Within the perimeter of this space I proudly call home are two fruit-bearing avocado trees. One variety, with egg-shaped fruits, has been here for decades - even older than my sons. The younger one produces big pear-shaped fruits with skin turning brownish when they ripen. Both varieties  have creamy, buttery flesh. Great for salads, ice cream, or shakes. The flesh tastes so yummy even just eaten the way it is.

This time of the year the fruits are far from maturity yet.  A few may be ready for harvest in a few days. The rest will take a month more or even two. Looking up the tree with a lot of young fruits hanging on the branches gives me a certain sense of  delight. 

they hang like cute bells

swaying with the wind's whisper

young avocados

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christmas five months past
bells still cheerfully dangle
avocado tree

Thailand has been in my dream list of travel destinations in Southeast Asia for quite a time. A little over three weeks ago this dream came to reality.  Thanks to the generosity of a friend who sponsored my trip with her.

A visit to Bangkok is not complete without seeing its most famous landmark – the Grand Palace. Built in the late eighteenth century, it used to be the official residence of the king of Siam, now Thailand. Around the turn of the twentieth century Thai kings stopped living in the palace. Every year however, royal ceremonies and other official events are held within its walls. These facts were relayed to us by our English speaking Thai tour guide.

The palace complex houses several spectacular buildings. The beauty of the architecture with intricate details failed not to dazzle my eyes. Situated in one corner of the outer court is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. So revered for its holiness, no one is allowed to enter the temple with his footwear on.  And... no clicking of cameras inside.

To my readers who have plans of a Bangkok trip don't ever miss the Grand Palace Tour. 

summer day in may

grand palace at a distance

holds me in great awe

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thai culture inhaled

as we gaze at old buildings

artwork so dazzling

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footwear left outside
holy temple so revered
not a shot allowed

A beautiful sight greeted me this morning upon getting up from bed. Across my bedroom window, perched on a gumamela twig was a bird. Directly below was a flower smiling sweet as the rays of the sun came through.

The wind blew and the twig merrily moved up and down.  The bird stayed perched on the twig happily chirping and seemingly enjoying the ride. In less than a minute the bird flew away to a place my eyes could not anymore follow. Such fleeting joy but it sure was a lovely start of my day.

across my window

a twig moving up and down

bird on a joy ride

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yellow-breasted bird

sends me a cheerful greeting
lovely day ahead

after a siesta

 aroma of hot coffee
pulls me out of bed



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reading a good book

sipping coffee with no cream
the telephone rings

Time spent at the beach always give me a different level of joy. Simply gazing at the sea and the vast horizon has such relaxing effect on my being. So soothing it is to hear the music of the waves rolling to shore. So refreshing it is to be able to stretch my eyes far and wide where the sea meets the sky.

Having my twin grandsons with me at the beach spells a lot of fun. How they love playing on the sandy shore - running around, digging mini swimming pools or building whatever they fancy. But nothing beats the experience of enjoying the shallow sea water with granny!

A smile is on my lips as I recall this happy moment.

midday at the beach

grandsons enjoying the ride

waves and granny's back

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cute waves of laughter

 playing horsey with the twins

midday at the beach

After a long chat with my son today I felt drawn to open old albums. Leafing through the pages was like walking down memory lane. There I was, lovingly looking at every picture and reliving in my mind the moment associated with each one. Happy moments they were.

Pictures of my three sons in their childhood years are just so precious. They make me smile. They make me laugh. And they make me cry.

For this post I have chosen a photograph so dear to my heart. 

from an old album

a pic that stirs memories

missing my dear mom

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faded photograph
sweet smiles of mother and son
my eyes get misty

Still reeling from last Monday's experience at Badiang Spring Resort, here's me with yet another post. This time the waterfalls takes center stage.

The stairway leading to the two pools at the resort separates the flow of cascading waters from an  underground freshwater spring. Twin pipes feed the spring waters to the pools which eventually find their way out into the sea. The not-so-high waterfalls, less than twenty feet,  is on the right side if viewed from  the two pools.

After a good swim, bathers are given the luxury of enjoying a blissful water massage from the waterfalls. Feeling the heavy pounding of spring water on my head, back, and practically all over the body was such refreshing fun. If not for the distance from home, I could go for a twice-weekly massage from this striking waterfalls.

Visit the resort and have your own experience!

 noonday heat no more

enjoying  body massage

 water from the rocks

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 dozens of children
sound of giggles and laughter
drowned by waterfalls

In yesterday's post about Badiang Spring Resort  I mentioned about how the large pool was only half-full when we arrived. Surprisingly, not a iota of frustration crept into my being. Here's why!

Coming down the stairway leading to the two swimming pools one can hear the joyful blending of sounds. Water rushing to the large pool, waterfalls splashing on hard surface, giggles and laughter of children, rustling of leaves, chirping of birds. What a concert of nature!

While waiting for the large pool to be ready for swimmers I spent my time appreciating my surroundings. With ears enjoying the concert of nature and mouth kept busy munching on siniguelas peddled nearby, my eyes too had their fill. 

So soothing is the rich foliage of trees on the rugged cliff shielding the pools. Accentuating the scenery is the sight of spring water from the mountains merrily cascading through an opening on the cliff. On the right side of the stairway is the striking waterfalls. A few meters from the pools is the pebbly seashore where one gets a breathtaking view of the horizon. 

A few shots here and there. Thirty minutes slipped by unnoticed. The pool is ready!

leaf-laden valance

curtain of blue sea and sky

flying bird escapes cam


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beauty of nature 
unfolds before my own eyes
blue sea meets blue sky

Summertime is when beaches are so crowded with bathers and picnickers. For latecomers, chances are that all huts in a beach resort shall have been taken already.  The exciting option?  Lay down a mat right on the beach under a makeshift shade of tree branches!

On our way back home from our town fiesta, my party of three decided to go to a swimming pool instead. It was still mid morning but the sweltering heat of the summer sun was already on. We had two choices: Roxas Park in Garcia Hernandez and Badiang Spring in Valencia. Since the first one is out of our way home we opted for the latter. What a refreshing option!

As expected, the big swimming pool for adults was not ready yet for swimmers when we arrived. Not ready in the sense that it was only half-full yet. Waiting was no problem for we knew it won’t take long for the pool to be filled to overflowing. With tons of spring water cascading right into the pool, in about thirty minutes  it was almost full.

Swimming in a chlorine-free pool is a real treat. More so if you see where the water comes from and you know that water in the pool is always fresh. This is what Badiang Spring Resort offers - spring water flowing freely in abundance. For a very minimal fee one gets to enjoy a double treat - swimming in the pool and water massage from  the striking waterfalls.

tons of spring water

cascading to the blue pool

bathers watch and wait

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spring-water-filled pool

glistens in its cool freshness

time to beat the sun

It is a known fact that we lose so much muscle as we age. In fact, by the time we reach 70 we may only have half of our mass muscle left. The younger ones may not feel threatened yet by this staggering reality. However, for one who is already advancing in age, this is undoubtedly a serious concern.

I have seen in my own parents how weakness and frailty comes with aging. A comforting thought though is the assurance that  this can be counteracted, as studies have shown. Do I have to wait till I'm well above 70 before starting on a fitness program? I feel the time to act - for building up bone density and muscle - is now! Who for that matter wouldn't want to age gracefully? 

Considering its benefits, I have decided to embark on a simple but regular exercise. Aside from my morning and evening walks, I have befriended my pair of blue little dumbbells. No need to go to a gym for the real strength training. Right at home I spend 15 minutes daily sweating it out with a 3-pound weight on each hand. 

Senior women and candidates out there, pick up your own pair and let's drive osteoporosis away! 

before dinnertime

halfway through her exercise

a voice at the gate

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up down up down up

barely sweating...sudden pause

special friend arrives

In the late eighties to the early nineties Nintendo games were so popular.  With three sons in the family, our family computer then was barely given a chance to take a breath whenever they were around. On weekends they used to invite friends to come to our house to play. Video games gave them such fun!

Very seldom did I get the chance to play on the family computer during daytime. It was only in the silence of the night that I grab my time to take over the thing. I remember staying glued to a game even till the wee hours. Of course, these happened only on weekend nights when there were no pressures from my teaching job. Really so addictive! I can only laugh now at the reminiscence.

It tickles me to think that I am having this flashback. The trigger? The boat-shaped moon! Up in the evening sky it floated, poised like that famous gobbler in one of the highest-grossing video games of all time. The distant stars seemed like scattered pellets. Yes, my mind saw something else – Pacman! 

early evening sky
 smile of quarter moon tickles

happy memories

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golden quarter moon
laughing at the distant stars

 pacman comes alive

across the swampland

fearless we tread the long bridge

creaking sound unheard

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 while crossing the bridge

i hear ripples down below
birds chirping blend in

waiting for our trip

my eyes are drawn to a wall

a ring one can't wear

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it brightens the wall

catches the eyes of many

gem-studded flower

with hands intertwined
moss-covered stairway we climb
such challenge...such fun 

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slippery stairway

determined...we climb with care
lest we lose the top

dusk just setting in

we watch the dancing fountain

our hearts dancing too

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colorful waters 

dance to the music on air

gasps of joy from all

windy afternoon

i watch a pair of lovebirds 

caged yet so happy

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watching two lovebirds

fondly caress each other

i hear my heart sing

scattered reflection

on a bedroom glass window

the sun...distorted

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stunning reflection
the sun on a glass window
holds me in great awe

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sun-dappled window

squinting eyes can't dare focus

dazzling yet humbling

sound of rolling waves

blend with the cushioned stomping 

of horses racing

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 crests and troughs of waves 
they move to shore unafraid
 galloping horses

waning quarter moon

laughing sideways in the sky

my gaze it still holds

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in the still night sky
westward pointing crescent moon
sends its waning smile

birds of prey fly high

across a pretty blue sky

the camera clicks

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captured in motion

two birds swiftly flying by

a beautiful shot

Today is Labor Day - a legal holiday in the Philippines. Coincidentally, it is the city fiesta of Tagbilaran, the capital of our  province of Bohol. City residents joyously honor the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint. If a birthday, anniversary, graduation , or any special occasion calls for a celebration then, more so for a fiesta. It is a time for thanksgiving, a time when family members working in different places come together to join the celebration. 

The city fiesta of Tagbilaran ushers in the fiesta month in Bohol. Almost everyday during the month of May there is a town or barrio celebrating a fiesta, some even simultaneously. For one who is not conscious of his cholesterol level, going around Bohol in May is indeed tempting. The sight of a whole pork lechon on the fiesta table is common in most households.

Happy fiesta Tagbilaran! Viva Senor San Jose!

 

fiesta spectacle

pigs roasted by the dozen

no one left wanting

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amidst the frenzy
of fiesta preparations
pork lechon parade