BEAUTIFUL ORCHIDS AT FLORA FILIPINA EXPO

I used to culture orchids when I was younger,
Unfortunately, my orchids didn't last long...
Maybe because I don't have what they say the green thumb...
Or maybe because I didn't place them in the right environment...
Or most probably, because, I was just so lazy to take care of them.
Don't hate me.
Believe me, I really love them floras and faunas.
It's just that I lose the time and enthusiasm in nurturing them.
But when I learned that the Philippine Orchid Society have their expo at Quezon Memorial Circle,
I didn't think twice.
Ives and I went there despite of the rain.
It was still raining when we got there, but that didn't stop us.
There are different categories in the expo.
The landscape, cacti, bonsai, and orchid categories.
I'll be posting all of the categories.
For now, I'll be posting the orchid category...
And this time, my orchids will definitely last FOREVER...

I think the rain drops added beauty to these golden yellow orchids!

I think this is a white Cattleya

these white orchids are the most common of all orchids... 

so pretty lavender and purple orchids! I think they are called "moth orchids"

oh how I wish I could grow something so beautiful as this!

I used to have these green dendrobiums

lovely yellow dendrobiums

this was mama's favorite, she calls this "the dancing lady"

ooops! this is not an orchid! haha! 

white orchids, or the white dendrobiums, i used to have lots of these!

purple vanda sandereana or  waling-waling

orange vanda sandereana or more commonly called waling-waling

purple orchid

I think these are also dendrobiums

I just can't help but fall in love with this Cattleya

my last shot for my mama's favorite

Pardon my lack of knowledge on their names... all that matters to me is that I was able to capture their beauty... and preserve them through my photographs.

For more information regarding future expos and activities of the Philippine Orchid Society, you can check out their website at http://www.philippineorchidsocietyph.org

ZEN HOME IN BAGUIO

There is no stopping, summer is definitely here!
Some prefer to go to the beach.
Of course, there is no denying that all of us enjoy the beach.
I myself love its beautiful sunset,
Breakfast by the beach front,
Cool sea breeze during the night,
And the exhilarating activities!

Another summer destination that I can recommend is of course the summer capital of the Philippines!

Baguio City that is!

Some choose to stay on travelers' inns...
Some prefer those cute Bed and Breakfast lodgings...
But for me, I used to prefer staying in hotels, most especially the ones just within the town proper.

But now, just recently, Ives and I were invited to stay in this beautiful transient home in Baguio.
This I think is the BEST Baguio accommodation for me!

It is a Zen-styled fully furnished home, with four beautiful bedrooms, 2 t&b with hot and cold water, spacious living room, well equipped dinning and kitchen area with drinking water.
This is located just five or so minute drive away from SM Baguio.
Inside an exclusive subdivision, so you wouldn't worry about your safety, nor the noisy sound of vehicles. You'd definitely have a good night's sleep while regaining your strength for another day's fun-filled activities that only Baguio City can offer!

For more info, you can check out their website: http://thesunfabhouse.com/

Beautiful facade

Our bedroom. This is just one of the four relaxing bedrooms.

the spacious living room

Zen dinning room

A well-equipped dinning/kitchen/breakfast nook

One of the two t&b

After an eventful Baguio tour! Night cap with the hubby

with their kindly care taker, Manang Rose

Everything Zen

Transient home's view from the owner's main house

CUTE LITTLE COUNTRY-STYLE RESTAURANT

There are many benefits of walking in the park...

Good cardio exercise...

Fresh air for a healthier lungs...

And sweet bonding moments with your hunny!

These are all the things that I enjoyed when Ives and I went to Quezon Memorial Circle. 

But the best benefit I get from walking is the discovery of this dainty restaurant en route our planned destination!

Sunglass Cafe is a cute little country styled restaurant that serves hearty breakfast with unlimited serving of black organic rice, choices of lavazza or starbucks coffee, refreshing juices, cakes, sandwiches and pastas! 

Ives and I decided to try their all-day breakfast.

I chose their pork longganiza meal. It comes with black rice, egg, and coffee or juice.

While Ives decided on his all-time favorite breakfast, pork tapa meal.

The food was great! The unlimited black rice was a big plus to the greatness!

The price was so reasonable! 

The servers were friendly.

The place was really cozy. (too bad I wasn't able to take many pictures of the place and their country displays, both Ives and I were already starving!)

Even the restroom is so cute! The light switch displays the classic small coke poster a-la Norman Rockwell!

I promise to take pictures of each and every corner of the place once I go back there... 

For sure I'm going back to that place!

Ives' all-time favorite breakfast
Beef tapa and scrambled eggs

hearty breakfast
he's enjoying his 88-peso meal!

my pork longganiza and scrambled egg... plus the unli organic black rice!

pose before my dose :)

refreshing melon and strawberry juices

I just adore this small sachet of iodized salt

see how small this is?!

ART IN THE UNDERPASS

I have been driving since forever, but when our car broke down, I found more excitement in going places using public transports, and using my own two feet!

I find the poetry posted inside the LRT trains very classy...
the fm radio stations catering for the "masa" crowd, the vans and fx drivers are tuned in to, very funny...
the fast cars under me whenever I cross through the footbridges on the wide highways very animating...
the street foods from the MRT stations very satisfying...
the unending chat of the cab driver very exhilarating, but sometimes annoying (that is of course, i just want to rest while going to my destination)...
all these things I experience all because my car broke!

Here's the latest addition to an exciting discovery while crossing the Elliptical Road. Ives and I were going to Quezon Memorial Circle to check out the Flora Filipina Expo. We went down the underpass from Philcoa to the Circle, it actually was the first time for both of us. Both to our surprise, it was rather a lovely underpass...

There were works of art hanging on both sides of the wall of the underpass... mostly all about the old and new Quezon City...
Some information about Manuel L. Quezon...
and some projects of the mayor.

What impressed me most is the beautiful lighting, tiled floors, and the 24-hour security guards posted there.

Because we were running out of time, I wasn't able to take individual photographs of the works of art there.

Nevertheless, here are some shots while we were there...

beautiful lighting

museum/underpass

nice and comfy, although it was raining outside

BAGUIO FOOD TRIP

It has already been two months from today when Ives and I had a grand Baguio vacation... Ives had been bugging me since we got back home here in Manila to update my travel blog! I have been pretty much occupied since then, that is why this blog had been halted for a little while... But here I am once again! The problem is, how will I start my blog... should I do it chronologically? or should I just write whatever comes out first from my brain? I think I'll go with the latter.

The first thing that comes out of my mind are the foods!

I think one of the best food trips that Ives and I have indulged to, are the ones we tried during our stay in Baguio.

Why did I say that?

The following photographs will say it all...

I told myself I'll be more adventurous this time...
This is the most daring food trip that  I've ever done!
believe it or not, it took me a few attempts to bite into this whole quail!

this is the first time that I've seen a cooked quail...

CRISPY PORK BINAGOONGAN
One of the reasons why I'm going back to that resto!
This is a must try at Point and Grill Restaurant, SM Baguio

mongolian bowl, Ives ordered this, ahm... mediocre 

I think this is the spicy squid... tastes ok... although, I was not jumping up and down with it

sinampalukang manok
my ULTIMATE FAVORITE!
I think I ordered this dish everyday!

the gigantic burger in this cute little diner at Jim's Retro Diner, Session Road

this burger is sooo big! some of the stuffs inside just come off!

this is my 77-peso meal!
one of the many reasons why i go back to Toppings and Treats!

for me, this is the BEST turo-turo there is in Baguio!

COMFORT

night cap... hot green tea plus chocolate covered mint cookies plus wt study equals a good night's sleep :)

DAY 8, a photo by Lei Vinuya on Flickr.

I Promised Myself, Never Again

Every time I collect those starbucks stickers for their yearly planner, I notice that I always end up gaining weight, and adding not just a few inches to my hips!
This year, I promised myself, never again!
I'll never collect those stickers, for a planner so beautiful, I'll end up not using it anyway!
Thanks to my unwavering resolve...
I found myself holding my newest starbucks 2012 planner!
(my husband doesn't mind a big-hipped wife anyway... right hun?)

now tell me, how can I resist this attractive planner?