Charmed by Arashimaya but not by "usual" sights but by many surprises

-

I consider myself as lucky for having been able to travel in the year 2023 in a country whose language I could not understand. 

Japan has been easily navigated by me and my friend because  of the fast internet which enabled us to research ahead of time about the places we wanted to go. Facebook groups we joined shared their experiences, troubles and tips which became our prelude to Japan. I also thank the apps dedicated to make my life as a traveller easier. 


But as in life, I pick up where opportunity and setbacks bring me. In my life, I do not only allow myself to diverge from the crowd, to follow my own path, but also I let myself be surprised and changed with life's many changes. Painful could be the changes sometimes. 
Now, back to literal travels, I researched well but the reality sometimes is not in sync with what I expected. The bamboo grooves did not delight me in a way that I expected it. I expected it to be a narrow path with bamboos on my left and right. I expected to touch the bamboos up close. I expected to take photos of the bamboos the way I saw it before in photos while researching. 


I think the bamboo path of my imagination was closed off to tourists. Hence, i got no pretty photo of the groove. 


But lo and behold, the early morning photo with the Togetsu-kyu bridge, the oldest pond garden of Tenryu-ji temple, our lunch at Musubi Cafe located at the end of the road after the bridge which served us vegan lunch and they used quinoa for their rice alternative, pleased me very well. Maybe it was the timing which gave us back many unexpected awe. We summoned the bridge in the early morn, pass by the garden when we were tired from walks so that looking at the garden was a special relief (photos did not give justice to its beauty) and eating when one is hungry.



I don't know but even this tree communicated with me that life is beautiful despite it turned out different from our expectations or plans.


In the end, I am blessed to be able to travel in 2023 and still get pleasant surprises. 








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you still remember how Sarali or Sirali taste?

-
Image
This "Sarali" is a childhood fruit for everyone who grew up in the Visayan area of the Philippines. Also known as  Flacourtia jangomas or Indian Plum or coffee plum, Sarali is best enjoyed by pressing one fruit between one's palm, move it in circular motion until tender, and pop the soft flesh quickly in one's mouth save the seeds. Just like apple, this fruit oxidizes quickly and thus, gets dark brown easily. It can give one's teeth a nasty brown shade. Sour with a hint of sweet, this is a must-try fruit. I believe, the fruit has an economic value just like sarguellas and lanzones. *** *** *** ***  Related readings:  Possible Treatment of Diabetes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959214/ Anti bacterial property:  http://www.ijplsjournal.com/issues%20PDF%20files/july2011/1.pdf
Read more

TIKUM KADLUM (The Enchanted Dog, The First of the Ten Epics of Panay Bukidnon)

-
Image
At the house. One day, Bulawanon engaged the help of Tikum Kadlum, a hunting dog with the gift of sensing the spirits, in cooking rice for his husband Paiburong and his brother Dumaraog who will be going hunting. When the rice was cooked, the brothers ate fast. Then, while Bulawanon packed the betel nut for her husband, Paiburong and Dumaraog dressed themselves, with Dumaraog suggesting they match their sashes and belts, since he is his brother's loyal protector. To complete their hunting preparations, the two brought out their long-bladed sharp knives, shields, spears, and lances from their gold chest and wall hanger. When everything is set, Paiburong bade goodbye to his wife, Bulawanon, who reminded her husband to be careful as he might meet in the forest one named Makabagting, who is accompanied by a man-eating woman called Muwa. Makabagting is a nobleman and a warrior who is widely known as having tasted human flesh. Paiburong went out of his house, and he heard a sound. It
Read more

Linabog nga Bisaya nga Manok

-
Image
When I searched for Linabog in th web, I can see entries on Linabog but using a different souring agent and usually the fish called "pagi" is used. Also, they attribute Linabog to the Cebuanos and there is one video which explained that the word means "throw away" because the parts used in the dish are parts which are usually to be thrown away, like the bony "pagi." Meanwhile, there is also a "kinunot" way of cooking which means "hinimay" or flaked for the Luzon. The name was also coined for leftover parts of fish or chicken. In Hiligaynon, the word "labog" means forcefully thrown away.  This surprised me because when I was small, I heard from my father and his friends about this linabog and they used the leaves of labog plant. So I grew up having some idea of what linabog cooking means and definitely, the Cebuanos' definition of Linabog dish is far from my Ilonggo definition. And yes, Ilonggos
Read more