Whangarei Trip - part 3

Just like all good things, all wonderful journeys come to an end.

This is one of the lookouts.  I feel the views would have been more spectacular had the sun been out and proud. 

On the way home, we passed by Whangarei Falls, which was a stunner!  All thousand and one views around it!

Again, we were unprepared for this short trek, but who cares?  We're happy, the trees, rocks, waterfalls, and all creatures are happy!

Happy 5th, my lab!  More travels!

Whangarei Trip - part 2

At the side of the house, there was a sign that said "beach" and it led to this path.  Beaches always mean good news so we gladly followed the track even if it meant we had to do a semi-hike in wrong attires and wrong shoes - or the lack of shoes.  

Happy!

This is the NZ silver fern.  I learned from Mike that this plant, native to NZ, has a silver hue and is useful when planted along tracks for night walks.  Bongga!  Silver!

Finally, the beach!  

Don't be deceived by the seemingly powerful glares of the sun.  The water is still ice-cold if we were to use my standards.  No swim, just dawdaw the feet.  All good.

After inhaling the glorious beach scent, we went back and drove further to Matapouri beach - a white beach!

And hopped to the other side of town to check out more beach views.

As we missed Keyla, we did this and sent her the photo :)

I love happy paths that lead to beaches :)

I know I will never get tired of walking along beaches, it fills all my senses!  I could bask under the sun the whole day - sunblock or no sunblock, migrai..... no migraines, please!

Dinner was take-away pizza and lots of beer and wine.  Wine has been a necessity for me... for reasons I'd rather not discuss!

The day was a success.  One of our most memorable travels :)

Whangarei Trip - part 1

It's been almost a year since Mike and I went on a road trip.  Last weekend, we made an advanced anniv trip up north to Whangarei.  It's a trip that never disappointed.  Perfect in every way :)

Weather forecast was promising - it promised there will be rain, winds, and don't-even-try-to-make-plans-this-weekend kind of weather.  We made plans anyway.  We figured we'll sleep all day in Whangarei if weathers turns really sour.

On our almost 3 hour journey, there was an ongoing battle between the sun and the clouds.  It was good in a way because we've discovered that since we've moved to NZ, extreme sunlight triggers our migraine - and it pretty much moves us into a worthless state.  So some cloud bkanket is really good!

It rained indeed.  This is the entrance of the b&b, all doomed and lonely (I associate rain with grief).

And with a little luck, the above pic magically turned into something like this:

The bathroom - with the pikachu (peek at you, get?) window.  It was very neat and maselan-approved.  I pray that nobody ever walked outside during the times I took a bath and used the loo for whatever reason.  I pray.

The bed with a mosquito net (aka kulambo).  The owner had been very honest, she said she saw 1 mosquito the other day so she attached the mosquito net.  So thoughful!

Loved these outdoor hot tubs!  Took away all the stress and exhaustion.  I liked it scalding hot!

We had burgers for lunch!  Si misis matipid!  Nagbaon ng burgers!  Hahaha!  I swear I craved for adobo and wished that we brought adobo instead of burgers.  This was reminiscent of our Turi Beach (Indonesia) trip when we brought packed lunch of lumpia and rice.  Kailangan laging may baon!

Loved these pictures on the wall beside the tubs.  If I were to name this picture, the name would be "Talikod".

Since the weather turned fab, we went outside and let our hair down!  Explored the exterior of the house and we found paradise.

This is the view from the garden:

This is the b&b, hosted by Susy and Brett.  Such lovely hosts!

And more take-my-breath-away views!

What I'd do to wake up every morning to these views!

Transformations

Kuya told me that Keyla is now transitioning from our baby girl to a full grown 5 year old kid.  

The other night, she assembled her toy tent in their room and excitedly asked if she could sleep in it (vs on the bed with her parents).  The dad said no.

Yesterday, she asked if she could walk alone to her classroom from the school entrance (vs being accompanied by April all the way inside).  The mom said no.

When I heard the stories, it broke my heart.  Maybe not as painful as what her parents felt, but it pinched, more of punched, my auntie-heart.  Haha!  Sounds exaggerated but mostly true.

I wailed and acted crushed and asked her, "Why?????  Don't you want to do things with us anymore?  Don't you love us anymore????" 

She laughed and answered, "I love you auntie, but I want to start doing things on my own."

Enough said.

Nothing could have prepared me for that reply.  Haha!

#TitaProblems

#TitaDiaries

#TitasOfManila

Test

Lumpiang Fish

Here's something fresh!  Lumpiang fish vs the usual lumpiang pork!  

Chopped vegetables: onions, celery, carrots

Blanched then mashed fish... I used hoki fish fillets. 

Mix them all together, wrap in lumpia wrappers, and fry!

I have a bad habit of not documenting the finished product hahaha!  

Growing White Daisies

 

I am 34 years old, turning 35 this year.  A few months ago, I found my first grey hair, sitting silently on the right side of my head.  I really don't mind growing old, but I guess it was a big deal for me (in a good way) because it's the first!  I think it is a milestone, having the most tangible evidence of old age.

 

I was thinking that it will only be a matter of weeks, or days even, before a significant number of hair will become frozen.  A few weeks passed and I forgot about it, I even thought that that lone white hair might have fallen off since I have a bad case of hair fall.

 

Earlier this week, I was drying my hair when I spotted that same white hair.  So I took a souvenir shot.  My very first white hair :)

 

Growing old is inevitable.  Embrace it! :)

Natipuhan

I am not a fan of sneakers or closed shoes in general.  Tsinelas.  Yan ang type na type ko.  Sandals.  Yan!  Maybe because i have issues in finding shoes that really fit.

I have only one pair of comfy sneakers that I wear whenever I jog (I never jog).  It's so comfortable I really want to wear it all the time.  The only thing that's stopping me is it's a ghastly shade of hot pink.  Yun lang!

Here it is in its glorious pink-orange-red-fuchsia-combined-into-one color.  <sarcasm> I could pair it very easily with anything!  I love it! </sarcasm>

We were at Rebel Sport yesterday and I saw this black Nike sneakers that I really liked.  It's simple and, equally important, comfortable.

I was tempted to buy 1 for me and 1 for Mike, but it was a bit expensive at $179.  You know me.  Kurips.

I consulted Aldwin, the fashion consultant, and he said that it was expensive for a Nike Free. He said I could get a Nike Free for $120 and that I might as well get an Air Max if I'm willing to spend $170.  Apparently, it's the in thing these days.  What's more?  He said that Free is so baduy.  Akala ko pa naman cool na cool ang choice ko!

So I searched for Air Max... Nyek! Parang may takong!  Wa ko type!

Na-stuck na ang taste ko sa Nike Free!  So yesterday!  Hahaha!

A Long Trip to the North

Flashback to June 8-11, 2014...

Almost a year ago!  We had a good roadtrip to the north of the Philippines - Ilocos and Pagudpod.  Mami and Kuya Panoy went with us for the 13 hour drive from Manila.  Was all good!  It was worth the long drive.  All praises to Mike and Kuya Panoy for braving the enchanting roads on a night drive.

There is something very comforting about old churches.  I know that aside from God, these old walls hear the prayers of the troubled, the hopeful, the thankful. These walls see the tears and the happy faces.  I imagine them being witnesses to centuries of prayers and faith.

The Vigan Cathedral

Paoay Church

The beauty that is Kapuluan Vista - our haven for 3 days.

More beach views...

The entrance to the beach...

The rules are simple :) I love simple rules. Life rules should all be simple like this.

Loved the simple and nature-y accents.

Bright gumamelas abound!  Memories of blowing bubbles from my childhood became alive!

The diamond (or square) pool.  Just right ;) It was the start of the rainy season so it rained a lot.  We swam under the rain anyway.  It wasn't that bad, very relaxing in fact!

I could sit here forever!  

And more table accents...

We found this little nook that's a dampa style eatery.  We ate with our bare hands :) seafood galore!  It's really just like we knocked and ate at someone's humble home.

Tito and auntie doing a shirt swap!

Our gwapo drivers, tito and kuya panoy!

The marvelous Patapat Bridge.

You could never go wrong with winding roads, sea water, greens, drizzles.

The Bangui Windmills.  Water turbine science projects run in my mind.  :) it's amazing!  

We found a good local restaurant - saramsam. They have marvellous displays, it reminds me a lot of our parañaque old home.

Food is superb!

And an awful lot of rain followed us.  End of summer :( but the trip is one to remember :)

Bonus: my dear SPCP!