Carsten Höller's Slides @ Tate Modern

The Carsten Höller's Slide installations are found at the Tate Modern. A few days ago my sister's Mother-in-law was really keen on checking it out. I had heard about it prior from my Welsh friend as well. There are 5 levels, the lower 2 levels are free and the higher levels you have to pay. When I heard about it before I was considering having a go. But when I saw photos of it being a covered tube and how high they were... I chickened out. I'd rather appreciate it from a far. It is rather amazingly done and well organized. The artist has managed to combining art with fun.

Monopoly on Boxing Day

A day after Christmas, lunch at ping-pong, coffee at Sacred, come home to glögg, biscuits and a game of Monopoly. It has now become my favorite game. Probably because it is the only thing I am good at. I am still amazed how long this game can go on for. It was something I should have done during those looong hours of power-cuts in Manila.

I'm Back In The Foggy Land

I'm back from my Zagreb holiday. Due to the weather condition in London my flight was delayed by two hours. It was extremely frustrating waiting for ages not knowing when my flight was going to be. But then when I arrived in Heathrow and my sister met me, I realised I was lucky that it was only delayed by two hours. Most flights were delayed a lot longer and some even cancelled.

Anyway, it's been a tiring day, but I leave you with the view I had whilst having my lunch in the air. I couldn't have asked for a better view whilst dinning -- The Swiss Alps.

Adevnt Wreath

In Trg Bana, the main square of Zagreb, lays an advent wreath. Each Sunday, just like the advent wreath, an additional candle is lit. I remember when I was in school (a catholic school), every year we would have to do the same. Each classroom would have an advent wreath to celebrate the advent season.

Yesterday, when we were in the square I noticed that all three candles were lit. Which means only one thing... 1 week till Christmas. And I am not done with my Christmas shopping, oh bugger.

Star Wars Monopoly

Today in my visit in Zagreb, we spent the day with my brother's other half's family. Had a lovely lunch with her family including her grandfather. The spread of food was mouth watering and tasted even better. I'm stuffed like a turkey on a Christmas day!

After lunch my brother, Ivs and I decided to play Monopoly. My future sister-in-law has the Star Wars edition, which I thought was really funky! I got to be Darth Vader, She was R2D2 and my brother was Luke. Anyway, I don't think I ever got to play Monopoly before. Perhaps, I was too young when everyone else was into it. So this was quite exciting for me. Haha! I started off clueless then Iva and my bro had to explain to me the game. I was hesitant to buy any property at first... but that all changed. ;)

So yeah after a few hours of the game... and we called it quits... I am proud to say that the Indian business woman in me -- won!! Woohoo! But between you and me, I think they let me win! haha!

If this was real money, I would have made £4000 today! I can't wait for the next game!

Sladoled in Vincek

On the 4th day of my holiday, look what came to meee... a cup with my raffaello ice cream :D

  Raffaello Ice Cream
Bok! Hello from freezing cold Croatia! I have been having a great time so far, seeing family and sights. Not to mention food food food. I have much to tell in that department, but as I have forgotten my camera leed, that will have to wait until I return back to London. Thank God for camera phones, I say!
I finally was able to finally visit one of my favorite places in Zagreb, Vincek. This is where I discovered the best ice cream flavour (in my opinion) - Raffaello. It is based on a coconut chocolate which I love as well. So when I booked my ticket to come back to Zagreb, apart from seeing my brother and his other half, this was one of the things I couldn't wait to be reunited with.

We couldn't have picked a better day to have it, as it was one of THE coldest days in Croatia since I got here. It was 0 degrees outside. My brother asked me if I was sure if I wanted to have some ice cream. Fight fire with fire, I say! Well that's what my mom always told me.
It was as good as I remembered it to be, and I assured my brother that wont be the last time we will be visiting Vincek as I will need my fix!
A funny story I must share while we were in Vincek. I had to "pay a visit", and as I entered the loos I saw on my left a door, straight ahead a sink, and on my left an open door with a urinal and another door inside the urinal leading to the bathroom itself. So I made my way to the bathroom itself and did my business. Thinking to myself "that is an odd place to put a urinal... if a woman walks out, she is bound to see a man pissing!". So when I was done I headed towards the sink and I saw a man washing his hands looking at me strangely. A woman standing by the closed first door I saw and I realised that the door she was standing infront of had a sign of a woman's face. I wasn't surprised that the man looked at me strangely as I have gotten quite a bit of that here as I am foreign. Out of curiousity I turned around and I saw that the door behind me had a sign with a man's face on it. Hmm... no wonder he gave me strange looks! I had gone to the men's toilet! I shurgged like a Frenchman and thought "Sod it, I am a tourist, I don't care!"
Hvala! Dovijena!

Croatia Day 1

The experiences of your holiday starts from the moment you reach the airport. I always seem to attract these quirky experiences. Little did I know this time in Heathrow would bring quite a few. I wasn't quite ready for this as I have been alcohol induced and sleep deprived from the busy week and nights out.

It all started when I was in Heathrow airport and I was queuing for the checkpoint. They have this new pre-security check before the checkpoint proper, to verify you are not carrying any liquids in your hand luggage, and if you do, you will only be allowed 100ml and it needs to be placed in a clear plastic bag. Like airport security wasn't a pain in the ass already. Anyway, the whole queuing took about almost an hour. When I finally reached the security screen check I noticed there were tons of Spanish people about. For a moment I thought that I could be in an airport in Spain! I wish. As I was saying, I waiting for my turn to go through those blasted x-ray machines, when I saw a young Spanish family ahead of me. I admired the couple who had bags, and their baby, juggling everything trying to get passed this bit of the airport. Taking off coats, belts and shoes, the security people would believe asked the mother to remove her baby's little shoes off too. The Spanish people behind me couldn't believe it as well. "Que Madre! Que Padre!" is what I heard them express seeing that sight. Basically couldn't believe that they even asked for the baby's shoes to be removed. The little boy who was about 7 behind me told his mom in Spanish "You never know, maybe there is a bomb in the shoes of the baby..." haha! Anyway, I too went through that horrible check point. Coat, belt and boots removed, heavy bag on the conveyer, laptop as well. Pass through the x-ray, get frisked, grab stuff off the conveyer go to a corner to try and arrange yourself as you did when you first got to the airport. Phew, boy do you feel raped!

Anyway, I still had some time before going to the gates, so I decided to check out the Duty Free. Living in the Philippines, you would always look forward to knowing someone who just came back from abroad because that meant you had about 2 days after they arrived to go to Duty Free (a huge one too) and buy the things you couldn't really get in normal shops. After awhile, you get passed that, or at least I did. Anyway, I took this opportunity to check out some tax free goods. As I was paying for something, a middle aged Spanish man came up to me and said in Spanish "You are not English are you? Could you please tell me which is the price of this, this one or that one?" I always get tongue tied when I get put in the spot to speak Spanish. First of all why the heck would he think I could speak Spanish? I get some people telling me that I could pass for Spanish, Portuguese or Mexican. But to look similar and for someone to mistake you as one is totally different. I guess he was just lucky to I understood him and replied in pigeon Spanish. He must have been shocked if he did think I was Spanish and I spoke it so rubbishly.

After that Spanish impromtu pop quiz and buying my stuff. I decided it was time to go to the gate and wait to board. So I was sitting for a bit waiting to board when a baby girl came up to me and just looked at me. I smiled and said hello. A smiled appeared behind her dummy, prolly excited at the fact someone was paying attention to her. I could hear voices behind me trying to call her not to wonder around. Her parents I assumed. She came back and was making noises trying to have a conversation with me I assume. I then saw a man kneel down and I saw this finger beckoning her to go to him. Her dad I assumed. One thing I remember thinking was that damn he is tall and has long fingers, that he was rather greasy. He then gave her a bag of chips to amuse her with the sound. She took it and smiled and offered it to me. Cute. It was then time to board. Their family were the first one asked to board the plane. I wondered why, probably because they had a child.

Finally sat on the plane and getting settled, I then realized that my new buddy and her parents were sitting right in front of me. At one point the baby was unhappy with the flight and her dad put on Tellytubbies on his laptop. God lord. When she got bored with that she decided to stand on her seat and check out the people in the plane. And who does she see but me! hehe! She was waving at me and giggling and was being all cute.

Two hours later I was reunited with my brother. When he met me in airport I immediately told him the story about the cute baby I had met on the plane. As I finished telling him the story he told me to turn around and asked me if I knew who that person was cause he is a famous pianist.

When I saw who my brother was talking about I told him that, that was the guy with the baby I was talking about. It all made sense when he told me it was Maksim. I had heard about him during my last trip to Croatia because my soon to be sister-in-law's younger sister kept playing his CD and I had seen him on MTV in Manila years ago. But I never really saw him that up close and personal. Apparently his daughter's name is Leeloo which he had taken from the 5th Element. Why? It's such a rubbish movie! Anyway, he now lives in the UK and was having a concert on the 12th of December in Zagreb. How strange is that, both of us going to the same country on the same day to be in Zagreb for the 12th of December. Even stranger to find out that the younger sister had tickets to go to that very concert too. Spooky.

Bar Gansa

Oh it has been a busy (alcohol induced) weekend. With lots of meeting of friends and Xmas preparations, it has been a busy week. Last Sunday, I met my friend Julianna for a post birthday celebration. We met in Camden as I have never been there before. It was quite an unusual place (for London) and it reminded it much of the Greenhills in Manila. The stuff there were nice to look at, but not necessary nice to own. I saw a few pieces of clothing that I would like to get, but then I found it outrageous to pay those prices in a market when it is the same price I would pay for Zara or Mango. But then Juls reminded me that it was after all, vintage.

After seeing Camden Market, we decided it was time to sit and grab some grub. We both agreed that Bar Gansa seemed quite interesting and she wanted me to practice my Spanish. hehe! And indeed I did. I was able to order our meal in Spanish and ask for the bill as well.

I must say, as we sat there for a few hours enjoying our Sangria's, Tapas and Paella, the place really grew on me. The staff I thought was fantastic. They were so friendly and made our dinner experience great. The one thing I love about dinning in London is that if you dine let's say, in an Italian restaurant, you will have Italian people serving you and the guests too are Italian. Same goes with Chinese, Indian and Spanish. That is one thing I surely will miss. I loved being able to speak to the people in Spanish and make me feel for those hours, I was in Spain. The food in Bar Ganza was really good as well. I kind of prefer this restaurant now than La Tasca, as it is independent and not commercialized. If in Camden, check out this place in Inverness Street. It is even worth making the trip to go check out this place.

As if I hadn't had enough alcohol, after dinner we decided to head towards west end and find a place to keep up the Latin spirit. But as it was Sunday, everything was closed. So we ended up and some pubs. haha!

It was a very good, if tiresome weekend.

six more days ;)

Lost In Translation

A guy in my Spanish class told us a very funny story.

He was once in a club in Peru, and a lady asked him in Spanish if he would like to dance.

He replied by saying "si bailas conmigo, serás embarazado".

The lady replied by saying "¿porque? ¿cómo bailas?"

Translation:

What he meant: "If you dance with me, you will get embarrassed"

What he actually said was: "If you dance with me, you will get pregnant"

To which she replied: "Why, how do you dance?"

Moral of the story, embarazado does not mean embarrassed in Spanish. It means pregnant. Verguenza means embarrassed.

My Sacred Place

Sacred Cafe has got to be one of my favorite cafes here in London. The place is really cozy and it has a basement seating area which feels like a lounge rather than your typical cafe. Best of all the coffee is actually good! I found out today that use New Zealand organic fair-trade coffee roast. They also prepare the kind of coffee I enjoy -- a cortado.

A cortado is an espresso "cut" (from the Spanish and Portuguese cortar) with a small amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity. The ratio of milk is 1:1, and the milk is added after the espresso. The steamed milk hasn't much foam, but many baristas make some micro foam to make latte art. It is popular in both Spain and Portugal, as well as throughout Latin America, where it is drunk in the afternoon.

~wikipedia

I found it cute that instead of giving you a number stub for your order, your number is on a red London bus. I once had their Tiramisu and it was quite good. They also have a huge array of teas and it comes in different kinds of oriental tea pots. Girls and our tea parties :)

The one thing I love about this place as well, (apart from all the great memories created here with some special friends), is that they always play my kind of music. There are times when they play Latin Jazzy type and today they played music from Hot Chip. I didn't know that this is what they were called. I had heard their song Over and Over which I liked but never knew who it was by. The album is really good and would recommend it.<

Excuse me sir

I'm lost

I'm looking for a place

Where I can get lost

I'm looking for a home

For my malfunctioning being

I'm looking for the mechanical music museum

~Hot Chip - The Warning

And lastly, another plus point about this cafe is that they have free wi-fi connection. They couldn't have found a better way of giving Starbucks "the victory sign". ;)

Swedish Festival

Back by popular demand! Not really, I fear if I don't post this entry I may be peer pressured to post by an eeeevil midget. :P Anyhoo, I went to the Swedish Festival yesterday in the Swedish Church in London with my sister and her hubby. The place was packed! But I could see a sign that lit up my face....

Sibylla hotdogs! I wondered if they would have the tunnbrod rule, Swedish hotdogs in a wrap with mash potato. MMMMMMM!! But they just had regular hotdogs with a long line for it too. So we decided to go to the cafe instead, which was a food hall inside the church. They had arranged a smörgåsbord with lax, köttbullar, Kanelbulle, cakes, and more cakes and my favorite cake of all-- Prinsess Tårta. It was a really nice experience sitting in the pews, eating our köttbullar sandwich, Kanelbulle and shared a Prinsess Tårta. It almsot felt like I was in Sweden again!

L-R: Bazar, Glögg stand, sweets stand

The photos taken, aren't too great as I was too worried to be in someone's way. :P The bazar had all kinds of stuff, from Swedish Christmas decors to food. The food was rather expensive, most of the stuff you can get in IKEA (that big blue place) a lot cheaper. The Glögg, which is mulled wine, was really good and soooo warming. Over all it was a nice experience, it reminded me of those times we used to go to the Christmas bazars in Forbes in Manila.

And oh, I have never seen so many cute babies in the same place! :P

Babe In The City

...This little piggy went to Tottenham Court Road...

I came out of Tottenham Court Road Station and that little piggy greeted me. I don't even know what they were trying to promote as I was in a rush. (Only had enough time to take a photo :P) haha! I just find it amusing how when you see these sorta mascots in London. I once saw two Bananas on the way to work one morning, they were promoting Crush. On another occasion, I saw a mascot dressed as balls, promoting prostate cancer awareness. What a job!

Don't Cry For Me Argentinaaa!

One of the silly things about being me is that, when I was I child I always thought that this song was about a girl named Argentina. This is probably because when I was a child and I would have moments when I would cry and be upset, and when my dad found out he would ALWAYS start singing... "Doooon't cry for meee Argentiiinnaaa...". There I was thinking he was singing to me to make me feel better (me being Argentina), but no it was just his excuse to break into song. His broadway dream put into reality for those few moments, in the expense of his child's misery. Mind you he does have a great voice and could as well pull it off. ;)
Yesterday, Thanks to Rina, I was fortunate enough to watch Andrew Lloyd Webber's EVITA. This was the first musical I have seen in London. I have been meaning to see a musical for the past 3 years I have been here but never really knew which to see, or who to go with and all that kuffufle. But day before yesterday, Rina offered me a free ticket which she won from a photography competition. Woohoo!!
Anyway, while I was waiting for Rina in Carnaby Street, I was able to witness another "firsts". They were turning on the Christmas lights in Carnaby Street. I was in Boots buying some mints when I could hear them outside starting. Of all the bloody time to buy mints! haha! WAIT FOR ME!! Luckily I made it in time for the countdown and was able to take short video clip of it. Have a look.



    Anyway, back to Evita. We had a bit of a problem looking for the Adelphi Theatre in the West End. It's so ironic that you keep seeing all these musical theatres when you walk in London, but when you need to actually go to one, you can't find it!
Elena Roger played the story based on Evita Perón, the wife of Argentinian dictator Juan Perón. It depicts her life as Argentina’s powerful political figure up until her tragic death. I must say it was fantastically done! The performance was fantastic and the stage set was amazing! Rina and I both fancied the narrator (the guy behind Evita in the photo above) haha! We were amazed by the quick costume change, specially the hair piece!! One scene having dark hair and the next blonde! Obviously a wig, but how did they do it? She was flinging her head like mad and it stayed on! It was really well done and the actors were great.

When I was growing up my parents would take us to the Repertory Philippines to watch plays such as "Nunsense" and "Little Shops of Horrors" and I always get a buzz when I would watch it. I really used to enjoy it a lot and I feel that I am going to try and start watching more plays/musicals again.
Have I said too much?

There's nothing more I can think of to say to you.

But all you have to do is look at me to know

That every word is true....

Churreria Española

I have been hearing about "The Churros Place" in Queensway and I have been wanting to go there for some time now. I went to Queensway last week looking for it, but couldn't find it. I guess because I expected it to be right on the high street. Today however, I printed out a map just to make sure I would be able to find it.

When I got there it was not exactly what I expected. I thought it would be more upmarket and conformed to most restaurants type cafes. That didn't put me off, as I wanted to see what it was all about and have my own judgement of the place.

As I walked in the place, I wasn't sure where to sit, if I had to be seated or if I was going to have to order and then sit. The waitress told me eventually that she would bring me the menu. As I was about to sit down the camarero (waiter) wiped the table for me, with that I said "gracias", he responded with great surprise saying "habla español!" he then turned the first waitress I met and told her in Spanish, "get her order, she speaks Spanish". I tried clarify that I could barely speak it and kept saying "No, hablo muy poco". Haha! That didn't stop the waitress and carried out the whole conversation with me in Spanish. Telling me that these were the specials and then told me to follow her, "sígame". I didn't want to leave my bag unattended but then she caught on and told the waiter "iMire la bolsa de la chica!" (watch the bag of the lady) and he said "Como? arrebato la bolsa de la chica?" (what? take/snatch the bag of the lady?) hahahahahah

She then took me to where the guy in blue is standing in the photo. Showing me all the specials, Estufado, and other yummy dishes. But then something caught my eye and something told me I wouldn't just be having my Churros con Chocolate! hahaha! Yup, Paella. Any one who knows me that, that is my biggest weakness! But then she took me to the side which was near the kitchen and she said "Guapa, mire este estufado." at the same time scooping up a ladle full to show me what was in it. She really knows how to tempt someone! In all that she was explaining to me the only word I kept managing to say was "Si... Si... Si..." Haha! I then sat down and looked at the menu to see if I had missed something. I was quite disappointed looking that most of the things on the menu had been British food! But it's okay, they still had Spanish food on the menu. She started to take my order and I asked her how big the Paella was, hoping it would be small so that I would have space for my Churros! haahah! She replied by telling me that she could give me half portion if I wanted. I love this place already! I love good food but I can't eat huge portions.

I sat there absorbing the vibe of the place. I loved it. It was simple almost feels like a canteen vibe but it isn't. It wasn't pretentious at all. It feels very cozy as if you are dinning in someones home. There were several Spanish people eating there and I loved watching them order the food and hearing them speak in Spanish. People speaking to each other in the other table but not being intrusive. Just a polite way of acknowledging your fellow diner and countrymen.

As I sat waiting for my paella, I thought that it would be great if this place sold some Sangria or wine. As if someone read my thoughts, the waiter brought these two elderly men a bottle of wine. He offered the wine to the hombres as if they were in a fancy restaurant. How civilized! I was loving every minute of what I was observing! This was soon destroyed when two British guys sat down and ordered "a plate of chips, sausage and eggs sandwich and a cuppa tea" -- you are at the wrong place mate! This place is wasted on you! Hence why their menu had 2 types of food. Anyhoo...

My Paella arrived and although it wasn't the best Paella I've had (my sister and I make the best Paella haha!) nevertheless, I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved watching the Spanish people dinning there and the owner and waiters making it such a homey atmosphere. It made me feel that indeed perhaps I do belong in that side of the world :P

I found it quite funny cause a group a Spanish gentlemen in their suits arrived and asked of a table. The waiter asked them in Spanish how many are there of them and this elderly gentleman said "viente ocho" hahahahhahaha! Obviously, 28 persons wouldn't be able to fit in the restaurant let alone in a table! hahah!

After I had finished my lunch, the waiter took my plate away and I ordered my "un Churros con chocolate". He responded by saying "You came aaalllll the way here JUST to have ONE Churro?!" Hahhahaha!

The churros was okay, nothing spectacular. The hot chocolate was divine. But like I said even if the food was not to my expectation, the place was fantastic. I will definitely be visiting them soon again.

Adios!

Damien Hirst - The Virgin Mother

Im testing Flickr's blog posting. If you are reading this, then everything went tickety-boo. This is one of my latest photography attempt and my favorite art pieces. It is by Damien Hirst and it is located at The Royal Academy of Art. It is an amazing sculpture, half of which depicts the internal organs of a woman's body whilst pregnant. Once you see this up close, you can't help but stare at it in awe.

Voulez - vous buviez du Café avec moi?

Ce soir? :P

I usually go to my favorite café, Apostrophe to get my coffee (and at times my lunch). But today, I decided to try PAUL a boulangery I have been hearing about. My sister said that she first came across it in Paris itself. Before going there today, I checked out their menu on their site as I didn't want to waste time when I get there looking for what to eat! LOL! Yet still when I got there, I spent a good 10 minutes thinking "Oooh that's what I'll have - or that, oh no that ahhh it all looks so good!" I was very tempted to have some of their calorie filled goodies but I refrained and decided to just have Mixte - which was ham & emmental.

The atmosphere seems nice and cozy. I wouldn't mind trying their coffee one day or their own hot chocolate on another occassion. Yumm! This time though, I went to Apostrope after a month or so to get an iced coffee. I love going there as the staff there are so friendly. Im sure it helps as I get "special treatment" when I go my suki branch. ;) Apart from their coffee, I love the story of how Apostrophe came to be as well. The owners came to London a few years ago and couldn't find a cafe that suited their standards, so they decided to put up their own. Smart!

Mon Déjeuner (L-R: Mixte, Iced Cappuccino)

It's really sad when you start to post how your lunch looked in your blog! haha! But I thought that it was cool that the Iced Coffee had coffee beans on the top. Verdict of that coffee... quite good, not a sweet frappaccino, tastes like a coffee granita and lastly gives you that coffee fix that makes your hands tremble and your heart palpitate. Good stuff!

Weekend Food Feast

Waaaazzzzaaaaaap! Im back from the living dead, and from the sound of my greeting it seems like I have been away since the early millenium! :P Back from the week old job which was a great but tiring experience. And as always, I found a way to celebrate the end of work, the sweet taste of Friday and of course my mom's birthday.

I went to my ever reliable source for Korean goodies at Centre Point Food Store located @ Tottenham Court road. I got some Bulgogi, which is a traditional Korean dish. It's strips of beef, marinated in their own special ingredient (No, not Mang Tomas or bloody HP sauce! LOL!) ready to fry with some sauteed onion. Yum! The thought of it makes my mouth water all over again! Of course, what would a Korean meal be without my Dad's all time favorite, Kimchee. But unlike him, don't think it's a dish. It is extremely spice but oh so yummy. Last thing I got which I was quite surprised to find there was Seasoned Dried Anchovy - in Tagalog, Dilis! I was extremely happy to find this ready to eat because back in Manila you usually have to fry the damn thing and it makes your whole house smell like it. If you ever do try this combination at home make sure you have some beer along with it and some Haagen Daz Strawberry Cheescake ice cream for dessert to complete the experience. Don't ask me how I know ;P hahaha! -- Busted! Anyhoo, like all that talk of food wasn't enough... as promised I would show the fruits of our labour when we made Tiramisu last weekend. It was a complete success with minor adjustments for next time. I present - Il Tiramisu *bow*

Tiramisu - molto squisito!!

Behind the scenes:

(just so you know I didn't pop out to Waitrose and plate it :P)

L-R: Mascarpone cheese, Pavesini, Cream mixture, Dipping in Espresso, Layering

I Camisa & Son

i Camisa & son @ Old Compton Street

I have been meaning to make my friend's Tiramisu recipe for sometime now, but never got around to it. I finally got to dig out the recipe Mo gave me and review it with him. He specifically gave orders for me to use a certain type of biscuit, which can only be bought at an Italian speciality shop. Being me, I said "ahhh I can get it at Waitrose" haha nope didn't find it. Also perhaps the name he gave me was wrong! hahaha! Pavesini instead of Provesone. So I went to this quaint little shop which he suggested. The first thing that melted my heart was the bicycle at the entrance. You walk in and all you see is different types of pastas, hams cheeses and biscuits. Im sure there were more, but my eyes could only take in so much. I looked around and couldn't find those "Provesone" biscuits. So asked the lady over the counter if they had them. And she and this other man said "Provesone? Are you sure?" and I said "it's for tiramisu?" "Ahh Pavesini no provesone! This is what you use for Tiramisu". Hahaha! They were really nice and friendly, and I managed to purchase 2 packs of Pavesini.

Provesone

I was hoping to make the Tiramisu on tomorrow night, in time for the weekend. BUT!! Other things have come up -- A JOB! Ringrazi il dio!! (thank god!) haha! Only for 2 days though. But it's better than nothing. So it's tomorrow and Friday. No sushi Friday :~( hahaha! So I will have to postpone Tiramisu making for this weekend. ;)

Off to Pilates... Ciao Amici!! ;)

Need A Hug?

Random Huggers Day @ Covent Garden

I was with Marvin in Covent Garden this afternoon and we passed these girls and they said to him "Do you want a hug?", we didn't know what was going on. Until one of the girls said to him "it's give a hug day" and he seemed rather uncomfortable with that idea so he said "you would have to ask her permission first" pointing at me. hahahaha! When we walked past I told him "damn, all those lonely times, why didn't I think of that!" hahahahah! There were the odd few men quite happy to get those hugs from those blonde girls. Typical! hahahaha!

*Hugs* to everyone as it is Random Huggers Day. LOL!

1 000 000 mph

YESTERDAY: The sun had finally arrived in London. It started Tuesday and ends today! hahaha! That's London's summer for you. Yesterday was such a nice day. The sun, the weather -- not too hot, not cold either. People out in the park... sitting outdoors in restaurants having a drink. Everyone wearing relaxed clothing, some (the women) a little too underdressed but then, the men were happy about that. hahaha! As you will see...

Exhibit A: Mohammed "Bird Watching"

I went to see Mohammed after my class yesterday. He had purchased from a friend of his a manual SLR camera *envy* LOL! See Exhibit A, of him doing some Bird Watching. The term "Bird" here in London can also mean girl, women. Put two and two together. :P As soon as he had purchased some batteries and film (how long has it been since I used the f word! haha) he teased, "I am going to do some Bird watching" hahaha! Nutter! Though I find that camera extremely cool, I find myself thinking that a digital SLR is more practical only because you don't have to spend on film and spend in processing the film after. It was a good bargain though. So perhaps, yeah it was worth the price he got it for. He can sell it to a camera museum in a few years time prolly make a mint out of it haha!!

After my Mo visit, I headed off to meet with my bestfriend Marvin for an exhibit for one of his classes for Uni. He was the only boy in his class so I understood why my company would be of some comfort to him! hahaha! Anyway, it was held at the 1 000 000 mph (a million mph) Gallery located at 59 Old Bethnal Green Road.

I had never heard of it until yesterday. Dallas Seitz the founder and artist of 1 000 000 mph project space here in London, greeted us when we all arrived. He is a Canadian born Artist living in London. I had never heard a Canadian person speak before and the reason why I was quite curious to find out how they sound, is because everyone says I sound Canadian! haha! Back to the story at hand, this gallery has been running for the last 4 years and its purpose is to give opportunity for selected artists and curators to showcase their works. Saatchi and Nigella Lawson according to him have come by the gallery as well.

Someone asked him why the name 1 000 000 mph for the gallery. He said that they couldn't think of a name and while he and his partner Kate Grieve were brainstorming on a name she had said "my mind is working a million mph" he said he hadn't heard of that expression since he was a teenager in Canada. Hence the birth of the name 1 000 000 mph.<

TODAY:

Luckily another beautiful warm sunny day. T.G.I Friday! Which means Sushi day. Finally had the much awaited and much postponed friday treat. Friday sushi lunch from Japan Center with Marvino. All I can say is...

Sushi, Me love you long time! ;)

Come Fly With Me.....

I have been in London for almost 2 years now and I still haven't seen a musical or anything theatrical. How sad is that! But really, I don't know which one I would like to see. I don't wanna spend £40 and end up falling asleep haha!

I have been seeing Ol Blue Eyes in Argyll St which is near my classes and I must admit, I am quite tempted. Not because I am a Sinatra fan. God knows I was tormented as a child with my dad over playing his music! haha! But perhaps that is why I want to see it, cause its close to home.

I think I am going to have to tempt my dad to come down to London so I have an excuse to go see it ;) haha!

Every country seems to have different ways of celebrating Easter. In the Phils, I remember it being THE most boring time of the year. Everything on TV would be about the passion of Christ or the TV stations would be off the air. It would always be the hottest time of the year. So days would be spent cooped up in the air-con room or in the rare occasion, the neighbors pool. But even so, it was a no no to swim during easter. Never got that when I'M NOT CATHOLIC!

Anyway in London, it seems to be the time people go away on long weekend get away to somewhere in Europe. That or a long ass D.I.Y weekend. Most of the adverts advertising specials for that D.I.Y weekend. In other countries, I suppose they would spend Easter painting Easter eggs.

In Croatia, they spend Easter painting something other than Easter eggs. Haha! In my visit to Zagreb last October, my brother's girlfriend Iva had pointed out this naked guy who had his balls painted. Hahaha! She explained to me that every Easter they would paint it a different colour. On the phone with my brother yesterday (who is in Croatia), and I reminded him of this tradition that is done over there.

To Manila, Zagreb, and Stockholm Happy Easter from the crazy woman in London :P