Plantita

Before the 'Plantita' was a thing in our country, I was already into this hobby but most them are fruit bearing plants. While browsing my past photos, I couldn't imagine how many plants we had in our backyard before. So I want to share it on my blog.

I used to be obssessed in planting sunflowers because I saw how beautiful they were in UP Diliman. Unfortunately, I was not able to plant many sunflowers. But I'm still happy since they grew and the flower blossomed. 

Oregano and Santan

Hibiscus

I forgot the name of this plant. It has bulb and  I believe this plant belongs to the lily family. But the flowers are really beautiful. Until now, we still have this kind of plant in our yard.

We also had plenty of fruit bearing plants. I love to eat fresh veggies that's been picked from our garden. It's organic and we were able to save a penny.

Here's some of our plants. 

I love spicy foods that's why I always wanted to plant chillies. We still plant chillies until now. As we all know, they can be expensive in the market.

We always have 'malunggay' or moringa in our backyard. They are full of nutrients and can be mixed with a lot of different Filipino dishes like 'monggo', 'ginisang sardinas', 'tinola', or 'dinengdeng'. 

Not everyone likes the taste of bitter melon but it is healthy and I like eating it's leaves. I just boil the leaves and add a little bit of 'bagoong' and 'calamansi'. 

Papaya. They're perfect for 'tinola' and 'dinengdeng' or 'inabaw'.

We used to have plantains. They were from Ivory Coast but unfortunately we were not able to maintain them. 

Eating green leafy vegetables are healthy. I also love to eat kamote (leaves) salad mixed with tomatoes and onions. 

We had 'calamansi' plant. It had lots of fruits before I left to work abroad that's why we didn't have to buy to the market. We just pick the fruits when we need it. Calamansi is a good source of Vitamin C. I used to love making calamansi juice or shake.

I also eat okra that is boiled, steamed or fried. I dipped it in bagoong or soy sauce with calamansi.

Lastly, our eggplant. I love to eat eggplant omelet for breakfast. I also like it fried and dipped it in soy sauce with calamansi.

Gardening is really therapeutic and it's a good hobby. We are able to pick fresh fruits from them. Fruits and vegetables are getting expensive so it's better to plant at home even if it's in a small pot. These days, we have to be practical and wise in saving money ang to being healthy. 

Crabs in Coconut Milk

 

So my friend and I decided to cook 'ginataang alimango' on the weekend since we were both craving for this dish. I actually love eating this kind of dish once in while. We went to the market nearby to buy crabs and other needed ingredients. 

I find cooking this dish easy. First, I washed the crabs to removed the dirt on their shell. Then I boiled them. Then I started to prepare the string beans, squash, onion, garlic and ginger.

I started cooking by sauteeing the garlic, onion and ginger. After that, added the squash and string beans. When the veggies are a little bit cooked, I added the crabs that I boiled earlier. Then I put the coconut milk. I used the powdered one. I just mixed it warm a cup of warm water before I poured it in. Lastly, I added salt and pepper to taste. That's how easy to cook it. Then we finally ate it. We ate a lot of rice because I enjoy this dish with rice. 

We had sliced pineapples for dessert. They are really sweet.

Unfortunately, I accidentally cut my thumb while peeling the squash. It's really hard peeling this vegetable. A part of of thumb nail was also cut and my thumb bled a lot. As of this writing, my wound is find now. Hahaha!

4 Things To Know For Your First Visit To Australia

 4 Things to Know for Your First Visit to Australia

Australia is a tourism hotspot for many travellers worldwide and is known for its vibrant cities, breath-taking natural landscapes, and friendly locals. According to Camper Champ, Australia welcomed about 9.3 million tourists in 2019. The travel experience can be quite daunting for anyone - especially first-time travelers - so it’s necessary that you discover helpful insights about your destination. This helps to guide your expectations so you’ll learn how best to take advantage of your experience. So, are you considering a visit to Australia anytime soon? Here are some things you should know about.

1. Australia is a vast country

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Although Australia might look small on the map, it is the sixth-largest country on earth, with a landmass about 50% greater than Europe! As such, it takes considerable time to get around in the country. Car rentals are popular among tourists, especially those who visit in groups because renting a van is more convenient than public transport. Many travel experts suggest taking advantage of Australia’s vastness to go road-tripping since it is the best way to see the country. Therefore, if you are in the country for a long break and interested in an adventure, you can rent your car and take a classic Aussie road trip to experience Australia first-hand. 

2. Mind the sun

Did you know that Australia has the highest skin cancer rate globally? Indeed, Australia has a thin ozone layer, making the sun harsher. Therefore, bringing along adequate sun protection is standard advice that travel experts give to people visiting Australia. Take your hat, sunglasses, protective clothing, and sunscreen to prevent sunburn and heatstroke. Also, many parts of the country record above 40°C temperatures several times a year, so it would be best to do some weather-forecast research about the regions you will be visiting to guide your packing. Skin damage is a real threat in Australia, so prioritize sun protection while packing to avoid any health problems after.

3. Must-see destinations

There are several destinations in Australia that many travel experts and seasoned travellers agree that you should not miss while in the country. From stunning beaches to beautiful rainforests, there is something for every type of traveller. You can visit the Great Barrier Reef to see the world's largest reef and go diving in it as part of your holiday plans. Also, what's a trip to Australia without visiting the Sydney Opera house? With over 40 shows weekly, there's something that would undoubtedly interest you. Uluru, Bondi Beach, Daintree National Park, Sydney Harbour bridge, etc., are other destinations you should consider visiting for a remarkable Aussie experience.

4. Money matters

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Some travel experts think a daily budget of $100-$200 for food, accommodation, and activities should be your estimation for your Aussie trip, so keep this in mind when drawing your budget. Also, rentals are typically listed weekly and not monthly like in most of Europe, so check with your travel agent before booking accommodation and rentals to avoid oversights that may lead to overpayments. Finally, due to Australia's high minimum wage, Australian services like bars and taxis don't expect tips from you, so you can conserve those tips to fund other areas to enhance your vacation experience.

Road Trips: What to Think About Before You Head Out!

 

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Road tripping around the world is one of the most important things you could do to expand on your love of travel, but also to expand your horizons. A road trip can be a perfect way to explore new places, trying new things, and potentially rediscovering who you are. But the perfect road trip comes with a lot of preparation. What are some of the things you should think about before you head out?

Upgrading Your Vehicle

There are two options here. If you are bringing friends along, you will need to rent a campervan. This has plenty of benefits. You can split the costs but also, when you are in a car, you can feel in close quarters, so you may think twice about who you travel with. You can very easily hire a motorhome online, and it saves on accommodation. However, if you are going by yourself or with one other person, think about upgrading your vehicle just to make sure it can keep the distance. Make sure that you upgrade your wheels to guarantee that they are able to withstand long journeys over various terrain. You may have an old second-hand vehicle or you may consider purchasing a new vehicle, but a few simple tweaks might be all you need.

Don't Travel Light

A road trip is an adventure, and this means you got to pack accordingly! You don't know what sort of situation you might end up in. You may be driving for 12 hours at a time, or you may be racing to get to the accommodation before it shuts for the night. Whatever happens, make sure you've got an emergency case of supplies for the worst-case scenario. Essential accessories like water bottles, adaptors, batteries, and even a gas stove will make sure that you've got the basics covered. And always make sure that you've got a phone charger to hand. Whenever you are stopped off in a lay-by, take the opportunity to charge your phone while you eat so you can get to the next destination. And it's important to remember that you can't always rely on your phone for directions. Make sure you have an actual map in your glove box!

Plan Your Accommodation Sensibly

Part of a long road trip is about veering off course and following your nose. The best thing you can do if you are planning a lengthy road trip is to find accommodations that are within driving range. So if you find yourself getting fatigued, you've always got the opportunity for a good night's rest. In addition to this, you need to make sure that the hotels are affordable but also have a good reputation. If you are driving a motorhome or a caravan, find out the best campsites for your budget. Booking hotels in advance will always mean you get the best deals. But make sure that you scour the reviews. You don't want to be up all night worried about cockroaches when you've got a long drive ahead of you the next day!

Prepare Your Body and Brain

A road trip is fun, but it can be exhausting. You've got to make sure, before you head off, to guarantee that your mind and body are in peak condition. You don't want to start your journey with a low immune system or feeling unwell. This can make the journey even more arduous. Take the opportunity before you go to have a physical check-up and if you have a medical condition, make sure that you are given the okay from your doctor. A long road trip means engaging in so many different activities. And if you plan on doing vigorous physical activities like surfing or hiking, make sure that your body is ready. Start to prepare your body for the activities. There is nothing worse than feeling exhausted at the end of the day and waking up feeling worse than the night before. You have got a lot of driving to do, which is why it's so important to make sure you are as healthy as you can possibly be. If your driving isn't up to speed, you should think about strengthening this skill as early as possible. If you plan on driving very long distances during all manner of weather, at dawn or dusk, developing your ability to concentrate and react quickly is of the utmost importance.

Leave Your Problems at Home

Going on a road trip is about throwing caution to the wind, but only to a certain extent. It's important to plan your trip carefully. But you shouldn't be too obsessed over a schedule. It's important to allow yourself a certain amount of freedom. It gives you the opportunity to relax and have fun. A road trip has to be about going away from your normal life and giving yourself the opportunity to become a different version of yourself. And this is something that we can forget about. If you're going with a friend, you may start to rely on them more to get you through difficult situations. But the great thing about a road trip is that it can be good and bad in equal measure, although the outcome is always the same: you've learned and developed yourself. Take the opportunity to leave your problems at home. 

A road trip is like a long weekend in many ways. It is the escape from the normal life you need, and it's important to point out that this is different from a typical vacation. A road trip isn't just about having fun, it can push you to your limits. There are so many possibilities and adventures. A road trip is something that you can plan meticulously or you can leave to chance. The best thing you can do is to be prepared for the worst but expect the best. A road trip will always be something to cherish because you will learn so much in a practical sense, but you will also learn about yourself on the road.

Spicy Fried Rice

 

I am a rice lover and I believe that's one of the reason why I've gained so much weight. I used to cook fried rice whenever there's leftover in our kitchen. I find it so delicious when rice has a flavor. What I do is I just mixed it with whatever food that's available in our kitchen. So in the picture, I cooked the leftover rice with scrambled eggs and water spinach. Then I just added some soy sauce. I love eating super spicy foods that's why I also added some chilli. This is so easy to make! 

Realizations

This pandemic has given me a lot of realizations. Somehow, my perspective in life has changed. I learned to treasure time even more because we don't know when our time in this world will end. It can be soon or it can take longer. So I try to finish things or my tasks right away. 

This event of my life had made me really crazy. There were times that I felt like giving up. I'm sure a lot of you had felt the same way as I did. Who wouldn't? 

But on the other hand, I had the time to reflect on myself. I had the time to make better plans for my future. But because of this pandemic the one thing that I was about to achieve was delayed. So I just keep on telling myself that I'll just enjoy this moment and just try to do different stuff at home to keep myself busy. I'm sure there are some things that I would miss when this pandemic when is over. 

Spending Weekends in the Farm

Staying at home most of the time during the pandemic can be very boring and unproductive. We need to go out to breathe some fresh air and get early morning sunlight. So when the the MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) was lifted, my family decided to go to the farm to have some relaxation and take a break from reality that COVID19 is still around. That's what we needed at this time.

This kind of scenery gives relaxation to my eyes since I'm always in front of my laptop. According to studies, looking at greeneries is soothing in the eyes. It is indeed true. 

We had lunch there and it's really fun to eat grilled pork and hotdogs there. It was indeed very relaxing to eat in a very nice environment under a very nice weather.

We had a walk around the farm. It was really safe there since there were no people around the area. Above are ginger plants. I love to make ginger lemon tea especially when the ginger is really fresh.

I really like this plant. I wish I could plant them when I have my own garden. I love its flowers since they are unique.

This is my first time see an aloe vera flower. I didn't know that aloe veras bear flowers too. They look so nice, right?

I just love this view. It's all green. Imagine yourself sitting and doing nothing but to just watch the sun set. It's what we all need once in a while since most of us are stressed because of the pandemic. 

Ampalaya con Carne

 

Not everybody wants ampalaya or bitter melon. Some hate its bitter taste. But I do love eating ampalaya. I know the taste is not that appealing but I love eating veggies. Besides, this is very healthy. It has a lot of good benefits for the body. It helps regulate blood sugar, lowers cholesterol level, good for skin and hair, etc.

One of my favorite ampalaya dish is ampalaya con carne. I find it very delicious and very easy to prepare. I just sauteed the garlic, onion and tomato. Then I added the ground meat (can be pork, chicken or beef). When it's almost cooked, I added the chopped ampalaya. I seasoned it with salt and pepper. Sometimes, I add oyster sauce. And voila! It's done. 

If you don't like it to be very bitter you can soak the chopped ampalaya in a water with salt. 

Fresh Mushrooms

It has been raining these past few days here in Metro Manila and I remember when my father was still alive, he used to harvest fresh mushrooms around the banana trees. He also used to grow mushrooms when we were young that's why he has good knowledge on which edible mushrooms he should pick. I was able to take a picture of his last harvested mushrooms.

They were so fresh and I immediately cooked them. As an Ilocano, the very first thing that came to my mind was to cook 'Dinengdeng' since mushrooms are also a good ingredient for this Ilocano dish. 

I just mixed it with unripe papaya and saluyot. It was so good and delicious. I will always remember my father everytime I see that type of mushroom. 😢

Papa's 8th Year Death Anniversary

Today is the death anniversary of our father. How time flies that it's already 8 years have passed since my father left. I still think about the moment when he was still here and I wished he didn't left so soon. So we always remember him not just on his death anniversary but also on his birthday, all souls' day and even if there's no special occasion. We also visit him in the cemetery whenever we have the time. 

To be honest, it's hard when a parent died. I always think about it and sometimes I couldn't help but just cry about the loss of my father. It's really different when someone so dear to us has died. :(

Hello September

It's been 6 months since I just stayed at home waiting for my life to become normal again and I guess it wouldn't be anytime soon. But my hopes are still high that this shall end. We just don't know when or how soon it is. I'm sure it is as I believe that nothings is permanent/forever in this world. So I hope that the first -ber month will give me surprise. That my dreams are also there and it's on process already (fingers crossed.)

Well, I'm just spending my time for something productive like finding a home based job and reading something so that my quarantine days wouldn't go to waste. 

I hope everyone's hanging on just like me. Life is not really easy in times like these but always know that we'll all get through this. 

I Miss Eating Mango and Singkamas

There were those times wherein I used to buy mango and 'singkamas' (turnip) everytime I go to the mall. I just love eating sour fruits like mango and the 'singkamas' will balance the sourness that's why I eat both of them. But I don't always buy them at the mall because it's more expensive. I always buy at the market so I could get more. 

Unfortunately, during this period of pandemic, I can't go out anytime I want since some of the markets have flocked with many people and we could be susceptible in contracting the virus. Also, there are no open stores in the mall. How I wish we could be back to normal soon so we could be back to were old normal lives and enjoy the things we used to do. 

Eating Samgyupsal in an Authentic Korean Restaurant

This was the time when unlimited samgyupsal was not a trend yet. It was served by set with unlimited kimchi. 

I believe this is an authentic Korean restaurant since the menu has Hangul and I saw a Korean serving food.

They served thinly slice pork meat because it is easier to chew. 

What I like about eating in an authentic Korean restaurant is that the side dish are really korean and the soup was included. The food was really delicious.

Mashita!

When Can I Travel Again?

It’s just so sad that I will not be able to leave the country earlier as I expected to work abroad this year because of the worldwide pandemic called COVID-19. Our plan to travel to Palawan or Boracay before I leave the country has also been cancelled. It’s just so upsetting that I won’t be able to do that as planned. But on the on the other hand, I’m still blessed that I have the chance to go abroad even if COVID-19 is still present in my country since my documents were already processed before the lock down was declared on our country. So that means I must be prepared. I remember the time when I was just a first timer. I was cramming in buying things that I ended up buying things that I really didn’t need since I can buy those stuff when I get to my destination 

My thoughts were so disorganized that I forgot to buy luggage bag for myself so I had no choice but to borrow from my sister because I already had no budget to buy one. So this time, they are first on my list. I learned my lesson well and I should only buy things that I will really need. I am planning to buy samsonite luggage set which is my favorite brand.  I like samsonite bags because they are sturdy and reliable. In fact, my mom is also using that brand of luggage. 

 
Since it's hard to go the mall these days, I will just check Rakuten for different samsonite luggage designs and color. The best part in buying a luggage set is choosing the color. I don’t want to use the common color which is black because that’s what I always see in the airport. I want my luggage to stand out so that I can easily see them. I used to have purple and I’m thinking of buying pink, baby blue or yellow this time. What do you think guys? 

 

Just Do Good No Matter What

I know this is not new anymore but it's really a slap to the face when it happened to me. Indeed it's true that I shouldn't have expected something in return if I'm nice to someone because we'll never know if they would also the same way as we are doing for them. In spite of that, I hope and pray to God that He would guide me to continue doing good to others and no to think of the bad thing that the person had done to me. I pray that I would move on and release this negativity that I am feeling right now. I know that everything happens for a reason. Amen...

Taal Vista Hotel

Before I went abroad, I used to visit Tagaytay a little often and went to different places there. I remember the time when I when there and passed by Taal Vista Hotel. Well I didn't spend my night there but I just went there to visit the hotel because it's on of the oldest in Tagaytay. I just stayed there for a few hours to have some drink. I love the weather in Tagaytay specially during -ber months because it is cold and windy there. 

Of course, I took some photos with the hotel's background. I what I really enjoyed there was walking outside the hotel with the Mount Taal's view while having a drink.

And the at the evening, we try other restaurant just to check their food and still enjoy the weather. I forgot the name of the restaurant that I visited but we ordered Paella there. I loved their Paella and I can remember we almost finished it. 

We also ate balot there. There was this vendor who go around the restaurant to sell balot. I love to eat balot on a cold weather. 

I THINK I SHOULD START READING AGAIN

Post: http://www.pinkyjhaney.com/2020/03/i-think-i-should-start-reading-again.html

So I would hope I would be able to read them while I have enough time. It’s the perfect chance, and we might not ever get this much time again just to read and arm ourselves with information and entertainment in this way. If you think it’s about time and you’ve got a pile of books to get through, but your glasses have been gathering dust or have bent out of shape, there are plenty of sites like Eyeglasses.com to guarantee you have the opportunity to make time for yourself at home!

Good Old Times with Friends

One of the things I miss if there is no COVID-19 is hanging out with my friends. It's just so ironic because I was very busy doing a lot of important things when there was no pandemic and now that I have a lot of free times, I cannot meet my friends because it's not going to be that safe. I'm just so sad because of this kind of situation.

I always hang out with my friends when I didn't have work yet. We do food tripping and some drinking. But that stopped when I got busy doing my RTW business and until I went abroad. When I went back to the Philippines, I became busy with a lot of stuff  but somehow whenever I have free time I get to meet my close friend for some drinking, food tripping and of course telling stories about random stuff.

I just want to share these old photos during those times when I had a lot of time with friends. Here, we were just having drinks in our house. Our life was so simple then because we had no permanent jobs yet. We just had some drinks and listened to music.

We also played with our dog - Butchie. Sad to say, he's already in heaven. My friends like him so much because he knows some tricks and he's such a sweet doggie.

We also played with my makeups and pretended like we were models. Hahaha!

Summer in Subic

This is another throwback wherein I went to Subic. This is how I missed going to the beach as well as going out with friends. It's been 3 months already and the world is still dealing with the pandemic COVID-19. It's just so sad because there were plans and dreams that had to stopped as of the moment. I am really hoping that this would end soon. I was really excited that the year 2020 would be the year where I will be achieving one of my dreams. 😢 Well, I will never stop praying that this will end soon. 

Anyways, for now I will be sharing my throwback pictures when I went to the beach in Subic. This was a long time ago so I don't remember the name of the resort but I can say that the place was nice and I would love to go back there.

The sand there was smooth and it was clean so I enjoyed swimming there.

And I loved watching as the sun sets. It's one of the things I love doing when I am at the beach. It's so serene and calm to just sit down, relax and watch the sun sets.