ParaNorman (2012)

Whenever I catch a movie in theaters last year, the trailer of ParaNorman would always be on alongside Despicable Me 2. And while I made a mental note to watch it on the big screen, my loyalty to my budget always prevails. So it's only now that I got to watch it. 

The movie opens with a gloomy atmosphere. Heck all throughout the movie, that gloom persists, only cut short occasionally by sudden bursts of hilarious comedic scenes. I can't stop wondering if parents complained about how this movie is too scary for children. It just feels so dark, that same feeling I get when I watch the Harry Potter movies. BUT, the movie is a must-see especially nowadays when bullying is rampant and kids need to be educated early on about what bullying can do and how it affects the victim.

A kid named Norman is seen as a freak by his classmates and is always bullied for being weird. When zombies rose from their graves because of a witch's curse, Norman must face his fears and confront the witch for the sake of the town he lives in. The witch used to be a young girl killed by the townspeople for being different. People were scared of her so instead of trying to understand, they disposed of her. Pretty much what Norman is experiencing, only he's not killed.

Norman persuades Agatha not to forget who she is and to remember the people who have been kind to her.

A touching scene in the movie is the confrontation wherein Norman tells Agatha the witch that they're the same, that hurting those who hurt you won't do anyone good, that despite the general hatred there's at least one person who loves her. And because this is a movie for children, naturally everything ends well.

This movie reminds me a lot of Frankenweenie and Coraline though the latter has this eerie feel all throughout. (I would learn later on that ParaNorman was created by the same company that gave us Coraline.) What I consider astounding is the visual effects of the film especially in the scene where Agatha assumes the form of a golden lightning-like being. No wonder this movie raked in nominations and awards.

Some web articles that I found interesting:

Cinematographer Tristan Oliver on ParaNorman

Drawn to century-old technique

Immersed in Movies: Exploring 'ParaNorman' VFX

'ParaNorman's' Travis Knight: The Nike Scion Behind the Oscar-Nominated Film

The Body and the Blood: The Middle East's Vanishing Christianity and the Possibility for Peace (Charles M. Sennott)

Having read Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World earlier this month, I am all the more interested in the Middle Eastern conflict. These days we often hear news of the Syrian conflict which now resulted to the loss of approximately 100,000 lives (see link to be in the know as to how the civil war erupted in Syria). Living in a third-world country with its own problems and crises to pay attention to, we are not much concerned about the chaos happening in the Middle East. One thing is certain though, sooner or later, we will feel its impact since other countries (US, Iran, Russia, etc) have stepped in and have taken sides.

A few years back, I bought the book The Body and the Blood with the goal of educating myself on what lies in the Middle East. As we all know, world history is mostly centered on Western Europe which undoubtedly produced great advances in both the sciences and the arts. But I wouldn't want to believe that other nations are mere consumers of Western-led culture, I adhere to the belief that all cultures have their own strengths and weaknesses, and that their respective peoples are interesting in their own way. Also, I'd like to see through other people's eyes how Muslims are since more often than not, they are equated to terrorists, a very unfair idea since I hold the belief that there are both evil and good in every culture.

Going back to the book, Sennet, the bureau chief of the Boston Globe in the Middle East, attempts to investigate the dwindling population of Christians in the Middle East, that region in the world where the three great faiths originated and which now are in conflict with each other--- Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The Israel-Palestinian conflict over land territories bore a huge impact on the lives of not only Muslims and Jews, but also of the Christian minority who, as Sennet finds, is caught in the middle and suffers from the hands of the clashing giants.

What started as a pilgrimage to trace the path Jesus followed during his life turned into a mission to record the lives of the already diminishing Christians. In that respect, Sennet vividly describes the build up of tensions between the Israeli military and the Muslims, as well as the gradually growing aggression and persecution against the Christians. The Body and the Blood records cases of injustice and inhumanity and one particular chapter stands out which makes one question how other people see other people's life.

In chapter VII titled "Egypt: The Flight", Sennet describes Egypt as the place "where people, especially the lower classes, love in fear of the police force" (p.175). And they have cause to fear, especially when the police is known to grab any family and torture them for the alleged crimes they know nothing of. Also in the same chapter, the author narrates how a riot resulted in the death of 20 Christians and 1 Muslim and yet half of the arrested were Christians. This grave injustice caused many Christians to flee.

In this book, Sennet does a wonderful research on the current conditions of life in the Middle East and traces  it to history and the current economy. He speculates on the impact of low employment rate and the correlation between financial success and aggression. Ultimately, he sees the ruling elite and religious leaders, their greed for power and wealth, as the factors that play a major role in the destiny of the region. 

Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science (Carl Sagan)

I find it weird that I have suddenly become interested in science books when I got out of school. I guess my brain craves something other than the usual literary forms I grew up with. Lately, fiction has taken the backseat after dominating 15 years of my life.

Since I became engrossed with chaos theory, I would often find myself buying science books from Booksale. For some reason, my lack of science courses in college gave me this thirst, this feeling that my education lacks something essential for me to have a clearer grasp of the natural world. One of the books I bought is Carl Sagan's Broca's Brain, which struck me at first as a sci-fi novel. (I didn't know any scientist named Broca, that's why!)

One thing I like about the book is that it is written for the lay reader, for those like me who are not science majors. The book on the whole is very engaging as Sagan not only focuses on scientific findings and discoveries but also touch on myths and pseudoscience. Reading the introduction part, one is already tempted to read the book from cover to cover in just one sitting. There's just this excitement that I felt when I read the following words:

"We live in an extraordinary age. These are times of stunning changes in social organization, economic well-being, moral and ethical precepts, philosophical and religious perspectives, and human self-knowledge, as well as in our understanding of that vast universe in which we are embedded like a grain of sand in this cosmic ocean. As long as there have been human beings, we have posed the deep and fundamental questions, which evoke wonder and stir us into at least a tentative and trembling awareness, questions on the origins of consciousness; life on our planet; the beginnings of the Earth; the formation of the Sun; the possibility of intelligent beings somewhere up there in the depths of the sky; as well as, the grandest inquiry of all--- on the advent, nature and ultimate destiny of the universe. For all but the last instant of human history these issues have been the exclusive province of philosophers and poets, shamans and theologians. The diverse and mutually contradictory answers offered demonstrate that few of the proposed solutions have been correct. But today, as a result of knowledge painfully extracted from nature, through generations of careful thinking, observing and experimenting, we are on the verge of glimpsing at least preliminary answers to many of these questions."

In Broca's Brain, Carl Sagan successfully captures the attention of readers to hear the side of science as he tackles major claims made by pseudoscientists. In particular, he debunks Immanuel Velikovsky's Worlds in Collisions which explains why catastrophes were experienced by ancient cultures, as reflected in their myths and religions. After a detailed critique, Sagan suggests that science should not be kept in an ivory tower and should be demystified so that technological initiatives can be supported by the people since scientific research is expensive and more often than not, funds are sourced from the taxes that dutiful citizens pay.

Sagan also offers a personal snippet of his life as he traces his early interests in science through science fiction, though he has come to think that science is way cooler than fiction. While sci-fi is too romantic and too full of speculations, he notes one benefit of sci-fi is that it becomes an avenue through which readers can learn bits and pieces of scientific knowledge. He is quick to point out though that one downside to science students having been exposed to sci-fi would have prejudices which would be difficult to detach from when they do their own experiments.

Another point of interest in the book is how the celestial objects got their names, as well as the widely debated extraterrestrial life. At the end of the book, Sagan juxtaposes sciences to religion, touching on the question of origins and which inevitably would lead to the question of whether God exists or not. To this question, Sagan plays it safe by saying that "we simply do not know" (p. 337) quoting the passage below from the Rig Veda:

"Who knows for certain? Who shall here declare it?

Whence was it born, whence came creation?

The gods are later than this world's formation;

Who then can know the origins of the world?

None knows whence creation arose;

And whether he has or has not made it;

He who surveys it from the lofty skies,

Only he knows--- or perhaps he knows not."

Shanghai 0404072013

A few days before our flight to Shanghai, news of a new bird flu outbreak caused a stir even here in the Philippines. My parents told me to postpone my trip with my highschool friends, but I told them we'd be just fine. For their peace of mind, I swore not to eat fowl meat (though it doesn't really contribute to contracting the flu). I also told them I'd be putting on face mask at all times (though when we got to Shanghai it felt weird so I didn't use it much). The stubborn me insisted that we have already paid for our plane fares and it would hurt if we didn't get to consume our flights. I also added that this would be risk I would be willing to take for the sake of travel. (Honestly though, the thought of my almost P4000 going down the drain scared me more.)

Not expecting cold weather, I packed mostly t-shirts and jeans, with only a coat to keep me warm. Bad decision indeed since our bodies were too accustomed then to Manila's summer heat to withstand the sudden cold of China. When we got out of the plane and stepped int the airport, I could immediately feel the chill. Later on, I was already shivering, and thoughts of spending my vacation in the hospital scared the wits out of me. Oh no, I just couldn't afford to be sick at that time when I was supposed to be seeing new places and eating Shanghai cuisine. Fortune smiled on me and I survived the night. We had a few hours' sleep on the benches in the airport.

Come morning of the 5th of April, we had quick breakfast at KFC in the airport. I had chicken congee (8.50 CNY) forgetting my promise to my parents. I just couldn't resist. Chicken soup is just the thing when cold. We bought our three-day unlimited subway pass for 45 CNY and boarded the first-hour train.

On our first day (April 5) we went to Century Park, Shanghai Museum, and The Bund. I had a heavy lunch of porkchop plus 3 veggie dishes and rice for only 11CNY. And boy was I happy with what I was served! The eatery is located near Jinjiang Pudong Inn where we stayed for two nights for this trip. For dinner, I had hot and sour beef noodles (still couldn't get over Vietnam's pho) for 15 CNY which lives up to its name making me a happy diner. It's a good thing, too, that I bought green tea yoghurt drink (8 CNY) when we got out of Shanghai Museum. I used the sweet and sour and cold of the drink to temper the hot and spicy noodles.The noodles were a little pricey because the shop is in a tourist spot. It's located near the People's Plaza.

On April 6, we had breakfast at a small dumplings shop on the way to the Subway. We walked far from the hotel, refusing to take a taxi or the bus to save on fares. Besides, we had to take advantage of our unlimited pass. We had hot 千里香 (Qianlixiang) wanton (6 CNY/ 20pcs) and seaweeds wanton (10 CNY/ 10 pcs). Both were served in soup, which was good seeing the rain wouldn't let up any minute. I also bought rice hash brown (1.50 CNY) sold in the streets. The day before, when we were checking in at the hotel, I saw a man eating that and I almost interviewed him had my friends not interfered. (I just wanted to ask where he bought the hash brown). Anyway, that fried thing was a nice treat. Crispy outside and a bit soft inside. Yum! It's best eaten hot. Otherwise, you'll see much of the oil.

Yuyuan

Our second day was spent walking and viewing the posh buildings of 新天地 (Xintiandi). Later on I thought we should have skipped this since the area is known to be a shopping district and expensive items are sold there and we were just a bunch of poor kids. After that, we went to 豫園 (Yuyuan) where we went shopping for food items for our loved ones back home. A visit to the famed Kobayashi which produces wonderfully fried cookies, is a must. We shopped at Cheap Road, so called for the cheap items being sold there. After a quick lunch of 金包銀 (some sort of dumplings which can get addicting) and小籠包 (xiaolongbao), we headed to Shanghai Railway Station. This time, to meet V's goal of buying her wig, which according to her is near the railway station. Unfortunately, the place was too big and we have circled the area but found no wig store. Utterly defeated, we proceed to Jade Temple for a bit of spiritual guidance.

Shanghai Railway Station

After Jade Temple, we went to  陸家嘴 (Lujiazui) to see the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. We didn't get inside though because of the expensive entrance fee. Still we appreciated very much the wonderful dragons in the middle of the road and the distinct tower towering above others.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower at dusk

Our last day in Shanghai was spent touring three more places: 七寶 (Qibao town), 龍華寺 (Longhua Temple), and the Jewish Refugees Museum. I had the most fun in the ancient town of Qibao, I felt like a wandering samurai walking on the streets and savoring the festive atmosphere there. There just were too many people, perhaps because it was s Sunday.

Qibao on a Sunday

When it was time to say goodbye, I felt sad. Not only will I miss the dimsums and the architectural beauties, I will also miss the jokes told to me by the Chinese people, the stories, everything. I just love how I made them laugh and how they made me laugh in return. It's different from the Shanghai experience I was expecting.

Exchange rate: 1 CNY= 6.60 PHP

More blog posts about my Shanghai trip to follow and will link to this post. :)

Shanghai Museum 04052013

In the afternoon of our first day in Shanghai, we trooped to People's Square, intent on visiting the Shanghai Museum. In my research, the museum is one grand place where different sorts of artifacts are put on display. As an archaeologist, my main goal is to familiarize myself with objects from China. I think this will come in handy in excavations where we recover Chinese artifacts. Chinese porcelain still tops the list but occasionally we recover Chinese coins, like the ones we found in Intramuros in 2011.

What makes Shanghai Museum stand out is that entrance is free. (Now who doesn't like that?) The downside though is that one has to endure the long queue outside before one can enter. It is advisable then to go there early. We are still fortunate to have seen all the galleries. Still, it breaks my heart not to have had ice cream there. 

Ming and Qing furnitures made of fine lacquered wood

upper pictures: from Congo River artworks collection
lower pictures: traditional costumes and stamps

Shanghai Museum boasts of permanent exhibits on currencies used in Ancient China as well as those used in Central Asia. Most were donations to the museum by numismatists (coin collectors/ dealers/ scholars... Cool word. I'd like to become one, too). Ancient Chinese seals, furniture, Chinese calligraphy, ethnic minorites' arts and crafts, religious sculptures, and jade artworks--- these will surely take your breath away. The first time I took such pride in being Chinese, in being able to speak Chinese, was during my first trip to China in 2008 where Beijing's museums and grand palaces impressed me so much that from that time forward, I made a resolve to continue with my Chinese studies.

At the time of our visit, Shanghai Museum also exhibited art works from Central Africa. Dubbed "The Congo River, Central African Art", the exhibit puts on display the ritual wares of Congo River. The masks and sculptures, which inspire both relief and fright, trouble and serenity, reflect the ceremonies and rituals in the Congo basin. 

Another thing I love about this institution is that efforts to educate and inform visitors are obvious with the leaflets up for grabs at the entrance to each gallery. The information are never exhaustive but present a concise and brief history as well as a short overview of what the exhibit is about. This, coupled with descriptive plaques near artifacts are very much appreciated. 

Instead of buying accessories for souvenirs, I chose to buy three books published by the museum. One is on ancient Chinese ceramics (30 CNY), another on Chinese coins (25 CNY), and one on Chinese jade (30 CNY). I had wanted to buy one on calligraphy, too, but had to hold back since I had to stick to my budget. Next time I go there again, I'd be sure to buy as many books as I could. 

Century Park, Shanghai (世紀公園) 04052013

Park entrance: 10 CNY

We took the first train trip from the airport and decided to go some place before we check in at our hotel in Pudong area. We initially planned to go to Oriental Pearl TV Tower but noting the proximity of Century Park   to the subway, I suggested that we go there instead. 

It was drizzling when we stepped out of the subway and the morning chill attacked our frail bodies which were still accustomed to the summer heat at home. And we had our bags with us, thus slowing us down. 

Upper left: explains the colors, fragrance, and form of plum flowers as well as how they are represented in art and the best time to view them. Upper right: bonsai plants

Century Park is said to be the largest park in Shanghai and I have cause to believe that. We roamed the park in less than an hour but never got to see the whole place because of the rain. One of my friends, J, was so cold she just stayed at the front office desk, while V and I explored the area. There was many things one can  do here, provided the weather is good. I see the potential of this park as a nice place for long romantic walks. One can also do boating. Since it was raining, the park looked gloomy and it seems like V and I were the only visitors.

The Bund, Shanghai 04052013

After being enthralled and overwhelmed by the number of beautiful artifacts we saw in Shanghai Museum, we had a quick snack to wait until 6pm or so before we proceeded to The Bund. Before our trip, I had been researching on the place and I was expecting many people there since it's part of most (if not all) travel tours in Shanghai.

Samsung Building. I don't know if this is owned by Samsung or Samsung just put an ad on it...

It had begun to rain again. But at least now we were more prepared, having brought out our umbrellas for protection. Walking along East Zhongshan 1st Road and savoring the radiantly splendid architectural works that greet our eyes and which stretch until the end of the long road was a treat in itself, and for free, too. One cannot help but just bring out a camera and take consecutive shots of these Western-style buildings. Architecture students and enthusiasts will definitely love the place.

Pudong as seen from the Bund; note the many people despite the cold rain

We had our short rest at the end of Zhongshan road, in Huangpu Park. I was even more amazed at how the Chinese incorporate nature in its structures. A wall in Huangpu Park is covered with brightly colored flowers, adding up to the gaiety of the place at night.

colorful flowers on the wall and Customs House (right)

Customs House, considered as one of the most popular buildings in the Bund. And no wonder, since it  stands out  being a clock tower.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower as seen from the Bund on a rainy night

Shi Lin 06122013

Another sisterly date was set on Independence Day and after work, we headed to Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo to dine at Shi Lin. Earlier, I had purchased a voucher from Cashcashpinoy and I was determined to gather my sisters with me to claim my noodles and dumplings. But because the mall is far from home, it took us a long time before we finalized the trip.

Initially I thought of having only noodles and dumplings but my sisters wanted to try out other offerings so we had jellyfish as appetizer. It's a good thing my sister's stubbornness prevailed. At first I was against the idea since we often eat jellyfish when we dine a la banquet style in Chinese restaurants. I just love the sauce which is a mix of mild spiciness, sweetness, and sourness.

Jellyfish (P105)

We ordered two noodle types: Spicy sesame with peanut sauce noodles and beef noodles. Both boast of QQ noodles and overwhelming flavors. I initially loved the beef noodle soup but later on, I shunned it for fear of MSG overdose.

Beef noodle soup (P268)

Spicy sesame with peanut sauce noodles (P145)

While in the middle of enjoying the noodles, our dumplings and xiao long bao arrived. We all fell instantly in love with the xiao long bao with the not-so-hot-it-can-scald-your-tongue soup inside. (The last time I had xiaolongbao in Manila I was super disappointed to find it's got no soup inside.) For me, it's best eaten without the sauce. (But that's because I don't like ginger. My sisters both loved these with the sauce.)

xiao long bao (P148/ 6 pcs.)

While we all raved about the wonderful xiaolongbao, we found the mushroom and vegetable dumplings a bit dull. Or maybe it wasn't warm enough when we ate it because we were too busy savoring the xiaolongbao?

mushroom and vegetable dumplings (P158/ 6 pcs)

Will I be back? For the xiaolongbao, without a doubt! Truth be told, I am ambivalent toward Shi Lin Restaurant because they do not have free hot tea. One has to shell out P40 for an unlimited pot of House tea (Taiwan oolong tea) which, by the way, is still worth the price as it is surprisingly aromatic and nice. I must admit that I never wanted to leave the establishment and just wanted to stay there and consume tea after a nice dinner. My sisters had to drag me out of the restaurant and go to the mall's stores to shop.

Big Better Burgers 06092013

It's one of those rare Sundays when the women in my family would go to the mall. I treated my sisters and my mom to Big Better Burgers in SM North EDSA Annex last June 9 and we all agreed that the burgers taste delicious and we all loved the thickly cut fries.

The Hahalapeño burger boasts of a medium rare patty which is obviously thicker than McDonald's more expensive burgers. The patty is juicy and it's devoid of any fancy fillers and such as is common in other burgers.

Hahalapeño burger (P152)

Skin on Fries (P60)

Will I be back? Yes, but it will take a long time since I am not a big fan of greasy foods. I guess one thing I loved about the place is that staff are very approachable and they do their best to please the customers. I love how the staff are so flexible that when they see a customer who needs anything, they are quick to act on it. And I appreciate the fact that they were willing to grant my simple request of hot water.

Mann Hann 05292013

Last May 29, my sisters and I had our sisterly date which we do from time to time provided we all are in the mood to dine out and just spend time together away from home without leaving the city. A few days later they would be going on an out-of-town trip with their college friends and both wanted to buy clothes at Landmark, Trinoma.

While they were shopping, I waited for them at Burger King eating onion rings and reading George R. R. Martin's "A Clash of Kings". When the mall was about to close, we went outside and looked for a place to dine in, and fortunately, Mann Hann was still open.

What we love about Mann Hann is its closeness to home-cooked meals, though evidently with MSG. We love their oyster cake best but when we visited this time, it was not available. 

Green Seafood Soup (P275)

For starters, we had an order of Green Seafood Soup. The vegetable used is polunchay and it's got small tofu cubes. An order is good for 6 persons so we had two bowls each of this wonderful soup.

Mapo Tofu (P190) and Garlic rice (P150)

Next we had garlic rice, mapo tofu, and spicy squid. The garlic rice has just the right amount of saltiness. An order is good for 5-6 persons. Considering we all are big-eaters, we still had a serving left and I took it out for lunch the following day. (It was still delicious after reheating.) The spicy squid is not as spicy as I would have preferred and it's a bit overcooked. Also, I was expecting to have squid rings and not flat slices. I would have loved to feast on squid tentacles and heads. The mapo tofu also is disappointingly not spicy, it's a bit salty. Still the dish stands out because of the nice texture of tofu used.

spicy squid (P270)

Will I come back? The answer will be a resounding YES! Honestly whenever we're stumped as to where to eat we always end up dining here.

Bensetti's Diner 06152013

What was supposed to be a dinner date became a lunch date on such short notice because a friend suddenly has nothing to do in the morning and asked me if we could move our date, and I obliged.

With a Metrodeal voucher in hand, we met up at MRT- Cubao Station and walked all the way to N. Domingo to claim my right to the buffet lunch. I surrendered my voucher to a staff there, who's very likable because she's always smiling. Because my friend just ate a bowl of pho, I was the only one who availed of the buffet.

The spread was not as impressive as in other buffet restaurants but at a discounted price of  P199 from the original P400, I couldn't complain more. Besides, it wasn't that bad. I would even recommend it over Barbara's in Intramuros. It's more of like lutong-bahay with general favorites like pinakbet, kaldereta, chopsuey, sinigang na ulo ng maya, penne in tomato sauce, pancit guisado, and fried bangus belly (which I loved!). One can also opt to have garden salad but I skipped this. Before we left, I was lucky to see the newly arrived fresh lumpiang ubod and happily ate one. 

Ille Adventure 04252013

For six days, I was with archaeo peeps in Palawan, more specifically in El Nido. It was my first ever time to experience camping while undergoing archaeological excavations. (Unfortunately, I came too late and excavations had just finished so all I did was just accession and clean artifacts.)

Away from the usual comforts, camping proved to be a challenge. We would sleep in tents. I shared one with a friend. It was hard not to have water form faucets. Brushing the teeth equally requires extra bit of effort. We were drinking water which tasted funny (tasted like metal but since we were informed it was spring water, we drank anyway). One can not be too self-centered and be choosy because everyone is living in the same way so it helps to keep complaints all to one's self. Compared to previous seasons, nowadays at least people do not have to dig dirt to hide their poop nor do they have to find their own private sanctuary for peeing. At least now they have toilets and bathrooms--- comfort rooms indeed!

On the plus side, I got to take baths with other girls again. Also, it was nice being friends with foreigners. Their adventurous and carefree spirit is such an inspiration. During my stay, I also got to talk to other archaeo peeps whom I never got to talk to before.

My favorite day was April 25 when my friends had their day off and we had a bit of Ille adventure with a local guide so this will be the focus of this blog post. We got up early and got to the top of Ille Rockshelter to witness the majestic sunrise. Mind you, it wasn't an easy climb.

Ille sunrise

We had our quick breakfast and were then on our way to other parts of Ille, with lots of walking and bonding with nature. It was a bit tiring but we shrugged it off, knowing that rewards are great for those in pursuit of adventures. And rewarded we were with a nice cool dip in a small pool beneath the 13th of 14 Waterfalls.

After that, we were toured to other limestone rockshelters. And before we headed back to camp, our dearest guide gave us buko treats! The perfect thirst quencher after a day of much activity.

And that's the reason why April 25 is such a memorable day for me. I got to experience a difficult climb after many years of no mountain climbing activity, leaving me with such sense of accomplishment at the end of a tiring day.

See what else I did in Ille HERE

Palawan Trip 2013

2013 indeed is a good year as once again a dream is realized. I have always wanted to go to Palawan, it being an important center of biodiversity. Any nature-lover would certainly be happy to visit this island, with the clear waters surrounding it which promise great views of the underwater world.

The sun has just gone down when I got out of the airport. I was welcomed by offers from tricylce drivers to drive me to my hotel but I paid no heed to them, which was a good move because walking a bit farther from the airport, I was able to hire a tricycle for a cheaper rate. I asked to be dropped off at Audissie Pension along Malvar Road. Earlier, I had contacted a tour company for my Underground River tour (because I don't want to be hassled by permit requisites) and they offered to book me a room at a cheap hotel. But then I would find out to my horror and dismay that a double room costs P900! (Who needs aircon when you're in Palawan??? I've told them I prefer the cheapest and no aircon.)

I was supposed to hear mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral which is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Unfortunately, my flight to Puerto Princesa was delayed for more than an hour. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RUINING MY PLANS, CEBU PACIFIC!!! So I just took pictures of the church despite the bad lighting, it was already dark when I got there.

After that, I went to the nearby grocery store to buy a gallon of water and a bar of laundry soap. My dinner was a bowl of noodles which I bought in Manila. (Budget is tight due to my consecutive travels so I might as well save money by consuming junk food. I even brought with me a bag of Gardenia wheat bread for my breakfast. Pathetic it is, yes.)

The following day I transferred to Princesa Inn which has way cheaper rates. Day 2 was spent in Ugong Rock and the Underground River. I was kind of disappointed because the Monkey Trail tour is deleted from the itinerary. According to the tour guide, the place if off-limits at that time.

Going back to the inn after the tour, I found my Gardenia bread attacked by unknown creatures. Then, I realized what I paid for back at Audissie Pension. The room I was given has broken screens and some of the wood had been broken. And the toilet only has a curtain as door. Broken-hearted, I walked along Rizal Avenue to look for a cheap place for dinner, and found a small Vietnamese restaurant. I terribly missed pho so I had a bowl (P60) for dinner, and bought a piece of banh mi (P10) for my breakfast the following day. Both the pho and the banh mi here were not as good as the ones I had in the streets of Ho Chih Minh but they did me a lot of good.

Day 3 was spent in Honda Bay. After dinner, I packed my bag and off I went to San Jose bus terminal to take a bus to El Nido. Earlier, I reserved a seat at a RORO bus which would be leaving at 10pm. This is to save money for accommodation. Fare was P483, inclusive of moving accommodation. I was determined to sleep during the ride and greet the dawn in El Nido. But of course, sleeping wasn't that comfortable. I stirred in my sleep whenever the ride got bumpy. 

At 4am the following day, we finally arrived at El Nido. It's a good thing I was with a small group of women who asked the bus driver to allow them to sleep a little more before they head off to the town proper. So I was able to get extra sleep, joining them since I didn't know where to go at that dark hour.

A limestone formation overlooking the bus terminal and the wet market in El Nido

At 6am, I finally decided to take the tricycle to the town proper where I would be waiting for a member of the archaeological fieldwork to pick me up. (Yes, I terribly need the help, being quite unfamiliar with the place and more so on how to get to Ille the cheapest way possible.) We would meet more than an hour later and got a tour of the place. 

Municipal Hall- El Nido

Parish of Saint Francis of Assissi- El Nido

El Nido's beach, with plastic chairs and tables for tourists

We bought some foodstuffs (and I got to experience buying vegetables and the likes at the wet market) before we boarded the jeepney to Ille. We had to wait for a looong time before the jeep departed and it was very hot and crowded inside that I fell asleep to escape from the uncomfortable situation. 

For six days, I stayed at Ille. On my first day, I was introduced by my friend to the different archaeological sites, all near the camp. On my second day (April 25), we climbed the Ille Rockshelter which is just a couple of minutes' walk from the camp, the nearest site. We also went to the so-called 14 Waterfalls, took a refreshing dip in the cool waters and spent half of the afternoon there. On my third and fourth day, I helped with the accessioning and cleaning of shells. They recovered LOTS of shells, bivalves and univalves alike and these require cleaning. It was tiring but it's the least I could do since I came too late to excavate. On the night of the 27th, we had a party thrown for the locals. It was very awkward for me since I never go to parties where dancing and booze play a big part. Anyhow, it was wonderful to see everyone having fun, though I got tired easily.

On April 28, we spent the whole day packing everything for shipment to Manila. April 29 was spent in Calitang where we enjoyed the very nice beach there sans tourist overload. In Calitang, my fingers got burning sensation after removing the seeds of green chilies. I never knew it would get to this. It was awful but at nighttime the burn has mellowed down. At 8pm, I left Calitang by tricycle. It took us approximately an hour to get to the bus terminal in El Nido town and fare was P500.

Calitang beach

Calitang sunset

For the second time, I slept inside the bus as we traveled back to Puerto Princesa. I was with a fellow archaeologist. We waited at the terminal until daylight then we walked to the main road. We had breakfast buffet (P189 including taxes and surcharges) somewhere in front of Robinsons Palawan. I only liked the fish fillet and it was gone too soon. After that, no more refill of fish fillet, much to my dismay.

I was almost late for check in. I took the multicab from the highway to the town proper and alighted at the intersection, determined to walk all the way to the airport, which is around half a kilometer. That, considering my backpack weighed more than 11kg. It's still a miracle I didn't collapse from the summer heat. And damn, I was forced to have my backpack checked in because they found out it exceeded the maximum weight for hand carry. I was forced to shell out P560 which hurt a lot. DAMMIT!!! And as expected, my flight was delayed. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, CEBU PACIFIC!

Choujin Sentai Jetman (Part 2 of Review)

So I finally finished watching the whole 51 episodes of Jetman, something I wasn't able to do way back when the series was aired on Solar Channel. My initial review of Jetman includes the lighter episodes: the team fights against monsters who wreak havoc in the human world. The latter episodes on the other hand, bridges the gap between the team members' private lives and their mission in securing world peace.

There's the ill-fated love between Aoi Rie (a.k.a. Maria, the only lady in the enemy camp) and Tendo Ryu (Red Hawk), leader of the Jetman. In episode 32, Ryu finally discovers Maria's former identity and subsequent episodes saw him mulling over the past and even imagining that Rie is still with him. Because of this, Yuuki Gai (Black Condor) emerges as one of the best sidekicks. He takes in charge while Ryu tries to confront reality. Up to the end, Ryu never gives up and tries very hard in helping Rie go back to normal. And when Rie finally dies in episode 49, we see a crying Red Hawk bent on pursuing vengeance. At this point, it is Kaori's turn to shine as she reminds Ryu of Rie's final wish, to save the earth from the Vyram. (Kaori's role in this is important as she helps fill the vacuum Rie left when she died.)

To say that Jetman is the darkest of the sentai series of the 90s is an understatement. It is only in Chojin Sentai Jetman that one gets disturbed, not only with how twisted and cruel the antagonists are, but also by how indifferent people can be. Both antagonists and the people the Jetman sought to protect are guilty of unleashing horrors. If there's one episode that scares me, it would have to be episode 36 wherein Tranza's Ant Monster turns people into zombies. It feels like watching a horror movie, and I don't even watch horror films!

What I do appreciate in the series is the continuous improvement of the team's weapons and robots. Tetra Boy was invented and not long after, Garuda which was first manned by Chief Aya herself in episode 43 as the background music plays the Garuda theme. Aside from this, the antagonists also are a bit complex, and boasts of being some of the cruelest villains. Tran grows up overnight after a humiliating defeat and becomes Emperor Tranza, for a time the leader of the Vyram Elite, until he was defeated by the cunning Radiguet in episode 47. Radiguet is willing to create alliances when needed but can also easily discard those he have finally no use of. He even promises Maria increased powers but the hidden price is to be able to control her. Maria on the other hand, is proud and her thirst for power ultimately led to her downfall. She redeemed herself in the end though by stabbing Radiguet at the back and the wound inflicted became Radiguet's weakness during the final battle. Of the Vyram Elite, the most human-like would have to be Gray, that music-and-wine-loving robot who often rescues Maria from harm. It is ironic that a robotic creature is the one who exhibits humane traits and can be said as noble. One cannot help but like him as he pleads the Jetmen to help Maria go back to her human form.

For these reasons, Chojin Sentai Jetman easily is my favorite sentai series. Except that I cannot accept the ending where my favorite character, Gai, dies from a stab by a thief. What an awful ending for someone who served well for the sake of the world. 

Ugong Rock and Underground River, Palawan 04222013

Day 1 of my Palawan trip was spent in Ugong Rock, and the famed Subterranean River Park. Earlier, I had booked a tour of the Underground river (P1500) since I don't want to ruin my vacation worrying about the permit to enter the park.

The guide first took us to Ugong Rock where I had my fun climbing the limestone formations. There's part in the climb where you will need ropes for ascending, which for me is the most fun part, since I terribly miss rappelling. When you get to the top, you have a choice, either to go down the say way you went up OR you do so by zipline. Of course, I chose the second. It was my FIRST EVER ZIPLINE EXPERIENCE and it was FUN! You see greens flashing before your eyes for some 21 seconds. And after that, you'll want more. The hard part is letting go at first. My knees wobbled at the start. (Yes, I'm acrophobic... a bit!)

Ugong Rock

On the way to the Undergroung River Park, we stopped by the majestic Elephant Limestone Formation for some picture-taking.

Elephant Limestone Formation

Then off to some place where we had a wonderful buffet lunch before we took a ferry ride to the park.

komodo dragon vs. moneky

After waiting for our turn for what seemed like an hour (you'll find interesting things to do while waiting so don't worry), the 45-minute tour started. We're lucky to have a very funny guy who pointed out the cool formations inside the cave with his witty and humorous comments. By all means, bring your own flashlight, just in case the one holding the torch lamp is an unreliable fellow.

Honda Bay and Chinese Temple, Palawan 04232013

Day 2 of my Palawan 2013 trip was spent mostly in Honda Bay. Taking the multicab from Puerto Princesa proper to St. Lourdes (with a sign saying "Honda Bay"), we were dropped off near the tourism office.

Below are the costs one needs to take note of:

snorkeling gear P100

water shoes (optional) P100

boat rental (for 6 pax) P1300

Luli Island P60

Pambato Reef P50

Starfish Island P50

Pandan Island P150

Cowrie Island P75

Our first stop was Luli Island, a very small private island with houses on stilts. Its name is short for Lulubog-Lilitaw, due to its visibility depending on the tides. Lubog is to be submerged and litaw is to surface. One can spend some time snorkeling and swimming with little fishes here.

Luli Island

Next stop was Pambato Reef but I don't have pictures since my camera isn't waterproof. Our guide has a big doughnut-shaped floater which we must hang onto. (However, for those who know how to swim, they may not cling to the floater.) The guide will pull the floater and you will see the different colored corals under the sea. Very breathtaking! It's such a pity I don't have a waterproof camera (sulks again). Still the experience was very nice. I suggest that you don't skip Pambato Reef.

We skipped Starfish Island and proceeded to Pandan Island where food can be bought. It is also said to be the most complete island as it has shower areas, too. Don't be surprised if the water is a bit salty.

We had lunch in Pandan Island. The bilao we ordered consists of chicken, tilapia, grilled squid (my favorite), and pork. A filling lunch, and delicious at that! (And as I write I drool at the memory of the squid. YUM!)

At Pandan Island

The last island is Cowrie Island which we didn't bother to visit since our guide told us that it's just a place where people bathe after hopping from one island to the other.

Cowrie Island

After the Honda Bay tour, I took a quick bath at the Tourism Office. On the way to the multi-cab terminal, I took a walk and snapped photos of Saint Andrew's Church and a Buddhist Temple. I went inside the temple and burned some incense. Noting the quietness of the area, I asked the guard where the monks are and he replied that there is only one monk who resides in the temple. He must be awfully lonely, I thought, to live in such a huge place. At the back of my mind, I thought, I probably will choose to live thus, once I tire of the endless chaos in the cities.

Had dinner at Metro Silog in Puerto Princesa. I had squid sisig and it was wonderful. It was my first time to eat sisig and I have to make sure it's not pork!

Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World (Dennis Ross)

The first time I laid eyes on Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World, I rolled my eyes and thought, another one of those bullshit books about America as savior of the world! Really! It's bad enough that Marvel Comics created Captain America, that character hero of the World War. I hadn't thought of buying the book at first but curiosity got the better of me. I randomly leafed through a few pages, just to see if there's something worth my while in it and when I saw sections on the discussion of statecraft, I was sold.

Statecraft, as defined by US diplomat Dennis Ross (also author of the book), is the "use of the assets or the resources and tools (economic, military, intelligence, media) that a state has to pursue its interests and to affect the behavior of others, whether friendly or hostile (p.2)." As such, it "involves making sound assessments and understanding where and on what issues the state is being challenged and can counter a threat or create a potential opportunity or take advantage of one  (p.2)."

With the definition established, Ross gathers cases wherein statecraft is practiced, both successfully and unsuccessfully. Starting with the German Uuification in NATO to the Serbian conflict and to the political chaos in the Middle East, Ross examines and evaluates how America positions itself in each case while inserting short discussions of two important tools in statecraft: negotiation and mediation. From the cases stated, he offers examples of both good and bad examples of statecraft practice.

Ross concludes with how America can deal with China whose booming economy is causing it to rise as a major global power. He reiterates and emphasizes again the basics of statecraft: clear objectives tied to reality, clear and realistic means to achieve the objectives, recognizing key points of leverage, and timely consulting with key persons involved.

While this book focuses more on state-level cases, I think an average person would appreciate this book as it can also serve as a guide to negotiations and dealings in life. (Aside from that, it also allows readers to have glimpses of what diplomats really do and how they do their job.) Still, I am not sold to the idea that America is the hope of the world. Methinks it is the scourge of the world.

May 2013

May this year has been a mixture of many things. Following April spent mostly away from home, May saw my life going back to normal, meaning that I follow the work-home and occasional work-home-gimmick routine again.

The day I got back from Palawan on the last day of April, our team lead announced that on that coming Friday, we'd be heading off to Tali Beach for our team outing. I was aghast, feeling that a war might ensue between me and my parents as they have a tendency to get mad when I tell them I'd be travelling away from home. But realizing that controlling me is impossible now, I went on ahead even while suffering from LBM.

I joined our company's sportsfest, signing up in the bowling tournament. I'm no bowler, I very rarely go to the bowling alley but I wanted to try it again and the rest is history. I luckily landed in the finals, having passed the elimination round. But I brought shame to myself when I ended up the weakest link in my team. Oh well, at least I had fun.

I finally finished season 1 of Game of Thrones. It's one of those few TV series that got me really hooked I always end up doing a marathon. Before May ended, I got my hands on season 2.

Dates with close friends kept me sane again. My archaeo friends and I met in our usual date place and watched Star Trek Into Darkness. I am no Star Trek fan, am not even familiar with the storyline, though I do read about it a lot, and I know that its popular character is Dr. Spock who's got a funny hairstyle. Unfortunately I was so tired after a day's work that I fell asleep. I felt like I threw money into the garbage can afterwards.

My other dates are happily spent in Maginhawa and Greenhills Town Center where food are not as expensive. As seems to be a monthly habit, I found myself in another formal dinner this month with a friend ar Ilustrado in Intramuros. It was raining then, which I consider bad luck. I don't go to Intramuros when it rains. I was traumatized once at having had to seek shelter in NCCA Gallery because suddenly the streets were flooded following a downpour which didn't even last an hour.

I'm back to reading again. It probably must be the weather which has become a bit kinder with cool winds at night, setting the mood for continuous reading again. And I've drawn another list of books I will read for the coming cold months. (And looking forward to free some space for new books...)

That, and I'm proud to say that this month has been quite productive when it comes to blogging. I finally finished blogging about my whole Ho Chih Minh trip. Still have lots more to write about (Shanghai and Palawan). Since I'm not travelling any time soon, I'm expecting myself to at least finish writing about my Palawan experience. As of writing I have edited pictures I will be needing for my two blog posts.

Some Thoughts on "A Game of Thrones"

WARNING: This may contain spoilers. Don't say I didn't warn you.

So I finally finished reading George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones. I have to admit that I was at first hesitant to read it, fearing another Twlight-like hype which would turn out to be utterly disappointing. And because HBO created TV series based on Martin's works, I told myself that I'd watch the series first and if I liked it, I would read the book, too.

And because I was instantly a fan of the series after watching the pilot episode, I saw myself fishing for a free e-book. (I cannot buy more books at present given that I still have MANY I have yet to read and storage is becoming a problem.) My wish was granted and every time I'm free, I read. I find it an easy read, compared to other fantasy genre books I grew up with. Aside from that, one difference is that Martin's books has sex in it, but not as graphic as to be labelled as pornographic. (The only fantasy book where I encountered sex would probably be Thomas the Covenant by Donaldson.)

Game of Thrones Season 1 is happily faithful to the original. I could easily recall the scenes in the series while reading the book. No wonder the first season has gained a lot of fans, fans who probably first read the book before watching the series. But the one thing that the book has advantage over the series is that in the book, we see that the novel as a whole is composed of stories from different characters' point of view. As such, we are invited to each character's thoughts and feelings. The fears of a young widow who had briefly enjoyed a blissful marriage with a powerful lord, the feeling of belonging to nowhere from a young bastard, the contempt of a man who has to live with physical deformity, etc. It is hard not to like many characters for in one way or the other we can relate to them through their hardships. Another brilliance I see in Martin's work is that each character has a certain dynamism to him/ her that it will leave you guessing how far a character will retain his/ her admirable traits. 

And with the number of characters, it is indeed hard to see who really is the main hero, if ever there is a main hero at all. Yours truly has read but one of the five books so I do not have the authority to comment about the book yet. But based on the title of the series A Song of Ice and Fire, I will have to guess that at least two of my favorite characters are central to the whole story: Jon Snow (Ice) and Daenerys Targaryen (Fire). (Of course I might be mistaken. And yes, I fight every urge to google anything about GoT because as advised by my friends who were already established fans even before I watched the series, the internet is full of spoilers. So I try to avoid them like the plague.)

Moreover, these two characters started out as underdogs. Snow is the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, often ridiculed by people and given the cold shoulder by Catelyn Tully, the legitimate wife of Lord Eddard. Dany, on the other hand, was first portrayed as meek and wholly obedient to her vicious brother Viserys but gradually transforms into a strong woman as she experiences many difficulties. In addition, the desires of both remain to be fulfilled. Among the principal characters, these two have the most ambitious desires. Snow dreams of holding his father's sword Ice one day, but he has five half-siblings before him. Dany dreams of reclaiming the Iron Throne which she thinks should be hers by right, as a Targaryen. How can she do it when her husband has passed away and her army is but just a group of a few weak people and her dragons still weak and small? She has to survive through the ordeals first and patently wait for the day her dragons become powerful enough to fight her battles.

Other characters of interest are Arya Stark, daughter of Eddard and Catelyn, half-sibling to Jon Snow, and Tyrion Lannister, a dwarfish man who fights with his wits. A tomboy, she is very different from her elder sister Sansa who always tries to be prim and proper. At the end of the book and the series, she witnesses her father being beheaded in public and is carried off by a familiar friend who will take her to Winterfell. I eagerly anticipate her reunion with her pet wolf Nymeria. (Yes I firmly believe their parting is temporary.) Tyrion, always ridiculed because of his deformity, is born to the scheming and power-hungry House Lannister. Despite this, he seems to be the only Lannister who is thoughtful of others. For that, it makes one wonder whose side he really is on.

There's a whole lot more to be written about Martin's works and I expect myself to read the other books as well. (I just hope he doesn't kill off my favorite characters. I fear he has a tendency to decide that a supposedly major character must die, as what he did to Eddard Stark. And watching the series, I was kinda hoping that something divine and supernatural would intervene but then off his head gets chopped and for a moment I felt as though I lost all my strength, like Sansa and Arya. This made me believe that anybody can get killed, that this is an unusual work where honorably good men die.) As of writing, I am already on episode 5 of the TV series' season 2. Season 2 is very different in that suddenly empowered female characters are emerging one by one.