Koronadal City: Von's Seafood and Mushroom Pasta

I was on leave and nothing else to do at home. So I went to the market to  see and buy some food to store and eat at home. Then I remembered I missed eating pasta. Thanks to my good friend Jacqui and Homer who introduced me to non-pork, non-chicken, and non-beef food. Jacqui actually did it intentionally for Homer's sake since he is on meat diet for the rest of his life.hahaha!

At the grocery store, I saw sliced mushrooms in can, canned tuna, tomato sauce, olive oil, basil and spaghetti pasta. As  I moved to the wet market section, I saw one of my favorite seafood: shrimps! Without thinking twice, I picked half a kilo of it and proceed to the other side to select some good quality spices for my pasta experiment. I was really excited going home afterwards.

Upon reaching home, I immediately grab all the things that I needed in preparing the ingredients and the cooking gadgets. Cooking seafood pasta was easier as compared to cooking meaty sauce  which requires ample time to ensure that the meats are well cook. With that, seafood pasta is recommended for those who wanted to eat pasta with good taste, easy to prepare and quick to cook. 

This one I made was actually had a better taste than my original Von's Meaty Spaghetti. Although my original recipe is still better than the other's pinoy style spaghetti and any other commercial meaty spaghetti I have tasted. (Boasting?haha) I am really a good cook and keeps on getting better.

When I finished cooking, I mixed the seafood and mushroom sauce to the pasta and my mother garnished it with her basil leaves fresh from her lawn/garden. If you wanted to try this one, better make sure of the ingredients especially spices that you mix. Be sure that it suit your taste and others' taste. Because if not, your recipe will taste just like any ordinary food.

Gen. Santos City: Sarangani Highlands Garden & Restaurant

A year after my first visit here in Sarangani Highlands Garden and Restaurant, I was able to step in again. The road going there is the same dusty and rough but upon reaching the Highlands, it can be noticed a lot has changed. 

They already have this nice veranda where many coffee drinkers would like to sit every sunrise and sunset. Some wedding receptions were held in this site. From here, during daytime you can clearly see the Sarangani Bay and at night, especially with the presence of the moon, an amazing reflection of it on the bay can be viewed.

I was glad seeing this tree again. It is still alive and a lot of visitors liked to be there for pictorials. It is also nice to rest, reflect and/or meditate in here savoring the nice wind from the bay.

Seeing the bay from here makes one relaxed. You can see ships and boats sailing in the bay.

This one is new. There was nothing like this when I first visited this location. It was also said that this garden and restaurant is having its ongoing development like putting up other venues for big events and accommodations for others who would like to stay overnight.

Davao City: Eden Nature Park & Resort

My friends in MBA invited me to join them for a 2-day trip to Davao City. When we were there, we hopped in to Eden Nature Park & Resort. It was my first time to be there and I heard beforehand that they have so many rides that made me thrilled and doubled my excitement.

Eden Nature Park & Resort is a mountain resort which is 3,000 feet above sea level and the Eden Nature Park is 95% man-made. It was discovered sometime in 1971 and the resort used to be a logged-over area covered only by a blanket of wild grass.

At the information center upon entering the park. You can find menu of their packages you want to avail during your stay. They have accommodations for overnight stay, lots of rides, tour and food.

"Game Ka na Ba" tv show hosted by Kris Aquino was taped in this location where our undying jump shot was taken. When availing a tour package, you will also be assigned with a tour guide. And our tour guide also happened to be our photographer. She had no choice.

It can be noticed that in most of the locations during the tour, there were lots of statues/structures. They developed this mountain so well with full of trees, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

From this post, we can see the Davao Gulf. At our back down there, there were lots of different kind vegetables planted. Aside from selling these vegetables to the buyers, they also harvest these and prepare for the buffet meals included in the package. 

This is a wishing well with full of gumamela flowers. Anyone who wanted to make a wish can also throw some coins to the well. If you ever tried to browse your friends photos who had been here, you will never miss to see this similar photo and this kind of position. That's because your tour guide will choreograph you all to be exactly like that. LOL

Who missed their childhood? There were lots of toys in this park that are applicable for adults as well. Not only kids will be given chances to play but adults also.

This is one of my favorite rides in this park. This is called the "INDIANA JONES". Actually this is my favorite ride until we landed on the zipline ride later.

See this. This is why I like Indiana Jones. At the end of the cable, there was a stopper and once you ended there, you will bounce and feel the rhythm/thrill of it.

This is our lunch. But wait...where's our lunch? We were not able to take a picture of those green leafy vegetables from their garben due to our stomach complaint. Most of the food in their buffet were vegetables and fruits. Only few meats were available in their menu.

We were tired and about to leave. We saw this landscape with the name of the park so we never  missed the chance to pose with it. You know... for documentation purposes and for others to really believe that we were there (LOL just kidding).

Upon walking to the other side of the park that was not included in the tour package, we saw a car parked on the road. For someone who took this picture, I don't know what he/she thought about it. For someone like me, that was an art... I mean new vocabulary (LOL).

We were so tired and find some place to rest. Someone told us to act that we were really tired for documentation purposes. Unfortunately, different from the meaning of rest were captured. Maui (malayo ang tingin). Carelle (dila-dilaan ang emo). Ako? Mura man ko kalibangon ani uy (Looks like I'm pooping in my pants).

This is called the Sky Rider. This was our last ride but my first zipline ride and the best ride as of the moment. Sky ride for 20 seconds, 200 meters long and 60 ft high. Ride fee for only P150.

Sarangani Province: Siguil Prawn Farm in Maasim

Siguil is a baranggay in Maasim, Sarangani Province. It is located next to the boundary of General Santos City. Going there is hard if you are in a hurry. Local jeepneys from General Santos City are available but very few and it would take time to reach your destination especially if the driver would take time for stop-overs every now and then looking and waiting for passengers along the way. 

From the highway of Siguil, we walked around 500m to reach the prawn farm. We were there for work but I will not elaborate more on that. 

During the course of our job, I was able to get some photos. Sorry for the quality since I was not able to bring digital camera except for the mobile phone.

The above picture will show how a prawn farm would look like. At first, you would see an ordinary pond but this pond is not like fish ponds because it is not that deep. There were several ponds in this location but you could only see one. It is near the wide river and the bay area as well.

Dried and cracked land? Looks nice? feels like you are in a drought place in another country? This artistic land was brought by the huge amount of water from the river beside this farm that washed away the wall of the pond and the prawns as well. Imagine the loss of this damage brought to the company.

Prawns and water are gone but the view is great. :D I requested by officemate to capture only this cracked land since it is very unsual for our place to see this kind of art.

That is my shadow and the drought. 

Koronadal City: Family Christmas Party 2007

When we were young (kids), we never missed to participate the annual Christmas party of the compound where we used to live (Palm Grove Compound, Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City). But when we transferred our residence, we never had that kind of Christmas party again.

After our transfer, almost every December my sister nikkom would always plan for family Christmas party but none was materialized until this year. Year 2007 it is. She planned everything from what to wear and what to cook. Every member of the family has something to cook for the party. As always, I prepared the von's spaghetti!!! :D But not everything on the table was cooked by us, some were from the restaurant. :)

I have nothing else to say but the pictures might tell you more.

 With the first niece, Shana.

Gen. Santos City: Sarangani Highlands

This is my first time to be in Sarangani Highlands. It is located at the hilltop in Purok Wal, Brgy. Tambler, General Santos City just across Celebes Canning Corporation. It is very far from Gensan downtown. If you want to go in there, it is better to bring with you your car. If yo don't have any, you may commute from downtown to Tambler but it may take you some time to reach it.

I am not this typical person who likes eating in far places/locations. Especially now that I am dependent on my salary. All the things that I want to buy should be within the limits of my earnings and I am just new to the so called "EMPLOYMENT WORLD". This is my tenth (10th) month as an employee and seventh (7th) in my second employer and I just got my regular employment status after the five month probation. 

Spending is my great frienemy (friend and enemy). It is very easy to spend if I find something  I really wanted and it is very difficult at the same time if I wanted something badly then I noticed my cash balance is depleting and the next salary pay is a century away. I have to make sure I have enough until the next payday.

This day is about celebration of our father's birthday. I am just so lucky that I have siblings who are generous enough to fund this trip and the food. :D The food are nice and the scenery is good as well. 

As I heard, this is owned by a doctor who has skills in landscaping. Her habit/skills opened an opportunity for her to do business. It can be noticed that the business is still new since there are just few structures and landscapes. I bet this will be developed for commercial purposes in the future.

Here are some pictures of Sarangani Highlands:

This tree alone makes the view nice and the view of the bay from there is excellent.

Sarangani Province: Gumasa, Glan (White Haven Beach Resort)

Gumasa is found in the town of Glan, Sarangani Province. It is known for its white sand beach resorts.

Gumasa white sand beaches were not relatively known as it is now. Back in 1997, it was still a remote area and the roads were rough and tough at times when it rains. The road to the beaches today are very accessible and paved unlike before where some routes were one way and not the same way as it is today.

Resorts in this location were not developed 15 years ago. I was not able to see any commercial resorts at that moment. Entrance were for free. Visitors could create their own cottage/s if they wanted to. Beaches looks untouched and it was very difficult to swim because of the abundance of sea urchins, the grasses under the water even near the shoreline and too much of star fish.

Now, Gumasa beaches are far from how it looked a decade and a half ago. It is well developed and still being developed for further improvement of their facilities and amenities. Some would say it is the next "Boracay". I don't know how long before it can be compared to the Boracay of today and I hope it will keep on improving in all aspects.

Gumasa can definitely attract tourists.

Gen. Santos City: Dolores Tropicana Beach Resort

First time after college graduation I thought of gathering our classmates and friends. Thinking of having them all in one occasion, one venue and one schedule was very easy. As the planning went on, I realized how difficult it was finding common free time for all. But of course I was this very eager (and excited at the same time) in making this event to happen.  And at last it happened. It was May 13, 2007, Sunday. Not everyone was able to come but at least everyone who showed up enjoyed the rest of the night.

The following day, we woke up very early and some did swimming, others just kept on chatting and I took some pictures for documentation. It was May 14, 2007 and it was an election day! Some went home to vote. I went home to sleep. :D

Here are some pictures I took during that overnight event.

These were not all the attendees. As always, some were late. :D

 Sunrise May 14, 2007

 Long lost SURVIVORS. :D

It's the sun.