Hearing Wellington's "Soul"

Wellington is not just only "back to business" after the earthquake (according to the very lame, capitalist headline of their city newspaper, Dominion Post) - its "soul" is alive once again.

 

Considered to be the "soul" of Wellington's Central Business District (CBD), Cuba Street is one of Wellington City's four prominent streets - with Lambton Quay, Willis and Courtenay Place as the other three. The first two are more into businesses and high-end shops while the latter is the city's entertainment center.

 

You know you're in Cuba Street: the iconic "Bucket Fountain"

  

Cuba Street used to be tram routes. But it has since then developed a life of its own, forcing local authorities to close the street, remove the railways, and turn this into the busiest, if not the most exciting, pedestrian life in Wellington.

 

How pedestrian could it get? Chess on the street!

 

Now, Cuba Street is known for its bohemian and eclectic shops, cafes, small fashion stores, art galleries, and music shops. It offers an alternative to the jaded, First-World city life of Wellington.

 

Keeping warm in one of my favorite coffee shops.

  

Passing through this exotic road on a Friday afternoon, I was taken into a musical treat of relatively young and vibrant group of buskers. I just like how they just let loose and allow their entire being to be taken over by their wonderful music. Their free spirits are contagious!

  

Made me feel like it's almost Christmas here, really. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Aftershock(ed).

I come from a country that is visited by typhoons so often that they are named alphabetically to indicate how many had come and gone and where floods can rise so high it can wipe off an entire suburb. I also had already been through the wildest winter storm Wellington City had in the past 36 years so fierce I was stranded in the university and was forced to walk home at 2:00 in the morning, braving a 0 degree-Celsius temperature.

So I thought I was already toughened up when natural disasters strike - until a 6.5 magnitude earthquake rocked Wellington's Central Business District (CBD) yesterday at 5PM. Although I was not hurt and there were no major damages from our apartment, that got me shaking until I can no longer distinguish my own body's tremors and those of the aftershocks.

Wellington CBD after the quake: Fragile and dangerous.
(Photo by Ryan Curran, from his Facebook account). 

I guess this fear comes out of a feeling of helplessness and lack of sense of control over things. While the entire building where I live was swaying, all I can do was wait under my table, where I took refuge. I wanted to get out and run away from the city as far as possible but I cannot do anything.

Unlikely refuge: This is where I took cover during the earthquake.

So as tremors were becoming weaker and less frequent this morning, I took that as a vantage period - a window of opportunity - to be back in control.

Got my "emergency kit"sorted out. I think all people in any part of the globe should have one. Upon coming here in New Zealand, we were encouraged to prepare an "emergency kit" so we could be prepared when natural disasters strike. This kit includes water (at least three liters), food (canned, tinned, dried - for at least three days), essential medications, warm clothes, toilet paper, rubbish bags, torch/flashlight, batteries, and first aid kit. It would also be good to have a can opener or a Swiss knife (although I have yet to get one).

Life in a bag: Having something to "grab 'n go"
lessens the anxiety of what to do next.

Downloaded an app that monitors earthquakes. Knowledge is power. It is always best to be informed. Good thing New Zealand has its own website, which can also be downloaded as an app, that monitors geological hazards in the country. This is called GeoNet. It gives you real-time details of the intensity, magnitude, depth, and location of the quakes. New Zealand is a network of many major fault lines. Earthquakes happen here everyday, mostly unnoticeable though.

Quake App: The two icons on the upper-left part of the screen indicates
that there have been two earthquakes near the city as of that time. 

UPDATED: I forgot to say that you are able to adjust the setting of the quake alerts that you want to be alerted of (say, what minimum level of intensity you are keen to be aware of). You don't want GeoNet icons popping out almost every minute on your phone screen.

Talked to folks at home. While I truly appreciate being checked on by quite a lot of good friends here in Wellington, including the Philippine Ambassador herself, nothing beats having familiar and familial faces (and smiles) to assure you that everything's fine. Being 8,000 miles away from home in an extremely dangerous situation like this can really be traumatizing.

Nanay and Tatay: "What's important is that your brain
didn't get some serious shaking!" :)

Played Christmas songs. Oh yes, there's really something about Christmas that keeps my hopes alive. Almost cried upon hearing Whitney Houston's version of "First Noel" when I played it this afternoon. I am really looking forward to celebrate Christmas meaningfully after these unforgettable experiences!

Ate and dined out. Boy, I really ate few hours after that quake! Stress levels were all-time high and my energy was wasted. It was also good that the dinner hosted by our apartment manager (and was scheduled tonight) pushed through. It was therapeutic to talk with people who live in the same building with you (some were even few floors up) and experienced the same scary situation as you did.

Yes. This was how we coped with the earthquake.

Despite the earthquake, it's reassuring that there are still some establishments that opened and tried to normalize the city's operations again. Most buildings, offices, even universities, were closed today due to city-wide inspection.

Quake note: From the coffee shop just beside our building.

Blocked: We had to do some rerouting on our way to the dinner.

Thanked the God who is in control. Above all, I am thankful at how these entire drama reminded me of the most important things in life. I was looking at all my stuff in my room as they swayed and realized that I can actually survive with just those few items in one backpack! When you are in this city, you will really be tempted to buy and buy and buy a lot of things, which you don't really need. When calamities strike, you wouldn't be able to bring them all anyway. So make sure that what you have are only the essentials - enough for you to live and be productive.

It also goes without saying that you just saw a list of the things that truly matter to me: my family, getting informed and learning new things (and alright, my cell phone), music, food, and just having some good time talking with old and new friends.

Guess being "aftershocked" is not that scary at all. If anything, it was enlightening.

Keep calm and stay alert, everyone!

Auckland City: Where Volcanoes are Tourist Destinations

In visiting big cities, 360-degree views would be the best way for one to make the most out of tall buildings, busy traffic, and bustling urban life. Fortunately for Auckland City, it has 48 volcanoes, all within about 20 kilometers away from the city center.

While I totally enjoyed my visit up the man-made Sky Tower, nothing beats the nature's heights and the natural high it brings when we drove up three volcanoes in Auckland City. Besides, it's cheap. I paid NZD20 for Sky Tower. I didn't pay anything when I went up these volcanic heights:

MT. EDEN
I placed Mt. Eden (Maungawhau) on top of my list because it is the highest volcano in Auckland at 196 meters. What I truly love about this volcano is its flawless bowl-like crater, which is 50 meters deep. It last erupted 15,000 years ago and within a long time, grass grew on it, giving its crater a velvety feel.

Looks like a gigantic version of the University of the Philippines' Sunken Garden.

The slopes of Mt. Eden were used to be densely populated by Maori and the crater was known as the food bowl of Mataoho. One can get to Mt. Eden by car or by bus from the city center. There's a bus stop near the foot of the mountain and one can climb up to the summit, which is just around 2 kilometers.

ONE TREE HILL
It's easy to spot One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) because of its distinctive obelisk smacked right into its summit. One Tree Hill is the second largest volcano after Rangitoto, at 183 meters high. It has three craters.

The Maori name Maungakiekie literally means mountain of the kiekie, a type of vine. The European name was given by Sir John Logan Campbell, whose remains are buried alongside the obelisk, after a lone tree that stood on its summit. Since then, the tree has become a political symbol, an object of protest attacks until it was felled in 2001 for safety reasons. Logically, One Tree Hill is a pre-European Maori fortification and may be the largest earth fort in the world.

One Tree Hill is 8.2 kilometers or 13-minute drive from downtown Auckland.

The natural terrains of this volcanic cone is an ideal fortification.

MT. WELLINGTON
This wasn't really part of my itinerary but since my cousin lives in the suburb of Mt. Wellington, we went for a quick tramping before dinner.

Sunset at Mt. Wellington :)

It would be useful to know that the volcanoes of Auckland were important sites of Maori settlements. Aside from being an ideal fortress, these mountains can be ringed with terraces of housing, storage pits, and large gardens on a fertile, volcanic soil. Meanwhile, European settlers took advantage of the volcanoes' warm slopes for housing. They quarried  volcanic metals for buildings, walls, railways, and roads.

The crater of Mt. Wellington is right there at the bottom, middle part of the ridges.

It would equally be good to know that Mt. Wellington is not expected to erupt again. It now serves as a park. It has picnic benches around and a vast field where children can run around. I even saw someone flying a kite on that windy day.

Now, what's for dinner? :)


Sources:
http://www.aucklandnz.com/destinations/mount-eden
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/auckland-places/page-19

Best Ice Cream in New Zealand!

 

I think I have finally discovered the best ice cream (both in taste and value for money) in New Zealand!

Known for its fresh milk, New Zealand naturally has some of the most delicious ice cream in the world. From the gourmet Kaffee Eis and Kapiti Ice Cream to the commercial Tiptop, this dairy country has produced excellent local ice cream brands that never failed to satisfy your cravings for a creamy, cold dessert.

However, just when I thought I had tasted the best, I was surprised to discover that there is even a better-tasting ice cream in New Zealand!

Since I am based in Wellington, I had only tried those ice cream brands that I just mentioned. But, when I came to Auckland, specifically in Mission Bay, I suddenly found myself savoring the finest frozen treat (even in winter): the Rush Munro's 100% Natural New Zealand Ice Cream!

They're selling some in Mission Bay, Auckland. (Photo by Kristine Fabellar)

Rush Monro's promised an all-natural, no preservatives ice cream, which was done in an old-fashioned way since 1926. And, it delivered!

I got a feijoa-flavored ice cream and I was mentally preparing my tongue to taste that stingy citrus flavor in the ice cream, just like how some ice cream brands would do their fruit-based products. But I was really amazed when I tasted a very creamy, rich ice cream yet still retaining that captivating and unique flavor of feijoas!

Feijoa, boysenberry and cookies and cream.
(Photo by Kristine Fabellar)

What made this deliciously delightful discovery extra special is that we had Rush Monro's at the Mecca Stonehouse. This restaurant was awarded the "Best Auckland Cafe" in 2002 and voted as the "Most Favorite Place to Go" by New Zealand Herald Readers.

And it is not hard to tell why. The Mecca Stonehouse is inside an 1859 Anglican Mission House overlooking the beach in Mission Bay, Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto Island.

The place itself is inviting. This stone house made us curious so we went in.

The restaurant has an extension, which is an open deck cafe, with a sail-like canopy and cozy basalt fireplace. That's where we enjoyed our ice cream.

Real fireplace! :)
(Photo by Kristine Fabellar)



Eating ice cream at the canopy with the sun all up at a fine winter day.
(Photo by Kristine Fabellar)

The main entrance is equally enchanting. The location, the stone materials from which the house was built, the wilting trees around it, the brick chimney are reasons why Mission Bay is one of my most favorite places to go to in Auckland.

The main entrance of Mecca Stonehouse. (We went through the backyard. Haha.)

Just captivating. :)

And oh, one scoop of this heavenly ice cream is only NZD 5.00! Two scoops, NZD 7.00.

I had one scoop because it's winter. Will definitely get the two scoops this summer. :)

On Dreams and Multiplication Table

This afternoon, Jairus, my nine-year old cousin left me with a very precious insight:

Jairus: Ate, masarap pala maging matalino no? Maganda kasi ang panaginip mo eh.

(Ate, I realized it feels good to be smart. I had a good dream last night.)

*Ate means "big sister"

*Last night, I taught him the multiplication table. He felt smarter after learning the techniques of multiplication.

Me: Talaga? Bakit naman? (Really? How come?)
Jairus: Napaniginipan ko kasi kagabi [ay] angel. (I dreamed of an angel last night.)

Me: Oh? Anong itsura? (Oh? How does it look like?)
Jairus: Babae. Maganda. Maitim buhok. Tapos yung mata parang may contact lens.

(It's a woman. She's beautiful. Has black hair. And her eyes seem to have contact lens.)
Me: Anong sabi niya sayo? (What did she tell you?)
Jairus: Tumulong daw ako sa kahit dalawang tao. (That I help at least two people.)

Jairus once told us that he dreams of zombies and other violent stuff before. He watches TV a lot. I don't know if our tutorial last night changed that. But it hit me on the importance of giving our children quality time and letting them discover their abilities and potential.

I told him to post our self-made Multiplication Table at any place where he'll always see it (he posted it in their refrigerator). I asked him to memorize it. He should be able to recite it before I leave for New Zealand.

I am very excited to see Jairus excel in Math when I come back. 

Bless the thoughts and dreams of our children, Lord. :)

Refreshing my systems from the complexities of the week that was: taho (soya drink) with Jairus. 

Captivated by Kalanggaman Island!

Who would've thought that in a third-class municipality, such as my mother's hometown in Palompon in the province of Leyte, there hidden an islet so beautiful and so virgin!

I've been hearing of Kalanggaman Island from my uncles and aunts in Palompon, Leyte since I was young. They would point to a small islet that one could easily see from the highest spot of our village. Then they would talk of clear waters, fine white sand, gigantic shells, untouched fish sanctuary, and of birds.

Well, for purposes of better cultural appreciation, "langgam" in Visayan dialect is not the hardworking "ant" in Tagalog. In fact, langgam means bird.

Spanning a mere 9.82 hectares of pure white sand, Kalanggaman Island has two sand bars extending on each side like a bird’s wings. It is perhaps named because of its shape. Another reason for naming such is that it can be a seasonal habitat for migratory birds or bird sanctuary at one time or another.

That's one sand bar!

One has to ride a pump-boat which could be rented via the Palompon Eco-Tourism office. It usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to get there from Palompon. I suggest you go with a big group. The bigger the group, the bigger the savings (ka-shing!).

As of this writing, the private pump-boat costs P3,000 for a capacity of 15 persons and below, P3,500 for 25 persons and below, and P4,000 for 30 persons and below.

All aboard!

I am happy that the island was finally re-possessed by the government after a trail of unlawful transfers of property. I appreciate the efforts of Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez for revitalizing the eco-tourism of Palompon, Leyte.

According to my aunt, it used to be a neglected island where people - sadly - abuse the nature. Now, it is a protected sanctuary and guests are prohibited to litter, take sand and/or sea shells, and go fishing.

This one's at the other sand bar. Amazingly, these rock formations, although lava-like, aren't hot at noon time.

Another thing I like about this place is that not so many people can come here at the same time because of the limited number of pump-boats. We were like only 60 people in this islet during our stay here. Sulit na sulit talaga ang getaway!

All cottages cost P250.

By the way, guests can stay overnight. However, they don't have rooms or any boarding facilities. So please bring tents. They don't have electricity and fresh water. But they have dressing rooms and toilets. They also have security - as in local police.

So talagang "island experience" siya. They say that the local government will continue to improve the place. They now have kayaks and soon, will offer other beach activities. It is also a good place for divers.

This marker's new according to my uncle. But hey, we saw six dolphins on our way back! :)

But I'd rather experience the island in its most basic and raw state. Of course, you don't go to an island for hotels and expensive toilets, or night clubs and bars. I know you know what I am talking about.

You go to an island to get in touch with nature and remind yourself that you are a part of this grand creation of God. And that you have a big responsibility to be a good steward of this wonderful creation - as we all are appointed since the earth was created.

Also, I can't help but be proud of my Leytenian heritage. And of course, of my being Filipino. I really hope all Pinoys would get to experience this captivating island and be awakened of the richness and beauty of our country.

White sand, blue sea, green trees, and one proud brown Pinay. :)

For more information on Kalanggaman Island, you may visit Palompon's local government website. Or you may call the Palompon Eco-Tourism Office at (053) 555-9010 or (053) 338-2094.

Nueva Ecija's PUNO'S ICE CREAM: A Provincial Heritage

This made my day! :)

Finally, natikman ko na ulit ang "Cheese, Cashew and Macapuno" ice cream from Puno's!

The first time I tasted it was when I joined a veteran-related event in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija and they served us this unforgettable ice cream.

They told me it was made from fresh carabao's milk, which I easily tasted! In fact, if one would really savor it, it tastes like frozen pastillas! Sobrang creamy yet it's not so sweet - just like any homemade ice cream.

What I appreciated most from this brand is that it CHOSE to maintain its branding as a "homemade" product - unlike other local brands who gained a massive following and went "commercial;" sacrificing the quality and tradition that go with it.

Well, that of course, may be because the family could not afford to expand their business, which includes buying big ice cream makers or hire delivery vans or get more people. In their Facebook page, it was written that "the company was founded by Atanacio and Simeona Puno...to send their nine children to school." This gives us a deeper perspective beyond "business as usual."

The first time I tried it, I asked the people from Cabanatuan if there are available Puno's products elsewhere - especially in Manila. They told me that it is only available in various areas within the province of Nueva Ecija. Yes - making it a provincial heritage, a treasure you really have to go to.

That is why today, after a medical mission in Fort Magsaysay, I bravely asked my boss to make a quick turn along Sta. Rosa just so we could buy this ice cream. I needed to take advantage of tasting this heavenly creation again. Hinanap ko pa talaga sa Facebook page nila kung saan ang pinakamalapit na store sa pinuntahan namin. Ganun ako na-hook! :)

I will definitely miss this when I go to New Zealand. No amount of ice cream made from their cows' milk will take the place of the taste and heart of this Filipino dairy goodness.