Mellow Yellow Monday #: 12 A Big Bus To Kawasan Falls

This is me taken at the South Bus terminal during my vacation in the Philippines last November 2010-February 2011. We took a bus going to Kawasan falls with Filipinas and an American friend instead of hiring an exclusive van because it is more fun and such an adventure to take a bus rather than riding in a small and boring van for the whole 2 hours of trip. We all had fun looking at the beautiful mountains and winding road in the country.

Saying Goodbye Is Not Easy

Why do saying goodbyes to family or close friends aren't always easy? Although I prepared myself before I left in the Philippines, I felt a bit disappointed when the realization hit me when I landed in DFW International Airport. I saw some white dusting on the ground as I listened to the deafening sound of silence as I walked out the airport. It hit me big time when I realized I am no longer with my Filipino families and that I am back to reality where life is different. It is going to take another few years before I can see them again. Who knows when but all I know is that my next trip wouldn't be next years or anytime soon for the reason I am pregnant and there will be more than 2 people traveling next time.

However, I keep constant communication through long distance calling on the phone or texting them through yahoo messenger but that wouldn't be enough. Yes, you heard me complaining on Facebook about them being so noisy and loud mouths in the early mornings but that doesn't mean I am not going to miss them at all. All I have here are the memories shared with family throughout my vacation, the not so nice and good times I spent with them should be enough for now.

Here are photos of my final day with family. These were taken in our house and a few at the airport just before boarding in the airplane.

......... photo above is of Jadyn, papa and mama..Jadyn was resisting because she didn't wanna be held by them..

... still in our house with her fave uncle, Elan..Iyod as she calls him..

.....above and below photos are the final moments spent with them at Mactan-Cebu International airport before boarding on January 31,2011

2 Days

2 days more. I can't help but count the days I will be back to where I belong. I am getting tired of this wet weather condition here. Everyday it rains, many appointments to meeting friends have been canceled, I am stuck in the house and have nowhere to go. Aside from that, I wake up in the morning with loud mouths and so much noise that is unbearable. I miss the quiet and the stillness of the morning I used to have. So if I leave in this country, I wouldn't be sad nor disappointed my vacation is over because to be honest? I am really tired of being here. Quiet and privacy are something I cannot have here. If only...if only they can give me a full day of peace of mind...

Fil-Am and Fil-Swedish Delights

These are our babies, Jadyn a Filipino-American and Laikka Filipino-Swedish delights. They are pretty and no one should argue with that, it's obvious in the pictures lol. Proud to have one mixed baby. Laikka is Janeth and LarsGoran's first born. They both look stunning, aren't they? Of course I should be proud because they are more beautiful than pure white babies.

Yes, Janeth from Sweden and I met in person last January 10, 2011. We first knew each other thru blogging world and we gave justice to our friendship by eyeballing in SM Cebu. It was nice meeting her and her whole family. I had a blast for the very short time we spent chit chatting while looking after our girls.

She Turned 3

Mommy and daddy's little Princess turned three today. We didn't give her a grand birthday party but that was enough for her to enjoy it with a smile. I invited few people to be here, prepared only a few kind of foods but it was how we celebrate that made my Jadyn's birthday a memorable one. I ordered her "A Night With Princess" theme Goldilocks cake that put a big smile in her heart. She loved the cake, it was truly pretty and she deserves it. My aunt also gave her a cake which is also pretty and delicious. After the dinner, adult people had a karaoke for more than five hours. All in all my girl's birthday was indeed one of the most unforgettable event ever happened in her life so far.

... first photo was taken at the Virgin Dela Regla dagkutanan

... baby girl with her first cake and some foods

....... with her cake that mommy and daddy bought for her

....... kiddos and the balloons and the pretty Princess cake

......... very pretty cake for our 3 year-old Princess...

Bored

I know I shouldn't feel bored at all. I have all my freedom here, I can go just anywhere I want to go anytime since I don't need somebody to send me out. But heck, the weather is nasty. Who would want to go out on a weather like this? Cloudy, drizzling and muddy. I miss the sun, really! It has been five days since we've had Mr. Sun shining on us. I promised to myself that once in the Philippines, I will not lock myself inside the house but then look at me now, what happen? I am stuck!

I don't mind wandering around with just baby and me but tell me, who would want to be out in a rainy day like this? I even have a plan of washing my own blanket but I don't think I can do that just yet. Oh Mr. Sun, Mr. Sun come out soon! Make your Visayan people happy!

The Feast

This is the feast we had at the beach, the continuation of my previous personal entry. Times like this rarely happens so I savor every minute spent with family and friends. This is something I cannot have in the US. Although there are rare occasions there where friends gathered together but it is so different if the gathering is with family, relatives and local friends you haven't seen for a while. 

Gloomy And Rainy Day At The Beach

Despite of the terrible weather last Sunday that didn't stop us from going to the beach. It was already planned a week before January 2 so the plan was being pursued no matter what the weather was.

It was raining all day, very cloudy and dark plus a little bit windy. Yet too many people went to the beach and spent the post New Year in sea. That was fun though although the weather wasn't cooperating.

Her Two Favorite Uncles

Jadyn has her two favorite uncles. Uncles Elan and Anderson. I don't know how they tame Jadyn's heart why she comes to them. Unlike her grandfather and grandmother, Jadyn seems to be so aloof of them. Occasionally though Jadyn would play with her grandpa but not too often she would get near him. For some reason, nobody knows. Here are pictures of my little girl with her uncles in the beach today. I am glad she likes them because I can take a break for a short while when they are around and available to take care of her.

......above photo is of Jadyn and her uncle Anderson or she calls him uncle Daot. Daot means skinny.

.....the second picture is of her and her uncle Elan or she calls him Iyod!

....a shot of them three together for remembrance! What a sweet photo of them indeed.

New Nails

Nice mommy's nails that's what my Jadyn says (said rather) when we were at my favorite parlor today. This is my third time I have my nails done since I arrived here three weeks ago. What a nice life to be able to afford to have a foot spa, pedicure and manicure at least every two weeks. This is something I cannot do in the US to be honest. For a foot spa and nails today I only paid 300 pesos! Weewww what a deal. I told to the owner of the salon that I will keep coming back as long as I am here in the Philippines. Oh by the way, they should give me sweet deals when I go to their place for I have been going to their salon for years.

Her Favorite Fruit

Jadyn's favorite fruit is mango. All she could eat every meal is this healthy fruit that is bountiful here in the Philippines. Good thing mango is available everywhere and a lot cheaper compared than what we can buy in Texas. So what I do is I don't let our refrigerator runs out of mango otherwise Jadyn would go starving. You can tell how she loves eating it in the pictures below. Everytime I give her one, she gets happy and can finish eating the whole fruit except the flesh in the seed.

........... the wink she gave me for giving her mango.... what a joy seeing my baby loves eating this yellow fruit.

Rice For Sale

This is a common scenario you see at the market in the Philippines when you buy some rice, sugar or any types of commodities that are in a mass counting. You buy them per kilo. There are also some of it in packaging sold in department store but they cost quite a lot than in a public market. Majority of the people will go to the public market and buy rice depending on how much they can afford. Strange as it may look but it is how it's done there.

Unlike here in America everything is neatly packed displayed in every shelf of the aisle section of the store. Even at the Asian Market, their rice there already in a clean white rice sack sold for 20 USD per 25 pounds.

Philippine Market

I so missed this kind of fish. It's been a long time I have not eaten real fresh fish with head still on. The one that we buy here in America has been frozen for so long that it lost its sweet tasty juice.

This is how fish is sold in the market in the Philippines. They lay it all in an open counter so costumers can just pick the piece they want to buy. You can tell that the fish is still fresh because it would stand straight when you hold the fish upward, the scales are dark red with no foul smell in it. All these can only be seen ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!