Random Thought 103 - Before the Big Bang

Here I was, thinking what to write.  This thought actually is already long overdue.  But during those early days, it was still hard for me to compose my thoughts.

Sometimes, we become too complacent when things favor our way.  When things are mostly in order, though how simple our life is, we regard already that one as almost complete and perfect.  It is during these times that life becomes rewarding, with only some small things to worry about.

But just like the turn of events, like the most anticipated new year celebration which is about to happen the following day, some things are really coming with a BIG bang.  Good if the big bang is for the better.  But if it is the worst thing to happen to you, most especially during the new year, you'll feel life sucks.  And the frenzy of wandering restless thoughts and hopelessness could flood your whole year round.

I guess, one time or the other, we were rejoicing because life becomes an ideal one for us.  Little did we know that the happiness we are experiencing will soon be shattered with a big bang.  A bang so devastating that if we happened to have a less appreciation of life, the very minute we experience the pain, it feels like there's no use in living this life anymore. 

Just like what some people used to say, "Live and cherish life like it is your last for you never know what will happen tomorrow." 

Food Trip 102 - Chicken Teppanyaki

Nowadays, the people behind the food business try to experiment and offer other stuff aside from what have been considered as comfort food for the Filipinos.  And one of them is where I frequently buy my food for lunch.

From time to time, I would prefer experimenting on food and taste something new.  That is, if I happened to like the food at first glance or if someone can vouch that the taste of that food is indeed good.

One time, I tried chicken teppanyaki.  I got curious because the name is catchy and the ingredients looked familiar.  I don't have any idea why it is called teppanyaki but the look of the food, I could say that I was able to prepare the same one before.

Teppanyaki is a cuisine of Japanese origin where grilling is part of the process.  After my research of teppanyaki, though I was satisfied with the food that I ordered which they named chicken teppanyaki, the meat of the chicken was never grilled.  I guess it was just cooked in a pan like a traditional adobo but with less condiments like soy sauce and salt.  Likewise, they drained the resulting oil to make it appear a bit dry.  And to add life to the meat, they included a serving of sauteed vegetables, mostly cabbage, carrots, and beans.  In addition to this, the taste of powdered black pepper was very evident.

Exploring Philippines 102 - Taal Volcano (Post 5 - Picnic Groove and Mahogany Market)

While cruising the picnic groove, we came across a zipline and cable car ride.  Since it was a week day, the rate was minimal.  Leo urged us to join them for a one way ride.  As I examined the greener area right below the zipline, the area is very much crowded with tall trees.  And from the looks of it, the forest below is vast and its distance from the zipline was really high.  Though I am afraid of heights, I still gave in for our next adventure.

The moment I stepped into the platform, waiting for our turn, I could not help the shaking of my knees and the rapid beating of my heart.  Yes, I was afraid again.  Though I had several experiences of zipline rides, it was like a first time experience all over again.  I’ve been struggling to shake this one off and if it is possible to have this ride every day, I will do it just to get rid of my fear.

Anyway, Raul and I went together for the ride.  I thought I was the only one who has this fear.  It was a revelation when Raul confessed that he, too, is afraid of heights.  Funny but it is the reality of life.  And when it was our turn, a push from the crew made us close our eyes and shout to the top of our voice.

It was like being crazy, shouting at the top of your voice, while doing a scary thing which you are afraid the most.  I guess shouting is a therapy to release the tension and the fear inside of you.  The moment I was through shouting, we were still hanging on the air.  When I opened my eyes, the sight below was amazing.  We were like birds flying over the tall trees below us and to our left, the Taal volcano stands as a silent witness.  Most probably, one of the best experiences would be seeing the world from up above.  Up here, from where we were, the perspective looked extremely different.

After our short yet fun moments in the Picnic Groove, we went to Tagaytay public market.  We scout the market for some possible stuff to take home and they were mostly fresh fruits.   For our final hurrah, we went for a hefty serving of the famous Tagaytay bulalo.  And time and again, the taste of bulalo in Tagaytay public market is simply beyond compare.

I greatly enjoyed the company of Leo and Leah Lintag, Raul Ponay, Mike Victorio, and Raymond Angelo.  Thank you, guys and looking forward for more adventures with you.

Poem 102 - Old Photographs Of You

These old photographs of you
Refresh our mem'ries some time ago
Nostalgic feelings pinch my heart
A love once had just fell apart.

I cannot discount the feeling
My love for you is still worth remembering
The memories make me young again
Though I'm always stricken with pain.

We experienced love's rise and fall
Trying to surmount the impossible
In our hearts we kept the faith
And value more what lies beneath.

But the twist of faith was unforgiving
The love once cherished had a sad ending
No matter how hard we'd tried
Some good things could be denied.

These old photographs are my reminders
About you and me during those years
You make me smile every now and then
And shed some tears time and again.

Quote 204 - Life

Moment 102 - Bird Watching

I was spending an afternoon in Laguna de Bay.  It was my first time to visit the bay and I got curious how it looks like.  I was trying to figure out some old-school setting of the bay where trees and bamboos are abundant and that civilization has not reach the place yet.  But it was already developed and full of life.  

Though boats come and go and people converge in this area during their siesta time, I still find the rural atmosphere refreshing.  It was just like spending an afternoon in a place where people are still one with nature.  I guess some city folks would appreciate a good and lazy afternoon by the bay, unmindful of the rush and stressful environment.

When I went there, there were just several birds flying in the area.  But after some time, there were already a flock of them.  In my entire life, I haven't experienced being that close to a flock of birds.  It seemed that I was the only one who was excited about their presence because the people in the area were quite busy with their own affairs and I guess they are already familiar with what was happening that time.

I could not hide my excitement as I intently watched them and put my camera to work.  It was like a haven for me.  The birds were in frenzy over the small fishes that swam near the shore and on the other end, I was also in the frenzy trying to capture the moment.  It was really an amazing afternoon, with all those birds around.  I tried to know the name of the birds but even the locals are not familiar about them.  The people are used to having the birds around because the bay provides a good feeding ground both for the birds and the people.

Quote 203 - Hold My Hand

Random Thought 102 - Letting Go

Sometimes, you've got to learn how to let go in order to find out your reason for holding on.

Letting go could be the hardest situation one may entertain especially if the heart and soul is not yet prepared. But the question is, when is the right time to let go?  Because no matter how we convince ourselves with the idea that we need some more time to prepare, the more time we spend in clinging on to that special thing, the harder for us to let go.  And the pain simply piles up as we try to delay the dreaded separation.

There are no permanent things in this life, even us will have to leave, eventually.  Though it is a given fact that we've already invested a part of us to love and treasure the people and things around us, we can't be with them forever.  And the more we attach ourselves, the more hurt we will get.

The moment we know how to love and care, it would be the right time for us to prepare ourselves to get hurt.  When we learn how to embrace someone, we should also learn how to let her go.

Letting go could be one of the scariest thing that we have to face especially if we value a person or a thing that much.  Letting go would mean a part of us is leaving and that we would never be whole again.  But to a person who truly knows what love is, letting go is an unselfish act of loving. 

Food Trip 101 - Beef Pares

I had been contemplating for so long about what a beef pares really tastes like.   For quite some time, I made several attempts to try it but something always hindered my plan.  I know that I tasted that dish before but I just can't exactly recall.

It was close to midnight and on my way home, I decided to give it a try.  Though I had my fill that evening, still, my craving for a beef pares meal persisted.  And I dropped by at the newly opened Pares Mami House in Espana.

I immediately ordered a beef pares meal which include a free soup and a good serving of garlic rice.  The soup was good and the taste of beef pares was great. 

I have this attitude towards food. When I am eating, I want to savor for a while the taste of the food and I don't mind spending some extra time on the table.  I am not fond of eating in a hurried manner because I felt that I will never enjoy my food and get satisfied afterwards.  Thus, I really killed some time just to have that good feel about this food.

Even if I had my early dinner that night, I ended up ordering an extra serving of a garlic rice because I felt that I could not afford to consume the remaining serving of beef pares without any rice.  And I went home almost bursting my stomach in fulfillment.  Haha.  The sin of gluttony.

Exploring Philippines 101 - Taal Volcano (Post 4 - Going Back)

The trail going downwards is a bit scary.  There is a steep path and for first timers like us, the experience was indeed scary.  Sensing that I was fearful of the ride, my guide told me to lean backwards in order to keep the balance of the ride.  And yes, the trick worked.  After passing that steep path, the rest of our ride was smooth. 

While we were moving down the mountain, there were also some foreign visitors who were riding ahead of us.  We were moving quite slowly because the path is a bit dangerous.  There was one scary picture when an oversized lady almost fell off from her skinny horse in a steep course.  We were put to a halt as we watched closely the outcome of the moment.  Luckily, her guide was quick enough to help the horse keep its balance and mobilize it slowly until reaching a safer ground.

The ride towards the horses’ station was quick and perhaps the only annoying part of the trip except from the steep course was the cloud of dust in some parts of the trail.  It was good that I had my hanky that time and I was spared from inhaling the unwanted dusts.

After getting off from our respective horses, our lady guide immediately directed us to our waiting boat.  Since it was already high noon, we were already looking forward for a good lunch.

Our return trip to Talisay was a bit bumpy.  Even if it was still early, the wind started to blew stronger which created waves on the surface water of the lake.  We thought that in a lake, the water is steady and calm but we were wrong.  We ended up wet yet thrilled and happy.

Since we took a packaged tour, part of the package was a lunch serving.  It was a modest lunch but not the kind of lunch we were expecting.  We expect something unique to this town and taste differently.  But anyway, it was still a good lunch for hungry mouths like us.

After our lunch, we went back to Tagaytay proper and visited the Picnic Groove for some sightseeing activities.  On this part of Tagaytay, the Taal volcano island is very much visible in its entirety.  It was just hours ago when we were having fun on the top of the view deck of Taal volcano and now, from this distance, we could not help but to share each others experience just a while ago.