Time

… is what I don’t have enough of lately.

I’ve been sleeping at 2am – the earliest – the past few nights and waking up at 6:30 am to go to work. I seriously wish there are 27 hours in a given day.

I have so much on my plate – blame it on nobody else but moi.

Idle time is something that I don’t like. I can’t keep steady. If it is even remotely possible to forego sleep, I would because sleeping is like a waste of time for me. I wish I can just blink and recharge in that minuscule amount of time.

It’s our mid-year evaluation, I’m doing RFI with my international vendors and I’m creating new training modules.

On top of that, I have to create several jewelry design studies for my class, notwithstanding all the preps that I need to do for my advance design class that will start next week!

Super good luck to me!

I’ve prepared several design studies that I keep lying around on my desk. Friends just keep snitching them! Some would even literally filch the necklace on my neck!

So after several nights of toiling and erudition, I still have zilch. Admittedly, it is a happy problem since girlfriends buy my stuff and I have not even prepared an entire collection!

Thank you, thank you – for supporting my passion and creative outlet. Please continue to support me once my consignments are out there already, because by that time, I need a steady base of clients!

I have gazillion of things on my to-do list that I wish I have time to do:

1. Read all the books that I got from Powerbooks. Happy that I finally got Rachel Zoe’s book. Anyone who has Nina Garcia’s?

2. Redesign my office cubicle so I can integrate my atalyer stationeries and wallpaper.

3. Open my new iTouch, jailbreak it and re-configure. Thank you, R., for being thoughtful and giving me a new mp3 player when you found out that my old one is going bonkers already. You didn’t have to.


4. Set my new pink alarm clock with time projector on the ceiling. This is another toy given by R. It’s really the epitome of geekness. I like!

5. Create more costume jewelry design studies and complete a collection. This one, I really gotta do. And I gotta do fast!

6. Spend more time with my girlfriends and my besties. Coffee sessions squeezed in between a heavy workload ain’t enough.

7. Spend more playtime with my Kyle. I need to schedule him for neutering very soon, but before that, I really want to play with him and sleep beside him more often.

8. Spend more quiet moments with R. We have a lot of catching up to do, a lot of things to talk about. Actually, there’s no need for a reason. I just really need to spend more time with him.

That is not even 1/8 of the list!

See… I need time. More time.

And it’s not helping that I’m still blogging now!

Off to hopefully tick off some boxes in my to-do list… or not.

Hope for the flowers

I still believe there is.

This is for me and Arlene.

Hang in there.

We may not know the reasons now - but have faith.

Hang in there.

Sometimes, good intentions are not enough

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

No matter how many good things you promise, if you fall short of fulfilling, words uttered are simply that - empty promises.

Wanting to be good is never enough if it's just in your head.

I don't know why there is a predisposition for mankind to need and want a rude awakening first before doing the right thing.

Do we all need to be shaken to our core first before doing what's right and give people what they truly deserve?

That's probably why they call it a wake-up call - because we need to be woken up first before we get to our feet.

I hope we wake up one day - very soon - to realize that we don't need a rude awakening to celebrate life, to love, to commit, to fulfill our promises.

I will celebrate the day when good intentions are fulfilled into real life commitments.

The quest for authentic Indian cuisine

The thing about gastronomic satisfaction - is that it is extremely preferential. As for preferences, everything of course, can be very subjective.

This is what R. and I had just proven, as we went on a quest over the weekend to find THE authentic Indian cuisine in the metro.

Ariel and John C. both raved about Queens at Jupiter for having the most authentic Indian cuisine. According to Ariel, I have got to taste Queens' biryani to gauge what real Indian rice is.

Other friends also gave their testimonials and vouched that Queens really tops the list.

R. and I, though, beg to differ.

Although Queens' offerings are quite tasty, we find New Bombay's dishes tastier, more flavorful, albeit more authentic.

All in all, we enjoyed this gustatory expedition. Both restaurants offered good food - we just had to take sides. =)

Here's a comparison of some of the food in the menu:

From New Bombay:

Almond Lassi - unique taste, with real almonds on top.
We uber loved this!

Seafood curry - the shrimp is not overcooked, with the cheese on top
of the dish delicately fusing with the curry of in the dish.

Chicken biryani rice - very tasty, with the rice grains not sticking to
each other. This is how we like our rice!

The naan bread can be eaten by itself.
Without the curry sauce, it tastes a little bit sweet.

The bufra enjoying the sumptuous feast

The aftermath of famine

New Bombay's chandelier. It has an old, classic feeling that I like.

From Queens:

Queens Menu - which is pretty exhaustive.
More than Indian cuisine, it's actually Asian fusion.

Us while waiting for our order

With me Mom. She stayed with us over the weekend.

Lassi - Mom liked their fruit-flavored lassi. But I do have to say
R. and I prefer New Bombay's almond-flavored.

Udang mayonnaise - basically fried and breaded prawn with mayonnaise.
R. liked it.

Chicken tikka makhanwala - now this one, I like!
I like the spice and the curry.

Their version of Chicken Biryani - the rice was a bit soft
and sticking with each other. R. said it tasted like paella.
This one fell short - we prefer New Bombay's.

Rotti channai and curry - both Mom and R. liked it.
I think Penang's rotti channai is better.

Queens' modern take on the chandelier. Nice!

Chocolate heaven

The Godiva Truffes Dessert Limited Edition chocolates are to DIE for!

Deadma sa diet. I just love 'em.

Got 2 more Hot Cocoa Godiva Chocolatier drink - in milk and dark chocolate.

Happiness!

When life gets to you --- eat chocolates!

Bulacan Independence Day Tour

I love museums, art galleries, old churches and historical tours!

The smell of old triggers nostalgia or a desire in me to have lived in the ancient times when art and literature had greater value and importance.

When my Mom told me about the Bulacan Independence Day tour, however, I had second thoughts because I thought Bulacan was the nearest province north of Manila that didn’t offer much when it comes to sceneries and heritage.

Was I wrong and I’m glad I was!

Bulacan was filled with stories of our heroes during the revolution and in fact, gave birth to a lot of our Illustrados and Katipuneros.

The tour was timely – what with the celebration of Independence day on the 12^th of June.

No regrets that I joined it with my mom as it was a win-win tour/break for me. It was quality time spent with Mom and a perfect way to stroll down historical lane.

I’m not certain whether the youth of today still recognizes the major contributions of our Filipino grandfathers and grandmothers who fought for our freedom. Without them heroes, we will not have our rights and the freedom of speech that we all so enjoy yet take for granted.

Here are some of our photos:

With me Mom inside the coaster

Happy to be on our way to Bulacan

First stop: Church of San Isidro de Labrador,
famous for the Kneeling Carabao Festival.
Yes, the carabaos do really kneel.

At the church patio

A farmer drying out the grains of rice

Second stop: Ancestral house cum museum
at the butterfly sanctuary

Yard in front of the ancestral house

Fountain fronting the sanctuary

The big butterfly bust welcoming the guests

A sumptuous native breakfast prepared for us

Arroz caldo, okoy, puto bumbong and bibingka
for breakfast. Talo-talo sa diet!

Imma eat EVERYTHING!

RAAAAR! Let's start with the arroz caldo.
Reminds me of Nanay's cooking.

Shot inside the pavilion of the butterfly museum

The butterfly museum has a resort too!

Flowers resting on the pond

Attending the briefing before entering the butterfly sanctuary.
Do not step on the butterflies! Lol!

A farmer walking his cow. He voluntarily
stopped the cow for picture-taking. Thanks, Manong!

One of the antique clocks displayed in the museum

Nuesta Senora de la Immaculada

Cherubim bust hanging near the ceiling.
Others find it creepy but I love antique stuff!

Diorama dolls on display

Dioramas depicting stages in Philippine history

More antique underneath the stairs of the museum

I think it's a rice grinder.

Us at the frontage of the sanctuary.
Met new friends - tour guide Gerry and Mon, Romana,
Tita Fely, Tita Tess and Tita Tina.

Caterpillars - creepy crawlers

Butterflies on display

Inside the sanctuary - they made us hold the butterflies.
Make a wish before you let them go!

Moi holding mating butterflies!
I was squeamish at first but they're harmless
little, beautiful creatures.

I'm about to let go of the mating butterflies.
Yes, I made a wish!

Mom and Moi at the gazebo

I like these caterpillars - they've got black and white stripes and red dots.
I touched them and put them on my palm - they're not itchy at all!

Second stop: Gat Blas Ople's Sentro ng Kabataan
This is the Malolos mural commissioned by First Lady Imelda Marcos.

The bottom of the mural - up close

Paintings at the museum

Paintings done by the late Napoleon Trono

Me and Mom at the cinema section of the museum

Taga-Bulacan pala si Jolina Magdangal, Richard Gomez and Ian Veneracion.
I'm not a fan of local showbiz - but nice to know.

Posing beside the bust of Marcelo H. del Pilar

Sana sing-galing din ako mag-paint.

Ancient artifacts from Bulacan

Any idea what these are?
These are wrappers of pastillas de leche intricately
designed and cut. Bilib, ano?

Another Bulacan artifact-handicraft

Just trippin'.

Paintings of Nap Trono

3rd stop: The famous Barasoain church

The carriage that brought Marcelo del Pilar to the Casa Real
during the revolution

Religious busts at the church lawn

Inside the Barasoain Church. Yes, it's my first time to visit.
I made a wish!

The old pulpit

Ang mga makulay na abito ng mga prayle nung unang panahon

Part of what used to be The Blessed Sacrament

More church artifacts

Moi in front of the Barasoain Church

An old house on the way to Casa Real

4th stop: Casa Real Museum - imagine they tried to build a gas station here!
What a shame! Sinong government official ng Bulacan
ang may pakana nito nung 1980s?

The tour group listening intently on the introductions made about Casa Real.

My new idols - ang dalawampung kababaihan ng Malolos.
One of Rizal's letters was dedicated to them. These women fought
for women's education during their time.

Vintage sewing machine

The printing machine used by our heroes to print out
revolutionary flyers and pamphlets. We owe the freedom of speech to them -
to think that we just blog about practically anything these days.

Old kitchenware

Puni-making in Malolos - a forgotten handicraft being revived

The finished product - a puni bouquet

5th stop: The Marcelo H. del Pilar shrine

An ancient typewriter

One of the certificates during the revolution - they managed to keep it.
Galing!

6th stop: The shrine of Gregorio "Goyo" del Pilar.
He's one of my favorite heroes - cute, too!

7th stop: The shrine of Francisco Balazar aka "Balagtas"

They don't write this way anymore, oh no.
Rumor has it that Balagtas had several girlfriends.
With writings like this - no wonder! Magaling magsulat ng loveletter si Lolo!

Second to the last stop before Eurobake merienda: Garden City
I won a topiary plant during the raffle. Weeee!

Flowers at Garden City

If you want to get the same tour - visit Adventours Exchange.
or call Inscribe Tours - 840 5912 / 8370 575