Valentine's Day 2009

I came home from work two Friday's ago and found a lovely surprise on the coffee table :)

And, hand-dipped chocolate strawberries from Edible Arrangements :)))

THANK YOU Adrian for being such a thoughtful and wonderful husband. Te quiero con todo mi corazón!

Happy Birthday Mr. President

G.S. Williamstown's portrait of George Washington taken from the web

G.W. would be 277 years old if he was alive today. This weekend, there were celebrations all over N.J. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative. It started raining around 11 a.m. and was drizzling on and off the entire afternoon.

Here are some photos taken at Dey Mansion in conjunction of G.W.'s birthday. I hope you'll find them enjoyable as we had taking them :)

What went on indoors...

Cooking inside the "Militia Office"

Crafts inside Dey Mansion

Period musicians in Dey Mansion

Some outdoor action...

Militias engaging in guerilla warfare

Advancing their attack on the Red Coats

Red Coats firing shots at the Militias

Another Militia

Honoring G.W. with a gun salute. Hip, Hip, Huzzah!

Curtain call from the re-enactors

A traveling merchant and his wares. Say what's in the cart?

Well, a bit of this and that. Stuff soldiers would buy like spoons, fur hats, blankets, etc.

Arthur's Landing - A Eulogy of Some Sort...


I've been telling my better half for the past 2 years that I would like to have dinner at Arthur's Landing in Weehawken, N.J. Why? (1) They have a magnificent view of the Manhattan skyline, and (2) Adrian had raved about the duck he ate at a corporate event he attended there.

Not long after we came back from our vacation in Malaysia, we went to Arthur's for an early anniversary dinner. It was a quiet Sunday night. The moon was full and bright, but the weather outside was frightfully frigid. We were seated at a nice table right by the window. I ordered the seafood bouillabaisse, while Adrian had canard (what else?!)

Atlantic Seafood Bouillabaisse, pour moi!

Adrian's main - duck...., I forgot the name of the dish

Our shared dessert, chocolate banana dome served with ice-cream

I'm really glad that we finally made the effort to dine at Arthur's Landing. Not long after U.S. Airways Flight 1549 made the miraculous water landing right by the restaurant's deck, it closed its doors for good. I read that the restaurant's staff served passengers with warm soup and coffee, and provided dry clothes from the Chef's closet.

I'm sure the City of Weehawken regrets loosing such a fine restaurant. Seems like the economic and financial crisis has spilled over to every faucet of our lives. The restaurant's Chairman posted this message on their website.

Year of the Ox

"Gong Xi Fa Cai, Nien Nien Yu Yi!"

Fairy Cave, Bau


The Monsoon = rainy season is not an ideal time to go caving but this is an interesting limestone cave that Adrian photographed during our recent trip home. Fairy Cave is situated north of Bau in Sarawak. It was the center of the 19th Century gold rush and site of a bloody rebellion between Chinese and British rulers back in the days.

Fairy Cave has very unusual stalagmites and stalactites formations, thanks to the humid weather condition. Most caves in Malaysia date back to the Stone Age but some caves in my hometown are believed to be over 60 millions years old!

Why is it called Fairy Cave? Well, nobody could tell me why but my internet research revealed that the deity like stalagmites and stalactites attracted many Chinese Buddhist and Taoist devotees to the cave. This could be the reason for its name.

Get ready for photos galore!

Limestone formations in Fairy Cave

Stalactites

Looking out from inside the Cave

Platform and walkways

Going deeper into the limestone crevasses

Where stalagmites and stalactites meet

The little lighted hole at the bottom is the entrance. Hello!!! Echo!!!

Rock or cave climbing anyone?

He's actually quite high up come to think of it. Argh! Scary.

Bruno & Lizzie - two years later

Figo's empty sleeping quarters in my home was a sad reminder of how we lost him earlier last year. My Mom & Dad misses him very much. The ever loyal "son" who would follow his every step around the house and garden. But, life goes on and soon enough, Bruno established himself as the dominant male Dachshund in my parents' household :)

Like clock-work, Bruno and his sister, Lizzie would wake my parents up early in the morning and go to bed at 9 p.m. sharp. And, no, they do not need a clock to tell time. Wonderful isn't it? Of course, there is the occasional rat catching session that might allow them to be out for an extra hour or so.

Bruno's unmistakable style - paw up!

Lizzie's demure style

They love fresh, young coconut flesh from my garden

Bruno going at it

Lizzie's turn

Better than a coconut scrapper?