Hazel Ceej

As if the delay of my passport release was not enough, the office of Academic Affairs emailed to remind me that my work license was expiring. So much for being happily stuck at home, sweet home. I should probably start pleading for a miracle. There had to be something to make up for this black cloud over my holidaying head. I tried looking around and it's wonderful to find joys and faves despite all this trouble. Ever tried going around looking for something you fancy eating in a downpour? Life in the slow lane. You can afford time to do what you want the way you want it. It was like stepping back into a world where deadlines don't exist. No alarm clocks. No meetings. Just friendly vendors selling fruits under trees in front of their houses. Tuesday I sorted out a couple of beneficiary issues on my health insurance. If you are familiar with how paperwork is done in the Philippines, you would consider yourself lucky if you got things done in one go. This time I did and...

Camp Mariano is a summer camp along the Pan-Philippine Highway to Koronadal in South Cotabato. Next to the camp entrance is where locals or visitors to the province spend lovely afternoons - enjoying a dessert called buko salad Buko is a Filipino word for young coconut . There are variations among ingredients. This one includes ube ice cream and jam, sweet banana and leche flan. Around Camp Mariano are little huts selling coconut vinegar and salted fish; root crops like camote (sweet potato) and turnip. The sign on the tree house says "Live Christ , Share Christ ." Having lived in a Buddhist country for 16 years now, I felt a bit strange but cheerful reading that. And then I knew something: I was reconnecting with Christian culture . I was home. Linking with ABC Wednesday * Blue Monday * Mellow Yellows

It has been raining a lot in my part of the world. There have been storm signals again. We are crossing our fingers. I take a walk around the neighborhood. i . Everything smells fresh   Water World ii . Sunshine bathes the plants iii . In the afternoon, grey skies appear again. But as a pluviophile I have fun thinking, "ta-ta it looks like rain..." Skywatch The next day I sort out a little problem with my passport. Having it replaced takes time. I re-book my return flight to Bangkok twice. This 'glitch' is causing issues at my job though I choose to be optimistic. Whatever happens I hope I am ready. iv . So here comes Mr. Helpful of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He appeals my case in the Manila office and apologizes profusely for the delay although it's not his fault. That is enough for me. I am grateful for the positive attitude, and I celebrate that with a choco harmony treat. (Aunt Ludi, Robinson Gensan ) v. I'd like to...

Boracay is a resort island in the Philippines, administered by the Philippine Tourism Authority and the province where it belongs - Aklan. The island is approximately 196 miles south of Manila. I visited it on a whim in 2013, a year after it was awarded, among several other awards, the best island  in the world by Travel + Leisure, an international travel magazine. "Apart from its white sand beaches, Boracay is also famous for being one of the world's top destinations for relaxation. It is also emerging among the top destinations for tranquility and nightlife." (Wikipedia)   Ruby Tuesday Blue Monday  xxx Mellow Yellows   xxx Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

When it comes to shopping, I am happiest among books, shoes, and vintage stuff. This week I did books. Exploring book covers is so much fun. The hours just fly. Kinokuniya, Siam Paragon A special place to browse and buy books: inside a ship. I loved it then; I'm enjoying the memory now. Skywatch : Logos Hope Weekend teas with books in places like this make the afternoons lovely. Reflections :  around Agalico Active culinary department : in most parts of the Philippines Christmas begins as soon as the months start ending in 'ber' so that's September for us. And then in December, right when Christmas parties in schools are over, it's non-stop cooking in kitchens at homes, at least in homes I know. Food, glorious food. But right now it's something simple. I call this the lull Clam chowder soup in a bread bowl from Au Bon Pain I must have mentioned this in previous faves and joys posts that I would be home for Christmas...

An activity in the academic calendar was not translated to English for me to adjust the course outline in time. Someone's syllabus is going to be shaken up.... The thought of sitting for hours through untranslated details bothered me but then -   Reflections : weekend dinner view It turned out we would join the main campus (of Thonbury University) in celebrating ASEAN Day which means no stressing over multiple regressions, figure interpretations, stuff like that for a day. A much welcome break! A trip that involves feeling like being in the country or at least signs that some countryside is close by is great in my books. Skyscrapers and crazy traffic disappearing as the bus speeds to the suburbs - ah! My excitement was like To Grandma's House We Go.   Skywatch : homeward bound Speeches, a quiz bowl, food fair and demos later, I found a spot to wait for students to get into the buses that would take us back to the city. Water World : Electrical Enginee...

Organized by Ribbee Boutique Ukulele Paradise, the third Thailand Ukulele International Festival took place at Siam Paragon in October 2013. I just happened to be passing by. But the instrument reminds me of those afternoons under a Balimbing tree with a cousin who taught me to play a few chords. I wished the piano, which I hated at the time (lessons and practice sessions were stealing play hours), were as easy as you only needed to learn a few chords and you're accompanying someone singing several songs. The artists in this festival played complicated tunes I never heard before. It was fun. Do you play the ukulele or have one at home? ABC Wednesday Our World