Young Coconut

I spent my Holy Thursday at home. On Holy Friday, I, my sis, nieces and nephew decided to visit our hometown. We went to our farm with our Mama & Papa and our dog, Pikkles and Midnight.

                                 

My Mama on our way to our farm

My Papa with Pikkles ahead of him

Of course my dogs were very excited. They walked so fast.

Pikkles and Midnight waiting for my Micah, Dane and Eman

When we arrived, my father went directly to harvest pineapple while we rested for awhile.

My Nieces and Nephew Resting

My sis and I went to harvest young coconut for our consumption. We were having a hard time identifying the young ones that we tried many times and failed a lot. But with persistency, we were able to get the right one. I always love coconut juice so I consumed a lot of it.

Eman, my nephew enjoyed eating using a portion of the coconut as his spoon while Pikkles watching him salivating.

Eman and Pikkles

Eman enjoying the young coconut

Midnight run everywhere. She enjoyed the free big space that she don't have in the city.

Midnight running under the heat of the sun

 

It was hot. Pikkles and Midnight found a shade and rested while we were finalizing our harvest.

Pikkles and Midnight resting under the shade

Youoie stayed in our farmhouse. It was unusual of him. He usually explores wherever he is but this time he stayed. He was afraid of ants. The ants bit him when we arrived. He dug a hole, burried himself there to save himself from the ants and to cool himself.

Youoie resting

We were engrossed to harvest the matured coconuts. We harvested a lot. Micah and Dane carried the coconuts to our farmhouse. Coconuts were tied together and slip into the wood pole.

Micah and Dane hauling coconuts

Michelle helped her Lolo hauled the pineapples.

Newly Harvest Pineapples

After lunch I jumped to the hammock and rested. Pikkles never missed her sunbathing. She was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. She easily feels cold and have a heat-seeking behavior.

Pikkles under the heat of the sun

Dane went around doing photo safari. And these are the photos she got.

orchids

Orchids

 

Mayana

And she tried to get a good photo of this butterfly.

We have this cute calf that came to me and licked my hand and forearm while I was resting in the hammock. Eman was afraid at first and finally touched her.

Doing farmwork is difficult. But in some way it made me relax. Its completely different environment. It definitely keep my stress away for awhile.

But really it is difficult. It's a physical job. I just could not imagine how I did it when I was young. And I could not imagine how my Mama and Papa did it. And yet they are still doing it...

I salute you Ma and Pa.

Thina Villegas

She's one of my closest friends in college. We have lots of opposites yet we are the same. We worked to support our college studies. We aimed to succeed and have a comfortable life.

After college, we never knew that we will continue to study in the field of nursing but in different school while working. Working student again. Yes we did it, we passed the board exam. We are now Registered Nurses. And she work as a Nurse while I'm tied with my precious job.

It's a long journey of our friendship. Last year, we travelled Singapore together, just the two of us on March 23 to 28. And this year we went to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. What a coincidence, we travelled on the same date. We enjoyed being together. No requirements. I don't need to please her and no need to please me either. When silence engulfed us for whatever reason we have, there's no need to talk. No need to explain.

Now she's leaving to Canada to join her husband. But she will be back for us to conquer Mt. Kinabalu and get an international diving license in Kota Kinabalu.

And we are marking it next year. I hope...

Genting Highlands - A Resort in the Sky

Some people pronounce Genting as gun-ting, some jenting, some ghenting with the hard G. But whatever the right pronounciation is, I must say that I love it there.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed with the 3.38 kilometers of skyway. The longest cable ride in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It is also the "World's Fastest Mono Cable Car System". The air was crisp all the way up. We were on top of the rainforest but it was dark so we were not able to see how spectacular it was. I took this photo on our way down the next day.

It was almost 8:00 in the evening when we arrived. We ran fast to our hotel because it was fogging and so cold but I'm loving it because it is so hot in my country. I never thought that it could be that cold in Malaysia. But yes its cold, Genting is at the top of the mountain.

We stayed at The Theme Park Hotel formerly named Highlands Hotel, the first hotel In Genting that was opened in 1971.

No airconditioned. I think all hotels don't have AC because the weather is too cold but they have fan to make the air circulate inside the room.

In the morning, fogs were so thick. We cannot see anything below. We strolled and waited for the sun to shine. And God is so good, He gave us the sun. He wanted us to appreciate even more of His creation. We rushed to the park of The Theme Park Hotel.

It's awesome. The breeze was cold and the greeneries soothed me.

They have a maze garden.

The misty flowers were amazing.

The view below was spectacular.

Everything is perfect! 

Some went to the casino, some enjoyed the rides while we enjoyed the nature.

Our skyride was not enough on our way up to the mountain. We decided to take the skyway on our way down.

After our cable ride, a very hospitable and accomodating cab driver toured us to the strawberry farm and the chocolate store. The strawberry farm is unique.

They grow tomatoes too. 

The chocolates are expensive but until now I'm wishing I'm rich to buy all the chocolates there.

Genting Highlands Resort or Resort World Genting is a place not to be missed when you visit Kuala Lumpur.

It is a place to return to...

Rafflesia in Malaysia

My friend and I went to Poring Hot Spring, Kinabalu Heritage Park, Malaysia few days ago on March 24. On our way back to our hostel, the cab driver encouraged us to see Rafflesia so we did.

Rafflesia is the largest single flower of any flowering plant that may be over 39 inches in diameter.

We paid 20ringgit (P280) just to see this flower. Budding period is six to nine months. Some Malaysian species begin blooming at night and decomposes after two to three days, some species decomposes after one week of blooming. We were so lucky to see the three stages:

Rafflesia in budding stage:

Rafflesia in full bloom:

Rafflesia in decomposing stage:

Some don't have a chance to see the three important stages.

Some pronounce it as RAF-FLEES-SIA but I have known that it should be pronounce as RAFFLESIA sans FLEES because it was named after Thomas Stamford Raffles.

Save our World

It has been awhile that I missed posting my blog. I was and still busy with work. Lots of things occupied my mind, thoughts, hands and body that hinder me to write my journal. 

My sales is dropping a lot while my expenses is getting higher. Building my first roof entails money, time and lots of worries. Thanks to God that my loan was granted and had my first released after all the challenges I've been through in completing the bank requirements. I hope all things will run smoothly in the coming days.

On October 15, my environmental prowess led me to a tree planting activity. We left the city past 6am. We were lost on our way to the site but soon enough we find the right way though it took a bit of our time. 

Hundreds of volunteers from different schools, companies, organizations including the military. It was a good sign that many of us are working hard to save the environment.

They said we will be trekking for three kilometers but in reality it was 11kms.uphill. I was surprised! It was a mountain climbing that was hidden in the name of tree planting. Upon reaching the peak, there were no holes anymore and no seedlings to plant on. No farming equipment for us to dig a hole. I was frustrated. I was not able to plant even a single tree. I felt my long walk was useless. I wished the organizer had some people to manage us there at the top.

To make my trip worthwhile, I decided to collect trash on my 11kms.descend. Luckily, my officemate, Ariel brought with him a garbage bag. Sad to say, lots of volunteers just throw their emptied bottled water on the trail. I don't know what they were thinking. They
volunteered to plant trees yet they made the world their garbage bin. Bringing the trashes down is not hard. I was hoping they kept it with them and dispose it in the garbage pit when they reach the barrio.

The big black garbage bag was full! 90% empty bottles and 10% wrappers of junk foods, candies and others.

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Filipinos need to be educated regarding garbage disposal to save our country, our world from disasters especially flood. A seminar or short and basic course about saving the world is a must. This is too much but it will be good to have it included in our school curriculum. It would surely help.

Let's make our world a better place to live. Throw your trash properly, not in the streets, roads, pavements,trails, beaches and parks. The garbage bin is empty, waiting for your trash!

Frog Poisoning

Dawn before the incident

After the groundbreaking of my future roof, we went to the village garden to enjoy the afternoon breeze. My sister carried one bottle of mineral water and 1000ml. Pepsi cola with plastic cups.

The garden was quite high. On our way up, my dogs enjoyed the wide space. They played, ran fast after the other and rolled on the grasses. We reached the peak, took photos and started to relax when Dane (my niece) shouted that Dawn (my youngest dog) played with a frog and suddenly foaming in her mouth. 

Frog Poisoning!

I have experienced it with Pikkles when she was still young. The frog sprayed a fluid on her face and licked it. She was foaming profusely. My instinct told me to manage the poison with sugar. She was saved and I learned a lot from it. Frogs releases a poisonous fluid as defense from the threats of their predators.

I was speeding to them and asked Dane to get a sugar but going down would take time. It might be too late. Micah, my niece said "COKE!" (actually Pepsi not Coke but I also have the mistake of saying coke often even if I'm drinking Pepsi). Luckily, we didn't consumed the cola yet. We forced to open her mouth and poured the cola immediately. Foam was not totally gone yet so we poured some again. I was so worried. I instructed my two nieces to go down to ask sugar for a dosage follow up. Eman, my four year old nephew wanted to help too so he went down with them.

I carried Dawn and rushed on my way down. My nieces went to the first house near the guard house and garden where we parked and asked for sugar. The woman was very cooperative. She experienced the same before. We forcefully open Dawn's mouth again and put sugar in her mouth few times. 

I observed her after the sugar dosage. Foaming stopped. In few minutes she was vomiting! Oh my God! We asked sugar again. The kind woman said "the poison is out from her body now". I was a little bit relieved but still worried. I decided to leave to observe and properly manage Dawn if something worst happen. 

She had no energy and was salivating on our way home. Then she fell asleep.

Upon reaching home, she was wide awake and regained energy. I am so happy. She is safe now.

I realized that it will be safer to bring sugar everytime I go out with my dogs. My sis Gaga and niece Dane suggested it too, especially when the location is green, grassy and far from home.

I will take their advise. 

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Caffeine Temptation

Sometime in June 2009, I was diagnosed with Vertigo.

At first, I thought I was just sleepless for few nights that when I woke up I was spinning.  What I did was lie again, close my eyes and relax before standing then it's gone.

It happened few times already and I was kinda worried because its dangerous if I will have an episode while I'm driving. So I submitted myself to a doctor and have myself checked.

He said it was due to stress. He asked me if I drink coffee, tea, cola and the like. I said, not so much with cola but more on ice tea. Coffee in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon when I feel sleepy and cold in the office. He told me stop taking it all including chocolates. Caffeine will cause and trigger vertigo. I religiously took his advice. I had some meds too. And the spinning was gone. 

Now I'm taking it all again. Cola is a pleasure drink for me. I only take it when I miss it. Tea, Ice tea? Sometimes. Chocolate? Yeah sometimes too but when chocolates are available I could not help but endulge. Coffee? once, twice thrice a month, sometimes nothing at all.

Few days ago, I have read an article that coffeine enhances performance, increases power output and improves mental focus. A very positive article. Tempting but really I'm really scared to have that vertigo back. I must control myself.

How about you, are you tempted?