Musashi Takoyaki

By far, this is the best tasting Takoyaki I have ever tried. It was so good I actually got 3 orders which equates to 12 Takoyaki Balls. Yep ... it was THAT good.

This is how they make them.

And this is the end result. Looking at it, it makes me want to head over to World Trade again and get some more.

I want!

Sigh ... the foodie in me is happy.

Chinese artists at World Trade Center

I went to the World Christmas Bazaar yesterday with Janina and I am simply amazed at the talented Chinese artists who would make drawings for you at such a small fee ... they took my breath away. I was able to resist buying anything save for some gifts but these Chinese artists were really good. In fact, I am going back there next week to have my portrait done. I've always wanted one and he can do it for only Php500. Beat that. I'd definitely blog it so you guys can understand the fuss.

For now, here is one of my precious buys from the Bazaar. A handwritten drawing of my name in Chinese. My name in Chinese is read as Cu Pao Yin which means Precious Cloud.

Those are his only tools. Amazing right? I was so impressed. He also made one for my Mom.

Here I am, the uber happy camper. Money very well spent.

And here it is on my bedroom wall.

Isn't it amazing? If you are in Manila, please make time to visit this guy. He is really, really good and the art you will be buying, can be kept for a lifetime. And no, this is not a paid ad. I just really love his work.

my brain date

I call him my brain date. It's a compliment. Trust me. It is.

I've been going out on several dates the past few months and though there were some hits in between, nothing really blew me away. In short, I was amazed from time to time ... charmed even ... but I was never dazzled. It seems that it took more than a car, good resto, and manners to dazzle me. I needed brains. I needed conversation. I needed sense. I needed laughter.

In short, I needed someone who would spar with me intellectually but at the same time, laugh at my crazy dumbass jokes, and make me think at the same time. If I get stumped, that's a 1UP!

So I met him and to be honest, I wasn't really expecting anything out of the first date. It was coffee which was quite generic and nothing impressive. Add to it the fact that he was late for almost 30 minutes and it wasn't a good start. I did give him plus points for wanting to pick me up at home so it evened out the tardiness.

We had coffee and we talked ... and talked ... and talked. I loved it! Finally! A man with brains who actually knew how to make the thought process work and could form coherent sentences and do a volley to turn things into a conversation and not a monologue. Hallelujah sweet baby Jesus!

I didn't realize that I was missing this kind of connection until it was actually materializing in front of me. It was bliss.

We went off to date number two and same thing happened. I was amazed. He had manners, he picked me up, took me home on time, and he even paid the bill. A miracle! LOL ...

Date number 3 happened and I was simply just going with the flow. I like that it was just what it was ... a date ... two people hanging out and talking ... having fun ... and nothing more. I like that I could pick his brains and he'd still be alive and able to function unlike the others where they just dropped dead. I tell you, it is hard to dispose of senseless corpses.

So no, this is not going to be a beating of my date .. unlike the others ... it seems, for the first time in a long time ... my brains are dazzled. As for me, it will take WAY MORE to dazzle me. For now, I am happy that my brains are dazzled. So please, dazzle my brains more.

Lechon Pizza

I met up with an old friend today at Mall of Asia and after hanging out at Starbucks and going around, we ended up eating at Pizza Hut. I immediately ordered the Lechon Pizza since I was quite fascinated with the thought of killing oneself with a massive heart attack after eating a bite of Lechon Pizza. LOL.

So we sat down and ordered food which arrived on time and one after another. Here they are ...

1. Waldorf Salad
2. Cream of Chicken
3. Fizzy Soda
4 and 5.  Seafood Supremo
6. Lechon Pizza 

So we arte and liked what was served until we saw the Lechon Pizza and then we kinda panicked. LOL. It just looked too scary. It was a heart attack waiting to happen.

Yep, we were seriously just staring at the pizza pondering if we were going to risk it. And we did!

Obviously, we survived. The Lechon Pizza was quite an experience. It was like eating stuffed meat in a sandwich with some sweet Mang Tomas sauce and chicharon. Yep, it was UNIQUE.

Would I recommend it? I'd say give it a shot. It's worth a try. It's something different and not something that you'd get to consume on a daily basis. I don't regret trying it, especially since I didn't pay. LOL. Besides, it gave us really good memories.

Good times my friends, good times!

O Yansi, Yansi, wherefore art thou Yansi?

He was my first kiss and Yansi was his name. I was 7, he was 9 ... and he was my first kiss.

We lived in an apartment style place and if I remember it correctly, he lived in the bigger apartment and my Mom and I were situated in Apartment E. We would go visit each other through the connecting roof and play. Whenever there was a holiday, be it Valentines, Christmas, New Year and even Three Kings, he would send me a card.

I was not happy because I was only 7 and at that age, boys were like cooties. He would send me cards and my older sister would proceed to cut it into pieces. Even though I was young, I felt that what she did to the cards was wrong but could not stop my 9 year old sister for fear that she might tease me mercilessly.

One time, I was invited to his birthday party. He was turning 9. Yes, he was an older man. My poor heart didn't stand a chance. We went to their house and handed him my gift when the nannies started saying "K, give Yansi a kiss on the lips." Being a child, I didn't know any better and so I did. I kissed him ... right.smack.on.the.lips.

He was surprised. I was oblivious, or maybe not so much as I still remember every details of it 23 years later. Hmmm ...

Anyway, they eventually moved out and left me feeling sad. What I didn't know then though was that he and his Dad came over while I was in school to negotiate a contract with my Mom. They wanted us to be married at 18 (one of those arranged marriages.) My Mom flat out refused.

I do wonder from time to time what would have happened if they signed the contract? Would I be married now to my first kiss or would I have killed him already out of sheer spite for being "trapped?" I don't know. I will never know. Still, it couldn't possibly hurt to find him on Facebook. Unfortunately, I am still saying ...

"O Yansi, Yansi, wherefore art thou Yansi?"

don henricos

My family and I used to eat a lot at Don Henrico's. We would always swing by when we get a chance and bond there. We would order the mozarella sticks, buffalo wings, and pasta. Rarely do we get pizza because the time the pizza would come, we'd be so full already. The last time I ate at Don Henricos was years ago so it was such a pleasant surprise when someone asked me to eat there today.

I, of course, immediately said yes. LOL.

These are the petite mozarella sticks. I am so happy that they still made it the exact same way they made it before. If it wasn't for the fact that these little monsters were so heavy on the tummy, I would have eaten all 6 by myself. The crispiness of the batter and the cheesy mozarella are so perfect. Crisp and soft. Who would have thought it was possible?

This is Chicken Pesto. I was supposed to get just Pesto but I ordered the wrong pasta. Still, it was good though I really didn't care much for the tomato they included but the button mushrooms were oh so good.

The Don Henricos Supreme Pizza was indeed supreme. It had all the toppings you'd want in a pizza and it wasn't thick nor thin crusted. It was just right.

And the best part ... the buffalo wings / thighs / or whatever chicken part. It was just SO GOOD. The tangy sauce, the crispy skin, the chewy chicken parts that leave this really sweet aftertaste ... I am in buffalo wings heaven.

Needless to say, I was FULL!. Burp!

citymugs: Foshan, Guangzhou, and London demitasse

I got a few more babies today. This is making me all giddy.

The Foshan and Guangzhou mugs are the old HUGE citymugs which I actually prefer over the Global Icon Series. Don't they just look gorgeous? I am in bliss.

Janina ...

I took some shots of my friend who was all dressed up earlier. Here are the photos which I love best. The colors may not be a stand out, the edges may be too soft, but I think it still looks good. No editing save for turning the charcoal photo into charcoal.

What do you think?

my mother's dolls ...

I got my Mom some Barbie dolls ... and she liked it. Erase! She LOVED it. Wouldn't you love them as well? She didn't have any Barbie dolls when she was young and this is why I got her these dolls. It's time I pay it forward for all her generosity to me.

What was your favorite toy when you were a child?

citymug: Beijing

I heart this one so much!

for no one in particular ...

My mood darkens
Thoughts of you pass by again
More frequently than I want it
More frequently than it should

Slowly
I seem to be falling
Slowly
I feel myself fading

The tears start to fall
But I stop them
I hold back
As I should ... as I always should

I hate you
I don't know why but I do
I think I love
I don't know why but I really do.

cheers to singledom

"You don't seem anything like the girl that you described. Based on what I'm seeing now, you've come a long way in such a short time."

This is the essence of what someone just told me recently during a conversation about how I was like before when I would fall in love and why I am a tad bit wary of falling in love again. He was pretty surprised that I told him that I used to be possessive, whiny, and centered on the guy that I was with. He said that from what he sees, I am the type of girl who knows what she wants, gets it, and if things don't go my way, then I'd say "there goes that, move on!"

I was amazed. I was so surprised that he could not imagine that I used to be like that based on what he sees now. (This friend of mine is someone I met less than a month ago.) He made me realize that in just 6 months, I have been able to turn myself around.

Where I used to be whiny, I am now able to hold back negative thoughts from time to time and just go with the flow. Where I used to be possessive, I am now able to accept that the only person I truly own is myself. I do not own anyone, not my future partner nor my son. I only own me. Now isn't this something for someone who used to panic when my ex would not text me back asap. LOL.

I may have made some leaps but I still have mountains to conquer. I am still not whole as a person but I am getting there ... and when I do ... when I am ready ... the person who will be my other half would be so lucky for I am complete and I am capable of loving him 100% without losing me. Till then ... I say, so many men, so little time.

Cheers to being single!

SPH # 33: Hard to Find

The theme is hard to find and I remember my excitement when I saw this toy that I had when I was a child being sold in Divisoria. I immediately got one for my B and he loved it. The ball beneath goes around in a circle and when it does, the hens on top starts to peck. It is such a glorious toy to have. It is what we call a "hen-pecker."

What are your hard to finds? For other photo hunters, please go here.

my audience ...

This is from May 2010 - present. I am humbled.

spot the difference ...

Can you see what's different between the two photos?

This picture was taken back in October 2, 2010.

This was taken November 27, 2010.