The Beauty of Flying

Going up, up and above the clouds somehow gives a euphoric feeling.

In the same way as when I am on a long distance bus travel, the longer the flight means a longer chance to sit and introspect. These are the moments when I truly appreciate the beauty of flying and traveling in general.

And of course you get to see the literal beauty up there as the wings of the aircraft slice through the fluffy white clouds in the bright blue sky. The red-orange rays of the sun give an added life to the flight and surely a great view for the shutter-bugs on board. No matter how many sunrises and sunsets I have seen, I still feel in awe.

Oh yes, I am going home and spending the holiday with the family. Happy new year!

VivoCity Christmas Express

The base of the Christmas tree at VivoCity is a detailed picture of an old train station wrapped around it.

Sparkling

To experience an aerial view of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, you have to go up the Menara KL viewing deck.

There is a long queue in going up there, but it is worth waiting as you'll be dazed by a beautifully-sculptured glass crystal ceiling of the elevator lobby.

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One Stop View of the City

It is great to be up there!

Kuala Lumpur Tower or Menara KL as locally called is one of the tallest standing structures in the world. It is utilized for telecommunications purposes and for tourism. It is open to the public, but you have to pay for RM 47. The price of entry, however, is worth the view plus it gives you a pass to an animal zoo and a small cultural village.

Tourists visit the tower for a panoramic view of the entire city. There is a revolving restaurant in it but a bit pricey. Big sets of binoculars are available on the observation deck. And during  night time, the ubiquitous Petronas Towers glow like a crystal gem. They are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!

One thing I realized though is that it does not feel good to go there by yourself. I guess it is just me, but probably also because it's a holiday and I am alone away from home.

Merry Christmas!

VivoCity Christmas Tree

This towering tree is found at the rooftop of VivoCity, a shopping center, in Singapore. It is very tall that it can bee seen from the neighboring island of Sentosa.

Apparently, a rainy afternoon like today isn't the best time to take a picture of any Christmas tree.

Plaza Low Yat

A Christmas Tree at Plaza Low Yat

This is a Christmas tree right at the steps of the entrance of Plaza Low Yat in Kuala Lumpur. Plaza Low Yat is a shopping centre which is commonly referred to as PLY. It specializes in IT and electronic products found within Bukit Bintang area. This is the place where I got a replacement charger for my digicam.

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Power Plugs

One thing you should know about Malaysia: Most of the electrical sockets or outlets here, if not all, look like this.

These are the G-type sockets. They are also called British BS-1363 type. They usually come with a switch that you need to manually turn on and off which is something I like about it the most. So if your appliances' plugs do not match the shape of these receptacles, you will then need a travel adapter. Something I failed to bring.

I have a travel plug adapter back home, which is like universal that comes with a surge protector  but I forgot to bring it with me. What was I thinking? I also miss to pack my camera's charger which actually cost me around 250 RM to buy a new one. But later I found out that what I got is not a real Canon charger. It's made in China, the same as the ones you can get from Divi in Manila except that this one is 10 times the price.

Being stupid and complacent really can be expensive.

Start the morning right, eat banana

Montel bananas here are not as big as the Dole bananas we have back home but taste just the same.

Kopi Adikshun

Old Town White Coffee at Brickfields, KL

For a sucker of coffee like me, this Old Town White Coffee shop right across the hotel I am staying in at Brickfields will not be spared. Just like how I get easily duped in books stores (see previous post) wherever I may be in the world, the sight of a nice coffee shop gives me somewhat of a hallucinogenic effect and excitement of getting in. I am not really a coffee addict. I can live a day or two without it, but I just could not contain the delightfulness when there is a chance to have a cup.  And so just before any second thoughts  rolled around my head, I found myself sitting inside ordering something, just to experience it.

It's a good cup of coffee -- it's nothing special except it's less expensive than Starbucks; and since it is from here, I can say that I have tasted something local.

Yep, I'm truly a coffee sucker.

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A Stop at a Shoten

Kinokuniya at Suria KLCC

Whoops! It's a book store. :D

Kinokuniya is a Japanese shoten or a  book store chain in Asia and in some parts of the US. There is none yet in the Philippines though. So when I saw it from afar, from my way up, from the escalator, I hurriedly went inside to, well... check  what's inside.

Seriously, I think I need some help in this aspect. Whenever I see a book store, expect that a bulk of my day will be wasted. You'll find me wandering through the book section and browsing around.

Kinokuniya in KLCC is so far the best book store I have been to in Malaysia. It has a wide range of titles from all over the world and the manga section is impressive. The ambiance is good too as there is a cafe inside. If only I was not in a hurry to catch a flight, I could have hung out there the entire day.

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Starstruck in a Chinese Way

Jackie Chan in Sentosa for CZ12

Seeing a movie star in Singapore is not hard as it may seem.

While walking around Sentosa this afternoon, a red carpet being carefully prepped at the ground floor of Resorts World got me curios. I was told that Jackie Chan's Chinese Zodiac 12 gala premiere, his last action film according to reports, is going to be shown here tonight!

I was around, so I decided that I might just as well wait for his arrival and join the starstruck crowd and
do some fangirling take some pictures of him. I have never seen him in person, but his movies are widely  shown in cinemas and on TV in the Philippines. I was kind of hungry at that time but the program started before I could even decide of going somewhere else.

There are a couple of Chinese actors and actresses too that delighted the audience. Sadly, I did not understand a thing. Everything was in Chinese.

For the most part, though, Jackie was entertaining.

And that concluded my Singa-mall walk today.

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A Great Day Ahead

Good morning! Yes, I am in Baguio again.

Squeezing in a sudden business trip on a weekend before my planned vacation is kind of frantic and tiring. With only so much time available to get everything done for this, and for a flight I am supposed to be preparing for this very weekend.

It makes such a difference, though, if you are able to rest and sleep well. The Manor's atmosphere does exactly what I need. It provides an ideal base for a peaceful and leisurely trip.

I had a good night sleep and I am now ready for another long journey back to Manila.

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It's calamares in the Philippines

Fried squid or calamari is better known as calamares in the Philippines. This is due to the close affinity of Filipino to the Spanish language.

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Red-Dyed Egg White

Red Egg from Lola's Kitchen at The Enterprise Center Food Park

For the record, this seems to be the worst red egg I've seen and served to me ever. The red dye obviously seeped through the egg shell resulting in pink spots in the egg white. The yolks, however, look good.

Red eggs among Filipinos are preserved with the use of salt for the purpose of longer storage period. This may be one of the many Chinese influences to Pinoy cuisine. However, unlike the Chinese red eggs, which are believed to symbolize prosperity and happiness are used as gifts for kids birthdays, we just eat them as ulam with rice matched with sliced tomatoes or whatever you find something good to match them with.

I have experienced preparing red eggs in the past back home in Isabela where in we used itik eggs. Itik are a kind of ducks with brown and black feathers. The white ones or what we call pato are very few and I have never seen an egg of pato. Seriously.

Not that they don't lay eggs. They do. I was just not exposed enough.

The basics of making red eggs, according to my mother, is that it should not be too salty and that the dye should only stay on the surface of the eggshell. If it passes through the shell and on to the egg white, it means  something went wrong with the preparation. And that should not be served and eaten because you wouldn't want to eat food coloring.

No matter how much others say that it is safe, pinkish egg white is something I do not find desirable. I am not a heath freak, but I am not going to eat this.
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Pan de Sal de Manila

Pan de Manila’s pan de sal is one of the best tasting pandesals I have tried so far in my entire life. If you like your bread hot, this is the right place to go to because they bake every hour. I think it's also a good thing and gives you a good feeling particularly when you chanced upon them coming right out of the oven, which is very often.

I like it that there is a branch in the building where I work. And aside from it, there is also another one across the street, an alternative during holidays when the one in the building is closed.

Different kinds of palaman (fillings) to choose from are also available - dairies and creams and cheese and jams and butter.  Pandesal is salted bread, so having any of these fillings with it makes a good combination.

If you do not want any palaman, they also offer a variety of cheese breads, ensaimadas (glazed spiral pastry), and some herb flavored such as pesto and the likes.

I'm now hungry!

Halloween Crinkle

Got a crinkle cookie treat from Pancake House! Although it was not decorated enough to make it look like it's for Halloween, it's cute. The waiter gave me a complimentary piece because we ate a lot.

Kimbap

According to Koreans I know, seaweed rice or 김밥 (kimbap) is the official picnic food in Korea, and is apparently quite a popular dish even outside of Korea. You can consider them as quick-grab lamang tiyan because they are sliced into bite-size small rolls usually packed in a lunch box that you can carry anytime.

It is made from rice with various other ingredients rolled in sheets of dried laver seaweed. It looks like sushi except the fillings are different - no wasabi and raw fish in it. The most common kimbap is filled with meat, eggs, and various vegetables.

I had this platter earlier. Not sure if it looks aesthetically pleasing by Korean standard. It tasted good though.

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Pinoy ZhongChan

Chowking's Chinese Fish Tausi Bowl

The only thing Chinese I can see in this rice topping is the tausi in it. Tausi is Chinese fermented black beans.

I guess Chinese really has done a massive influence on Pinoy cuisine, at least in my home while growing as a kid. This is because I personally do not know the differences between Chinese and Pinoy food. Aside from the fact that they are both oily, all the menus in a tea house or any restaurants with a Chinese hint in them are familiar, particularly the braised and stew recipes. They are not at all look foreign or taste new to me.

Of course any real Chinese would say that Filipinized Chinese or westernized Chinese food is not the same as Chinese Chinese. But still...

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Stately Columns

These fluted paired columns are the pillars that buttressed the roof of Quezon Hall in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus.

There are a number of buildings in this school that utilize magnificent beams with  first floors that seem to be quite high. The structures, known as great works of  art of famous local artists, look both classical and modern. I will try to post some of them soon.

Quezon Hall is located behind the Oblation and is the first building that you see upon entering the University Avenue from Commonwealth.

Daytime Moon

The Moon Riding High in the Daylight Sky

It's a little past 4:00 PM and the moon is visible up there, so bright that it penetrates the blue light of the sky.

When I was young, I thought that the moon is always opposite the sun. It rises just as the sun sets, and it sets just as the sun rises. I was the same age when I thought that the moon follows me wherever I go.

This is was taken from The Enterprise Center in Makati. Those buildings in the picture are Asian Mansion II and Shang Grand Tower, two of the row of high-rise condominiums in Dela Rosa.

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Dusk over Makati

Ending a very long, tiring day in the office with this view through the window helps you forget how you juggled the day to get things all caught up.

It's been a busy week. TGIF!

Alcapone Happiness

I love this doughnut from J.CO. It's not too sweet, it's soft and chewy and because, of course, it's topped with crunchy Californian almonds. I can go crazy over anything with almonds. The balance between sweetness and crunchiness is just right.

Try it! It's guaranteed to make you feel better from the first bite.

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Bisukol

Bisukol in Gata

After an almost half-day heavenly spa, we dropped by the office where Rio spent the last two weeks at Quezon Hill, and they served us this brown-colored snails in gata (coconut cream).

Whew! I remember I hate eating this when I was a kid. Not because it does not taste good, but because it takes sometime and effort for you to get that tiny flesh in it. You have to literally slurp the broth inside the shell to coax the flesh to come out using a fork, a chopstick or a barbecue stick.

Bisukol is chewy with soft rubbery feel against the tongue, and it's delicious!

They thrive uncultured and they are mostly available in the market when it rains. During the rainy season in the Philippines, which is between July to October, the rice fields are usually flooded prompting the bisukol to emerge from the ground.

They are smaller and darker in color than the escargot that we know, but they are of the same species.

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Framed

One corner at the second floor of Italianni's, Greenbelt showcases these frames of pictures of popular, old people. These as well as some interesting accounts of historical events and the murals painted on the walls have added to the charm of the restaurant's cozy interior.



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Stranded

Trinoma Transport Terminal at the height of Habagat downpour

There is no typhoon but it is flooding everywhere.

Thousands of commuters are stuck at Trinoma Transport Terminal because North/West Avenues, EDSA fronting SM North, and Mindanao Avenue are all waist-deep. No cars can pass, not even the four-wheel drives or buses.

Since there is nothing I can do abut it, I decided to go malling instead.


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Pruned

I have a thing for dead trees and dormant plants or those old trees without leaves. But I feel sorry for this just-trimmed pine tree next to a bushy one with a bunch of green needles.

Foggy Afternoon

Baguio in thick fog

One cannot help but feels like an angel on top of a mountain embraced by clouds.

This picture was taken on the same day as when my entry on July 8 was taken. It's amazing how the weather in Baguio changes like bipolar. The sun was shining brightly a couple of hours before this.  In spite of it being unpredictable, I love this place. I call it a second home.

Pond Bridges

Pond bridge at BenCab

There is something about garden bridges that fascinates me so much. They seem to give a touch of tranquility and beauty.

This bridge is over the pond at BenCab Museum in Asin. The view is made more dramatic by the low-lying thick fog.   

Trees of Green, Skies of Blue

Camp John Hay, Baguio City

The blue sky and bright sun with a slight breeze here in Baguio makes anyone feel like staying in this place forever.

Batirol Light

Every kiosk at the Tsokolate de Batirol at John Hay in Baguio has a hanging batirol light in it. I do not really know how they call those light fixtures, I just made that up.

Batirol  is a Cebuano word for a small pot used for cooking chocolate drink, shaped like an urn.

I call it that way because it looks like one, an upside-down batirol. It is creatively painted with the stripe design of the handwoven clothing of the Igorots. It also gives support to the bulb. Although it does not illuminate just like most lamp fixtures do, it provides a great lighting to the kiosk space.

Luneta rides: US-inspired Carruaje

US-inspired carruaje going around Luneta

The Philippines is not under the US rule anymore, but the Americano presence is still apparently found around the corners of this country. This is evident in this carruaje ride in Manila. Well, among others.

Some would say it's colonial mentality, but I do not dare challenge that topic in this blog. It's a trait etched in the culture and most likely it cannot be shaken off even by the most patriotic citizens from this generation to the next.

But today, cuatro de julio, just for fun, I think it's a seasonally-appropriate time to take this US-flag inspired carriage and go around the park.

After the Sun Sets

Diliman Oblation After Sunset

Sitting on the steps of the Quezon Hall on a Saturday afternoon waiting for the sky to turn orange is not at all fun to do, but it is sometimes my craze. It's like elusive bliss. The Oblation is stunning and inspiring to watch after the sun has dipped into the horizon.

This view did not last quite long enough, but it's worth catching and seeing it again and again.

Longsilog

A typical Pinoy breakfast - longsilog

Here is a typical Filipino breakfast - longsilog, one of those -silogs that all Pinoys know about.

Longislog is a portmanteau word derived from the syllables of longanisa (Philippine sausage), sinangag (garlic friend rice) and itlog (egg), which make up the whole thing.

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Misty Baguio

That water repellent spray that's supposed to make windshield wipers unnecessary is useless here in Baguio.

With the mist that forms easily and the reduced visibility, one has to be extra careful when driving here. It can get dangerous.

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Piss on the head

Taken with instagram

Sunday Morning Walk

Sunday morning walk (Taken with Instagram at UP Diliman)

Kalachuchi

Kalachuchi (Taken with instagram)

Tarragon tea and a honey tube

Tarragon tea and a honey tube (Taken with instagram)

Bandi and Lunis

Bandi and Lunis Bookstore

Wandering through the book section. Again.

Bandi and Lunis is a large-scale bookstore in Korea with several branches around Seoul. Their books often have no tag prices on them because the prices are based on exchange rate for the day.

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The sky is on fire

The sky is on fire.

Milk Tea Fad

So I finally tried Serenitea. It’s good, but I still prefer the teh tarik-like taste of Gong Cha.

Downtown

How can you lose when the lights are bright and everything seems waiting for you?

Good morning, Azalea!

Good morning, Azalea! (Taken with Instagram at Baguio City)

Full Moon on the Ground

Full Moon on the Ground of TechnoHub

There is no full moon up in the sky tonight. It’s on the ground along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

I remember a lot of  student activists not so long time ago rallied against the construction of the Ayala TechnoHub in this huge part of UP land along Commonwealth. They are low-rise buildings that house mostly call centers  and chains of coffee shops and restaurants.

After a couple years, it has now become the most visited, if not the favorite, hangout of some UP students.

The landscape and the in-ground fountains are refreshingly beautiful, especially at night time. There is also a man-made lagoon at the eastern part of the compound, but it is already around 9:00 PM. It is impossible to take a picture of it because that area is a bit dark. It is a moonless night.

Well, as you know, the moon is on the ground.



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Weekend Jog at the Oval

Today’s highlight of the day (Taken with Instagram at UP Acad Oval, UP Diliman, Quezon City)

Busy Bee

Bees are generally not friendly to people because they do sting, and it does not feel good when they do. This one is a busy bee pollinating a sunflower.

Taken at UP Diliman where sunflowers with massive heads are in bloom every summer.

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Sunken Dreams

Sitting right at my favorite spot, where serene, fresh air intersects with darkness (Taken with Instagram at Sunken Garden)