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About heavenliner

a twisted little soul... people see me to be so delicious they sometimes want to eat me...

Some Polished Culture

The Philippine Madrigal Singers has long been a musical ambassador of my country.  They have brought countless honors to Philippines.  They are my country’s representatives who imparts to the world through their majestic musicality that there is more to the Philippines than mega-disasters, mega-traffic and mega-corruption.

Through the Philippine Madrigal Singers, let me place a piece of polished culture in this blog.  Just watch and listen! Their incredibly refined musical harmony can simply be compared to a gourmet food fit for an aching spirit.

I’m pretty sure after listening to this short musical showcase, you can say that… all is well and good with the world.

‘Tangna! Napa-nga-nga ko dun ha!

A Warm Sticky Omen at Santa Monica Beach

The whole world must have conspired for this to happen again.  It was a re-occurrence of an omen which conveys that a lot of superb and great things will soon and again come my way.

How was the omen delivered?

After exploring the views, ballyhoos and offerings of the Santa Monica Pier in California, I, my friends Karen, Joesel and Denton decided to laze and enjoy the cool breeze of Santa Monica beach.  Since it was too cool to hit the water, we decided to sit on the clean soft sand, do a little people watching, simply relaxed and munch on some chips and chocolates.

fun-filled sta. monica pier, california

fun-filled santa monica pier, california

sta. monica beach at the background

santa monica beach at the background

on our way to the beach from the pier...

on our way to the beach from the pier…

While appreciating the soothing views of the ocean with some flocks of bird hovering around and having some tranquil moment on the beach, some sticky and gooey mess suddenly came flying in the air and hit me.  I then realized that smarmy, sycophantic and hair-raising bird poop struck me!!!

Then did I recall that the same thing happened to me when I and my sister Joy were walking the streets of Kuala Lumpur (read that HERE), I was also smacked with some avian poop.  And since it was my second time, I reacted not in the same way that it happened to me during the first.  I was calmer, more serene and composed.

messengers of my lucky omen

messengers of my lucky omen

bird poop

bird poop

While wiping off the slimy mess, did I realized that such a re-occurrence (and both being abroad) could be so odd. Making some sense out of the senseless, I simply appreciated that this again must be some lucky omen.  I embraced the moment and instinctively assumed that superb and fabulous things will soon and again come my way.

Mukha ba kong banyo??? Nataihan nanaman.

A Visit to the Home of LA Lakers

I am not a big basketball fanatic but when I was growing up, I can clearly remember that my whole family – especially my father – has as our favourite NBA team.  And since I was no basketball fan, it was actually the only NBA team I knew back then.  And up until now if I would be asked to name an NBA team, it is so automatic as if embedded in my genes, LA Lakers would simply first pop out of my brain.

award!!!

award!!!

Actually, the first and only NBA player I grew up knowing was the lanky yet legendary Kareem Abdul Jabbar.  And as I reached high school the only other player I knew then was Magic Johnson.  Obviously from the same LA Lakers team.

That is why, when I had the dreamy opportunity to visit the USA, I was just so glad that I had the chance to see the home of the LA Lakers, the Staples Center located at Downtown Los Angeles.  It was so surreal that I was actually on the plaza grounds where the striking statues to revere the legends Jabbar and Johnson were located.

nba legends jabbar and johnson

nba legends magic and kareem!!!

with mr. & mrs. torio, two of my super friends who toured me around l.a. and las vegas

with mr. & mrs. torio, two of my super friends who toured me around l.a. and las vegas

joesel's version of jabbar's tardemark "skyhook" (the fashionable way)

joesel’s version of jabbar’s trademark “skyhook” (the fashionable way)

at the staples center with the world travelers...

at the staples center with super friends…

What added to my already delighted feeling of being in the area is that on the day me and my terrific friends and travel buddies were there, the area was packed with lots of bustling goings on ala mini-funfair.  It is because a game was about to be held between LA Lakers versus Boston Celtics.  There was a booth that showcase the last NBA championship trophy won by LA Lakers, a booth where you can take photos and signature of the LA Lakers cheerleading squad, an ESPN booth that interviews an NBA player whom I don’t know, a booth where fans can line up to acquire souvenir autograph by an LA Lakers player and of course numerous booths by major sponsors that gives away souvenir pieces and thingies.

Having a long glimpse on those statues, seeing the iconic LA Lakers colours and insignia and most especially being at the lively Staples Center made me miss my late father.  How I wish I could proudly tell him that I was once at the home base of his most favourite NBA team.

Walang steypler sa staypols senter…

Abandoning My Propriety at Boiling Crab

boiling crab at koreatown los angeles

boiling crab at koreatown, los angeles

Every time I am out of the Philippines, I always make it a point to be a good representation of my country. I’m behaved and I always bring with me tons of manners.  I follow the rules, I smile a lot, I am a little friendlier and I am more cultured than the usual.  Dining etiquette and favourable table manners are always taken into great consideration.

But I totally transgressed from all of these when I and my travel buddies Karen, Joesel & Denton dined at Boiling Crab located at Koreatown along Wilshire Boulevard in L.A., USA. I guess having to wait for available seats for close to two hours would make any sane, well-educated and refined person reasonably unsophisticated when it comes to table manners.

True enough, when the waitress tied a disposable bib around my neck, I knew that we are on for some messy type of meal.  No plates were served but instead wax paper that covers the whole table was placed in front of us.  And when the food was served contained in transparent plastic bags, I was ready to embrace the mess, abandon my propriety and satisfy my glutinous depravity.

boiling crab 3 (1500x1125)

the whirlwind of digging, squeezing, cracking and twisting is about to begin…

boiling crab 5

ready for some messy yet heavenly type of meal…

Realizing that I can abandon the basic dining manners for that moment, I simply ditched the plastic spoon and fork that was handed to me and instead dug on the food with my bare hands.  The plastic bags placed on our table contained the most sumptuous and legendary buttered shrimps cooked in chopped garlic that I have tasted in a long while.  The zingy spicy sauce was the best when it is poured over a hot mountain of rice and juicy buttered corn on cob.

20140225_115231

re-living the fantastic experience

boiling crab 1 (1125x1500)

our glorious mess

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know if it is just the Filipino in me, but I guess food becomes more splendid, yummy and delectable when eaten using the bare hands.  But then again, the food served in Boiling Crab seem so enchanting we actually returned and queued again for more than two hours after a couple of nights to re-live the same joyous scrumptious experience we had the first time.  The second time we dined definitely did not disappoint us.

Sarap…

A Senseless Airplane Recurrence That Makes Me Want To Pee

feeling excited in one of my travels...

feeling excited in one of my travels…

It’s my nth travel abroad yet my first time to the United Stated of America.  Statistics reveal that travelling through air has been the safest if compared to the number of accidents that has happened on water and on land.

Anyway, the reason I am writing this is because I just wanted to essay a mindless yet constant observation every time I am on an airplane.  Wonder what is it? 

Here’s what usually happens…

Inside a commercial flight prior to take off passengers are busy with their own affairs and matters.  Some are saying a prayer, some are reading, some has gone snoring, some are on their phone expressing cheerio to a loved one left behind, some are taking each others photos while others are busy locating a slot where they could place their bulky carry-on luggage.

But what is so consistent as if it is an automatic occurrence every time the plane has actually taken off and the flight captain has turned off the seat belt sign, somebody among these passengers would stand up and proceed to the lavatory.  I don’t know why but this scenario of seat-belt-off-standing-up-proceeding-to-lavatory right after take off no matter if the airplane is full or half-filled has always been a recurrence in all of my flights.

It is so common, predictable and recurring that it actually makes me want to pee in laughter.  It is so common, predictable and recurring that if it does not happen, it worries me that something bad will happen.

Nakakamangha… nakaka-ihi! 

Into The Blue: A Feb 14 Song

Today is Valentine’s Day and this “awe-mazing” song just smacked right between my ears.  It obviously is not a cupid love song, yet this fantabulous pop track simply represent how still positive I am amidst this dreadful day.

The lines of this applause-worthy song that truly hit me denotes strength and independence.

“When I got my back up against the wall,

don’t need no one to rescue me. 

‘Cause I ain’t waiting up for no miracle,

yeah tonight I’m running free!”

I like this song simply because I have never been a believer of self-pity.  Self-pity is for people who have too much time on their hands yet they wait for miraculous change to befall them.  As for me.  Instead of dreaming miracles, I have long learned to make my own.

This may not be this year’s song for those who chose or no choice but to remain solo and unattached, let me nevertheless announce that Into The Blue by pop goddess Kylie Minogue as my Feb 14 theme song…

hapi balentong…

#PHthankyou

Being a breathing inhabitant of this beautiful tropical country, I would like to share this heartwarming THANK YOU video to all those who helped, expressed sympathy, donated and prayed for my country during and after the series of devastating earthquakes and super typhoons that hit the Philippines last year…

Indeed, even the expression of deep gratitude is more fun in the Philippines…

Tenk Yu …

My Next Trip: The Nation Of Diversity

Even if I rarely drink it, let this beautiful Coca-Cola ad be the prelude to my first of the many adventures I am looking forward to this year.  A gorgeous video that depicts the diverse faces, lifestyles, origins and colors of the most democratic and strongest nation in the world.  The nation that allows everyone’s voice be spoken and heard no matter what cultural background its inhabitants came from.

I hope my upcoming visit would be as warm and awesome as this video ad…

You must be surprised to hear the Tagalog line in the ad.  Well, here’s the complete song as translated in poetic Tagalog...

Now I am excited…

…biyaya mo’y hinahandog sa sandaigdigan…