What I Did On Sinulog Sunday...

Potato overload.

 Baked potato lasagna - instead of pasta for the layering 

(pardon my lack of term I have never been a cook EVER!)

they put on thin round slices of potatoes :)

Jumbo fries.

And two glasses of iced tea. JK!

The other one's for Tim of course! :D

All food from Potato Corner (near cinemas 5-8)

PIGGED OUT... ONLY.

Yes. It's true. No street roaming and photos of the Sinulog dancers or the Sinulog Festival Queens.

Just food my dears. Sorry to disappoint you of my Sinulog exploits...

It's not very colorful like the others.

Who could resist? 

I've been meaning to eat barbecue... since! 

I think, before that, it's been months since I've had a taste of that mouth-watering foodie!

I have to stop really BECAUSE I have to get serious with my diet.

How could I win the Biggest Loser brigade if I go on eating with no ounce of control at all?!

hyelp,

~tSin

Craving Come True

~Lasagna and the sweetest smile ♥

After weeks and weeks of craving! The Boyfriend finally had it: Da Vinci Pizza's Lasagna Lite! And I swore Da Vinci's Pizza could have given it a more appropriate name... Uhm, something like Spisagna :) A fusion of SPInach (which I think is the primary ingredient of it!) and laSAGNA. But The Boyfriend sided with the local pizza master, saying that the word "lite" adds a special lure to the already very inviting food and I couldn't agree more! Point well taken. This Lasagna lite live true to its name -- very healthy and light to the stomach indeed with only all imaginable vegetables in it plus the lasagna pasta or whatever you might want to call it cuz I really don't have any idea at all to be honest! Anyhoo, this dish has seriously become The Boyfriend's favoritest dish at the local pizzeria. Well, he's really good biases for Italian food and would like to kid often that he had been an Italian in his past life and therefore has an old Italian soul living in his modern body. *sniggers*

Now, I could worry about eating when the sun rises tomorrow :)


good luck, someone said,

~tSin


P.S.

And I hate it when someone wants to ALWAYS know EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE!!! It really is very, very, very annoying?! Ugh, ugh, ugggghhhh!

P.S.S

I hate more those people who spreads negativity as though their whole life depended on it. Double uggghhh!

Saturdispatchdate: Co Jordan

Friday night surprised us with an announcement that we are going to have our quarterly (or actuallywhenever we want to have it and once the company releases our outing budget! haha!) team outing right after shift! We were like... "WHOAH! Are you serious?" It was originally scheduled for the 3rd of October. The organizers then explained to us that the place we've chosen to hold the team outing (or eating, for this matter) is fully booked on our desired deck. Bummer. Since we didn't have any other things to do that day we agreed to just go with it. It was actually an impromptu adventure! And I enjoyed the spontaneity of it. I always love random stuff! This was so random I felt my feet kicked off an hour after they told us the news... except that we couldn't go anywhere yet until end of shift; in fact, there were still a hundred calls to struggle with since the system was being upgraded.

Anyhoo, the cloudy day finally came. Everyone was really excited to go. All the company's vehicles were dispatched out for some other errands. We had no other choice but to commute. After two jeepney rides and one very rough tricycle ride -- very, very rough tri-riding on very, very rough and muddy unfinished roads towards our final destination in Consolacion: CO JORDAN BANGUS AND TALABA!

It was indeed good to know that after that very rough ride we still made it all in one piece with no scratches except for some mud stains on our footwears! (YES! There is definitely an alternative road, but I don't know where that is though.)

So here we are... the cottages (not floating) on the pond (or is that really a pond? heheh...)

Very comfortable and relaxing! No electricfan nor ac needed! It's all breezy out there! So breezy that the ceiling fans have been converted into fly-busters! There really are a lot of them there :| But my friend Julie said you really can't avoid them if you are eating near the water. So... oh well! Candle light lunch? :D

Freshly picked talabas and picked with love by Jensky (left) and Julie (right).

Fishing time! The improvised and manual fishing rods are for rent @ Php10.00 each. Unlimited time :) But be sure to return them once you're done with them. There are still a lot who'd want to rent it and it's a business so you've got to help somehow!

The fish bait also costs Php10.00 each. They're like puddings rolled on fish food powder. I think. When I found out it was pudding (one of my favoritest food in the bread and pastries section) I couldn't help thinking if I really was a fish in my previous life! :o

The Boyfriend with his catch. It took him some time to finally get one. The fishing rod wasn't too friendly to him at all :( But look what he got! Not the biggest bangus in that pond, but big enough to be grilled! Heheh... Sorry fish friend! :|

Lois got the biggest fish! Go Lois! :D Yes, there is videoke there :D For what is Pinoy tambayan anyway without one? We did rent the biggest cottage there is which is worth Php500 but good for up to four hours only during weekends. The videoke is still the singko-singko one though. It was all worth it!

Now, the most awaited part... EATING TIME! Talaba and very yummy (according to them. I can't give my own feedback because I don't eat these kinds :()

Grilled bangus. Aww... poor ones!

He's such a cute messy eater! Squid ink stain all over his mouth and fingers!

Everything was soooo worth it! We only paid a good Php3,150 -- FOR EVERYTHING. Everything as in the food: talaba, squid, bangus, shrimp, grilled pork (for me! haha!), fried tilapia, softdrinks, beer, cottage and videoke! And if you think that's too much... Well there were fourteen of us who went there. Now you can do the math ;)

Just like any other Dispatch Team Outing (or Eating) it was really, really fun! Good friends. Good times. I love how these people could be people whom you can take ANYWHERE! From pungko2x to fine dining; from simple videokeing to adventuresome beaches.

Too bad though that some of us (about four) couldn't come :( But hopefully, we'd be in another outing again soon. Christmas is almost here! I'm already working on our Secret Santa activity!

So I'll have to sign off for now y'all. It's almost the witching hour. If you're thinking of visiting Co Jordan Talaba and Bangus eatery... they are located in Tayud, Consolacion (Northern part of cebu, the town right after Mandaue. Just about an hour's travel from Metro Cebu). You can go by taking a jeepney+tricycle, a cab or your own car :D Be sure to bring along your friends and family to make the trip and fishing more fun and worth it!

eating can't be sin,

~tSin

P.S.

All photos were taken by my phone's camera :)

Reliable one, Walkie! :)

Tragic a'la madness and concrete Coca Cola execution.

What's the latest way that a man can die
Screaming hallelujah?
~Green Day, The Static Age

08.28.09 | 02:34: 24 | what kluges can tell you

It is somewhat depressing how I've seriously gained weight and gone wider down the hip bones. And as though the fact that I have bloated is not traumatizing enough both my mum and pop couldn't keep themselves from reminding me how fat chubby I have become. Last weekend I went to this party of an old high school friend and all the people there have noticed that I have gained about 10 lbs from the last time they saw me (I swear it's just my hips getting wider by the second, really!).And how I want to pierce their eyes everytime it hovers on my bloating stomach! Ugh. I seriously need to lose weight, but I can't seem to stop eating! Is this some eating disorder of some sort or something? Just when I finally got myself hooked to Coke Zero I am now forced to give it up because no matter how convincing it may sound that it's really zero calorie or what not... it's still soda and it's still not going to help me in losing weight. Later on, I would have to give up on the chips and dessert and some other food... or I might just give up eating! As though eating healthy could help me up with my savings. Never really. Eating healthy is just very expensive - like super! It is not easy to live the healthy way, but I want to roam the streets of the world for a longer time so I will have to sacrifice and spend whatever cash is left of me to eating healthy. Btw, The Boyfriend couldn't help staring at my once-triangle-now-round-face-according-to-him.

Anyhooser too much about me rambling about my very depressing weight gain... On a lighter note, last weekend Officemates and I went to Tabuelan for the quarterly (seems like) team building with a budget provided by the company of course! Not much but enough to get us a room for a night and an overflowing supply of food! And these are just some of it!

grilled pork belly and fish!
put on the garnishing for the pork belly
and made it more colorful and inviting! heheh...

the couple cooks!
my dearest friend Julie
finally found the love of her life (hopefully!:D)

There's nothing very special about the place really, but it does give you that peaceful provincial feeling which you can enjoy and savor while thinking forgetting for a day or two the busy city life. I am also not a very big fan of the northern shores so my judgement might be a little biased here. Here are a few photos of the place and you can see for yourself ;)

there's the beach and look at those clouds
forming the gates to heaven! :D

the shoreline in the morning...
the water gets really far during low tide
and it doesn't come back to shore until about 10 in the morning
seems like a regular thing.

sadly, the sunrise doesn't show up
in this part of the world... it does look gloomy
but it's not!

And yes, no photos of the sunset again because... I think you already might have an idea. Oh well, after a few good shots of heart-warming and head-thudding liquor I passed out with an excuse to go to the room to have my camera battery charged! I was later found sprawled like a dead oil on the bed with my swim wear on! Haha! Good thing they were all too tired to take a picture of me sleeping! I slept for about four hours and woke up just before dinner got served. It's crazy how I can no longer vividly remember what we did or ate for dinner that night... I was all too groggy! Even the shower didn't wake me up completely at all!

The next day we walked around the place and honestly, I thought I would be able to run but due to my laziness I let my chance slip away! Phew! Good thing though that we played the classic game of patintero once everybody was up. It was pretty exhausting but all worth it cuz we scored with a proud one and a zero to our dearest opponents! *grins*

Sweating our hearts out in action! :)

After a couple of rounds we had to end the game because all of us were already gasping for breath and air and oxygen and we were all very hungry - we only had a sip of Milo before we went on for the game. Corned beef and egg omelettes were served for breakfast! And then our number one time-eater followed. KARAOKE until our company service came to fetch us to bring us back to the city and reality.

Sure, it was a short vacation - not even a vacation really - but it did give us some time to unwind and forget our busy corporate lives for twenty-four hours! :D See all of our photos here and enjoy! This little kid right here also made our team building really fun with her cuteness!

this is Juno's daughter Xierra
the newest contractual member of the Dispatch team.
haha! kidding! isn't she oh-so-adorable?!

And this is me right here saying goodbye to Coke Zero... for real.


goodbye Coke Zero, good-bye,

-tSin

As Promised!

Sleep tonight

And may your dreams

Be realized

If the thundercloud

Passes rain

~U2, MLK

23:23:24 | 08.25.09 | hello the ashtray girl

27^th Aug the Whole World is waiting for.............

Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will cultivate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles off earth. Be sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has 2 moons.

The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.

Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again.

FOR REAL?! Haven't you heard about that Mars-going-near-the-earth story some 2 or 3 years ago???Hmmm... I wonder if that's really true and even if it was I don't think I would ever have the chance to see such phenomena cuz I'm pretty sure it's gonna rain once Earth smells Mars. It's probably allergic to it. ;p

***

Remember what I promised on my last entry? :) Yes, yes! Photos of my Bohol-Panglao Island (and more!) vacation! I know this is already a very late post almost rancid if this was food! Heheh! But nothing's gonna stop me from sharing my photos from the said vacation! Why? Because it was probably one of the best vacations I've ever had in the entire twenty plus years of my life! Although it was quite an expensive one, it was still fun and nothing could ever repay fun - not at all. It was also good to be staying in the island for two straight days with no worries and feeling like rich kids for a moment. :) Even the rainy Sunday weather didn't stop us from exploring the other surrounding islands of Panglao or Bohol. It was definitely an adventure with only the four of us -RV, Yo, Tim, and me- in a not very large pump boat braving the harsh sea filled with seemingly gigantic waves! In case you're wondering what got me to Bohol on a rainy August, we were there to celebrate Yo's 23rd birthday. Now the photos? Yes? Yes!

On the first day, Saturday, August 15, we familiarized ourselves with the place. We arrived in Panglao island at about 3P.M and went straight to our hotel, the Alona Kew White Beach Resort. I liked it very much! Probably not the nicest place to stay in the island but the people there were really great and nice and courteous plus our rooms were really comfortable (although not airconditioned! heheh...). Well, in the unfortunate times of recession, comfort and convenience is all that matters!

Photos of our room and the beach (or the quay! well, with all of those boats parked right there

who wouldn't mistake them for a quay?!).

We also decided to take it slow and easy on the first day so as not to overwhelm our already giddy selves. I went around the area and found some masseuse and got excited with the idea of getting a massage by the beach! I havent' slept a bit since I went straight to the port for my one hour and forty-five minutes trip from my shift the previous night. The massage at P250.00 for each of us will really be a good way to unwind after a very stressful week! And The Boyfriend offered to treat me for massage cuz he knows I'm a total sucker for such! Hoorah FREE massage! =)

Yo asleep with the bliss of the massage!

Tim and his masseuse looking at the camera, expectant already

for that shot :D

And me of course! Totally enjoying the massage! Especially when my

own masseuse worked on my head - it was like all the stress from all of my body

went out!

After the heavenly massage I fell asleep for about three hours before dinner was served and The Boyfriend woke me up with the dinner menu. Hearing the word "grilled" I immediately jumped out of the bed on cue and ran into the shower for a quick bath before heading to the beachside.

The food was good and eating by the beachside made the dinner even more sumptuous! There were also some men who serenaded us over dinner. Forgive me for the lack of word, but I honestly really don't know what they are called exactly. They were really good and even sang that ever famous Yoyoy Revillame song - Bochikik. We couldn't help singing with them ourselves! Haha! Afterwards, Yo and I went to the pool for a quick dip (no photos cuz RV didn't upload the photos from his camera yet). We only swam for like fifteen minutes and the rest of the evening was spent listening to some good live music from a resort nearby. I should say the singer of the band and the band, actually, was good as in really, really good! Although the singer has to work on some of his diction. :S But in fairness, they were really good they could lull me to sleep by the bay in a good way! They do know how to play their instruments, too. So there! We were just starting to enjoy listening to them when the rain started to pour leaving us with no choice but to retreat to our rooms and hope and pray that God will give us good weather the next day since we were planning to watch dolphins at the break of dawn.

On the second day, Sunday, August 16, I pulled the curtains open to check the weather. Lo and behold! Gray skies said good morning to me and I then shook The Boyfriend awake and told him of the bad news. He couldn't help groaning with frustration and I tried to cheer him up and convince him that it's going to be alright and that the sun will come out in a matter of minutes and that it was too early to worry. It was already 5:30 AM. The boat was scheduled to pick us up at about the same time. The vaporous air outside confirmed the gloomy weather and I couldn't help but sigh. It's definitely goodbye dolphins or rather, goodbye dolphin watching. :(

Heartbroken by the news, we ate our breakfast sullen. And funny RV was like, "Feast on! This could be our last meal!" Haha! I know. Crazy. The four of us were quite dubious as to pushing through with the island hopping sans the dolphin watching (with the sea as disturbed, I doubt if the dolphins would ever leave their place in the sea just to put on a show for us) because the sea really looked bad with the threatening waves and all! We had to ask the locals if it was safe to sail and they were confident enough to assure us that we can still go island hopping and get back to the resort alive and complete! We decided to take their word for it and we found ourselves on a pumpboat jumping on and dodging the waves.

us having breakfast.

pineapples and watermelons

and hotdogs and marmalades!

nyam!

not really something that could turn our knees into butter, right?

So where did we go? We insisted to find some dolphins and after almost an hour of hunting and hoping for dolphins to come out and sail with us... we gave up. Our first stop: Balicasag Island. I had so much fun feeding the fishes with some onion flavoured skyflakes! And it felt so wonderful to be swimming, head to head, with them! I almost didn't want to leave or stop swimming with them. Heheh... Too bad we didn't have an underwater camera to capture the moment with them fishes. :( Anyhooser, here are some photos of us in the island:

getting ready and securing ourselves for a rough sail!

the island and the guides: the locals who takes the

guests to the fish sanctuary via banca at Php150.00 per person

and that's good to sawa. makes it all worth it!

taking a break and I say: GOD BLESS AMERICA FOR LAY'S! :D

The Boyfriend striking a pose with the locals

random photos from Balicasag Island. :)

Our next stop: the Virgin Island. I heard a guide from another group of guests said something about the original name of the island but I guess I was too taken by the sight of the place that it didn't really register at all. A little background on the Virgin Island? It is said that the island may be 250 meters and 50 meters wide during low tide. And it looks like this:

yes, like a desert with an oasis! :) and that's Yo right there.

this is right at the middle of the sea -

so when it's high tide this area should really be filled with water.

the tree that caught our fancy.

we couldn't stop taking photos in this spot! :)

more photos plus the birch tree kid...

isn't she lovely and cute and adorable? :D

these photos were taken by our boatman.

lovely!

After having our fill of poses and photographs we finally decided to call it a day and went back to our resort. I missed the sunset again cuz I fell asleep and woke up at about 9pm this time almost missing dinner! RV, The Boyfriend and I stayed up until about 12 midnight after dinner. Yo was too tired to stay up with us so she retired to bed first. We hung out by the shore and again listened to that live music that was offered by the resort next to ours. And same as the previous night they played some really feel-good music and we all went to sleep with smiles on our faces. Heheh.

On the last day, Monday, August 17, The Boyfriend and I woke up earlier than the other couple - as usual. And I put on the swimsuit that I've probably reserved for this day. I've bought this some months ago and didn't really get the chance to wear it until our last day in Panglao!

Isn't that cute? It's a one piece suit and it's really sexy!

And The Boyfriend, I think, likes it, too. Heheh... We went for a swim a bit and had breakfast. Later on RV and Yo joined us, but Yo didn't spend much time in the sun anymore cuz she said she's too burnt from the swim yesterday. I watched the boys play in the sand and they also built some sandcastles!

hahah! kids!

yeah, I gave them the freedom to feel like kids for a while :)

now they're starting to build the castles!

and I couldn't help disturbing them!

hehe...

The Boyfriend's Pyramids in Bohol

RV's stained glass castle (I made up the name!)

And then it was finally time to go. RV and Yo had to go home first because my trip back home doesn't leave until about four in the afternoon and of course, The Boyfriend had to stay with me. We waited at the Island City Mall and checked out how much they charge for the cinemas. And the moment we found out that the most expensive is only at P90.00 we then decided to give it a go and we watched G.I Joe. On the movie: not as impressive as they said it was. Or probably we were just expecting too much.

So there you go. A share of my Bohol vacay. Whew! Were they very loaded with photos? Not? You can view the rest of the photos in my multiply site: cheezenibbles.multiply.com. Although you will still need to log in to view my photos - I have kept them private since... since! :p

I hope you enjoyed the photos. And you should go visit Panglao, too! There's this 5-star resort there named Eskaya which is really, really nice. You can stay there if you can afford to and it will be very, very worth it! :D

do you need a break?

~tSin