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!

Youthful Love

The best stage of (romantic) love for me would probably be old age love.  I always get inspired when I see elderly couples still smitten, walking with hands locked, simply sitting side by side, or sometimes one pushing the other's wheelchair. 

I remember hearing a story of a lolo and lola who are holding-hands-while-walking-may-pa-sway-sway-pa.  A youngster told them, "How sweet!"  Then lolo replied, "Hija (yes talagang hija!), we are not being sweet.  At our age, I need lola to guide me as I walk, the same way she needs me to guide her as she walks."  

It is at this stage when each probably looks beyond the physical beauty, or probably not, for all we know! :) how dare I judge what beauty is for someone who is IN love with another?

It is at this stage when they probably have been through the best and worst in life.  Financial woes, a scary trip to the hospital, surviving illness, cheating death, raising children, "raising" parents/in-laws, building a house, almost falling out of love, accepting differences, changing for the better, going places! 

It is the form of love I dream of experiencing - a youthful love that looks beyond youthfulness! May we be gifted with good health so we could go through the difficulties and joys of life together.  I yearn to still hold your hand as we walk in our sunset years!

Summer!

After five days if staying at home, we decided it's about time we get some sun lovin'.  The past few weeks were all about rain and clouds and dark days.  This time, summer says hello and we hope it's here to stay.

We went to nearby beaches for a good dose of fresh air, golden sun, and warm sand.  Don't be fooled!  The water is still too cold!!!

We just had to do the japan japan thing...

Sun bathers and the hungry birdies

Low tide.  Parang ang sarap ng talaba!

Pohutakawa or the summer tree in full bloom - a sign that summer is here!

Tall ones

I am reminded of totem poles.

Peeping...

Happy summer!

Go, Love!

Flashback to June 8, 2014...

I have been blessed with a passionate husband.  His passion in basketball is not to be questioned or belittled, and it is very evident with his gusto for NBA, UAAP, and the liga back home at their dear Baranggay Espeleta.

I was so happy to see him at his best, playing enthusiastically for his team during the finals.  He ran, played hoops, shouted, defended, rebounded with all his might.  And I, the stage wife, cheered and clapped happily for their team.  

Did they win?  No, but was I happy?  Definitely!  It was an honor and pleasure to see you play happily, my love!

My Girls

Flashback to June 7, 2014...

Had lunch with my beautiful ladies when I went home last June.  It was a good meal at Riche's home.  I finally met Riche's 2 lovely daughters, y and z, and I finally set foot on Riche's lovely abode.

After lunch, we headed to a nearby cafe and had a blast reminiscing and making chika :)

Thankful for friends who defy distance and time.  I've been through a lot with these girls - good, bad, and everything in between.  After college, meet-ups became less frequent as I've also been away from home since 2007.

Every meeting is great with you girls!  Thanks for a lasting friendship!

One Shade of Grey

After our Boxing Day date yesterday, I had a glimpse of my first gray hair.  I was waiting for this day to come!  A grand announcement of my old age!

Thoughts?  Growing old... Maturing... Getting wiser, hopefully!  I've been alive for a third of a century or a little more than three decades, and I've been tremendously blessed all throughout.

What's next?  Well, more gray hair, of course!  And more fun in the midst of the wonderful signs of aging process!  Happy aging!

Random

We've been briefed (or warned for the pessimists) that life in New Zealand could be pretty relaxed (or boring for the pessimists).  Malls close at 5PM on most days of the week, as if telling people to just stay at home with your family.  The other day, I asked Mike if he is starting to feel bored here.  He said no.  I feel the same way.  Hehehe.  Life has been good so far!

Here are some random beautiful things that I've witnessed for the past month:

One of the many full rainbows I've seen from our window and elsewhere.  The picture doesn't give justice to the beauty of the rainbow, sorry!

Wednesday is garbage collection day.  Isn't it so organised?

An abundance of lemons from our neighbour's backyard.  If only we could pick some so they won't go to waste! :p

One of those gloomy days.  Rain for me is bad news.  And so is howling wind.  In my opinion, nobody should be outdoors when the weather gets this crazy.

The local bus!  It's pretty much the same with SG buses but the timings could make commute time really complicated.  Fares are rather expensive here too when compared to SG fares.  I guess it's because cars are really affordable so not a lot of people rely on public transport.  If you don't have a hop card (like the SG Ezlink), you could always pay in cash and the driver will be more than happy to give you change.  Unlike in SG where you have to pay the exact fare.  I love how people are very courteous and appreciative to the driver.  On hopping into and off the bus, people greet and say thank you to the driver.  Very nice :)

The train platform at Panmure Station - again I am reminded of Zurich train stations.  The platforms look similar but the trains (and timings) are very different.

The train ride will show you scenes like the following, all from the Meadowbank Basin:

On a sunny day, a walk at the Auckland Ferry Station seems so right.  We saw a lot of people sunbathing here on a sunny Sunday :)

Sunny days are just divine!

A tree in full bloom.

A laundry perfect weather makes me happy.  

This is my jogging route on one of the clear days.

And dusk isn't that bad - taken at north western motorway on our way to church.

On to more beautiful random things!