MySilverScreen Check: Kita Kita

Hindi naman talaga ako mahilig sa Tagalog movies.  Self confessed. Yes.  I don't watch them in the movie house.  Aantayin ko na lang ang mga dvd copies.   Maybe dahil - I find it that some stories are recycled, some are just filmed to make a 'love team' more popular - ganun.  Tipong, feeling ko naman wala naman kwenta - pakilig kilig lang. 
Meron naman "action" film na nakakairita lang, pagdating sa dulo nakikidnap si leading lady or pamilya ni bida then sa abandoned warehouse or factory dadalhin where fight and shooting scenes happen.  Usually pa, sa dulo, the main actor and the main antagonist face to face and do manual/hand-to-hand combat and presto - the villain dies - but the hero has to be so aping api at bugbog na bugbog muna bago sapian ng kakaibang lakas ng mga espiritu siguro ng mga characters ng DragonballZ.
Meron naman romantic comedy - na ang mga bida mga "love team" din, or maybe Vic Sotto and a very young leading lady - usually poor-guy-rich-girl angle.  Some can be slapstick and oh, makakalimutan ba ang mga outing sa beach and may matching pa games, habulan, and the walang kamatayang song and dance number.
See what I mean?!
That is why I only watch a Tagalog film sa sinehan pag may word of mouth na maganda - kaya ko pinanood ang Kita Kita ni Empoy at Alessandra.
I don't like Empoy kasi ang corny niya. Alessandra - I like as a dramatic actress - and I find her really wacky sa mga interview.  Yung di maarte.
Unlikely pair nga. Pero kumita ang movie dahil lahat na lang ng tao gandang ganda sa movie.  As in uber ganda ng mga reviews and "talk of the town" ang peg sa office.  Nauuso ang banana man at puso girl.  Napapagusapan na kumain sa Maizen kasi unli cabbage. 
Ayoko naman sana dumagdag sa mga reviews - there are too many of them.  Pero bakit ba, bawal ba?
Di ko alam but - di naman ako uber gaga over Kita Kita.  parang - ok. Dedma.  Pero ang ganda ng storytelling.  Expected ko na merong tragedy konti, pero di ko naman inasahan ang mga ibang pangyayari.  Wala na lang spoiler para kung sakali may makaka basa na di pa napanood ang movie - di naman ako KJ.
In any case, di ko naman icclaim na natawa ako kay Empoy - I still find him corny sa movie.  Mas natuwa ako kay Alessandra nung mga moments na halatang totoong tawang tawa siya - which I'm sure natatawa siya kay Empoy.  Di naman ako natuwa sa "open the basket" or sa pagtitig niya at nguso-nguso.  Natuwa lang ako dahil ang linis tingnan ni Empoy - as in hindi naman dugyot tingnan. In fairness pala - maayos pag naayusan.  Gandang di mo inakala.
Di ko rin naman masasabing lumabas ako ng sinehan na nagpupunas ng luha.  Sure, may mattouch na puso if you watch the movie.  Maapektuhan ka.  Naapektuhan ako sa isang part - pero split second lang.  But after nung na touch ako - ayun, surprised na ako sa mga sumunod... at napasabi na "siya pala yun."
Ewan ko ba, baka bato lang talaga ako.  Pero at least naman di ko naman masasabi na sayang ang binayad ko sa sinehan.  Maybe ang iba trip nila ulitin.. ako tama na ang minsan.  Pero kakaiba lang din talaga ang movie - quite different from the usual romcom - at quite a different pair.  Some people say - nagiba ang tingin nila kay Empoy. Fine.  I still find him corny.
Lastly, I think I still find this movie - more worthy to be seen in the cinema kesa kasabayan na Sarah-John Lloyd. 

Taste Bud Tickler: 555 Tuna Rice Adobo

Sa mabilis na takbo ng buhay, kelangan ng madaming "instant" fix - lalo na sa gutom. Isa sa naturingan na "instant" food ngayon ang mga canned tuna in different flavors - and well well, this is a new addition to the instant meal that "busy" people long for.

Nabili ko and 555 Tuna Rice Adobo sa SM Hypermarket sa may South Superhighway, Makati.   I forgot the price. I just wanna try it, since favorite ko naman ang tuna.  Inaasahan ko na hindi masarap at maalat ang timple. Well, judgmental lang.  Kebs.

That's the front packaging.  You won't miss it in the grocery - unless perhaps they put it along items that are far different from what it is.  Not very enticing - but the words are big enough for you to know that this is instant gratification for the empty stomach.

The flipside has the instructions.  Quite easy to follow,  Really easy - living up to the "instant meal" category.  I don't really read labels and nutritional facts - but there it is.   It may be very helpful para sa mga nagddiet.  Though kailangan ko man mag diet - dedma na.  Basta, bet ko siya itry.

So, by now I am sure you want to know how it looks when opened.  Lemme tell you, ang dali buksan. Ang bilis mo ma access ang food kapag tot he highest level na ang gutom mo.  and here it is. 

Yeah, dikit dikit na parang malagkit rice, brown na kulay, maybe dahil sa "sabaw" na naghalo sa kanin.  But when you toss them a bit, you can see the tuna bits.  I soaked aht in hot water coz I wanted a warm (yes, warm) meal.  In any case, warm naman talaga siya when I opened it.  It does not really look enticing.  It looks like a cheap rice na nabibili mo sa palengke na nilagyan ng sabaw.  Ganun.  There is an odd feeling na ampanget ng lasa - kahit di mo pa natitikman.  

In any case, sa unang kagat ko naman -- NOT BAD!  As in, not bad.  

Di naman pala siya maalat as what I expected.  Saktong sakto naman na kanin at ulam in one. Truly an instant meal.  You can taste the usual adobo flavored tuna in can na hinalo mo sa kanin.  It does not really taste like adobo as in adobo na niluluto mo - but hey, this is worth trying!  Kailangan lang muna na ihalo-halo mo muna ang kanin para hindi masyado magmukhang nilagay sa packaging - para naman may illusion na bagong saing.  Maybe - just maybe - it is better to put it in a microwave-friendly container and throw it in the microwave.  Di ko kasi na try - gutom na kasi ako.

The consistency of the rice is not the same as the bagong saing na rice. Para sa mga maselan, maybe this is not for you.  Pero sa di naman choosy sa type ng bigas or kanin - pwedeng pwede.  Di ka naman kasi mageexpect ng jasmine rice type sa isang instameal.  Heller. Ambisyosa.

I was pleasantly surprised with this product. I thought I wouldn't like it.  This is indeed a great instant fix to gutom.  It is worth stacking sa pantry - lalo na sa mga tamad magluto/magsaing.  A great baon alternative para sa lahat ng tao - students, white, blue collar workers - kune pwede pang rainbow collar workers -- pwedeng pwede.

I wonder if may ibang flavor.

Want to see the Angkor Wat?

 I think every person wants to get into these temples in Cambodia.  Afterall, I think halos lahat naman alam kung ano ang Tomb Raider na movie at kung sino si Angelina Jolie.
Sa konting tiyaga at ipon, I am sure mararating nyo ang lugar na ito.  Madami na ang blogs about going to Cambodia, particularly the Angkor Wat.  Allow me to be an addition to those blogs.

PLANE TICKETS

Madami naman airlines na pumupunta ng Siam Reap galing Manila.  Pili ka lang.  May PAL, meron din Cebu Pacific, meron din Air Asia. Pero I guess the most popular one is Cebu Pacific - kasi madalas may seat sale.  I suggest you watchout for these seat sales and book your flights waaaay ahead - so you can plan ahead.


Angkor Wat Tickets

Visiting the Angkor Complex will cost you USD37 for a 1 day pass.  The price increases if you want to visit multiple time/days.  But a 1 day is more than good enough for a quick tour and experience at the marvelous temples and towers.  They have a separate ticket center where you can buy tickets in advance. We got our tickets a day before we went to the towers - and we suggest you do the same.  

My Perfect Jumpshots

I think that almost all (young) travelers can't exit a certain site without capturing a perfect jump shot.  

Why not?!  Jump shots are fun at nakakatuwa tingnan lalo na pag nacapture mo ng tama habang nakalutang sa ere.

Here are a few of the jump shots I personally snapped - using a camera phone.

When in Cambodia -- huh... ang saya lang.  With matching background ng Angkot Wat.  Too bad natakpan ang isang tower (kung tower man ang tawag jan).  In any case... nakakatuwa.

When in Vigan. Ah! Mga inggitero kasi sa jump shot kaya ayan... same spot, different people.  In any case... maganda sana if iba ibang pose.  

Tanghaling tapat yan.  Obvious sa shadow di ba?

And finally - my favorite.  Mahirap kuhanan ng jump shot ang isang group - lalo na pag iba iba ang sizes.  But I am just proud that I got this shot - that everyone is floating on air.
Taken in Ilocos (Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur), during our Team Building activity.

Taste Bud Tickler: Coco Hut's Kare-Kare Pasta

CocoHut in the Bonifacio Stopover in BGC.

Bilang isang karaniwang employee sa isang opisina sa BGC, Taguig - curious ako sa ilang pagkain na abot kaya ng bulsa ng mga katulad kong -- hindi naman mayaman.  Mejo affordable naman ang CocoHut sa may Bonifacio Stopover sa BGC (malapit sa St. Luke's Hospital) --- kapag may sweldo.  Pag wala pang sweldo at mejo CWD - Critical Wallet Days na, wag na lang. 

In any case, may mga konting extra pa naman ako today so I decided to try their Kare-Kare Pasta.

Lemme just tell you though that around 3 weeks ago, kumain na ako ng Kare-Kareng gulay - na luto ko naman.

So, let's go!

May 2 "variants" - if that's what you call them - ng Kare-Kare nila - seafood and lechon kawali.  Though I love seafoods, I ordered lechon kawali.  The order taking is done at the counter.  Pretty cool to note though that you can see the kitchen, how your food is prepared and cooked (without the glass) from the dining area.  I paid a good Php250 - no soda - tubig lang ako.  Ayos na yun.  Remember: Magtipid.

After being handed the receipt and change and the serving number, I was seated and waited for about 10-15 minutes for my food. Yes, it was served hot and steaming. Can't wait!

It is pale orange in color reminds me of Aligue ng alimango.  Kahit di pa ako nakakatikim nun - pero nakikita ko naman na nakabote.  there were a few bits of Lechon Kawali.  Kinda disappointing though kasi sa picture nman malalaki ang nakalagay na Lechon Kawali - pero sa totoong buhay - maliliit lang pala.  May mga bits of bagoong -- oh yeah - ano pa nga ba ang the best partner ng Kare-Kare?! 

Behind my brain I was thinking of a nutty taste - like what Kare-Kare should be. Yung tipong - feeling mo kumakain ka ng peanut sauce sa pasta. Yung lasang - nagaagaw ang alat at ang lasa ng peanuts na nagpapalinamnam sa pagkain.  dagdagan pa ng crunch ng Lechon Kawali.

Nananaginip lang pala ako.  That was just something at the back of my brain.   It tasted ordinary - parang ready-mix sauce Kare-Kare sauce ng Mama Sita or a cheaper version of the powdered mix.  Nothing special, really. Mas masarap pa ang palabok.  Maybe you can try to buy a powdered mix, lagyan mo ng tubig tapos pakuluan then pag mejo thick na ang sauce - ilagay ang cooked pasta - siguro yun na yun mismo.  The nutty Kare-Kare taste is not really dominating the dish.  

Save perhaps for the Lechon Kawali bits and the small bagoong "dots" that they put on - nagkalasa naman siya.  Lemme Tell you though that the Lechon Kawali is not the big chunky, sizzling, crispy kind.  Sapat lang.  Para na rin ako kumain ng sabaw ng cheap Kare-Kare sa kalye na nilagay sa kanin - kaso sa pasta lang pinatong at hinalo. Ganun.

My verdict, #umay.  Your 250 pesos will serve you and a companion.  If you eat it alone, #umay talaga.  Di ko naubos. Malamang ako lang kasi mag isa.  If split nyo ang bill to 125 each, mejo mahal pa rin para sa akin. To cut the long kuda short - hindi siya worth it para sa akin.  Ewan ko lang sa taste bud nyo.  

The Lechon Kawali Kare-Kare pasta tickled my brain - but it really failed to tickle my taste bud.



UPDATE:
Too bad ... this resto is closed. probably there are other branches.

8 Minutes to Go

I'm not really 'inspired' to write today.

Consider this as a free flow of ideas and thoughts while in the office and just waiting for 8 minutes to pass and log out and go home.

Thankfully - walang OT today.  Downside is, may trabaho pa ring naghihintay.  At least may trabaho, hindi tambay.

Nakakauta na kasi tumingin sa spreadsheet at numbers at tumingin ng left and right para magcompare ng numbers.  I am not complaining.  Syempre - stop na lang muna kasi - malapit na uwian.   At least may time to write something kahit walang spirit ng mga writers na sumasapi sa akin ngayon.

5 mins na lang.  Make it 4 mins. After this shift - I can finally eat  and go home.  

Last 2 minutes. I will be closing some applications na.

Akalain mo... may nagawa ako in 8 mins. hahahaha

Getting Touristy

The Tower Bridge.  A great mix of the old and the modern.  Just a few steps from our Apartment.

Near the London Eye. Dream come true! :)

The London Eye is just a few steps away from the Big Ben.

A view from one side while in the London Eye.  Di bale di ako nakasakay ng MOA Eye... London Eye to.. hahaha

First Few Minutes

Lovely.

Expression ng mga Briton.  Description rin sa paligid.  Totoo naman pala.

Yeah, lovely talaga ang paligid.   Unang hakbang pa lang paglabas ng airport - lovely na agad ang klima - malamig at presko. Walang kainit init kahit na alas 3 or alas 4 na ng hapon yun.  Ang sarap lang maglakad.  

In any case -  check out a few pics while we were on our way to the apartment.

Right Hand Drive.  Whew.
This is totally new to me kasi naman Left hand sa Pilipinas.

My First Step in Europe

View from the top.

Well, the United Kingdom isn't really in the middle of continental Europe, but hey, it is one of the primary hubs of the continent.  I can't be more thrilled to step in the UK - almost a year ago.  It's still fresh in my mind.
Yung UK trip, particularly London, was not a liesure trip but a working trip. Thank you sa company ko, QBE, for sending me and an officemate, there - for free with allowance. Bongga talaga. Nakakakaba man ang visa application but hey - approved. 6 months Business visa. Choosy pa ba ako?!


Skip the other stuff, i was off to London via Hong Kong - and that wasnt bad for a 1st time out of the country trip!

It was a long flight and it was literally an "all day" flight - from the time we were off at Terminal 3 at around 5AM and arriving in Heathrow at 3PM - timezone is backwards. 12 to 15 hours travel time in total. No sleep. The heck. It was pure excitement!

Touchdown - Heathrow.

While on the plane, para akong tangaa. Di makakilos. Palibhasa economy. Pero di na ko choosy. Libre naman kasi. Nasa window seat ako, dko naman mabuksan ang bintana kasi mainit. All throughout the flight tanghali ang dinadaanan namin. Mainit talaga. Di rin ako makatulog kasi alanganin sa pwesto. Masikip kasi may katabi akong magasawang foreigner. Maybe nakatapos ako ng 2 or 3 movies. Di na masama.

May flight path. Dun ko tinitingnan if malapit na kami. Nakaka excite. Di ko lubos maisip,  nasa ibabaw kami ng China, Russia at iba pang bansa. Saya lang.
Ignoramos.
Bakit ba, di lahat ng Pinoy nagkakaroon ng chance to travel - for free.
Finally, nagsalita na si Captain, malapit na daw kami.
Excited.

Binuksan ko ang bintana.
Behold!
My first glimpse of the United Kingdom.

Beautiful. Green.
Smile. Thankful.
Then a few more moments, nagland na sa Heathrow.... and my companion, Joms, and I inched our way out of the plane... to finally breath London air.

What this means is.....

1st step outside the airplane door and brrrrr... it's cold in here. No aircon needed.
Smile. Thankful - we arrived safely.


Next hurdle - Immigration. Di pa lubos ang tuwa dahil baka mapabalik kami ng de oras. In any case, at that point though, I was thankful enough to have my first step in Europe.