Seafood Kare kare at Kanin Club

sleepy na this was intended for my other blog Pinay Mountain Chef

Meteor Showers

"Spectacular" Double Meteor Shower This Week

Many years ago more than a decade I should say that I witnessed a meteor shower that up to this day, I have not seen anything like what I saw in Baguio one cool crisp night up in the cordilleras.

The sky was literally raining with shooting stars. We had to spread a "malong" in the parking lot to be able to have the widest view of the sky.

Sigh...

wondering when will I ever see that kind again?

Rainy days are here again

Drove through traffic at a crawling pace. I am literally swimming in traffic this morning. When you are driving alone at this kind of pace, the mind tends to wander.

Nothing is permanent but change. The wheels of change are turning, fast. Faster than I think I can keep up. In my mind I am thinking that things need to change in many aspects of my life.

Been wanting that dream house. Should I just settle for a house house? I want a garden, a house I can call home with a great view. I want my own room with a bed that is huge and comfortable. Sigh these are my dream now.

Been dreaming of other things too. Of course you would have guessed. Yes that trip to Europe again Greece and specifically Santorini. I should be writing these really to make them manifest. And yes, South America Brazil, Argentina. Sigh.

I want to make small changes too. In my everyday life, change the time I go to work, meditate more, write more of these thoughts before I completely forget that I have these small dreams too.

I want a clean house. no clutter. I want a walk in closet with just enough clothes that I don't get confused what to wear. Haha.

Been wanting and dreaming. So what is the difference of wanting and dreaming?

Mt. Isarog

Mt. Isarog is breath taking. Climbed the mountain many years ago and now just looking at it makes me re-live and cherish and re-experience its trails. Moss, mossy, soft under my feet, a stairway of moss covered branches strewn by time and the elements hid the earth beneath. A green carpet to paradise. Pieces of my old recollection of the trail and the mountain.

Destined for greatness

Today I was really inspired by an article shared by my good friend Earnest. Love it so much I just have to quote it here in its entirety.

Destined for greatness

By Harvey John Garcia

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 07:38:00 03/22/2011

Filed Under: Youth, Family

DEAR MAKOY,

I hope you don’t hate me when you grow up for not being there on your birthday. I am writing this soon after your fourth birthday in a foreign land. When I say foreign, I mean that I am scared stiff and I do not know what I am doing here, but I am here and I am living.

I am in the United States right now. To be specific, I am sitting on a felled log one meter away from a river. I am feeling cold. My fingers are getting numb (another good motivation to write). The place where I am in is called Skykomish. It is up in Washington state. And I am in a forest. My crew and I are fixing a trail here, and I am teaching some young people along the way, trying to develop them into capable young adults.

Who is doing that for you? You have your Mom and Dad, and throw in your Mama Old. I am not a bit worried. They raised me, so I believe you are in good hands. It is just that I wish I were part of your life right now.

I hope that when you look back at your life some time in the future, you won’t hate me for not being there on your second and third birthdays, too. I feel horrible and useless as your uncle. Though I know that our small, tightly knit family is there to give you the warmth you need, I still feel guilty for not spoiling you against your parents’ set rules; you are a child only once. But though I may not be there for you physically, you should know that I have been always with you in spirit.

Sometimes I delude myself with the thought that it is my fate to travel far away from the people I love. I feel nomadic. At times it is a blessing. I can tell you stuff that I have done, places I have seen, people that I have met and experiences that endeared the world to me more.

I have a set of journals that I started writing after college. I hope one day to give it to you. I want you to laugh, squirm and learn from my experiences, the same way I felt when my Mom, your Mama Old, told me about hers. I want you to be proud of my accomplishments, disappointed by my failures and inspired by the occasion when I got up after each fall. I want you to see my humanity. Hopefully, this will help you understand yours.

In your lifetime I want you to learn three things. One is that love is unconditional. There is no prerequisite to love. It does not grow old, fade or want the same magnitude in return. It is a given. From the moment you were born, you became the adhesive that united us all. You are one of my inspirations to live. For this, I love you.

Don’t be afraid to love. Uncertainty is always there and nothing will change that. It is what makes the world dynamic. It is the only certain thing: change. So don’t be afraid to dive into something you are not sure of. Just make sure that you are doing it for all the right reasons.

Second is, you have the world for yourself. You only need to grasp it. Believe me, you will experience hardships in life. But that is not the hard part; you can get over those easily. You have my genes, and we bounce back fast. The more difficult times will be when you get over those bumps on the road and they lead you to peaks of success. Then you will have to decide how you will falter, fade, retain and graciously settle down into a comfortable state. Believe it or not, there is no single accomplishment. Everything is a cycle. You will have ups and downs, but as you grow old you get to decide whether the next up is higher or the next down is lower.

You will learn so much and teach so much to others. You will not be prepared for life because if you are, the whole experience will be meaningless. The most you can hope for is to have a stable footing. Always look around to see us, your family, your friends, your favorite thing in this planet. We will always be in the sidelines for you and to see where you are in the compass of life. Fill your backpack with knowledge and skills. Raise your head to the sky and dive into the ocean, metaphorically and physically. Always, always see yourself as a part of the web of life. Nature is the greatest mentor there is.

Third and last is that you will be great. Every person is destined for greatness. I know you will make your mark in this world. It does not matter how many people you touch with your light, it is the intensity that you blind them with that really matters. You will become as great in the same proportion as how much you put into the effort. But do not rush into it. Have a good start and keep a steady pace. In the end, the race is always against yourself.

I will be going back to work now and try to teach six young men some lessons. Maybe tonight, I will brew coffee and stare blankly at the sky. I will be tucked under a sleeping bag in my tent tonight, and I will be happy.

Oh, the most important piece of advice I can give to you is to always look up to the sky and realize how significantly small and how significantly big you are. Everything is a part of you. It took millions and millions of years for you to become you, and now you are alive.

(Harvey John Garcia, 28, is an assistant scientist at the International Rice Research Institute.)

Dear Isay,

When you are older I want to share these same thoughts with you. I am also excited for the many possibilities that life have in store for us.

Love you very much.

Nanay Day

Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake

For the longest time I've wanted to visit this mountain. In a span of 10 years, friends have climbed the long route, pre-4 x 4 cars, some the short cut route and I always had to do something else. Had to finish a job, or just be somewhere else. I guess things indeed happen for a reason. I am glad that I waited because I was able to experience this one with my daughter. It is her first mountain climbing adventure and I am glad I am with her to share this experience. This climb also marked a special time in my life.

The crater lake was a magnificent site to behold. Digital dslrs can only capture a 2D. The vast expanse engulfs your being as you approach the crater lake. Nature's strength and beauty surrounding you 360 degrees, puts things in perspective of how small we are yet still a part of the greater scheme of things.

While hiking through the trail to arrive here, the trails were marked with lahar and ash stocked up to create a new landscape-- a moonscape I would imagine. There were intermittent pounding in my heart and day-after-tomorrow thoughts as we walk through the gorge of gray ash and it started to drizzle. A visual essay is posted at my other blog Pinay Mountain Chef.

The gateway to Mt. Pinatubo is Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac, while talking to Mang Orlan our guide he mentioned that they are preparing for a barrio fiesta on the 16th. Hmmm I thought and smiled to myself. Do you believe in coincidence?

Take nothing

Take nothing but pictures

Leave nothing but foot prints

Kill nothing but time

--Baltimore Grotto

Take nothing but the water of the other group

Leave nothing but TP

Kill nothing but "kuko"

--MM

just remembering the memorable quotes from MM's newsletter which I thought previously as "Tarakyatayo". Visit Our Simple Joys by Ruby Bayan.

Plants vs Mowers

One of my favorite pictures.

Taken before we unsuccessfully mow the lawn of friend at Renton. The neighbor whom we borrowed the mower got out of his house and cut the grass himself after hearing us trying to struggle to cut the grass.

Congratulations AG

You are a living inspiration. Congratulations AG Sano!

Declared as the newest WWF Hero.

wanderlust

Been bitten by wanderlust for the past few days. Just booked two international trips for the whole family!

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Ongpin

We had Chinese New Year dinner at President's Tea House along Salazar St. at Ongpin- Manila's China Town. The food was good you can view it in my other blog Pinay Mt. Chef.

Despite a fully loaded workday trying to beat that 5 PM exodus of people, still wasn't able to leave early. In the trains at around 6:30 ish sardine time at the MRT. Arrive at carriedo station and took a "kuliglig" to Ongpin.

It's dinner with good friends and why do we go accross town braving traffic and congestion of masses people on the streets?

The belief is that on new year's eve, it is very lucky if you will be able to witness the dragon dance. Here in the photo was the only encounter with a dragon. A small boy inside trying to run around the streets with this dragon head. I think they just finished a dance.

The night cap was coffee and chance to chat with my buddy it was her birthday.

Walking the streets of Ongpin... the air was full of beating of the drums, people buying lucky charms and filing long line just to buy "tikoy". We even bumped into our dear neighbors along the way. The night was warm and Manila's streets are alive with life.

It was intoxicating. Love it!

Relax, off you go

This morning I tried the fb application and see what God would like to say to me today:

"Yes, of course, you want to control so everything happens in just the way you want it. But at the end of the day, we control nothing, - it's all in God's hands, - has always been, and will always be. So, do what you can, and then let go, and let God handle the rest."

True. I realized that we do plan our lives, plan our travels, budget our finances, schedule this and that. But eventually in the greater scheme of things...there are other things that is not under our control. Sometimes we think we influence the outcome by our own efforts by our "strategic planning" but in the end we should also prepare ourselves and our hearts that not everything will can be controlled.

The grace is to be able to accept what happens. Not like "trying-not-to-have-a-heart-attack-mode" just trying to accept what happened. I can just imagine someone here hahaha.

Anyway, there you go. I guess this is my message to relax let go and that He will take care of the rest.

Yey.

celebrate each moment

The Columbia River

Pondering on beginnings. Anywhere we find ourselves in this journey, we try to think of where we are going or where we are from. We often forget to enjoy the moment that is given to us. It is indeed a joy to the spirit just to enjoy what we have before us. Celebrate life. Yes despite the trails, hardships, or problems we encounter each day is something to celebrate and be thankful for. What we have is now. I just we just need to make the best of it. There will be moments happier than others. But it is the difficult times that make us appreciate the happy moments more.

Flowers

about the photo: flowers at the wedding of James and Donna

Why do we send flowers when someone is sick, not feeling good?

I guess because it makes people, well most people feel better.

Just looking at these flowers makes me feel better already.

Been down with the cold and fever this weekend.

Painting dolphins

Dolphins Love Freedom an advocacy of our friend A.G. Sano. Painting 23,000 dolphins to represent the number of dolphins dying every year in the hidden cove of Taiji, Japan.

The first advocacy joined by my little girl.

On borrowed time

Vietnam Memorial in Portland, Oregon Photo during my 2010 summer trip

This week...

A father of a friend passed away

A mother of a friend lost her battle with cancer

A friend twelve years my junior is starting her fight against cancer

To them I offer my prayers and send my love.

At these times, I ponder on my own mortality. I think of beginnings and endings. How time is borrowed. Just thinking of the time we are given to express our love to our family and friends. Why do we wait and wait until we say we love them?

Back to Yoga

Really happy to attend my yoga class with my favorite instructor Sharon. I missed it. Just a months time and I felt stiff coming back. But as the class started and we began relaxing into our postures I felt better and more in tune. Love Yoga. Good to be back.

If I Had My Life Over

If I Had My Life Over - I'd Pick More Daisies

Nadine Stair

If I had my life to live over, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

Recalling 2010

Looking at my archives, I realized that I have only written during the month of January last year 2010. I am once again revisiting and reviving this blog. I guess I felt the need to write again and reach out there. I had my reservations to write my thoughts the past year. But in hindsight, I realize that indeed our memories do sometimes fail us when we try to recall the wonderful things that happened to us. I believe that sharing my thoughts in this journal will help me find myself again and recall how beautiful life is.

Hopefully this year 2011, I will be able to share my joy with you, travels and adventure and inner journey and searching. I want to claim back this space I have created and set aside for a while.

There is pining in my heart.

Yosemite

A dream come true for me to visit this place. Yosemite was one of the places I wanted to visit. Still in my bucket list to visit again and stay longer.

Love Actually

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2T5yfgsZ0

2010 New Year in the Cordilleras

We welcomed the new year up in the mountains. Baguio is a city in the Cordilleras. This is one of the very few times that I celebrated the year not at home. This is a start I believe of a year full of new things, of discovery and travels.

The photo was taken from the window of our hotel room up in the hills. Amazing to see the fireworks at eye level and even looking down at them sometimes in the valley.

In the coming post I will be sharing more pictures of our latest adventures.

Thank you Lord for your blessings

Matthew 13:12 "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

5 years na ang blog na ito

Yes 5 years na pala ang blog na ito. Saan ka pa? Thank you to the Universe for this space. Thank you for the inspiration. Iba talaga pag ginagalit ka ano marami kang masusulat--hehehehe

Sabi nga ng isang housemate, ikaw ang bida ng istorya ng buhay mo. :)

Dahil wala na nagbabasa ng blog na ito, OK na ulit magsulat ng mag sulat dahil lahat sila nasa facebook na. mwahahahahha.

create your own happiness

"Oftentimes you give others the opportunity to create your happiness, and many times they fail to create it the way you want it. Why? Because only one person can be in charge of your joy, of your bliss, and that's you. So even your parent, your child, your spouse---they do not have the control to create your happiness. They simply have the opportunity to share in your happiness. Your joy lies within you." --Lisa Nichols

Dinner with good old friends :)

Last night I had a good dinner with an old friend and her teenage daughter. Just to let you know how long we have been friends, I knew the kid since she was 2 years old and now she is 3rd year high school.

It was a great dinner. Had my favorite stuffed mushrooms on top of a creamy bed of three kinds of cheese. There is always a first as I tasted my first ever artichoke dip. When we ordered it I thought I would she the whole artichoke hehehehe... anyway I did enjoy the dinner.

Thank you for good friends indeed.

words

"The central fact of my life has been the existence of words and the possibility of weaving those words into poetry..." Jorge Luis Borjes

Love

You cannot give love unless you have love.

Now I understand and felt this at its core.

You cannot get water from an empty well.

life in letters

Today we sent a letter to Ate Rose in Sweden for her coming birthday on the 21st ...we traced Isay's hand on the card and sent our love in words... and pictures.

I remember when I was younger I love receiving letters. I kept them all in the province at the old ancestral house where I grew up. Eventually they were thrown away while I was away... well to purge the house of trash. But anyway, that was a good memory keeping those letters and re-reading it when I was in grade school.

Funny how we easily forget of good memories. Try as I may, I cannot remember the details of those letters that gave so much joy. I guess that is the beauty of writing in a journal. You can remember those memories. Exactly how things happened... those words will transport you to the time that you were excited, elated or even scared. Sigh.

It is good to write.

Sad that people do not write anymore.

It is always a choice to be happy

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all it's sham drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

-- Max Ehrmann


When I was a young girl I received this poem from Inay. I am thankful that I am reminded today.

Happiness is a choice.

Purge

It felt good to purge the things that you do not need anymore. Old magazines, old files, old books, and all that trash that is piled up in the cabinet. Now I can make more space for the new books. Just getting rid of all that clutter made me feel good. I felt the cleaning exercise is good for my soul. Purge. Purge. Purge. One should take the time to throw away the garbage that has accumulated through the years. Let go of that junk. When you haven't missed it in a year, have not used it for a year, have not looked at it for sometime... you know it is time to throw it away.

Where do I get this inspiration, you might ask? Well from Clean House! We really need to un-clutter our place to make that space for the things that really matter.

Create that space.

Make something new.

Liberating.

Ito pala hinahanap ko na word to describe it e.

Liberating.

Trees do not strain to grow

I remember the peach tree in Kung Fu Panda when I received this message. We cannot tell the tree to grow. It just grows.

Isay's purple blouse

When I go to the office, I usually wear my nuetral colors, black, brown, white-- as a sort of uniform colors for me and my wardrobe. Occasionally I wear my red blouse-- but it is a bit old now. The color is a bit faded (kupas na ika nga). Then there was this day I got a chance to buy this purple a bit shiny purple blouse. I loved it when I saw it. I tried it on and it fits. Very well I thought.

Then after that shopping spree, the blouse just hang in my clothes rack. I saw it everyday as I choose my usual black and browns. In my mind oh no i might not be able to wear this ah... well... but Isay love it. She will grab it and wear it like a robe and walk around the house. She claimed it to be her blouse.

Many weeks later. About last week, I finally decided to wear it to work. Isay was furious saying "blouse ko yan!" ( that's my blouse). I just explained that nanay will just wear it to work this time and borrow it.

When I got to the office, true enough, I was showered with compliments and up till I got home tatay and even manang approved my wearing this new color.

Haay...

I just realized now that indeed, we should not be afraid to wear our colors.

Happy.

grateful

I am once again reminded that the greatest power in the Universe is to express your gratitude.

Indeed I am thankful for all the blessings that I continue to receive in life. I will continue the reason why I made this blog in the first place... that this will serve as the record of the many good things in life that I am blessed with.

My cup continues to overflow with blessings. I am amazed that once a few moons ago some of the things that are manifesting in my life right now are just thoughts. But now they are reality. There is wisdom indeed that when you pray you need to be specific for what you pray for. But we all know that God is not a vending machine. He really wants to bless us. We just need to ask. if there is one prayer that we can pray many many times over in the course of the day-- that is to say "Thank You".

1. Thank you for my family who continually gives me unconditional love and my source of inspiration
2. Thank you for Isay. Who often reminds me "it's OK Nanay". She has said this to many times over at the most appropriate time. She is such an old soul.
3. Thank you for my hubby who is the most wonderful friend, lover, companion, and everything in between.
4. Thank you for friends far and wide who inspires me to increase our achievement quotient every time.
5. Thank you for good health of my family. There was a time a week or two ago that I had sore throat and I cannot drink water--- that was the ultimate reminder that even the smallest things can give you happiness. I am so happy now that I am able to drink water with my usual globglobglob sound ehehehe.

6. The list will continue on...

mga araw sa tag ulan

ultimately supposedly our reflections will lead to the re-discovery of our true passions in life.

me gusta vacaciones

This week we finished Spanish class for the year. Next year I hope to continue on with my intermediate classes. The classes are so fun and funny. The last memory of the words that are still ringing in my ear is I want to go on a vacation.

I just want to go.

Bumangon ka

We were watching Go negosyo about Balaw balaw. The owner is sharing about the business. He said: darating ang mga araw na parang ayaw mo na, wag mo lang pansinin, tapos bumangon ka.

simple napaka simple. bumangon ka.

His Team

It has been a while since I wrote in this blog. I think it came to pass that I've been to the desert in my writing and sharing. Life went on and the world kept turning. It felt like I was dead yet I was alive. Many things happened the past months. Big things small things. sometimes the smallest things are the ones that give me such inspiration.

I felt today that I received a message. He told me. I heard from someone He sent His word. "Whatever you do, wherever you are God wants you in His Team".

I was struck.

And was moved to write


and now share again.

Photos by

Among the photos I recently took, these are one of my most favorite. The two are the Ninong and Ninang of our daughter. We have been witness to their love story and we are very happy for them. On this day, I am once again reaffirmed that love really finds a way.

Congratulations!!! We love you both.

Relationships

It has been a while since I shared my thoughts in this blog. Many things has happened in the past months that has changed the immediate direction of my life and have in a way changed the course of our lives in general. But despite the many changes and the inner emotional landscapes that I had to tread, my compass remains to be my family and friends, my relationships that keep me grounded.

I was very happy to receive this invitation from our artist Ninang sa Kasal Susan. We have visited them in HK last 2007 and hopefully will be visiting them soon. We may not be able to visit in the next couple of days but we want to extend our love by sending this small note.

Here I want honor Susan as she has been one of my most inspiring mentors in life.

Sending my love to you Susan and Mike.

This is one of my most favorite pictures from the hundreds I took when I was in the Netherlands. It reminds me of the cold weather that I love to hate. The novelty of landscape calling me take a walk despite the cold. And I did! Yes I did! I love those paths which I followed while staring at the moat. That is a true blue moat just like the ones you hear from fairytale. My time there was short but sweet and in hindsight bittersweet.

weekend warrioring in Europe

Overwhelmed is an understatement. It was a dream come true indeed.

I am still here in Wageningen Netherlands. I will write more about my trip to Paris and Milan in future post. I just want to share that it was a fantastic weekend.

Cheese

One of the things that get better with age. I love cheese. I was so excited to see them at the open market last Saturday here at Wageningen, Netherlands.

Some things do get better after allowing the process to take place. Letting things age. Learning, contemplating and ponder. I also discovered that indeed this is my learning style. I need space and time to reflect.

journey

The past two months of the year was one of the many turning points in my journey. Events went by too fast that I can hardly reflect on what has taken shape. The other day when we were assigned to be the critical thinking group doing reflection in a sense propelled me to ponder on my own realizations as well.

"An unexamined life is not worth living" as Socrates and many others before me have valued the exercise of learning from lifes lessons. Traveling and being away from family and routine has in a way made my spirit restless but I believe this is meant to be in a good way. An awareness that seeks to be acknowledged.

Everyday we evolve into a new person albeit in the outside everything seems to be the same. Being away from the people closest to your heart is a challenge. The beauty in this is that one is reminded that they are your treasures in life.

Thank you for all the blessings indeed.

love love love love!

missing Isay and tatay Amats...

Unity in Diversity

This is the class getting ready for the group picture. Actually there are 3 groups of 22 people each doing simultaneous PPME. I only remember my group's name Pomona the others I cannot hard spell or even pronounce. Almost all of the developing countries are there but more than half of the class are from Africa.

The Philippine Delegation

There are only four of us from the Philippines. There are only 3 women representing the 3 sectors. The three women are from the government, NGO and the private sector. The lone male is a representative of Mindanao also from an NGO.

Batsheba in green terno, Ian in barong and Laarni in modernized barong. I love the Ifugao traditional tribal dress. Thank you Maye!

the old and the new

a traditional house. the photo was taken during dusk that is why it was a bit dark but I still like this picture
These are cafes I think because I saw some people dining inside there. Initially I thought is was something like a modern gallery or something. There are a mix of the old and the new in this university town.

There are students cycling up and down to get to their classes very similar to the set up of UPLB. This last photo is the main shopping area which is about 2 blocks away from where we are staying.

Guided Tour

Gon Van Laar is our guide-- you cant miss her she is the one in red

bicycle in the Netherlands

It is the most interesting site. I've never seen so many bikes parked outside a train station. Around town, you can see the diversity of bikes. The most interesting ones are the ones with provision for the babies and kids. Hopefully I can catch those in the coming weeks.

Also saw the smallest car ever.

Hof van Wageningen

This is where we are having our fellowship training on Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

This is the very first time that I was able to see a "moat" as in a really moat like the ones you have in the fairytale castles. Amazing! I can see that moat everytime I look out my window from my very small room (I am guessing because we need to conserve the heat--save energy). It was 7 degrees the other day when I went out for a quick walk to the store to buy a adaptor plug.

The town is like a fortress or a walled city like Intramuros in Manila. The walls have come down but the beautiful moats are still here.

Wageningen pronounced as with matching wahhk of the throat. It is a University town here in NL. It reminded me of my days in UPLB.

10degrees

This is the view from the 7th floor here at Hof van Wageningen hotel where we are having our training on Participatory Planning Monitoring and Evaluation.

It is cold outside about ~10degrees celcius. I watched BBC weather ang it is snowing in the UK about 5cm of snow expected. But there is no snow here. We are warm here inside. But it is cold outside. We have a walking schedule late today at 5pm. Grrrrr

Ok time for tea

Breakfast Day 2

I ate a huge breakfast of scrambled eggs and lots of kiwi!

more later

Amsterdam Train System

We arrived at around 7 pm at the Schipol Aiport in Amsterdam. I am with Batshe from Dept of Agri,, Laarni from a consultancy firm then Ian from MinCode in Mindanao.

We got out train tickets direct to Wageningen for 8 pm just in time. The photo above is at platform 3 ( not 3/4 like Harry) I was half expecting to run trhough walls but nahh.

Good thing it was a direct trip we were still going to catch bus 88 at Ede-Wageningen.

The Netherlands

I am here at Wagenngen Netherlands. Arrived here yesterday evening after a 14 hour direct flight to Amsterdam. Then an hour train ride via Utrech to Ede Wageningen worth 14.50 euros and then bus to here for 2.40 euros.

There are 4 Pinoys here attending this 3 week fellowship. Mostly African, other countries include Brazil, Nepal, India, etc. will tell you all more about it later.

Yehey!!! finally in Europe for free!!! :)

Many many things happened this past two months that I was not able to share to all of you. Many great beginings!

I will try to give daily updates here.

I am back to blogging!