It’s like giving birth

I have no plans of having a baby but growing plants is like giving birth.

After moving into my new unit, I wanted to prove I have a green thumb and fulfill my life-long dream — a secret garden.

I saw these little plants creeping on top of my laundry wall.

On the left are my tomatoes and on the other side are hot peppers, which started to germinate on its 4th day.

Other than these, I also planted cilantro and onion.

To add some color to my garden, I was hoping to get some flowering plants but haven’t got a chance to drop by Tagaytay. Fortunately, I saw this alley in Kalentong market with an assortment of potted plants for sale.

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candle plant [also known as the shrimp or lollipop plant

unnamed plants that I have to find out

neem tree

tied some mothballs to ward off cats

Looking forward to harvesting

 

Early Summer Finds from Oddest to Goddess Shop

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All these and more at Oddest to Goddess.

 

Baguio in January: It Kissed My Blues Away [part 3]

I woke up the following morning freezing to death. My toe socks and fleece blanket were of no help to beat the biting cold breeze of Baguio. So I went out to go on a steep short walk to release some heat… to perspire …. and these beautiful skies greeted me that one fine morning.

For some reason, these clouds and view reminded me of those ‘dream’ house & lots for sale in brochures. And so I tried to re-create it.

We headed off to Cafe by the Ruins to have lunch and have a taste of the famous Rizal’s Tsokolate-e.

They say it’s much cozier at night but I prefer to see it first in daylight so at least I could see what I am eating.

However, I was too hungry and forgot to take a decent photo of what we ate.

bread + Baguio Bagnet with Padas Bagoong

The bagnet was not as yummy as I thought it would be. The brown rice doesn’t appear to brown but more of purple. Though I liked the Padas Bagoong, I liked it so much until my lips turned a little swollen and itchy.

Other than bagnet we had the following:

• Sinigang na Malaga with Shrimps > simply put “Sinigang na Hipon”
• Pinikpikan > which appears to be native chicken
• Rizal Tsokolate-e > not as thick and rich as I’ve expected but fair enough

All in all, it wasn’t really a bad experience. It wasn’t since I get to eat without shelling out a single centavo. But I’m looking forward to have one of those colorful salads and rich champorado…. and probably nail their best main course. Suggestions, anyone?

Our day in Baguio ended with satisfied stomachs and we could all definitely sleep on our way to Manila but still with a short side-trip to Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan.

Excited, I can’t wait to get there. Not that I’m a devotee nor religious, I was just really looking forward to tupig.

And my senses didn’t fail me, I can smell burnt banana leaves everywhere with an assortment of Pangasinan native delicacies, fruits and of course religious articles.

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And that concludes my overnight trip to Baguio-Pangasinan… and of the life of this little bird on our way to SCTEX.

As I write this article, I am planning to go back to Baguio to get hold of those famous raisin bread of Baguio Country Club while I enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. Yum!

 

Baguio in January: It Kissed My Blues Away [part 1]

This last-minute Baguio trip was my first unprepared trip. I had to pack my clothes on the same day right after work! And I still need to finish a report that needs to be sent out the following morning! I was cramming but it was all worth it… and I’m longing the cold[er] breeze for days now.

The ride wasn’t comfortable. Sitting in a van with no headrest for 6 hours was no joke. I couldn’t lean as well as we were too cramped. Anyway, I just amused myself with the dark view [as we left Manila at 1 in the morning] while listening to my iPod. Eventually, I dozed off with my head occasionally banging the window.

morning full moon

Via Kennon Road, we arrived Baguio at about 7am. I was welcomed with the cold but slightly polluted breeze. Now where’s that pine scent?!?!

Kennon Road - Manila bound

We checked-in at the Garden Villa Apartments of Green Valley Village and immediately left to find an internet connection. Unfortunately, my Globe Tattoo has no signal so we headed off to SM Baguio. Fortunately, Starbucks was open at 9am with free Wi-Fi. Yipee!

Green Valley Hotel & Resort

Garden Villa Apartments

It was my first at SM Baguio and I’m impressed! With its wide open hallways, al fresco restaurants and coffee shops, I can stay here all day! I’d probably just have coffee [and yes, still cold coffee] and sit sloppily along the hallways while enjoying the icy breeze, the view of Burnham Park and of the tiered houses from the mountain tops. What a lazy day to spend…

View of Burnham Park

morning full moon

University of the Cordilleras

tiered houses

Green Valley Hotel & Resort

Garden Villa Apartments

I look like a grow up mushroom from the Super Mario Brothers

Kennon Road [Manila bound]

Burnham Park from the top

By noon, we headed off to Lourdes Grotto to meet the rest of the folks for lunch. We were first to arrive there so I looked around the souvenir shops which mostly offered knitted garments. As I forgot to bring my neck warmers, I indulged myself to buy one. One brown, then pink, then black. They are much cheaper, around Php40-50 each compared to those sold at the Baguio Public Market which cost Php150 each!

There are a lot of cool hats as well… from berets, bonnets, and animal-shaped hats [for kids]. But hats are not my thing… because they don’t look good on me. See?!?!

I look like a "grow up" mushroom from the Super Mario Brothers

To be continued…

 

An Early “Trip or Treat” with the Dead

Myth of the Human Body

My friend & I started the day with a visit to the dead. It is indeed an exhibition of plastinized body parts in a gallery at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Ideal for students, to the naive and nerds like me, what’s interesting about the Myth of the Human Body are the assortment of human organs with lung cancer, enlarged heart, and among others. Make sure you have taken your meal early on before your visit. Entrance fee is at Php350 per head.

Next stop, Libingan ng mga Bayani. Since we were nearby, about 500 meters. from the Exhibition, we dropped by this creepy cemetery of unsung and famous heroes [including past government officials].

Libingan ng mga Bayani

This quiet place is disturbed by passing airplanes as it is just a few kilometers away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport [NAIA]. The graves with passing thru aircrafts made my photo shoot seem more poetic and symbolic.

the cross over...

Afterwards, we dropped by the cemetery of the elite at the Heritage Park which is right across the road. It’s quite a boring place since there were only few graves. But it is an ideal place for families and friends to hang out, have picnic or even fly a kite with its expanse green field.

Heritage Park

And there goes my early “trip and treat” with the dead in celebration of Halloween & All Soul’s Day.

Myth of the Human Body

Heritage Park

the cross over…

Libingan ng mga Bayani