Whimsical Wednesday: Taste of Asia

Whimsical Wednesday shows my fancy in a myriad of beautiful things.

Asian cuisine epitomizes a bomb of spices, herbs, condiments, and seasonings!  Every meal is a complicated mix of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, incorporating all the go, grow, and glow foods which are meticulously prepared.  Each country in Asia boasts a specialty dish or dessert.  To enumerate a few, here are my memoirs from the travels I've had around the region:

Laksa (Singapore, 2005)

Nasi Lemak (Malaysia, 2005)

Braised Chicken Wing Noodle (Hong Kong, 2014)

Portuguese Egg Tart (Macau, 2014)

Nom Bo Kho (Vietnam, 2015)

Pad Thai (Thailand, 2016)

Beef Lok Lak (Cambodia, 2016)

Utan Bicol (Philippines)

Already salivating?  With all of these specialties to offer, no wonder why Westerners always love to visit Asia!  So come to Asia and taste its exotic blend of flavors!

No time for an Asian tour yet?  Head on to Ulli's Streets of Asia in Ayala Terraces Cebu.  That's the nearest from here (Ozamiz) where you can have a bite of everything Asian!  #tosomeats #tosomtravels

Ulli's Streets of Asia, Ayala Terraces Cebu

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Feature Friday: SM Skating

Feature Friday highlights businesses, people, fashion, and basically anything under the sun!

 

“Please don’t let this feeling end, it might not come again…..” There goes the song as Lexie glides gracefully on ice in the 1978 romantic film, Ice Castles. How could I ever forget that movie! At the peak of VHS films, we watched it over and over again with my cousins as we had our annual summer vacation in Lipa. As a hopeless romantic fan, I wished to dance on ice as Lexie did in the movie. But there’s never snow in the Philippines so that childhood dream of stepping into ice only came to a realization now that I’m already an adult. Thanks to SM for granting a simple wish of this poor provincial girl!

Ice skating in the Philippines was brought to us by business tycoon, Mr. Henry Sy who owns the country's biggest chain of malls which is SM or Shoe Mart way back in 1992.  Yep, some 24 years ago already!  However, we never had the chance to try it as it was a luxury that only rich kids could afford.  So at 33, I am proud to say that I'm still delighted to have had tried skating on ice, thus fulfilling an itsy bitsy dream!

Balancing on ice took time for me 'coz it was so slippery.  One move of one foot can make you slide all the way!  Left, fall.  Right, fall.  Left, right, fall!  That's the routine for beginners.  Once you fall, never spread your arms for another skater might run over you.  You have to take note that the blade of the ice skating shoes is very sharp.  So beware from exposing your limbs.  That's what our coaches warned us before hitting the ice rink!

Me and my sissy, June Ann may never be figure skaters but I was so happy we achieved balancing and walking with ice skates on.  Much more gliding on ice!  Yes, we did glided on ice!  Oh, what a joy we felt!  Thanks to our coaches!  Ooops, my apologies for forgetting your names.  Short-term memory loss.  Hehe.....  And just like before when I was younger, I still enjoyed watching the others do their graceful routines on ice.  This time, it was special 'coz I wasn't watching from the outside of the glass panel anymore.  I was already watching them while I was also in the inside!

Unlimited skating is P420, locker rental is P50, companion pass is P100, assist coach is P150 for 30 minutes, skating aid is P100 per hour, and a pair of socks is P50.  All prices stated here are on a per pax basis as of summer 2016.  If you wanna train like the olympiad, Michael Christian Martinez, visit SM Skating's website here. You may also get updates on their latest promo and offers by following them on Twitter and FB.  Visit SM Skating in MOA where it is the coolest place in town!

You may also have fun ice skating at SM Megamall, SM Southmall, and SM Seaside City Cebu!

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The South Gate of Angkor Thom

Gods on the left and demons on the right - these are the guardians of Cambodia's "Great City", Angkor Thom.  As you may look closely, bad-looking heads with eyes piercing on you lining up on one side and kind-looking ones smiling at you on the other side.  (Some of the heads here are only replicas due to preservation purposes of the original ones at the Angkor Conservancy.)  Source:  tourismcambodia.com

This long causeway leading to the ancient city of Angkor Thom depicts life's constant battle between good and evil ever since the beginning of time.  We, human beings are always put in between choosing what is good or what is evil.  We are always on the verge - which way, which way?  Call me a liar.  We do not always choose what is good, right?  So for me, this is what this causeway represents and no matter what we choose, there's also always a supreme being watching over us just like this gate tower of the many faces of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

If Angkor Wat houses a number of different kinds of Buddhas, Angkor Thom has the faces of Avalokiteśvara on top of its south gate tower, in 360-degree, representing omniscience.  That the Bodhisattva sees everything and knows everything thus, nothing could stay hidden from it.

Inside the Gate

Just like us.  Our ways, our thoughts, and our intentions are not hidden from God.  He sees everything and knows everything.  What we do in the open and what we do in secret, He surely knows.  All good deeds, He honors, given that the intention is pure.  All bad deeds, He despises, but sometimes He allows evil for evil.  He even knows our sin even if we haven't committed it yet.  As it is written,

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”   - Romans 3:11-12

So in between choosing what is good or evil, let us be reminded that there will always be consequences for every choice we make.  God created us in His own image and likeness.  God is holy and His standard is holiness.  However, we always fall short from His glory for He also gave us freewill.  Freewill to be on our own, to make our own decisions.  Good or evil?  In the gods side or the demons side?  That's why Jesus taught us how to pray:  "Deliver us from evil.  Amen." - Matthew 6:9-13

What's inside the great city of Angkor Thom?  Find out on my next post only here on The Other Side of Mae!  :) #tosomtravels

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The Other Side of Mae @ 5!

Five years ago, I started a blog.  A blog not grand, a blog unnoticeable, a blog intended only to document my simple life.  But to my surprise, along came people reading me.  With their sweet words, I got inspired to write more.  Their encouragement propelled me to take on another step.  So here it is!  After five years of journeying with you, maeolandesca.com is finally up today!  A blog systematized for your easy access.  A blog that's wonderful, whimsical, delightful, awe-inspiring, and brilliant, made with love and oh-so fantabulous experiences!  Hope you're gonna love it and do journey with me today, tomorrow and forever! <3

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