Cute and Cuddly, Anyone?

Rachel Hale is our favorite photographer for all things cute and cuddly. Every year without fail, she manages to elicit excited cries of "Awww, how cute is that?" (complete with pouting expression) from us. No matter that the subject has been used countless times before - she always manages to find a fresh angle to it. We discovered Rachel way back in 2002 from the unique and eye-catching cat/dog calendars being sold at National Bookstore ... and we have unfailingly bought a copy ever since. I like all her pictures but the ones I posted below are closest to my heart ...




I dub this "Little Ginny" - at least, this angelic face is how I picture Ginny to be when she was just a wee pup, gazing innocently at you with those limpid blue eyes while nibbling with unformed puppy teeth on your unsuspecting toes :-)

This yellow lab with the pweetty pweetty eyes remind of Ginny's brother Peter (sans the girlie necklace of course!) Actually, he kinda looks more like George (Peter's twin) who's so gay, he can give the fab5 a run for their money :-)



Despite reminding me of our-ill fated but much beloved Siamese, Ebony, this picture describes me better than I can ever write or verbalize. CLW (Cute Little Witch). I'm a dainty (monicker for "height below 5ft") and utterly feline creature addicted to catnaps, with an often dormant witchy-bitchy side which asserts itself only when you: 1) step on my tail 2) deprive me of my beloved catnaps and 3) try to out-bitch me. Meeoww! :-)

This is Kikay Kitty, my Alter-ego. Admittedly, my Kikay-ness is an acquired personality trait, imbibed by unconsciously associating with other Kikay creatures until it became a crucial part of my psyche. I'm not complaining though :-) Everybody deserves to look and feel beautiful! This trait only becomes dangerous when you don't have the brains to control it, which, fortunately is not an affliction I'll ever have to worry about heehee ;-) (those impulse buys at last week's tiangge don't count!)

SWATCH PHOTOSHOOT

Though our slapdash entries (we submitted them on the last hour of the last day ... and only then discovered there was a theme!) didn't win (sniff, sniff) - we had a blast getting our doggie to "pose" for us. This entailed us doing a lot of disgusting and degrading (if anybody ever found out!) stuff which I will carry with me to the grave. (Hey, you try negotiating with a creature under suspicion of ADD and see how far you go!) Suffice it to say that we literally poured blood, sweat and tears to "engineer" the following shots and we're mighty proud of 'em! :-)

This is also a belated tribute to my sister's photography and digital editing skills :-)

"Bad Doggie"

Thankfully, Ginny has outgrown her "chew-everything-forbidden-to-bits" stage - which can be equated with a toddler's thumbsucking phase - still, there are times when she regresses, slipping back to puppyhood state and driving us all crazy ... :-)

"Doggie Grin"

Don't let that scary, fanged face intimidate you, our black ball of fluff is as harmless as a butterfly. Really, she doesn't bite! At least, not to do you harm anyway ... it's just her own unique way of "making lambing" - she can be a little dense sometimes and mistakes our limbs for her favorite rawhide toys :-)

"Doggie Time"

Time has no meaning for butterflies ... and dogs with the same personality :-)

Actually, 10 minutes is more like it. Our dog is like a pressurized soda bottle, with the right stimuli - she sizzles and pops for a few seconds then slowly but inexorably settles into a vegetative state after that brief manic burst of energy.

"Run, Kitty, run!"

Actually, I was really thinking "Kitty, don't run! My jaw is hurting from prolonged smiling and my arms sore from restraining 25 kilos worth of curious dog!" What Ginny plans to do if ever she catches the cat, I don't know ... any hint of aggression, even the hissing of a tiny kitten has her backing off, blissfully unaware that she is causing embarrassment for her fellow large breeds. :-)

GINNY (aliases: Ginny Doogie, Ginnyfur and Guenhyvar)

This entire section is devoted to this cute, sexy, huggable, endearingly klutzy, mentally-challenged ball of fluff who has been enriching our lives since the day she bit (rather harshly, as I recall!) and slobbered her way into our lives and hearts ... :-)

I wanted to name her Guenhyvar, after that sleekly beautiful, mischievous and endearingly loyal magical panther in one of my favorite Fantasy books ...

I had visions of a black guard dog, walking faithfully by my side, ready to defend me with her life if need be - and at the same time, a playful and energetic companion to romp with at parks or at the beach.

Instead we got Ginny - and our lives have never been the same ... :-)

SOLANA XP

Scouting for a relaxing weekend getaway destination, we chanced upon this little-known (at least in my circle!) gem in the dive-crazy town of Anilao Batangas ...

Getting there was a rough understatement ... narrow lanes, cement mixers and sedans simply do not mix! Despite the tough roads, the scenic drive afforded tantalizing glimpses of the deep blue sea ... we're pretty sure though that the roads are asphalt-smooth and stress-free by now ... ;-)

As we trekked down the steep mountain path to the beach, we felt as if we were entering an enchanted forest, time seemed to stand still as our senses were suddenly permeated by nature's distinct sounds and scents. Manila (and real life) seemed so far away ...

Off the beaten path ...

If you're looking for a wide expanse of sandy white beach and shallow waters for swimming, Solana is not the place for you - the shoreline is rocky and barely there, the water - deep, clear and coral-strewn. Rather, Solana is a diver/snorkeller's paradise - with 5-star service and amenities thrown in for a comfortable, worry-free stay.

The main reception hall (cum lounge and relaxation area) was quaint and pretty with an eclectic selection of magazines and books, all the coffee, tea or juice you can drink and specacular views 24/7 - my dream vacation house!

The main hall ...


The Patio ...


Here's the best place to read a book or just daydream ...

Another cozy nook ... but it's already taken by Solana's resident diva ... :-)

Front-row seats to Discovery Channel Live ...

Early morning view from our cottage window ...

Come away with me ...

More sureseats@solana.com ...

The relatively steep rates include full meals and snacks which all looked too pretty to eat ... well, almost! :-)

And where there's food ... there's always the effortlessly charming "Oh! Lala!"

After each meal, I couldn't resist going for a brief swing (I want one exactly like it!) ...

I also had a brief sojourn inside the meditation hut (yes, those cushions are really really soft and utterly huggable!) ...

and a little lounge act with a good book before the evening cruise ...

we shared a sunset toast by the boat at the end of a blissfully relaxing day ...

After dinner, we couldn't resist getting a massage (with the most divinely scented oil I've ever slathered on myself!) and with the sound of gently rolling waves lulling us into sweet oblivion ...

One of the many aspects of Solana that I really like is its unwavering commitment to local crafts, designs and products. Everything (from the buntal-covered cushions, to the rattan and abaca-hewn chairs up to the local manghihilot with the divine hands) is distinctly, proudly 100% Filipino. The only concessions to the presence of Caucasian tourists are: air-conditioning, salad, bread and cereals at the buffet tables and of course, state-of-the art diving and snorkelling gear (the use of the latter is included in the fee :-) )

Here's a preview of the interior of our very comfy cottage ...

The ornate native bathroom mirror ...

Cute twiggy clothes hooks ...

Shell lamps exclusively handcrafted for Solana's use ...

Sunbathing turtle ash trays ...

Clay bowls with native flowers (replaced daily with fresh pickings from the garden)...

And charming seashell chandeliers (that's a class A tongue-twister!) ...

The following day was spent frolicking under the sun and playing peek-a-boo with Nemo and the rest of the gang (a pity we didn't have an underwater camera). As I said earlier, Solana is really a great place for diving and snorkelling. The fish-abundant corals are a stone's throw away from the shore - you don't have to rent a boat (guests from other resorts are even taken to Solana's shores for snorkelling) and a little further away is a nice group of secluded islands for the more advanced divers - next year, we promised ourselves to try our hand at diving. (I need to get over my fear of drowning in deep water first!) :-)

So I contented myself taking amateur pictures, trying to capture some of nature's palette for the day ...

There was the Fisherman (not man-made, the resort's denizens assured us) ...

And the Warrior in the Sky ...

God looking down at us (I'm thinking He looks a little sad at the unwitting destruction of the fragile corals) Area for improvement: all resorts should inform guests to have a care with the corals - crushing them with your feet - even accidentally should be a punishable offense ...

And lastly, we spent some quality time with Solana's best kept secret - canine wonders Toby and Snoop! (Toby is the rust-colored doggie and the black one is his mother Snoop)

Wondering what they did with those coconuts? - Presenting the four-fanged coconut demolition team (Grrrr! These coconuts never new what hit them!)...

"Please Sir, I want some more..."

"Awww, take us with you, sniff, sniff"

At the end of it all, we were both loathe to leave ... and eager to return :-) Every peso we spent was worth it - just remembering how the place made me feel has a calming effect on my senses. Kudos to the Management and the super-friendly staff :-)

Namárie, an sí, Solana! :-)