What is Christmas for you?

Christmas is coming.

Christmas  songs are now starting to play in the malls. Officers are now starting to plan for their upcoming Christmas parties. Families are starting to decorate colorful decors and lights in their houses. Employees are now excited thinking what to buy when they receive their upcoming 13th month pay and Christmas bonuses.

The statement "Christmas is the season of giving" is not new to us. We always hear that in Christmas songs, homily of the priests and most Christmas stories. But is Christmas really the only season of giving?

Nowadays, calamities attacked. Actually, every year or almost every month if we sum up what is happening world wide.  This year in our country, after the war in Zamboanga occurred last September, 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Cebu came in October. Not after a month, super typhoon Yolanda existed and attacked Tacloban, Cebu, Panay Island, Mindoro, Palawan and other parts of Visayas, Southern Luzon and Northern Mindanao. Because of these calamities, many lives were lost , houses were ruined, our famous tourist spots were devastated, thing were vanished in just one click, dreams and plans were shattered in just one blink.

Fortunate are the people who survived and not affected by these calamities. Fortunate are you who are still with your special someone, continuing your professions and living in your lovely home. If you are one of those fortunate individuals who are capable to help, please let us not wait for the Christmas season to show our love to our fellow Filipino victims. For Christmas  is not celebrated only in December but everyday. Because the true meaning of Christmas is the love of Christ for us and his love is not shown only in Christmas time.

I remember  James 2:15-17 says " If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, you shouldn't say, 'I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat'. What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead".

Help may come in many forms. It can be your time, your prayer, cash or kind. Come let us extend our hand to our fellow Filipinos who need our help for it is better to help than to be the object of help. So friends, what is the meaning of Christmas for you?

Sweets from Japan

I can't get enough with this another sweet from Japan!!!

Last week, our neighbor who married a Japanese nationality gave us a few slice of this sweet snack monggo flavor from Japan. This week, she gave us another one whole piece of the same kind of sweet snack but this time GREEN TEA flavor.

She said this sweet snack is  a kind of chocolate in Japan. I just don't know the name of this chocolate because the packaging is labeled in Japanese characters which is unfortunately I don't know anyone who can read it for me. Can anyone read the label for me? 'Coz I wanna buy another like this.

When eating this, I am reminded of "dodol" a kind of suman made by Maranaos. They both have the same texture but this Japanese sweet is sweeter and more fragrant than dudol.

Another chocolate I love is also from Japan, ROYCE CHOCOLATE....

My sister gave us two boxes of Royce fresh from Japan while I was in bangkok. The taste is like heaven that lets you savor and feel the sweetness until your last bite. Worry not if ever you have eaten too much because it is made from healthy and natural ingredients. I don't even worry of my skin and pimples when eating this. And because it is natural, the shelf life is shorter than typical chocolates. When it comes to price, Royce is pricey but I guess it is reasonable. While shopping in Siam Square, I saw Royce at the food center at around 500 Thb. In Philippines, Royce is available at Greenbelt and Eastwood Mall for more that 500 Php.

I must say you guys must try it. Once you taste it, it makes you ask for more!

Minie in Thailand

After graduated as Cum Laude last April 2012, my sister asked me to ask her any graduation gift ...  Then I asked for an out of the country vacation on my birthday =) .

There were so many countries playing on my mind. But after considering those countries, I finally decided to choose Thailand for it has a number of tourist spots, no visa entry and affordable for shopping.. I know its kinda late to put this on my blog but just like what they say, IT'S BETTER LATE THAN NEVER! So, come and join me as I reminisce my Thailand adventure ;-) 

We left the country on January 27, 2013; around 4:00 PM.

My eldest sister Charm and her boyfriend Aldrin were with me for the trip.

                                                                        

So excited!! Can't wait to see Bangkok!!

At 8:00 PM, we finally arrived in Bangkok. From Savurnabhumi Airport we took sky train to Phaya Thai and from Phaya Thai we changed sky train to get to Chitlom, where our hotel was located; THE GOLDEN HOUSE BANGKOK BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND SPA

 Golden House is very accessible since it is just a walking distance from street shops and malls like Platinum, Siam Square and Central World. Plus, there's a money changer on front and massage clinic beside it.

Our room =)

We then took our dinner in a restaurant at Siam. Thanks for my second elder sister who followed us and guided us in here.

January 28. Monday. My birthday. First  day of BKK tour. We had our huge breakfast at McDonald Bangkok.

TEMPLE TOURS. From Chitlom, we took sky train to Saphan Taksin. After arrival, we took water taxi to the temples. The Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located between the Tha Tien (N8) and Tha Chang (N9) stops. The said temple has an entrance fee of 700 THB. No shorts, leggings and sleeveless shirts allowed.

Temple of Reclining Buddha or Wat Pho. Walking Distance from Grand Palace and the Temple of Emerald Buddha. No entrance fee. 

Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun. From Wat Pho, we took another water taxi to Wat Arun. Wat Arun has no entrance fee.

When visiting temples, don't get surprised when locals approach you and tell you that the temples you wish to visit is close and suggests another temple for you to visit instead. Yes, there are lots of temples in Thailand but only those three are the most famous ones and I guess the must-visit temples.But please be reminded that all temples are open everyday. So after the whole day temple tour, its time for shopping at the nearby mall... Please be informed that all malls close at 6:00 PM.

January 29. Its time for animal visit at SAFARI WORLD! Safari World is located outside Bangkok so we decided to take the tour package offered by the hotel we were staying. We were fetched by a Pee (Kuya) Tong at 6:00 am so that we could arrive at Safari World at 8:00 am and see the most awaited animal shows.

In Safari World, we didn't only see some endangered, special, i-dont-know-what-to-describe-animals; we also enjoyed the animal shows like...

monkey show

sea lion show

elephant show

I also had the chance to ride the elephant after the show for 400 THB =)

Dolphin Show

Bird show

I also  experienced feeding giraffe!!!

 And ladies and gentlemen, please meet the animals....

Sorry guys I cannot show you all of the pictures of the animals I've seen..but other than the pictures above there were also Polar Bear, Hippo, Lion, Leopard etc...

After the our Safari World adventure, we headed directly to Saphan Taksin to catch the Yok-Yor for dinner cruise. But since there was ample time, we went to Asiatique for sight seeing at N2.

At exactly 7:00 pm, we had our dinner at Yok Yor cruise ship...

The tom yum is truly spicy. If you are a spice person, I guess you'll give up on this!

You get to see what the temples at night look like..so amazing!

Oh! We passed under the famous Bangkok bridge!!

January 30. FLOATING MARKET and AYUTTHAYA Day. Since Ayutthaya and Floating Market are also outside Bangkok, we also took the tour package offered by Golden House.

Our delicious brunch bought from floating market

There are really good items for pasalubong found in floating market but they are not sold at a good price since the sellers know you are foreigners..My tip? Ask for discount!!

We were also given a free tour around the river area to the old countryside house where Cobra Show was held.

On the afternoon, we then headed to Ayutthaya. As you all know, Ayyutthaya was a kingdom before ruined by Burmese I guess..to be sure, kindly refer to wikipedia hehehe..At present, Ayutthaya is now a city.

Looks familiar? Yes! Some movies you may know shoot here like Mario Maurer and Erich's "Suddenly Its Magic"

Do you wanna see Ayutthaya at night? They say it's scary..for me, it's romantic!

January 30. Shopping. We spent our whole day of Thursday shopping for pasalubong since our flight is around 7:00 pm at night. We shopped a lot in Platinum because its sooo affordable there. We bought bags, key chains, clothes, fruits and figurines.

Well, I have a lot to say about Thailand. Thais are also like Filipinos in some ways but they don't speak and understand English well. I love the fruits and their foods.  I am so deeply in love with the place.If only I can buy a house and live there.. I would definitely come back in the said country if given the chance. I'm so thankful and feeling lucky I've been there!!