Two Mary Annes

I am glad to know I am flying back home I made quite a few accomplishments in this trip of mine. I met a few selected friends here in the Philippines who I treasure so much. Two of the buddies closest to my hearts are the two Mary Annes I have known for a while. The first two photos are of me, Jadyn, little sister Alex, Mary Anne Thompson - author of Mary Anne's Musing. I met her last December of 2011. Sorry for the late posting about our eyeball because internet in Davao isn't accessible.

She is a fine woman who happened to be Jadyn's angel when we were there. She was patiently waiting at the doctor's clinic with us for the whole 2 freaking hours just to have my Jadyn checked by the doctor. I appreciate all the help and concern you've shown to my kid, babay!

........ SM Davao with the kiddos and of course friendship Mary Anne

........ the third photo is of me and Mary Anne and her son Matthew. She was my classmate in UHA Caregiver last 2005. There were times when we lost contact with each other but with social networking sites and the power of YAHOO MESSENGER we got our communication back. It was nice to see her again and her family after parting ways since we finished the course. 

........ yours truly and the cute Australian kid and my baby girl, Jadyn....

Simple Life

Photos below are captured during our visit to my grandma's place in Barili last weekend. These are of my mother, cousin Itis and her son doing the pounding/grinding of banana to make "saging linusak", don't know the word in English. All I know is that the finish product will be a mixed of banana, young coconut flesh and brown sugar that makes it a delectable afternoon snack. Photos 1,2 and 3 show the processes of how we do it. First off, we boil the raw banana, peel off the skin when it's cooked, place in mortar and pestle-a huge one then slowly mix the ingredients together as you continue on pounding.

Doing this again after a couple of years I haven't visited my grandmother's place brings back old childhood memories. We used to do this a lot when I was seven years old. Rice or grits was a scarcity when I lived with my grandparents so we do the banana in replacement of rice just so we can fill our hungry stomach.

The Best Afternoon Snack

When I think of something yummy, one of the many things that come in my mind is this deliciously cooked very warm "binignit" complete with all the ingredients that make it more drooling. One boring afternoon, I laid down in bed and it suddenly popped in my mind and so I got up went to the market, bought the ingredients for "binignit" and cooked a pot of it. I plan of making this snack before I leave for Texas.

.......... just looking at these photos, it make me want to eat it again right now..

Fine Seafoods

I will never get tired of eating seafoods because for me they are the best. I am m beyond happy I am having my first trimester here in the Philippines where seafoods and other delicious delicacies are bountiful. How fortunate of me to be able to just go to the public market and buy anything I think of eating without hesitations. If I want something, I just hop in the cab and go. Aside from having my freedom back for a while, I also get to taste all the foods I cannot have back in the U.S. 

......... my ever favorite fresh grilled squid...

...... lato as we call it...

..........grilled yellow fin......

........ and raw fish salad with all the needed spices to make it drooling.......

Bye Cebu, Hello Davao!

We are just waiting for the time to leave for Cagayan de Oro. We are leaving this afternoon at 5 to the pier where the Super Ferry is docked. This will takes us an overnight cruise to CDO then tomorrow morning we'll be riding in a painstaking 8 hours bus ride from CDO to Davao. All these I am willing to to go through just so I can be with my grandma, aunties/uncle and cousins once again. This is also for Jadyn so that she can meet the rest of her Filipino family before she goes back to the USA. Occasions like these seldom happen so I must savor each moment or each chance given to me to meet them all.

I am also looking forward meeting a few blogger friends that I've been in touched with for a few years to give justice to our friendship online. By then our virtual friendship becomes reality which is soooooooo cool to happen. I may not be able to get online as often as I can but I try my best to go to the cafe and update you guys with our vacation.

Eel

Here is a photo of the eel I had last night in Buagsong, Cordova. So nice of my friend for bringing in that place where they cook live eel only for you so you get to eat it fresh and new. I have been thinking about eating eel and I was able to eat it yesterday at long last. Filipinos love eel including me. It is known to be an aphrodisiac for men. Eel can be cooked in four different ways, boil, grill, fried and what they call "larang" as shown in the picture above with all the spicies to make it taste even better.

Fun At The Beach

One of the many things I missed about the Philippines is the beach and  the fresh seafoods. Finally, Jadyn and I had our first swimming at the beach yesterday. Mike invited us to go with him and so we did. I brought my little siblings with me as well as the older one, Anderson. The salty warm water of the ocean is so relaxing for my tired body. W were all exhausted when we went back to the house kay daghan kiat. Here's just three samples of the fun we had yesterday.

.......... can you tell I loved being in the water playing with the kiddos...above photo is of my baby girl, little brother and little sister...

.......... second photo is when we were about to leave Blue reef..picture taking with Mike, Jacky, Adong and my little Princess...

...........and here's the usual food when at the beach, grilled milk fish, grilled pork and kinilaw bulinaw with matching guso!