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