TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

“Silves” in the early times used to be the principal city of Algarve which was under the command of the Moors. It was then called “Xelb” and its inhabitants spoke Arabic and were known to be regal in their ways and elegant . Nowadays, Silves is famous for its citrus crops and cork factories, as well as for its castle that is visited by thousands of visitors each year. On the hilltop of the town stands the ancient Moorish Silves Castle that can be traced back to 1000 B.C.—huh, so old! The castle taken from a short distance. The steps leading to a garden cafe and eventually to the castle seated on the hilltop, and moi posing with the former king of the castle.  The floor plan drawing of the castle. Portuguese flag flying proudly. Beside the castle is an old Gothic-Baroque Cathedral called 'Se Velha' dating back to the 15th century. Just by the entrance to the castle with an unattended cafe terrace. Travel Period: June 2005 Destinati...

Well surprise, there is! Utrecht being centrally situated in the Netherlands means we do not have a coastline, instead, we have lakes, rivers, canals and man-made beaches. So for my 36th birthday, the Dutch family, together with the invited family of MadamE spent our Sunday picnicking and lazing around in Henschotermeer , a man-made lake and public beach located near Woudenberg and Maarn in Utrecht. The merry-go-round in the living room Dutch birthday parties are only reserved for winter, he-he. First foto: Two guys lost in tete-a-tete Second Foto: These are the things you do when you become a father Birthday girl is squinting her eyes and next picture is together with MadamE. Henschotermeer actually had sand deposits dating back to 1895. After the 2nd World War, development of this inland lake (into a huge public beach project) was carried out. The lake is cleaned every 10 years. And the Dutch, like the rest of the northern Europeans, love to bake themselves under the hot rays of the...

The weekend flew so quickly out of the window! Why is it that the clock ticks so fast when we are enjoying? :- Well, we’ve explored a few of the amazing and beautiful villages of the North Holland province. For the unsuspecting, Holland is actually a province here in the Netherlands --- so to clarify this Holland vs. Netherlands confusion check this old entry: Netherlands and Holland explained Where in the Netherlands is Noord Holland [North Holland]? First map: Netherlands showing where the North Holland province is. Second map: details of North Holland. Bloemendaal aan Zee (beach) To reach Bloemendaal beach, one must go through a few kilometers long of zigzagged road flanked by huge mounds of dunes. Dutchman explained to me that these “duinen” were specifically deposited there to protect the Bloemendaal municipality from the strong surge of the sea. As many of us know already, the Netherlands is a low land very vulnerable to water. During high tide, the surrounding water levels in...

Due to the WK – Wereld Kampioenschap (Football World Cup), the ancient Dutch virus, just a few centuries old by the way, has struck again! Oranje (Orange) has plagued the Netherlands and even spread to Leipzig, Germany, where the first round of the Dutch football match against Serbia and Montenegro was held last Sunday. The Netherlands won the game, 1-0. Some of the houses in our neighborhood are in the Orange feast mood. Leipzig, Germany, where the cup is held. No cure in sight for the Orange virus. Photo taken from NU.nl website This Orange virus can be traced back to Prince William I of Oranje, circa 1500s, the prince who fought for independence and lead the revolt against Spain. For centuries, Orange has been the representing color (or symbol perhaps) of the Dutch Royal Family... and so it is now for the Netherlands, especially during international football matches. For interesting and funny snapshots of the Orange virus, please visit this NU.nl page: Oranjegek...

“Every expatriate who comes into contact with the average Dutch person has experienced this distinctive get-together etiquettes: the flying three kisses – I believe should be renamed to cheek-to-cheek-to-cheek since the lips point to the air anyway and its just the cheek that touches ground; the dragging Dutch birthday party circle – in which if you are Dutch challenged, you must, from time to time, exert effort to clear your throat so people know that you are not programmed to mute; and well, the one cookie conspiracy - served with your tea or coffee. No one that I know can really explain why friends and relatives greet each other with the flying three kisses and why everyone has to sit in a circle during the compulsory birthday meets. It seems to me that the Dutch themselves have no clue why these peculiar acts have become national institutions, and surprisingly, why they are still adhered to. Well maybe one day the answer will find me, but today, I am purposely here to report about ...

... I need it once in a while though today I am feeling a bit blue because I think I have huge flabby arms (signs of old age). I am dreading the summer days; I can’t muster wearing sleeveless yet. Last weekend I was experimenting with my hair. Mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the prettiest hair of them all? This is my natural hair, nothing done, no combing or brushing... simply natural. In Visayan we call it the “Kalkag look”. I’m imitating Angelina Jolie by the way but jammer I don’t have her massive puckered up lips. The blow dry fix, takes minimum 15 minutes express, and 30 minutes if I am in the mood. I thought that the curly hair is nicer, and well, sexy – says a friend. Maybe I should blow dry less. This would mean less personal chore (or lesser vanity chore) and I’m sure it will also help lower our electricity consumption *snicker*. TRIVIA: Do you know that a stand-by home appliance, for example, TV (dangerous by the way), computer, and a coffee maker, costs € 50 each minimu...