CRISTY IN THE CITY

Monday, March 28, 2022

“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?

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

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!

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.

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!

Thursday, January 28, 2021

K-drama (한국드라마) feels in the city

Iloilo River Esplanade vis -a- vis Hangang Park in Yeouido, Seoul

Dreaming of having corn dog with Han Ji-Pyeong? Traveling to the land of K-drama and kimchi is next to impossible as of the moment but one can have a taste of k-drama playfulness in the city.

1. The Iloilo River is the city's counterpart to the chilly Han River in Seoul. Walk, jog or bike along the 8.1 kilometer brickstone paved Iloilo River Esplanade which is composed of 6 segments traversing the Iloilo River area. From sunrise to sunset, the clean waterways, lush vegetation and rapidly changing skyline are a romantic sight. A beautiful pastel sky can be seen on most days. This place is perfect if you need to de-stress or clear your mind. You may whisper (or scream) your frustrations, heartaches or confessions of unrequited love to the calm, tranquil river.

2. Stop for a brew or bite at The Traveling Cafe (just like the coffee truck you see in k-dramas) at the Diversion Road area. The Hangang Park in Yeouido, Seoul has cheerful ahjummas who operate cute coffee carts offering canned iced coffee to park-goers. While you may never find ambulant vendors in the Esplanade itself, you may find them at the entrance offering quick drinks or refreshments. Ube pandesal anyone?

3. Grab a bowl of fresh ramyun and bibimbap at Assi Fresh Plaza while watching the busy, corporate life at Iloilo Business Park go by. Located at BPO Building A beside a 7-11 combi store, the Korean grocery and cafe sells home supplies, snacks, K-pop merch and yes, it even has a Seoul Cafe that serves good Korean dishes and drinks. Cheers!

4. Be a K-beauty in the city. No need to shop online for Koreans cosmetics as you can find shops like Nature Republic, The Face Shop and pop-up shop Aigoo Cosmetics in the popular malls in the metropolis. Remember, a beauty skin mask keeps the blahs away!

5. Stay home and watch K-drama. How about K-food on demand! How cool is that? Just tap or swipe away on Grab Food or Foodpanda mobile app for a dizzying array of Korean restaurants to choose from! Care for Tteokboki and peach soju?

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Hola Plantita!

There are no street dancing and merrymaking activities this Dinagyang weekend due to the pandemic. It's eerily quiet and the mood is somber just like the downcast skies that have prevailed all week. Save for a few moments of sunshine, you would need a cup of your favorite brew or a slice of cake to brighten up the day. For me, a potful of flowers or a new glossy leafed plant would do the trick. Aside from its being Caturday, it's also a plantita kind of day. Yay!

After breakfast, my sister-law and teenage niece headed off to Plaza Jaro to check out the plant fair. Right after December, as tradition would have it, the plaza would usually be a noisy carnival of sorts filled with ukay-ukay merchandize, plant sales and exhibits, marble and ceramic markets and of course, the streetfood fare. This year, it's just all about plants, plants and more plants. I don't call myself a real plantita since my practical interest in plants is usually limited to culinary herbs and flowering plants. I'm not into collecting expensive or rare plants either since I don't have the time or the budget for it. Every January, I just buy a few plants from the Jaro Plaza market that I can add to my herb or flower garden.

The Jaro Plaza plant fair has a plant for every kind of gardener, plant enthusiast or die-hard plantita/plantito. You might just find the plant that will love you back. Check the market out as soon as you can. Bring lots of cash as the temptation will be great. Resistance will be futile.

The Jaro Plaza Plant Fair runs from January to February 6, 2021.

Update: Extended until February 15, 2021.

There is a plant for every kind of plantito or plantita

Stroll slowly and buy fast

Foliage is the new flower

Orchids for the intermediate and advanced plantita

Monday, January 18, 2021

Reimagined: Iloilo at night

As if Iloilo City is not dreamy already, we reimagine it as a magical place called Wakanda of the Philippines where the past fuses with the present. A land of kind and noble people with a charming heritage.

We add a bit of celestial fantasy to Iloilo River's majestic backdrop made possible by Photoshop Camera's AI powered lenses. Take a virtual stroll through these beautifully surreal landscapes with a loved one (or in my case my favorite imaginary k-drama actor).