Old fashioned Shakey's?

Last Saturday, we attended a party celebrating the birthday of one of our daughter's friends at school. Lunch was at Shakey's so I was reminded of an unfinished article on the popular pizza parlor. I first ate at Shakey's in the 1970s. They had this branch in Ali Mall in Cubao where they had bands playing even during lunch time. You'd have difficulty making conversation in that atmosphere but the food was good and it was usually a family lunch out. That was the first time for me to eat pizza and spaghetti. The spaghetti was originally served on a skillet or metal pan. Later they did away with the skillet but have returned to serving single order spaghetti on a pan instead of a plate in some branches. But we really went there for the pizza - the thin crust kind and not the pan pizza that later became the craze as promoted by a rival company.

Spaghetti served on a skillet or pan

The Greek salad is a more recent addition to their menu. I think they have at least 3 salad variants to choose from now.

Mojos are still a favorite and somewhat a guilty pleasure.

Still my favorite is their basic (and classic) mozarella cheese thin crust pizza

Close-up of the pizza

There's a somewhat amusing poster at the restaurant. Shakey's was established in the US (in California) serving Italan food (pizza) and German beer in a English pub environment. That's the Shakey's Pizza Parlor I remember going to as a child.

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Comfort food on a hot day (saved by heavy rains in the evening)

It rained last Friday. It was strong and long enough to cool our area after another sizzling day. The rains are welcome as the past weeks saw the mercury rise to heat wave levels. I would normally go for some comfort food to conclude the work week. It just so happened that it rained while we were picking up our daughter from Kumon so we decided to just eat out for dinner at one of our favorite places.

Our go to place in Antipolo for Japanese food are not the branches of chain restos found in the nearby mall but this restaurant/izakaya near the provincial capitol - ABCT.

Zaru soba is probably my all-time favorite. I actually like it slightly more than ramen. But that's just me.

Cold soba is definitely a treat for me on a hot day. I also like the cold somen but somehow I could not find this in the menus of most Japanese restaurants here. It's only in Japan that I have enjoyed somen as it is supposed to be prepared and eaten. Another food I like and first enjoyed in Japan during the summer is unagi (eel) usually as unadon. They have this at ABCT and I order it sometimes (sometimes only because it is expensive) and they always get it right. Their chefs were trained in Japan and they are very particular about their dishes being authentic. I already look forward to the next visit to ABCT.

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Balut

A couple of Saturdays ago, as we were visiting my parents' home in Cainta, a balut vendor came by. My daughter liked to eat balut so I ended up buying a couple for her. Balut is fertilized egg embryo steamed or boiled. It is usually sold with the unfertilized variety that is referred to as penoy. Many people are squeamish about eating balut once the developing chick emerges when you remove the shell. I myself only drink the 'soup' and never ate the chick. My daughter isn't so squeamish so my folks were quite amused to see their apo consume 2 baluts that evening.

Balut is usually sold together with penoy. Many balut vendors also sell chicharon or fried pork skin. The latter goes well with vinegar.

 

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Flowers at our office's garden

For this Sunday, I just wanted to share photos of the following flowers found at the garden being cared for by one of our colleagues, who is a distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering. He collects and has in his own garden a variety of hibiscus or gumamela (as we refer to them). The roses in the photos are various varieties of China Rose. I forget the names of the hibiscus but some were gifts to him from friends abroad (Hawaii?) and had to pass through quaratine before being released and delivered to our office. He decided that these be planted and nurtured at the garden fronting our main building.

Vietnam roses

Pink China roses

Peach China rose

More Vietnam roses

Pink China rose

White China rose

 

My colleague plans to label each plant as many of us have been asking him for the names. I will share those in another post.

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Breakfast at South Palms

It's been almost a year since our last travel to Panglao in Bohol. The last two times we were there, we stayed at the South Palms resort. The resort used to be part of the expansive Bohol Beach Club; at least half of the largest resort in Bohol (I think it may still be one of the largest if not the largest now based on the land area and beachfront.).

South Palms' buffet has an excellent spread. It actually reminded us of the buffets at Shangri-la hotels and Sofitel's famous Spiral.

There are many choices for everyone including those who might be on certain diets or who prefer to be vegetarian.

It's very tempting to get so many items and indulge (i.e., overeat).

Local dishes include humba, camote (sweet potatoes) and dried fish.

You an even have pasta or noodles for breakfast

Breads include pan de sal. There are also pancakes and waffles.

Various kinds of sticky rice delights.

Puto Maya is basically glutinous rice served with minatamis na bao (sweetened coconut).

Puto maya, mangga at pritong saging na saba (sticky rice, mangoes and fried saba bananas)

You can have a heavy breakfast in case you're touring afterwards and don't want to worry about getting hungry and finding somewhere to eat. Or perhaps you opt to have a light lunch later instead. What is definite is that the buffet is well worth it whether you're staying at the resort or visiting for breakfast. 

 

Note: South Palms recently changed their name to Oceanica. I hope they retained the buffet and the quality of service at the resort.

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The Antipolo Shrine at night

May is usually a festive month in Antipolo. There was another Alay Lakad last April 30 until the morning of May 1 to usher in the month long Flores de Mayo in honor of the Virgin Mary.

The shrine is bright and the surroundings are also well-lit.

Traffic is not so heavy after 7:00PM.

There are many people walking including students still wearing their uniform after what may be 7:00PM dismissal from their afternoon shift at school.

It is not surprising to that there are many commercial establishments around the church. City Hall is also nearby and the area is practically the set-up of old towns in the country where the church, city hall, the market, and schools are at the center.

There are also many vendors around and their numbers multiply from the late afternoon to the evening.

This area is the center of the city, which in other instances would be referred to as "bayan". The term translates to town or even downtown depending on the context. The presence of the shrine ensures there will be many people even in the late hours of night or early mornings. 

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Lazy Sundays

Sundays are supposed to be rest days. Or perhaps we also regard these as family days. I think my sentiments are best expressed by our She-ra.

I prefer Sundays at home, listening to music, watching something like a good series, reading a nice book or comics, catching up on my hobbies, or maybe doing some writing not related to work. Sundays aren't supposed to be work days or spent working.

Wouldn't we like to be just sleeping or relaxing on a Sunday?

Happy Sunday!

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Walking around the College of Science Complex, UP Diliman

For the second week in a row, I had to go to my office using a coding car (i.e., a vehicle affected by the MMDA's number coding scheme. Like the previous week when I decided to do my morning walk around the Academic Oval, I decided to do my walking on campus. This time I decided to go to the other academic oval - that of the National Science Complex of the College of Science. Here are some photos I took while on my morning walk.

The road leading from Velasquez Street to the National Science Complex is like their University Avenue.

The road leads to the administration building of the College of Science. The fork in the road leads to either side of their oval road.

Corner of a road leading to the Institute of Mathematics building

There are many open spaces around the complex and many native trees planted to offer shade and perhaps cooler temperatures.

The Institute of Chemistry has two buildings in the shape of Benzene rings. Other buildings also have curious shapes consistent with the Institute's field.

Foot path from Chemistry back to the oval

There's a playground on the complex that also has exercise equipment. Unfortunately, many if not all are in a state of disrepair and not usable for exercise.

I found walking around the Science Complex to be more pleasant. There were fewer people there, more shaded areas and less vehicles going about. Friends say they also prefer this over the Academic Oval of the campus where more people and vehicles are. Hopefully, the Science Complex remains like this and not become as crowded.

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27 year old sunglasses

I lost my cheap polarized sunglasses during a recent trip. I think I might have left it in a Grab car. I have one pair in each of our vehicles. I usually wear them while driving during the day time. This helps reduce glare and protect my eyes. Unlike 2 pairs that were previously damaged when I took them to the beach on separate occasions, this inexpensive pair proved to be more resistant to damage caused by environment in beaches so I took it on trips especially those that required me to be outdoors. My line of work requires me to go on field work so these glasses help protect my eyes.

So with one pair lost, I had to bring out a 'vintage' pair that I acquired when I was still studying in Japan in the 1990s. The pair offered UV protection but was not polarized so it was not exactly good for driving especially against glare. I didn't drive while I was in Japan so UV shades were enough for when I had to wear them outdoors. Nevertheless, I bring these with me for now while I have not acquired a replacement for the lost glasses.

Branded sunglasses I acquired in Yokohama back in 1997 - I recall buying these at a shop along the Motomachi shopping street in Yokohama, near where I went to church on Sundays.

I keep these glasses as a back-up but rather not use them to preserve them as a souvenir from my life in Japan. I actually had another pair while I was there but lost those while traveling on one of our natsu zemis (summer seminars).

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Fiery sunset

We start the month of May with a sunset photo I took last week at one of the vantage points in our village.

The colors make it appear as if the sky was on fire. That pretty much describes the temperatures these days when we experience extreme or record highs each day. We can only hope the situation improves and that the heat wave will finally relent. It usually starts raining in May but cloud seeding aside, there seems to be no significant rains in sight, at least for now.

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