Hazel Ceej

Ever experienced being disoriented while traveling? It was not jet lag in my case. Fourteen hours on a Bangkok - London flight with additional whirl changing air crafts in the UAE, and I was strolling around Scarborough Castle early the next day. So the culprit was very likely the stress around my mutilated passport. A few minutes before deplaning in Manila, I learned that our pilot was a lady. I whispered wow as I recalled how the plane felt as if it was gliding playfully on its side through a forest like a merry fairy shortly after take off. And that takes me back to a sweet dilemma: PhD or learn to fly? So as I waited for my cocktail during this year's Valentine al fresco dinner with single friends, I fancied engaging both, but one at a time. Then the server came with my drink miffing me out of doctoral and helicopter reverie to a vision in sea green! You see I deliberately ordered Blue Hawaii for Sally, and what did I get? Ah well, at least the glas...

There's something about going up in the air. Some kind of high. I may have felt homesick watching the buildings grow smaller as the plane zoomed into space, but it's cool joy to welcome the normality of getting back to work. Thursday my passport was sorted. Suddenly I didn't want to think of Bangkok. I packed wondering when I can come back home. But then it's wonderful to see the end of this stress so of course this one tops my faves for the week. There was one final thing I did before dealing with airports and immigration. I went to see my old man. Back in 2005 I defied sorrow that only death could pull off by glaring at it in my mind dry-eyed throughout the burial ceremony. How dare you snatch my father, you massive coronary!  Fast forward to 2014. Holy Garden Matutum Memorial Park was breezy when we walked in. The kiddo insisted that his Tigger relaxed beside my anthuriums. It gets easier each year. Time does heal.     Less than thirty-six ho...

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...