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Delft II aka Jan discovers herring

2010-10-27T11:17:00.001+08:00

It took a while before I was able to get back to Delft. There was so much to explore in the Schengen countries that a 20 minute trip to Delft always took a back seat. However, when Jan was finally able to come to the Netherlands after much struggle with getting a visa, we were finally able to go back to Delft.

We did most of the things I did the last time, except get up at Nieuwe Kerk (I wonder why?) and paddle boat. I definitely had to bring Jan to the Oude Kerk where Vermeer was buried. He was, after all, a fine arts graduate.

The leaning tower of the Oude Kerk.

Enlightenment.

In the Nieuwe Kerk, we just pretty much fooled around with the camera, enjoying the beautiful lighting inside.

Turning back against the light?

You can say that pretty much the highlight of this particular trip to Delft was Jan having his first (and most likely last) taste of the infamous raw herring. They say that this was the Dutch version of sashimi. Uh, not quite. I still prefer sashimi but would not shirk from the slimy experience of herring though.

Anyway, I forced Jan into having his try when we passed by the open market. I told him I will share the herring if he feels so iffy about it but he had to eat it just for the full authentic Dutch cuisine experience. Being the sport that he was, Jan agreed. We bought our fresh herring sprinkled with onions and salt. Jan stared at the thing for a while and took a deep breath before plunging the slimy thing into his mouth.

No. He did not like it.

I am, however, quite proud. :)

Inside another Delft church.

The taste of the herring refused to leave his mouth, so Jan and I finally ate our lunch to remove its taste. Being cheapskates, we prepared sandwiches from home to eat during the trip.

Jan seems to be enjoying his sandwich. If memory serves me right, it would be smoked salmon with cheese and lettuce. Fish for the win!

We passed by the part of the town where they sold flowers. Since the day was about to close, the stall owner was selling sun flowers for five euros for a two bunches. I asked Jan to buy some for me, and he did, and it made my day.

The memories of Delft became doubly pleasurable having had the chance to share it with my crazy Pinoy Mafia family and my bestest friend Jan. Remembering Delft would always bring with it the charm of old Europe and the cheer of quiet adventure and the pleasure of friendship.

delft: old netherlands charm

2010-10-25T13:51:00.006+08:00

Delft is one of my favorite towns of the Netherlands. I imagine it to be what Netherlands was like 100 to 200 years back. It think it small and quaint and neighborly compared to the Hague. The two times I went there, I always have this light, airy feeling in me. I could not help but love it, even if it is just the town center that I always visit.

It is known for its pottery, inspired by Chinese ceramics. With Holland's intricate canal system, may trade ships would often pass by the country and thus leaving a lot of different world traditions in its doorstep.

My first trip to Delft was with the Pinoy mafia with an almost complete attendance. It was a lazy Thursday afternoon, with every one having some free time on their hands. And oh, we had a free tram ride ticket from the ISS too! We figured, if we were to use our tram tickets, might as well use it for the farthest it can go which was Delft.

So our little sojourn to Delft began!

We we went down near the technical university and right where the open market stalls were. It looked much nicer and merrier than The Hague's own open market. We could not help but be lured by the beautiful colors of fruit and flowers, clothes and chocolates. With our 30 minute market time, there were people with boots, bread and chocolates.

Those strawberries may be small, but they are sweet and succulent. Yum!

Go wild with chocolates! The dark chocolate and the coffee chocolate just bring melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Who cares if they convert to almost Php200.

Just to let people know what Delft is about, an indescribable monument covered with pieced together Delftware ceramics.

Our purpose for this trip was to see Oude Delft or Old Delft. While Ikea was probably a few stops away, we were still new, was in occasional state of giggly disbelief that home was halfway across the globe and wanted to absorb as much of Europe's charm as we can, so our stop had to be old part of town.

The Nieuwe Kerk or New Church was where the House of Oranje-Nassau was buried after the Spaniards captured the original Royal burial grounds in Breda. Prince Wilhelm and Queen Wilhelmina, along with other Dutch royalty, were buried in its hallowed grounds.

More interesting for us was the 356 steps we had to climb up to have a spectacular view of the city. All of us actually paid three euros to suffer loss of breath and tired legs to go up. Despite that, of course we had to pose for photos and pretend it was a breeze!

With our resident athlete, Risa, going up seemed no bother at all. She was as beautiful as ever.

I would say the three euros were very much worth it after experiencing the magnificent view from above.

After we got down, we just had to take a breather and prayed we did not leave anything valuable in the tower because we're not sure if we would go through all the trouble for it. :P

We also went to the Oude Kerk where the reknowned painter of the "Girl with the Pearl Earring," Johannes Vermeer was buried. Delft was his hometown, and like most famous painters, his genius was hardly recognized by his fellows when he was still alive. ("The girl with the pearl earring" can be found in Mauritshuis in the Hague. His other works can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.)

Farther down town, we found a section where they sold many kinds of flowers. It was just splendid to see all those potted plants in different hues of the rainbow scattered all over the street making the place more vibrant and romantic.

We stopped for coffee at one of the Lonely Planet's guidebook to Netherlands recommendations, Kleywegs' Stads Koffyhuis. It was known for its pannenkoeken or pancakes and its famous Delft Leaning Cup coffee. The drink contained coffee, chocolate, milk foam and cinnamon placed in a leaning cup, much like the Oude Kerk's tower. I got that one and the group shared a couple of pancakes. We wanted the full Kleyweg's experience for less the cost. :P

It was after five when we finished our coffee break. We saw a boat tour and wanted to try paddling through the canal. Rino and Chris successfully talked the person in charge to give us a discount. Since the paddle boat has to be returned by six pm (which was less than an hour's rent), he gave us a few euros discount to use it.

So we paddled nicely along the canals and through the tunnels. It was definitely not easy and getting the paddle boats back before 6 pm was a challenge but we made it!

It was several months before I got back to Delft, but it was as pleasant because I shared the wonderful Delft experience with the hubby that time. :)

All in all, I would find pleasure in going back to Delft again. Maybe to visit Ikea this time and finally get to experience their Swedish meatballs and cheesecake again. But immersing myself in Old Europe through Delft was such a wonderful experience, there is nothing I can say about Delft but magical. :)

john lennon to a music dud

2010-10-09T19:18:00.006+08:00

I have never hid the fact that I am a music dud. When it comes to music, I know little nor do I really feel compelled to know more that what comes to me. That's why I am glad to have a husband and friends who have quite a wellspring of music knowledge and appreciation because I learn a lot from them.

But John Lennon were just too big not to be detected by the limited scope of my radar. Like all things related to music, I know little about him. Other than being part of the Beatles, I knew that he was with Yoko Ono and that he was murdered by a fan. But I think the best part about John Lennon was his song Imagine.

Imagine is for any one who wanted war to end, who wanted peace to happen, who wanted people to work together. Sure, it's cliche. But the song just captures the feelings of one hoping for coexistence and a better world. Knowing that song was written by John Lennon was enough for me to have the highest respect for the man.

When the Pinoy Mafia went to Prague, the John Lennon wall was definitely in our itinerary. I did not get to do it with the gang because I spent time with Caryl, my sister-in-law. I thought I will not have the chance to visit the wall any more. Risa, however, was so kind as to join me when I decided to visit the wall on my own (thanks, Risa!).

Can't disagree with the message up there!

And of course, there has to be a line from a Beatle song. This is not the only one, I tell you.

The entire wall was filled with messages from different parts of the globe. There was supposed to be a mural of John Lennon but the numerous tourists and (welcome) vandalism has covered it up throughout the years. But the Imagine superimposed on the peace sign seemed to have survived. I felt chills just leaning on it, like I was connected with the others before me and the others after me who will visit that small space of democracy and expression.

Of course, I had to write on the wall, too. Good thing Risa brought a pen!

Risa and I have left our mark! That little peace sign over my name and "Pinas" below. Risa wrote "love justice." I think we would be both hippies if we were teenagers in the 60's. :P

Happy birthday, John Lennon. Thank you for your beautiful message of love and coexistence. I dare to think the world was a better place because you were in it.

Cheap travel: Tip # 1

2010-08-23T19:31:00.006+08:00

The Pinoy Mafia traveled a lot when we were studying in Netherlands. We made sure we could cover as much of Europe as our Schengen visa and allowance would allow. To stretch our budget, we had to get creative with our resources.

So how do we travel cheap?

First tip: BRING FOOD.

Of course, part of traveling experience is to relish the food of the place you are visiting. A country's food carries with it history, culture and society. Thus, to truly visit a place is to eat its food. However restaurant meals are usually expensive. For those of us with limited budget, it was not advisable to buy in restaurants nor even in kiosks every meal time.

So yes, we brought tupperwares of food whenever we travel. And not just any food, but FOOD. Of course, we had the usual cookies, biscuits and chips. But we also brought rice, adobo flakes, pasta! Imagine how funny we looked whenever we go through the airport inspection. We often laugh at our frugality, but we could not care less either. A traveler's got to do what a traveler's got to do!

Our first group trip in Prague, we spent the night before cooking rice and flaking our adobo. The food lasted us around three meals. As we walked around Praha, we stretched our energies with JB's Euroshopper biscuits. Most of us recycled our water bottles and refilled it with potable tap water. That alone saves us two euros plus we pollute the earth less too.

When M, RM and I went to Groeningen using our Kruidvat train tickets (another cheap travel tip!), M packed fusili pasta which we shared. When we three went to Amsterdam to see the "Starry, Starry Night" exhibition, I brought an entire pack of smoked salmon and half loaf of bread which we shared. I just spent on additional coffee to warm myself from the cold spring weather.

The fusili that M brought to Groeningen

.

Enjoying our meal in the woods of Groeningen.

Having our lunch at Brugges.

And guess what lunch was? Stinky shrimp paste, dried fish and cherry tomatoes.

I am most amused and most proud with the food that we brought along when MT, M, RM and I had our Good Friday visit of Brugges. MT and M are the culprits of that wonderful meal. They brought with them tupperwares of rice, dried fish and shrimp paste. We were asked to bring the tomatoes. Of course, they also brought the complete utensils for our meal.

So there we were along Brugges' river, seated on the benches by the river eating our rice and viand while other tourists were eating their sandwiches and doner. We were laughing at how silly we looked, to be confirmed by the double take or the lingering looks of passers-by. I could imagine what they were thinking, "those people are eating a big meal in the middle of the street! how is that possible?"

Well, trust the Filipino to find a way to save money, use it for travel and still enjoy his rice meal. :P

Fat Kee: All rice!

2010-08-21T12:05:00.006+08:00

For Asia, rice is staple. A meal is hardly complete without it. You can even say that rice is probably the tie that binds Asia, not ethnicity nor culture.

So when you are in a continent where rice is just for certain occasions, a satisfactory meal is often made in your own kitchen. But of course, there are days when you just want to have a good meal prepared by someone else for you. So what would be a place with rice, cheap and easy enough to find? Why a Chinese restaurant, of course!

For the Pinoy mafia in the Hague, there is no other Chinese restaurant but FAT KEE! Sure, we tried a couple of other Chinese restos at times (forced by the fact that Fat Kee was full), but it could not compare to the satisfaction of a Fat Kee meal. Ah... my mouth is watering at the mere thought of it.

Mixed vegetables with cuttlefish. Our compromise meal with B, who did not eat meat.

Fat Kee was the mafia's go-to dining place. We went there when exams finished or when essays were submitted or when we had a guest or when we were just hungry and were too lazy to cook. It came to a point when we were there every couple of weeks, whether complete or partial attendance.

The crowd favorite, roast suckling pig!

We ate there too often that we even know the numbers of our orders already. Now I forget everything except 133 for the roast suckling pig, which was standard fare. Knowing the numbers of our orders became essential because our Tagalog-Bisaya-English-Ilocano are pretty useless in a place that speaks Chinese and Dutch.

Our other usual orders would be roast duck, salt and pepper chicken, steamed fish and mixed vegetables with cuttlefish. I'm sure there are several others we would try, but those listed are just too yummy to forget. Of course, we cap the msg/salt-laden meal with Coca-Cola.

The Pinoy mafia's last meal together for 2008 before every one parted for their Christmas vacation. No food was wasted in this photo shoot.

It was like ritual that after bombarding the waiter/waitress with our order and the food would arrive, one would exclaim... "ang dami naman!" "It's too much!" Yet every time, the plates would be clean of food, maybe a bit of sauce or stray vegetable left behind, but generally wiped out. We may be little people (well except for C and B) but our stomachs are as big as our hearts. :P

We would leave Fat Kee with stomachs happily satisfied by a pleasant meal but what truly spices the food up would be the stories, the laughter and even the bickering that occur on the table. While most other people would quietly enjoy their meal, our big round table would be filled with boisterous laughter, loud voices and crazy banter.

Ah, dear Fat Kee... you always do rice to the occasion. :)

photos c/o Maricar

Vredespalais: The Seat of International Law

2010-08-18T18:07:00.008+08:00

The Vredespalais or "The Peace Palace" is arguably the most recognizable structure in The Hague. It is home to the International Court of Justice, The Permanent Court of Arbitration and The Hague Academy of International Law (taken from Wikipedia).

The Peace Palace in full view

Just a stone's throw away from the ISS, the Peace Palace was more recognizable and far more impressive the Queen's Residence down at Noordeinde. Probably owing to the fact that it stood by itself, with its own wide expanse of garden, something that was uncommon in the central area of Den Haag.

Most of the buildings in the city stood beside each other, thin and lanky like its Dutch Citizens. I read from "the Undutchables" that this trait of Dutch buildings had much to do with their known frugality. Buildings were taxed according to the land area it stood, thus the Dutch built their homes upward instead of sideways. Therefore, buildings like the Vredespalais was quite rare. This quality literally made it stand out.

It is also my favorite building in the Hague, probably owing to the fact that my room, Dorus 166, has a beautiful view of it.

True to its name, the sight of the Palace like this made me feel a little more at ease at peace especially during rare stretches of studying and constant frenzy of cramming writing a well-researched essay in four days.

When my husband was able to visit me in The Netherlands, we would just sit on the rooftop staring at the building, feeling tranquil and serene. He would smoke a rare cigarette relishing the cool air we never experience here in the Philippines. I sat beside him holding his free hand wishing moments like those would last a bit longer or occur more often.

* * * * *

Every third week of September, on the 21st if I am not mistaken, would be the Day of Peace. This would be the day when the Peace Palace would open a part of the building for public viewing. Other institutions such as the Yugoslav Court and the World Forum would do the same. Of course, I took advantage and signed up. We had a French guy discuss what was going on inside the courts. Interesting stuff! Except I do not remember much of what he said. I did like seeing the Court Justice togas. :P

Beautiful and colorful flowers would bloom in the pocket garden outside the Peace Palace. During March and April, it would be the famous Dutch tulips that would greet tourists who come for a tour of the Palace. The outside of it, that is.

Detail of the Peace Palace gates

It was quite fortunate that friends, L and G, worked in the Palace. They were kind enough to give me a tour of its inner sanctum. I had the chance to see the Jesus Christ statue which was a gift from Brazil (I think) and the polar bear fountain that was a gift from Denmark. I also saw the seats of the countries stitched with their symbols (we don't have a seat). I also had the chance to have lunch in their canteen which served a delicious enough food.

The library was awesome. Nothing much I could have used because most of its contents were law books. It was a good place to study with each table having its own lamp and the entire place was wi-fi. The lay-out was conducive for studying. Unknown to many, it was open to the public. I did try to get in there but discovered that access to the library required a passport and not just a school ID. Bummer right there since I left my passport at the dorm the day I tried.

* * * * *

Memories of the Hague will definitely mean remembering the Peace Palace with it. For some it may mean bigger things like keeping peace in other countries or it may mean justice for the wronged or it may symbolize international balance.

For me, it was simply a respite from a crazy day of school. It gave me moments when I would stare and wonder, "Which room does Dumbledore stay in?" or "Where is the Fat Lady's painting placed?"

The silhouette of the Palace during dusk would be a beautiful picture for me. It allowed me my little magical fantasies. More importantly, it was the reminder that I was far away from home living a childhood dream.

A slice of ISS life: Prins aka Aula C

2010-05-12T23:08:00.005+08:00

Aula B is quite known for being the first gathering place of most new ISS students especially for their orientation. Aula B + Aula A = dread. Because it means the student has exams, and ISS exams has always been nerve-wracking.

After having been oriented or disoriented, the student's instinct will be to move on to Aula C, or known to the general public and non-ISS person as the Prins Bar.

My first trip to the Prins after the CYS Welcome. Alem from DS joins fellow CYSers Mel and John.

It is not unusual to find ISS students hanging out at the Prins. Just a stone's throw away from the building and the biggest dorm, going home pissed drunk from Jupiler (or orange juice for my case) is not to difficult for most. A student can just crawl the pedestrian lane while leaving a trail of puke and get to Dorus in less than 20 minutes. If sober enough, five.

Prins Bar has witnessed many birthdays, despedidas and spontaneous get-togethers among ISS students. It bid its first good-bye to Katsuya, with the second floor almost packed to the brim bidding our favorite Japanse boy good-bye. And what a celebration, with four goals achieved the day before his flight.

It has seen ISS women talk Vagina dialogues (the monologues were done in Aula B) with Astha getting a free us girls a free drink from a smitten waiter. The band may have had their best night of audience participation then.

I remember pushing my knee to the limits dancing to Michael Jackson hits with my dear Ethiopian boys Eyob and Zola. But the sight to behold that night was the showdown between Cesarito and Zola. Latin America vs. Africa in dancing. You just don't know who to bet on!

With the Rebel Girls, rebelling against the terrible music playing Graduation Night. Give us our hip-hop, MJ hits and 90's R&B and we give you a show. (photos c/o Vina)

It is often that Prins would have to turn the lights on to shoo away ISS students who refuse to admit the reality that school work are waiting on their desks and that Moodle is waiting for a submission. 2AM is still too early in the night (not the morning) that people find another bar to hang out.

Prins has witnessed friendships blossom over bottles of beer and plates of fries. It has witnessed separations of which no one knows when the reunion will happen. We said "hi" to Prins as strangers and students. Prins bid us goodbye as friends and Masters.

Prins is the true place for "Drink and be merry, for tomorrow we Moodle."

freedom on two wheels

2010-05-11T22:54:00.003+08:00

i've not really had the patience to write a decent travel entry for the past few weeks. i can blame work, but i must say it's all those crazy games in FB that stop me from being creatively productive. i figured, no one reads this blog anyway, why bother.

ah, but thanks to dusty sneakers for asking me for a travel story or two. i am momentarily inspired to take a few moments away from virtual farms, mafias, cafes, restaurants and resorts. i am encouraged to look back and remember wonderful memories of things that i actually experienced.

i couldn't bring myself to write about a place right now. but i do find myself often times, when stuck in traffic or waiting in line, missing Netherlands. particularly, the freedom and mobility of being on a bike. bikes which are every Dutchman's best friend.

i remember the many miles Barney (that purple bike up there) and i traveled while i was in den haag. the countless times we've gone to the schevinengen to enjoy the salty air of the beach and the feel of sand in between my toes (on summer days).

i remember barney and i finding our way by the lake near the shell station at the world forum tramstop. with that beautiful tree adding charm to the already amazing landscape. and after taking in the view and being amused by families sharing moments, we proceed to the westbroek park. there i watch people do different things. from playing soccer or frisbee to riding little boats to just laying down on the grass, enjoying a rare taste of sunshine.

barney has allowed me to feel liberty and freedom. of not being confined inside a car just to get from one place to another. his purple rusty glory has allowed me to experience den haag better. and i have netherlands to thank for that. because them Dutch people love their bikes and they love their freedom.

ah yes, fresh air, two wheels and a sense of adventure. you can go a long way with that. :)

Netherlands: A quick pass at Noordeinde

2010-03-27T12:11:00.006+08:00

I don't remember what I felt the first morning I woke up in Den Haag. I must have been grumbling because I had to wake up 8.30 AM so we can catch the 9.30 tram for church. I do remember eating the almond biscuit from the ISS welcome package. I silently thanked them for being thoughtful because I wouldn't know where to get breakfast on my first morning.

After church and a quick purchase at C1000, Kaira took the group to Centrum where the shops we have to know about are located. To get to the Centrum, we had to pass through Noordeinde, which means North End. Every Dutch city must have Noordeinde street. Anyway, the street is reputed to be the most expensive in Netherlands.

Empty! And does not impress me as expensive but what do I know?

There were still a few people after lunch. Dutch people tend to take their Sunday mornings easy and many shops open after church. Quite different from the busy Manila that I am used to.

We saw this armor by one of the shops and of course, being first timers in a European country, we just had to take a picture! I imagined old Europe with their royalty and knights, though these were imagery I would associate with UK and not Netherlands. Maybe it was not supposed to represent Dutch culture anyways, but it was my first few signs that I was indeed walking the streets of Europe.

We passed by the Queen's palace which surprised me with its simplicity. The White House and 10 Downing Street have always struck me as grand and elaborate. This was our first sign of how practical the Dutch were. I actually was impressed with its simple facade. I thought, was this the reason why Noordeinde was considered the most expensive street in Holland? It could be the Scapa store across or the antique stores along the road. I still don't know.
Across was a statue whom I assumed was one of the Kings or Princes of Orange. I am embarrassed to discover that after 15 months, I fail to verify who he was. But I do like looking at it everytime I walked Noordeinde.

A carriage passed by and I was thrilled to see the drivers in top hats and waist coats! I assume the other one would be the footman/doorman. I was quite amazed by the size of their horses! They looked so healthy and well-fed compared to the puny and thin Philippine horses we have. That carriage seemed to weigh nothing them. I was a bit surprised though that these horses can just drop their "bombs" on the street, which can sometimes be a problem at night. And "it" can be as BIG as they are. Euw.

More horses! This time with the polite (poh-lee-teh) or police. I love it. No carbon emissions (probably methane ones if the horse had a bad meal. :P). They also go on bike sometimes. They do drive cars but smaller alleys, they cover with horses.

These images reminded me that I was in a place entirely different from my own. A place which fascinated and thrilled me to no end. This street became my comfort zone for 15 months, having walked solo or with friends to and from the ISS and the dorm to wherever. :)

Netherlands: First night in Den Haag

2010-03-15T21:58:00.004+08:00

24 August 2008

We arrived at the Den Haag Centraal Station with the other Pinoys waiting for us. Even with each of us new arrivals carrying around 30 kilos of our lives in 3-4 bags, Myk made us take the bus so we can save our transportation allowance.

The bus stop was quite organized compared to the "stop wherever, whenever" bus stop system in the Philippines. We were to wait for Bus 24 or 22. The wait wasn't that long but we might have made the bus driver a bit impatient, with seven people trying to lift an entire year's worth of luggage onto the vehicle. Myk bought one stripeenkart (transportation card) for all of us to use.

I don't remember much during the ride but I do vaguely remember the crazy unloading rush of our bags to the bus. We had to walk a bit to get to the ISS. I was getting excited to see what my school for 15 months would look like. Would it be like the UK universities of sprawling fields? Would it be a modern building of glass and steel? These were my thoughts as I lugged around my bags, hands in pain from the weight but heart excited with the prospect of a new adventure.

Then Myk pointed us to the ISS. Uh. It was a building. A small one. No campus grounds but there were benches by the canal. Uh. Yey?

We got our keys from the guard. I was praying for one near the school and I got it! There were three of us in Dorus Rijkersplein, two were in Oude Molenstraat which was the way to the Centrum and the other two were thrown far away to Gondelstraat, but strategically located near the beach.

Before we proceeded to our rooms, the old Pinoy batch greeted us with Filipino home cooked meal at the headquarters in Dorus 110. We introduced ourselves and so did they. We thought Chris was an old batch, only to discover that he just arrived the day before.

After dinner, we were brought to our rooms. I was at Dorus 166 on the fifth floor. I love it! How can I not with my beautiful view of the Peace Palace?

In our rooms, there was a lunch bag and card to welcome us to the school and the dorm.

Spot, my zebra, took a peek at the loot inside the lunch bag. It was to be my breakfast the next day.

Spot did an inspection of the closet. Nice and empty. But it won't stay that way for long.

And my zebra beat me to the bed.

Strangely, despite the 14 hours flight and lack of sleep before departure, I was not that tired. But I did welcome the chance to lie down and stretch. I thought to myself, this was going to be my home for the year.

I knew it was going to be exciting.

Avenue Q at RCBC Theater: March 13-27, 2010

2010-03-14T00:52:00.003+08:00

I saw the Philippine run of Avenue Q this afternoon at the RCBC Theater and it was awesome!

To be honest, I did not know much about Avenue Q except that it was famous for the song, "The Internet is For...", that it was a cross between Sesame Street and Rent (which got me curious) and that it was a big hit on Broadway.

When I heard it was going to have another run, I wanted to watch. Unfortunately, there were financial constraints. But God was good and blessed me with Pia and an extra ticket. So we watched this afternoon.

First song and I was already feeling good and enjoying myself. More so when the cast starts singing "It sucks to be me" (which is still playing in my head as I write this). It was just one great song after another. What's more, the actors were amazing! Aiza Seguerra was just perfect as Gary Coleman! She got his inflections down pat. What made it funnier was the fact that both were child stars who at some point lost popularity. Except Aiza bounced back. :P

Rachel Alejandro played Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut. Felix Rivera played Princeton and Rod. Joel Trinidad played just about everybody. Haha! He played Trekkie the Monster (I don't think it's easy to sing like a monster), Nicky and Bad Idea Bear. They were great at transitioning different characters without getting confused. Sometimes in one scene, they would play the two puppets. Ang galeng! Even Thea Tadiar did a great job playing the other puppets. Calvin Millado and Frenchie Dy round up the cast as Bryan and Christmas Eve.

Basta! It was just so fun watching them. Avenue Q is a great musical which reflects what people of in their quarter (and post-quarter) life crises are going through. When Bryan was singing it sucked to be him because he was turning 33 and unemployed, I felt a bit of ouch there. Haha!

If you like hiding angst in song, watch Avenue Q! You can email avenueqmanila2010@yahoo.com or contact them at 09398648143 and 09325642810 for tickets. You may also check their facebook page or buy tickets on ticketworld.

Netherlands: First Impressions (August 2008)

2010-03-11T10:32:00.002+08:00

I was pretty excited when I discovered that I got the scholarship for Netherlands. The kind of "jumping-up-and-down-shouting-like-crazy" kind of excited. Who wouldn't be doing the dance of joy when your dream of seeing Europe is near-reality!

When the time came to leave, I was sad to leave my just-married life behind but I was also excited to embark on this new adventure of education (hyeah right) and travel (oh yeah!). While on the plane, I barely slept. I'm not sure if it's because it was constantly daylight throughout the fourteen hour trip. I kept looking out the window to check the terrain. I kept looking at the screen map to see how far we have gone. I got really excited when we were over Russia. Vodkaland!

I utilized the in-flight entertainment of KLM quite well. I probably watched five movies and played some games. Rino and I feasted on the snacks and juice at the pantry while we stretched our legs and our stomachs at the plane's rear section.

When the flight attendant announced that we were about to land in Amsterdam, I got REALLY excited. I think anyone would be after being crammed to a seat for half a day!

We got off the plane and proceeded to the baggage claim. I prepared the sticker they usually give you for claim thinking that the guards will be asking for it, being used to the strict Philippine airport procedures. Lo! No guards waiting outside. I keep my sticker. I am free to go with my luggage without suspicion! I like this country already.

Some of the gang with our giant luggages. We tried to cram our new life in 25 kilo baggages.

Myk received us at the Schipol meeting point. The e-mail said the meeting point was red and white box outside the arrival area. I imagined a box the size of a balikbayan box so I actually missed this giant red and white cube staring at our face when we were looking for Myk. Thankfully one of us knew Myk and saw him.

I was at awe when we were buying train tickets. Myk used his debit card to purchase tickets for all of us. This was something new to me and I was amazed at how "high-tech" Netherlands is compared to the Philippines. Though it is no surprise, it's still cool to actually see the difference.

I was excited! It was going to be the first time I will be riding a train. Well, I've ridden the MRT but I really don't consider it a real train. And this train will be traveling cities. It was so cool! Well, being left behind was not too cool though. There were too many people trying to cram themselves in the train and we had too many bags we wanted to bring on board that it was not enough time for all eight of us to board.

When we finally got to board the train to Den Haag, it was then that that I realized the time. It was almost seven in the evening yet the sun looked like it was still three or four in the afternoon. So this was the long summer evenings I've always heard about.

What disconcerted me was when I looked out of the window, saw the highway and hardly saw any car on the road. I wondered whether people actually live in Netherlands. Why where there no cars in the parking lots? Why are there only a few people riding the trains? Why are people not outside in that beautiful sun? It was so surreal! It was something I will discover more about in the duration of my stay in Netherlands.

Look at that. Wide expanse of green. Boats on the canal. No people! Is this what First World is like?

It was then that I looked at my companions and I was glad to know that I have other Filipinos with me because I know studying in Netherlands will be an exciting roller coaster ride that needs to be shared and talked about. :)

LP 96: Likas (Human Nature)

2010-03-10T23:18:00.004+08:00

Nakakatuwa talaga ang mga bata. Sadyang may likas na pagkamangha sa mundo ang kanilang mga mata. Tulad nitong Higa-onon na bata sa larawan. Bumisita ako sa kanilang pamayanan para kamustahin ang paaralan na sinusuportahan ng aming organisasyon. Kinunan ko siya ng larawan. Marahil, unang pagkakataon niyang makakita ng DSLR, kaya manghang-mangha ang hitsura niya sa larawan. Isa ito sa mga pinakapaborito kong larawan. :)

Children are really amusing. Their eyes have a natural wonder with the world. Like this Higa-onon child in the picture. I visited their community to see how the school we are supporting is doing. I took a picture of her. It might be her first time to see a DSLR that is why her pictures looks in awe. This is one of my favorite pictures. :)

1st Pyromusical Olympics at the Mall of Asia

2010-03-09T19:37:00.009+08:00

In 2006, my friends and I went to the MOA PyroOlympics to witness eight countries compete against each other for the best fireworks display. Entrance was for P100 for General Admission and P500 for VIP. It was an awesome treat seeing so many beautiful fireworks in one night. The attendance was so successful that getting out of MOA took more than an hour with the terrible traffic going home!

SM Mall of Asia may have learned their lesson not just on the logistics but for profit as well. Instead of having all the fireworks show in one night, they decided to show it for four consecutive Sundays starting February 14. They also set-up more sections this year for different price ranges. They added "musical" instead of just PyroOlympics so it can be called "first," when in fact they have been doing it for several years already.

General Admission - P100

Silver - P150

Gold - P300

Patron - P500

VIP (with dinner) - P1,500

For those who want to be more practical, there is a Close-Up toothpaste promo that can be availed. 5 50ml boxes, 3 100ml boxes or 2 150ml boxes can be exchanged for a ticket. I'm not quite sure whether it would be a Gold, Silver or general admission ticket. We would have availed of that though because we were running out of toothpaste but we did not have time to pass by the grocery anymore.

We proceeded to get our tickets. There was a promo for the silver section of Buy 2 Take 1 while the gold section had a promo of Buy 1 Take 1. The silver promo was perfect since there were three of us cheapskates wanting to see the show.

Afterwards, we made our way to the viewing area. We thought we missed the first fireworks display because the promotions said the exhibition will be at 7 and 8PM. It was 7:05 when we got to the silver section. Apparently, they were late. The first show began at 8PM. It was Malaysia and Singapore for that night.

It's really terrible to have such an opportunity to take fireworks photos but I did not have a tripod. I was just shooting blind using my head as tripod and just clicking away. I did get a few interesting shots, but not as great as it could have been if I had a tripod. So pardon the photos.

There is really something about fireworks that awe people. For each of the shows, a collective oohs and aahs from the crowd would accompany the music. Whenever there is a new kind of firework -- ooooooh! Whenever the entire sky is covered with fireworks -- aaaaaaaahh! It was nice just to be in a collective moment of young-heartedness. :P

First up was Malaysia, I think. We couldn't hear the entire music but I did catch a bit. Fireworks to Celine Dion's "It's all coming back to me now" just does not cut it. But "It's Raining Men" actually works. I didn't know which classical piece was played but it reminded me of "Fantasia" which was perfect for fireworks.

heart shaped explosions from Malaysia

Half-butterflies? Ribbons? Whatever these were, they looked pretty.

When it comes to fireworks, I am really easy to please. I enjoyed the show a lot. The fireworks were grand and beautiful and impressive. People seemed to have a lot of fun with the experience and so did we.

This coming Sunday would be the last day for the fireworks display showcasing Philippines and Australia. For those who have not yet gone and are thinking of going, do! It was the Philippines fireworks that I was most impressed with in 2006 so maybe we can repeat the feat again. :)

LP 95: Kalikasan

2010-03-04T00:36:00.006+08:00

Tag-lagas o autumn ang isa sa mga inabangan kong maranasan nuong tumira ako sa Netherlands. Maliit pa ako, pangarap ko na makakita ng punong nagsisimulang mamula ang dahon.

Autumn was one of the things I was excited to experience when I lived in the Netherlands. Even as a child, I have always dreamed to see a tree whose leaves have begun to turn red.

Kaya nung dumating ang taglagas sa Den Haag, sinadya kong maglaan ng isang araw na kumuha lang ng larawan. Nag-adventure ako nung araw na ito. Pagkatpos ng misa, pumasok ako sa isang maliit na daan na hindi nalalaman kung saan ito papunta.

So when autumn came in Den Haag, I made sure to spend one day just to take pictures. I had an adventure that day. After mass, I ented a small road without knowing where it leads.

Natuwa naman ako sa bumati sa akin. Isang park kung saan unti-unti nang naglalagas ng dahon.

I was happy to see what greeted me. A park where the trees were beginning to shed their leaves.

Mayroong kakaibang salamangka ang taglagas. Isang pagkakataon na makita ang kalikasan na dahan-dahang namamatay ng isang magandang kamatayan. Ngunit sa bawat lagas ng dahon, alam mong ilang panahon lang ay muling mamumukadkad ng matingkad na berde. Ang taglagas ay isang patunay na umiikot ang inog ng mundo.

Autumn has a different magic. It is that chance to see nature slowly dying a beautiful death. But for each leaf shed, you are certain that in time, trees will once again give birth to spring green leaves. Autum is proof that the world is turning.

Bibiana: International Art House for Children

2010-03-01T10:11:00.009+08:00

I was completely unaware of the Bibiana when we visited Bratislava. It was only seeing its pamphlet at the airport which led me to it. It says it was the International Art House for Children. Now, anything that says it is for "children" is bound to be fun. And I can also rationalize that I am after all a Children and Youth Studies major so it has research potential. Right? Right.

how can you not want to visit a place with kitties seemingly scared of mice? and such quirky artwork too!

When I found out that the Bibiana was showcasing a Slovakian artist's rendition of Peter Pan, one of my favorite children's classics, it was final that I really had to go! With my first four days already planned out, I was left with Monday and Tuesday for my visit. Unfortunately, it was closed on Monday.

I was already all by my lonesome on Tuesday. Bibiana opens at 10AM so I took it easy going there. By the time I got to the museum I was one of the first customers. Buena mano! To my wonderful surprise, tickets for adults only cost 70 cents! Tickets for children cost 35 cents. I already had good vibes about this place. I can already imagine the fun families can have in the place without seeing it. The fact that it is affordable opens its doors to more children. I love that thought.

After I got my ticket, my first stop was the room which contained illustrations by children's book artists. And there it was. Peter Pan.

I felt like such an idiot not getting the name of the artist who drew Peter Pan because it was really awesome. How can children not enjoy reading a book with artwork like this in between its covers!

I wanted to kick myself in the head for not bringing my camera. The museum actually allowed photos to be taken and it would have been great to just show people the beautiful Slovakian artists render children's illustrations. Most of the drawings were of Slovakian fairy tales. I did find artwork on the well-known children's classic Gulliver's Travels. He did a great job on the Lilliputans.

I could have stayed much longer in the room. But I saw a glimpse of the Baron Munchausen exhibition which I couldn't wait to see. Though I hardly remember the scenes of the Baron Munchausen movie, I remember enjoying the Terry Gilliam classic. The room was fantastical as I felt with the movie (I am now inspired to look for the book!). Chairs nailed to the wall. Birds hanging from the ceiling that you can play with. Black light to make every thing look more amazing that it already is. There was even a make-shift catapult which you can aim rubber balls at the soldiers painted on the wall. Fun!

You can grab those birds hanging in the hair and make them flap. And see the scorpion and seahorse painted on the wall? They light up with black light. And you can set foot on the boat. Love!

I felt like I was in a movie set. Such amazing production design! Plus it was interactive. I forgot what the driving the bike can do but from how the picture looks it seems to play the radio. The umbrella room was one of my favorites. I spent a lot of time inside. Riding the bike, looking at the constellation glimmering under the black light. I made the ducks fly too. I also stared at everything for a long time. I was so mesmerized.

It's like entering a different universe without needing to be an alien.

There were a lot more of rooms to visit in the Bibiana. One room contained wooden art. Another room was an architectural playground where children can construct buildings from wooden blocks or even the computer! There was also another room with small sofa sets where children can just hang out and read books that were placed all over the place.

No doubt Bibiana has brought so much joy to many children that have visited its halls. If you are a child, a child at heart or have a child hiding in you and you come by Bratislava, don't fail to step into the amazing universe of Bibiana. :)

*photos taken from the Bibiana website.

Where the Hell is Matt Harding?

2010-02-28T11:23:00.002+08:00

I love this video. I love the music. I love the people. I love Matt Harding. I am jealous of the extensive he has traveled to do his dance!

When I found out above my scholarship in the Netherlands, I wanted to buy myself a video camera just so I could document the Matt Harding dance in my travels. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get one in time. I had to content myself with pictures.

Oh well. There is always a way to have a mark your spot in a place you've been to, right? But I will always watch this video and relish in the thrills of travel. :)

La Bocca dela Verita

2010-02-26T12:39:00.003+08:00

I remember the La Bocca dela Verita or "The Mouth of Truth" most vividly from Robert Downey, Jr. and Marisa Tomei's movie "Only You." It was also used in the movie "Roman Holiday" which I unfortunately have not seen yet. Usually when movies are set in Rome, the La Bocca dela Verita is one of the Roman attractions frequently shown. So when I finally had a chance to visit Rome, this landmark was definitely a must-go.

The attraction is quite isolated from the other ones. It was a fifteen minute bus ride from the center which turned out longer for us because we missed our stop. The bus kept going and so we had to walk another fifteen minutes to get there.

The marble frieze was located in the portico of the Santa Maria Cosmedin Church. A person would place his hand inside its mouth. If one told a lie, then the mouth would bite the hand off.

The line to see it was already long when we got there with about thirty people ahead of us. I consider ourselves lucky when just give three minutes after arriving, a bus load of Japanse tourists arrived. Imagine how much longer we would have to wait if we were behind that line! Of course, people wanted their photos taken with their hands inside the mouth. Obviously, I was one of those people.

It was only after I had my photo taken that I realized I should have told a lie in my head (I am the most beautiful woman in the world!) to see if the mouth would have bitten my hand off. :p

LP 94: Husay

2010-02-25T01:23:00.003+08:00

May isang bahay na dinisenyo si Gaudi sa Barcelona na tinatawag na Casa Battlo. Isang bahagi ng bahay na iyon ang nasa larawan sa itaas. Sadyang nakakamangha ang husay ng pag-iisip ni Gaudi! Tubig ang inspirasyon niya sa Casa Battlo kaya hindi masyadong malinya ang pagkakagawa. Kurba-kurbada ang mga pinto at bintana, sumisimbolo sa katangian ng tubig na dumaloy.

Marami pang ginawa si Gaudi sa Barcelona, kasama na ang Parc Guell. Sinadaya kong makita ang lugar na ito dahil napanuod ko ito sa Meteor Garden at pati na rin sa America's Next Top Model. Syempre, dapat ako rin, maranasan ko ang rumampa at tumakbo sa kakaibang arches na meron ang daanan na ito!

Para sa akin ang Barcelona ay si Gaudi. Patuloy akong namamangha sa kanyang galing at kakaibang talino!

Marquee: Ayala Angeles City

2010-02-24T14:44:00.002+08:00

Ayala Malls are always an architecture wonder. Definitely way cooler than the box that SM is (though SM Baguio and SM MOA are major improvements). I always enjoy getting lost in Ayala Malls without ever needing to spend anything.

My friends living in San Fernando, Pampanga was supposed to take us to this local coffee shop but by the time we got there, they were already closed. It was just 10PM. We decided to go to the new Ayala Mall, Marquee, for our dessert instead.

The first thing I noticed was the color-changing fountain. It was way awesome! I felt like a kid again. The water 'choreography' which involved color change and water spewing timing was just so fun! If only for this fountain, I'd go to Angeles City more often.

Of course, I have to have my photo with it!

Aling Lucing's Sisig

2010-02-16T17:12:00.007+08:00

Pampanga is known for its delicious cuisine which inspired restaurants like Cabalen and Mangan, Kapampangan words for 'fellowmen' and 'eat' respectively. I lived in the province for eight years back in the 80's yet I was never able to taste Aling Lucing's sisig.

Last weekend was finally my chance. Aling Lucing's was once a small carinderia type stall along the forsaken railroad in Angeles City. The eatery has always been known for the origin of sisig, a dish made of chopped pig cheeks and ears. What was once a simple stall grew into a bigger establishment with two floors to hold the numerous customers that flock to taste original sisig.

The lines are long with people wanting their Aling Lucing's sisig. We were the lucky ones to get the last two servings. After hearing that, the people behind us decided to leave. Understandable because what's the point of eating there if not for the sisig.

The pork ears and cheeks are chopped finely then mixed with lots and lots of onion. I don't know what else they mix in. Outside the sizzling plates are placed on top of the grill. The plates are rubbed with margarine and the sisig is put there to cook.

It was a long wait for the sisig. The orders were just too many and the servers few. It took ages before the waiters were able to clear our table. Despite the service, people stay on to await the food. But it was well worth the wait. I was used to the crispy sisig of Gerry's Grill so it was a surprise that Aling Lucing's sisig was chewy. The margarine taste made the dish more delectable to the taste.

not a very good photo but it tastes better than it looks!

We also ordered chicken butts. Do not scoff this poultry body part because it is quite tasty. The sauce made it more delicious. Mmmm...

the last of the chicken butts. we were so hungry that i forgot to take a picture.

Have some Aling Lucing's sisig!!!

15th Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival

2010-02-15T19:23:00.005+08:00

The Valentine's weekend was spent in Angeles City to enjoy the 15th Hot Air Balloon Festival. It was something I have been wanting to go to for the past few years but I have been away from Manila for the past six years, it was hardly possible.

2010 is my finally my chance to enjoy the festival. A few friends and I took a road trip to Angeles City for this opportunity. Since we left Saturday afternoon there wasn't any thing to catch anymore so we decided to just hang out with friends living in Pampanga.

On Sunday, February 14, we woke up 5AM to get ready for the festival. Despite being early, it was not early enough. The traffic was already heavy by 6AM. It seems that even on the fourth day, people were still trying to catch the activities.

We could already see the inflated hot air balloons from a distance. I can't help but be excited!

There were interesting balloon-shapes including this beer balloon.

So there's my beer. Gimme!

Turtle, barn and well... regular hot air balloons.

Farmville. ;p

What made the festival more enjoyable was the commentator who provided regular annotation of the events. I've been to a few festivals which provided wonderful visual delights but I hardly have an idea what it is supposed to mean or signify. The emcee provided interesting trivia and information for the people attending.

One particular tidbit we got was why the hot air balloons were only released during early morning and late afternoon. The hot air in the balloon makes it lighter than the cool air outside it. Because of that, the warm afternoon temperature makes the air inside the balloon less light which makes it harder to fly. Thanks for that trivia, Mr. Emcee!

He also explained to the audience what stunts the light aircraft was about to do. An eight roll, a four roll and what have you. For me, it made it more fun to watch. :)

One event was light airplanes trying to water bomb a moving Pajero. Nope, none succeeded. I would suggest that they should first try aiming at it while it is stationary then when somebody hits it, that's when they start targeting it while moving. I think the audience will enjoy a good aim and will appreciate more the fact that moving targets are harder to hit. Just an idea. ;p

During the lull, families flew kites. It's more visually appealing than how my camera captures it.

Skydivers dropped from the sky. It's amazing how they are able to control their descent. At the background is Mt. Arayat.

The paragliders flew while the hot air balloons were being pumped for the night glow. I want to do that too!

We thought the hot air balloons would fly in the air but apparently they were to stay grounded. I'm not sure if it's because the wind was strong or whether it was meant to be that way. It was just beautiful when the flames fire up the balloons in contrast to the darkness of the night. At one point, the flares would fire to music. I would have wanted a long musical display, but it was enjoyable enough.

The day ended with the balloons fired up and fireworks in the distance. A nice way to end a long but enjoyable day.

thanks to risa for taking this photo. thanks R for the tripod.

Fingers crossed: Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival

2010-02-13T12:34:00.004+08:00

I've been wanting to go to the Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival for many years now. However, living in Davao since 2003 makes it heavy on the budget.

This year, since I am back living in Manila, is my year to witness the festival. Close to almost manhandling my husband, I gently persuaded him to take me there. A couple of friends are going with us and we will be taking a car. Road trips are always fun, so this is bound to be one joy ride!

The schedule of activities can be found here.

Here's hoping the next post is about the festival itself. ;p

Davao Crocodile Park

2010-02-13T00:37:00.004+08:00

While Davao City is known as the fruit basket of the Philippines as well as the home of the Philippine Eagle Center, it also boasts of its own crocodile park like Palawan.

Davao Crocodile Park is around 15 minutes from the NCCC Mall via private transportation. It's quite hard getting there commuting, so I suggest taking the taxi which is not that expensive. However, the hard part would be going home because it's quite a long walk from the entrance. Most tourists choose to hire a taxi for the day when visiting the Crocodile Park.

One expects to see crocodiles in a croc park of course.

The picture does not do justice to the number of crocodiles the park has. There are A LOT! In all sizes and shapes. They all look nasty with their sharp teeth sticking out making sure you realize they are not to be messed with.

Crocodiles are not the only creatures you can see in the park though. There are a lot of bird varieties like colorful parrots and white cockatoos as well as that majetic sea eagle below.

I did get to a chance to hold a crocodile. A baby one. Which is a bit of cheating especially with the taped mouth. I felt bad for the little croc being passed around from one person to the other and not being able to snap at anyone it dislikes. I still wanted my photo taken with it despite the ill feeling.

Below is a bayawak or monitor lizard, which as far as I know, is an endangered species. This may be due to many poachers who hunt for its meat. I have not tasted it but I heard it tastes like... chicken. It's allegedly good. But it's illegal now thankfully.

The highlight of that particular trip was having the chance to actually hold a real, live tiger.
The Davao Crocodile Park has a pair of tigers. I'm holding the male. His caretaker came with me to make sure that I make it out of my photo-op alive. The female tiger seemed to be in a bad mood as she was prowling as large cats usually do when agitated. It does not seem to like company. If I were a tiger, I wouldn't be happy either, with people ooooh-ing at me as I'm stuck in a cage.

When in Davao, the Crocodile Park is a must-visit. Depending on the day of the week and times of the day, there are crocodile feedings. In the same compound, you can also visit the Butterfly Park and the River Walk Grill. For those who are into extreme sports, it is where the Davao White Water Rafting office is.

the journey begins...

2010-02-13T00:09:00.002+08:00

ever since i was young, i longed to see as much of the world as i can. thus my entire life has been devoted to achieving as much miles as i can.

it's ridiculous how far i'd go just to get somewhere. smelly carabaos. scrawny horses. exotic camels. rickety boats. small planes. big ships. commercial airlines. top load on a jeep.

yes, i'll do anything in my power just to boldly go where i've never gone before.

come and join me!