Cheers to the year past and to the new one. I celebrate the past 3 decades of this sweet, gloriously complex but amazingly wonderful gift of life. I celebrate every minute after and those still to come.

I wish that 2010 will bring me all that I desire and more. Let fate deal a kinder hand and allow me to fall in love again. Not that I’m anything but short of wanting, though I feel that I am, it’s just that I reckon love makes it more interestingly colourful. Life has more sense if love is present. Never mind the subtle irony nor the imminent pain.

I plan to savour every feeling brought about by the falling. Even when it simply is but a shadow of the real thing. Let pain prove me fragile and love, humble.

Trivia: Photo taken in Lusso, Greenbelt 5, Philippines; December 2009.

Explore:

• The Pursuit of Love
• Anonymity and an open letter

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

When I was a kid, I’ve always thought that coffee is a “grown up” drink. Oftentimes, my parents will ask me to make them a cup as they’re pretty big drinkers, saying that I make it so well. Confused cuz I haven’t really started drinking it yet but being the gullible person that I am, I believed them with all my heart. I still do. I’m not certain but I think this contributed to why I drink coffee now. I know my other siblings drink it, too, but I reckon they don’t drink it as often as I do.

I used to take this affinity to coffee for granted but now I’m starting to see it in a different light. It’s something I share with my parents. It’s something that connects us. It’s something that I know I’ll remember them by. With every cup comes a happy memory of my dad asking me to make him a cup; a memory of two people spending time together over coffee that I made.

My coffee breaks will never be the same from now on.

Trivia: 1st photo was taken in N°5 Cafe in Handorf, South Australia, December 2008; 2nd photo was taken in a cafe off Victor Harbour, South Australia, January 2009; 3rd photo was taken in CIBO Al Fresco in Rundle Mall, South Australia, December 2008.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Favourite meal of the day — Breakfast.

Particular with what’s served. From bacon strips to french toasts. Poached egg to an omelette. Pancakes and waffles, smothered with butter and maple syrup. Fresh orange juice, coffee or english tea. I want my meal to be especially cooked for that time of the day.

Judged by my weight and frame, one would think I’m not a lover of food nor a big eater. But I am. Guilty on both counts. However, I do suffer tendencies to nitpick. Somewhat seeking perfection or familiarity in taste and scent. Presentation counts. Timing matters.

That’s probably why I’ve learned to value my meals in the morning. At home or some resto, as long as they can serve the right plate to suit my taste buds at that specific time of day. They’ve become a source of comfort and satisfaction.

Mornings are great cuz I’m almost always in my best mood. It’s before all the day’s stresses arrive. I love the idea that I have at least half an hour at every start of the day to enjoy my food and look forward to new opportunities, seemingly oblivious to work issues and the rest of life’s realities.

Breakfast. Partiality due not only on the delightful gastronomical experience but also on the spiritual.

Trivia: (Top) Breakfast meal at Milwaukee in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; February 2008. (Bottom) French Toast at Breakfast at Antonio’s in Tagaytay, Philippines; April 2007.

Explore:

• The beauty of being empty
• Anonymity and an open letter

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Best viewed at 500.

Are there still people who do it? Make a heart-felt wish before blowing the candle out? Interesting thought.

I often would casually utter wishes as I go through my days without thinking whether I really want them or they’re just passing fancies. But I guess the real ones stick, yea?

I had wished for one thing during the past couple of months. It’s that when I hold my camera again, I’ll be creating different photographs. They’d look new — better, somehow.

I think I got my wish.

I still can’t put my finger on it but something’s different in my photos.

I’m happy.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There is something about salads that automatically makes you think of “good health”. Is it because we were taught that vegetables are healthy? I reckon it is. It’s quite ironic, however, when some people associate eating salads to weight loss diets; often perceived negatively, at that.

Food is something I’m not overly attached to but am challenged to photograph. Taking photos of food is not as easy as it looks.

Salads are great practice esp since they offer colours and textures that I’m so interested to capture. I’m working on capturing its essense of being a symbol of a healthy eating habit. I want others to see its freshness; look at it and be able to almost taste it. Do I make sense?

Who knows? Maybe one day, I’d grow a good collection of food photos to show as proof that I’ve also gained a healthy appetite.

Trivia: Photo taken of a salad from Délifrance; February 2008. Also seen here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

“What if it’s too dark?”

“This is not something I’m used to.”

“That’s interesting?”

“What can I possibly do with that?”

Stretch your imagination. Believe in the impossible.

Use the darkness to set the mood. Adjust and reconcile. Find the light and work with it. Sometimes, it’ll make more sense when you get to the point when you’re looking at the bigger picture. Learn to make do with what you have, no matter how little they seem.

Life will surprise you with a splendour you will never even dare imagine nor expect. Just keep believing.

Trivia: Photo taken at Plato Platino; also used here. While writing this post, something my mum liked saying came to mind, “Kung maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.” (direct translation: ‘learn to curl up under a small blanket’; meaning: ‘learn to make do with what you have’). I reckon it fits perfectly.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There are a million things I can think of that I can be thankful for. A million different ways how I’ve tasted the sweetness of life. It can be likened to the melt-in-your-mouth experience with every bite of a creamy flan. You’d wish it would last longer. I guess that adds to its allure. The constant change makes every experience sweet or, perhaps, bittersweet.

For now, I can only aspire for a full, rich life in every sense. Always keeping in mind that regardless of where I’m coming from, where I am, or where I’m going, life will forever be sweet.

Explore:

• The beauty of being empty
• The Pursuit of Love
• Anonymity and an open letter

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.