I've been eyeing AirBnb for a while and was finally able to use it on this trip. The accommodations we got did not disappoint or at least most of them. My favorite was the 800 year old apartment in Florence. Our host Paolo was gracious and very knowledgeable about the city. He recommended a really good restaurant and gelato place. I also loved that informative and interesting books about Florence and Italy lined his bookshelves. He has five other Airbnb listings which I would love to see in future visits. The one where we stayed was near Ponte Vecchio. All I can say is that it was simply lovely and if you ever need to go to Florence, book with Paolo.
I barely wrote anything for the month of August except a few notes and postcards. It sounds like a huge transgression not to journal everyday when you're in one of the most popular countries in Europe. But I was busy dancing, partying, drinking wine, eating gelato and cherishing moments for the most part of the month. Nothing bad about that!
More than six years ago, I was in the General References Section of our University's library most likely passing the time, I don't quite remember. But I do recall that I picked up a travel guide about Chile. I did not know a lot about the country except that it was in South America. It was also around this time that I learned from Literature class that Pablo Neruda did not only write love poems, ones we often dreamily read in high school, but also wrote political ones. After browsing the guidebook, I decided that I would one day go to Chile.
The Steveston Salmon Festival fell in the same Sunday as Canada Day so my family and I went to Steveston, Richmond to take part of the festivities. And what's my default post like when I get lazy? They say a picture paints a thousand words. Teehee!
*Edit: All the pictures were taken by Astrid of Superboink. She always brings her cam despite how heavy it is. Check out her photo blog pixelsandcelluloid.tumblr.com for more beautiful photos!
I just had to say that the ice cream guy looked at me for a good two seconds after I told him what flavours I wanted. "Wasabi and Butterscotch, what a combination." He said. That was the first time I tried wasabi ice cream and it wasn't bad at all!
This was not intended to be a food entry but a general sharing of what I did in Davao. It seems though that nothing else comes to mind when I try recalling my Davao adventure but those of food and eating.
A trip to a Philippine city is never complete without sampling local street food. Coconut water with evaporated milk was my favorite thirst quencher. I'm quite a fan as it was only singko per cup! I had proben or fried gizzard on sticks and crispy fried chicken skin. They were delicious with chili sauce. There were also healthy options-- sliced fruits such as papaya, mangoes, guavas and the refreshing root crop singkamas. M, one of my amazing friends and a most gracious host, took us to an unassuming kebab place in one of our dinners. It had an open air layout and plastic tables and chairs. I liked the fact that I didn't have to worry about my money when ordering Persian food.
I just came from enjoying and living life under the tropical Philippine sky hence the long silence. Anyway, I am still hungover so I will tell a bit of my vacation story through pictures. These ones are of Cebu City.
I tasted Iba Shake for the first time at Zubuchon. It was surprisingly sweet and refreshing.
I'm making this one next time. I just can't justify paying P90 for iba!
(Iba is Kamias in Tagalog. It's a green sour fruit commonly found the Philippines)
I just thought I would share this video that Josh Halpurn of outsidejosh made of his WWOOFING experience. It made me super excited to go home to the Philippines. I have been thinking of going WWOOFing for the longest time! WWOOF is an acronym for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Check the Philippine's site here and their international site here. Basically, through the WWOOF network, you volunteer in a host farm of your choice and in exchange for your services, they give you free board and lodging. It's the perfect way to travel, learn and meet people without breaking the bank. Some hosts also allow volunteers to extend their stay without working if they pay for their board and lodging. Of course, this is just one idea and it totally depends on your travel objectives whether this idea will suit you. Anyhow, this is definitely on my must-do list!
Speaking of a must-do list, I don't exactly know when I started daydreaming of having my own business someday. I remember a talk with C where she shared her own thoughts about having a beautiful cafe that we would all want to go to. I've never been a farm girl but I get excited about the idea of raising goats and having my own bee farm. Being green and environmentally conscious is a process and it is quite difficult for most of us city dwellers. Even I cringe at the price of organic food here in Vancouver. It's a long way off but of course I want my goat and bee farm to be organic. Not impossible, seeing that video of ENCA farms right there.
So I hope this little entry inspires you to dream your dream and live it someday. Hopefully, live it as soon as possible! Cheers!
