[14 October, 2022]
Fall is definitely now in full force and made yesterday’s walk quite pleasant and colorful.
Walking in the woods at Glacier Ridge Metro Park, Dublin, OH.
14 Pro, not Max
New iPhone arrived today. Camera is huge!
iPhone 14 Pro, 256GB, Silver
Hints of Autumn
[07 October, 2022]
Hints of autumn in the foliage colors and in the crisp air during my trail walk this morning.
Citrus Bounty
It’s time to bring the citrus plants indoors - a Meyer lemon tree and a calamondin (or “calamansi”, Philippine lime) plant. Just in time to allow the fruit to mature and ripen as the cold weather sets in.
A Birthday Party
[04 October, 2022]
It was my sister Emilie’s birthday so it’s a celebration complete with cake and as tradition dictates, some noodle dish (for long life).
Clearing the Jet Lag Cobwebs
[30 September - 01 October, 2022]
A good way to shrug off the effects of jet lag is to get out and do stuff during daylight and sleep at the proper time at night. A long walk on my usual trail and cheering my niece’s 11-year old at a chilly afternoon game of soccer were just what I needed.
A Long Travel Day
[28-29 September, 2022]
Scenes from my near 28-hr travel day from Manila to Columbus, via Incheon (Seoul, South Korea) and Detroit. Since I cannot sleep on a plane, I was awake for nearly 48 hours, considering I left at 11:30pm from Manila after having been awake since 7am that morning. Ugh, the struggle is real.
Departure Day
[28 September, 2022]
Final day of my trip, and a final lunch at Nono’s with the nieces to close out my fantastic month in the Philippines.
Last-Minute Get-Togethers
[26 September, 2022]
Last few days in town and a couple of last-minute get-togethers with a couple of dear old friends I rarely see. First, lunch with Ricky and Carol at Fely J’s, and then dinner with Jun and Mimi at Manam. My final taste of authentic traditional Filipino comfort food this time around.
Weekend with Family
[24-25 September, 2022]
My final weekend in town was spent with family, and guess what? More food! On Saturday, it was lunch at a Japanese izakaya restaurant, and dinner at home where we enjoyed a home-cooked meal (main dish of roasted pork with pineapple sauce courtesy of me!). Then on Sunday, it was brunch at La Luna Cafe with the nephews, and I closed out the day with a date at The Spa with my niece while a tropical storm raged outside.
Trip to the Highlands
[23 September, 2022]
It was my niece Kristine’s birthday so we went on a little out-of-town trip to Tagaytay City, a popular weekend get-away not too far south of Manila. Time for more traditional FIlipino food for lunch at Balay Dako, a popular heritage house restaurant overlooking Tagaytay’s most famous attraction, Taal Volcano.
More Reunions and COVID-19 Tests
[22 September, 2022]
Another round of reunions with long-time friends, another Covid-19 antigen test. And of course, more delicious food, this time, Korean and Spanish.
Afternoon Delight
[20 September, 2022]
I spent a good two hours today at Felipe & Sons, a local “barber-dashery” for a gentleman’s haircut and upper body massage (an Afternoon Delight in their menu of services) plus a skin-clearing facial. It was a wonderful experience, with Eddie my barber providing the wonderful service as well as the stories.
Pan-Asian Eats
[17-19 September, 2022]
A weekend that started with the community street food market led to an unintentional foodie tour of Southeast Asia. First, it was a family dinner at Nanbantei, an izakaya-style Japanese restaurant in the Greenbelt shopping, dining, and entertainment area.
The following day, it was lunch with a close childhood friend of mine and his lovely wife at Mango Tree, supposedly the best Thai restaurant in BGC.
Later in the evening, my nieces prepared some of my favorite home cooked Filipino dishes for a wonderful dinner replete with family nostalgia.
And finally, on Monday, it was another family lunch, this time at Tim Ho Wan, Hongkong’s Makati branch of their world-famous 1-Michelin star dim sum restaurant.
All told, a wonderful weekend of Asian-style small plates cuisine, shared and enjoyed with loved ones.
Weekend Street Food Market
[17 September, 2022]
Scenes and loot from this weekend’s Salcedo Community Market , a short walk from where I was staying.
Reunions, COVID-19 Tests, and Christmas in Manila
[15-16 September, 2022]
Nothing like a superspreader event to spoil reunions with friends of over 35 years so Covid antigen tests were in order prior to these get-togethers, Oh, and it’s already Christmas in Manila!
A Welcome Break
[14 September, 2022]
Japanese food! A welcome break from all the Filipino food of the past couple of weeks!
Family Dinner at Home
[13 September, 2022]
I made tiramisu for dessert and others contributed their own to this family dinner on Tuesday night.
Seafood Dinner by the Bay
[12 September, 2022]
Buying fresh seafood and having it cooked by one of the local restaurants highlight the unique dining experience in this popular Manila Bay-side destination. And the beautiful, famed Manila Bay sunset was just the perfect ambiance for our family dinner.
Back in the City
[11 September, 2022]
Sunsets at the beach, sunsets in the city. Equally spectacular, but worlds apart in heart and mind.
The city skyline bathes in the golden glow of the famed Manila sunset as our weekend at the beach ends and we approach the new week back in the city … a little less relaxation, a bit more excitement.