Duck Cravings

The day started with an early service in Manila. The hubby craved for duck which came so late! we thought it wouldn't come anymore. Crown Prince Seafood was just ok. I loved their Hot and Sour soup. The place was filled and noisy. We had extra entertainment with a group of Chinese oldies who  had their singing group all lined up dancing and singing. It was noisy. But we had fun. The food wasn't bad at all. It's just that the duck was horribly late, chewy and bland.. The very reason why we went there anyway.

Hot and Sour Soup

Hot Shrimp Salad

      

The failed Roast Duck
here's where we got the suggested location to look for the duck
http://www.spot.ph/gallery/818/top-10-roast-duck-in-manila/article/47473#pid=11552


do they look the same to you??????

NO!

Strawberry Vanilla Cupcake from Frostings

One good Saturday Morning

Post Birthday Dinner date with a balikbayan

 We had one of the most yummy salads I've ever had. 8 spices has become my favorite no doubt. This is their version of Thai mango salad.
 Balikbayans are importantt for us and when we found out family was arriving. We just plan ahead to take them out for dinner...that's how filipinos are. We just had to give them the best asian food and show them around new places.
   It's a great way to bond except that there are a few people sometimes you'd love to be away from when family gets together. Here, am happy I took advantage of the early birds.

Balikbayan Boxes

It is very common for Filipinos to leave the Philippines to live and work abroad. A balikbayan is a filipino who is returning to the Philippines from living or working abroad. A balikbayan box is a box of items sent by the balikbayan to their family in the Philippines. The box can be sent or it can be brought by the sender when they themselves return to the Philippines.

Balikbayan boxes can be filled with almost anything but it is usually filled with items that cannot be found in the Philippines or items that may be too expensive for the average person to buy in the Philippines. Common items found in balikbayan boxes include: clothes, shoes, chocolate, nuts, vitamins, basketballs, coffee and tea, magazines, shampoo/conditioner, soap, body lotion, etc.

My parents sent balikbayan boxes throughout the year but always sent them to arrive in time for Christmas. We find out what the family needed/wanted and put everything in the balikbayan box. Our family LOVES getting the boxes. I suppose its just like Christmas Eve waiting and wondering what is in the box. My cousins would always tell me they savored the smell of the box right when it was opened- the smell of America. In February I continued the filipino tradition and sent a box to my mom. The box contained some gifts for the family and some of the belongings that my mom couldn't in her luggage when she left. In March it arrived and I was in the Philippines when it did. I opened the box and sure enough it smelled like home- like America, as they all said.

resource    http://www.filipinoplanet.com/filipino-traditions.html

Sakura Watercolor fun

My sakura Koi looks like this. I purchased mine from Enriquez Arts in Recto Manila.

I was painting awhile ago with faith and ended up making a draft if a flower while she made a bottle floating in water. What was our inspiration? ahhh nothing. but i'm still feeling awfully sick for almost a week now.

Earlier
today I was somewhere in Munoz,with my hubby.  They had a bible distribution today.I can hardly associate this place to an elementary school...It's filled with trash and unsightly things, a far cry from the schools I've been to before.

Waiting in the car the whole time since I was feeling terribly sick.  So I doodled and painted a bit.

This was my sister in law's favorite. Just thought of her for a while when I saw this.

     http://www.jollibee.com.ph/menu/sidewiches-and-sides/tuna-pie

It's never easy to say goodbye. She just had to go. And this is the ancestral Cemetery where all their dead are laid to rest,  so they say. But she really now is in heaven.

I don't like newly grouted tiles, they look dirty and ugly. This one tried to look neat but failed. It's like putting make up and covering whats old with a tired hue of clay. maybe if you clean up the sides it'll look better but just like the old tile. It'll look old again.

I'm so happy I finished this project about two weeks ago. I handstitched it. I haven't gone outdoors and have been out of shape. I have this irritating cough that's putting me way down. ugh!