Life...and something like IT

Where I'm From, Everyone's a HERO

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Much have been said and written about the great calamities that were Ondoy and Pepeng. They claimed homes, hard-earned possessions and sadly, loved ones. Indeed it was a harrowing experience that will forever be etched in the lives not only of those affected but of the Filipino people as a whole.

But despite of it all, what will ultimately marked in our lives are the spirit of resiliency and "bayanihan" that Filipinos showed in midst of calamity. All of a sudden "bayanihan" showed up in people selflessly reaching out a helping hand, rescuing others even if their own lives were put into danger, welcoming the homeless in their homes, sharing precious time for reliefs operation, pitching in some cash even if it were the last in their pockets. The list could go on and on. In our own little way we provided comfort for those people who have lost so much.

Filipinos are people with strength. We've been through countless calamities and adversities but we always have this fire inside us to courageously rise and rebuild our lives and homes and definitely it is always a massive task if we have nothing left to rebuild in the first place. But our faith and hope have never failed us. We know and believe that we can victoriously rise with a big smile in our face.

Each one of us is a natural hero. Indeed it is true and I proudly say from this nook of the earth where I am now, "Where I am from, everyone is a hero".

Summer Bustles

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:04:00 +0000

After our much-anticipated French holiday in Spring, we were back to normal. The normal work-home cycle, that is.

I don't know about you but for me it seems that the days passed by so fast that summer is almost over. Just what exactly I've been doing these past three months?

Dusseldorf, Germany

At the start of the season, I was sent to Dusseldorf in Germany for a 5-day training course. It was a welcome break especially for me who has been in the same project for over a year.

I did my "mandatory" city tour in the afternoons every after the training sessions and hunt for some interesting restaurants for dinner while taking random photos along the way.

Historical Townhall

Little Dog: "Now, who's the boss?"

long stretch of pubs and restaurants

Iconic Rheinturm Düsseldorf - view from Altstadt

Konigsallee

Revisiting Paris

Immediately the following week, I flew to Paris for another course. That was a course worthy of note as the French instructor was more enthusiastic about driving us around the city than teaching in the classroom. Ssshhhh!!!

That trip was altogether different from my first visit as I managed to see the city from the point of view of a joyrider with a French driver along. Gone are the METRO rides wherein you end up missing some wonderful Parisian panorama not usually written in the guidebooks. This time, he pointed out and explained the remarkable distinction of each arrondissements with some tidbits of trivia in between.

Grand Palais

North facade of Les Invalides

Arch de La Defense - Built for the 200th anniversary of the French revolution in 1789

"Le Pouce" (The Thumb) in La Defense

Having missed the opportunity to go inside the Louvre Museum on the first visit, I dragged my Russian colleague/classmate to go inside and started my quest for a shot of the Mona Lisa. Luckily, the museum was open until 10 in the evening that day. We managed to spend 4 hours wandering around the Richelieu wing of the magnificent palace where the grand gallery and Napoleon III's apartment are located.

The Pyramid from within

La Gioconda by Leonardo da Vinci

Napoleon III Apartments

England - Back to Base

In August, my aunt’s family from Amsterdam came over and spent a week with us. I took three days off from work to join them in visiting the usual famed tourist spot nearby. We spent a day in Windsor and did some shopping in Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth Harbour.

Windsor Castle

The Crooked House in Windsor

Visiting family at Gunwharf Quays

Finally...PARIS!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:36:00 +0000

I think it is everyone's dream to go to Paris.

For me, it is the most popular destination in Europe. A European trip is never complete without catching a glimpse of the famed City of Lights. Even films and novels would usually choose Paris when they require a romantic and sophisticated setting.

So, after a series of hassles and frustrations brought about by Zach's visa application (UK being out of Schengen Territories), we finally got to see Paris last April.

We took the Eurostar from London and if not for our Brussels side trip, we could have been in the Paris city centre in a matter of two hours. The train offers comfort and convenience by avoiding the endless hassles of airports and aircrafts SOP. Passport and visa checks are done before boarding the train and passengers can literally jump off of the train upon arriving in Paris Nord Station and head on to their destinations.

As for us, we had enough time to find our hotel, rest a bit, freshen up and set off to our sightseeing. Without a doubt, Eiffel Tower was first on our list. Having bought a guidebook and studied the Paris Metro map weeks before our trip, getting around the romantic city was a breeze.

Eiffel Tower

I was in awe the moment I saw the massive Eiffel Tower. After admiring the metal structure from underneath, we proceeded to queue for the ticket booth and then head on for another queue for the elevator. We were at the top of the tower after a mere 10-minute wait. It was on another visit two days later that we realized we were absolutely right on going there that early evening as most tourists tend to go there on mornings. The zigzagging queue of people wanting to go up that day was just unbelievable.

Eiffel Tower - The French Icon

The view of the city from the tower was fantastic and I considered myself truly blessed at that time seeing it. We stayed and waited for the illumination of the tower which starts at sunset. The illumination started with a 10-minute glimmering light show and the said show is done on the first 5 minutes of every hour until 1 AM.

view of Paris taken from the Eiffel Tower

View of Place de Varsovie. The cluster of skycrapers is in Paris' Business District - La Défense

Parisian Sunset

Eiffel Tower at night

Instead of taking the Metro back to our hotel, we took the bus so we can see much of the city at night. Lucky enough, the bus line going towards our hotel's direction is passing along the prestigious Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Montmartre

Mother Nature was so kind to us that she gave us a warm and sunny day the following day despite the rainy forecast. We headed to Montmartre, a hilly district north of Paris. It is known for the Sacre Coeur Basilica located at the peak of the hill. Montmartre also offers a magnificent view of the city. We had a short tour of the cathedral and stayed a bit to say our prayers.

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Just a few steps from the cathedral is the Place du Tertre (a tip from Elanie). It was previously the main square of the Montmartre village and has been and still is an open-air studio for many artists. It was once a hub to great artists like Renoir, Picasso, Cezanne, Manet and Toulouse-Lautrec (all these names I just used to hear in Humanities class) as they had kept studios and homes in the adjacent streets. You can find landscape and portrait artists and caricaturists who are more than willing to draw your likeness on the spot.

After walking around and looking over the shoulders of artists doing their craft, Zach and I headed for the restaurants and indulge ourselves to a variety of crepes before hitting the roads again for our next destination.

Louvre

Next on our must-see list was the Louvre Palace located at the centre of Paris. It used to be a royal palace and presently, it houses the Louvre Museum and a number of government offices. The Pyramid is simply marvelous and it served as an entrance for the museum. The pyramid and the fountains in the courtyard provide a welcoming break for tired tourists to stop, rest for a while and admire the great architecture that is the Louvre.

Zach and the Louvre Pyramid designed by I.M. Pei
The solid is for the dead, but the transparent is for the living - I.M. Pei

Us, the Louvre Palace, the Grand Pyramid and one of the three Mini Pei Pyramids

at the Cour Carree in Louvre

Being on a tight itinerary and due to long queues to the museum, we decided not to go inside and continued to walk to the adjoining Jardin des Tuileries stopping for an ice cream and some snapshots from time to time.

one of the many interesting sculptures in Jardin de Tuileries

Place de la Concorde and La Madeleine

The west of the garden leads to Place de la Concorde. It is the largest square in Paris and once served as guillotine site during the French Revolution. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined there in front of cheering crowds.

Hittorf's Fountain in Place de la Concorde

(I clearly remembered that this is where Anne Hathaway throws her phone in the movie "The Devil Wears Prada")

From there, despite aching feet, we continued walking along Rue Royal where La Madeleine stands at the end of the road. It is now used as a Catholic Church and the architecture of which was inspired by Roman Temples.

Église de la Madeleine

Île de la Cité

Île de la Cité is a natural island in the Seine River and is considered to be the heart of Paris and it was where the medieval city was established. The medieval structures that still exist in Île de la Cité are the Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris, La Conciergerie and the Sainte Chapelle.

Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris is a Gothic cathedral and is the cathedral of the Catholic archdiocese of Paris. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world.

To avoid monotony as in standard Gothic practice, assymetrical elements are introduced. Thus, the slightly different shapes of the three main portals.

La Conciergerie is a former palace and prison. One famous prisoner is Marie Antoinette. It was in La Conciergerie where she awaited execution in 1793.

Pont Neuf which means New Bridge is actually the oldest bridge in Paris. Zach and I spend some minutes resting in one of the bridge's bastion due to my aching feet (which definitely requires another post. hehe!) observing tourists passing by and later identifying the buildings surrounding the area. We decided to have a coffee break in one of the cafes nearby before heading to our final destination for the day.

Arc de Triomphe

One of the famous monuments in Paris is Arc de Triomphe. This triumphal arc honours those who fought for France. It stands at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, a big roundabout with 12 avenues, one of which is the Champs-Élysées. Underneath the arch is the tomb of the unknown soldiers who died from during the World War I.

taking a quick snapshot of Arc de Triomphe amidst the busy motor traffic

Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

Pinoy Accent ???

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:53:00 +0000

I was on the phone moments ago speaking to a vehicle dealer and out of nowhere he told me that he recognized my accent. He straightaway asked me if I am from the Philippines!!!

It turned out his wife is a Filipina from Cavite. Then, we exchanged pleasantries about the Philippines and how he loves the islands and that he was already on the process of buying a house there. As soon as we hung up, it made me think about Filipino accent.

I have nothing against our kababayan who sort of tried really hard in adapting the British accent. I know that most of the time we get the hang of it without realizing it. But for me, I have never tried to copy the accent as I know it would sound funny to native speakers here.

I remember the time when I was stranded in Munich due to a cancelled flight and I happen to share a meal and interesting conversation in the hotel bar with a British gentleman. After a couple of hours into the conversation, he asked me where I got my American accent and if it was because I was educated in the US or because of watching American films. I was surprised and told him that as far as I know I am speaking with my own Filipino accent.

But how does the Filipino accent sound? It really intrigued me.

A New Obsession?

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:19:00 +0000

These past weeks, I realized that my life seem to revolved around baking that I would turn down out-of-town trips invitation and preferred to stay home and bake. It all started when I had a good purchase of a set of silicone baking pans in Costco. Excited to try it all, I rummaged around for my mother's all-time cake recipes and tried new ones found in the internet. I got so obsessed that I was even thinking of starting a baking blog. Haha!

Baking is not something new for me as I grew up seeing my mother bake. All the time! I even took Culinary Arts classes for two years as part of our high school curriculum but those were not enough to stir up the interest in me.

Until, recently.

Each week I make it a point to bake something. I started out making cookies and brownies since I only had to mix everything and beat as much as I like and they are not that prone to flatness and failure. Then, I moved on to chocolate and butter cakes and eventually angel cake, sponge cake and pies. Well, not all of them turned out pretty but at least they were edible and most importantly, Zach enjoyed them.

Apple Pie - ready for the upper crust and then straight to the oven

My own version of the Australian dessert Pavlova

After weeks and weeks of sweet treats, my ever health-conscious hubby, all of a sudden, got conscious about his high sugar and carbo intakes and have been spending extra time in the gym to burn them off. It might be his way of letting me know to slow down on my baking as he was always the one finishing them off to make way for my next treat. Haha!

I don't know if this new obsession of mine is here to stay (especially now that I have my mind set on our upoming holiday) or it may be just like my "make-up mania" last year that caused me to splurge on make-up, mascara and brushes that ended up stored in my drawers - now unused.

Two Years of Domestic Life

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Today marks the second year of my domestic life.

I can say that it started not immediately after marriage but figuratively 3 months after our wedding in December 2006. That was when Zach finally migrated to the UK in 23rd of March 2007.

In the past 7 years of my life prior to marriage, I have lived independently and was used to looking after myself alone and added to that was the luxury of having a household help that took care of the chores at home. However, when Zach joined me here in England, we found ourselves having to do almost everything on our own. This, for me, was something to get used to as I have a husband to think about and not just myself.

However, in that department, I am so blessed to have a "new generation" husband who perfectly understands my position as a working wife and shares the household chores with me. He knew very well that ironing was quite a "heavy" task for me thus he volunteered to take over that responsibility while I do the laundry, that is, loading the clothes in the washer. Haha! (But hey! Loading clothes in the washer entails proper planning and sorting. haha!) Zach and I alternate in cooking as he can manage well enough. We have an unspoken rule at home that when one cooks, the other should do the washing up later.

Cleaning is another thing though. Maybe it is natural for us women to be "OC" and men to have high tolerance to clutter, cleaning has always been a struggle. With both of us working, we only have weekends to do the cleaning with him doing the vacuum cleaning and dusting all over the flat and me changing the beddings, sheets and pillow cases and doing the scrubbing of toilet/bath and kitchen. I don't think I can let him or anybody clean the toilet/bath as I would eventually clean it all over again. Haha! I think I am just super-OC when it comes to the toilet, though I cannot really say that I can clean it 100%. Haha! And mind you, I always turn into a nagging thing when I realised that I am the only one working. I know...it's not nice but I just can't help it. (If I am at home, my grandma will surely say "Ka-isip gid sa imo, ubra lang bala kung ubra. Pabay-i ang iban!". Haha!)

I feel I am blessed that I cannot relate to this comic strip. Haha!

The first two years of my domestic life is not that bad at all and thanks to Zach for being so patient with me especially during the times when I am such a pain. I know that these routine will definitely change when time comes when we will be blessed with kids. When it it will come? Only God knows. ;-)

Reunion of the Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:26:00 +0000

The STARS* are at it again!

After almost 14 years since high school graduation, we sort of gathered again for the second time (the first one held in Mambucal Mountain Resort in 1997). Though I must say that the "usual" people never fail to get together every December of each year, this time was something major and quite special as the organizers led by Dahneeleine prepared for it early on and invited parents and teachers as well.

The reunion was held in Palmas Del Mar last 29th of December. There was a retro theme and all the while I did not prepare as I thought nobody will bother dressing up. But I was wrong! Almost everyone came in their best retro outfit (well, everyone in the steering committee, that is. Haha!). Classmates that I have not seen since after graduation came and others attended with their partners and kids in tow. Of course, not everybody was able to make it as most of us have been based in Manila and abroad.

The Attendees with Teachers and Parents

Starpipol**

It was so much fun as it seems we were the same giggly teenagers as if we never matured and the same camera-loving individuals who did not overcome the love of flashes. There were parlor games, songs and dances and everybody participated just like in high school. A slideshow was shown showing old and recent photographs of each of us. It definitely brought back NOHS memories.

One of the games facilitated by Robin

A Singing Rostell

Towards the end of the program, the teachers were made to choose the awardees for the night - Mr. & Ms Retro, Youngest Looking Star and The Most Transformed Star (this award had caused a lot chuckles and cheers as it has lots of meaning. Haha!)

The Awardees - (L-R) Abigail, Youngest Looking Star; Tsarevich, Most Transformed Star; Robin and Rizza, Mr & Ms Retro

Chow time with Janice and Abigail - my high school and college buddies

High School Bestfriends

Definitely, I can say that high school years were the best years of my life. It has contributed a lot into what I am today and it was in high school that I found true-est of friends that are worth keeping and I am actually keeping until now.

Thanks to Dahn and the committee, to the sponsors and everybody else for making it an unforgettable event.

Here's to a lifetime of FRIENDSHIP that transcends time and distance.

More photos here.

Notes:
* Star - our class section was referred to as "Star 1" or "Star 2" to indicate that we were the pilot section of our batch under the Special Science Class curiculum of the Department of Science and Technology. We were actually the first batch of the Special Science Class in NOHS.

**Starpipol - that is how we refer to ourselves.

On Cooking and Baking

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:45:00 +0000

As it has been cold and wet after the snow, Zach and I did not really like to be out in the roads. For the next weekends following the snow storm, we stayed home and it was an opportunity for me to do some cooking and baking.

When I came home for the holidays, my sister, Joy, made some really delicious lasagna with signature Pinoy taste. She made her bechamel sauce from scratch with a hint of mushroom flavor making it really tasty and made the well-loved family recipe pasta tomato sauce (not like me who buys ready-made and bottled ones, haha!) I promised Zach that I will "try" and make one for him when I get back here in England.

And here's my first attempt of lasagna using home-cooked sauces.

layered in the tray topped with 4-Cheese Melting Mix - Grated mozzarella, mature coloured Cheddar, tasty Lancashire and Dutch Edam cheeses

At first, I thought that we would have lasagna for the rest of the week but it did not even last for more than 24 hours. Not bad for a first try...hehe!

Having influenced Zach with my penchant for sweets, I have now noticed that our weekly grocery will never be complete without cookies and anything chocolate. That led me to search cookie recipes in the net and here's what caught my fancy.

Chocolate Crinkles

Again, I thought that our cookie jar will never go empty in the next few days. But then, I was lucky enough to see three cookies left when I returned from work the next day.

V-Day...My Way!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Maybe, we were past that stage of having the need to go somewhere and celebrate the big red day - Valentine's Day. With the not-so-good weather and packed restaurants and busy roads, staying home and celebrating at home was the best idea.

So when I was left at home while Zach was still busy at work, I thought of turning our plain Saturday dinner into something romantic just by making the presentation somewhat special.

our heavy Saturday dinner - rump steak with mash and steamed veggies
made somewhat valentine-y with candles, red roses and wine

my surprised Valentine date

Let it Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Even a week before, people were already informed about the snow storm, seen to be the heaviest to fall after 18 years, that was about to hit England and western part of Wales by Sunday. As early as Friday, I was already checking out weather forecast from time to time making sure that the expected snow will not divert somewhere else. Haha! As much as others hate it and the inconvenience it will cause, I was looking forward to it.

You see this part of England where I am rarely get to have snow. In the three years that I have lived here, I was only able to experience snow about three of four times and they were not that much. But well, I admit that one of the reasons why I was eager about it was that in all those snowy days, I was not able to get a “proper” photo of myself and the snow. Haha! Except when it snowed last spring, Zach was able to take a few snapshots before they melted in the afternoon.

So when Sunday evening came, I could not count the times I sneaked a quick look at the window to see if the snow has started. Finally it came and it has not stopped until the morning, or better yet, until the work week ended. It literally snowed for five days.

By 12 midnight this was how it looked like outside:

Like wide-eyed kids, Zach and I stayed at the window and looking at the thick snowflakes and as if that was not enough, we suddenly decided to go outside. Haha! Yes, at 1:00 in the morning!!!

Early the next day, this greeted us the moment we looked outside.

all-white!!!

Christmas Card-like

that's the lake behind me...all frozen

Zach - in the snowy woods

the real English Winter Wonderland

snowfall!

The next day, as the snow did not show any signs of stopping and considering the danger of driving on snow-laden streets and highways, it was widely advised not to go out and drive unless necessary. Almost everybody stayed at home and continued putting up snowmen and playing with snowballs. As for us, it was another day of picture-taking and playing in the snow.

As the lake frozen, snow built up on the surface giving a really nice effect.

one of my "manul" moments

another "manul" moment - gintiklud ko be...haha!

Sure the snow it caused millions of money lost because of the halted business operations brought about by disruptions on all forms of transportations. However, it cannot be denied that almost everybody enjoyed the break from work and the quality time spent with family.

So Now What?

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:21:00 +0000

I am not really the type of a person who makes New Year's resolution but when this year started I sort of made a promise to myself to at least make an effort in maintaining this blog. I hope I could keep up with it. Oh well, I could try.

Lately, I noticed that after a full year of writing technical design documents, it was very hard for me to come up with free flowing blog entries without sounding too "technical". Maybe that was the main reason why even if I had so many stories to write and countless thoughts to share, they all ended up in the rubbish bin. It is as if the most infinitesimal, or if there are any, creative juices that I have were drained out of me. haha!

Now, I will try as much as I can to squeeze out a little time to blog about something and anything just so I can get back to writing comfortably again.

So bear with me if I will be tattling nonsense in here once in a while.

The Year That Was

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:50:00 +0000

2008 passed by so fast that I felt as though 2007 was still fresh for me and here comes another year. Maybe I got very busy last year and added to that was the excitement of my much anticipated year-end homecoming.

As the year started, I was involved in this big project based in Germany and for a while I had been commuting Bonn-London on a weekly basis. This has been eating up most of my time as the project schedule was hectic with few people working on a tremendous amount of work with tight deadlines. It was an enjoyable working experience though and I got to meet interesting people as well.

In past year, work has given me opportunities to travel. Actually, an overload of business travels that I almost gave up. I came to a point where I only spent a couple of days at home with Zach and head off to the next destination. But I am thankful just the same. I got to discover those places without taking its toll from my own pocket.

We entertained guests last year and sharpened our tour-guiding skills. My cousin Cathy dropped by at England on the first week of June and spent a weekend with us after she completed her seminar in Aberdeen, Scotland. Months later, Rey and Elanie came over and we had a fantastic time catching up and wandering around London, Windsor and the countryside. Read Rey and Elanie's story here.

The most popular tourist destination in London-Buckingham Palace

Cathy at the Picadilly Circus

At the Stonehenge with Rey and Elanie

2008 has seen me driving with British Driver's License. haha! Finally, I was able to overcome the fear of practical driving exam and booked myself an exam date. Even before the exam I was already expecting a retake but I just could not believe it when the examiner handed me the verdict - PASSED with 1 out of 16 allowable minor errors. It was not that frightening after all.

Of course, the year ended with me in the cradle of dear old Bacolod and this has been the highlight for me. Nothing beats the comfort of being in the company of family and friends. Heaven!!!

Thank God for a generous and fun-filled 2008! Most of all, THANK YOU for helping me and my sisters fulfill a dream gift to our parents.

Two Souls, One Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:34:00 +0000

"Two Souls with but a single thought, Two hearts beat as one" - Friedrich Halm

Allan Paul and Joy
16 December 2008
St. Isidore Parish

My homecoming became more meaningful because of my dear little sister's wedding. Indeed, she's no baby anymore.

Little Sister

After years into the relationship and going through the ups and downs together, I could not be more happier to see them tie the knot and live life as one.

It has been a grand reunion as well since relatives from both sides of our parents' families gathered for the memorable event. Aunts, uncles and cousins from abroad came home and it was so much fun that I barely had time to think about jetlag.

The bride's BIG clan

Nanay, Mama and Mommy with Aunts and friends

The Santillanosa's

Mama with the boys - who have all grown up so fast.
My nephew Kyle, bother Eugene and cousin Jade

Excitement!

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:56:00 +0000

As soon as 2008 started, I have been looking forward to nothing but WINTER! definitely not because of the gloomy and cold weather but because of the warm and homey feeling Pinas has to offer. Yes! it's now a matter of days (as in days!!!!) before my much-deserved and long waited homecoming. It's been exactly 2 years since I went home. I just could not wait!!!

I have packed up my luggage since last week (I am not that excited, am I?) and had done some last minute shopping. I am raring to go but I need to keep my focus on my project tasks and deliverables for this week or shall I say 3-day work period before I head off to my 5-week sojourn.

Oh! Excitement of all excitements!

It's Christmas Time in the City

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:33:00 +0000

Unfortunately, due to some reason, Zach cancelled his holiday in Pinas and for another reason I could never back out and decide not to go home (or else my not-so-little sis will not speak to me ever again..hehe!). It simply means that we will be celebrating our second anniversary, Christmas and New Year apart. Too bad!

In order to make up for it, we decided to have an early Christmas treat. We went to the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park in London on the evening of the 3rd of December despite the harsh cold of winter. The fair showcases an outdoor ice rink, observation wheel (or ferris wheel or whatever one wants to call it) and a variety of rides and family entertainment. But for Zach and I, we indulge ourselves to freshly grilled German sausages, mulled wine and some crepes available in the authentic German Christmas Market. And of course, would BEER be ever absent in any German or English event? Not!

Here are some photos taken using our mobile phone cameras. Somebody has forgotten to bring the P&S camera. Apologies for the photo quality.

Zach enjoying his gluhwein

try ice skating...should I or shouldn't I

observatory wheel for them - ferris wheel for me

an earlier trip to Selfridges in Oxford Street for some gift-buying
and see their Christmas lights displays

The Roman Forum

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:43:00 +0000

What was one of the most interesting about my trip to Rome last April was having a first hand glimpse of the Roman Forum. It helped a lot that we had some Filipino priests with us who have been living and studying in Rome for a while now and they have been perfect tour guides.

The Roman Forum is located between the hills of Palatine and the Capitoline where the ancient Roman civilization developed. Thousands of years ago, the area used to be a marshland and by unbelievable engineering (during the ancient times, that is), which was commissioned by the last two Etruscan kings, a canal that is still functioning up to this day, allowed for the drainage of the land. It was later expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts and its ancient royal residence known as the Regia and the surrounding buildings for the Vestal Virgins. The area further developed and became the hub of commerce, socials and politics.

When the Roman Empire fell, the part of the Forum was abandoned and later on gradually covered with soil and was used as a cattle pasture during the Middle Ages. It was only in the 18th century that the Forum was rediscovered and excavated and the long process of the recovery of the ancient ruins was made.

The Arch of Septimus Severus - a triumphal arch erected in 203 AD to celebrate the victories of Emperor Septimus Severus and his sons. Located in the northeast end of the forum.

One of the four panels placed above the lateral arches on each side. This one shows the attack of the city of Seleucia on the River Tigris in the lower part and the upper part surrender of the Parthians to the emperor and his entry into the conquered town.

Intricate design of the inner part of the arch. Simply exquisite!!!
And they don't have the luxury of power tools at that time.

Temple of Saturn - oldest surviving structure in that area, having been established between 501 and 498 BC

An open square in the center of the forum is the hub of political activities of the Roman Republic.
This was the location of many public meetings. It is surrounded by many important buidlings and monuments.

Looking back to thousands of years ago...

Requisite group shot at the Roman Forum

A Roman Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:56:00 +0000

As I was meeting my cousin on a Saturday and the conference ending Thursday, I had intended to do my own Roman adventure the whole Friday. Definitely, it was an adventure on my part since for a change, I did not have the comforts of a five-star hotel and the convenience of a taxi I usually have during business trips. Thus, from the time I checked out from the Hilton Rome Airport on Friday morning, I was totally on my own (read: paying everything from my own pocket) and there was no expense reimbursement applicable. So that meant modest pension house and train travelling for me. Hehe!

Actually, it was my cousin who booked a room for me in Pontificio Collegio Filippino – a college for Filipino diocesan priests studying at pontifical universities in Rome as she and her friends will be staying there as arranged by their friend who would be ordained that weekend. It was a smooth trip going to the collegio, except for the taxi driver who duped me into paying him double (swiftly dropped one of the Euro bills I handed him and asked for another one, hmp!). Well, just to pacify myself, I just considered it added payment for the entertainment - he was singing along a Michael Jackson collection (Thriller, Billie Jean, etc) that he was playing, he would have danced if he could (think of performance level) and the roller-coaster ride (Oh! Italian drivers!!!)

After exchanging pleasantries with Monsignor Willie and setting down my luggage in my room, I proceeded to my great Roman adventure armed with my map, three-day train ticket and camera.

And the adventure began in Colosseo…

The moment I saw the queues leading to the Colosseo entrance, I was quite let down. I felt as though I had so many places in my list with so little time. I found a spot with a good view of the Colosseo façade and sat down in the railing admiring the historical arena. Minutes later, I was approached by a young Italian lady offering a guided tour inside for 18 Euros. At first I hesitated for a lot of reasons, but when I heard that availing of the guided tour would mean avoiding the long queues, hesitations were put aside. I can always leave the tour group once inside.

The Colosseo ( or Colosseum) is also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. Its common name was derived from a giant statue or colossus of Nero which stood close to the arena. Originally, up to 50,000 spectators (in which seating arrangements are based on social status) enjoyed the immense gladiatorial shows of violence and death.

A closer look at the Colosseo with long queues of people waiting to get inside

Julius Ceasar and his Roman guards?

The amphitheatre has a hypogeum, a series of underground tunnel used to house wild animals and even slaves. It is said that a total of 500,000 people and more than a million wild animals died in the games.

Standing right next to the Colosseo is the Triumphal Arch or the Arch of Constantine dedicated to the victory of Constantine over his co-emperor, Maxentius. Constantine claimed he owed the said victory to a vision of Jesus Christ.

a shot of the Arch of Constantine taken from the Colosseo

From Colosseo, I took the Metro to Spagna where I was greeted by hundreds of tourists in Piazza di Spagna from where you will find the Spanish Steps or the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti named after the church that stands in the square above. The stairs is considered to be the longest and widest staircase in Europe. Since it was the peak of Spring when I was there, the Spanish steps was adorned with azalea blooms.

The Lady and the Azaleas at the Spanish Steps

At the base of the Spanish steps is the famous Fontana della Barcaccia, The fountain is in the shape of a half-sunken ship with water overflowing its bows thus the name “Fountain of the Old Boat”.

One other reason that the Piazza di Spagna is always full of people is Via Condotti. It is the center of fashion shopping in Rome. Famous designers such as Valentino, Armani, Hermès, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, D&G and Salvatore Ferragamo all have shops in that street.

A mix of tourists and shoppers

Following the signs and equipped with my trusted map, I walked over the cobbled stones and from afar I had already heard its presence and as I got nearer, the sound of the gushing waters intensified. As I squeezed my way at the corner, the work of art that is Fontana di Trevi appeared in front of my eyes. It was just fantastic!!! I just had to get closer despite the crowd. I just had to throw a coin so I can return to the Eternal City. I just had to have my photo taken. ;-)

The backdrop of the fountain is Palazzo Poli, which becomes a part of the monument. The fountain features a central sculpture of Neptune, with Health and Abundance alongside and he is attended by tritons and marine horses.

Neptune -at close

The Magnificent Trevi Fountain - Photo taken from Wikipedia

With a cone of gelato that I bought from the gelateria that surrounded the fountain, I continued my way towards significant must-see spots that were situated within walking distance (or just for me) from each other.

The Pantheon, built between 27 AD and 25 AD, is the best preserved structure of its age and the architecture with the biggest brick dome. According to legend, it is the place where Romulus, the founder of Rome was seized by an eagle at his death and taken to the skies with the gods. It was later on converted into a Catholic Church in the 7th century.

The great Renaissance artist, Raphael was buried in the Pantheon.

Piazza Navona displays the works of Bernini and Borromini and is considered the one of the Baroque Masterpieces in Rome. At the center of the square is the Fountain of the Four Rivers or Fontana Dei Quatro Fiumi and an Egyptian Obelisk. Unluckily, the fountain was under construction thus it was covered and not shown to the public.

Fontana Dei Quatro Fiumi by Bernini - Taken from Wikipedia

Piazza Navona is one of the few places where you can pick out some artwork whilst eating your dinner.

Before taking the Metro towards Piazza del Popolo, I managed to take a quick shot of Bernini’s Triton Fountain in Piazza Barberini.

Triton Fountain

Piazza del Popolo features two symmetrical churches, an Egyptian obelisk and is dominated by the Porta del Popolo, which leads to the Via Flaminia. It also has two fountains on opposite sides.

The Twin Churches and the Obelisk - Piazza del Popolo

Steps lead from the Piazza del Popolo to the Pincio to the east

Tired but satisfied of my day tour, I headed back to the collegio but was not able to resist the urge to drop by the St. Peter's Basilica which,as stated in my previous entry, turned out to be a very good decision.

Travelling and exploring Rome alone was not bad at all...in fact it will be one of my memorable trips that I will never forget. Ever!

A Visit to the Vatican

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Work has brought me again to new destination....Rome, Italy.

The annual technical seminar was held in Rome last April and like most of my colleagues, I stayed over for the weekend. Everybody seemed to be excited about visiting famed tourist locations with the Colosseum topping the list. But for me, it was the Vatican visit that weighed the most. I considered the trip as a celebration of my faith. And indeed it was!

I met up with my cousin, who is based in Milan, as she was also in Rome on the same weekend that I was there. We attended the ordination of a Filipino seminarian (who is a friend of my cousin) in Parrochia San Gabriel Arcangelo in the outskirts of Rome. It was truly a new and meaningful experience for me as it was the first time for me to witness the Sacrament of Ordination. I never thought it could be that solemn and emotional event. After the ceremony, there was a small reception in the garden and I was pleased to have met a lot of Filipinos – nuns, priests, parishioners and visitors – who are based in Rome for quite a while.

After the ceremony, we went straight to the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. With us were Filipino priests and nuns who we were eager enough to be our tour guides. Since it was a Saturday, the queues leading to the Basilica, the museum, the crypt and the dome were just unbelievable. It seemed we spent the whole afternoon and when inside, there were just so many people that you can hardly have enough time to appreciate the solemnity and beauty of the basilica. The main alter was closed and you can only view it from afar. I think it was for the preparation for the Sunday Mass the following day.

In front of St. Peter's Basilica with kababayan from all over Italy

But I didn’t mind at all. God is so good that He gave me an early treat the day before. I just could not contain my excitement that I got out of the Metro on San Pietro Station on my way back home to the Pontifico Collegio Filippino where I was staying, despite my cousin’s instruction that we will all go together for the Vatican tour when they arrive the next day. I just need to take peek and see what to expect. Hehe! It was around 5:30 PM when I got there and was not able to close my gaping mouth the moment I saw the square and the St. Peter’s Basilica. It was majestic!!! I was literally shaking and could not stop myself crying. It was a different feeling that enveloped me. I just stood there for like 30 minutes and it took me a lot of convincing that I was actually there and I was not just dreaming.

St. Peter's Square
late in the afternoon is an ideal time to visit here as almost everybody seems to queue up in the morning

Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano -
the Greatest of all churches of Christendom

The Papal Swiss Guard

What more?!!! There was a short queue leading to the basilica and I was inside in a matter of three minutes. There were not much people inside and I indulged myself to the holiness and sacredness of the place going from one chapel to the other that line up in parallel to the aisle. I took all my time in admiring the priceless works of arts and the exquisite architecture making the basilica the greatest building of its age. It was definitely worth the side trip and I was thankful I acted on impulse and got off the train.

St. Peter's Basilica - The Altar and Chair of St. Peter's
Straight below the alter and the baldachin is the tomb of St. Peter

one of the many grandious pieces of art

The Pietà sculpted by Michelangelo
just to the right of the entrance, between the Holy Door and the altar of Saint Sebastian and is now protected by a bullet-proof glass panel.

As I was flying back to England on Sunday evening, I went back to the St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Papal address and Angelus led by the Pope. I got their early and squeeze myself towards the center among hundreds or even thousands of pilgrims and tourists. I was able to attend the Holy Mass officiated by Pope Benedict XVI as broadcasted on the wide screens and loudspeakers. I am not sure though if it was a live ceremony inside the Basilica or just a taped one. It was said in Italian and though I was not able to follow a word, it was meaningful experience as well.

After the mass, the people were alert more than ever and started cheering when the famous “second to the last” window opened and the papal flag was put out. We welcomed Pope Benedict XVI with cheers. I was not even aware that I myself was cheering and waving as well. Then the Pope started the Angelus and his address in different languages. People cheered every time their language was spoken. The whole thing reminded me of Jesus and his flock. The Lord’s people of different races and languages gathered together to hear His words. It was very touching.

Holy Mass officiated by Pope Benedict XVI as broadcasted in St. Peter's Square

The flag is out and the Pope is here!!!
Pope Benedict XVI waving to the pilgrims

Pilgrims crowded in St. Peter's Square to hear the Angelus and Papal Address

It was a trip that I will never forget and will cherish forever. It was indeed a celebration of my faith! I am proud of my faith and appreciated it even more. Praise God!

The Joys of Travelling (Alone?!!!)

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:22:00 +0000

I’ve always had this desire to travel. As a kid, I had my own share of travelling (out-of-town trips and travels that entailed plane or ship-ride) during summer vacations and came high school years, when I sort of travelled independently (sans family) during school and scouting activities. Years later, my sister landed this hip job as a tour coordinator bringing students to educational trips and I would usually tag along when school schedule permitted.

It somehow slowed down a bit when I started working with limited leave entitlement and I would usually reserve them for my homecomings. Definitely, I would put emphasis on FUNDS being the main reason especially when I started to earn and plan my own finances. Hehe!

And where are all this talk heading to? It’s just that I realized that I haven’t really travelled alone until recently when I am actually in foreign countries. My previous travels were always with colleagues or if not, there would always be somebody I know who would meet up with me and bring me to all these interesting spots or restaurants. Until I get to Munich.

Munich

I went to Munich in Germany just as the month of March was about to end to attend a 3-day training. It is a vibrant and happy city and for me, Munich is a rival to Berlin in terms of being the most popular destination in Germany. It is a city of all sorts of culture with an array of museums and vibrant art scenes and who would forget the infamous Oktoberfest.

This time, I opted to stay in a hotel which is located right in the city center even it entailed 15 minute-train travel for me going to the academy just so I can have the opportunity to walk around the city every after training session. The city has so much to offer and unquestionably a 3-day stay was not enough to see and try it all. Much more if that 3-day stay is on a business purpose. Thus for me, the highlight is the Altstadt (Old Town) walking tour that I took on my own which covers the historic locations and structures in Munich and commenced in Marienplatz (St. Mary’s Square) which is the heart of the city of Munich.

Marienplatz is the focal point of the city and was named so as a way to ask Virgin Mary to protect the town from a cholera epidemic.

At the center of Marienplatz is Mariensäule, a large column and atop is a statue of Virgin Mary. It was erected in 1638 to mark the end of Swedish invasion.

Mariensäule

The center is also dominated by Neues Rathaus or New Town Hall- the impressive Gothic town hall with six courtyards and 85m-high Rathausturm with the Glockenspiel or carillon as its main attraction which plays every 11:00 in the morning , 12 noon and 5:00 in the afternoon each day.

Neues Rathaus

taken in the courtyard of the new town hall

Glockenspiel
a re-enactment of the 1568 wedding of Duke William V and Renate of Lorraine, complete with a jousting match; or a rendition of a dance called the Schläfflertanz

Just a few meters away is the Altes Rathaus or the Old Town Hall. It now houses a Toy Museum or Spielzeugmuseum which traces the history of toys from the early 19th century up to the modern ones of today.

Altes Rathaus

Continuing my walk led me to infamous Hofbräuhaus where its Oktoberfest all year round. It is one of the oldest brewery in Munich and its a must for tourists to drop by here for a true Munich experience. They provide lots and lots of beer (where you can smell its strong scent upon entering), traditional Bavarian food, music and dance combined with a cosy atmosphere and waitresses dressed in traditional costumes.

Hofbräuhaus

*picture taken from wikipedia

Inside Hofbräuhaus

Alter Hof – served as royals’ residence until 1474

Alter Hof

Maximilianstrasse – Munich’s ultrachic shopping street

a not so busy Maximilianstrasse

Max-Joseph-Platz with the big black statue of Maximilian I

At Max Joseph Platz with Maximilian I and the Resideztheater behind.

Residenz was the official home of Bavaria’s monarchs from 1385 to 1918 and it serves as a museum today. Residenz Museum occupies the southwestern portion of the palace and consists of about 120 rooms full of art, furnishings, and other treasures. The Antiquarium boasts dozens of 16th and 17th century frescoes.

The Residenz was under construction at the time of my visit and had a tarpauline-like facade.

* Picture taken from Wikipedia

posh side entrance to the Residenz

Antiquarium in Residenz

Felderrnhalle or Field Marshall's Hall. Built as a tribute to the Bavarian army that fought in the Franco-Prussian War, the structure features bronze statues of some of the most revered generals of Bavaria, including von Tilly (1559-1632) and Wrede (1767-1838). The spot is also popular as the site of a pre-World War II historic clash between the Bavarian police and the Nazi and where Adolf Hitler was eventually arrested and was made to serve a short prison term.

Felderrnhalle

Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady) is the landmark which is usually featured in many of Munich's postcards. It is the largest church in Munich.

The two towers of Frauenkirche

Travelling alone is quite new to me but it offers something good as well. It made me discover a sense of independence and adventure within me in roaming around unfamiliar streets with people speaking an unfamiliar language. I only have myself to look after to and have nobody's comfort to think of. I found it amusing to get lost and walked around and finding my way back. One drawback though, for a person who loves to have her pictures taken, is the lack of a photographer companion at hand. haha! I guess I would have to settle to take landmark photos and master the craft of asking favors from other tourists to take a souvenir shot of myself or better yet, carry a dependable tripod with me.

Afterall, it was an enjoyable long and lonesome (but definitely not lonely) walking tour. It was worth the achy feet and all.

Until my next adventure....alone!

Berlin – A Mix of Old and New

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:23:00 +0000

“This is indeed the capital!”

That was my first impression the moment I saw Berlin. I can’t help but compare it to Bonn, the old German capital, where I have been staying for almost 3 months now. Berlin, being a very busy city, is the center of politics, culture, media, science and economy. It has modern buildings, museums which stands right next to each other, shopping centers and restaurants.

Since I was only staying for three days to attend a workshop, I saw to it that I got a glimpse of the historical and famed landmarks around the city. Right after every session, my Taiwanese colleague and I would call a taxi and with our limited Deutsch words asked to be brought to the interesting tourist spots.

Gendarmenmarkt is known as one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. It was created on the 17^th century as a market place. It is now a quiet place surrounded by three landmark buildings, the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral), Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus. In the center of the square is a statue of Friedrich Schiller, a famous German poet.

German Cathedral in Gendarmenmarkt

Konzerthaus

The French Cathedral behind me with the statue of Friedrich Schiller

Charlottenburg Palace is the largest existing palace in Berlin and now functions as a museum. It stands in a sprawling land complete with park and garden which is used mainly for recreation. Inside the palace used to be what was described as "the eighth wonder of the world" — the Bernsteinzimmer, a room with its walls surfaced in decorative amber.

Unfortunately, as our sightseeing time was outside the office hours, we were not able to visit the museum.

Charlottenburg Palace

The Bradenburg Gate is an iconic landmark of Berlin and Germany which has been a witness and played different political roles in German history. Located atop the Bradenburg gate is the Quadriga of Victory . The quadriga was looted by Napoleon of France in 1806 and was only returned to Berlin in 1814.

East side of Bradenburg Gate

The Gate with the Quadriga of Victory on top. Victory used to carry an olive wreath but was subsequently replaced by an Iron Cross. The cross was once removed by the Communist government of East Germany but was restored back after the German reunification in 1990.

The magnificent and historical Bradenburg Gate

Of course, a visit to Berlin is not complete without having a glimpse of the Berlin Wall. Though I never had the time to see the actual remaining stretch of the wall, I was able to stumble upon this block while shopping for souvenirs near the gate.

The Wall

Three Decades

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Certainly! It has been three decades of life full of love and blessings. I cannot thank the Lord enough. He truly loves me – unconditionally.

“Youth had been a habit of hers for so long that she could not part with it.”

– Rudyard Kipling

Who says I’m 3-Oh?!!!

Holiday Sightseeings

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:32:00 +0000

Going through my blog, I thought it might not be too late to share photos taken during our trip to The Netherlands last December 2007. Since we were not able to go back home to Pinas, Zach and I decided to reward ourselves for our hard work for 2007 with this trip and to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.

We braved the busy pre-Christmas days and flew to Brussels last 22^nd December. We took a side trip and spent the night in the Belgian capital where we met up with college friends, couple Rey and Elanie.

Grand Place, Brussels

light and sound display show where they illuminated the Town Hall with hundreds of colourful lights which changes along with the classical music.

Brussels Christmas Market: Elanie and I trying out the must-try German mulled wine Glühwein

and Belgian waffle

parade of restaurants near Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.

The following day, we took a 2-hour train ride and got off at Rotterdam Central in Holland where my Auntie Darling and her Dutch husband Uncle Dirk picked us up and drove us around the modern city for sightseeing.

Rotterdam is a city with modern architecture (as compared to Amsterdam) since it was greatly damaged by World War II bombings. Rotterdam port is the biggest in Europe and one of the world’s busiest.

Rotterdam's cube houses

My uncle brought us to see this weird structure in Rotterdam -

A building literally on top of another one.

Erasmusbrug ("Erasmus Bridge") across Nieuwe Mass River linking the

southern and northern part of the city

a quick shot in front of Auntie Darling and Uncle Dirk's house

Amsterdam welcomed us the following day. We drove to the country capital early in the morning and took a side trip to the city center before going to my Auntie Nenet’s place where we will be spending Christmas Eve.

Royal Palace, Amsterdam

The canals and bicycles of Amsterdam

Amsterdam at night

Taken while on a canal boat tour - typical boat houses along the canal and

Dutch structures at the bank of the canal.

Just after Christmas, the days were spent resting at home, visiting friends, partying with Filipino organizations, sightseeing and shopping. As for me and Zach, we did not let our holidays pass without visiting Elanie and Rey's town down South of Holland - s'Hertogenbosch or Den Bosch. As we did not have enough time to chat-to-the-max while in Brussels, we stayed for a night at their place and chat and drink the night away.

Photo-op immediately after stepping out of Den Bosch train station. hehe!

College buddies Elanie and I - reunited after 7 years

Zach, I and St. John's Basilica in s'Hertogenbosch

Little Women ( as in small gid ya...) conquered Europe. hehe!

The next day, Rey and Elanie brought us to Madurodam in The Hague. It is a miniature city showcasing a model of Dutch typical structures and landmarks.

Head office of Nationale-Nederlanden in miniature

Amsterdam Royal Palace

Zach enjoyed watching the mini cars driving along the mini street.

ECE5A in Madurodam - Rey, Elanie and me.

And since we are in The Hague, we dropped by the Peace Palace before calling it a day.

The Peace Palace is home to a number of international judicial institutions, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the renowned Peace Palace Library, as well as the Hague Academy of International Law, which attracts law students from all over the world every summer.

The Peace Palace - a quick shot just before it got dark

A Commuter’s Life

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:03:00 +0000

It feels good to be back! I’ve been missing in action for the last 4 months, that is, in the blogging world. Work have been hectic and demanding that I hardly had time to maintain this blog. I’ve been meaning to share my adventures but I always found myself struggling with work and home chores realizing later that my planned blog updates were actually out-of-date. Hehe!

For the past months, I’ve been living a life of a commuter. Work requires me to be based in Bonn, Germany and all these months I’ve been travelling every Monday and goes back home in England on Fridays. The hour and a half flight is easy to deal with. It’s the flight delays in Heathrow Airport - being one of the busiest airport in the world that seem to be sucking the strength (and patience?!!!) out of me. Hotel rooms have been my home for 4 nights every week. For the first few weeks, it felt quite posh staying in these 5-star hotels and enjoying the comfort they offer but after a while I started missing my modest room in our England home. Indeed, there’s no place like home.

It’s actually starting to wear me out but I actually have no choice – for now. Definitely, I need to go back home and spend my weekends with Zach and try to fulfil my wifely duties. Hehe! My Saturdays are spent resting and catching up with laundry and other home chores. On Sundays, we attend mass in the morning and spend quality time dining out, shopping or visiting friends and end the day preparing for my trip the next Monday morning. On how long I can endure this routine, I am not sure. Hehe!

All I know is that I have a lot to be thankful for and there’s no room for me to complain. I have the most understanding husband whom I have not heard complaining about having an absentee wife. I have the opportunity to travel without costing me anything. I get to experience the German way of life and culture and meet all the friendly people here. Career-wise, I have this opportunity to work and learn with different people.

But I will always remain hopeful that somehow there will be a possibility for me to work remotely in UK for this project. After all, more than anything else, my life is in England.

Pinoys in Fleet

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:21:00 +0000

When I first came here and was looking around for a flat, I had absolutely no idea if there were any Filipino communities in the area and the neighboring towns. I tried to ask my relocation agent at that time but she told me she’d ask around and come back to me with the information (which she never did). After 7 properties in 3 different towns, I settled with the one in Fleet which is the closest to public transport as I did not have a car back then and it was only about 6 minute-drive away from my workplace in Southwood, Farnborough. It was only later that I learned from a Filipino colleague that there are considerable number of Filipino families in neighboring towns of Farnborough and Frimley (which has a big hospital with majority of its nurses coming from the Philippines).

Walking around in Fleet’s town center, I would get excited whenever I see Pinoy-looking people and realizing later that they were actually Thai or Napalese. Hehe! Until I finally met a Filipina from the church and it was there I learned that there weren’t much Filipinos in Fleet. Over the months, my circle of Filipino friends widens and all of them are living in Farnborough, Frimley and Camberley.

Not until a few months ago when my hubby bumped into a Pinay in one of his train rides. From then on, we have been frequenting their house for a barbecue and it was through those gathering that I got to meet the other kababayan living around the town. In a span of a month, two more guys arrived from Pinas and we all agreed that our community in Fleet has somehow grown not into a really big community but just enough that everyone knows everyone. It’s exciting that the “Ate’s” are actually talking about having a Pinoy Christmas Party!!

fraction of the whole Pinoy gang

The Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Mae) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:20:00 +0000

Autumn is officially here. Time passed by so fast that it seemed like last week when we still planned a lot of activities for the summer.

The supposedly summer of this year was way a lot different from the one I had in this country last year. Who would ever think that the wettest month on record in Britain occurred last June? And it was in this summer when widespread flooding occurred across the country in June and July affecting Northern Ireland, North Yorkshire, The Midlands, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and South Wales. Summer is supposed to be sunny and warm, right? In all fairness to Mother Nature, we had a glimpse of beaming sunshine every now and then which would last a week or two and will then be followed by rainy and cold days.

And the last week of August was one of those sunny periods in which the annual Notting Hill Carnival is held. Actually, coming over to London for that event was a spur of a moment decision. We just caught its invitation ad in TV while we were at a friend’s house for a barbecue and having a new Filipino with us (who just came here in England a couple of weeks ago); we all agreed to travel early the next day.

Notting Hill Carnival, a Caribbean population-led event, as mentioned, is an annual event held every August covering Sunday and the next day Bank Holiday Monday. It has been celebrated since 1965 as a response to the deteriorating racial relations. All through the years, it has been viewed as a celebration of London’s multi-cultural diversity. However, it cannot be denied that it is always marred by riots and conflicts with the police (which is mainly the reason I first hesitated in going especially that Zach has a planned tennis game thus he wouldn’t be able to join us.)

On that sunny day, we first had lunch buffet at Chinatown before hitting the cramped underground and headed to Notting Hill where we will be waiting for the parade to start. The festival was not actually new to me as I felt it was more of like our Masskara Festival in Bacolod or the Pasalamat Festival in La Carlota City. It was all complete with street dancing, colorful costumes, residents participating in the festivities even from the windows of their elegant Victorian terrace houses, food kiosks and people peddling booze and grass (yes! grass as in marijuana) as if they were as ordinary as softdrinks and stork candies. Hehe!!! Walking down along Portobello Road, you can find makeshift stages and blasting sound systems just a few meters from each other and with people (wasted or high) dancing their hearts out. It was well-attended with an estimated 1 million people gathering to witness the event.

Dropping by London's Chinatown for buffet lunch and some dimsum

Black and colorful

Festive Beat

A souvenir shot with the performers - with Ate Winnie

They're not all black after all ;)

What were these Orientals doing in a Jamaican festival???