Hello Binondo

Part of my plans for 2011 is to explore other areas in Metro Manila.

So last weekend, a friend and I went to Binondo for some exploration. Here's how we got there.

• Took the MRT from Shaw to Taft
• Rode LRT 1 and alighted at Carriedo station
• Took the exit on the Baclaran-bound side
• Walked towards D.Jose station and turned left on the first street
• Looked for Onpin St. and our walk started there

Across Ongpin St. is the Sta. Cruz church. There are also a lot of jewelry shops that sell real (I hope) gold accessories. I want some! I'll have a pair of earings as birthday gift to myself hihi. We just walked along Ongpin St. looking for someplace to eat. It was raining so we didn't do much exploration. We found a place to eat near the San Lorenzo Ruiz church. I forgot the name of the place hehe but it looks like it's owned by Eng Bee Tin as well. We just ordered pancit bihon and pork siomai and soya milk. I liked teir pancit. Flavorful. We also bought some goodies at Eng Bee Tin after.

We just walked where others were walking. our goal was to go back to Carriedo using a different route. We were surprised when we reached Recto Ave. hahaha. We had to ask for directions several times. It was a lonhg walk, scary in some parts even but we were back in Carriedo in one piece. Why in Carriedo? Why not just D. Jose or Recto? Because I wanted to buy accessories there hihi. Lucky for us, there were two shops still opened since that was around 7PM already. So there, I was able to buy a few items. Now, I want an accessories stand! :p

Where to next? Baclaran maybe.

Sambo Kojin Buffet

While I was blog-hopping last week, I came across this post: http://www.chyngreyes.com/2011/01/sambo-kojin-japanese-korean-buffet.html. It really made me crave right then and there so I texted my friend if she wanted to try it out the SOONEST! Lucky for me, she said yes! I called the store right away to reserve for lunch for last Sunday. I was advised that they only hold reservations until 15 minutes after your reserved time. If you don't show up by then, your table will be given to walk in customers.

The resto serves Japanese-Korean buffet at Php 595.00 per person. It's located at the 2nd floor of Something Fishy in Eastwood. The first floor serves as the reception and waiting area. There are 2 rest rooms, 1 on the ground floor and another at the 2nd floor. It's common CR though :(.

Few minutes before our reservation, we already went to the reception area. There were others who were waiting to be seated already. At the strike of 11, someone accompanied us to our seats. Yes, they were that prompt. And the place was full few minutes after it opened.

We were amazed by the vast selection of food. We took everything we wanted for ONE piece each. However, we were not able to taste everything still because we were already full after 2 rounds. Yes, in those 2 rounds, we haven't tasted everything yet. So, just imagine how many varieties are there. If at first we were so happy eating, after 2 hours, it was already a torture to eat everything we took hahaha. So, lesson learned: just take a few pieces for each round :p.

Their waiters are very attentive. They are fast in taking away empty plates in your table. Also, I love their uniform hehehe. Kagalang-galang silang tignan :D. They also make sure that the buffet area is well-stocked with food. The tempura, which is always a bestseller anywhere, is always available there. If not, you only have to wait for less than five minutes for the new batch.

Overall, I loved the experience. Worth my penny if I may say, even though I wasn't able to try their desserts except for some fruits :p. I would go back there again to try the other items I wasn't able to taste on my first visit hihi.

So, what are you waiting for? Dial the number below and make your reservations now! :D

Sambo Kojin

Eastwood City Walk, E.Rodriguez Jr. Ave.

Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City Philippines

(02) 421-0145 to 46

Please Be Careful With My Heart

Did this a few years ago and I just want to do it again with the new sets of songs in my ipod. :)

***
1. Put your iPod on shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Don't Fade Away (Acosta Russel)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Win (Brian McKnight) - ggggooooo!!!!!!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Love, Thy Will Be Done (Martika)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Weak - weh

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
When You say Nothing at All (Ronan Keating)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Beautiful in my Eyes :p

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Only Hope ahihi

WHAT IS 2+2?
Angel (Sarah Mclachlan) - love this song

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Hold On To The Night (Richard Marx)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Someone's Always Saying Goodbye

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
The Distance (Evan and Jaron) - yes go lang ng go!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Langit Na Bituin (Carol Banawa) - why not

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Uptown Girl (Billy Joel)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
All I Really Want (Alanis Morissette)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Dito Ka Sa Piling Ko (Carol Banawa)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Invincible (Christian Bautista) - why not?! I LOVE Christian! :)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (MJ)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Ang Tangi Kong Kasama (Christian Bautista) - ay ikaw! :p

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Bakit Di Totohanin (Carol Banawa) - wala eh haha

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Soon It's Christmas (MYMP) - ok, wag muna nga...busyness eh

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Pagdating Ng Panahon (Aiza) - and now is not yet the time :p

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
The Way (Clay Aiken) - what for? hihi

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
God Must Have Spent A Little More Time (N'Sync)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
What Might Have Been (Lou Pardini) - kasi malay mo di ba? :p

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
I Don't Have The Hear (James Ingram) - ouch!

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Til They Take My Heart Away (Claire Marlo) - ouch uli!

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
It's Too Late (Carole King) - What?!!! No!!!! :p

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Time Will Reveal (El Debarge) - ok, yes, only time will reveal :p

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Sun and Moon

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Please Be Careful With My Heart (Christian Bautista)


Feel free to tag yourselves though. :)

Hello Farmama :)

I often bloghop and I use Google Reader to keep track of all the blogs I read. One blog that I am most fascinated with is Farmama.

The blog is very personal and she writes about their day to day life in their farm. It's amazing how she manages to create all those stuff for her family. When I was in High School, it has always been my problem to create a decent project for our Home Economics class :p. But seeing her do all those amazing stuff inspired me to at least try creating things on my own as well. Let's see about that. I'll start with altering my own clothes first. :D

Also, for someone who grew up in the mountains and helped her parents tended a small garden, I have always been curious as to how other countries do it - from planting to harvesting to marketing. Reading her blog at least satisfies that curiosity.

It never fails to make me smile everytime I read her posts.

New Name, New Look

Ok, I’ve finally settled with a new blog name/URL. From now on, this blog shall be called Sayote Kingdom.

I grew up in a place where the people’s main source of income, including my family, is growing and harvesting sayote. I even think that our place (and another barangay near us) are the main suppliers of sayote in the city market. I still vividly remember that in my younger years, almost all land parcels, from each one’s backyard to the mountains are planted with sayote so when someone steps into our place, he would feel that he’s in Sayote Kingdom.

Although people from our place already tried venturing into other vegetables, it’s still the sayote that’s closest to my heart so I want that reflected in my blog. Also, this still remains a personal blog of anything and everything under the sun :p.

Together with the name change is of course a new template. :)

Hanove

Sakit ng ulo ko to the highest level. May gusto akong pag-umpugin ang mga ulo sa totoo lang. Pero syempre kailangan kalma pa rin. Pero dahil frustrated ako kanina, di ko na napigilan ang sarili kong magpakita ng frustration. Sakit sa ulo talaga.

But seriously, I don't anymore know how to handle it. In my personal opinion, their conflict is not just because of work. It is already something on a personal level which no one but them can resolve. That they are just using work issues to get back at each other. I don't even know the right things to say because I don't understand where it's all coming from. To me, it takes two to tanggo so I'm taking both of them accountable for tonight's episode. I hope they will be able to settle things SOON!

And can I say this again. Ang sakit ng ulo ko ng bonggang-bongga. Grr!

Breakaway

Breakaway

Kelly Clarkson

Grew up in a small town

And when the rain would fall down

I'd just stare out my window

Dreaming of what could be

And if I'd end up happy

I would pray (I would pray)

Trying hard to reach out

But when I tried to speak out

Felt like no one could hear me

Wanted to belong here

But something felt so wrong here

So I prayed I could break away

[Chorus:]

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky

And I'll make a wish

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget all the ones that I love

I'll take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze

Sleep under a palm tree

Feel the rush of the ocean

Get onboard a fast train

Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)

And breakaway

[Chorus]

Buildings with a hundred floors

Swinging around revolving doors

Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but

Gotta keep moving on, moving on

Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings

And I'll learn how to fly

Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye

I gotta take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun

But I won't forget the place I come from

I gotta take a risk

Take a chance

Make a change

And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway

* Breakaway - this is how I hope my 2011 would be.*

* It will also be all about rediscovering and getting in touch with my inner self.*

* Credits to the lyrics source.*

Welcoming 2011

First things I did in within the first 2 hours of 2011:

• Smiled and shed a tear
• Said a little prayer and wish
• Blogged
• Prepared my budget file for 2011
• Tidied up a little while listening to the healing mass on TV. Didin't know that Jan. 1 is a holiday of obligation since it is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• Took a bath :p
• And will be travelling home in a few minutes

They say that the first thing you do on the first day of the year is what you'll be doing for the rest of the year. If that's the case, then I think I did a good start. :p

Ok, time to get ready for that trip to home sweet home. Everyone's been pestering me for the past 2 weeks on when I'm coming home.

Btw, I hope to come up with a good blog name while I'm at home. :p

* Credits to the owner of the image.*

Hello 2011

Well, hello there 2011. What have you got for me? No matter what that is, I'll embrace it with open arms. Though my heart is not at its most cheerful and peaceful state right now, I am still hopeful for all the best that is yet to come. I wish that this year will be filled with a lot more learnings, more opportunities to improve myself and broaden my horizon and more time and resources to travel! :D

Thank you Father God for the gift of life. I entrust in you my 2011. I am holding unto your hands and asking You to please lead me the way to your will. :)

*Image from here. Thanks!*