Peppermint Drink

A warm cup after an exhausting night of snow sports at the resort chalet.

Night Snowboarding

Can't believe snow's back on the Vancouver terrain (in April) when it's dry and sunny on the (Vancouver) mainland. I drove for 30 minutes to reach halfway the mountain and took a cable car to reach the city's peak for some last minute snowboard action.

Too Hot to Cook

I'm in the look out for furnitures that will fit my budget. This Scandinavian designed-IKEA kitchen caught my attention because of the flashy red glaze, modern not to mention sleek design. It's not something you'd take home to meet your parents but simply a 5-minute crush - sexy and eye candy.

It was sunny the other day so I took the seabus across downtown Vancouver. Pictured above is Vancouver's skyline with the revolving harbour tower (similar to Seattle's needle tower) and the five white sails mimicing the Sydney Opera House's structure. I'm standing on a platform somewhere in Lonsdale Quay.

Drizzling in Vancouver

Weather-wise, Vancouver's not the best place to be in this week. As forecast indicates, next week doesn't get any better.

I plan on taking a trip to the Canadian Rockies to avoid another week of rain. It'll still be snowing when I visit Banff. Yes, I miss snow.

Yesterday was spent house-hunting with my mum. I came home drained because I didn't find anything that I like. Houses that I like are outrageously out of my budget. We will be viewing another house tomorrow, I'm excited because this one has an indoor pool.

It's still the same

While I haven't updated my site for awhile, a few things have changed in my life. One thing's not changed, and it's that calm surrounding that embraces whenever I get out of the house.

The best time of the year's almost here. Spring!

Flash Forward

How I wish it's still December two-oh-oh-four. Here I am staring out the window thinking, waiting for a sign from that so-called destiny to help me make up my mind. What I have in front of me are all that I wanted. Some people tell you to follow your heart over your head. In my case, I don't know whether I should be practical or follow where my heart leads.

Jetlagged for a Week

I'm back, teetering between timezones and realities. I woke up this morning, thinking, hoping, it was a decent hour, but no. It was 4am and I was wide awake.

I sat up in bed and read my laptop like a book pressed up against my chest. I imagined what my family might be doing in the Philippines. Dad is eating breakfast. My cousin is preparing to go to school. Grandma is watching tv.

My time spent abroad was filled with so much love and adventure. Some sadness, too. I came home with a renewed sense of gratitude for everything I have.

I just know that part of me misses Manila already and another part of me is so glad to be home.

HK Airport

A glimpse of the vast HK Airport enroute to Vancouver. My four week holiday's over, but I look forward to working in Vancouver after I shake off this week-long jet lag.

Tikoy - Sweet Sticky Rice

Also a New Year's tradition, sweet sticky rice - this one in form of a pair of fish. It is believed that eating Tikoy brings sweetness that "sticks" throughout the year. On the otherhand, "fish" in Chinese symbolizes being able to save/keep a lot of money. As far as tradition goes, it is both important for people who celebrate the New Year festival to eat tikoy & fish.

Chinese New Year

Chinatown, Manila. A make-shift sidewalk fruit vendor preparing for the Chinese New Year by selling taros, clementines and pineapples amongst many other fruits. Pineapple when translated into Chinese means abundance (of wealth, prosperity). The rich orange color and the shape of clementines symbolize money (think- gold coins; it's all about money and getting rich, isn't it?). I still dont know what taros symbolize, but I'll find out. These fruits are then displayed in the house while most traditional Chinese families burn incense and pray to the gods for prosperity for the coming (lunar) new year.

Eastwood

Had lunch today at Eastwood City- A restaurant complex near a developing technology park, 40 minutes from central Manila. Food is so expensive. Ordered lots of seafood - paella, grilled squid, seafood soup and crabs for a whopping price of £8 for 3 people.

An Asian Powerhouse District

Makati City, Philippines - The financial district of the country. It's like your typical wealthy city - clean spacious streets, fancy restaurants, 5-star hotels, thousands of brand name shops, loads of flashy cars (and raucous drivers), wealthy shoppers pooled in a small area..it's a mirage.

Warm Treat

I'm visiting Manila for three weeks. Can't be beat the tingling tropic weather matched with delicious and cheap food. Pictured above is the garden of Westin Philippine Plaza in Manila.

Back in the tropics.. Pina colada, seafood - lobsters, oysters, king prawns, lechon (suckling pig) and an all-time summer favourite: sweet juicy watermelon.

History Lessons

A look from outside the Forbidden City in central Beijing. More than 1,000 pavilions grace this walled imperial complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties. China's feudal system only ended sometime in 1911. I gave up walking after 3 hours. Jenny and I decided that we've had enough history lessons in one day.

Imperial Ice Castle

Complete with intricate details, this one of many 30 foot ice/snow carvings awakened my curiosity for large ice structures.

I'm travelling in the northern part of China now. I'll post more when I get a chance.

Snow in Vancouver

We got around 5cm of snow yesterday, maybe even a little less in this picture of the back of our house. In the midst of the snow out pour, I went out of the house fully coated and started a snow ball toss around with Assad. I ended up soaking wet after failing to aim my snow balls properly.. in short, I got snow-clobbered (what's worst, by a rookie).