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.
Dec 6, 2020
Plantita
Dec 5, 2020
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.
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.
Australia is a vast country
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.
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.
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.
Money matters
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.
Nov 27, 2020
Road Trips: What to Think About Before You Head Out!
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.
Nov 6, 2020
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!
Nov 3, 2020
Realizations
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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.
Oct 29, 2020
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.
Sep 27, 2020
Ampalaya con Carne
Sep 19, 2020
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. 😢
Sep 6, 2020
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. :(
Sep 1, 2020
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.
Aug 9, 2020
I Miss Eating Mango and Singkamas
Jul 30, 2020
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?
Jul 6, 2020
Just Do Good No Matter What
Jul 5, 2020
Taal Vista Hotel
Jul 3, 2020
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!