Located near the National Taiwan University, Cafe Odeon offers a fresh respite from the usual city noise.
Not quiet but cozy. Designs and structures so cool. Hip and friendly staff. Guests just wanting to chill (and perfecting their Mandarin 
And the wide array of (mostly European) beers!
Definitely worth a second trip. (Lucifer is my best choice. Cherry-flavored Kriek – not in the picture – comes in second.)
Beef Nilaga is never complete without it. Especially with calamansi. Sinigang’s siling berde should be quashed in it. For supreme taste. And it is the secret ingredient to the best giniling. Instead of asin.
Does one have to be glamorous to make it? No. All you need are fish and salt. And several of these luxurious cottages they hibernate in for several months.
They go through big containers where the solids are strained to reveal the rum-coloured sweetness of this kitchen indispensable. Once done, they go into these bottles which will have to be washed, cleaned and patted dry first.
Mahal ang babasaging bote pero mas economical ang plastic. Kaya ito sya, the finished product without the paper label.
Coming from a place where local business will soon become oral history, going here was a breath of freshly-opened Rufina.
In Thai, it is nam pla. In Hangul, it is aek jeot. My niece calls it: “Puh-tess.”
Special Thanks goes to: Wawei (who will own the patisan soon), Manang Gloria (who worked there with pride), and Fortresa (Taiwan's Gossip Girl).
Comfortable with her own skin.
Vehemently detests shaving.
Ming Miao.
Taiwan’s Next Top Model.
Mabuhey sa Taipei!
even with half a pint of Chinese blood running through my veins, I still do not know how to properly greet people in Mandarin.
So this is Taipei, where I am at right now.
The Taoyuan International Airport terminal 2 is simply grand. By that I meant every space is used wisely and no danger of being eaten by a black hole.
Like these living room-style receiving ports outside the Arrivals area with trees to match. Each major post is a meeting point with a number to boot so waiting for either your guest or the one to fetch you would be utter easiness.
Buses are cheaper to use when going to the city. There, I dropped off at the Taipei Central Railway Station where, like JR Tokyo, everything is accessible – the HSR or the high speed train, the MRT (you know this already) and the buses. And again much similar to Japan, it now has English signs to assist Mandarin idiots such as I am to wander around easily.
Have to check out the Taiwan sights. For now, enjoy this:
Next station, Jordan.
Some ethereal being’s womanly voice waking me up as the MTR was obviously slowing down. Struggling to get up from my seat, I did not bother anymore whether the woman owning the voice was a Hongkee bred somewhere in the West or a gweipor (the white woman). All that matters is:
I am home.
Any MTR station in Hong Kong has a map of its surrounding area. So getting lost would be unheard of unless you are a geographical idiot such as myself. Jordan’s map sadly however does not show where to get the most scrumptuous Nepalese meal, the plumpest mangoes or the best Chinese dessert.
While most stations have a 711, Exit C2 has one waving its hand at you as soon as you go out. Further ahead is the mini-night market where you can bargain for half the price. Although not necessarily winning it.
This is the snack area at the corner of Parkes Street and Bowring Road. They have siu mai, radish cakes, cheong fan (rolled rice noodles) and other Chinese steamed goodies. If you are into such delicacies, this is the place to be. Otherwise, I have a better alternative. Across Nathan Road.
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This is the first of many attempts to present places to be in Hong Kong. I do not want my blog to be a travelogue but for those who are not my friends but are coming to Hong Kong with a tight budget, I wish my blog could help.
She is Eni, president of the International Migrants Alliance. Having worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper for more than a decade, she learned the value of struggling for her rights and working with others to win them.
She is joined by several Indonesian, Thai and Filipino domestic workers today to hand out lai see (red pocket) to legislators who will be meeting today to discuss the statutory minimum wage bill. As of today, they are not considering to include foreign domestic workers in the minimum wage as it is, to briefly put it, a lot of hassle.
Ironic to have domestic workers handing out red pockets to certain people who should be handing these to them instead. This Chinese New Year.
Hong Kong. Such irony.
It is not only about Aung San Suu Kyi. It is not only about the monks.
It is about Burma. It is about the people’s struggle for democracy.
In the first place.
Confradia passed out after drowning in today’s wild outpour.
I handed her to someone as I attended to duties somewhere.
When she was returned to me, she was wet and without life.
Efforts to revive her seemed futile. I am in despair.
This may be the first time I would shed a tear for something that does not breathe.
My Canon 450D. My Confradia.
And I ain’t built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I love india.arie
