Snacks: Alfort Mini Chocolate

I received this pack as a souvenir (pasalubong) from a colleague who recently traveled to Japan. Though it is now available locally, it is still a thoughtful gift and one that brings back memories of Japan. I used to buy these at the coop store or the convenience stores at railway stations for a quick snack at school or at home.

Alfort mini chocolate provides a quick and satisfying snack.

Details on the chocolate topped biscuits are at the back but this came from Japan so there is no English translation on a sticker like what you'll find from similar products sold in the supermarket.

Inside the box is a tray of biscuits wrapped in foil.

Opening the foil wrapper, the biscuits are revealed.

The chocolate is basically on top. Here's what the flipside looks like.

These biscuits provided me a quick satisfying snack for when you want a 'sugar high' during the day.

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These shoes are made for walking...

This is what the bottoms of my running shoes look like:

I got these shoes last year when the Adidas store in the nearby mall went on sale.

While the shoes were supposed to have been made using recyclables, they surely performed as I used this pair almost everyday for my walks. At times, I have used them as casual wear when going to the office or perhaps the supermarket. They are definitely comfortable and could have been in better condition if I had not used them almost daily. I think the pair served their purpose but I still use them for my daily walks. I probably will get another pair soon.

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Another Seiko Navigator Timer GMT watch

It's been a while since I've written about a watch in my collection. I sort of slowed down and currently content looking and browsing rather than buying. I have several Seiko GMT watches including four world timers; two of which are from the time of the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. I had one Navigator Timer from October 1976 that I acquired more than 3 years ago. And I say 'had' because now I have two of these Seiko 6117-6410's. The latest acquisition was again by chance when few seem to give attention to this older model with imperfections on the dial.

Seiko 6117-6410 with imperfections on the dial particularly around 6 o'clock to 11:30.

Side view showing the crown at 4 o'clock

The other side view

 

This one's an older model that was probably manufactured in October 1972. I assume that the case back is originally with this watch and not a replacement. If this was true then this is a 52-year old watch as of this writing.

This piece was made in October 1972 as indicated in the serial number.

Close up of the dial showing also the hands in good condition. Note that unlike the other one I have the writing above 6 o'clock has 3 lines - the top states Navigator Timer, the middle states Water 70m resist and the last shows the Suwa logo. The middle line is absent in the later models of this watch.

Wrist shot the first time I wore the watch.

Based on my using the watch for one week straight, I would say that this one's in tip-top condition and did not lose or gain significant time. The inner bezel is also working on this watch unlike my other one, which fortunately is fixed at the correct 24h position for the inner bezel.

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"Cacao for Schools"

In the previous post about a chocolate, I included a photo of the inside of the packaging or wrapper. Here are more details and close up photos of a "Cocoa for Schools" program:

The entire inside of the wrapper is dedicated to the advocacy.

How the company engages the farmers and communities.

The program is committed to improving the lives of cocoa farmers and their families in several towns in Tanzania.

Photos of improvements in the supported communities

Website and QR code for more information on the program

I recall that there are similar advocacies in the Philippines and particularly in Mindanao where there are many cacao farmers now growing cacao for local chocolate production including those of Malagos and Auro. These are worthwhile causes and should also help the industry overall.

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Filipinos - chocolate covered biscuits

An interesting 'pasalubong' from a friend is what I thought to be a chocolate bar at first but turned out to be a pack of chocolate covered biscuits.

 

A friend gifted me with this pack of Filipinos after her return from a vacation in Spain.

Nutrition information

Manufacturer's information. This is a product of Spain. There are 15 biscuits in the pack.

Manufacturing and expiration dates

I think we didn't store it under the conditions where the chocolate would not have deteriorated like this.

Each biscuit is in the shape of a donut.

They still tasted good though more on the sweet side for the chocolate. The taste was like that of Knick Knacks snacks, which are also chocolate covered biscuits.

 

I remember many years ago this was a topic of some discussion. It wasn't really as controversial as some people wanted or perceived it to be - making it appear as insulting to us. It's not and actually delicious.

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Dried fruits from Thailand

My wife and daughter bought some dried fruits for pasalubong to family and friends when we were in Bangkok earlier this year. We've enjoyed dried fruits from Cebu, particularly the mangoes from there but I have to say that the best dried fruits in terms of variety and quality are the ones you can get in Thailand. That includes the dried durian and durian chips that you can get in Thai stores. Here are a couple of packs we got and enjoyed. I wasn't able to take photos of the other varieties but they were really good and didn't last long after opening (i.e., we finished eating them immediately as they were so delicious).

I still think we have the best mangoes in the Philippines but the dried mangoes from Thailand were right up there in taste and quality. Note, too, the "extra low sugar" indicated in the package. I don't recall we have those here but perhaps we should as mangoes typically contain a lot of natural sugar and people watching their sugar probably will hesitate getting these unless they read the label.

The dried pineapples were also great. Again, note the "low sugar" on the packaging.

We will definitely get these the next time we're in Thailand or if we see them in local stores. I don't exactly remember the price of a pack containing four varieties of dried fruits but they were not cheap and not expensive. This is probably the higher end products as you can also get dried fruit in the markets or supermarkets in Thailand that will be cheaper.

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Chocolate drink from Thailand

On cool days like today, I usually drink hot chocolate in the morning. I found a box of chocolate mix that I picked up during a trip to Bangkok earlier this year.

Amazon's Dark Choc chocolate drink mix

 It's supposed to be a dark chocolate with rich and intense taste. I thought thought that it wasn't rich or intense enough for me. Even for a cup, it wasn't as satisfying as the Swiss Miss dark or non-dark chocolate drinks. Still, it is sufficient for quick hot drink on a cool morning.

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Another unagi don at ABCT, Sakura Circle

Our daughter asked me what was my favorite Japanese food. I replied unagidon. Unagi, of course, is eel. I first ate this while in Japan and that was definitely a good meal. Unagi can be tricky and I've tried maybe twice in local restaurants with one being somewhat malansa while the other was overcooked. They also didn't get the sauce right. Fast forward to a lunch a ABCT's East Ridge branch and I found authentic and delicious unagi don. Since then, I've enjoyed this meal from time to time at their Sakura Circle branch (we don't go to East Ridge often and it is a bit far).

Unagi don at ABCT is prepared by a chef trained in Japan

I will definitely come back for more of this dish!

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Farewell furry friend - Mocha, 2014-2024

We are saddened by the sudden passing of our beloved dog Mocha. We loved to call her Mokey and she responds to both names, wagging her tail wildly as she approached us. We always joked remembering how she and the wife immediately bonded when we picked her up from a backyard kennel.

Mocha liked to cuddle up close to us and appreciated a good scratch or rub.

This is her bored look. This is also her tired look (e.g., after a long walk). And also her exasperated look (i.e., when we're not giving her attention).

 

Mocha always sleeps like this anywhere she is at our home. They say it shows that she knows she is in a safe place and trusts those around her. She is survived by three of her children who remain with us. All three are mixed and fathered by Boots during the pandemic. We had Boots and the 2 other male dogs 'fixed' after that.

This is Mocha with her 'partner' Boots, a maltipoo given to us by a good friend. These two were partners in crime, so to speak. Boots misses Mocha and seems to be looking for her. I imagine he probably thinks she's at the vet or somewhere and will be returning home soon.

Mocha during her younger days.

Mocha and our daughter practically grew up together. They played together, walked together and goofed around together. Mocha survived a tumor that we had surgically removed almost a year ago. We had thought that she would live longer than our former lab Troy but it was not to be. Though we weren't able to bring her to the vet (who were also surprised by her sudden passing) after her demise, we suspected that perhaps she had a heart attack or a stroke. There were no signs that she would pass last Monday. I was sorry that I was not able to walk with her one last time or give her the scratches and massages that she liked so much. She will definitely be remembered.

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Undas 2024

This weekend we remember our beloved who passed away. I am sharing recent photos from my visit to our departed relatives at the Cabatuan Catholic Cemetery.

Main gate of the Cabatuan Cemetery

The Cabatuan Mortuary Chapel is a heritage site

The view behind the chapel near where our relatives are interred.

Inside is a simple altar aside from the tombs

Many of our beloved relatives from my father's side of the family rest here at different locations around the cemetery. The main tombs are near the mortuary chapel. Their names are listed there:

Nay Andang, an uncle and other aunts whom I have no memory of.

Tay Adoy is the first cousin of my father and Nay Vacion is the sister of my mother. My parents met at their home in Manila when they both lived there while studying in Manila.

Nay Agrong, Nay Pilar and Manong Edgar

Nay Paring who passed away early this year

Nay Nene, Nay Idad, Tay Puren (the Korean War veteran), my Lola Pinac (mother of Tatay) - Nay Nene's name is mispelled. It should be Enriqueta. Lola's date of passing is also incorrect. It should be December 23, 1983. I still remember us receiving the telegram informing of her passing on Christmas Day of 1983. That was devastating news for us then.

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