after hearing mass at St Anthony's church. We were too hungry to take pictures of the food and only remembered to snap a shot of the place after we stepped out into the cool breeze.

For Christmas lunch we ate at Bayi, a Mongolian restaurant. Their menu consists mostly lamb dishes like this lamb stew with cumin.

Here we are all smiles at The Corner Cafe in Disneyland, Hong Kong. Their American fare was quite filling (huge portions).

A few tips while dining out in Hong Kong:
1) Portions are quite big for one person. My hubby and I would normally just share one dish.

2) Most menus are in Chinese but some restaurants have English menus so always ask before you enter the premises.

3) Bring your own tissue paper because they don't serve napkins.

4) They don't have fork and spoon so you must learn to use chopsticks. My father never learned to use chopsticks so we always brought along a pair of cutlery for him to use whenever we dined out. At one restaurant, we completely forgot about it and it was cleared along with the dishes after we had finished dining. Boy oh boy, we had such a hard time explaining to the waitress (who didn't speak English) that the fork and spoon were ours. After several hand gestures and sign language she finally understood and ran off to the kitchen to retrieve the fork and spoon.

5) Lastly, bring along your sense of humor as well as huge amounts of patience because frankly the inability to communicate with the servers can be very very frustrating, annoying and quite irritating to say the least! hehehe

Happy Lunar New Year!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:04:00 +0000

Let's usher in the year of the dragon.

Gold dragon hanging on the ceiling at the City of Dreams in Macau.

Dragon display in the Wanchai district of Hong Kong island

First impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:40:00 +0000

1982 was the very first time I set foot in Hong Kong. We were going back to Manila after spending 10 years overseas. So they (my parents) thought it was a good idea to stopover in Hong Kong for a few days before we headed back to 'home base'.

It was the month of August in the year 1982, Hong Kong was sweltering in the summer heat. Ergo, my very first impression of this city state wasn't very pleasant. I remember sweating profusely due to the humidity (big adjustment as we had just come from Europe) and the very warm summer weather. The place where we stayed was small and dusty and it was located in some dark alley. The streets had this distinct "oriental" flavor/odor that was quite revolting for someone who was raised in Europe. Kadiri talaga!

Fast forward to 2009. My sister and I were planning a trip for our parents 41st wedding anniversary. She suggested Hong Kong. I said sure why not? We availed of a package that included airfare, accommodations, HK city tour + a day tour to Macau. We only spent 4 days and 3 nights in a three star hotel in Kowloon during the winter month of February. But I tell you, it (the short trip) completely and utterly changed my whole view about Hong Kong in a heartbeat!

2011 - my sister got a new job and had to relocate to Hong Kong. Her flat isn't as big as her 2 bedroom unit in Singapore but we (all 5 of us) managed to fit in nicely. Her 8th floor studio was fully furnished with all the basic necessities. Her Bathroom Floor Tiles were a sparkling shade of grey. The flat itself is in a building that is centrally located in the dried goods district of Hong Kong. All modes of transportation were easily within reach of her front door. But by far, our favorite means to get around to explore Hong Kong was the double decker tram. Cheap, comfortable and quite cute! :D

I'm glad that I had a chance to erase my horrible first impression of this city state. I saw with my very own eyes how much it had progressed since 1982 and I fell in love with its enticing charms.

Stanley, Hong Kong (December 21, 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0000

My sister has been so busy in her new job that she barely finds the time to explore Hong Kong. She told us her list of places to visit was quite long. Besides it ain't really fun to venture out to new places by your lonesome self.

One of the places in her (long) list was Stanley. This waterfront town located in the southeastern part of Hong Kong is a favorite hang out for the locals and expats. A peaceful and serene environment along with the fresh sea breeze are its main attraction. The journey aboard a double decker aircon bus is a scenic route through narrow zigzag roads. It offers a fantastic view of the whole of Hong Kong island especially if you sit on the upper deck. You pass by posh bungalows and towering condominiums in the Aberdeen area. You also get a panoramic view of Repulse Bay with its pristine beaches.

Once you reach Stanley, the must see places are the Stanley Market, a bazaar (tiangge), the Murray House ( a Victorian era colonial building that now houses various fine dining restaurants), the Stanley Plaza an upscale mall. It also has a waterfront with a wide promenade. A nice place for a date or a pleasant venue to simply soak in the fresh sea breeze.

HK Day One (December 17, 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:55:00 +0000

The eve of our departure I was so tired I could barely sleep. Our flight was at 5:40 AM but if you live in this fair metropolis, you would know that you need to make sure you got ample time to make it to the airport. The airlines demand you be there 3 hours before your flight. So by 2:30 AM we were on our way to the airport. There was a slight drizzle when we got out of the condo and it became heavier as we approached the airport. There were long queues everywhere. At the entrance to the airport, at the X ray machines even the the check in counters. It seems everyone was leaving on that day for the holidays.

But eventually it was time to pass by the immigration counters. If you have ever gone through the customs/immigration counters at our local airports, you'd know it's best you have all the necessary papers/documents to be shown upon their request.I was well prepared. I had photocopies of my passport, our return e-ticket, my credit cards as well as my sister's HK identity card. The exchange was pleasant enough. It was like small talk, she asked where D worked, what I did for a living, asked us if we were going for vacation, how long would we be away etc. She stamps our passports and we were off to the security check counters when suddenly I heard someone say 'excuse me' twice.

I turn around and it was the immigration officer who wanted to clarify something with us. She was addressing D: "Excuse me po, di ba state U ang PUP?" We nod, yes. "Kung ganoon po eh dapat meron kayong travel authority kasi government employee po kayo." At this point, I must have turned pale as my heart sank. This is the first time (since we got married and we've traveled together) that we were asked to produce this document. D looks at me and shrugs. Since we didn't have this document, we were asked to seat down while she went to verify this requirement with her superiors.

At this point, D tells me if he is prevented from leaving that I should just go ahead and he would re-book and just travel the following week. I was livid, I told him I wasn't leaving without him. This was preposterous. Travel authorities are only required under martial law. D was trying his best to calm me down. To make the long story short, she comes back and tells us: "Sige po sa ngayon makakaalis kayo pero sa susunod po kailangan meron kayo travel authority kung may biyahe overseas." We turn around and almost ran off lest we were prevented from leaving. :D

D kept laughing during the flight as he recounted how I seemed like I was about to faint and/or cry when we were questioned. I admit I was aghast. Then I was angry. Then I simply chalked it up to some nuisance or 'aberya' that people in 'high' places do to harass people from leaving. Not fair at all but it happens!

Anyhoo! Onwards to our first day in Hong Kong. Here we are on the Airport Express. A super efficient train that transports you from the Hong Kong International Airport to the city in just 20 minutes. It was clean, it was fast, it was cheap and a very convenient way to get to the city. Fabulous, I'd tell you!

After we dropped off our luggage at my sister's flat, we were off to explore HK. After a quick lunch at the HK Convention Center, we took the star ferry to cross over to the Kowloon side. Our first stop (on foot, mind you!) was the 1881 Heritage.

This majestic mall is located on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. This area of 130,000 sq ft. features a shopping mall, a heritage hotel, and an exhibition hall.

The original site of 1881 Heritage was the headquarters of the Hong Kong Marine Police from the 1880s to 1996. The buildings' unique Victorian architecture epitomizes its rich colonial background.

It was a weekend so I believe most of HK was out shopping. Nathan Road was jam packed with people so we entered another mall to escape from the crowd.
K11 is a shopping mall with 6 floors and it is located beneath the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui.

It is described as the world's first art mall. There are artworks everywhere. The venue also plays hosts to several foreign film festivals. This Mona Lisa mural is made up entirely of loaves of bread.

Their Christmas decor was themed Renoir Christmas Dance which featured the setting of the masterpiece "Le Bal au Moulin de la Galette" by the leading French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Then we walked all the way from Tsim Sha Tsui to the Avenue of the Stars. This waterfront promenade offers a fantastic view of the skyscrapers at the Hong Kong island side. This also features the hand prints of famous Chinese stars like Jet Li, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to name a few.

It was late in the evening and temperatures were starting to drop. So it was time to put on my woollen blazer and my hoodie to protect me from the strong winds. It was chilly but I loved it.

The view across was fantastic especially when darkness set upon us and the building were all lighted up for the Yuletide season.

First post for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:55:00 +0000

We're back. Things were too hectic for me to sit down and compose a proper blog entry while we were in Hong Kong. Our vacation was so much fun and we all had a lovely time. I totally enjoyed the wintry weather and as I sit here drenched in sweat while I type this post, I utterly wished we had winter in this country. It felt so good to just walk around the neighborhood (even though we had to wear thick clothes) with cold air and pollution free climate enveloping you in its entirety.

But whereas the climate was such a refreshing change, the downside to our HK visit was our inability to communicate with the locals in their native tongue. They hardly or rather didn't speak a single word of English and would converse with you in Chinese!!! It was so difficult to even order a meal in a restaurant. WE had to ask for English menu then simply point at the pictures to get our orders in. More often than not, they would get the orders totally wrong so we end up eating some strange chow that wasn't to our liking. Blah.

We also managed to take a side trip to Macau and bask in its "sin city" splendor. Casino hopping was a charming way to explore this former colony of Portugal. And to rest our tired feet, we would sit and 'gamble' away at the very entertaining slot machines. After a few minutes of not winning or (hitting the jackpot) I eventually get bored so I would just wander around the massive hotels and explore it with my digicam.

22 days of 'vacation' time can be pretty tiring if you go out every single day and take public transport to reach tourist attractions and then queue for hours to get in. So unfortunately, it took its toll on my health and I had to nurse a bad cough, a stiff neck (this came out of nowhere!) and my monthly 'visitor' all at the same time. So the last few days was spent cooped inside my sister's flat with tons of medicines, tissue papers and a clogged nose for company. But by then I had basically done everything on my 'to-see' and 'to-do' list so I just rested and slept most of the time.

On that note, I still have to gather my thoughts on how to best blog about 'how I spent my Christmas holidays' post entries. Until then, I leave you with this stunning image I snapped of the IFC Tower taken during the New Year's Eve countdown and the fireworks display that ensued.

Happy 2012, everyone! =)

Happy Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 +0000

Hectic with a capital "H" is the word I would describe these past few days but we finally managed to do every errand within the nick of time.

We're off shortly to the airport for our early morning flight. D & D are off to a land where Disney, dim sum and delightful weather reign supreme! So we wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas filled with much food, laughter and love. =)

Last minute plans

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:15:00 +0000

It was already the first week of November when my sister informed us, she won't be able to come home for the holidays. For one, she just started a new job. Secondly, she has to travel for a trade show mid January 2012.

My mother was sad but accepted it. Until. I suggested that it would be a good idea if they (mom and dad) would spend the holidays in HK. Mom immediately approved. Dad was worried about the financial aspect. ~~I robbed a bank.~~ Then I booked their airfares, online. I wasn't able to avail of the promo fares since it was already peak season but nevertheless it was imperative that bunso won't be alone during the holidays.

They got all excited. Mom got really busy with her list of things to buy, things to bring, things to pack. I was resigned to the fact that D and I would be having a simple noche buena for two. Anyways, we would just 'skype' each other.

December 2, D announces he has a plan. We should just go there and surprise them. I panicked. I am not a last minute gal. I make arrangements at least 3 months in advance. I wasn't warming up to the idea. Are you mad? I said. How do you expect us to reach bunso's flat? I don't know my way around HK. It is too late. The ticket prices would be exorbitant. Well, he had this look on his face that meant he was serious and that I was to just make it happen. Bahala na raw ako.

To cut the long story short, my parents are leaving tomorrow afternoon. We will 'show' up on Saturday morning. The logistics have been mapped out. Everything is set for the traveling part.

But I haven't packed. Most of my 'winter' clothes are in the condo. I have yet to sort them out. But I can only do so once my parents leave. I got all cranky that we are leaving in 3 days and we haven't done anything. Last night, D comes home and folded all the clothes he was bringing. I got more upset because apparently his bulky clothes would fill up the entire luggage. But he kept asking me 'how many socks?', 'how many tees?', 'how many sweatshirts?' I answered and now I've ran out of space in the luggage so I guess I'm to blame ha?

In the meantime, there are other things that need attention. I believe we are running out of time to complete all the tasks. But D keeps telling me to relax and stop stressing out. But I can't help it. I don't do good under pressure. I even snapped at him that he bought groceries when I was trying to clear the ref of any perishables. I better relax before I blow a fuse. I will try to get excited about the holidays. Although I am already really tired just preparing for the trip. Phew.

Happy Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:25:00 +0000

I have no idea if these Humboldt penguins know how to sing and dance like their counterparts in that highly successful animated movie but they were certainly cute to ogle at.

When we entered the room, I thought they were part of the display, it was only when one of them moved that I noticed they were real. I was a bit disappointed that you cannot see them at eye level, they are contained inside a glass enclosure which I assume is air conditioned.

But I'm still glad I saw real penguins even though we live in a tropical land. :D

Yuletide cheers

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:08:00 +0000

December is upon us! As well as the horrendous traffic jams, the frenzied shopping sprees at the crowded malls. But this cutesy song with a meaningful message by the Jackson 5 is my current favorite Christmas song. I keep humming the tune to keep myself upbeat during all the hectic rush.

An outing este a date pala

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:50:00 +0000

For the longest time I've been hankering D about going to Manila Ocean Park to see the Humboldt penguins. As luck would have it, they have this special promo this Holiday season. For the price of 600 pesos, you get a ticket for the oceanarium and the Penguin exhibit. It was D's first time to go to Manila Ocean Park while it was my second time so we might as well take advantage of this promo.

We got there early but I guess not early enough since there were bus loads of kids on field trips all waiting to enter the premises. Luckily they had a separate line but once you get inside, it is a shoving and pushing match for the first one to get a clear view of the aquariums. Total chaos. But since D is tall, I gave him the camera to snap away while tiny me was being crushed by the throes of noisy, unruly kids. It's good that it was my second time so I just breezed through most of them. :D

Some of the shots were blurry because it is difficult to capture a moving target like schools of fish who swim happily in its enclosure. Or it could also be due to the shoving and pushing one must endure for a nice shot of the aquariums.

But overall I had fun! The penguins deserve a separate post.

Optical Illusion

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:20:00 +0000

Last May, we were capturing the sunset as it was fading away in a beach resort in Morong Bataan. A side trip during our Subic outing.

Is it just me or does the picture below resemble an ultrasound of a baby inside a womb?

What do you think?

Lights

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:17:00 +0000

After almost 2 months of staying with a good friend, my sister was finally able to secure her own flat. Rent prices in that part of the globe are exorbitant so she has to make do with a studio. It is sparsely furnished with the bare essentials but it is her own little sanctuary now.

She told me about her shopping trips to several household items stores to canvass prices for some items she would be needing for her studio. She recounted how she somehow found herself in a shop that sold lights of all shapes and sizes. From mini pendant lights, lampshades, bedside lamps to grand chandeliers, the store was fully stocked.

Since I cannot physically accompany her during these shopping trips, she would send me several photos of items she intends to purchase. My inbox is filled with pictures of electronic appliances, household fixtures and pieces of furniture. She also emails 'before and after' pictures of her flat as she slowly but surely furnishes it to her liking. I can't wait to visit her next year! :D

My reality

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:35:00 +0000

Immediately after I posted my previous entry (the recipes), I had to rush over to the condo to take care of my parents who were both stricken with acute gastroenteritis. I tell you it is heartbreaking to see one's parents so weak and hardly able to fend for themselves. It is a reversal of roles when the very persons who raised you since you were born are now the ones who need to be nurtured.

I've always pictured my parents as strong willed individuals who can do anything and everything for us, their kids. But they are in their mid seventies now and they are quite vulnerable to any number of illnesses which can take a heavy toll on their frail bodies. But such is life.

It just puts me in a very dark and sentimental place where I get crestfallen, easily. I was so stressed out (well not from taking care of them) from thinking about their mortality, I gave myself an upset stomach. I kept throwing up every 20 minutes which sort of threw them off the loop. They thought I was infanticipating. Well bad news, I'm NOT. :D

Thankfully, all is well in parents land, now. I'm still quite tired, truth be told. I hardly got any sleep last night because the neighbor's 3 year old brat was having a tantrum fit! He was rousing the entire neighborhood with his loud bawling, howling cries for attention at freaking two in the morning. Gosh, what a lovely way to welcome me back to my own little shop of horrors reality show. A show where I am an unwilling participant. Lord, have mercy!

Recipe finder

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:55:00 +0000

I admit I was a spoiled brat. Growing up, my mother would prepare all of our meals and I would just show up at the dining table to eat. :D But I did know how to chop ingredients, boil water, fry meat from canned goods. I was good in tasting though. My mom would trust my palette and make me taste the dishes to see if it needed more seasoning.

I got married 3 years ago and luckily D knows how to cook. He is my top chef, master chef all rolled into one. But he works long hours so as not to starve, I learned to make simple dishes. My mom is just a text message away so I can ask her anything.

The Internet is loaded with informational websites which feature various recipes for dinner ideas. Over at recipe finder, you simply type in a dish and many options show up on screen. It has a menu finder which is easy to use. The recipes come with its own instructional video so you can view how each dish is prepared.

Great! Now I have no excuse to stay away from the kitchen. There's what I decided to cook for tonight's dinner: Beef Mechado.

If you could only have one ....

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:36:00 +0000

I got tagged by Toni from Wifely Steps to do this meme. Here are my answers! :D

IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE _______ FOR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

1. Condiment: Mayonnaise. I have it with everything from hot dogs, tuna sandwich, dumplings, pork chops to fish.

2. City to live in: Paris, France. I've visited this city of lights several times but it would be utterly lovely if I could inhabit there. I would get to converse in my (now) rusty French and get an apartment where I can see the Eiffel Tower from my window, all the time!

This picture was taken circa 1998. I was 30 years old and several, several, several pounds lighter! I had a manual camera hanging around my neck in the days of yore before every gadget became digital. Ah yes the good old days!

3. Place to vacation to: Italy. A country blessed with a very rich and colorful history, great cuisine and peppered with many cities. I sure would love to go back and revisit all of them.

4. Colour to wear: Any shade of blue. This means I can wear jeans all the time without feeling under dressed!

5. Celebrity/Character crush: Johnny Depp He happens to live in the south of France so I just might go pay him a visit at the drop of a hat!

6. Dessert to eat: Ice cream. Who doesn't love ice cream?? I can eat different flavors each day.

7. Book to read: This is a bit difficult since I make it a habit not to read a book again once I'm done with it. But I'd have to say "The Global Soul" by Pico Iyer. There were some chapters in that book which had some deeper meaning so it would be interesting to interpret them.

8. Television series to watch: The Amazing Race. A great 'travel' show with massive dosage of realism (thus it is a reality show) coupled with a good insight into the relationships among and between the racers. They say you only truly get to know someone once you have traveled together. What more if you are traveling under pressure and with time constraints? That's when the bickering starts. Game on!

9. Cartoon character as a roommate: Tintin. So I can go on numerous adventures with him. Not sure I have that much energy, though.

10. Type of food to eat (assuming that we can sustain ourselves easily off of one thing): Clam Chowder. It is a complete meal. It has soup, veggies and seafood.

Beanie bean

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:59:00 +0000

Ah yes the old reliable Mr bean is truly one of life's simple pleasures. The picture was in reference to a tiny stall which sold numerous varieties/flavors of the soya bean beverage. When I saw it in Singapore I thought it was the cutest thing ever. You notice how the bean has tiny legs and a grin that suggests it is savoring something delicious. Well the signage is cute not the drink, itself. I tasted it once and I almost threw up with disgust. Yuck, me don't like! Hehehe.

Well this post is about beans, specifically kidney beans as a key ingredient to some of my favorite recipes. These includes my version of flaming hot chili con carne, my mother's own soup recipe which consists of kidney beans with pork belly and the good old pork and beans (although lately you might need a magnifying glass to find the pork!).

But even though I love to eat kidney beans, it does have its disadvantages. It gives me gas and it makes my joints (specifically my knees) ache! The latter probably has got to do with genetics and my advancing age. :D Ergo, I only partake beans in moderation.

Tabemashou!

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:37:00 +0000

A couple of days ago, we visited my father in law's grave at the Loreto Church in Bustillos, Manila. Unlike the images you see on TV of the throngs of people at the public cemeteries, his crypt is enclosed in an air conditioned sanctuary. You can sit down and reflect in the silence of your heart. We stayed for about an hour.

Then we headed to Trinoma for a very late lunch. I wanted Japanese food so we ate at Teriyaki Boy. We were quiet as we practically gulped down our food. I was starving! Then D noticed that the texture of the table was the same as the one where we had our first date. You see our very first date was at a branch of Teriyaki Boy in the old Greenbelt area. It was also his very first time to eat at this Japanese eatery. Since then it has been our favorite 'dating' place. A place where we celebrate important occasions in our wedded life.

Towards the end of our meal, I lamented that the Teriyaki Boy branch in Greenbelt has been torn down and replaced by another restaurant. I sighed as I told D that most of the places where we celebrated our 'firsts' were no longer in existence. He retorted by saying:

"Never mind, those are just places ... What's more important is we are still happily together".

I couldn't agree more! A rare romantic side of my hubby surfaced that day. He is growing wise(r) in his old age! :D

Hanging bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:40:00 +0000

In my single days, I used to watch movies a lot. I would basically camp out at movie theaters during foreign film festivals and (tried) to watch all the movies in the line-up. When we were first dating, D & I used to watch movies every weekend before hearing mass. It was only when we got married that I found out he was not really a movie buff. He just accompanied me because he knew it was my favorite hobby in the whole wide world. Back then, I thought it was a sweet gesture on his part. 3 years into our marriage, I've accepted the fact that movie watching isn't on his list of things to do. But I manage to sustain my hobby through the ever reliable Internet.

My sister who recently relocated to HK, finds herself in the same quandary. Her small circle of (new) friends, acquaintances don't seem to share her interests. This includes watching movies at cinemas. So nowadays when we chat at Skype, we would spend hours discussing the films we've seen, compare notes and recommend to each other several movies. It almost feels like we are members of Oprah's book club except we discuss films instead of novels.

I'm not really complaining about my hubby's lack of interest in my hobbies. :D Marriage is about adjusting one's expectations and simply making do with what wedded life has to offer. It is pretty much like that hanging bridge in the picture above. You know once you step on it, it would get shaky and tough yet you still go for it. But you face it armed with enough strength and tenacity to handle each and every shake that comes along the way with relentless determination until you reach the other side. Let's march on!

Retail therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:10:00 +0000

Shopping for clothes has been quite a chore now that I've gained weight. The pretty green blouse that looks exquisite on the display rack would look hideous on me. Perhaps due to the letter 'X' attached to the size. So in honor of my 43rd birthday, I just went for the next best thing: shoes! :D

My 43rd birthday lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:43:00 +0000

Venue: Robinsons Galleria.
Lunch: Mr Choi Kitchen.
Coffee: Figaro.
Blueberry Cheese cake: checked! :D

Letter to myself

noreply@blogger.com (Daphn3 LaurA) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:19:00 +0000

Dear me,

You know how people tend to feel down whenever their birthday approaches, well I know you feel the same. Even though you have always felt young both physically and at heart, somehow life has a way of rubbing it in when you try your darnest best to deny it. For instance, when you wake up in the mornings and you feel some ache in your joints. I also know you feel old when you visit your OB-GYN's clinic and you are the oldest one there. Not to mention, the only one without a 'big belly'.

Well yes so you turn 43, today. I suggest you embrace it with your head held high and a smile in your heart. It is best to just enjoy life and quit torturing yourself with unnecessary stress and worries which keep you up at nights.

You are already blessed with supportive parents, a generous sister and a loving husband. Just count your blessings and be grateful for them. You are already experiencing a life far beyond your wildest expectations. So cherish it and learn to accept that certain things are meant to be, whether you like it or not.

Happy birthday. Enjoy your day. Go have that blueberry cheese cake you have been craving for days now. You deserve it more than you think you do!