Sky-Watching over Seoul

Flying over Seoul, South Korea on my way to America in August.

These were taken about thirty minutes after take off from Incheon International Airport while the guy beside me was slurping over his noodle soup. The spicy aroma filled the cabin that made my mouth water, but listening to the slurps, I focused my attention outside the window instead. And wondered which direction North Korea was.:p

“People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” ~ Dagobert D. Runes

Posted for Sky-watch Friday

Better than Ice Cream

Mango, Pistachio and Lemoncello from Gelatone

I am sharing these tasty flavors with you before they melt! Yes, I am back to my ice cream-eating days. Like any woman of substance, I resisted the call of ice cream for so long. But when I started exercising, I realize that "everything in moderation" is actually working for me. No more binge eating of ice cream and chocolates at 2 am.

I read that ice cream, when eaten as part of a healthy diet, may actually melt fat, helping you lose extra pounds faster than you have abstained. The secret is the calcium. Experts say calcium helps people lose weight because when your body doesn't get enough calcium, it triggers fat cells to store fat and get bigger.

After "inspecting" the scene of the crime in Greenbelt 5 on early Sunday evening, we walked to Greenbelt 3 and passed by Gelatone. Naturally, I didn't resist. Gelatone's heavenly gelato is pricey at P100 per scoop---and a scoop wouldn't do it for me. After trying their Mascarpone and Panna Cotta, my sister and I decided to bring home 1/2 kilo (P550) with 3 flavors---mango, pistachio and lemoncello. Gosh, I've never tasted ice cream this good!

Gelatone's gelati are made with healthy skimmed milk imported from Australia and the flavors are all imported from Italy.

Pistachio from Fruits in Ice Cream

Another favorite ice cream stand that I usually go to after exercising is Fruits in Ice Cream at The Fort Strip. I love their Mangoes and Cream and French Vanilla flavors from the FIC Lite line (P55 a scoop). FIC Lite ice cream has no added sugar and only 50% of the fat content in regular ice cream. Yes, FIC Lite is diet ice cream, and it's delicious!

And when I need some energy-giving calorie, I go for their gourmet ice cream---an avalanche of chopped, toasted pistachio in rich pistachio ice cream base. And I'm on cloud 9!

All along, I thought that gelato is simply ice cream in Italian. I was wrong. Gelato is made with some of the same ingredients as most ice-creams around the world---milk (and cream), sugar (and other sweeteners), flavorings (fruits, nuts, essences, etc.) and air are the main ingredients. But unlike many types of ice cream, gelato often does not contain eggs. And like high-end ice cream, gelato generally has less than 55% air, resulting in a denser product.

So don't despair, diet ice cream does exist.

Life is short, let's eat lots of ice cream!

Posted for Food Trip Friday and Food Friday

Separation

Most people are on the world, not in it—have no conscious sympathy or relationship to anything about them—undiffused, separate, and rigidly alone like marbles of polished stone, touching but separate.

~ John Muir

Masinop ka ba? [Litratong Pinoy]

Natanggap ko na hindi ako yayaman. Di bale, maganda naman ako, at matalino, magaling magluto, masayahin, mabait at di mayabang! O-hah, bakit tumataas ang kilay mo?! H'wag seryosohin!:p

Sabi ng nanay ko, galit daw ako sa pera at hindi masinop kaya kahit gaano pa daw kalaki ang sweldo ko, di ako yayaman. Lagi nya sinasabi sa kanyang mga anak na ang pagtitipid, pagiging masinop at simpleng pamumuhay ang matatag na kapitan sa oras ng pangangailangan. Kahit pa daw may minana kang hacienda kung maluho ang iyong pamumuhay, gastador at maaksaya ka, hindi rin magtatagal ang iyong fortune.

Gusto ko na nga magbago, 'Nay...kaso, wala naman tayong hacienda. Kasalanan ito ng mga malls, lagi silang sale!:p

Kahanga-hanga talaga ang mga taong masinop---pwede silang utangan (hehehe). Pinaghahandaan nila ang rainy days pati na rin ang baha, lindol, sunog, pagkakasakit at ibang calamities na di pa nangyayari. Pero minsan mahirap din ang sobrang masinop...lalo na kung laging nasa safe side na lang, ayaw lumabas sa cocoon, laging nag-aatubili gumawa ng kahit anong hakbang na sa tingin ay mapanganib. Nagiging bisyo din kasi ang kahinaan ng loob.

Basta ako, ang motto ko ay---Don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have it's own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~ Matthew 6:34

Ang kaperahan sa litrato ay laman ng wallet ko...di ko alam kung papano ko pagkakasyahin hanggang sa susunod na pay day. :p

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

"Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy."

~ Samuel Johnson

Waterfront Fountain [WW and OW]

"Life is water dancing to the tune of solids."

Another fountain I chanced upon while walking along Seattle's Waterfront Park beside Eliott Bay. This waterfront fountain is made of cast and welded bronze shaped in cubical structures.

Posted for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday