Holiday Greetings!

FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A CHILD IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE ON HIS SHOULDER, AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

( ISAIAH 9:6 *NKJV )

As we celebrate this day let us not lose sight of the first Christmas present ever given, that being God giving us His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to dwell with us!

So let us not get lost in all the hustle and bustle of this time of year. Instead, let us be mindful of all our blessings, and share the Christmas Spirit with others. Remembering.....

THE GREATEST GIFT
The greatest gift at Christmastime
Is one we all may give -

A friendly smile that helps to make
Life easier to live.

A kindly thought, a helping hand,
To show someone we care

And let them know how much it means
For us to have them here.

The greatest gift at Christmastime
Costs not a lot to buy -

It's being a good neighbor
As days and months go by:

It's offering a shoulder
When someone needs a lift,

And so I pray this Christmas Day
That this may be your gift!

by: Grace E. Easley

May you have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Fruitful New Year!

Loy Krathong

November full moon shine Loy Krathong, loy krathong.....
Yes, this is a song we usually sing or hear in the mall every month of November in the kingdom of Thailand.
Loy krathong is one of Thai annual festivals. It takes place on the full-moon of the month of the lunar calendar.

Loy Krathong was originated in the ancient kingdom of Sukothai some 700 years ago.
Loy means floating and krathong stands for a little lotus-shaped "krathong" (boat) made of banana stem and banana leaves, decorated with candle, incense, flowers and other decorations as a homage to the Buddha.

There are several other legends about the origin of Loy Krathong, however, most are all similar in one aspect.
Narng Noppamart was a lady with great artistic skills from royal court made the first krathong, some 700 years ago.

Loy Krathong was the very enjoyable day for the Thai people, their very important objective is to give respect to the Goddess of Water to thank for its benefit as well as to beg pardon for polluting water.
The other one is to push bad luck away and bring back good luck.

The history of "Halloween"

I would like to share this letter sent to me of one of my friend about the history of halloween.
To all my readers, enjoy !

Dear Simplyriss,

As our children get ready to go "Trick-or-Treating" let us learn a little about the day "Halloween." Therefore Simplyriss, we will depart from our usual message to take a look at a pagan holiday, that changed because of Christianity, and thus became a Holy Day that is still observed in some Denominations still today!

Therefore we will look at a ancient pagan ritual, that is still practiced today. It's original name was "Samhain," however we know it as "Halloween."

"Samhain" began at sundown on October 31st and extended into the following day. According to the Celtic pagan religion, known as Druidism, the spirits of those who had died roamed the earth on "Samhain" evening. This night was much feared by the Celtic people, and they sought to ward off the spirits with offerings of food and drink.

The dark side of this event was the fact that the Celts built bonfires, at so called sacred sights, and sometimes preformed rituals involving HUMAN and/or Animal Sacrifices, to honor Druid gods. "Samhain" was abandoned only when the people converted to Christianity during the very early middle ages.

Now during that period of time the Church often incorporated modified versions of ancient pagan rituals in order to win over converts. For example, Pope Gregory IV successfully replaced "Samhain" with All Saints Day, which fell on November 1, thus the evening of October 31 became known as All Hallows' Even, which was later shortened to Halloween. All Souls Day, as it is known as today, is a Holy Day in the Roman Catholic, and Anglican Churches, honoring those who have passed away.

Some aspects of this ancient pagan tradition thought to be incompatible with Christianity, were linked with folk beliefs about evil spirits. In British folklore, small magical fairies became associated with Halloween mischief. The jack-o-lantern, originally carved from a turnip, originated in medieval Scotland. A small candle would be put into the turnip, that had a scary face carved on it. This was to be lit at night and displayed to scare off evil spirits which they feared roamed about that night.

Between the 15th & 17th Centuries, Europe was seized by a hysterical fear of witches, who were thought to ride flying brooms and to assume the form of black cats. Thus the images of witches and black cats soon joined other European superstitions as symbols of Halloween.

In the 19th & early 20th Centuries, young people often observed Halloween by perpetrating minor acts of vandalism, such as overturning sheds or breaking windows. Beginning in the 1930's, Halloween mischief gradually transformed into the modern ritual of trick-or-treating, though some still choose to perform acts of vandalism on Halloween still today.

A final note, Simplyriss, is the fact that Halloween is the high holy day of the satanic church. So it still bears a very dark side indeed, even today!


References: ( Encarta Reference Library 2008, and the Encyclopedia Britannica 2006. )

Songkhla aquarium

Songkhla Aquarium established by Songkhla Municipality located at Laem Son-On, Bor-yang Subdistrict, Muang District, Songkhla. It is the newest tourist place of Songkhla Province.

I had a chance to visit this place during holidays.
The newly opened Songkhla aquarium has three interesting places, The Big Tank, Souvenirs Shop and Terrarium Zone.

Terrarium Zone consist of Zone A-Fresh Water Fish, Zone B-Brackish Water Fish, Zone C-Marine Fish and Zone D-Gulf of Thailand.

Seeing the greatest gigantic and plentiful of giant Groupers in Thailand, friendly Leopard Sharks and group of colourful fishes living surrounded by beautiful coral reefs which you can see the real of under water life.

Songkhla Aquarium is open everyday (Sunday to Saturday) 09.00 a.m. - 07.00 p.m., admission ticket, Adult-100 baht, Children-50 baht and foreigner-200 baht.

For more information just visit http://www.songkhlaaquarium.com

And more photos to be posted on my other blog http://www.imagestotreasure.blogspot.com




Hear you on the next post...

Floating market

After my friends left for a holiday I felt lonely and bored.
I don't know what to do and where to go, don't understand what I exactly want.

I was thinking that life is complicated, Why? because during working days I also complaining that my work is exhausting, boring, irritating, etc...Now, it's a vacation, time to relax, enjoy but no where to go, nothing to do....whoahhhhh...

Pardon me...so, today I went to church for Sunday mass.
I was relieved after hearing the homily from the priest.

And this afternoon, we went to Talat Nam (Floating market)with my Thai friend, this is every Friday to Sunday.
Many vendors are selling their products on their boat, as you can see in the photos.

The visitors; locals and tourists really enjoyed roaming around and buying a lot of things; food, clothes, souvenirs, fresh produce and many more.

I have been to Floating market near Bangkok, that is bigger than here in Hatyai.
We can only witness and experience this only here in Thailand.

The vendors are busy selling their products

There's a clown too, entertaining the kids with his magical tricks and gimmicks.....

Cambodia trip: with much anticipation to nothing...

Semestral break is near approaching, everybody is excited for two weeks holiday.
The fact is, we're planning what to do and where to go, it takes many months to decide and finalized the matter.

But there are times we cannot avoid obstacles or circumstances that can changed every decisions we made and the result is frustrations.

Like what I did....... I had a plan to go with my friends to Cambodia for a holiday. Of course we are all excited because we can relax, see the other places and to witness, not just for place but the history and culture of other nations.

If I can't make it now, hope to go next time!

Surprises!

Today was really a wonderful day!

I visited the sisters in Phatthalung with my friends, they are Ana, Novy, Lyds and Olga.
It takes 1 hour and a half to travel by van or bus from Hatyai.
A day before our visit, Sr. Sarry called me that she will prepare lunch for us, very exciting!

She is a very good cook.
We reached in their house at quarter to 11 AM, we chatted for a while and lunch was served.

Sr. Sarry and Jemalyn came out from the kitchen singing birthday song and holding a cake.
I sang with them thinking that somebody in the house was celebrating birthday.

I was surprised! when Sr. hugged and greeted me "advance happy birthday!" gladly I made a wish and blew the candles.....(taking a deep breathe)....Thank you Lord for these generous people.


Yes! very early for my birthday, three more weeks hehehehehe.
The lunch was awesome! My heartfelt gratitude to Sr. Sarry, she never forgets my birthday.

She was my first Thai language teacher here in Thailand, very kind of her.
After lunch, she took us around the city, we went to Thali Noi (little sea), Lampam Lake (park), Royal Traditional House (museum) and newly opened Tesco Lotus (supermarket).

There was a heavy rain when they sent us to van station for our return to Hatyai.
My friends were very happy with our experience today and it was also a good timing when we reached the apartment.

I received a text message from my parents an advance birthday greetings from them.
My gosh! very touching message that almost made me cry.
I'm missing them......


Anyway just see some of the photos taken during our visit in Phatthalung to be posted soon in my other blog http://www.imagestotreasure.blogspot.com

Ginataan - Ilonggo style

Ingredients

Glutinous rice.....................1 cup
Young coconut...................2 medium size, scoop with spoon
Ripe saba banana...............4 pieces, peeled and cut into cubes
Sweet potato or kamote......2 pieces, pared and cut into cubes
Tapioca pearl or sago.........2 tablespoon, small-sized
White or washed sugar.......1 cup
Coconut milk.....................1 cup
Glutinous rice flour.............1 cup, form into small-like marble sized

Preparation Time

30 minutes - 1 hour

Serves

4 - 6 people

Utensils Required

kitchen knife
Chopping board
Ladle
Spoons
Cups
Cooking pot

Preparation

• Boil the tapioca pearl or sago until it cook well and take aside
• Wash the glutinous rice and cook in the cooking pot with glutinous rice flour form like - marble sized
• Be sure there's enough water before adding the sweet potato or kamote, saba banana, scooped young coconut, tapioca pearl or sago and sugar
• Boil. Occasionally stir until the ingredients cooked
• Finally add 1 cup of rich coconut milk or it may be added as topping before serving

Try it!

Business ! Think something unique

I was fast asleep when I heard knocks on my door. I didn't want to get up, was exhausted at work the whole day. That was only 5:25 PM, sometimes I have to get some sleep before the tutorial at 6 PM but knocking outside continued. I have forced myself up, then I heard Edna's voice calling me.

When I opened the door I saw Edna and the couple Charlie and Joanne carrying a bag.

I welcomed them inside and they started talking about their purpose of their visit.

I felt happy listening to the couple introducing their bakery items they are selling.
Wow! They have chocolate cake, brownies at affordable prices.

This is typical among married people here in our place in Hatyai, most of them have sideline business for extra income aside from main profession. I really appreciate them, their efforts, perseverance, being industrious, resourcefulness.."Yan ang Pinoy!"
Era and Junie have also their 'imbutido' (Filipino sausage). Many of us like the taste of their 'imbutido' you can have it in chicken meat or pork.

So, I'm also thinking to start my business hehehe....I should have a partner, hmmmm....I'll compete to them?

So anyone interested in business partnership with me?

I should have my own specialty....what?,..desserts; leche flan, fruit float,heheheh....let me plan.

It should be something unique!

I will post some pictures of their recipes so that let them get some publicity........hmmmmm .....worldwide........and business......hehehehehe...... Sure will ask them.

Any suggestions.....?

Double celebration

Tonight is the despedida (send-off) party of Khala, Ate Rome's daughter. She's going back home, to the Philippines after 3 months of vacation, at the same time Aida is also celebrating her birthday today, so there's a double celebration.

Yes, they are busy preparing food in the other room. We are neighbors and if they need my assistance they come while I'm here in front of my computer hehehe....

Actually I have already done my assignment....do you want to know? Of course my specialty 'Fruit Float'.

I can hear their voices, it seems they are very busy.
I'm sure some of the guest will stay in my room because only few can be accommodated in their room.

Okay, I'll check them first.

The gift of love

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8


Pastor Clif and Mary Grace wedding at Rumyen church Hatyai, August 30, 2008, 6PM.
Mary Grace is our friend. She's teaching in Hatyai University as music and dance instructress, married to Pastor Clif, a missionary from Indonesia.
Pastor Ale officiated the wedding and the reception was at Paradise Hotel Hatyai.

A group picture with the newly wed Pastor Clif and Mary Grace

The reception in Paradise Hotel, Hatyai

Hear you on the next post...

Happy Mother's Day !

Today is a very special day for all mothers in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Every year of August 12th Her Majesty Queen Sirikit celebrates her birthday.
In acknowledgement of this special occasion, this day is also recognized as National Mother's Day.
The day is also a national public holiday.
The day the Thai people express their love and gratitude to their mothers and to the women who mean a lot to them.
They offer floral garland or corsage made of fresh or handmade jasmine flower.
Jasmine flower symbolizes purity and selflessness representing a mother's unconditional love for her children.


These are some gift items in celebration of Mother's Day...

Get rid of....

I'm trying to be fine after two weeks of miserable cough, sore throat and headache.
July 26, I went for a check-up and the doctor said I was having a common cold but still I continued working.

A lot of medicine were given to me but there was no progress and I returned to the hospital July 29. A lady doctor told me that I had a tonsillitis. Yes, I had difficulties in swallowing food and speaking so I decided to ask a medical certificate planning to take sick leave for two days. First day of absence I couldn't avoid thinking of my work, the submission of reports, myself, being alone and sick. Made me felt so bad !

I phoned my parents in the Philippines and their voice relieved my loneliness.
The next day, I worked although feeling tired and exhausted.
I tried to avoid using computer too for a week I didn't do anything on my blogs.

August 5, in the evening after work I returned to the hospital again due to dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Another doctor told me I was over fatigued and because of having a hard cough so felt dizzy and vomited.
Is that right? not because I have a problem with my eyes, a minor refractive error.

Therefore I need to see the optometrist, but now I do my best not to spend too long in front of the computer.

Yesterday, I went for a Thai massage to ease body pains. For two hours session and it really helped!
Although, I'm still taking medicines hope I can get rid of this cough.
Any suggestions what to do?


So bye for now......

Yellow rice - a healthy recipe !

Turmeric is full of healthy ingredients. It is a condiment which is widely used in some parts of Asia especially India. It is available in Penang, in some Indian food shops in Thailand and in some Hypermarkets.
We can easily prepare Yellow rice using Turmeric with little cashew nuts, meat for tasty dish, healthy too without adding any artificial colors to make it yellow !

Ingredients

Rice (Thai glutinous sticky rice) - 2 cups

Cashew nuts (plain not roasted) - 50 grams

Breast chicken (boiled and shreded) - 50 grams

Turmeric powder - 1 tablespoon

Coriander leaves or Onion spring leaves - 2 stems

Salt (little pinch)

Olive oil - 1 teaspoon

Serves - 5 persons

Preparation time - 25 - 30 minutes

Utensils required

Rice cooking vessel

Spoon

Cups

kitchen knife

chopping board

Serving plate


Preparation

• Wash rice very well three or four times using clean water. Soak it in pure water for 10 minutes
• After 10 minutes, add 1 tablespoon of Turmeric, 1 teaspoon of Olive oil, and a pinch of salt and cook in rice cooking vessel
• Later on when a water sets in, add plain cashew nuts and shredded tender boiled chicken
• Let it cook and garnish with coriander or onion spring leaves. Serve hot.

One tip:

if you want the rice to be non-sticky add a little to the mixture - any cooking oil, coconut or olive oil.
Or you can add little salt so that rice remains separate grain wise not sticking together.

Hear you on the next post...

Connected....wired....all the time

Are we becoming an electronically connected Society all the time?
Rarely only people are seen without carrying a cellphone. Most of the people are hooked on to their computers or radio or ipod or music system or glued to TV.
Conversations, chit-chats, family talk, friendly chatter, sweet nothings etc are becoming extinct slowly.

Even if these things happen some electronic device will be active in the background.
Couples / friends would like to watch TV together, if they have different tastes, sure it will disrupt the harmony among them. One may like only funny / romantic movies and the partner likes only action. They cannot watch it together. But if they sit face to face and just sit....no words spoken, or just say some sweet nothings....well....will they be bored?

I feel incomplete most of the time. Music will be there all the time in the background...rarely only I listen to the birds chirping outside...The last time I saw a complete / clear sunrise was when I went outside early in March to take a snap for my post Sunrise in this blog.

I was in harmony with nature during my childhood. I had enjoyed the cool breeze, beautiful nature, greenery in Iloilo, Philippines.
Now I don't actually enjoy the nature around me.

I really miss my native place.

I'll miss it !

Tonight is the first session of 5 days youth seminar I was talking last week.
Because of my health condition I couldn't go.
This seminar will take 2 hours and would start at 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
The seminar will focus on the theme "Is there any hope in these crises?"
You will find the answers to the problems around you...With a famous speaker from Singapore, Pastor Simon Siew.

There are a lot of activities such as:

• Health massage
• Healthy Food
• Helpful skills for ladies
• Kids activities

Hear you on the next post...

Fever

I'm not feeling well, feverish, bodyache, tired. I have common cold !

But I tried my best to be fine in my work, controlled myself not to spoil the day.
It's my philosophy to start the first day of the week well, must be in good mood so that the whole week will be all right.

When I woke up this morning I was feeling feverish already sometimes sneezing, still I got up and prepared myself for work.

Good ! today was not really hectic, was able to rest during vacant time until the day ended.

Now, I'm in front of the computer, I don't know what to type. I have a headache.
I can't do anything !

So, will eat dinner and take medicine. No...I have no appetite, I don't like to take medicine !

I just want to lie down and sleep..........

Caught in the door !

I was very happy to see my friends this afternoon.

They went out to distribute fliers for the coming workshop to be held on July 26 - 30, 2008.
When I saw them in front of the apartment, I invited them to come up in my flat for snacks, it was already 3:30 PM.

According to them, the speaker will come from Singapore and for these 5 days workshop is open to everyone. Regarding the time, I'm not sure if it's convenient to everybody it will start at 6 o'clock in the evening until 8 PM. Nothing to be worry about because this is free event and no contribution at all.

We were very glad and excitedly talking when the strong wind came ! All of us shouted "the door!" thinking it would bang loudly... of course can cause loud noise.

Analyn ran to the door wanted to hold the doorknob suddenly her finger was caught in the door ! It terribly hurt her, her middle finger turned into purple and swollen. Ouuchhhhhh......we were all shocked. I asked some ice cubes from Ate Rome, soaked her finger into ice and thought about some basic medicines I had - Efficascent Oil, Omega pain killer, Tiger balm, Vicks, etc.
After soaking her finger into ice, we applied Efficascent oil and gave her an Analgesic tablet.

She was feeling well when they left the apartment. I felt sad for her.
Good that I have these medicines with me.


Hear you on the next post...

Bonding with friends

Today was a very memorable day.

I didn't expect I will ever go to a place like "Ratthapum". Ratthapum is a district in Hatyai.
It's a remote area and it takes almost an hour to go there. There's a Christian church, managed by Filipino, Indonesian Pastors and some missionaries.

Some of my friends were going there for a sleepover. Few of us could not stay so we decided to join the daytime activities and came back to Hatyai early in the evening.

We were more than 30 Pinoys and we had three teams, each team (Team A, B and C) got a job to do. Everybody was very cooperative and active especially in playing games.

It was great ! I'm sure everyone enjoyed .

We can do things like this may be only once in our life. It's a big opportunity to work with, to play with our friends, co-workers and other people.

This event I treasure most !

Here are some of our photos and the games we played....

Group picture in front of the church

Ready for lunch...

After lunch..."Players are you ready?"

Volleyball...Team B vs Team C, winner Team C (my team)

Sungka...winner Team C

Charade...winner Team B

Egg relay...winner Team A

Throwing and Catching egg ...winner Team A

Longest Line...winner Team C

More photos will be posted on my other blog;

http://www.imagestotreasure.blogspot.com

Enjoy !