Puto-bao and the year-end

Buying buko juice (coconut water) at the market last Saturday morning, I noticed what looked like puto bumbong inside plastic containers. These were being readied for distribution to kakanin vendors in the market. I didn't get what they called it at first, as it was noisy at the market but saw these also being sold at our neighborhood bazaar viber group so I was able to confirm it is "puto-bao". "bao" here is not pronounced like the Chinese food but "ba-o" referring to the sweet or sweetened coconut meat (bao ng niyog).

We needed some coconut water and some grated coconut for a dish we were preparing. We have our suki at the market where we get these.

The purple color makes it resemble the popular Christmastime treat that is puto bumbong. And the puto part of this kakanin is basically puto bumbong.

It's probably called puto bao because of the kakanin and the 'bao' (sweetened coconut) filling, which is seen here in the photo.

I thought it was nice to end the year with a post on something sticky that's symbolic of ties with family and friends. I guess that's what keeps us sane in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 'ties that bind' as they say remain strong and perhaps reinvigorated during the last weeks when many of us were finally able to get-together, have reunions with family and friends. My social media streams are filled with people having family reunions, parties and traveling, after so many months of restraint due to the lockdowns. Let's just hope that people still practice the health protocols and restraint whenever and wherever it is applicable and not just necessary.

 

Happy New Year to all!

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A vintage Seiko 7T34-6A00 Flightmaster - gold variant

I have two vintage Flightmasters from the 1990s. I wrote about the first one, which is the stainless steel variant of this 4-register watch in 2019. The gold variant is a more recent acquisition that I write about here. Following are photos of this variant.

The watch features four (4) registers [clockwise from the top] one for the chronograph, date, alarm and sub-second.

Case back showing the model number and the serial number. The serial number indicates this watch to have been manufactured in May 1991, making the watch more than 30 years old as of this writing. The 'Japan J' below the serial number indicates this to be 'Made in Japan'.

Side view showing the crown at 3 o'clockm a button at 2 o'clock for the date setting of the right sub-dial, and another crown at 4 o'clock for the alarm setting.

Photo of the movement, which is a Cal. 7T34B

Close-up of the four registers [from the top]: chronograph, date, alarm and seconds

Wrist shot

My two flightmasters are among the more desirable quartz chronographs

Although its not stated explicitly on the dial or the case back, this watch is Made in Japan. Later models will have 'Japan Movement' or 'Movt/Movement Japan' on the dial and the back of the case. This will also state "Cased in China", indicating where the watch was assembled. Being 'Made in Japan' adds to the watch being collectible.

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Christmas 2021

From our family to yours...

A Blessed Christmas! 

A year ago and reeling from the impacts of Covid-19 in our lives, we couldn't have our usual homecomings. This year, after having our vaccinations and even boosters, things are looking better and hopeful. We already look forward to the New Year and perhaps family reunions just like old times. For now, we are still exercising some self restraint vs. large family gatherings. Perhaps 2022 will be better...

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First lunch date in almost 2 years - Swaadisht Indian Restaurant at the Uptown Mall, BGC

I use the almost 2 years loosely as it's really just more than 1 year and 9 months since we last had a lunch on a date. We just finished checking our new "tambayan" nearby and decided to have lunch at the Uptown Mall at Bonifacio Global City (BGC). We found Swaadisht at the outdoor dining area of the mall and just across from our condo.

Restaurant exterior - we chose to eat al fresco as it was cool that day and a nice breeze was blowing in the area. We also noticed people already eating inside the resto and didn't want to risk it indoors.

A snapshot of our lunch

Our favorite Tandoori chicken

Chicken curry masala

Garlic naan

Saffron basmati rice

There were many people at the mall, confirming what our friends told us about people generally coming out after what was probably the longest series and duration of lockdowns in the world. Worrisome are people taking their children below 5 years old out including babies. We still don't know much about Covid-19 variants so its pretty risky for children to be out and exposed. For all we know, even if they don't get sick, they may be carriers of the virus and cause others to become sick. While we look forward to eating out more often, my mind and conscience tell me we should still exercise restraint. I wouldn't want myself or others to (re)experience being sick with Covid-19. It might end up the last experience one could have.

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A vintage restored Seiko Laurel

A recently received a vintage Seiko Laurel that appears to be older than my other Seiko Laurel. The seller declared this as having a restored dial (not modified or modded) so I knew what I was getting when I purchased the watch.

A Seiko Laurel with a restored dial

Side view showing the unsigned crown

The other side view

The watch back shows the Suwa emblem and the serial number indicating the watch to have been made sometime April 1961.

Close-up of the restored dial. I thought this was nice restoration job except for the style for the 'S' in Seiko and the color. I have yet to do research whether the Laurel had blue dial variants like this but you can easily Google similar watches with the 'S' being a more complicated script.

Wrist shot

Seikosha 11 jewel movement (photo from the seller) - I have not timed the watch to see how long it lasts when fully wound. I will just indicate that information here as an update when I get to do that.

 

I got this from a seller in Vietnam. It took quite some time to be shipped as he was not located in either Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, which would probably have made shipping faster. I also noticed that it took about a week after arriving at the international dispatch center before they were able to send the item from Vietnam.

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Get your booster shot!

With the easing of restrictions leading to people coming out and going around in addition to the typical commuting trips, there is generally an increased risk of infection. Add to this the new Omicron variant that scientists have only started to study. Meanwhile, booster shots (a third shot for those who received the likes of Pfizer, Moderna or Sinovac, and a second shot for those who got the J&J vaccine) are now being administered after studies have found that most Covid-19 vaccines' have reduced effectiveness after 6 months. Boosters will increase your resistance to the virus and will greatly reduce your likelihood of hospitalization and death should you be infected. I got mine, a shot of Moderna, in late November at the university.

Snapshot of the vaccination center at the UP Diliman gymnasium. The gym is properly ventilated with the help of huge fans installed at the ceiling and giant industrial fans strategically located on the gym floor.

There is ample space for physical distancing for the queues.

The vaccination process is well organized and staffed with many volunteers not just from the UP community but from the barangays as well.

Articles are just coming out with the assessments of booster programs abroad and the results so far are promising. Perhaps regular boosters will help us develop immunity from Covid-19? We should remain vigilant and rely on the scientific evidence from studies as well as the new, more promising options vs. Covid-19 (Pfizer and others are developing pills vs. Covid-19). Meanwhile, you should get your booster shot and continue exercising restraint from unnecessary travel. That's our contribution to fighting Covid-19.

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A vintage Titus Nautoscaph diver watch

The vintage diver part of my collection includes several vintage divers. Among them, I think one of my favorites is easily this Titus automatic that was originally rated for 30 atm or 300 meters. That rating places it among other more expensive, more popular and perhaps more desirable and collectible watches. The latter include the Rolex Submariners, Omega Seamasters, Tag Heuer Aquaracers, and Seiko Marinemasters. Here are photos of my Titus Nautoscaph:

The watch features a black dial with a rotating external bezel and day complication. Hour markers are dagger or bullet shaped. The bezel markings are already faded but one can easily discern the numbers.

Side view showing the large crown. It is not signed but it is the original crown for this model.

The other side view also showing a vintage watch that is in very good condition

The watch back showing it to be originally rated for 30 atm (999 feet or 300m) depths. There is also a serial number at the bottom.

Inside this watch is an ETA Cal. 2472 running at 18,000 A/h with a potential power reserve of 42h.

Photo of the movement and the inner side of the case back

Here's another photo of the movement. The ETA Cal. 2472 dates this watch to the 1960s. The watch beats at 18,000 A/h with a potential reserve of 42h. It was made from 1956 to 1974.

Close-up of the dial

Wrist shot

The watch is quite reliable as it keeps time and basically has a decent power reserve (its still running overnight). You can wear it daily but since I have many requiring wrist time, I just made it part of my rotation. I'm not sure if Titus still makes these at present. What used to be a Swiss company is now owned by a company in Singapore that retained the brand Solvil et Titus. They do use Swiss ETA movements though to somehow keep the Swiss legacy of the brand.

I have already several vintage divers in my collection that includes a Glashutte and several Seikos. No, I don't have a 62Mas or an Apocalypse, and those remain elusive to me as I would prefer those to be in good condition but I know that they will be so expensive. There are many other collectibles that are more affordable so perhaps I will stick to those for now.

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Persian food delivery - Behrouz Persian Cuisine

We 'quietly' celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary early this week. As we were suddenly busy with work and errands, and we were still hesitant about going out for lunch or dinner, we decided to try ordering Persian food from Behrouz, which is a well-established and popular Persian cuisine restaurant. They had just opened a branch along Sumulong Highway, which we imagine had a nice overlooking view of Metro Manila. It is located along a stretch where there are a bunch of restaurants including the landmark Padi's Point. We learned that they had some nice meal set packages that can be delivered to your home and decided to try it out.

Naan, basmati rice and a dip made out of finely ground chickpeas and olive oil

Beef and chicken kebab off the skewers - the tomatoes and onions are also there

A couple of weeks ago, we finally got to lunch out after our condo turnover. We decided to eat at an Indian cuisine restaurant at Uptown Bonifacio. I still have to write about that but will be drafting and posting that article soon. There are some similarities between Indian and Persian food but the kebabs (usually associated with Turkish food) had a distinct taste, which I thought was Persian rather than Indian. I had enjoyed Persian food while I was studying in Japan as a close friend always brought some for sharing  during our lunches at the university. Thankfully, his wife was good at cooking and they shared with us their curries, kebabs and even sweets made out of pistachio and peanuts.

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Vintage Seiko 6217-7000 World Time - Tokyo Olympics

I earlier acquired a rare and much desired and collectible Seiko 6217-7000. However, this was the overstock version that was released for the 1968 Mexico Olympics. I didn't know that months after, I could finally get my hands at the Tokyo Olympics version of the watch.

This model of Seiko's first world time watches features a white dial with an inner rotating bezel for the time zones, a GMT hand and a date complication.

Side view showing an aftermarket replacement crown

The other side view

Case back showing the Olympic torch and the serial number indicating this watch to have been made or released in October 1964 (the Olympics were held from October 10-24, 1964).

Another photo of the case back

Inside of the back cover of the watch

Inside the watch is the Cal. 6217A movement that is the same movement in the even rarer 62Mas diver

Close-up showing what was once a linen textured dial. The inner bezel has also seen better days but perhaps this is what makes the watch collectible - its being original and weathered.

Close-up of the bottom of the dial, which doesn't shown the caliber and model numbers but instead has "Made in Japan" at the 6 o'clock marker.

Wrist shot. I changed the strap that came with the watch as I thought it wasn't appropriate for this classic. It was a black minimalist leather strap. I changed it to a brown leather nato but will probably get a nice Hirsch strap for this soon.

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Room with a view at the Fort/ BGC

We recently received the keys to our new condo unit at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC). It took a while for the turnover as the project was delayed by the pandemic when construction had to be halted due to the lockdowns. Fast forward to the present and we can now start enjoying this investment. We just have to fit out the unit as the finishes and furnishings are quite basic. Here are some of the views from the condo.

The view from our new condo unit - those are the distant mountains of Antipolo in the background. The wide road below is 38th Street.

A close-up reveals the Pasig River and the C5 bridge.

The 4-leg intersection is 38th and 9th, while the 3-leg intersection is 38th and 10th. The low buildings are part of the Uptown Mall.

While we won't be residing there, we would probably consider it another home away from home, and an option should the need arise for us to stay in the area. I, for one, might be using the unit if the pandemic situation stabilizes and I would need to travel again. BGC is conveniently close to the airport and an ideal place to stay prior to or after a flight. Traffic can be very bad and before the pandemic, what used to be an hour's drive from/to Rizal to/from the airport can take 2+ hours.

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