I have always been curious about Villa Escudero. I read a lot about the place from local and foreign travel blogs. However for some reason, going there seem like forever for me. It is located in Tiaong, Quezon which is about 3-4 hours drive from Makati on normal traffic. Since I live on the other side of Manila, for me it would be about double the travel time. But fate.. Read More
The Philippine fauna offers about 3000 plant species from giant trees to mosses and lichens. This is due to its rich volcanic rich soil, bright sunshine, and sufficient rain all through the year. I especially like the variety of architectural foliage that gives strong impact to the flower arrangements. Hence whenever I have the chance to visit my home country, I always try to create an Ikebana or two using.. Read More
Late summer flowers are now in abundance. A good indicator that the summer heat starts to cool down. From the bright yellows, the color hues are now towards warm hues. After a month of hiatus from our regular Ikebana sessions, we had our lesson again last Tuesday. It was great to see my sensei and fellow students at Seishincho Community Center. For this week, we had a combination of dark.. Read More
Lake Chuzenji or Chuzenjiko is a big lake in the mountains of Nikko. Around the lake are summer houses mostly of European embassies, cafes, and restaurants. On fine days, fishing enthusiasts enjoy catching trouts with a beautiful view of the mountains. On cold days, influx of people come to town to enjoy a hot soak in the onsens. Spending a Day at Lake Chuzenji With summer nearly ending,.. Read More
Ryogoku is popular to many as a home for sumo wrestling. Most of the time, people especially from abroad visit this place to see sumo fights. Another popular thing people do in the area is to visit the Edo Tokyo Museum. Recently, me and my friend went biking to and around Ryogoku. I discovered that in addition to its “Old Tokyo” ambiance, this place is a haven for museum lovers. .. Read More