Singapore 2017: Gardens by the Bay

Singapore, 8th January 2017 – This nature park comprising of 101 hectares of reclaimed land consists of waterfront gardens, namely: Bay East Garden, Bay South Garden and Bay Central Garden.

The conservatory complex has two cooled conservatories – the Flower Dome (Chinese: 花穹) and the Cloud Forest (Chinese: 云雾林), situated along the edge of Marina Reservoir.

At 1.2 hectares, the Flower Dome is the world’s largest columnless glasshouse. It replicates a mild, dry climate and features plants found in the Mediterranean and other semi-arid tropical regions such as South America, South Africa and Australia.

The Cloud Forest is higher and is sized at 0.8 hectares. It replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above sea level, found in South-East Asia, Middle- and South America.

LX-5 Images © 2017 Catherine Herrera

Neko in Japan: @ N@r@ P@rk (album)

May 9, 2008 
Nara, Japan

In my previous album about Nijo Castle, I mentioned being influenced by a Bobbsey Twin mystery story which was set in Japan. One of the places the twins visited was Nara. Their gracious hostess showed them how they could make the deer bow their thanks after they are fed (you can buy deer cookies in the park to give to these cute creatures).

TIP: 

While most people may tell you that Nara can just be a day tour, my heartfelt recommendation is to spend more than half a day there. I truly feel that Nara’s ancient temples and buildings are more authentic and “complete” (note that Nara was the first capital of Japan).

An overnight stay in this historic and charming city is not even enough for me. In fact, I didn’t even get to see or walk around all of Nara Koen since I grossly underestimated the time it took to just visit some of the sights to see inside the park. The temples and attractions are not just a stone’s throw from each other and you puff along walking from one temple to the next.

Nara Koen’s 1,300 acres of ponds, trees, lawns and temples obviously could not be traversed in 1 day, and with more than 1000 sika deer roaming about, you lose some time too in taking pictures and patting the tame animals.

Beware though! Not all these dear creatures *pun intended* are Bambi-like and they can be quite aggressive…especially if you don’t have deer cookies. You might end up having your edible-looking bag or map munched on with much gusto. *wink*

I literally swam across a throng of schoolchildren romping about the grounds and dashed madly to Todai-ji Temple (the Great Eastern Temple), where one can see the awesome bronze statue of a sitting Buddha.

The temple is believed to be the world’s largest wooden structure. The statue is 53 feet tall, and is the largest in Japan. It was commissioned in 743.

{picture of the Great Eastern Temple}

 

TIP: 

Try to arrive early for your walking tour. If you walk around by 10 am upwards, you will find yourself sandwiched between one tour group or the next, or zillions (it seemed that way to me) of schoolchildren being guided around.

If you have at around 4 hours for Nara, try to visit at least Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Shrine and Kofukuji’s Temple Treasure House.

In the Todai-ji Temple, I also had fun watching adults trying to stuff themselves in a narrow hole in a wooden pillar.

It is said that if you can squeeze through this, its like being assured of reaching Paradise (or was it enlightenment?). Well, if you are a child or at least a thin adult, obviously you would have no problem being ensured a place in Paradise since you would crawl through the hole, but for us heftier ones….well…that is another story!

{the pillar’s hole is the gateway to enlightenment}

 

How to Get There:

Nara Park is just a few steps from the Kintetsu Nara Station.
From the JR Nara Station, it is a 5-10 minute walk.
For me, it was just a go-left from Seikan-so Ryokan, keep on walking for 10 minutes and you will hit it when you see all these stalls selling souvenirs.

If you have a JR Pass, you can arrive in Nara from Kyoto on one of the trains from Kyoto station which leaves for Nara 4 times in an hour. The trip can take 45 minutes to almost an hour. If you don’t have a pass, the fare is 690 yen one-way.
For the luxuriously-inclined traveler – the deluxe Kintetsu Limited Express is more expensive and faster and costs 1,110 yen one way.

Admission:
Only for the temples, entrance to the park is free.

 

– Sep 17, ’08 1:14 AM

Neko in Japan: Jishu Jinja (“matchmaking shrine”) (album)

May 6, 2008

….this shrine is adjacent to the Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan…so while you are inside its grounds, don’t forget to drop by this shrine as it is informative..and who knows..you just might have some extra love charms to tuck into your sash after your visit..

Throughout the year this shrine is chock-full (I wonder why? *ehem, ehem*) with students on school excursions and couples and other visitors who come to pray for good luck in love. *hearts for eyes*

This shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto who is known as a god of love or matchmaking..okay..so its the Japanese version of Cupid or Venus?

There is a pair of small rocks placed apart in this shrine. I think these were called “love stones”. (It does sound funny when I repeat it a couple of times…as opposed to kidney stones?).

The rocks are believed to tell the fortunes of love and you can see many visitors trying it out – one has to walk from one rock to another with one’s eyes closed.

If you arrive safely or get to the other half of the pair of rocks without any hitch, then this means that you will fall for each other or you will find your good match. If you need to be assisted by someone else to reach the rock, you will need to have some other advice to have your wish granted.

All kinds of good-luck charms for a good match are sold here. But.. you can aksi buy other charms such as for a happy marriage, success in passing an examination and even for the easy delivery of a child (I see this sometimes in anime).

Free admission. Shrine closes at 5 pm.

You will just be tempted to buy all these charms being displayed on the place hehehe…and no I didn’t buy..coz for me, everything in Japan is expensive!

– Jul 2, ’08 7:51 PM

Flowers @ Huis Ten Bosch (1 of 2) (album)

May 4, 2008 (Sunday)
Huis Ten Bosch
Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

I had earlier posted in the video section somewhere on this site, a preview of Huis Ten Bosch as well as a couple of video clips of their fireworks show which was the “highlight” of the visit.

Suffice to say, paying a visit to this park was one surprising activity since I never expected to see something like the Netherlands in the middle of Japan. There is a lot of work which went into setting up this park, not the least of which was planting and caring for the very beautiful and colorful flowers dotting the landscape.

Try as we must, even if we went there early and were one of the first to queue for entering, we were not able to attend all the rides and shows, there simply was not enough time.

The castle replica as well as the IFX theater were all we could try since the time was consumed by picture-taking and ooh-ing and aaah-ing over the various sceneries, not to mention examining the exquisite glass and crystal items, bells and whatnots at different museums and stalls, eating one of Nagasaki’s famous fare: the champon, posing for the cartoon-style drawing of Benjie and yours truly as well as sailing around the bay, clambering over sails, gatecrashing a wedding party’s picture-taking attending of fireworks etc…to name a few of the activities we indulged in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Information below taken from official site:

* Carillon Symphonica *

Japan’s first museum dedicated entirely to bells is housed in this recreated 17th century clock tower. Japan’s first bell museum has bells and carillon from around the world, especially those from Holland, on display. A carillon is a group of bells of different tones that are struck with a hammer to create melodies. The first thing you see upon entering this museum is the 9 meter carillon tower which houses 37 bells. A truly significant collection composed of ancient bells that were used to drive away evil spirits.
Location: Museumstad

* Von Seibold Museum *

A museum of the lives of the Dutch on Dejima. They have recreated in actual size part of Dejima, Nagasaki, the only place in Japan open to contact with the outside world during its period of national isolation.

Take a glimpse into the life of Von Siebold; a physician of the Dutch trading company and the first person to establish and help advance western medicine in Japan. This is your chance to learn more about how the cultures of Japan and Holland came together in Nagasaki.
Location: Museumstad

* Glass Museum *

Breathtaking, elegant glassworks and a chance to see one of the finest chandeliers in the world. During the Edo period in Japan glass was known as “giyaman”, which is said to come from the Dutch word “diamant”. They have brought together glass works from around the world to this museum of fine art.

You can find this museum inside the Stadhuis, which was modeled after a Dutch town hall, located on Alexander Plein. The hall chandelier, with a width of 2.2 meters, height of 3.5 meters, and weight of 750 kilograms, is made of glass so crystal clear it would be impossible to recreate it in this day and age. Wedding ceremonies are performed on the third floor.
Location Binnenstad

* Porcelain Museum *

Imari Porcelain is loved the world over. You’ll find beautiful examples of Imari porcelain on display and can learn all about its history. They have recreated a German Palace’s glorious Porcelain Cabinet which is filled with porcelain from the Orient. Approximately 3,000 pieces of fine porcelain from that time are displayed creating a sensation of power and wealth. Come learn of the history and roles that porcelain played in exchanges between the East and West through our displays of Imari and Chinese porcelain brought to Europe by the Dutch East India Company.
Location: Spakenburg

Missed this:

* Teddy Bear Kingdom *

This museum is a wonderland of heart-warming, delightful and extremely rare teddy bears. Don’t miss this museum of teddy bears loved by people of all ages.
Come experience our world-class collection of 1,500 teddy bears including the world’s largest teddy which weighs 500 kilograms and is 3.6 meters tall, rare antique teddies from the 1900 ~1950’s, specially designed teddies created by world-class artists and teddies from the most famous makers in the world.

Location: Bruekelen

– Jun 14, ’08 8:39 PM

Going back after the Onsen (album)

May 3, 2008 Saturday
Nagasaki, Japan 

After we returned from Ioujima Island, our schedule was not really fixed since either one of Joy’s bosses may come over for dinner or there was a friend of his who wanted to meet him.

In the end, we did some grocery shopping at the store across the couple’s apartment, ate dinner cooked by Benjie, then left Joy behind to sleep as Benjie and I went off for a walk. I do not blame Joy as after wallowing in an onsen, the body feels deliciously relaxed, and I would be rolling in bed myself if not for my being curious about their neighborhood.

We dropped by a 24/7 store (can’t remember the name..was it “Family Store”?) where I hoped to get the “hentai” manga that an officemate of mine wanted to have as souvenir when he found out I would be going to Japan.

I was a bit self-conscious poking around the stands, but in the end, all I could find was a magazine, not the manga kind which I think he would have wanted. Oh well, I got it anyway, and since it was taped I really could not see what was inside but the cover was suggestive *grin*

While in the store, we bought a couple of onigiris (rice balls), pastries, breads, chocolates and drinks which we would be bringing along to the next day’s early trip to Huis Ten Bosch (posted a video preview in the Video section somewhere on this site).

We then dropped by a couple of pachinko (gambling game in Japan played on vertical pinball machines) places and posed. I thought they would not close but as 11 pm neared, we managed to catch the last dregs of the players.

Afterwards we walked back and it was the first time I could remember walking a street in the dead of the night and feeling safe. I didn’t even have to skirt along the edges of shadows. I couldn’t imagine myself doing this at some places in Manila (I’d probably walk in the middle of the road) but all along the street we had strolled you could see evidence that people here pretty much left things as is – from cute pots of gorgeous flowers, to umbrellas and other stuff outside which would probably be gone in a wink in other places *wink*

We strolled along until we reached their harbor near their apartment where Benjie and I talked about different topics and marveling on how funny it was…both of us never thought we would be strolling one night in Japan and doing all the things we have done – from dining on Japanese cuisine, strolling around parks and dropping Japanese phrases, to the latest activity of going bare as we dared visit an onsen. We had a good laugh over that one.

There was some reminiscing and updating, and even plans for their next trip as Joy was going to Vietnam. I hope they do spend their Christmas in Vietnam with their children and I hope in the future I could spend more visits abroad in the company of old friends and acquaintances like what I was doing at that time.

I felt a pang that time was so short and that I would be leaving Benjie’s delicious home-cooked meals to continue on my trip alone (I gained weight!), but it will be an adventure and more tales to share with friends later. I was sorry too that I could not buy food which I could bring back to the Philippines as my journey would continue for more than a week yet….

P.S. I think some pictures are still displayed on their sides..weirdly I cannot fix it even if I have rotated them already, they return to the original one. Oh well, I will try to repost later by using pics which are already aligned correctly…in the meantime have fun angling your head…

– May 28, ’08 11:17 PM

Iojima Island: Dare 2 Bare in an Onsen 1/2 (album)

3rd of May 2008, Saturday
Nagasaki, Japan

I was obsessed with the thought of wallowing in an “onsen”, probably due to many onsens featured in my favorite animes and manga.

An onsen means hot springs in the Japanese language. The term though usually describes the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. Onsen were traditionally used as public bathing places, and its still quite prevalent in Japan.

Baths may be either public run by a municipality or could be private, often run as part of a hotel, ryokan or B&B – hmm….I just remembered I had to pay bath taxes at a ryokan in Nara.

Onsen are a central feature of Japanese tourism often found out in the countryside. The natives talk of the “naked communion” due to the onsen’s atmosphere – breaking down barriers and getting to know people in the relaxed homey atmosphere of an onsen inn. (Initially, I admit was a bit dubious as to how I could be relaxed without a stitch on, marching around the baths with only a hand towel perched on top of my head, but after this experience, I must say there’s truth in it hehehe!)

Well, of course you go naked, honey!

Joy and Benjie made one of my fondest wishes come true by arranging a trip to a natural onsen at Iojima Island, and together with some of their friends we gamely trooped to this resort.

Some of them were old hands, like Erika who shed clothes, went to wash and soak without batting an eyelash or even flapping a towel. There are separate baths for men and women, and we women stayed longer on our end….as Erika, Rose, Benjie, Tey, Juliet and the other female children tried out one bath after another. For the men like Joy, Darwin and Edmund and their respective sons…well, some hilarity did happen with the young ones being reluctant to bare it all, leading one father to chase his son outside before remembering belatedly that he was in the buff..hehehe…

It wasn’t that expensive actually. With 1000 Yen, which includes the round trip fare, as well as for wallowing in the onsen (you can drown in unlimited supplies of shampoo, body shampoo and rinse), it was well worth it. If I had known it would feel that good after soaking, I’d have asked us to stay overnight if we had gone there on Friday…oh well, at least I have experienced going “butt-nekked” in an onsen.

Pictures below show our going together to the island, first having a picnic before venturing into the bowels of the spa and going commando.

– May 23, ’08 11:52 PM

Neko-chan in Japan: Nagasaki -> Glover Garden 2/2 and Dejima Wharf (album)

After finishing all the emails at a manically rapid pace that made Benjie look at me questioningly, I managed to reduce the workload enough that all I needed was approval from the US and then the responses could be sent off to the client. However, since these would only be given to me around 10 pm upwards (meaning I had to come back before that time) I certainly wanted to make use of the gap and do my first round of sightseeing…and eating out 🙂

Around 4 pm and upwards off we went, with empty stomachs and a repeat visit for Benjie and Joy to Glover Garden.

Most of the pictures here will show me with my newly discovered boyfriend – Mr. Tri Pod. I definitely spent more than an hour here with all the posing and stopping…I don’t think I saw all the houses and exhibits, but if only for the sweeping view of the harbor, I definitely would recommend readers to visit this place.

After partaking of my first drink from the vending machine, I had the crazily whimsical idea of dropping in my 5 peso coin as it was mixed with the yen coins I had accumulated. I think the machine was shocked that somebody dared do it that it didn’t give a reaction, not even returning my coin at once….*grin* After some knob turning though, it did spit the coin out disdainfully.

As a souvenir, I bought a tiger’s eye bracelet from one of the shops. Although I did want to buy some more Nagasaki souvenirs, thinking of the higher prices here made me think twice. Consequently I wasn’t able to buy the usual t-shirt or articles with Nagasaki’s name or famous items on it.

In the evening we managed to squeeze into on an eat-all-you-can restaurant to combine lunch, afternoon merienda and dinner, and it was Joy’s treat so I must thank him for the first eating out experience as I was stuffed like a sushi roll afterwards.

Even with the short time given to us (*sigh* I had to go back for the rest of the work to be finished or followed-up plus I had the usual late night phone conference), I think we still managed to do justice to the meal, to have the restaurant’s attendants say that these “gaijin” are matakaw.

Photos are from my 2 cameras (Finepix and Kodak) and Benjie’s Canon. Domo arigato gozaimashita!

– May 19, ’08 1:17 PM

Of Scallops, Sales and Seafoods (album)

April 5, 2008
a hot, hot day

Jing and Harry were able to make it. Benjie too although she was late and said she would catch up. I had texted some college friends to see if we could get together for lunch this day as I did kind of miss eating baked tahong and scallops. Seafoods are not something I can usually indulge in while in Manila, so I was happy to be eating something I liked and which wasn’t horribly expensive to make me lose my appetite.

Rosemarie had to wait for her hubby to drive her to the place, Erwin was in the town of Alegria (90 kms or more away), AnaFe was in Bohol, while the others could not be contacted in time. That meant I could have most of the seafoods to myself *evil glint in eye*….I mean…eherm..too bad for them as I didn’t really say outright I would treat them (although that was my intention..sneaky eh?)

It is a good thing Harry came over, we found out that he would be leaving for Dubai and staying with Rosemarie’s husband’s cousin while working there…i.e. he won’t be able to treat us to his birthday either this April. Anafe would be coming over to Manila on her birthday this April and we may get together if all goes well.

It was super hot waiting for them…and I found out that parking in Cebu has gotten worse. Before, you could just squish your car on these side streets and walk away, but now you pay the CITOM even if its a weekend and then you are expected to give something to the “bantay”. *sigh* Oh well, I suppose while I can afford it, I might as well share what coins I have in my bag.

Since I had no breakfast, I gobbled double helpings of the viands BEFORE I could get a picture of them. I don’t think you’d want a picture of a plate of rice? which was the only thing left, plus pieces of the tuna and some baked scallops…as well as shreds of the shrimps 🙂

When Benjie came, we excitedly talked about the trips we hope to take. Jing was enthusiastic at the thought of going to Singapore for a more well-planned reunion. SInce Rolando was there, I’m sure he could help us out in case that would push through. Benjie and I were putting our heads together since the plan for our vacation this year was for me to meet up with her in Japan since she would be going there this April-May. Wheee! I really hope to be able to afford it..I don’t care if I have to diet and scrimp afterwards on food once back in the Philippines. Unfortunately doing so, would require some strategic project management thinking and planning…from visa to ticket to schedule to my work being uninterrupted. Its not as simple as it seems. Grrrr.

Benjie accompanied me to my house after we all split up since the couple had to go to Danao for an overnight trip. My parents were happy to see her as she has been a friend of the family for some time and most of her gifts of brownies to me, end up in my dad’s stomach (blame his sweet tooth). “I-palabi ko na lang” (I give priority to him).

Afterwards, we both split for Gaisano Country Mall where she had a meeting and I spent the time shopping around while waiting for her. They had lots of sales on almost all the items. How difficult is it to get good cargo pants for women anyway? GCM has good finds if you are just a bit patient..and I was able to buy a couple of Levis on sale..pants were a zero though. A quick trip to the household area also had me buying good quality pitchers and cups, and weirdly, I also saw some awfully expensive owls (pictures somewhere on this album)…which, were not on sale (too bad Sir B!)

For dinner, we were discussing with great intensity between Alavar’s Seafoods (love their crabs and the heavenly sauce) and Golden Cowrie (it became well known for baked tahong when it was first established). We cruised around the once sleepy area near the Lahug airport and were agreeably suprised the whole street as being lined with restaurants…Wow, this is one thing I miss about Cebu..good, affordable food. Next time, I promised myself, it will be Alavar’s and Chika-an sa Cebu! (aba! naka-plot pa yan sa Outlook)

Here is also a link to the pics of our dinner together on her site: http://eslogon17.multiply.com/photos/album/19/Cats_vacation_April_2008

– Apr 15, ’08 12:14 AM

Pag-adto sa Pagsanjan (album)

(meaning of title: Going to Pagsanjan) 

On January 20, 2008 (Sunday) with Keen and Iris (a new friend), we gamely went to Pagsanjan, Laguna. Despite the light downpour which plagued us on the way, and some unplanned hitches, we persevered in our adventure.

It is Sinulog in Cebu on this day. Still, I didn’t mind too much since they also were celebrating our beloved Sto. Niño in Laguna. Lots of anecdotes but I will let the pictures tell the story.

At the end of the day, I went back home squishing in my wet sandals and pants but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I only wish I had my two-piece (as if meron, ehem) and rubber ducky so I could also have plonked myself under the falls!

We went home earlier than our planned schedule due to the rain which sort of hampered our walking around the place and a good thing too since it took a longer time going back to Manila.
Being half-wet like a cat which fell halfway into a canal, I still managed to do some shopping before finally succumbing to sleep upon arrival and dreaming about the falls.

Thanks to Keen for pushing for this trip, introducing me to Iris and making an otherwise rainy, dreary Sunday which I would have spent under the blankets, as an exciting day.

Thanks also to Tourism Officer Mark Vicuño and his brother Meynard for their hospitality and helping us easily experience the wonderful boat ride.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How to get there:
Public transport: (1) JAM TRANSIT
Green Star or South Star
Air-conditioned buses
Departure: from 5:00 A.M. onwards
Fare: PHP 100-120

Instructions: Get off the Bus terminal at Barrio Binan, Pagsanjan after Pagsawitan, Sta.Cruz.
Take a Jeepney to Pagsanjan….additional fare 7.50 Pesos.

Public transport: (2) FX TAMARAW
From Alabang/Muntinlupa, Rizal to Pagsanjan, Laguna
Fare: PHP 70-100

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(taken from the brochure and other sites)

The PAGSANJAN FALLS 
The town of Pagsanjan in Laguna is noted for the famous Pagsanjan Falls. The trip to Pagsanjan Falls is an experience of lifetime – another of nature’s treats. This is an exhilarating two-hour boat ride from Pagsanjan River to the Falls and back. The multi-colored native canoe is expertly maneuvered against strong currents through 14 rapids by two seasoned boatmen. Moreover, one can imagine being lost in the wilderness when the boatmen paddle and lift their canoe at least five times going up through the gorges and in between the long 400-foot high cliffs of the clear river. Upon reaching the main falls, one can take a climatic ride on board a crudely- made bamboo raft to “devils cave” right behind the heavily cascading water of the Falls.

The return trip is where one experiences the thrill of ” shooting the rapids”, a headlong joyride with a smooth and swift guide with the current downriver, splashing through cool and foamy waters.

PUERTA REAL (Town Gate) 
This structure is the most strategic and historical landmark of Pagsanjan. This 124 year old town gate was constructed in 1878-1880. It was inaugurated in 1884 by Don Pedro A. Paterno, and was restored in 1975 by then Mayor Gregorio F. Zaide, an internationally known historian.

This stone gate recalls the legendary miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the town’s beloved Patroness. In December 8, 1877, terroristic bandits led by Tankad came to loot and plunder the town, it is said that here they were stopped by a luminous apparition of a beautiful lady holding aloft a shining sword. To express their gratitude, the Pagsanjeños erected the ornate stone gate on the very line drawn by her sword.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH
The new church now stands in graceful beauty – a worthy shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Every Pagsanjeño has every reason in the world to rejoice and render homage to Our Lady of Guadalupe. By her grace and guidance, Pagsanjan will be great again.

– Jan 21, ’08 8:59 PM

Disperas and on Daddy’s birthday (album)

Nov 22 – 23, 2007. Ciudad sa Sugbu, Nasod sa Pilipinas.

Arrived in Mactan Airport at around 9 pm. Of course – hungry mood! Since I was now the driver because it was night (my dad can still drive around at his age as long as its daylight and at 82 thats not too shabby of dear old pappy)… I thought of passing by Banilad Town Center as it may have a new resto.

On a whim, I just picked out a resto named “Spice Fusion”. Even though it was almost closing time, they let us in and a couple of mouthwatering dishes later, I almost blessed the guard with a hug and a pinch on his cheeks in gratitude.

I was so hungry and the food was devoured so quickly that I had no time to take a picture of it (I did the quickest devouring). But it was good. I say that with enough confidence because my dad is the pickiest eater in the world! I don’t know if his tongue or taste buds have been ruined due to all the smoking and candies he chews on, but its a small miracle by itself if we partake of a meal and he doesn’t have one negative comment about it. I think he was a food critic in his previous life…that or its a side-effect of age creeping up on him 🙂

This time though he was happy with what I ordered and I daringly put more and more snippets of it on his plate after he didn’t comment and just munched on his rice and prawn meat. Thank goodness!….I also told him and my mom that they resembled “taw-taw sa humayan” (scarecrows on ricefields or literally “person-person on a ricefield”) since they were appallingly thin.

My mom loved the mahi-mahi they had as it was also quite tender, with no fishy smell or taste. The sauces they paired it with were spicy – but not too hot to bother my parents and not too mild to make me complain about the lack of heat.

Except for the prawns which I set aside for my dad as he rarely eats much nowadays… all the other dishes were shared with my mom, our helper Rosemarie and moi. I finally topped it off with some sticky rice and mangoes for dessert..and all of us were happy enough to go home and visit dreamland.

The next day, I told my dad I’d treat him to a birthday lunch (he is getting more thrifty as time goes by and refused to have a party)…..this time we went to Cafe Laguna at Ayala – the outdoor branch.

The first branch for this resto was located near the Lahug military camp and was well known for its lengua estofado. Now this is one dish I associate with Cafe Laguna, along with some merienda I used to order e.g. dugo-dugo and puto, sikwate (tsokolate-eh) and bibingka, guinomis, tokwa’t-baboy….to name a few.

We arrived at the resto after the lunch hour and so were able to sit comfortably. With the Ayala Cebu renovation going on, it was disappointing to have one side of the resto facing a blank wall, but the food more than made up for the lack of beautifully balanced scenery. Well, I could have gone to the other branch inside the mall itself but its nice to look out into the sunshine and dream of days gone by.

I ordered the lengua estofado (a bit different from our other favorite lengua which comes from Beehive on Ramos St. in Cebu and usually paired with a lovely crusty warm french bread). I added crispy fried pork belly, and the usual fish dish for my mom – this time I chose a delicately flavoured lapu-lapu escabeche…ah! the memories of this dish when cooked by my mom and maternal grandma when she was still alive (God Bless her soul) made me hanker for it once more.

Afterwards, we dropped by Ayala Mall to see the new grocery of Rustan’s. They had moved out from their original building which was located beside my alma mater, St. Theresa’s College (Mango Ave. or known also as Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City) . They have one more outlet near the Convergys office in Guadalupe if I am not mistaken.

Ayala Cebu also made an extension of one side of its building…and I laughed out loud when aside from seeing the other newly opened branded stores missing in Cebu before…I also saw a lot of people crowding inside the Crocs store. I remembered Ms G. but who could buy any pair of shoes at all when we customers slithered like irritated fish in a crowded aquarium-tank in the outlet?

After flitting from one shop to another and checking the goods and on-sale items, my parents refused merienda or early dinner (to me and my stomach’s disappointment) and we made off with the groceries we had bought, then went home. And that was how my dad’s official day for turning 82 years of age went.

Not too worry though as I had asked a favor from one of my college buddies to see if we could visit their resthouse by the sea in Alcoy, a town about 91 km from Cebu City going towards the southern part of the island.

My last visit has probably been in the last century (meaning late 1990s!!). For good measure, I asked Benjie and her kids (who were suffering from piskat or sore eyes) to come along so we could start on a mini-reunion (see Patio Isabel reunion on who Benjie and my other college buddies are).

Of course, I begged her to bring some lechon and meat for grilling too as I certainly missed the smells of this kind of food while in Manila. That was to happen the next day. The promise of puso (hanging rice) and smell of grilled meat was what my dreams were made of that night.

– Dec 6, ’07 12:35 AM