Hanging [Nakasabit]

@ mirandablue

Napansin ko ang nakasabit na lantern habang naghihintay ng mapwestuhan sa isang restaurant.  Nakakainis ang maghintay lalo na kung gutom na.  Kaya inaliw ko na lamang ang aking sarili sa pagkuha ng litrato sa mga bagay na napansin ko sa paligid.

Ang nasa ibaba naman ay mga capiz lanterns na nakasabit sa mga sanga ng isang puno sa Greenbelt 5.

My contribution to Litratong Pinoy

I noticed the hanging lantern while waiting to be seated in  a restaurant.  Waiting can be annoying especially when you're hungry.  So I entertained myself by taking photos of whatever caught my attention.

Below are capiz lanterns hanging from the branches of a tree at Greenbelt 5.

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:

1.  Most people find it hard to be patient.  How do you manage it?


2.  Can you recall a situation that really tested your patience?

@ mirandablue

Greenbelt foot bridge [Sunday Bridges]

A foot bridge at Greenbelt over a man-made lagoon that leads to the Greenbelt Chapel to the right and  Greenbelt 5 when you go straight.  Greenbelt is a three-hectare park with high-end malls punctuated by cascading landscapes and water features.  It is located in the middle of the bustling Makati Business Center.

These were taken a few minutes before midnight one Saturday after dinner and coffee at Greenbelt 3.

watching the ducks

Posted for Sunday Bridges

BOTR and memories

Food and memories---there is a powerful connection between them. That's why the smell of freshly baked bread reminds me of my afternoon strolls to the local bakery when I was a teenager where the aroma of baked pandesal wafted throughout the neighborhood, and the texture of cheese brings me back to the cheese sticks I shared with my grandmother under her mosquito net. I am sure you have your own food nostalgia, too.

I had one of those recently when Franzia told me there's a BOTR (Bun on the Run) at Metrowalk. What??!! BOTR--our favorite take out every time we watched a movie at Greenbelt 1. I haven't eaten or seen a Bun on the Run in more than a decade. I loved their sausages, porkloin sandwich and chori burger. And I couldn't wait to have a BOTR once again.

As soon as our order was served, I remember the Greenbelt days [and nights] ten to twenty years back. Sundays when I would read books in National Bookstore for hours because I couldn't afford to buy them. Movies after midnight (it was called Midnight Workaholics) when Greenbelt extended showtime until 2 am. Saturday afternoons when I would sometimes fall asleep inside the theater after drinking The Bar disguised as Sprite. A couple of pervs I encountered in Greenbelt (and some I terrorized!), a couple of dates, the days when I skipped work and wallowed in comfortable sloth at the park by stalking the exotic birds at the Greenbelt aviary.

I breathed in the familiar aroma of pickles and onions, heard the ambient noise, and felt somebody's hand holding mine. I wished my sister was here to share this Bun on the Run moment with me and Franzia. Iinggitin ko na lang s'ya sa pictures.:p

I had Sausage with pickles and onions, Franzia ordered Porkloin Sandwich and Sally had Tuna Cheese with French Fries with garlic cream dip.

And yes, it was as good as I remembered.

Bun on the Run @ Metrowalk

Posted for Our Weekend Memoirs

Lasang Pinoy : strips

One of my favorite appetizers at Piadina Italiana in Greenbelt is Grissini di Pizza---strips of freshly-baked, crispy garlic bread sprinkled with sesame seeds, served with a special cheese dip.

A number of myths surround the origins of grissini (or breadsticks). Originally thought to have been created in the 14th century, but local traditions confirmed that grissini was invented by a baker in northern Italy in 1679. The original recipe, grissino torninese (as still made in Turin), differs from the modern version that is thicker, longer, hand-made, often twisted and has a more bread-like texture. In all probability, grissini was developed when a baker had leftover pizza dough and decided to experiment with it.

Posted for Lasang Pinoy, Sundays at spiCes

Weekend Snapshot: Greenbelt 3

the scene from my table at Seattle's Best

My first Weekend Snapshots were taken last night at Greenbelt 3 while having coffee at Seattle's Best. It was a busy Sunday night at Greenbelt---people going to dinner after attending mass, patrons of Cafe Havana filled the al fresco dining area, the nearby restaurants were full, Starbucks across the piazza was crowded as usual. The night was getting interesting as my friend S and I enjoyed our hot lattes. We were having fun planning ways and means to cut costs in 2009...so that was probably my last latte in 2008, and the things and people who made us happy this year. I believe positive thinking brings joy and lightness to the heart and mind. So despite the challenges that added lines to my wrinkles this year, I'd like to remember the times I laughed my heart out and the people who made it happen.

1. My OB-Gyn. Her first question every time I enter her clinic is, "So, have you already found a boyfriend?" The mischievous light in her eyes when she asks the question never fail to amuse me. I swear, she talks and laughs like Kris Aquino! And I get to be creative with my answer every time. I would tell her, "The taho vendor thinks I eat too much so he dumped me!" Or "The guy wanted to marry me until he met my mother!" She would crack up and we would talk about how great single life is, how she misses hanging out in a bar, or going away on a weekend with friends. Her parting words are usually---don't give up, your would-be donor might be just around the corner (haha)! I always leave her clinic feeling better than when I came in.
2. Sunday driving. The sight of an empty Kalayaan flyover on a Sunday afternoon always makes me smile. It feels like God is smiling down and rewarding me with an open road. Yesterday afternoon, as I accelerated to a pleasantly empty flyover, an old favorite by Crosby, Stills and Nash was playing on the radio...just a song before I go, to whom it may concern, traveling twice the speed of sound, it's easy to get burned...and I thought, what a perfect moment!
   
3. Tom, my office mate. This guy doesn't miss a beat at everything you throw at him but his simple view of life often makes me grin. His artless ways are refreshing, no pretenses. He insisted on staying at an inexpensive pension in Cebu even when he is allowed to stay in a hotel because he feels at home there. I once convinced him to stay in a hotel and he was very excited to tell me how he enjoyed his first bath tub experience, room service and the free toiletries. He's never embarrassed of his humble upbringing.
4. Eric, parking attendant/security guard. He taught me how to park properly. He is tireless in giving me directions---left or right, right or left, until I'm parked perfectly. His encouragements make me do my best even when I'm spatially-challenged. His dedication and patience make me appreciate the work he does.
   
5. Sales clerks at the vegetable section of SM-Pasig. They never run out of jokes---about me, the government, even about their vegetables. I was choosing veggies when the clerk with a microphone approached me with, "Ma'am, constipated po ba kayo? Ang hawak n'yong broccoli ay nagpapalambot ng alam nyo na...di na kayo iiri kailan man!" (Ma'am, are you constipated? The broccoli you're holding softens the you-know-what...you won't push ever again!) I stood there holding a bunch of broccoli, laughing like crazy. Other shoppers were in stitches as well, and we went on with our shopping with a grin.
   
6. Lyka, my 4-year old neighbor. Her quips and questions are often priceless. On Mother's Day, she greeted my mother with "happy mother's day, lola!" Then turned to me and said, "Happy mother's day, Tita Lun, kasi mommy ka ni Fritz." (Happy mother's day, Tita Lun, just because you're Fritz' mom.) She paused then wondered, "Pa'no mo naging anak si Fritz?" (How did you become Fritz' mother?) We call her "Lucring" because of her tantrums. I was still asleep on Christmas morning when she demanded to see me so she could show off her new pink dress and matching sandals.
   
7. Fritz, my doggie. I know the cliche about how we come home from work exhausted but how our pet's excitement upon seeing us brings us a renewed surge of energy. Honestly, before Fritz came, I didn't look forward to going home after work. I was out until late most of the time, and I seldom stayed home on weekends. Nowadays, seeing Fritz waiting for me at the foot of the stairs each morning, wagging his tail, is enough to make me smile. His quirks make me laugh...and yes, I'd rather spend the weekend playing with him than go to the mall.
8. Ike. This is a guy who never runs out of funny jokes to share. In the middle of a stressful day, I would receive a text message from him that always makes me grin like a Cheshire cat. I love his wit, and his belly laugh is contagious---I call it his psycho laugh.
9. Disc Jocks. They are my companions to and from work every day. Their antics on air keep me entertained and awake on the road. One rainy morning, a male disc jock was talking about a weird custom in Cuba where male prostitutes are hired to deflower virgin brides before the wedding. The female disc jock declared that her partner is now seriously thinking of leaving his radio gig and migrating to Cuba. The male DJ was raving about how hot and beautiful Cuban women are and that he'd be willing to do the job for free. Then somebody called up the radio station to tell the DJs that the weird custom is not in Cuba but in Papua New Guinea. The male DJ was stunned speechless while the female DJ and I were laughing uncontrollably that passengers in an FX in front of me started to stare.
   
10. Migo. It's not his real name but I call him that---Migo in Ilonggo means friend. Migo is a huge guy in his mid-30's and mentally handicapped. He comes to our gate every Sunday afternoon to sing. Rain or shine, he sings his heart out---his mother gives him an umbrella when it's raining. He invents the lyrics and melody of his songs so each song is different and always surprising. I admire his creativity and his fearless determination to express himself.

I'm sure there are many nameless people who have crossed our paths everyday who make us grin. To welcome the New Year on a positive note, let’s go out of our way to make them smile as well.

Hookah-hookah!

My life isn’t full of novel episodes. Friends say I’m adventurous but that is in relation to their sedentary lifestyle. Truth is, I am pretty consistent, but every now and then, I break the chain of routine to do something new. Two weekends ago, after watching Angelina Jolie’s new action flick, “Wanted”, I felt I was ready for a new experience.

After dinner, a friend and I strolled around Greenbelt to burn-off calories. I noticed some Arab-looking patrons in Café Havana smoking through a hose attached to a glass vase. I remember an episode of “Pinoy Meets World” a few months ago, the show host, Paolo Bediones, traveled to Turkey and featured this water pipe called Hookah or Shisha. A Hookah operates by water filtration and indirect heat. From the first time I saw hookah, I’ve been curious about it but was a bit shy of trying it in an expat-filled Café Havana.

hookah, also called shisha, sheesha

At Bollywood, an Indian bistro on the 3rd floor of Greenbelt 3, I learned from the waiter that their shisha doesn’t contain tobacco but herbal fruits like mint, strawberry, orange, I decided to try mint. They charge P370 an hour. If you had seen us smoking hookah that Saturday night, you’d think that we were smoking marijuana! Haha! We were laughing like a pair of escapee from a mental asylum because we couldn’t get smoke out from the hose. The two ladies sitting in another table asked us “kung may tama ba?” Haha! Walang s’yang tama but we kept on giggling like schoolgirls. It took us a few minutes, and some coaching from our next table neighbor before we exhaled smoke. It was a pleasant experience, the mint flavor was relaxing...it also made me hungry!:-D

G exhaling her first smoke

Hookah (a.k.a. shisha, or sheesha) has mysterious origins. It is quintessential in Arab culture, but strangely enough, the hookah is believed to have originated in India, and another version traces its origins in China. Under the British rule, opium from India was smuggled into China and was smoked through the hookah which consequently became a symbol of luxury and affluence. It gained popularity in Turkey particularly under the Ottoman Empire where its contemporary shape also evolved 500 years ago. Smoking hookah (called narghile in Turkey) symbolizes familial conviviality, serenity and harmony.

I love the design of hookah. The glass vase reminds me of my lola’s antique glass lamps, the silver slender stem gives it elegance---it’s a beautiful piece of work.

Some smokers believe that the water used in hookah makes the tobacco less toxic. But experts say it’s a myth---tobacco smoked through hookah is no less toxic than tobacco from cigarettes. Even after passing through water, tobacco smoke still contains high levels of toxic compounds, according to WHO. In Egypt, doctors believe that the smoking of the traditional hookah is increasingly emerging as a significant health risk, due to air-borne tuberculosis transmission from pipe sharing and uncontrolled manual preparation of the pipe. After reading this article, my desire for a repeat suddenly vanished. Although the mouthpiece we used was wrapped in foil, I couldn’t help but think of bacteria that may reside in the tube. Oh well, at least now I can say that I’ve tried it.

To digress a little, beginning July 1st, cigarette advertisements are banned on TV, radio and print in accordance with the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 or Republic Act No. 9211. The total ad ban on cigarettes would be a tremendous help to health advocates who are working to discourage teenagers and young adults from smoking. I hope young smokers would think twice before making Hookah an option to cigarette smoking---think of TB, kids!

moi and my first hookah

G was really getting good at it!

Don't Quote Me

All things change, nothing is extinguished. There is nothing in the whole world which is permanent. Everything flows onward; all things are brought into being with a changing nature; the ages themselves glide by in constant movement.

~ Ovid

“The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun."

~Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)

Bamboo at Greenbelt 5