Looking for a comet after sunset

I was looking forward to catching a glimpse of a comet that's supposed to be visible to the naked eye after sunset. Unfortunately, the weather had not cooperated and it was usually cloudy during and after sunset when the comet was supposed to be most visible. Still, the sunset provided this splendid cityscape.

The photo was taken from one of the remaining vantage points from our village. Soon, the place may no longer accessible. I saw the adjacent lot was already being cleared and probably for construction of a new house.

 

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Do It Yourself (DIY) Krapao

I bought a pack of Krapao mix last April when we were in Bangkok. I finally was able to prepare the Krapao last December for one of our dinners during the break.

I got this pack from the airport prior to our travel back from Bangkok last April.

We just followed the instructions for cooking the Krapao. I made sure we had all the ingredients.

The result was actually good (not to be too proud of it) as we all enjoyed this for dinner.

And so I asked my brother to get me a few packs of Krapao mix when he traveled to Bangkok last December. I now have my Krapao mix to satisfy my cravings for what is probably my favorite Thai food.

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Morning photos at the marina

Last December, I was a bit early for an event at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The venue was a bit far from home and even on a Saturday, it tool more than an hour to get there. And so I usually factor that distance and left early so I won't be late for the event. We arrived early as traffic was light and there was more than enough time to have a decent meal in the area. We decided to stop by the Harbor Center where I knew we can get a nice breakfast (we only had our hot drinks when we left our house). While waiting for our food, I took the opportunity to take the following photos.

Various vessels at the Manila Yacht Club. The conditions that morning gave a mirror image of the buildings and boats. It was cool but not windy or breezy so as to cause ripples in the water.

These sailboats were probably the same ones I also saw around the same time last year.

I was wondering if this was one of those migratory birds that were typically in the country while it was winter wherever they came from.

 

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Ice cream from Cabanatuan City

We enjoyed this ice cream from an small company out of Cabanatuan City last Christmas Day. It was my sister who discovered the ice cream as she shared that her staff were the ones who 'discovered' this.

Six flavors in 6 pints that my brother ordered for our dessert last Christmas Day

Puno's Ice Cream is from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

I liked best the Avocado Macapuno and the Salted Caramel Pretzel flavors. I tasted the others, too, and they are okay including the Coffee Crumble that I would have likely to rate as my number 1. That doesn't take away the pleasure of enjoying these frozen delights from Cabanatuan via a store in Marikina.

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Pine trees from Benguet

Our souvenirs from our recent trip to Baguio included a couple of plants, trees to be exact. I was already eyeing the plant shops along Marcos Highway when we came upon a small one by the roadside in Tuba. This wasn't one of those more commercialized shops but rather a house selling some fruits, vegetables and plants. Another vehicle stopped ahead of us but I got to the shop first to inquire about the pine tree saplings on display. The other guy inquired if the trees could grow in Bulacan. The lady selling them replied that they will with proper care. Bulacan, of course, is in Central Luzon and mostly plains, and therefore was of a much lower elevation than Baguio or Tuba where these trees have thrived. I thought if they can grow in Bulacan then they will definitely survive in Antipolo, us residing in the upper part of the city.

And so I ended up getting a couple of pines to take home. Here they are:

The pine tree saplings the morning after we returned from Baguio.

This is before we transferred them to pots. These are not the actual pots as we bought larger ones. We plan to grow them there and perhaps have them as a sort of bonsai at home.

 

We actually have 3 pine trees in pots near our front door. These have not grown taller than our garage ceiling. I assume that keeping them in pots over 10 years have stunted their growth at least in terms of height. We hope to have similar results with the two we got from Benguet.

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Salad suggestions for lettuce and strawberries

We had enough lettuce and strawberries to have them for salads with our lunches and dinners for several days after we returned from Baguio. Here are some of the salads we enjoyed this first week of January.

Coral lettuce and strawberries from La Trinidad, Benguet

Lettuce and strawberries with cantaloupe melon

Lettuce and strawberries with Fuji apples

I usually eat my salads without any dressing but if I did use dressing, I would usually go for balsamic vinaigrette or sesame soy dressing.

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Salad ingredients from La Trinidad, Benguet

We decided to go to the Strawberry Farms in La Trinidad, Benguet. The last time we've been here was in 2017 when our daughter was 3 years old. She didn't have a good memory of that trip and wanted to go to see for herself the farms. She was also eager to get some strawberries and eat strawberry flavored taho there after we related to her that she like strawberry taho when she first tasted this 7 years ago.

The Strawberry Farms are in La Trinidad, which is the capital of Benguet province and just next to Baguio City. The farmers are assisted by Benguet State University, which is just across the national highway from the farms.

Rows of strawberries and lettuce are planted side by side in La Trinidad.

Newly packed strawberries

Farmers packing the strawberries before selling taking them to stores for selling.

Farmer selling lettuce at the farm

Lettuce soon to be harvested

We ended up getting lettuce and strawberries for us and my parents. We requested the farmers to separate the strawberries that we can already enjoy while in Baguio and packs to bring back to Antipolo. I will post about the salads we've been having the past week that were mostly composed of the lettuce and strawberries from our recent trip.

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On the Katuray and its health benefits

Our staff at the office gifted me with three Katuray saplings last December. These were grown from one of three trees in our laboratory complex. I took them home and transferred them to pots. These are already flowering despite their size. The plant, particularly its flowers, is said to have health benefits. I have yet to try them with our salads but our staff testifies to the health benefits. In a previous post here, I recall posting about blue ternatea and the benefits derived from eating the flowers (usually as part of a salad) or drinking as tea (cold or hot).

I decided to transfer them to large pots rather than plant them on the ground. This is so we can control their growth. On the ground, they can become fairly large trees.

Close-up of the plant and flowers

Here's an article on the health benefits of Katuray: https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/food-and-leisure/2024/06/30/2364485/health-benefits-ways-cook-katuray-flowers

Here's what Google AI generated when I searched about the benefits of katuray:

"Katuray, also known as the corkwood tree, has many health benefits, including:

• Lowering blood pressure: Katuray can help regulate high blood pressure and keep arteries flexible. 
• Boosting immunity: Katuray contains selenium, which can help boost immunity. 
• Good for the heart: Katuray is good for the heart. 
• Supporting fetal development: Katuray can support normal fetal development. 
• Beneficial for skin: Katuray can be beneficial for the skin. 
• Preventing Alzheimer's disease, migraine, and weakness: Katuray can help prevent Alzheimer's disease, migraine, and weakness. 
• Helping with coughs and colds: Katuray can help with coughs and colds. 

Katuray is an edible flower that is native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It is rich in protein and vitamins B and C. Katuray can be served in salads. "

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Mango and sticky rice from Thailand

My brother traveled to Thailand and arrived before New Year's eve. I asked him to get me some mango sticky rice at the airport. I knew this delicacy was available at Suvarnabhumi Airport and if properly handled will survive the trip back to Manila. Instead of buying just one though, my brother got three packs.

Three packs of mango & sticky rice from Bangkok

This is the regular variety with white sticky rice.

This one's got pandan flavored rice.

And this one's got taro-flavored rice.

I ate the pandan stick rice pack first and enjoyed this as my New Year's Eve dinner.

The pack comes with pinipig (or rice crisps) and sweetened coconut milk.

As I could not finish all 3 and I estimated they will probably spoil soon, I shared the other packs with our staff as it seemed I was the only one in our family who enjoyed the mango and sticky rice. I usually order this as dessert whenever I'm in other Southeast Asian cities. We have our version here and usually with 'suman' but its 'biko' that should be the equivalent of the sticky rice as shown in the photos above.

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New Year 2025 Smog

We woke up to a thick smog yesterday. The smog is a product of the New Year fireworks the night before and the rains and clouds brought about a shear line and the inter-tropical convergence zone currently affecting the Philippines.

The view from our extension deck

The view at street level at 6:30AM

The smog persisted until the noon time. I advised our staff to wear masks in order to reduce their ingestion of the polluted air. I myself canceled my usual walk and mid-morning could feel a slight sting to my eyes when I did some work at the garden. We had to get the air circulating inside the house with our fans as we also had to open windows for ventilation.

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Binge watching: Midnight Diner

Last Christmas eve and New Year's eve, I was binge watching on Netflix. Perhaps among my favorite series is another one I discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic along with Ted Lasso, which I like to rewatch. Midnight Diner is about a small restaurant in the Shinjuku District of Tokyo that's open only late nights to the early morning (hence the title). The central character is the owner, "Master", who only has few items on his menu but will make whatever you request He has some regular patrons; various characters including a bar owner/manager, a photographer, a group of single women, several salary-men, policemen, a sports enthusiast, a stripper, a mysterious fellow (who's usually cracking nuts or eggshells) and Yakuza gangsters. Each episode features a new or old patron with their favorite meals. The stories often are about their meals, why they eat them, why they like them, what they associate the food with. The Master has a soft spot for those who are often underdogs or who experience hardships or challenges with their personal lives.

Screenshot of the two series currently on Netflix but is said to be gone soon

It is easy to identify or associate with one or more of the characters in the series. Perhaps my familiarity with Japan adds to my connection with the series and its characters. Midnight Diner is probably among my current top five together with Seinfeld, Frasier, For All Mankind, and Ted Lasso. Sadly, it is supposed to end its run on Netflix so I am rewatching the series maybe for the last time at least on this platform.

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Happy New Year 2025!

We close 2024 and greet 2025 with one of my favorite views - Minato Mirai 21 including the giant Ferris Wheel. I took this photo back in October 2013, when I took a sentimental journey to Yokohama.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year! May your 2025 be prosperous, peaceful and blessed with happiness!

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