Cutty

My husband is excited about our upcoming trip this weekend. He will be celebrating his birthday in Japan. This trip is actually a 3-in-1 gift to both of us. This covers our wedding anniversary and both our birthdays. It really is a cheap gift if you ask me. We got our plane tickets from our Mabuhay Miles credits.   This is Vic's second trip to Japan. The first one was nearly two decades ago. This is my third though I feel like this is my first time. My previous visits were not leisure trips so I really haven't had the chance to explore and enjoy the sights. I am currently working on an itinerary because I don't know where to go. We are not going to the Tokyo Disneysea or any other theme park because we are not traveling with our kids. I am trying to recall the highlights of my first Tokyo visit. I do remember the "death march" to Harajuku St., Asakusa, St. Francis chapel, the complicated train system, various milk teas, the convenience stores, seei...

They were dispensing Ventolin like crazy yesterday.  At least half of the drugstore's customers were asking for a nebule or a capsule.  I hope they don't run out. All the boys in my family are sick with asthma or really bad cough.  We thought Vic needed to be admitted to the hospital.  Javi has been coughing and had just recovered from fever.  Johann's had just begun. I love the cool breeze brought by the frequent rain showers.  I am just not loving the effect it has on my family's health.

For this anniversary, we initially wanted to go on a trip to celebrate.  But because we had so many things planned for the weekend and because travel arrangements didn't fall through, we decided to  to stay in Manila instead.  On our anniversary, we landed in Lemuria. It was tucked inside a residential area in Horseshoe.  Down the sloping drive way, this was the sight that greeted us   We had the usual bread, butter and vinaigrette  to start the meal. Vic had the Onion Soup while I had one of the most wonderful salads I've had in ages.  Look up La Tomate et Citron in the menu.  With candied walnuts and dried figs, how can I not like it?  The white strips are grilled ricotta cheese strips.  Yes, it was definitely yummy. Vic ordered the rib eye (served with peppercorn sauce and a side of veggies) while I had the Kurobuta pork belly as shown below.  Again, it had my favorite dried figs.  Though t...

I wasn't supposed to be in the concert last Friday.  My husband booked tickets for the race last March, way before the concert had its date.  But since I was part of the organizing committee, I just had to be there.  Vic flew to Singapore as scheduled.  I stayed behind and flew the next day. I took the early morning flight to Singapore.   Vic and I met at the hotel.  I arrived just before lunch.  I had enough time to shop and rest before the concerts and the qualifying session. I had been to the race in Sepang, Malaysia.  It was nothing compared to the energy and organization of Singapore F1. I can't begin to imagine how much boost Singapore's economy had gained in this one event.  Every part of the city benefited from this.  There were temp jobs to fill, an increased demand for shopping, for food, accommodations and transportation.  It was really worth the investment for the government.  Just look at how many people w...

Vic and I decided to take the boys to see their current favorite, Cars 2.  Johann has been bugging us to watch Cars 2 in Kong Kong (read:  HK) ever since Disney Junior showed it on TV.  We planned to leave Bettina and the yayas in Pasig before heading to the 1PM showing at Rockwell.  But the traffic was so bad that we had to settle for the 3PM showing instead.  We had brunch and churros, walked around for a bit then got our movie snacks. It was Javi's first full-length movie in the cinema. Before the movie, I kept on telling him that it will grow dark inside and that he shouldn't be afraid.  He had to adjust to the volume so kept on covering his ears when the level was too much for him. I'm glad that they're already familiar with the movie (c/o a bootleg copy) so they didn't ask a lot of loud and embarrassing questions.  In fact, they were captivated by it.  Javi's eyes were glued to the big screen.  Johann was revving up his fake engin...

It was a whirlwind trip, right from the start. After 10 million years, I eventually received my Australian Visa last Wednesday.   Two hours later, after talking my mother into looking after the kids while I'm gone, my ticket is ready.  Since I've been monitoring the airfare rates to Oz and back, I already knew which flights I'll be getting.   Thank God for online booking! I arrived in Adelaide on Friday morning.  I got in just in time for the long weekend.  It was the Queen's birthday, you know. While Vic was in the office, I explored the Rundle Mall and the Central Market. The following day was spent touring around Victor Harbor and Glenelg courtesy of Filipino friends.  Sunday was for hearing mass, shopping in Ikea and doing chores.  Monday was Wine Tasting day at the Barossa Wineries.  Today, Tuesday, I checked out the local outlet shops.  I have a few more days left before I head back home to my children.    ...

My husband's been in Oz for 5 days now and he is bored to death.  Establishments close at 5PM.  No wonder band gigs happen at 3PM.  I am not sure if it's the same way in the bigger cities.  I know that it is going to be difficult to beat homesickness and the winter blues if that's everyday life. I'm glad he is enjoying the fresh cheeses and cold cuts from the nearby open market.  It's also nice to know that there's a Filipino store just a few blocks away. We've been thinking of me joining him there.  It'll be just for a few weeks, before Johann's school starts.  Ewan.  We still have to factor in Visa processing.  Baka pauwi na siya by the time I'm ready to leave.  Oh well.  I am just waiting for his decision.

For Vic's birthday lunch, we made our way to Ortigas. We've been wanting to try out the new Cafe 1771. As we made our way to our table, we saw Tito Ricky and bade him a quick hello. Unlike the other 1771 restos, this one has brightly-colored interiors. I told Vic that it resembled Cafe Juanita but not in a quirky way. Though the place was filled with mismatched chairs and funky decor, it still looked organized and cozy. Like Juanita, they also had items on sale. As expected, the waiters were very attentive. They took away the plates as soon as they're empty. Water glasses were always refilled. Looking at the menu, I could tell that the selection is quite expensive for the "Ordinaryong Manggagawa." I guess they cater more to the executive diners. Lunch for Vic and me was already over 2000 pesos. Buti na lang we were celebrating something. Otherwise Taj Mahal for an ordinary weekday lunch. As expected the food was very palatable. We had cheese-stuffed ...

Last Friday, Vic and I celebrated our 6 years of partnership by drowning ourselves in cheese, foie gras and desserts. Sarap! Though my stomach is still recovering from all that dairy, I quite thankful that God has blessed our relationship with so many things. 6 years and 3 kids later, we're still the same old couple who enjoy food and music. Not only are we partners in parenting, we're also great in shopping =P I thank God for giving me someone who I can laugh and cry with, share my burden with (chiz!), who can (almost always) read my mind, who can finish my sentences, who understands my mood swings, who has an endless supply of moral support and who lets me be what I want to be. To my favorite travel buddy, Happy 6th wedding anniversary to us!

Since Vic's company-issued laptop is stripped down to the bare essentials, he needed a web cam so we can communicate via Skype. He borrowed a digital video camcorder that could work as web cam too. We got excited about it because it was so compact. It looks very hi-tech too. Vic didn't want to give it back, initially. When he was unwrapping the gadget, Vic said, "Naloko ata si Dad. Walang binigay na memory." Upon installing the device, he got suspicious. "Meron bang Sony na camera na ganito ang installer? Pero, sige, subukan natin. Baka okay naman." When he finally finished installing it, it won't work correctly. It doesn't even zoom. Ay! Here are other tell-tale signs that what we got is a fake: 1. The lens didn't say Carl Zeiss 2. Look at the strap 3. If I remember correctly, Sony uses Memory Sticks not SD cards, as seen on the upper right portion of the camera. 4. Look at the warranty card. Click on the picture to zoom into the ...

We found out only a few days ago that Vic is being sent to Portland for a two-week business trip. He was supposed to leave on Tuesday but it was moved to Monday. He will be there just in time for the Memorial Weekend. Memorial Weekend means only one thing...SALE! If I don't have Johann, Javi and Bettina to think of, I would have gone with him. In fact, I had already chosen his hotel for him and mapquest'd our fave spots (PF Chang's, Costco, Hooters, outlet malls and Target). Hahaha, parang ako ang aalis. -------------------- I've always liked going on business trips. Somebody else pays for the food, accommodations, rental, gas and laundry. I only had to worry about my shopping money. One big drawback though is leaving behind one's family. I used to spend my hours away from the office at a nearby mall, TJ Maxx or outlet shops. I'd go home when it is dark enough to sleep or when my feet are too tired from window shopping. I'd bring home some take-...

What a gastronomic experience last week was. Tuesday Dinner was at Crowne Plaza for Dad's Testimonial Dinner. Wednesday, while everyone else was tuned in to the inauguration , we had lunch at Spirals. Last night Vic and I decided to try out a new resto , Rock Salt. Parang busog pa ko . I also feel so guilty for over indulging this week. I think I may be gaining back what I've lost through nursing. Vic and I should find alternative ways to spend quality time together.

To start off the whole experience, I give you this... from 12:30PM to 5:30PM on a gloomy and humid Thursday afternoon. I hope you get the idea. ----------------- I waited two months to get that appointment schedule. I didn't know what to expect. I refrained from reading personal accounts of people who applied and renewed their passports using the new system. Seeing that the waiting area is filled to the brim is quite a depressing start for us. We queued outside the official waiting area as we waited for the place to be less crowded. Since it was already Javi's nap time, he was getting groggy in his stroller. Salamat naman he didn't throw a tantrum. By the time we entered, he was already fast asleep. He didn't fuss over the heat also. Good kid. Once we're allowed to enter, we were given a number. Looking at the number we got, we're up for a loooooong wait. 150 pa before us. It's a good thing that they didn't give us separate numbers for ren...

Summer has begun and I am not liking the idea that I can't bring my two boys anywhere to escape the heat. I am about to pop and I can't take long drives. I figured, we'll explore what's in Manila. I thought the Ocean Park was a good idea to waste the afternoon away. I haven't been to the Ocean Park in HK so I didn't know what to expect. But, I have been to Ocean Adventure in Subic and to Sea World in San Diego. Adults pay 450 to enter. Kids above 2ft pay 350. Kids below 2ft may enter for free. Taj mahal in my opinion.The yayas were left outside, by the entrance, so they can eat lunch while the Daddy and Mama take the kids in their strollers. We got through the main entrance with no problems. After several fish tanks, it seemed that we had to take the stairs to get to the other side. Hmmm . Parang di ata good idea if this attraction was meant for kids. We asked around and found out that there's another door we can pass through. Buti na ...

In less than six weeks, we'll be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary. I'm thinking of doing something special to celebrate this milestone. Vic said that we could have a small gathering and we'll probably have the house blessed by then. I'm thinking about celebrating it in a different way. When the 5th anniversary was still more than a year away, I thought about traveling to Europe with Vic. It has been a decade since we were there. However, that plan is slowly losing its appeal because a friend's wedding has been delayed for another year. We'll probably wait for that. Now that PAL has a direct flight to Tokyo, I am asking my travel agent to check out packages for us. I fell in love with Tokyo when ACS went there. Vic was still a kid when he went there. It has changed a lot since then. After meeting with a friend yesterday, I want to go to Dubai. I can hear Vic saying "ang gastos!" Libre naman mangarap (sabay tingin sa emirates.com).

Yesterday, the husband took a day off from work to accompany me to the land of Divi. I planned to get prizes for Javi's birthday. Vic wanted to buy stuff for the home. Right after breakfast, we trooped to Divi and searched for Anding's toy store. I got a lot of prizes, plus some decors for the Halloween Party. It was pretty difficult to look for Backyardigans items. So, I just settled for the farm animals and other non-farm-related toys. I got shirts for the boys. Even Vic got something for himself. I ended up not getting anything for myself. Vic urged me to get Christmas decors already. But since I had no theme in mind, it was difficult to weed through the variety of decors and colors in front of me. We decided not to get anything yet. After a quick lunch, we went to the nearby Soler/Alonzo Streets. We were looking for light fixtures for the part we're expanding and for the living area. We must've gone through every store in search of the one that's cl...

We didn't finish cleaning up the house on Thursday. Vic and reinforcements went back to the house to clean up yesterday. However, due to the impeding arrival of Pepeng , I asked them to leave earlier than usual. I wouldn't want them to be stranded in the flood on their way back to Marikina . Needless to say, they didn't get much done that day. I chose not to go that day because Johann had fever the previous night. I was monitoring him for possible recurrence of febrile convulsions. Besides, I needed time to slip away to check out the party venue for Javi's first birthday. I feel so lucky that the Big Red Barn at the Fun Ranch is still available. I have some minor considerations but I am planning to book it for the party. Besides, I'm already running out of options. With only a month in my hands, I am hoping that the weather will cooperate when I shop for game prizes and party loot. ----------------- On a different note, the husband is contemplating on taki...

Last Monday, we did have a reason to celebrate. The husband got his visa after an hour-and-a-half of waiting. I didn't even finish the prepaid wifi I got from Bayview because I was expecting a much longer wait. The consul didn't even look at his documents. Sayang, I was up at 4am going through piles of paper to look for documents to bring. Anyway, we went to our celebratory lunch at Paseo Uno for lots of cheese, smoked salmon and tempura. Otherwise, that lunch would've been a "cheer me up" lunch. ------------------- In a couple of weeks, I'm leaving for Taipei for a choral festival. They usually require visitors to get a Chinese Visa. They are waiving that policy for people who have valid US Visas. Yay! That means, I don't have to submit requirements again. I don't want to get another set of NSO documents again. At least, not for this year. Besides, it is always difficult to show one's ties to the country if one's unemployed.

I am hanging out at Starbucks across the US Embassy right now. I am waiting for Vic to finish the Visa interview. It is his first time to undergo the interview since his previous visas (multiple indefinite / 10-year-validity) didn't require him to appear before a consul. I am quite nervous since there is no telling what the consul would do. Since we only have our cars and bills under our name (and the rest under the family business' name), I hope he has enough proof and documents to demonstrate his ties to the Philippines. I hope we have a reason to celebrate this afternoon. I'm quite ready to have lunch at Paseo Uno.

...I am supposed to find Vic's missing passport. The missing passport is an old one with no valid Visas. It's just that it has the bulk of Vic's travel history. I don't know where to start because I have to turn the whole house upside-down. That means I have to clean up our closets again. I need to find it soon so Vic can renew his US Visa in time for our trip this August. ...I have a Jazz class but I am not going. My body has changed so much that I can't cope with the teens . I am disheartened by the fact that the group is preparing for a recital that I am not joining. I may enroll for a workout class next. ...I just watched a new TV series by Fox called Glee. It is about a teacher who wants to the high school singing group a new life. Our group, ACS , finds it very timely and fitting. We have a friend who's about to do the same thing in a Jesuit school in NJ. If you want to see the first episode, you may view it here . The pilot episode was aired...