kim under the sun

Hello Summer

2013-04-26T00:29:00.000+08:00

I've been sick and tired but to give up dreams is difficult. To stop doing what I love would be the end of the world. Hello summer, here I come with my bling. I can't wait to see the beach.

Life is Full of Surprises

2013-04-24T01:31:00.000+08:00

I was surprised not remembering waking up to the alarm yesterday morning. I felt restless with the painful lump in one side of my neck which surprised me last Sunday. That explains the feverish feeling on Friday night. But what really surprised me more is the feeling of being skipped in the thought process of something that means equally important to me. Wait, did somebody just stole a big idea and ran away with somebody else? I'm not sure about this but this is how I exactly feel.

Today I was surprised to hear that my dear uncle is undergoing a lung biopsy. I had an awfully lot of unpleasant surprises for the past few days. I hope God gives me a wonderful surprise. It's been quite some time since I had a good one. Oh I do have a few nice surprise -- that I am still a sensitive person no matter how most people think I'm numb and that some people prove to be nice to hang out with.

Last Weekend

2013-04-20T15:16:00.002+08:00

Last weekend was not perfect but it was the first weekend after my 30th birthday so it does stand out from other weekends I had. I had premeditated and anticipated it. So much for trying to be in control, other fierce things happened without me having power over it like ranging hormones, depressing thoughts and other strong emotions that seemed to came rushing through me all during that week I hit the 30th year of my life.

I was far from drunk on Friday night with sister and friends but I had enough energy from the bar to keep me up all night. And all night until the wee hours of the morning it was. We didn't want to leave after the band's last song. So we hit the streets before the club turn on the day lights and located the nearest open coffee shop. It was also noodles in my mind but the air conditioning and comfortable sofas at Starbucks seem to be more attractive at that time.

We sipped chocolate, coffee and tea - each person to his own desire. Pasta was served hot. The lasagne took the shortest trip from plate to mouth. Meatball pasta was too sour and heavy for most of my company and it was just sitting there barely touched.

We ate and chat until we missed the last trip of the night bus. So we decided to talk more about other things and waited for the first train. I remember the conversation was so random and we even talked about seeing ghosts which was quite scary. My friend who has the "third eye" has gotten used to it now though these things still terrify her. I hope that cup of hot chocolate gave her enough comfort that "night."

We all reached home after sunrise. The trip home felt longer than expected and I fell asleep on the bus. I felt my heavy head and dropped on the bed with the few remaining precious oxygen in my brain. I curled like a fetus and woke up in the afternoon the next day.

My other friends and I headed to the movies to laugh. The movie was so light, it was all I needed to take a few things off my head. But I left the movie house with a slightly heavy heart wondering if I ever made the right choices. Some things could still wait so I brushed the idea off one side.

The night was young and so we headed out to get a few drinks and chill out. We found this "5-dollar" bar which I would like to call it. The live band was young as the night. She had this soothing voice that was somewhere in between soprano and alto though I didn't like the way she used her head voice. The band played acoustics quite well and we all had a few sips of margarita so these things started to not matter much. That night ended with the heaviest heart. It's been a long time since I cried like a river. My shirt was wet and I slept with the puffiest eyes.

The next morning was filled with surprises. I woke up with the lightest feeling as if my heart lost a few pounds. There was so much hope though it remains hope until now. I met up with one of my old friends. He had a few hours waiting before his next flight to that other part of the world. It was chocolate drink again for me and some cheesecake. We called his girlfriend and felt how my cousin is starting to miss him. I feel for everyone who leaves home every time. But that small streak of light peeking through this opaque envelope over me tells me he is going to be fine.

Last weekend was a mess in my head but a beautiful one. I do not desire living the rest of my life just hanging out with friends over coffee but right now it does work for me. Life after 30 is happening now and every moment and decision seem to affect me more than it used to.

The Makeshift Laundromat and Other Things

2013-04-18T00:16:00.000+08:00

The living room reminds me of the weekend vendor. Clothes are hanging everywhere. The only difference is that we're not selling them. The clothes are never going away and I might have to get used to having a laundromat in the midst of my "new" but still temporary home. There is an roning board right next to the TV if you feel like pressing your clothes anytime.

I think a laundromat is bearable but breeding of mosquitos underneath the sink might be too much to take. A dengue outbreak in my neighborhood makes things worse. Every time I see an itchy red bump on my skin, I start to feel paranoid. I might have downsized myself a little too much. Guess this is the dark side of first world.

High ISO Nights: Orchard, Singapore

2013-04-11T23:45:00.000+08:00

Sometimes when I feel too lonely, the cure is usually going out and watching the busy streets. These are those nights when artificial lights and random people on the street are most appealing to me. I just crank up the ISO on my camera and shoot away. I love the noise and dramatic tones which is, for most people, ironic when using a DSLR camera. But I guess that the way I like things - a bit intense and imperfect.

Summer Breeze

2013-04-09T21:48:00.003+08:00

April is officially summer time in the Philippines. It is expected of everone to hit the beach anytime between March to May. On the other hand, I can't believe that people on this island-city state are not crazy about the beach or at least talking about it. Or is it just me missing the salty air.

My stuff are ready for the hot sun and the cool waters but I am not. My midsection is not supporting my confidence but nonetheless I shall visit the beach soon because I need this break so badly. I want to sleep 'til my eyes hurt, stay in the water 'til my skin gets wrinkly, walk on the sand 'til my soles turn red and watch the sun set everyday at the edge of the water.

The summer breeze brushes on my cheek everyday but the sight of the long stretch of white sand remains in a my imagination for now. The storm hit the island the last time I was at the beach. I hope nature will be kind to me this time.

Windy Boracay

The 30th

2013-04-09T01:14:00.000+08:00

My 30th year on earth turned out to be more than I had imagined. Dinner with my sister was quite meaningful and filling.

A few weeks ago my mind was disturbed with useless anxiety. I wasted a few tears over some sort of life crisis. Today, I looked back and wanted to tell my slightly immature self that all these jitters are normal. There are always going to be days when your cup of tea shakes uncontrollably especially when you're unsure what lies ahead.

I have no list of things to do before 30. But if I did, I'm pretty sure a lot of things have already been checked by now. I don't have that ultimate goal that very focused people have. Instead, I live one day at a time and a little sense of tomorrow usually gets me going.

Good luck to me. I hope life will be even better. The troughs will still be there but I'm looking forward to ride the highests crests that are to come.

Today I Pray

2013-04-08T01:13:00.000+08:00

Today I turn 30. I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I had asked the right questions. I thought I would get the answers I wanted to hear. But after 30 years, I am still dazed and confused.

I thought I had the right love. I thought I had been right most of the time. But after all these years, all my wrong doings and my emotions still surprise me.

I have prayed countless times but I don't know if I had the right prayers. I only know what my heart truly wants now.

I pray that I shall still love and be loved in return. I pray that my scars will heal and give me strength to move forward.

I pray:

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference."

Missing Home for the Holy Week

2013-03-29T13:57:00.000+08:00

Most of the time Holy Week means staying at home or at least not traveling anywhere far. And this Holy Week will be the same to me as it usually is. I am technically just staying within the city limits for the long weekend. My real home is four hours away by plane so I can only reminisce home the last time I saw and felt it.

~ Davao | Home | 2012 ~

New York Nostalgia: The City that Never Sleeps

2013-03-23T15:35:00.000+08:00

I have moved to a new place but my mind has not moved quite yet. Here is one more nostalgic post about New York City. Life is happening but I feel not much can happen further if I keep my memories suppressed. My longing for NYC is like a fire burning and I could either just stare at it or feed it.

Buy me Coffee or a Shirt

Much like every big city, there is either a coffee shop or a clothes store at every corner. In this way, the city reminded me a lot of my current place except that New York City has that "oomph" factor.

Starbucks sat humbly at a corner. That time, I just went past it in a car. Now I wished we stopped and had coffee and just talked. But few years back, I didn't consider that option since staring at the lights seemed to have been enough for me.

I did buy myself an "I heart NYC" shirt and washed and wore it so many times until the colors faded.

Shopping or Lights Watching

I am glad shopping is not my weakness so I have decided to keep my money in the pockets and just watch the light signs while people go in and out the shops. I didn't know much about Louis Vuitton but my host and I decided to go into the store just like all the other tourists.

We asked if there was any sale and the gentleman politely replied, "Louis Vuitton never goes on sale." It does make sense. We hung around and the ambience was much less intimidating than entering an LV store here in Singapore. There were no stares, just smiles.

We gladly moved on to the streets and decided that the visit to the Apple Store and LV was enough.

The City that Never Sleeps

Times Square is synonymous to more neon lights and a lively crowd. I remember the red chairs in the middle of the junction. If I had visited the city today, I would have bought myself coffee or tea and just sat there. But now I remember autumn in New York is cold and my butt would have chilled.

Pacquiao was rising to his fame that time. My Filipino blood went rushing through my veins and prompted my brain to have a photo of me taken with the billboard ad in the background.

Serenity in the Chaos

In the heart of Manhattan is where people would least expect to find peace. St. Patrick's Cathedral towers in all its glory. I entered the huge door and found myself in another world as if I have just gone through a wormhole.

I left my camera hanging on my wrists and paid respect like the rest of the people who were dwarfed by the mighty halls.

In Search of the Empire State

The Empire State Building is a real beauty but the closer I got to her, the worst my photo had become. When I finally reached the corner of the street where she was standing, a very dense fog had enveloped her and all I could see was a diffused red glow towering above us.

The most decent shot, and actually my favorite, was her in a distance with the US flag and pedestrians in the foreground. That was pretty much so "New York" to me. The lights were red that night but I didn't know what it stood for that time.

New York, Bye For Now

Oh, New York will be in my memories and dreams for now. It is not the perfect city but it is the perfect place to find character.

New York Nostalgia: Parks Before and After Dark

2013-03-06T00:27:00.000+08:00

Sand and Trees at the Battery Park

Battery park was not as enticing as when I first looked at it. But the ferry to Liberty Island starts from here so it becomes part of the itinerary. Surprisingly, the park is not as bad as it seems. The first good sign is that is is right beside the sea and anything with sand on it I always have an inclination to.

Some people who have given up waiting in the very long queue to get to Liberty Island decided to just walk around. Trees grew on sand in perfect harmony. All over the park were artists who strut their stuff and also artwork for sale.

That day I wore the pink coat which was loaned to me. I was probably the only-bright colored human during autumn in New York. Everyone else seemed to have been clad in sleek dark coats.

Silhouettes at the Central Park

I thought my photos at the Central Park has failed me but on second thoughts, they all framed every feeling I had that night. It was quite late when we headed to the park. Shortly before that I had pizza and gyro so eating in the car was pretty much just a breeze. The sunset was even quicker.

On this part of the continent, autumn has started a little early and all the leaves have fallen to the ground. I had wished to see red, yellow and orange everywhere but there were just bare trees. In glossy magazines, I have seen this green patch in the middle of the urban jungle. That night, I was right in the middle of it except that the patch would have looked dull and grey.

Ducks waded in the pond so patiently while the people sat in the park even if the fountain was parched and the pool was as dry as pavement. The moon rose as soon as the sun disappeared.

In the backdrop, the buildings slowly lit up like glittering stars. On the foreground were graceful silhouettes of trees that are as humble but bold as they could ever be.

That night was short but the music was pleasing. There was a man who played the sax sosoftly as if it was the only sound fit for the night. It was worth more than my dollar. Coincidentally, there was also a man in Battery Park who was so engrossed with his percussions. Who knew that in every place, there was always a guy in charge of the soundtrack.

New York Nostalgia: The Bronx, People and Pizza

2013-03-05T02:02:00.001+08:00

There are certainly things in my life that happened but I have never written about. My travels usually go by so quickly like a "frisbee" in the air that it is only much later that I sit down and recall so vividly all the wonderful things I've experienced. I know that in a "healthy" blog, I should be talking more of things present but then I feel I can never move forward with all these memories clinging unto me and never going away. The memories of the Empire State keep me awake at night when I'm supposed to be drifting into my sleep. So here are all those mundane and not-so-mundane things in my head.

Good Morning Bronx

On the very first morning I woke up in New York City, I opened the drapes over the full length windows in my white room. Across my room was a wonderful view of the peaceful neighborhood of the Bronx. It was nothing like the stories on TV. It was a silent neighborhood where the sun lit so gently over houses. I could imagine people were still curling up in bed because of the cold.

It was freezing and the portable heater only helped a bit. Thanksgiving week in November of 2008 was chilly but the snow has not yet started to fall. The weather forecast always mentioned of light snowfall but it always changed every minute I wished for the snow to fall. The snow vacation I had shortly after that was still fun but I still wish I could experience snowflakes actually falling on me.

Walls With Character

We drove a car around NYC which is quite ironic because most people take the subway. After that night somebody broke the front window and took the navigator, we had no choice but to take the public transport. That was not a good thing but it was the only chance that I really got to see more of the neighborhood.

From the train, I could barely see the streets but I could see a lot of art on the walls. Not everything was a pretty ~~site~~ sight but it was amazing to see how people prefer to express their emotions on unresponsive walls. With all the graffiti, the walls now scream but I am not sure who hears them.

Upper East Side

In one of those 4 days, we drove through the streets on the Upper East Side in Manhattan to grab some pizza. I was contented watching people through the window and taking random photos of people in the middle of their business but mostly crossing the streets.

Pizza

Finally we reached the "famous" pizza house on Lenox Hill. I do not know by whose standards but judging by the customers crowding inside the small spot, it must be good pizza. People of different color waited patiently and mixed up just like those toppings on the pizza.

I had gyro too. It's what they call wraps and I had mine with lots of cream cheese, lettuce, onions, tomato and beef. It doesn't sound so healthy but I feel the lettuce justifies it.

Pretty much every night was either pizza or pasta. If you do not like too much cheese and fat then you probably won't survive this trip. Pizza out of the box is not so good looking at all. But the looks don't matter once it's all in your mouth.

Night Falls

My first night was the earliest night that I was in the neighborhood. The rest of my four days were almost sleepless.

These old photos aren't the best I know, but even the crappiest ones I took years ago still hold great memories. In these photos, I was that nerd with the weirdest looking fashion combo and wore an awkward smile. It's fun recalling I was, but the nerd part remains.

Brian and Hazel: Behind the Scenes

2013-02-20T19:53:00.000+08:00

Nothing is possible without the love and support. Thank you Brian and Hazel for simply being lovely. Lunch definitely has to be served through picnic baskets and bottled drinks.

And there would be no lights and beauty without the crew. Thanks to Celeste for sharing her makeup skills and my sister Karen for being the all-around superhero. ;)

I look forward to brighter days and more fun times!

Brian and Hazel: Love and Bokeh

2013-02-20T00:32:00.000+08:00

We had the opportunity to shoot on another day. Though the sun never showed up, the night lights at Marina Bay never shied away from the camera. There are other things prettier than pink - love and bokeh.

Brian and Hazel: Sun and Sand

2013-02-16T20:54:00.002+08:00

First there was excitement, then chaos and finally harmony. These are the few emotions I felt before and after engagement shoot sessions with the couple, Brian and Hazel. We went out under the sun with sand underneath our toes. We experimented, and shot and shot and shot. At the end of the day, everyone had a lovely frame. Thanks to the lovely couple, and to make-up artist Celeste and my sister Karen for assistance.

Photographer: Kimberley Halasan | Make-up: Celeste | Clothes: Brian and Hazel | Accessories & Decor: The Craft Bar

Random Thoughts on Macaroni and an Orange Dress

2013-02-11T17:37:00.000+08:00

The color for the day is Orange, however I fear the sunset won't be. It has been raining since day 1 of my 4-day break, thanks to the CNY holidays here in Singapore. This is probably the loneliest week of this year and I really hope so.

The theme was pretty much prepared. My stomach was too. Macaroni pasta with red orange tomato sauce is what I felt like cooking for the holidays. The kitchen is unfortunately quite lonely. My company consists of pans, plates, bland white walls and stained floors. I am looking forward to conditions improving in the next few days.

I already had two bowls of pasta but the sky remains overcast. Since I pretty much have all the time in the world and nobody is waiting for food to be served, I took a photo. Snap! The first shot was too clean and lifeless. A little imperfection will probably make the photo more alive. So there you go with a messy bowl. This is what I get if I mix the sauce in the bowl and not before putting it in. Enough about taking photos of food.

On another note, my camera has been so ready but the sun isn't. I'm also not ready to shoot on a rainy day since I don't have the luxury to do so. I have pictured out the details in my head but it usually never turns out as planned. The pretty bride-to-be will hopefully look good in this dress but it will have to remain in the closet for the next few weeks or months.

The rain is pouring now. I am about to finish writing here. The ground is too wet for jogging. I think it's time for cup of coffee.

Legoland Malaysia: Miniatures and Effects

2013-02-10T16:08:00.000+08:00

Over a huge cup of coffee and tea last night, my friend mentioned about her trip to Legoland Malaysia theme park today. She had invited me earlier but decided not to join her. My multiple trips to the site seemed enough for now even if it wasn't for fun. When the job calls, it has to be done. I'm hoping that my next visit wouldn't be about work. For now, I want to remind myself of sweet and short memories I managed to have after gruelling hours in the sun.

Certainly the most interesting part in Legoland are the miniatures of famous landmarks. I had captured the little structures on different occasions with different cameras. All of the interesting places in Asia were shown remarkably. Most of them look like the real thing especially in silhouette. Malaysia's Petronas Towers definitely shines.

Singapore is represented with ever busy constructions cranes along with towering buildings in the bank district. One Fullerton hotel and the Singapore River is in the spotlight.

Beijing, China is so bold and strong with its forbidden city but it looked so weak with a giant tourist hovering over it.

The spirits of Cambodia's Ankor Wat echoes through the shadows as the sun begins to set over it. The color of the tiny people are also so true as they ride on tiny elephants in the fields.

India's Taj Mahal looks grand and majestic as always. But I feel they surely missed the pool of water that reflects it.

Burma's Karaweik Hall, which I've only learned about recently, is also a head-turner. At that time, I had thought it was a structure from Thailand.

I had searched for the Philippines and only discovered it on the last two visits. Oddly enough, they featured some fishing village that I have never heard of before. They showed wooden canoes, a small town hall and a few jeepneys. There is nothing enticing about it which is why I wish that they could have done a better job. My wounded pride has left me asking why they have not chosen other landmarks such as famous parks in Manila or ancient Spanish-era villages or fortresses such as Intramuros or Vigan that has survived through the years. I can only guess that the researcher was confused about this culture so complex that a humble fishing village deemed to be the safer choice.

I have not been to most of the landmarks exhibited in the park. Only Singapore and Malaysia were very familiar to me. The only reward I have for myself is that from the photos I took, I can leave people to interpret it freely. Such that if you have never been to Kuala Lumpur and you are not so certain if there were towering trees, you would think that the skyline of miniatures might be the real thing.

On the other hand, if you have never been to Legoland Malaysia, you would think those little castle and houses are miniatures even if they are actually the real life-size structures in the park.

Legoland is not for everyone. But if you have a kid, I assure you the little guy will be running around like crazy with other kids. If you still have the kid in you, guess you'll be running around too.

Location: Legoland Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

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My CNY

2013-02-09T16:57:00.002+08:00

I left the comfort of my messy room to buy a few groceries before the shelves are empty. To my surprise, most of the stores have closed and people are fussing over a few goods left as if tomorrow is doomsday. So I decided to take a short bus ride to the nearest mall. To my horror, the queue at the supermarket counter is longer than the grocery aisles. So I checked out the public board for store hours for the rest of the week. Surely this craziness will eventually end.

The search for a few condiments for my macaroni pasta has gotten me stuck here when the rain suddenly fell from the sky like cats and dogs. I can see it through the glass window and it seems the sky is not getting any brighter soon. Ah, this would have been the perfect excuse to go to the movies alone. However, I could not find a good story and at this point I cannot compromise myself with a bad film.

A warm cup of coffee or a cold cup of yogurt is the next best thing. And so here I am gladly sitting in one of my favorite cafés. They have good Italian ice cream but I normally ~~just~~ order just pasta and soup. Today however, I find the waffle attractive and so I had one with a cup of ice cream on it.

Pretending like a true instagramer, I took a photo of every plate or cup before putting a piece into my mouth.

Last year, my Chinese New Year was in some pristine island in the Philippines where I was not affected by it in any way. This time, I am stuck in a place where the empty grocery shelves scream CNY. In contrast, I am spending the holidays so bleakly.

So I reached out to my nearest relative here in Singapore which is my sister. She is geographically still quite far from me since she is having the time of her life in my hometown with my mom and her daughter. I could hear my little niece say a very enthusiastic 'Yes' after inviting them to have some waffles too at the nearby restaurant.

My plate of waffle is almost done and I could see the rain is tolerable now. The clouds are still grey but I think I can go back home now. Have a good holidays everyone!

Dreams Do Come True

2013-01-30T21:52:00.000+08:00

I have been silent for some time for some reason. My dreams and a couple's dreams are finally coming true. I'm grateful for being the eye that captures those memories that hold so dear to them. And I am even more grateful for having been given this opportunity to begin the greatest journey I've ever taken.

Across the Border

2013-01-20T21:16:00.000+08:00

I wish it were a road trip every time we cross the border. I have been going back and forth to Johor Bahru a few times since last year to take care of an unfinished task. This activity is not necessarily part of my current job description but it is a must in order to solve a problem.

Though I have not been traveling for fun, there are a few good things I liked about these trips. One is being able to see wide roads void of tall buildings from the skyline. I love being away from the crowd once in a while. Riding in a cab instead of a bus or a train makes me feel more grounded and I don't have to squeeze into tight spaces with fear of being trapped in between automatic doors. The people in the place we visit are also quite warm and it isn't hard to see smiles from their faces. After work when it is almost sundown, I can see that the workers take time to bond by taking photos of themselves together or simply by cheering for random things. The general feeling makes me feel like I'm home. Ironically, the city where I currently sleep isn't as welcoming as these places I've traveled to.

Hold Still but the Soul

2013-01-07T23:30:00.001+08:00

This morning, I wanted to talk just about how beautiful the spectrum splashed across the sky. It reminded me of the times I peeked through my high school dormitory window to stare at that tiny light breaking through the darkness. In the sky were reds and blues, a burning sea, a dragon's breath and other things I could imagine. I had to stop in my tracks to feel it change and move because I know how quickly it goes away. Eventually, I missed a bus. But with a sky like that, everything has to hold still.

Then later this afternoon, I found out that the sunset was as beautiful. From my perspective there was hardly any color in the sky but it was even more alive when the clouds mimicked the ocean and the sun played hide and seek through the trees. Again, I find myself still but my soul tells me to swim through the sky to catch the fading light.

The Resolution

2013-01-06T05:21:00.000+08:00

I found myself scribbling on one of my mugs which I've never drank tea or coffee from. I find myself having an excess of some things than what I am supposed to have. If I could reduce myself into just a single cup, I would. From zero, my cups and mugs have grown into a family that I could no longer add one more after the present I received last Christmas eve.

Sometimes, I lose track of the toiletries stocked in my locker. My room is starting to feel too big for me because I sometimes worry about how much stuff it can take. Clearly, I need to get rid of things I don't really need and that should start with the shoe boxes underneath my bed. I also have too many pens that scribbling wasn't a bad idea to start with. I can grow my crazy thoughts instead since I think the brain has enough space to handle that.

A Meaningful 2013 New Year's Eve

2013-01-03T00:52:00.000+08:00

My New Year's Eve was very much Filipino but plain and simple. The dinner table was too in comparison to other celebrations I had. The only important ingredient was that every dish on the table must mean something. Yes, we are superstitious but we don't care since the fun of believing happens only once in a year.

Chopsuey is a stir-fry vegetable dish that I consider a national dish since almost every Filipino household knows how to cook this food. Its main ingredients are cauliflower, carrots, baby corn, snow peas and other common vegetables except squash. It can be mixed with either pork, chicken or seafood such as shrimps. Quail eggs are a plus. This food represents prosperity since the mix of various vegetables symbolizes good harvest.

Pancit Bihon is a stir-fry rice noodle with soy sauce, pork and some vegetables such as cabbage and carrots. In the local dialect, "pancit" means noodle and "bihon" is just referring to the local name of the specific type of rice noodle used. It is a very close relative of the Singaporean bee hoon. It is garnished with lime to add that oomph factor. The dish means long life because of the length of the noodle in its raw form. In fact, any other noodle dish can be served. Even spaghetti will do.

Sopas simply means soup but for some of our brothers from northern Philippines, it must have chicken and elbow macaroni in it. I am from the south so I am unfamiliar with this tradition. I have asked for meaning but so far the only answer I got is that it signifies comfort since people like to have soup during wee hours of a chilly morning or on a rainy night.

Palitaw is a dessert made of flattened balls of glutinous rice coated with grated coconut, sugar and toasted sesame seeds. The name comes from the word "litaw" which means float since the method of cooking is to drop the flattened rice balls in boiling water until it rises to the surface when it is cooked. This dessert possesses the basic requirement of being round which is a symbol of a coin or wealth. Secondary to it is its sweetness.

Leche Flan is a dessert that consists of egg, condensed and evaporated milk, and sugar. It is a very simple looking meal but is quite challenging for an amateur cook. It takes at least these basic steps - caramelizing the sugar and setting it evenly on the bottom of a round pan, mixing egg yolks and milk, and pouring them over the hardened sugar layer, then steaming it. Before I forget, it must be cooled in the fridge and then served upside down from the pan. I would say that it is a very sinful dessert but it takes like heaven. Leche flan is commonly known as creme caramel or creme custard. The origin can be traced back to time of the Spanish regime. The explanation is quite long but its meaning is very much the same as that of the Palitaw - round for wealth.

Round Fruits definitely are a must on the table on New Year's Eve for being round. It seems a lot of Filipinos wish for wealth and prosperity on this one night every year. It is a good sign of a culture that has always been known for optimism despite the odds. I still consider myself an optimistic person so cheers and may you have a bountiful New Year!

Chilly Air Effect

2012-12-29T00:29:00.000+08:00

Oh Yeah, we love to dress up for the cold. We love to dress up in layers and put that fancy scarf and smile in front of the camera. We love chilly air but probably not 365 days a year.

Location: First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, Malaysia.

The Christmas Spirit

2012-12-27T22:39:00.002+08:00

The Christmas holidays I grew up with usually last from late November to early January. "Happy Holidays" is the more generic greeting. But since I am Catholic, I often refer to it as the Christmas season since we rarely celebrate Thanksgiving day. New Year's day is often just an extension of Christmas. The only difference is that there are more fireworks on New Years day than on Christmas eve. But for both occasions we feast on different types of Filipino food both of local origin or of foreign influence. I wish to talk about the dinner table but then again, I have missed taking photos last Christmas eve.

By tradition, we attend the Eucharist (Catholic mass) on Christmas day though some more traditional families attend early masses at dawn for 9 days until Christmas day. Firecrackers are as common as cars on the street though the mayor in my hometown has banned lighting it for several years now. We still make noise with our pots and pans and car sirens.

The tree is just a symbol brought by the white settlers and today it exists in almost every household in the Philippines during the Christmas season. Sadly I have gotten used to not having one in my place for years. The more symbolic icon is the lantern we call "parol." I once posted a photo in my older post. Only recently I have discovered its history and I think it makes sense that this star-looking lantern used to guide people in the night when there were no street lamps.

There are no chimneys in our homes but I still get to hang my stockings on the wall and wait for it to be bursting with chocolates and other sweet things from a child's imagination. I used to believe in Santa too and honestly thought he dropped down from the sky on Christmas eve to hand over the gifts to my mom. Nonetheless, there will always be gifts underneath that colorful tree. We kiss and hug and open them.

We also sing carols but not as often as we used to. As kids, we walked to every house in the neighborhood after sundown to sing Christmas songs in English, Tagalog or Bisaya. We waited at the gates until the house owner hands over a few coins or a peso bill if we're lucky. A basket of goodies will also do.

These are just bits and pieces of that happy spirit. Most importantly, Christmas is spent with family. If it is entirely impossible, we spend time with our closest friends and still call them or sms them to drop that one happy greeting "Merry Christmas" and everything else does not seem to matter.