Xmas Addendum: Festive Lights

I'd hoped to capture the noteworthy christmas decor around Makati ... December here in the business hub is really a dazzling display of light (and peso power!) with each building trying to upstage each other showing their Christmas glam ...

Sadly, due to various demands on my time (shopping, eating, out-of-town trips) the Christmas season came and went, with me having only a few measly pictures to show ... still, I decided to post them, just to serve as an inspiration for myself to do better next year :-)

My girl friends and I had an argument about this ... they thought the decor "fell down" and couldn't recognize it at first. I, with my superior elven eyesight, informed them that it was obviously a ribbon - and a dainty, lacy, lighted one at that! It took the proper angle (i.e. my sister had to climb over fences and lamp posts) to capture the beauty of Rustan's Christmas ribbon ...

I've always admired the taste and sheer class evoked by the decor of the Enterprise Center. Every year, without fail, no matter what the occasion, I end up being awed. Christmas 2006 is no exception ...

Moving away from Makati, the simple hanging stars over SM Mall of Asia's "boardwalk" made me smile ...

Moving still farther away from Makati, I also liked the lanterns adorning the stately tree fronting Antonio's doorway ... I thought it looked like a tree from Lorien, with "stars" scattered artfully all over the branches ...

Sigh. That's all I have. Can't wait for Xmas 2007!

Provincial Charms

Last December, I tagged along with my fiancee's family to their hometown in Nueva Ecija for their annual Xmas visit. It has been a while since I've set foot on rural soil (as in semi-paved roads, rice paddies and mud-soaked carabao-type rural). My last visit to our relatives in Bulacan was way back in the 90s and I have forgotten the simple charms offered by a bucolic lifestyle ... It was a veritable trip down memory lane for me ... and each image made me nostalgic for the lost laughter, tears and memories of my childhood - when I ran barefoot with my cousins over grassy meadows and played hide and seek under the soft moonlight ...

I remember chasing my fair share of hapless chickens and ducks ...

And risking mutilation from irate mother fowls protecting their precious babies ...

I recall being awakened by the strident call of the roosters at dawn while sleepily watching our elders prepare to tend to the farm ...

I recollect pestering my uncles to let me ride the cart instead, since they wouldn't let me get on top the carabao ...

I have vague memories of those afternoon get-togethers from which children were banned ... but we inevitably found ways to sidle up to mommy or daddy's lap :-)

My nose remembers the crisp, fresh scent of country air, which permeated my clothes while I was there - which was eventually leeched out by the aircon freshener on the bus ride home :-(

I recall how utterly fascinating the insect world was for me (expressions like "eyew" and "yuck" weren't part of my vocabulary back then) ...

And of course, how can I forget the pretty colorful flowers each dutiful housewife adorned her front yard with, painstakingly tending to the precious blooms while keeping an eagle eye on the pesky brats who kept trying to decapitate the poor plants (guilty moi!) Now, as an adult, I can admire from afar, without resorting to plucking :-)

I remember being shy, feeling small in a world of giants ...

Eventually though, curiosity would entice me back to mischief ... :-)

But most of all, I remember the laid-back, sleep-the-day-away feeling that doesn't go away, no matter how many chores I help with ...

It was nice to go back, indeed, and to be reminded of the joys of simple living ... before plunging back into the complex, fast and furious world of urban life ...

Pre-X'mas RnR @ Sonya's BnB

I've always longed to experience for myself that much-gabbed about, intimate Tagaytay hideaway that was Sonya's Garden (which, fortunately, is now a B&B) ... and with the chilly x'mas breeze for company, off we went ...

The cottage they assigned to us was at the end of a verdant trail, nestled cozily under the ever-present trees of ... Sonya's forest? ;-) The gentle tinkling of windchimes, and the relaxing sound of flowing water brought to mind images of Rivendell and Lorien. A refreshing scent of mint and other unidentified herbs pervaded the air, which was a welcome olfactory treat for noses desensitized by Manila's ever-present smog.

Portentiously, our cottage was named "Parsley" of Scarborough Fair fame, believed to provoke lust and love in Medieval times ... avert!!! :-)

The capiz door opened into a delightfully bright and cheerful sala

With fresh flowers, esoteric reading materials and a spectacular view of the greenery ...

The bedroom was even more charming, with a large comfy bed and big, fluffy pillows designed for pure sleeping pleasure ...

The bedspreads, pillow covers and mantels were all embroidered with dainty floral patterns, reminding me sharply of my tita's sorely-missed vacation house in Bulacan ...

Native "His n Hers" slippers were also provided ...

The bathroom was an amalgam of native charm and modern convenience ... and the feeling of intimate isolation fostered by the cottage almost lulled us into forgetting about the drapes ... ;-) (what a shock that would have been to the dogs cavorting innocently outside!)

Organic toiletries - honey mint shampoo and oatmeal soap ... guaranteed to make you smell absolutely delectable after your shower!

The cottage itself is pretty enough to tempt you stay inside forever ... but then you'll miss out on the other stuff the place has to offer ... for what is a garden without flowers? ...

which are all grown in the greenhouse ...

that doesn't look like a greenhouse ...

because of its pleasantly surprising nooks ...

which are ideal for lovebirds like us ;-)

If you thought the place was colorful only by day, guess again. The various ornate, antique lamps adorning nearly every nook and cranny set the place aglow with rainbow lights at night ... which nearly made me forget about the creepy sigh of the wind and the eerie rustling of branches against our bedroom window ... forgive my hyperactive imagination :-)

And then there's Sonya's Sensuous Spa, which promised unparalleled tactile delights ...

The main massage house looked invitingly relaxing and romantic at the same time, unfortunately we weren't able to experience it (due to poor customer service) oh well, there's always next time ...

However, we quickly forgot about our pique come breakfast time ... as we were greeted by this charming country tableau ...

Breakfast was served shortly after, and consisted of fried rice, crunchy danggit, aromatic adobo, hot chocolate and fresh fruits ... mmmm ... yummm!

Returning from our occular inspection of our future wedding site, we were served with Sonya's patented lunch - salad, pasta and fresh dalandan juice ...

Advice for future diners: don't stuff yourself - else you'll miss out on this sinful chocolate cake partnered with the most refreshing mint tea I've ever sipped ....

So was the P2,800 per head worth it? Definitely! We only wish we had more time to just laze around at the cottage, re-read the worn-out copy of "The Little Prince" at our bedside table, walk the many hidden pathways and take hundreds more pictures of this charming place ...

Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva, Sonya (Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet)