Monday, March 28, 2022

Postcards from London


“I like the spirit of this great London which I feel around me.”
 -Charlotte Brontë

At long last, a bit of overseas travel after 2 years of being confined in a fishbowl. The pandemic is not yet over but travel restrictions are  being eased up with more people getting vaccinated and protected. One can travel safely now as long as health protocols are religiously followed. 

During the first week of February, I had the opportunity to travel to the UK to visit my sister who just completed a post graduate course in one of universities in London and also to meet a dearest friend whom I haven't seen in ages. I haven't travelled anywhere since the pandemic started so stepping into an airplane for a long haul flight was quite anxiety inducing knowing that the coronavirus and its mutations are still airborne everywhere. In London, I still wore a face covering even if the indoor mask mandate was already lifted. Like they say, better travel safe than sorry!

Thanks to stringent health protocols and careful planning, I made it to London and back- safe, sound and COVID free! Yay and thank God! 

I have two words to describe London- pure magic. The city is unbelievably beautiful, inspired and exhilirating.  Visiting London is totally worth all the hassle of getting a UK visa with all its requisite tediousness and stress. The sensory overload that London offered very well compensated for a week’s worth of terrible jet lag and paltry sleep. While in the UK, we took an 8-hour train ride to charming Edinburgh to see for ourselves the enchanting medieval townscape and of course taste some yummy shortbread biscuits and buy real Scottish tartan. Again, it was raining eighty percent of the time but that didn’t stop me from enjoying a cone of Parma Violet gelato on a freezing rainy evening. 

Storm Eunice kinda ruined some of our itinerary plans but we got the must-see bases covered. I will someday go back to see the British Museum!

Enjoy these travel snaps!



The highlight of this London trip would have to be the West End musicals. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Mamma Mia, The Lion King, & Juliet and Cinderella. Super stellar shows!




Museum day at National Gallery in Trafalgar Square










Big Ben: Prettiest clock in the world

It’s teatime somewhere in the world
Stopping by The Ritz for afternoon tea hosted by my friend


The Shard: Modernity amidst the antiquity


Sainsbury flowers to brighten London's famously dreary weather
London Chinatown for the best Peking Duck dish
Shoreditch used to be Jack the Ripper's lair but is now the capital of cool. It's artsy, trendy and  it's my favorite part of London
Paid my respects to my favorite English writers, poets and historical figures at Westminster Abbey







Oh, the Thames River!

Reality vs. Expectation: The Tower Bridge is majestic while London Bridge is actually just an ordinary bridge
I would have booked the English Tea Bus if I knew of such travel experience
 


My sister booked a pretty Airbnb in Edinburgh with a whimsical view of Princes Street













 Dean Village is a rustic  fairytale 19th  century village  with a bubbling stream and garden pathways. Very enchanting!









The winter garden of Edinburgh Castle




Scottish tablet or Parma Violet?


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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Cool and cozy countryside views at Dafalongs Garden Cafe


If you're longing for fresh country breezes, lush greenery and unobstructed view of verdant hills and plains, take a long road trip to Northern Iloilo and visit Dafalongs Garden Cafe and Mini Park in Brgy. Bagacay in  San Dionisio. San Dionisio is a 100-kilometer drive from Iloilo City and if you're planning to go, it's best to leave early to soak in the beauty of neighboring towns.

Dafalongs Garden Cafe and Mini Park is located right along the national highway so it's not hard to miss. Upon entry, you will be greeted by a cozy, cabin style cafe made of handcrafted, homegrown wood in rustic, bespoke interiors. From the flooring to the exposed wooden beams and trusses, the cafe in itself is a work of art.  Enjoy the  360 degree views with a cup of native iced coffee or  locally sourced brewed coffee served in charming, farm inspired enamel or sartin coffee cups. Pair it with a slice of rich brownies or cake that the owner bakes herself. The best thing I love about the cafe is that it is a safe place to enjoy in the safety bubble of your family or friends without worrying about indoor coronavirus transmission. The cafe is the closest thing to dining outdoors with non-stop breezes and cool air. Now if only I can bottle the country air and take it home! If you plan to visit, send a reservation thru their  Facebook page. You can also make inquiries and reservation about plants and landscaping materials available for sale.


A carpet grass sofa and table focal point surrounded by a lotus and water hyacinth pond

If you're an aspiring urban gardener or one with garden real estate, Dafalongs Mini Park is an excellent place to get inspired. The owner has a keen eye for stunning landscape design and elements.

The al fresco portion of Dafalongs Garden cafe where you can enjoy the surrounding flowers and tropical plants while savoring their food and drink offerings


Fiddle leaf plants (yes, it's available for sale) meet your gaze as you look at the mountain which was once Panay Island's most beautiful. The mountain is recovering its lushness after it was battered by Typhoon Yolanda several years ago.


Landscaping and indoor plants for sale 




Soak in the view for peace and tranquility, far away from the hustle ad bustle of city life
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Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Dreaming of seafoam


I regret taking Boracay Island for granted. :(

 

Aquamarine, seafoam and turquoise- colors of nature that I truly miss. Hmmm, I wonder when can I see the sea again? I hate to be bothered by tons of travel requirements, expensive COVID-19 screenings  and paranoia just to visit a nearby tropical island so in the meantime, a virtual beach vacay will cure me from severe cabin fever. This virtual island getaway to Aruba looks really good.  I'm staying home and staying safe.

Get the laptop and vamos a la playa!

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Saturday, February 6, 2021

The new digital work life


I have always been the traditional, old skool pen and paper girl, relying so much on written notes and hardcopy files to do my work. Since the pandemic started, I have traded, albeit reluctantly my regular office desk set-up for a more flexible, remote online work environment where everything is almost paperless and cloud powered.  Gone are the stacks of folders, Post-its and print-outs that clutter my space.  In place are virtual shelves that house digital files, photos and music. Collaborative social networking office platforms also transcend space, time and distance between co-workers and for the last 10 months or so, I found them to be more effective than the usual office set-up. The pandemic really has accelerated my personal digital conversion to the point of no return. The only traditional thing left in the digital workspace is my cup of coffee ;).

Here are the traditional office items replaced by digital apps and platforms that encourage speed, efficiency and productivity in the pandemic era. Some of the apps are free and some are paid subscriptions. 

Old:
Small spiral notebook for lists, phone numbers, things-to buy
New:
Google Keep, Any.do app

Old:
Diary/Planner
New:
Elisi, Planner Pro app, Google Calendar

Old: Face-to-face office set-up
New: 
Yammer, Planner, Sharepoint on Office 365, Zoom, Google Meet

Old: 
Notebook, sketchpad
New:
Inkflow, Paper, Goodnotes, Sketches app

Old: Paper Post-its
New: Digital Post-it app

Old:
Physical files and folder management
New: Intranet, iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, Adobe Acrobat

Do you have any favorite digital office app? Let me know in the comments below. 
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Tuesday, February 2, 2021

The year of slow living



I love January- this time of the year when the temperature drops to the mid-twenties and cozy cardigans can be worn again. In the evenings, a cup of warm cocoa makes for the perfect nightcap. The cooler weather makes me want to to cuddle with my cats, listen to the slow, dreamy music of Lullatone or handwrite an overdue letter in a kawaii stationery set bought from Daiso. This time of the year also puts me in subtle, reflective mode as I plan for aimless pursuits or purposeful wanderings. 

I'm not into thematic experiences but after the horrible year that was 2020, I plan to live my life with more depth and feeling. Enough of the Ground Day existence. The theme for this year is slow living. Inspired by the slow food movement ignited by Carlos Petrini in 1986, I intend to do things as slowly and lovingly as I can like a cook simmering a delicious pot of stew on a woodfired stove. What will this all give me? Maybe a sense of peace or appreciation for the unhurried life where you get to notice beautiful movements, nuances or maybe discover new shades of color. 

 I will see how this little slow life experiment will go. In the meantime, Happy February!
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