Baguio 2006

I just unearthed these old photos from Ariel's hard drive and realized that I didn't have prints of these photos. It was a memorable trip for us as this was only the second time that Ariel and I drove to Baguio together, the first time was the day after our wedding and we stayed only for two nights before we left for our honeymoon in Palawan.

Anyway, we were supposed to go with my family. However, typhoon Reming was supposed to hit the country and my parents, brother and his then fiance was afraid to take the trip and backed out at the last minute. We just recovered from the Milenyo flooding and we were also apprehensive to leave. However, by 5am on November 30th, Manila still had very clear skies. Ariel and I decided to wait it til mid morning. By 9am, there was still no sign of the typhoon so we decided to drive up north. We figured if the typhoon catches us, we can stop and spend the night somewhere. Anyway, we got to Baguio mid afternoon and the weather was great. We later found out that Reming hit Bicol and spared Manila and Cavite.

It was a very relaxing trip for us. I brought my beading supplies and just made little accessories and embellishments. Ariel and I stayed in the Coke Baguio House most of the time.


We went out a few times to have lunch and dinner. This was my favorite photo from the trip and it was taken at Cafe by the Ruins.

It was already very cold specially in the morning. We enjoyed waking up late and staying in most of the morning.

Ariel played the guitar while I made beaded embellishments.

We cooked rice and Spam for breakfast. We love eating at the breakfast nook.

On our third day, we went to Tam-Awan village.

We explored the hiking trail and worked up a sweat.

Then we relaxed at the Baguio house. That evening, when we plugged in the laptop, there was a loud pop and then all lights went off. Ariel grabbed the flashlight (thankfully, we bought one on our way to Baguio) and told me to stay put as he would go down to look for the circuit breaker. Scenes from horror movies flashed in my mind. So I told Ariel he's not leaving me alone in the room. I went down with him and located the circuit breaker. Within minutes, the lights were back on again.

We took photos of ourselves. This was back when we relied solely on our P & S for photos. Most of the shots were grainy, but I love them all.

We also got in touch with Eric and invited him and his mom over for dinner. We ordered pizza and just enjoyed a quiet dinner at the house.

On our way home, we stopped by Isdaan in Gerona, Tarlac for lunch. No nice photos from there, only fond memories.

Overall, a fun trip. We were both glad we decided to push through with it.

Sewing Machine or Lens?

In less than a month, I will celebrate my birthday. It will be a different celebration this time since I'm spending a couple of days with my entire family in Singapore, instead of just with Ariel which has been the case for the past 8 years.

Anyway, I've been thinking of my "wish list" for quite some time now. At some point, I was considering an iPhone.

I have an iPod touch and I love it. So I thought my next phone should be an iPhone. Later I thought it to be impractical considering that we have "free" phone with Ariel's corporate plan. And even if I ended up adding a few thousand bucks for the Nokia N97 model that I opted for, it's still tons cheaper than if I got the iPhone. After all, I've always had Nokia from the very first analog phone. And I still have my iPod Touch, which I now use as a portable movie payer. I'm not much of a music person anyway.

Then I went on a weekend crop with some friends in Tagaytay.

I grew up with two dressmakers for grandmothers. I've learned to sew at an early age and my Barbie doll matched my own outfits. It was only natural that I use stitching in my scrapbooks. In fact, I've already bought 2 sewing machines - an old heavy duty one which survived the Milenyo flooding but is no longer working at optimal levels, and a small portable one that can't handle cardstock. So I went on a hunt for the perfect sewing machine. And I found this.

I showed this to Ariel in one of our visits to Anson's. I told him I am considering this as a possible birthday gift from him to me. Anyway, when we went on a weekend crop in Tagaytay, Mia brought her Singer baby and let me use it. In fact, I made a couple of layouts and cards with machine stitching. I got to use ALL of the stitches available in this baby. Needless to say, when I got back home, I told Ariel that this is what I want for my birthday.

That is until August 15th when I attended the food photography workshop by Mr. Ricky Ladia. I went home thinking "I've got to have a macro lens!"

I am still researching but this is what I have in mind, so far.

Of course, an L lens is out of the question unless I plan to make money out of it so this is the next best thing. Since we are going to Singapore, I thought we'll check out the prices there first before actually making the purchase.

Any reco from my photography friends? I really have to make a good decision here. I can't afford to buy new lenses every now and then so this has to be THE macro lens I will be committing with for the rest of my life, probably. Is there a cheaper option? :D

Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia - Part 3

This is part 3 of our Vietnam-Cambodia adventure. If you missed the previous posts, check out Part 1 and Part 2 first.
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My ankle felt a little better when I woke up at half past four in the morning. The swelling has subsided although it was still a bit painful. The massage did help. Advil helped, too.

Another early day. Our first stop was Srah Srang, best viewed at sunrise, according to our guide book. We got to the viewing platform around 5am. It was pitch black. Several kids followed us offering coffee and breakfast. We promised one kid we will have coffee after taking photos of the sunrise. We took our post in what we thought would afford us the best view. Before long, other tourists arrived and it became a little bit crowded. We were still able to get a couple of sunrise shots.
It was a beautiful spot, perfect for a relaxing morning coffee.
Keeping our promise, we went to have coffee in the nearby stall. We also bought some bread sustain us through the morning's activities. The coffee was very good, with a dollop of condensed milk.

After Srah Srang, we headed to Banteay Srei - about 20 kms north of Angkor, and almost an hour in our trusty Tuktuk. It was a great idea to start early as this temple is a bit small and can easily get crowded. Anyway, when we got there, tourists were already pouring in. It was a beautiful temple, made of red sandstone. The warm glow of the morning sun highlights the intricate carvings that cover most of the temple's surfaces. It was the most beautiful temple we've seen in Siem Reap.

Most of the outer structures are already in ruins but the carvings on the remains are still very much visible.

The inner structures are still well-preserved and are roped off to keep tourists from touching the delicate wall carvings.

Like most temples in Angkor, Banteay Srei is surrounded by a moat.

Just outside the temple perimeter, colorful souvenir shops line the street leading into the temple grounds.

Our next stop was a respite from ll the temple hopping we've been doing in the past two days. We went to the controversial Landmine Museum. It was controversial because the local government didn't support it at first thinking that it will paint a scary picture of Cambodia, and will not help boost tourism. It actually became a populat tourist attraction and even generated awareness and support for demining efforts in Cambodia.

The museum boasts of hundreds of detonated bombs and landmines, mostly collected by the founder Aki Ra.

Ariel and Sophal goofing off

After the Landmine Museum, we drove to Banteay Samre, a less popular but nevertheless spectacular temple. It's a little bit out of the way which may be why some tourists opt to skip this one.

While the north entrance welcomed us from the main road, we circled around the perimeter and entered through the east entrance instead.

Inside, it looks like a miniature version of Angkor Wat. There were very few tourists that time so we were able to take lots of couple shots, courtesy of our tour guide.

Our last temple for the day is Bateay Kdei which is actually just across Srah Srang.

The temple was in a very ruined state and it was a bit scary to walk along the walls as it felt like they were going to topple over us.

We asked our Tuktuk driver Kun and guide Sophal to drop us off at the hotel as we had an afternoon appointment at Quad Adventure. We were supposed to be picked up at 12:30pm and it was already noon. We quickly unloaded our gear bringing only our camera and wallets and headed to Apsara Burger just a few meters from our hotel. We grabbed a quick bite of Cheeseburger, fries and soda (USD8), and got into the tuktuk sent by Quad Adventure.

We were met by Herve, the owner. After a quick orientation and a test drive, we were off to the countryside. We opted to get just one ATV with Ariel as the designated driver.
We took the Discovery Tour which allowed us to see the beautiful countryside. We took short pauses every now and then to take photos of traditional Khmer houses, creeks, ducks, and kids playing. I felt like a Miss World contestant as we drove along the dirtroad. They would wave at us so I would wave back and smile, despite the fact that dust was flying all around us.

Ariel had a blast driving the ATV at full speed. I was hanging on for dear life fearing for that one bump that will send me flying out of my seat, and constantly whispering to Ariel to slow down a bit. Men and speed. Sigh. He had a great time. I could tell.

Our last stop was at the Chres Village School and Orphanage where we were able to see kids learning English and other languages. I consider this the highlight of our ATV adventure. We met some of the teachers, most of them volunteers, and watched the classes. We interacted with the kids during recess and even shared some of their snacks.

Not all the kids in the classes are orphans. Some live in the area and they go to the orphanage to learn English.

We spent a bit of time at the orphanage as our guide's motorcycle had a flat tire. We waited for the replacement tire to be sent from the Quad Adventure station.

When we got back to the Quad Adventure home base, we were handed cold towels which we used to clean up our faces. Ewww!
We tool a long shower when we got back to the hotel. Every inch of exposed skin was covered in red dust. Our clothes were very filthy and I had to clean my camera bag, too.

We decided to walk to Pub Street to take some photos along the way. Armed with our heavy tripod, we were able to take photos of the well-lighted Siem Reap river.

There were many couples dating along the river. If we weren't very hungry, we would have lingered a while longer.

After a few minutes walk, we were back at Pub Street.
We decided to try the Khmer BBQ. We were given an iron grill with hot coals inside and some kind of a channel around it for soup. We grilled the meet on top and cooked veggies in the hot soup. Yummy!

Wonderful day!

To view all the photos for day 3, click HERE.

Discovering Zambales

Other than a couple of official trips to Subic, I've never really explored Zambales. I've been hearing about its beautiful islands but never had the inkling to go and see them for myself. If we want to go the beach within driving distance from Manila, our first instinct is to go south. Never north. So, when my college pal Elma suggested we go to Zambales, we quickly agreed. After some obstacles (budget issues, schedule problems, etc.), we found ourselves taking a cab to Glorietta early Saturday morning. We joined a tour and for P1,800 per head, we got to enjoy a night in Zambales inclusive of overnight stay in an air-conditioned resort and transportation. We met up with the rest of the tour group ad headed north.

Elma, who since college exasperated us with her lack of time consciousness, surprised me by texting at 4:30 am to make sure we were already awake. Even more shocking was the fact that upon arriving at the meeting place 15 minutes ahead of the 5:30 call time, she was already there happily chatting away with Tricia and Joey. Hmmm...I've never seen this side of her in the entire 17 years I've known her. Apparently, the call of the beach causes every cell in her body to wake up on schedule. Anyway, other than Tricia, hubby Joey, Tonton and Elma, we were also joined by a couple of Elma's friends. We met college pals Aids and Queng, and son Enzo in Zambales who drove up north on their own as they had to leave early the next day.

We reached Wild Rose Beach Inn in Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales by 10am, an hour ahead of schedule. We unpacked, freshened up and prepared for the sumptuous lunch Aids and Queng prepared for us. Enzo will be celebrating his 11th birthday on May 20th and his parents decided to treat us to lunch in Zambales. A feast of pork barbecue, pork chop with peas, carrots, corn and pineapple, steamed shrimps, green and ripe mangoes awaited us. Elma also brought in squid adobo and fried jack fishes from Aling Tonya's. It was a scrumptious meal.

The weather was perfect. The sun was bright and shining, and boy, it was hot! The ash-colored sand was scorching hot and we couldn't wait to get to the water for some relief. We were split into four boats (4 passengers per boat at P300 per head) and it took us about 30 minutes to get to Capones Island. The lighthouse was perched on top of a hill. It wasn't a long and difficult climb, but with the scorching noontime sun above us, every step sucked the energy out of me. It didn't help that the shoreline was covered with big rocks instead of sand. We were wearing slippers and it was quite a challenge navigating the rocky shore. In fact, broken slippers littered the area, left behind by their unfortunate owners. Fortunately, we were able to reach the lighthouse with our footwear intact. Every inch of my body was covered in sweat but I made it without much difficulty. Good thing I've been working out in the gym in past couple of weeks.

Capones Lighthouse

The lighthouse itself is still operational and is powered by solar panels. However, the rest of the structure is in ruins. There were a few boatloads of tourists along with us but there was no one regulating traffic up the lighthouse. I was a bit concerned if the structure can hold so many people given that it's more than a century old.

The dilapidated structure below the tower

The spiral staircase was shaking as people clambered up for a better view. I was very hesitant to go up but Ariel urged me and before long, I found myself on top of the lighthouse enjoying the 360 degree view of the island. It was breathtaking.

Reminds me of Batanes

We took photos and just soaked in the view. After a while, I decided to descend ahead of the group to avoid the pressure of hurrying up while I navigate the ladder and the steep stairs.

Couple shot

Group shot

After a few more shots on ground level, we were off to Anawangin Cove.

As we neared Anawangin Cove, the waters got choppy and we were all soaked with water splashing against the boat. From afar, we could already see the seemingly white shoreline of Anawangin. We soon found out that the wide expanse of fine sand is not really white but ash-grey, the result of Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in 1991. It was silvery under the mid-afternoon sun.

The silvery-ashy sandy shore of Anawangin

Our group found a shady spot for our stuff. Some prepared to get into the water while Ariel and I decided to explore the pine tree forest for some photos. It was a beautiful cove.

The view was breathtaking

The pine tree forest provides shady spots for the hundreds of campers (it was crowded!!!) and a stream of water add charm to the already picture-perfect cove.

The very scenic "batis" amidst the pine tree forest

After a couple of shots, I decided to relax and lie down by the mat which Queng and Aids laid down for our bags while Ariel and some of our friends took a dip in the ocean. By 5pm, we were ready to go back to our resort.

Having fun

Capones Island and Anawangin Cove are the perfect weekend destinations. However, I was disappointed with the lack of concern by both the tourists and the locals. Trash littered the shoreline of Capones Island and the pine tree forest of Anawangin. Campers can pitch their tents just about anywhere in the island and they can build a fire anywhere (unlike in Mt. Pulag or Pinatubo where there are designated areas for campers). There doesn't seem to be a system in place to regulate the flow of tourists. It was way too crowded. If this keeps up, Capones Island and Anawangin will soon lose their appeal. I just hope that the local government will intervene and educate the locals on how to maintain these natural treasures.

Anyway, it was a good weekend and we are happy to discover yet another beach destination within a driving distance from Manila. Next time, I'd like to experience a night or two in Anawangin...maybe it's time to resurrect the Starex adventure group.

Now, about the resort and the tour organizer...that's another story altogether. Will blog about that separately as I do have very strong (not so good) feelings about them.

Meanwhile, check out all our photos here.

(April 28, 2009, 7:00am) I have officially given up!

Booking flights through PAL's website, that is! The seat sale is supposed to be good for two days and I've been trying to book since yesterday! I lost sleep over this! I booked during office hours, late at night, very early in the morning. All futile attempts!

I hate to say this but booking Cebu Pacific flights is way easier! The thing is, I still prefer to fly PAL. It's a lot more comfortable. But I've experienced booking PAL online, by phone, and through the ticketing office. Each time had been a grueling experience. The most convenient way to book PAL is through a travel agent. Not fair! Sigh.

This trip would have been a treat for my entire family. My parents, brother and Sister-in-Law could really use a few days break.

Anyway, I prayed about it and I know that if it's God's will for us to take this trip in September, we'll get the best deal. It's still several months away and a lot of things can happen. With the swine flu crisis in South America, we might actually be better off not traveling. Oh well, I'm trying to console myself here.

Update:
Ok, I didn't entirely give up. After lunch, I tried again, just for kicks. Then I got through until the credit card details. Now I panicked! You see, I listened to the news about Swine Flu on the way to work and I got scared. So, I seriously thought we shouldn't go anywhere until the flu is contained. So with the pressure of rushing through the billing page (otherwise the page will expire), I had to think if I should go ahead with the booking. I did. And I really feel good about it! Yahoo!

Tomato, Garlic and Basil Pasta

I made this quick pasta dish for lunch today.

Here's how:

The main ingredients - 1 lb. Tomato, 1 head of Garlic and about a cup of Basil

Lightly press the garlic with the knife - don't crush. Just press it enough to make it easy to peel them. Then slice the garlic into small pieces.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Add salt and olive oil in boiling water. Thin pasta works best like spaghetti and angel hair. But I love linguine so I used it here. I used about 600g of linguine here. If the instruction says 11 minutes, cook no longer than 11 minutes. 10 minutes would be better since the pasta will still be tossed with the sauce later.

When cooked, drain pasta and set aside.

Make an X on one end of the tomatoes. That will make it easy to peel later.

Drop in boiling water and let sit for 30-45 seconds. Do not overcook!!! It will be difficult to peel and seed if they're overcooked.

Then transfer to an ice bath (a bowl of cold water with ice).

It is then easy to peel the tomatoes.

Slice in quarters (or half if the tomatoes are small).

Then take out the seeds. Set aside.

Meanwhile, roughly tear the basil leaves. This will bring out the flavor and aroma very subtly.

Here are all the ingredients. I added half a cup of grated parmesan cheese, half a cup of shaved parmesan cheese (I used a peeler for this), 1/4 cup of chopped parsley (optional) and 2 small pieces of hot chili peppers (they are small but very deadly hot!).

Saute garlic and chili peppers in olive oil until almost golden. (Next time, I'll use 2 heads of garlic - the more the better!)

Then add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, grated parmesan cheese and the pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with more olive oil if too dry. Top with shaved parmesan cheese. Add a sprig of fresh basil for garnish.

Favorite Restaurants

Hello! Just want to answer a question posted by Shry over at the chatterbox (see right side bar). Thanks Shry for dropping by and for leaving a message.

For the record, I am not sure I actually have a favorite restaurant. I have favorite foods though and these are the reasons why I keep coming back to some restaurants. Here's a list of some of the restaurants I don't mind going back to, and the reasons why I love it. I also listed our average spend per visit - FOR TWO. In no particular order:

1. Sugi (Greenbelet 2 Makati) - Japanese
What we love about it: One reason - the Crispy Oyters. We haven't found the same in any other Japanese restaurant so we keep coming back here. All the other stuff we order are also available in any Jap restaurant (e.g. Salmon Sashimi, Ebi Tempura).
Dislikes: Nothing really
Average spend per visit: Php1,200-1,400 for the two of us.

2. Cafe Bola (Greenbelt 3 Makati) - fusion
What we love about it: - We order the Penne in Chorizo Parmesan Cream almost 90% of the
time.
Dislikes: Other dishes are just average.
Average spend per visit: P600 - making this really great value for money.

3. Cafe Mediterranean (Greenbelt 1 and Powerplant Mall, Makati) - Mediterranean dishes
What we love about it: I like pretty much everything I order here. Our favorites include: Beef Gyro, Gyro Plate, Beef Kebab, any of the side dishes, any of the salads.
Dislikes: None
Average spend per visit: P600

4. Chili's (Greenbelt 5 Makati) - American
What we love about it: I like pretty much everything here but my fave is the Mushroom Jack Fajitas - combination beef and chicken.
Dislikes: Always crowded and noisy; difficult to get a table
Average spend per visit - P1,400.

5. La Cocina De Tita Moning (Manila, near Malacanang) - Spanish-Filipino cuisine
What we love about it: Hmmm...where do I begin. We didn't just pay for dinner here. We paid for a unique dining experience which includes a tour of the old house turned museum and restaurant. My favorites are the paella, the lengua (one of the best I tasted), poached fish, fresh ubod and the salad. The cost of dining here depends on which menu is selected.
Dislikes: Can be very expensive, definitely for very special occasions only
Average spend per visit: We spent almost P5,000 on our last visit which included wine. We picked one of the heaviest menu and we were so full after. Read my post here.

6. Mamou (Serendra, Makati) - Filipino Cuisine
What we love about it: Steak!
Dislikes: Dinner reservation only at 6:30pm (too early for us!) and 8:30pm (too late!); they serve the steak with the dripping which is too oily; a bit pricey
Average spend per visit: P2,200 - see my post here.

7. Gaudi (Serendra, Makati) - not sure actually
What we love about it: Steak also - the one you cook in front of you
Dislikes: Nothing
Average spend per visit: P2,200

8. Abe (Serendra, Makati) - Filipino/Kapampangan
What we love about it: Sinuteng Baby Squid is our favorite but everything in the menu is good
Dislikes: The service sucks!
Average spend per visit: P1,200

9. Piadinna (Greenbelt 1, Makati) - Italian
What we love about ti: Pasta Vongole, Four Cheese Pizza - they don't scrimp on the cheeses
Dislikes: None
Average spend per visit: P600

10. Via Mare (Greenbelt 1, Greenbelt 3, Powerplant Mall) - Filipino Cuisine
What we love about it: Almost everything! Our favorites include Crispy Binagoongan, Vigan Longanisa, Lugaw Toppings, Adobo Flakes, Puto Bungbong, Bibingka.
Dislikes: The interior is a bit dated - no big deal.
Average spend per visit: P800

11. Galileo (Pasong Tamo, Makati)
What we love about it: The ambiance, the food, the wine. Great value for money. Great date place. The cheese platter, the cold cuts, the wine, the pasta, the coffee. Love everything!
Dislikes: The location. Stay away during rainy days. (There's one in Mandaluyong but I haven't been there).
Average spend per visit: P1,200 including wine - we are happy with the set menu but even the ala carte selection is also great value for money.

12. Soms Noodle House (near Powerplant Mall)
What we love about it: Cheap Thai food
Dislikes: Well, it's practically street food and we just come here for the food. No expectations on ambiance and service, so I guess, there's nothing to dislike about it.
Average spend per visit: P500 and below

13. Ariel is insisting that I include KFC (practically anywhere) - fastfood!!!
What Ariel loves about it: Original Recipe Chicken, Zinger
Dislikes: The transfat! Haha!
Average spend: P250 for two

Other gems outside of Metro Manila:
1. C Italian Dining (Friendship Highway in Clark, Pampanga) - Try the Panizza, pasta, risotto and sausages plus the Italian Soda. Prepare to shell out P1,500 for 2.
2. Zapatas (also in Clark) - Try the Fajeeta Bureeta (or something like that), the Quesadilla and Tacos. P500 for 2.
3. RFW (San Fernando, Pampanga) - Best tokwa't baboy in town, pretty good palabok and halo-halo, too. P200 for two.
4. Sonya's Garden (Tagaytay) - Set meal which includes super yummy salad, bread basket and dips, pasta with a selection of sauces, fresh dalandan juice, turon, sweet camote, chocolate cake and tarragon tea - all for P610 per hear or P1,220 for two.
5. Antonio's (Tagaytay) - Everything is really good. See my post here. Prepare to shell out P4,200 for two.
6. Bawai's (Tagaytay) - Delicious Vietnamese dishes. You'll never go wrong with any of the appetizers. The noodles soups are so good too! P1200 for two.

Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia - Part 2

If you missed part 1 of "Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia", click here.

Ariel and I very reluctantly got up before 5 in the morning. While our bodies protested to the early start (vacations, after all, should afford us longer time in bed!), our minds excitedly wondered what adventure awaited us for the day.

Our Tuktuk driver (Kun) and guide (Sophal) were waiting for us at the lobby. Ariel carried a small backpack which contained a few bottles of mineral water, my shawl, my travel journal and a few other travel must haves. I carried the camera bag containing my DSLR, plus two lenses, an external flash, and extra sets of batteries.

A few minutes later, I extracted my shawl from Ariel's backpack. The early morning chill was enough to numb our hands and dry our lips, and the open tuktuk did not offer a bit of warmth. Before we knew it, we were entering the Angkor perimeter and we got off to get our 3-day pass for US$40 each. This was something we couldn't get ahead of time as we had to have our pictures printed on the ticket. A digital camera is installed in front of the ticket booth for this purpose.

By 5:30, we were already walking the dark path into Angkor Wat, the biggest religious monument in the world, and the most popular among the Angkor temples. Good thing Sophal had a flashlight. It was pitch black and it took a while before our eyes got accustomed to the dark. We quickly found a good spot right in front of Angkor Wat, a big pond between us and the temple. I quickly set up my tripod and waited for the sun to rise behind the temple. As sunrise approaches, we were rewarded with a magnificent view of the temple, making the early start really worth it.

Angkor means "city" and Wat means "temple". Hence, Angkor Wat aptly means Temple City. Indeed, the vast complex make it look like several temples in one big perimeter instead of just a single monument.

As we toured the temple, Sophal fed us information on the history of this landmark. It took almost four decades to complete the temple with people driven by sheer devotion to both their religion and their king. The sandstones used to build the temple were collected from the Kulen moutain with the help of elephants.

The pond in front of the temple

After taking a few shots, we decided to have breakfast at the food stalls within the Angkor Wat complex. Ariel ordered Chicken Noodle Soup (US$2) while I opted for a Banana Pancake (US$2). I got a big pancake with slices of bananas underneath - no butter, no syrup. It was so dry but I didn't really mind as I was so hungry already. While eating, some kids selling books came by and I decided to get my own copy of "Ancient Angkor" by Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques. It's the same book I borrowed from my colleague Rachel. I read it over and over again even before our trip so I could map out our itinerary. I left my borrowed copy at home having decided that I will get my own copy anyway. I haggled a bit and got one for US$8 (I later discovered it was being sold at US$5 in other temples!).


After getting our tummies filled, we started walking into the temple. There are two "libraries" on either side of the walkway into the main temple. While the term "library"may suggest that these structures housed documents, they actually were used more as shrines.


Other than the sheer size of this monument, Angkor Wat is also popular for its Bas Relief galleries depicting both religious and historical events.

One of the bas relief galleries

The bas relief galleries are now protected by the temple authorities. Some parts of the walls have become glossy from frequent touching. To prevent further deterioration, a length of rope was installed about a meter from the walls to prevent people from touching the delicate walls.

One of the more memorable stories depicted in one of the bas relief galleries - the Churning of the Sea of Milk

The bas reliefs were so detailed that we couldn't help but marvel at the artistry of the ancient Khmers. It was difficult to imagine how this work of art could have been made without the luxury of sophisticated equipment.


While there were hundreds of tourists visiting the temple on the same day, we hardly noticed the crowd because of the sheer size of the complex.


Our next stop - Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom literally means "Great City". It is not a temple in itself but a walled region with several temples inside it, the most popular of which is Bayon, located at the very center if the city.

There are five gates into Angkor Thom. We entered through the south gate and we were greeted by a tall tower, the top of which was carved with a face, the most prominent feature of the Bayon style architecture.

All the gates into Angkor Thom are lined with the "Avenue of the Gods and Demons", depicted in the Churning of the Sea of Milk. Gods line the left side of the entry way, while demons or "Asuras" are on the right side. They are all pulling a big 7-headed snake called Naga like in tug of war.

The "gods"

The Asuras or "demons"

Our first stop in Angkor Thom is Bayon. There is an option to ride an elephant from the Angkor Thom gate but we opted to just take our tuktuk.

Details of the Bayon restoration work

While Bayon also features some bas reliefs, albeit in a much smaller scale compared to Angkor Wat, what sets it apart from the other popular temples of Angkor are the face towers.


This is one of the most memorable temples we visited. No special reason other than the fact that I had a little accident inside the temple. I wanted to get a closer look at one of the Buddha statues in the temple. As I stepped into a darkened room, my right foot landed on a gap on the floor and I lost my balance. I was holding my camera on my right hand and I wasn't able to break my fall. I fell sideways to my right and twisted my ankle. Pain shot through my lower leg and for a while, I thought a broke by ankle. I sat there a for a few minutes while Ariel and Sophal stood in dumbfounded silence, mouths and eyes wide open. I consoled myself with the fact that I didn't fall in front of an audience other than my two male companions. After a while, I was able to limp into a better sitting position. I took off my shoes and socks, and surveyed the damage. I was in pain, but quite bearable so I didn't think anything was broken or dislocated. Nonetheless, I was in enough pain to prevent me from fully exploring the temple. Just my luck - it was only our first temple day and we were just on our second temple.

Anyway, I urged Ariel to go up the tower where I was able to take some of my favorite photos for the trip - thanks to a 200mm zoom lens, I was able to take decent shots from below.


I took Advil for the pain and the swelling and after a while, I was already fit enough to limp my way around the temple.




A short walk from Bayon, is a "temple mountain" called Bapuon (also Baphuon). It is currently undergoing restoration work and we did not go inside. Instead, we circled into the west side of the temple to see the reclining Buddha. It took a long while for me to spot the Buddha. It was so massive that we didn't realize it was a reclining statue. We thought it was just a wall.

We then proceeded to Phimeanakas and the Royal Palace. One look at the temple and I knew I wouldn't be able to climb the pyramid-like tower. My ankle is still every bit painful and will definitely not survive the steep climb. Ariel had to go on his own while Sophal stayed with me below.

One of the two ponds of the Royal Palace

A few steps away are the Terraces of the Elephants and of the Leper King.



The Terrace of the Elephants is where the King used to stand to address the soldiers before going into battle. We enjoyed looking at the hidden reliefs, most interesting of which are the five-headed horse and three-headed elephants.

By this time, it was almost noon and the sun was directly above us. We slathered sunblock earlier in the morning that didn't stop us from feeling the scorching heat of the sun.


The Terrace of the Leper King is adjacent to the Elephant Terrace and is also popular for its hidden reliefs. I was really confused why it was called Terrace of the Leper King. I remember hearing that the King did not really have leprosy. I wasn't paying attention at this point as it was so hot and I was already hungry.

We had lunch at Khmer's Family Resturant, near Srah Srang. We ordered Spring Rolls, Fried Catfish, Fried Pork, Coke Light for Ariel, Mixed Fruit Shake for me plus a bottle of ice cold water. We invited Sophal and Kun to eat with us. Ariel noticed Kun and Sophal dipping their viand in a strange-looking sauce. We found it was made of fermented fish and (gasp!) fried ants! Ariel was brave enough to try it, he swallowed the local delicacy and shuddered. I was impressed!

After lunch, we proceeded to Ta Prohm, a temple popularized by the Angelina Jolie movie, Tomb Raider.

This temple is still very much in the middle of a jungle, and has a very eerie feel brought about by the dark surroundings. It was a long walk from the drop off point into the temple proper. We were greeted by the gigantic Silk Cotton (locally referred to as Gum Tree) and Strangler Fig (referred to as Spung) trees - the main feature of this jungle temple.





The roots of the giant trees are breaking the stones apart, leaving the temple is an almost ruined state. It's quite ironic that the very same trees that make this a unique temple are also the ones destroying the structures. Kill the trees and the temple will be just like any other in Angkor. Leave the trees alone and the temple will soon be a heap of rubble.


After Ta Prohm, we stopped by Ta Keo. I was easily intimidated by this temple-mountain. I wasn't sure if my ankle will survive the climb. However, the Advil seemed to have worked its magic leaving me a very tolerable level of pain. I decided to give it a go. I handed my load to Sophal so I won't have any additional weight that might affect my balance. I crawled up the narrow steps without looking down. After a few exhausting minutes, I found myself at the top.




Going down is a different matter. Now that I was forced to look down, I was terrified. Ariel and Sophal held my hands as I took my first few steps down. After a few grueling minutes, my foot touched solid ground. I was very pleased with my accomplishment!

We then stopped by two small temples - Chaosay Tevoda and Thomannon.

Chaosay Tevoda was undergoing restoration work

We just relaxed a bit and chatted with Sophal who shared with us a bit of Cambodian history, specifically the reigh of Pol Pot.

Thomannon

Our tuktuk

Our last stop for the day is Phnom Bakheng. It was perched on top of a hill, a good 15-20 minutes hike. We had an option to ride an elephant up the hill but we opted to walk, a decision, I have come to regret later.

It was another challenging temple to climb given the very narrow and steep steps. However, I heard that the top of the temple offers a spectacular view of the Angkor region so I bravely climbed up the temple.

Angkor Wat as seen from Bakheng

We waited for the sunset so I could take photos. However, everyone seemed to have the same idea and we soon found ourselves in the middle of a huge crowd. We decided to descend before everyone else to avoid the stress of rushing the descent in the dark with a long line of tourists behind us.

The mob

It was already dark when we reached our tuktuk. We asked to be dropped off at Pub Street instead of our hotel to avoid either walking to the famous street or paying another US$2 for a short ride. Before we got to Pub Street though, we saw a pizza joint so we decided to get off and just have pizza for the evening. We arranged for another early start to see the sunrise at Srah Srang.

We ate at The Pizza Co. where we ordered Crispy Double Cheese Pizza (US$ 6.80), Sausage Spaghetti (US$ 3.3o), Tiger Beer for Ariel (2 bottles at US$ each) and OJ for me (US$1.50).

Back in the hotel, we decided to get a massage. Hmmm...I can't remember how much it costs but it was reasonable and the massage was quite good! I told the girl that I have a swollen ankle and she gently massaged it. I endured the pain hoping that it will be better the next day.

To view all of Part 2 photos, click HERE.

To read Part 3, click here.

Srah Srang at Sunrise

This is my first attempt to stitch photos together using Photoshop (CS2). Not as easy as I thought. Need more practice.

This was taken at Sra Srang in Siem Reap. We left the hotel at 5am and waited for the sun to rise to get this photo.

Date Night

It's our 119th monthsary and it's time to try something new.

This time, it's Mamou at Serendra. We were supposed to eat at Gaudi yet again when my colleague E suggested Mamou. He said the steak is very good and we must try the baked mashed potatoes. Well, I ditched the potatoes given my dietary requirements so Ariel ate my portion as well as his. I ordered salad instead. So here's the steak which Ariel and I shared.

After dinner, we went to Tea and Therapy for, well, tea of course. And dessert for Ariel. The menu describes the benefits of each tea concoction.

We opted for the German Wild Lover (Pure Pleasure) which I've tried before and loved. Ariel ordered a slice of Sans Rival (his all time favorite dessert) for a sweet ending to our dinner date.

The teapot and two small cups. I want that teapot!


WE just relaxed a bit and read travel mags.

We're thinking of subscribing to this mag.

And Ariel admired the modern interiors featured in Design magazine.

Lovely, lovely night.

Our Adventures and Misadventures in Vietnam and Cambodia - Part 1

January 19, 2009
It was our first time to take a Cebu Pacific international flight. It was our first time at the NAIA Terminal 3. We didn’t know that there weren’t many options for dinner. We left our home in a rush, having left the office later than planned. We decided to take a late dinner at the airport. By the time we cleared immigration, we were famished. We decided to get food from the first outlet that caught our eyes – a San Mig food stall. Needless to say, our dinner was filling but not satisfying. It was too late when I spotted Seattle’s Best, directly behind San Mig’s booth (yes, I was that hungry!). I opted to get tea from SB since I was nursing a queasy stomach since weekend.


We boarded the plane on time. The flight was uneventful and we soon found ourselves walking out of Tan Son Nhat International Airport. I was actually surprised at how much it changed since my last visit in 2004. Back then, it was dark and gloomy not much different from abandoned buildings you see in horror stories. This time, it was bright and cheery and buzzing with activity. As we exited, we were shocked to see hundreds of people waiting to greet family and friends from their trip – at 12:30am! It was difficult to get out of the crowded arrival area into the taxi cue. My friend N who is based in Ho Chi Minh gave specific instructions on where to wait for a cab, what cab company and how much the usual fare would be. She told us to take ONLY a Vinasun or Mai Linh taxi. There was none in sight. We waited for a couple of minutes and nothing. By this time, several taxi drivers had been pestering us to take their cab for VND 200,000 (about USD 12) which is way above the usual fare of VND 60,000 (about USD 4). Finally, one cab agreed to take us to N’s place for VND 100,000. Ariel and I were both exhausted and we didn’t have the energy to argue (we’ll never win Amazing Race Asia!). And besides, they hardly spoke English which made the experience doubly challenging.

We needed a place where we could rest for a few hours and freshen up before heading of to Siem Reap, Cambodia. N graciously offered her home which also meant that she will have very little sleep because we are arriving late and leaving early. N lives in a modest 2 bedroom condo unit in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. We stayed in her air-conditioned guest bedroom with a queen-sized bed covered in satin sheets. There are two chairs and a small coffee table, a desk with cable TV on it and cream colored built-in closet. Her glass-paneled wall/windows covered with vertical blinds look out to the street five storeys below. We chatted with N a bit, fighting off our exhaustion. It had been years since we last saw her and it was good to catch up face to face. We fell asleep at around 2:00 am as soon as our heads touched the bed.

January 20, 2009
It was so difficult to wake up at 4:30am having lacked sleep for the past few nights. N was already up and fixing us breakfast – I wasn’t actually sure if she slept at all! We fixed our things and enjoyed a light breakfast of bread and butter. My tummy was still queasy so I just drank a cup of hot water with honey while Ariel opted for coffee. It was almost 6am when we went out and got into a Vinasun taxi to take us to the Mekong Express Bus station along Pham Ngu Lao St. – the city’s backpacker district. When we got there, the bus was about to leave with only one seat left. We immediately proceeded to Sinh Café at Da Trahm St., just a few blocks away from the Mekong Express office. The bus was not full but it left at 6:30am, we missed it by about 5 minutes. With relentless optimism, I reassured Ariel that we will get to Siem Reap. I booked an 11:40am flight for us via Vietnam Airlines for USD169 each. Like an Amazing Race contestant, I asked for the earliest and fastest flight to Siem Reap.

We reached Tan Son Nhat airport at 7:30am – three and a half hours before boarding time. With time to kill, Ariel decided to work a bit (he brought his laptop!) while I roamed around to take photos.



By 8:30, we were hungry and decided to share a bowl of instant noodles which at USD6 is the most expensive instant noodles we’ve ever eaten. The warm soup calmed my tummy and provided a bit more energy – we were almost spent from the lack of sleep and proper meals.


I was falling in and out of consciousness as we waited in the pre-departure area and was relieved when we finally boarded our plane. By the time the plane took off at 11:40 am, I was already dreaming of Cambodia’s beautiful temples.

In an hour’s time, we landed at Siem Reap International Airport and we were greeted by a very nice structure, designed in typical Cambodian architecture. We rushed past immigration (Westerners still had to line up for same-day visa issuance) but had to wait a while to get our luggage (we were carrying a heavy backpack and one hand-carried luggage each). The drive to the hotel took about 30 minutes courtesy of the hotel car (a Toyota Rav 4).


We stayed in a deluxe room at the Claremont hotel which I booked through the internet (USD5 discount on the room rate if paid through Visa – USD60 net including breakfast and airport transfers, USD20 cheaper than published rates). The hotel is situated near the Siem Reap river and is only a few minutes walk from Pub Street. Our room was quite spacious, albeit very simple in appearance. There is one queen-sized bed and one double bed, a huge desk, cable TV, ref, coffee-making facility, safety deposit box, complimentary bottled water, and a fully loaded bathroom. There is free wifi at the lobby and three desktop computers with internet connections for those who don’t have laptops at no extra cost (which I took full advantage off during our entire stay!). We just dumped our luggage and went up the roof deck to have lunch at the Indian restaurant called East India restaurant (Tales of Asia described it as the best in the area). Ariel ordered the Khmer-Style Beef Curry while I opted for the spicy Mutton Biryani. The food was quite good (or maybe we were too hungry to be discriminating) but pricey – USD 20 for our meal!!!

Mutton Biryani

Khmer Style Beef Curry

After lunch, we decided to take a long nap. We were not in the best physical condition to start our tour. We were sleep-deprived and exhausted. In fact, we were actually quite happy that we traveled by air since it gave us enough time to recuperate and prepare us for our adventure in the next couple of days. If we had taken the bus, we would have arrived in Siem Reap at 7:30pm, and there is no way we could have slept soundly for the entire duration of the bus travel. So anyway, we slept until about 6pm. Then we unpacked, showered and got ready to go out and explore Pub Street, the famed tourist night spot in Siem Reap.

Before we left the hotel, we confirmed our early morning temple tour and requested for an English-speakin guide and a tuktuk. Yes, a tuktuk instead of a car (USD15 vs. 30). We told the hotel staff that we want to be at Angkor Wat by sunrise and we were told that there will be a USD 3 additional fee for the tuktuk. The guide fee is USD25 a day which is quite standard in the area. The lady at the front desk got us a tuktuk to take us to Pub Street. Then she told us it would be the same tuktuk to take us to the temples the next day. We paid USD 2 for the short drive to Pub Street – quite pricey considering it’s only a short distance away and it’s a tricycle!


The whole street was packed with tourists. It was the peak season and people from all over the world trooped to Pub Street for dinner. We wanted to sample the local dish so we decided to eat at the Khmer Family Restaurant. We were seated at a table outside the main restaurant so it was quite breezy. We ordered fresh spring rolls which Ariel and I both loved. So delicious!

Ariel also got the "Fried shrimps with garlic and pepper" which he thought to be similar to those offered in the Chinese restaurants in Manila. Turned out "fried" actually was "stir-fried", and "garlic and pepper" actually were bellpeppers. So, it was actually a saucy dish.

I sampled the Chicken Amok which I really, really enjoyed! It's similar to curry but milder in flavor.

Ariel and I really enjoyed dinner and decided to come back for more of their yummy spring rolls.

To read part 2, click here.

Dinner at Antonio's

Hours after our plane landed in Manila (from our Vietnam-Cambodia trip), on January 27th, 2009, Ariel and I found ourselves driving to Tagaytay for a romantic dinner at Antonio's. I called ahead to reserve a table and by 7 pm, we drove into the driveway. It was the middle of the week so very few tables are occupied.

We were led to a garden table by the pond filled with large colorful kois. An oil lamp provided a soft glow on our table while we were serenaded by the cool Tagaytay breeze and the pond's cascading waters.

We took our time studying the menu. Meanwhile, we were served with ice cold fresh dalandan juice.

Aside from the house salad which was included in the dinner set, we added a serving of foie gras split into two plates. Yummy!!!

I also ordered the soup of the day which was rich and creamy.

I opted for the seafood sampler which consisted of grilled prawns with spicy creole on pappardelle (whatever that is!), Norwegian salmon poached in olives and pan-seared scallops on celleriac mashed truffle cream sauce. Whew!

Ariel chose the Antonio's Sampler which consists of beef fillet on plancha with black pepper sauce, roast smoked Chilean sea bass on tomato, garlic lemon sauce, and honeyglazed lambloin gratinated with goat cheese. Yum!

For dessert, Ariel picked the flourless chocolate cake...

...while I took my usual panna cotta.

I am so happy that Ariel enjoyed his birthday dinner.

We capped the night with steaming hot cup of brewed coffee. Happiness!

This is the entrance into the dining area.

The chandeliers in the main dining room (we were seated by the garden).

I don't know why it took us so long to try Antonio's when I've been hearing a lot of good reviews over the past couple of years. Anyway, I'm glad we finally took the plunge and tried it, on Ariel's birthday eve no less. We had a fantastic time. Excellent food. Perfect ambiance. Great company. This is life!

Vietnam-Cambodia Trip: A Downpayment

I am still putting together the complete account of our trip. I also haven't finished sorting through hundreds of photos. But it will be worth the wait. :D I'll share details, highlights, recommendations on where to go and what to do, plus tipid tips for the budget traveller. Soon!

Meanwhile, check out some photos here.

Happy viewing!

Happy Lovin' Everyone!

We don't really celebrate Valentine's day. Each day of the week has been created by the God of Love so why should February 14 be any different?

So, tomorrow, instead of a romantic dinner for two, Ariel and I will take a road trip to Pampanga with colleague and good friend Karen, her hubby Ian, and daughter Yana. We will have a sumptuous lunch at C Italian Dining (dinner's already fully booked!), do a bit of shopping, check in at Holiday Inn Mimosa, dinner at Zapata's (hopefully!) and enjoy the Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Anything special planned tomorrow? Sure. We will cuddle in bed in the morning, a few minutes before getting up. We will greet each other "good morning" with a kiss. We will exchange wedding rings with a kiss. We will hold hands and give each other lots of hugs. We will exchange "I Love You" text messages. Ariel will tuck me to bed. We will kiss each other "good night". Plus many other small "love rituals" we've been doing every day we are together since the day we got married. And on days we are apart, we still keep the love alive with the help of technology.

So go tell your spouse you love him/her tomorrow. And every single day after.

Weekend at Abe's Farm/Nurture Spa in Pampanga

Last January 2, Ariel and I, together with some New Zealand-based friends drove to Pampanga for a relaxing weekend at Abe's Farm and Nurture Spa.

Gemma, Amie and Alfred flew home for the holidays. We picked them up at The Block in SM CIty North EDSA at around 9am and we drove to Pampanga (Angeles City exit) to have lunch at Abe's Farm. We met Grace and her mom, as well as Gay, Jun and their daughter Dani at one of the gas stations in NLEX. We then proceeded to Abe's farm where we had a table waiting reserved for a group of 11 adults (including driver and yaya).

Abe's Farm offers the same food selection as Abe's in Serendra and Bistro Remedios in Malate. We had a sumptuous meal! I took lots of photos but due to an error while transferring photos from my camera to the laptop, most of the photos were gone, except for a few survivors:

This is the gate that separates Abe's Farm and Nurture Spa. The Spa offers the same services as that in Tagaytay. Ariel and I had a 30-minute head and shoulder massage at the garden while the rest of the gang went around for some photos.

I couldn't resist taking this shot! Good thing Ariel was in the mood for some goofy shots.

The garden in the compound was well maintained. It is not as colorful as the spa in Tagaytay but the garden is just as lush, albeit with more greens than blooms.
Note to self: wear colorful outfits when out for some serious photo ops. It will make you stand out amid the lush green gardens or grey architecture.

The entrance to the main dining area where a feast of Pampanga's culinary delights awaited us.

Still can't get over my "lost" photos. The batch included our New Year shots (photo and video!) as well us our dinner at Bawai's. Sad.

We Travel Well

Have tons to blog about. We've had a number of food and travel adventures and misadventures since Q4 last year. I've accumulated lots of photos but never got around to posting them. Will do that really soon! But before that...

------------
Lifted this from Diane's blog:

1. What part of the world and country do you live in?

On weekdays, I sleep to the symphony of beeping cars and grinding cement trucks in Mandaluyong City. On weekends, I wake up to the concerto of chirping birds in Cavite. Both are in the Philippines.

2. What is the furthest from home that you have been, and where is it?

Hmmm...got to brush up on my geography. Asia mainly. I think Phuket, Thailand.

3. What travel destination have you enjoyed the most?

Wow, this is tough. Each destination has its own appeal. Locally, it would be Batanes. Outside of the Philippines, that would be Siem Reap, Cambodia.

4. What travel destination have you enjoyed the least?

Penang, Malaysia - only because I never had the chance to really explore the place.

5. Is there somewhere you’d like to visit but have not, and where is it?

I'd really like to go on an African Safari. Someday.

6. Do you prefer traveling to see historic places or to hit the beach and relax?

I'm generally a nature lover so I prefer the beach over historic places. However, beautiful historical sites like the Angkor region in Cambodia also appeal to me.

7. What popular vacation destination have you never considered because you think you’d not like it?

Hongkong is quite popular to Filipinos because of its proximity and accessibility. However, theme parks and shopping are not exactly my cup of tea so I've never ventured to Hongkong. But I might just try it one of these days.

8. Where do you travel to most recently?

Siem Reap, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

9. Do you like day trip “mini-vacations”?

Not as much as week-long vacations. I enjoy taking my time to discover and experience the places I visit. A day trip just doesn't cut it.

Happy New Year from Saigon!

Today is New Year's eve and Ho Chi Minh is decorated in colorful flowers, lights, balloons and lots of people line the streets. Ariel and I finished our tour for the day and are now resting for a few hours. We will walk towards Saigon River at around 10pm to join the Tet festivities until midnight. There will be fireworks by the river.

It's a great time to be here as the atmosphere is very festive. The downside is that all shops are closed so we were not able to buy any souvenirs.Some shops will be closed until the 28th!

Tomorrow, Ariel and I will just relax and walk around the area. Our hotel is just across Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office. I want to take photos at sunrise. However, it's probably an activity I will be doing on my own as Ariel doesn't want to wake up early after several days of waking up before sunrise in Siem Reap. Tomorrow will be the first morning he will be waking up late since we left Manila! I'm just a bit wary here. It feels a lot safer to go around in Siem Reap than here in HCM (we've been ripped off by cab drivers 2x already so we decided to just walk to whereever from this point on!). I'll see tomorrow. It's just across our hotel and very much visible from our hotel room.

While Ariel and I have been enjoying our vacation, I can't wait to get back home! I'm so looking forward to sleeping on my own bed on Tuesday!!! Plus I have a surprise waiting for Ariel when we get back. So excited!

Oh, I need to have my ankle checked back in Manila. It's still a bit sore.

Hello from Siem Reap!

We've had the most amazing 2 days in Siem Reap so far. Ariel and I just go tback from exploring he country side in an All-Terrain Vehicle and it was awesome. We visited a local orphanage and caught the kids in class (they have English, Chinese and Japanese language classes) and then later at recess. We had a great time interacting with them despite the fact that they are not yet very good in English. I asked one kid "how old are you?" and he said "I'm fine thank you. And you?" Of course I said "Im fine, too!" It took us more than three hours to traverse thorugh almost 50kms of dirt road. Needless to say, every inch of my body, clothing, bag, is thick with red dust. Such a small price to pay for an awesome experience. Ariel had a wonderful time and I could see how much he relished driving the ATV. Will give more details when I blog about our trip.

I thank God that all things worked out. We had a few minor misadventures but everything fell into place.

I twisted my ankle yesterday when I stepped in gap on the floor and fell right in front of a statue of Buddha. One good thing about it is that no one else was around when it happened - just Ariel and our guide so di naman masyadong nakakahiya. I took Advil right after and managed to complete our tour with minor inconvenience (and still managed to climb the most challenging temples!). By evening, my ankle was swollen but a few minutes of painful massage might have helped as I woke up today without the swelling. My thigh muscles were aching though, from all the climbing (well, crawling up is more like it!) the previous day. Oh, and I just confirmed, I have a fear of heights. Well, maybe not exactly. It's just that I have no problem climbing up the temples no matter how steep and tall they are. I get tired, sure. But I still manage to go up. Now, going down is a different matter altogether. I'd stnd there on the edge and freeze!!! Ariel and our guide Sophal would take my hand and help me take the first step or two and then I'll make it on my own. I was just so terrified! So why still climb? I don't know. Maybe it's my pride, or my competitive nature. I just can't go back home and say that I didn't go up the temples. :D

More details when we get home! Just took a bit of internet time to check our itinerary when we get back to Ho Chi Minh on Saturday.

Ok, I badly need a long shower and some heavy scrubbing. Oh, and I can't wait for dinner. Khmer food is simple mouthwatering!

Meet Cain

Our family of four humans (Ariel, myself and two helpers) and three furry friends welcomed our newest baby yesterday.

Meet CAIN. He's a two and a half month old cream teacup poodle and he's just the most adorable puppy ever. Look at those puppy eyes. He's only 7 inches tall and about 9 inches long.


I was a bit worried about how he would adjust to his new environment. When I took him home yesterday, he slept throughout the drive home. When we got home, he started playing with everyone! So cute! I specially love it when he wags his inch-long tail. After playing for a bit, we gave him dinner - two tablespoons of dog food mixed with a bit of milk. He finished his food quickly and pooped on a sheet of old newspaper. Yup, he's potty trained!

Can't wait to buy him clothes and accessories! But he's gorgeous just the way he is. Look at him! Welcome home Cain!

People ask me why we named hi Cain. No reason in particular. I would have named him Mr. Big after Chris Noth's character in Sex and the City but he looked more like a Cain to me so Cain it is!

Stories in Hand

I wanted to enroll in the 5-week Friday night classes at Powerbooks called The Five Stories You Want To Write. It's a writing class which I thought would improve my writing skills. But my main objective is really how to capture the relevant stories of my life that I can put into my scrapbook pages. Unfortunately, the schedule doesn't work for me. Three out of the 5 Fridays are already booked in my personal calendar (it starts Nov. 14 and every Friday til Dec. 12).

Fortunately, I signed up for Jessica Sprague's online class called Stories in Hand. It started yesterday so today is Day 2. The class is about the process of capturing the stories that matter. As a scrapbooker, I thought this is highly relevant because I want my scrapbooks to tell stories of how I lived my life. I don't want my scrapbooks to be just about pretty "artistic" pages but I want them to remind me of the good times and the bad, of the experiences that make life sweet, of the blessings I need to be thankful for, of the lessons learned, etc.

The good thing about this class is that I can do it on my own pace. I can access the site any time I want and print the materials on my own convenient time. Yesterday, Jessica shared some printable digital elements to be used for our "scrapbook". Today, she gave us what she calls "sparks" - questions about our ancestry, childhood, routines, etc. - that would, well, spark stories that can be captured in our scrapbook pages. I haven't had a chance to read through the very long list (there are three categories - Roots, Self, Family) but browsing through some of them already brought back memories. I am very excited and I am hoping to interview my parents to know more about my ancestry.

I think I am already doing a good job capturing our travel stories but I need to capture the everyday moments too. So hopefully, this class will help me do just that.

I will share what I can as the class progresses (it runs til Nov. 23!). Right now, I need to go to bed and rest. I still have low-grade fever (4 days already!), a terrible cold, and now, I have cough too! I'm already taking antibiotics so hopefully, the fever will subside soon.