Venice of the East

 This is my first trip to Shanghai.Thanks to my sister-in-law Imelda for touring me to new places I have never been before. I've done the city, walked around the french corner where we had apple tartin and ice cream. By then we were craving for western food so even Kentucky and McDonald's were delectable. We had our retail therapy of inexpensive lubutongs, goat cheese and diors. Figure that one out..hahaha... 

 

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The drive to Suzchou was a couple of hours but the trip was well worth it. Zhoujiajiao reminded me so much of Venice but the ambiance is very eastern.We decided to take a ride and enjoyed the moment

  

 

 

After the lovely ride, we took a walk around the eskinitas and there were a lot of peddlers selling thier handicrafts and wares. Our chinese guide told us that chinese people eat everything with four legs....except the table...hahahaha....there were frogs, snails and anything that moves that were being sold. So when it was time to have lunch, I lost my appetite. Although I skipped lunch, I was entertained by a chinese couple with their local music.

After our lunch, we took a walk around the narrow walkways again and lo and behold, hawkers were making hot hopias and the smell opened my palette and I got hungry.  I was a happy camper the moment I saw these savory delicacies. They were so delicious that it reminded me of the hot hopias in Binondo, Manila by Quiapo church. I felt totally at home. Even the baby agrees with me. 

Can I take you home with me?...:)

Wonder of the World

 It was a long and bumpy ride to Sagada. This is a road trip that one must experience even once in their lifetime. Of course you can fly to the mountains and see it in a different perspective which I'm sure is fabulous and expensive, but we opted to take our guest in an SUV. It took us 8 hours long but the sight of the countryside along the highway was beautiful and tranquil. We drove past the banawe rice terraces and you can't help but look at it with pride and joy in your heart.

When we reached Sagada, I know I'm in a good place. You look at the children's faces and find happiness which simple life offers them. A small town that values family and tradition and have utmost respect to their dead. So a walk to the school grounds put a smile on my face. 

  

 

Whenever I'm in a new place, I always visit their local church. Missionaries are committed in taking care of the locals by preserving the simplicity, integrity and dignity of SAGADA. There is a certain spirituality that you feel when you're here. A perfect place for soul-searching.

What is there to do in a small town? A visit to the cave was an exhilarating experience. Here I was in my hiking boots and our guide told me that all I need are rubber slippers. The cave was underground, vast and wet. When I got to the cave, it smelled like coffee which turned out to be the stench of bat poo. We were walking on limestone which was not slippery at all. It provided a grip that won't make you slide or slip. The ripples from the rain were left engraved on the limestone. The water was clear and cold.

Are you ready for this? This is not man-made. This is a natural carving done by mother nature. Nothing in this cave is painted or vandalized. Pretty amazing work.

And now it's time to leave this magical place and head back down to the city.

moo....moooooo.

too sexy for the catwalk...

It was a glamourous night spent with newfound acquaintances that was as refreshing as bumping into old dear friends, many I haven't seen in ages. The Karilagan reunion of  models and beauty queens during the late 60's and the 70's was like traveling back in time.
Search Amazon.com for vogue magazine

It was an era of high fashion and old school pirouettes. A celebration of designers who set the tone for catwalks and  runways, photoshoots and cover girls in fashion magazines. And why not? Aside from honoring an inspiring woman who made an important mark in the fashion industry, it was a fun-filled party that everyone wished would never end. What a fashionable way to start the year 2010!!

Thrilla in Manila...

Nope. Not boxing. Not about Ali vs Frazier. It's bigger than that. It's New Year's in Manila. A 360 degree view of fireworks seen on a rooftop in metropolitan Makati is a visual delight. A magical exhibition of sights and sounds of the countdown simultaneously happening in Quezon City, Manila, The Fort, Rockwell, Pasig to name a few. Truly a spectacle......to some revelers. For others... like myself and my dog, it's a struggle. My heart leaps each time I hear a blast and my dog gets very nervous. I'm afraid she might even get a heart attack! Do we really need to have it in every corner?  They should stop selling firecrackers and just stick to lusis. Enough of the triangulos, bawang, labintador and the likes. They are dangerous, fatal and toxic to the air we breathe.

 So please, can we just have the fireworks display?  It's killing me and my dog!