I wonder what qualifies as a fantastic toilet 🤔
Permission granted.
Do I get an “Awww?”
“Take me to your leader.” That’s what came to my mind when I saw her.
We did not have a lot of time to explore the area of Dongdaemun Design Plaza this snowy Christmas Day. This lady did not seem to mind the cold so it’s just right to say hello to her.
The best part of freezing my behind off in arctic places is the chance to wear some of my handknit sweaters and accessories. These are just a few of them. Most of the time here in Seoul, I bury myself in them to make sure I don’t end up like an icicle. I’m grateful to be here though, especially when we are reunited with our daughter.
Want a spoonful of perfect snow crystals?
A thin blanket of snow greeted us this morning
Pleasantly surprised to see a reminder of home in a subway in Seoul.
It’s the last moon that I will see over Manila. See you again in 10 days.
Korea, we are a go….
The family got our travel visas and we whooped collectively. We are really looking forward to freezing our butts off in the land of kimchi and k-dramas as we count off the last days of 2023.
Applying for a visa (for citizens of third-world countries like ours haha) is always a pain. So many docs to present during the application. And then there’s often that anxiety when the embassy does not return sensitive documents like birth certificates, bank certificates, SEC articles, etc. I hope data privacy law in this country really, truly works. FINGERS FIRMLY CROSSED.
Incidentally, I am equally amused and surprised our visas are just paper copies. There goes my penchant for collecting visa stamps in my passports.
Irreverent but wacky.
Day 26 - BEVERAGE 📸
I often get brain freeze from ice-blended drinks but I never let pain get in my way.
Day 25 - FLARE 📸
As if it needs any more attention….
📍 Everyone knows where this is 😊
Day 21 - FALL
Day 20 - DISRUPTION
You always hope your flight leaves/arrives without a hitch.
📸📍 Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands
Day 18 - FABRIC
A lot of fabric must have gone into the making of this shirt. We saw this on display in Albert Cuyp Market the day we went.
📸📍 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Day 15 - RED
📸📍 Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
Day 14 - STATUE
If anyone’s looking for him, he’s in Hong Kong.
📸📍 Hong Kong Avenue of Stars
Day 13 - GLOWING
In these uncertain times, it’s what we hope for.
📸 📍 Toronto Christmas Market
Day 8 - Yonder
“How much farther?” huffed the husband.
“Almost there!” I huffed back
📸📍Mt. Misen hiking trail, Miyajima, Japan
Day 7 - Panorama
The day we went, there was major reconstruction work going on around the Parliament. Viewing it from this angle hid the cranes and scaffolding 😉
📸📍 Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa
Day 6 - Well
I assume there is one somewhere….
📸📍 Hobbiton, Auckland, New Zealand
Day 5 - Forest
Found this forest on a paper coaster
📸📍Kyoto, Japan
Day 4 - Orange
There’s plenty more where they came from.
📸 📍Major Hill’s Park, Ottawa, Canada
Day 2 - Buildup
How long before moss entirely covers up the rock?
📸 Mt. Misen in Japan
Who doesn’t wish that?
📷 taken in Mt. Misen on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Japan
ANOTHER LOOK AT HONG KONG IN 2023
Back in March, my son and I were beyond delighted to find out that we were among the winners in Cathay Pacific’s World of Winners campaign. We both won free round-trip tickets to Hong Kong. How cool is that? Before I left for Canada, we booked our flights (together with my husband who paid for his) to this very cosmopolitan country for July 6-9. The last time we were in Hong Kong was in 2006 and we did the usual touristy activities- Disneyland, Ocean Park, Victoria’s Peak, among other attractions. This time around, we will be braver and try to get around the twin cities of Hong Kong and Kowloon using a wider range of public transportation. Let’s see how we fare.
I’ve been in Toronto for a good month already. Most days I am bored, crazy bored especially when my daughter has to go to work on-site. It’s good that my YouTube Premium subscription allows me to watch all sorts of videos without the ads. Frankly, I didn’t think I could use my paid account here where I am far away from my home in Manila. Anyway, I’m not one to complain.
I whipped up a batch of oatmeal cranberry cookies just because. I ate one and whoa, it’s good. Very, very good. It is crunchy around the edges while soft and chewy in the middle. It’s a recipe by John Kanell of the Preppy Kitchen YouTube channel. I subbed raisins with cranberries because they’re what I have available ATM. Here’s the link to the video if you want to try it yourself.
This is the most delicious cookie that I have ever baked. That I used oatmeal makes for guilt-free eating.
It was my first full moon in Toronto this year and I was in awe.
And so I thought I got this jetlag thing beat… I’ve been awake since 2 this morning. Sigh.
It is said that the eyes eat first. When food as lovely as these arrive on our table, we can’t help but drink everything in with our eyes.
My daughter ordered Avocado Toasts.
I
just had to try Chicken and Belgian Waffles when I got here. The food was excellent as I expected.
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 30 - MIRROR
Auckland’s Sky Tower is mirrored in one of the city’s skyscrapers.
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 29 - SLICE
The fight path from Taipei to Toronto appears to slice the planet in half.
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 23 - CHANCE
Would you pin your hopes on a fish? What are the chances your wish will be granted?
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 18 - PORTICO
Something about this walkway spelled haunting, literally and figuratively. I am glad I was able to preserve this memory on my phone.
📍Domain Wintergardens, Auckland, NZ
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 17 - EARLY
We took a sleeper train from Amsterdam to Munich. While it was a unique experience (to us, at least), I slept fitfully. At a little past midnight, I felt the train shudder to a stop. I peeked outside and saw we were on German soil already. Guten Morgen, I said to whoever was ‘listening’ 😊
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 16 - ROAD
Come walk with me….
📍Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 15 - PATIENCE
This mosaic rendition of Birth of Venus was done entirely using discarded railway tickets. I can’t imagine the depth of patience needed to accomplish this!
MARCH PHOTOBLOGGING CHALLENGE DAY 12 - SHINY
The biggest attraction in Arashiyama, Kyoto is the famous Bamboo Forest. We were very surprised to discover the Kimono Forest which was right there where the train stops. Pillars bearing kimono silk textiles light up the path, simply breathtaking especially at night.
