HOW WE SPENT OUR CHRISTMAS VACATION

So how did we spend the break? In a most hectic way. But since it was spent with family, coupled with a few side trips in two other countries and included watching a world-renowned circus act, it was a most satisfying albeit expensive and cash-draining one. Here's how it went:

Dec. 25-31
- Spent Christmas Day airborne.
- Stayed in HongKong and met up with Ate Mayet and family beginning Dec. 26. They were all on a silver wedding anniversary trip of a lifetime.
- Spent practically whole days at Disneyland and Ocean Park, more sight-seeing at Victoria Peak and some serious shopping at Nathan Road.
- Watched fireworks (which they called Lights & Sounds Symphony) on the HongKong harbor on Dec. 30th.
- Staying in Wan Chai made us realize how ideal a location it is. Our most wonderful discovery was "Kainan ni Mang Ambo" which offered us hot servings of pork barbeque and other Filipino dishes we were so looking forward to eating in Manila a week later. It was such a treat to have finally started eating them a week earlier than expected.
- Shopping highlights: I realize now how fun and fruitful it is to shop in HongKong, specially at this time of the year. I hope to be back there for the same frenetic shopping action year in, year out. He he he. Dennis bought this wonderful head massage device and an electric massage for the whole body at Victoria Peak while I bought this wonderful candle in the shape of a buddha head. We hoped to give it to besfrend Elmore but we couldn't keep up with each other. We had to leave it behind in San Jose Village lest it gets confiscated by Saudi Customs if we risk bringing it to him here in Saudi.
- Tour highlights: I always thought Victoria Peak was hyped out of my interest but with two new spanking malls at the Peak, the tourist attraction is now a must-see again.
- Tip: To go to Disneyland and Ocean Park on a cheaper basis, just try to learn how to use the MTR (Hong Kong subway system) and go to these places on your own, as opposed to booking a tour with agents which will ultimately cost you double the actual value of the trip/tour.
- Trivia: When ordering food that is meant to be eaten with bare hands, fast-food restaurants in Hong Kong will provide you with a disposable pair of plastic gloves.
- Downside: Missed out on Che's wedding; ditto with the wedding of Albert's son at Mt. Carmel Church. Also failed to meet up with Che to hand-over our wedding gift. Well, maybe, when we get the chance to travel to the USA again, we just might finally meet up.
- On arrival in Manila on Jan. 31, we embarked on a nerve-wracking and dollar-busting shopping for liquor, chocolates and fruits at Fiesta Mall (Duty Free Shopping) and at Shopwise (Festival Mall, Alabang) for last-minute buys of party/housewarming gifts and paraphernalia.

Jan. 1
- Housewarming for Merrill Court (at San Jose Village 2, Binan, Laguna); it was blessed in May 2006.
- It was the first time that the Mendozas and the Magnoses were in a reunion of sorts; and it happened at our spanking new (albeit still to be fully-furnished) abode.
- A million thanks to my sisters and sister-in-law and their families for the support; in addition to the support of Dennis's siblings and their own little families, in making the celebration truly heart- and house-warming.
- Food was overflowing: special mention to the pritchon, the dampa dishes (crabs, squids, etc.), the pastries and other mouth-watering desserts and the other pot-luck contributions to the hapag-kainan/dining table.

Jan. 2-8
- Watched "Zsazsa Zaturnah Ze Movee" and "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" (two of the movies shown at the Metro Manila Film Festival) and was utterly disappointed in the former and thoroughly enjoyed the latter. Gina Pareno is such a delight to watch; Juday Ann is indeed our own Sandra Bullock [or if you like, Sandra channels our own Juday].
- Enjoyed the company of besAti, Jo-ey and beskafatid Chris in gallivanting around the cities - Makati and Quezon - and at our usual "haunts" till the wee hours of the morning. Spoke with and exchanged SMS with another besshufatid, Erwin P. but we sadly failed to meet up.
- Met up with Engel and family and enjoyed the antics of Irene, their precocious little bundle of energy and joy. Also enjoyed a tour of Engel's soon-to-be-completely-furnished home at Laguna Bel-Air, which is almost just a stone's throw away from ours.
- Treated Lola Ganda/Mommy Donida to a filling lunch at Portico at Serendra Plaza thereby feeling unequivocally pa-sosyal and enjoyed Nanay Cora's bopis and kare-kare dinner washed down with Ate Agnes' freshly-squeezed dalandan (native orange) juice. [Bopis and kare-kare are popular Filipino specialty dishes, with bopis made up of chopped lungs, liver and other pig innards stewed in vinegar and many spices; and kare-kare made up of pig knuckles stewed in a special sauce that includes peanut sauce. As if to balance all that cholesterol, kare-kare also has green leaves and other vegetables (pechay and string beans specially and puso ng saging or banana tree palm). It is best served with bagoong (salty small shrimp paste sauteed with bits of pork)].
- Went on a Saturday lunch out in Tagaytay with the Mendoza clan (the Bismontes and the Corteses) after a whirlwind and exhilarating but inspiring tour of Tagaytay Highlands.
- Dennis joined me in a mini-reunion with besfrend Thiele and hubby at Paseo de Sta. Rosa; in turn, I joined Dennis in a mini-reunion of his high school classmates, at Gerry's Grill at the Mall of Asia.
- I told myself that contrary to popular notion that it might take one days to go around this huge mall, I can do it in one day!
- Weird sidelight of trip to Mall of Asia: Dennnis was flagged down by a traffic cop because Dennis switched lanes after crossing Taft Avenue. If he didn't, he would have been led to the U-turn slot. So off he went switching lanes to head on to the road leading to the mall. The cop said there were more than enough traffic signs telling drivers not to do this. Dennis argued that it was his first time on that stretch of road, it being the first time we will be going to this particular mall. Besides, even with the numerous signs, a driver would be hard-pressed to be reading all of them, much less, some of them, in the jampacked and clogged roads of Metro Manila. After a short while of hemming and hawing, Dennis eventually parted with his small change (actually, a total of 120 pesos) in exchange for what the traffic cop said was "pampalubag-loob". To think, no one was really injured nor disturbed/distracted by the simple switching of lanes!
- Made a quick trip to Nueva Ecija on my mother Mamay's birthday (Jan. 4). The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was fantastic but after getting out of the Sta. Rita toll gate, it was an altogether different and contrary experience. The Gapan-Olongapo highway was paved alright but there were too many asphalt fillers here and there so that driving through the narrow, two-lane road, dominated by the slow-moving tricycle traffic, was painful to one's backbones. My sister Tess had a lovely surprise though: she had the front of our so-called ancestral home in Nueva Ecija landscaped. It of course turned the property into something better-looking even if it remains to be completely made over to make it look infinitely better.
- Made a quick visit to Mamay's (and Papay's and Nonot's) grave and offered some prayers both for her and them and specially for us. He he he.
- Dennis also made a quick trip to his Mommy's and Daddy's grave at Las Pinas, before we proceeded to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for our flight back to Riyadh via Hong Kong.
- It was another panic dash to the airport gate since long queues were the norm at every spot -- from entrance to airport, to visa check, to POEA/Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) check, to x-ray machine, to Cathay Pacific (CX) check-in, to terminal fee counter, to immigration and finally to boarding. CX ground staff had to coach us surreptitiously to ask people in the queues at Immigration, if we can jump the long lines because we need to be at the gate before the time printed on our boarding pass, lest we be barred from boarding the plane! Saw Aiai delas Alas and Mark Bautista board the same plane; they were enroute to Dubai via HongKong for shows.
- Leaving Manila, I realized I missed the "provocative billboards" along EDSA and SLEX but loved the mushrooming of gas station hubs along the expressway.
- All-in-all, I enjoyed and basked in the goodwill of the Mendozas and the Magnoses. If only for this, the break was worth every penny and perspiration, so to speak.
- Merrill Court is such an inspiration; I think of nothing else now but how to make it a more welcoming home for me, for Dennis and our pets, for our families and for our friends.

Jan. 9-12
- Stayed in Abu Dhabi with the Ochoa's as well as "abused" the hospitality of the Celestino's. Eric's pork sinigang and Nori's pata-tim and pichi-pichi are worth risking your high triglyceride counts for.
- A million thanks to Eric and Elgin for profusely hosting us, and for their two young girls - sweet Kaira and smart Andrea for keeping us company.
- Went around Dubai landmarks including the Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Ibn Batuta Mall. The Souk was excellent with its use of the traditional souk motif to recreate a bazaar-like ambience in the mall. Ibn Batuta Mall on the other hand, divided its huge mall into country themes and called each segment China Court, India Court, Persia Court and Egypt Court. Interspersed all throughout the mall were exhibits and tributes to Ibn Batuta and to his era. Most fascinating was the exhibit on ancient tricks using engineering principles.
- Even had a surprisingly invigorating foot massage at Ibn Batuta's China Court at its Feet First Reflexology and Massage Center.
- Highlight: Watching Cirque du Soleil's Quidam as VIP Tapis Rouge ticket holders. I should blog about Quidam separately.
- Went around Abu Dhabi's malls (Abu Dhabi and Marina malls). Loved the former but for the Louis Vuitton at Marina, the latter disappointed.
- The Corniche was something else though. So serene.
- Caught a glimpse of the exterior of the Emirates Palace. One word to describe it: breath-taking!

I hope to post photographs in a separate blog.