Walking in San Francisco Part 1: Palace of Fine Arts

I originally wanted to do this weekend walk alone until some good reasons to do this together with Amarind and the kids came about, such as good weather. San Francisco is notorious for fluctuating temps so we had to be sure the reading was accurate; however, trust Mark Twain when he said, “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.”

Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

Also, if you decide to bring kids for the walk (this is a kid-friendly walk by the way), don’t trust Mr. Weatherman: always bring three types of clothing even though he gave a sunny forecast. If you have a toddler, bring a sturdy stroller and a blanket. I tell you, the strong winds by the bay can blow your knickers off!

Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco

The facade of Palace of Fine Arts

Anyway, off to the walk. I must say that this was a well-planned three-hour walk (with stops in between, of course) so I’ll divide this blog entry into three parts. We started at Palace of Fine Arts then Crissy Field, then to North Point and then back to where we started. If you plan to do this walk, I suggest you do it with a friend because it can be lonely walking on Crissy Field alone. [Read more...]

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The Many Facets of Bamberg

I found this video and instantly fell in-love with the simplicity of life in Bamberg. I hope to go there someday.

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The Colors of Venice

Located in northeastern Italy, Venice has piers that sink into the water, which adds to the charming character of this city. Although Venice has gone to rack and ruins, the romantic charm still stays and that is why it still draws many tourists any time of the year.

You may think that Venice is not huge but it actually comprises of small islands called “sestieri”, with some of the most historic places and monuments on some of them. There is Venice Lido, home to the popular Venice movie festival. It is a tranquil island that you can travel by boat from San Marco. Then there is Mestre, the more industrial part of Venice.

Venice is an extremely walkable city: you don’t need a car to travel from one point to another. In fact, if you want to see Rialtine islands, the main part of Venice, you can do so from one end to another in an hour. Along the way, you’ll discover remarkable artwork, wonderful architecture, and spectacular landscapes.The absence of cars in Venice also makes strolling a more pleasant experience.

If you prefer not to walk, you can take vaporetti and water taxis. If you plan to stay in Venice for a few days, vaporettis are the best way to get around. If you want a more romantic experience, take a gondola ride along the canals.

Here’s a short feature video of the colorful Venice. Enjoy.

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The Tale of Dinuguan

dinuguan The Tale of Dinuguan

I would like to tell you how extremely overjoyed I was on Sunday when my husband suggested Filipino food for lunch. You have no idea how I miss Filipino food although I had some last week but it was not as major as this. We found a Filipino restaurant in Hayward. When I saw the sign, I freaked out — in a good way, of course. I never thought the word “Manila” would send an endless stretch of smile to my face. My reaction was kinda bizarre because I am not normally giddy over Filipino food — something that I eat for 30 years. But this experience was different. I had buffet.

There are many reasons why I like buffet. For one, I don’t have to picture out, based on the flowery menu description, what the food looks like. I also don’t have the patience of a true foodie who can wait for the chef cook from scratch. It’s a crime to make hungry diners wait. I like instant coffee, instant pancakes, instant apple drink, Chinese food-to-go and, yes, buffet fits the bill: it screams “instant gratification”.

(If we’re talking about Gary Danko, Fleur de Lys and French Laundy, that’s a totally different story. I can make reservations for months prior.) [Read more...]

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Poema X by Pablo Neruda

This short and poignant film reminds me of my pre-law school and law school life. I spent most of my nights thinking… not of law cases but of indiscernible things around me: quicksilver dew drops, flickering parking lights, the incomprehensible human emotions, and even the business of going to school. I drew my inspiration from poets such as Aleksander Puskhin, Rainer Maria Rilke and, yes, the untouchable Pablo Neruda. I probably wrote, read, and crumpled hundreds of poems.

I accidentally found this short film based on ‘Poema X’ by Pablo Neruda and I am again reminded by how beautiful it is to simply exist and love.

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Afternoon by the Sea

DSC 2582 11 Afternoon by the Sea

I’d like to share this photo that my husband took of two kids in my hometown, Iloilo.
It was during the rainy season in the Philippines — around August, I believe, as the waves raged to clash against the rocks and we had to put up with rather inclement weather. We were at this private beach property for our friends’ prenup sessions.

We barely got to the location when a swarm of kids arrived to see what went on, as if we were a major event in their hometown. Having inquisitive barrio kids around did not surprise me nor my husband at all. We understood that these young kids were responsible for each other.

My husband took this photo during the break, around noontime, when the sun was high and the heat was stifling. These two kids, aged around seven to nine, hoped for nippy breeze to wash their faces. They mounted themselves on this massive rock and waited for the sea to beckon them. What happened after this was pure joy, when both of them jumped into the sea laughing and teasing each other. What they shared was nothing short of raw happiness.

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