Home for la holidays

As early as you know the first morning of September, personally I can't help but look forward 3 months ahead to December and the holidays! So come November with flights abroad, and after accompanying Cutie to her 2-day stint at Mother Perpetual Help College, I still managed a quick weekend lunch and chill time with friends to celebrate thanksgiving at their new apartment then next day flight to Thailand and finally back to Manila on a first week of December to Christmas parties here and there! Now I say, au revoir diet, abiento!

December to remember

• December 10 -To tita Dith's place before our flight home. For the first time, we were all together Fritz, Liz, myself and Cutie. Even surprised to learn that Tita Neneng and family is arriving home from Canada after like 10 years! So we joined her and Tito Jun at T3 on a midnight as welcome party. Well, she was supposed to surprise the family but it was the other way around when we met her at the airport. My gosh and how her two kids have grown up. Anyway, it was a quick Hi and Hello knowing the jetlag, and we have another 30 days to catch up. We planned on seeing them next week! Hey, its the only day we are together without the kids so we ended up celebrating this at a coffee shop at 230AM over some hot espresso and banoffee pie, thanks to Cutie. 
• December 14- A blessed day when we received the good news of Cutie passing her board  exam! Thank you Lord and Mama Mary for hearing our prayers. In God's own time, all prayers are answered.
• December 15- Start of Simbang Gabi and able to make it on first 2 nights but no farther than that because I had a bad case of vertigo! So on 3rd week of December, and in the midst of christmas rush I was at home, on leave from work with what felt like the whole room spinning. Ok, so pay back time. I had CBC, and a dose of electrolyte for dehydration.
• December 18 - Lunch at Tita Nengs house, a day of foods and more foods! Quite a hectic schedule ahead of them, Bohol next week, and Bacolod later on. Goodluck, but enjoy!
• December 21- Last household meeting with my SFC, and our batch organized a gift giving at the church area. Annual feeding session at PYC which I took part of. I'm glad to share what I have. Well, I guess I have been productive after sitting and lying all day at home after 2 days!
• December 22-Reunion with former SFC sisters! Dinner at Greenbelt over pizza and lovelife (lols), happy days, happy days!
• December 23-Drop  Daryl at the airport for his homecoming. Ciao mon amour! Enjoy the holidays.
• December 24-Exchange gift, foods and family around. What a lovely day today! 

Home bound

This year is quite special since we will be complete with the apos. For sure Mamita's all eyes and attention to kids, keber with the anak. How fair is that? Madam Fritz took an earlier flight while myself and Cutie took PAL mid day flight on the 28th.I always wanted to fly with PAL because hello- Mabuhay miles. Madam Liz and the bunch is arriving on the 30th. Daryl, fresh from Iloilo after attending Baby Andy's christening picked us up at the airport, made a few stopover like the usual-grocery and all before we travel to our dearly beloved Banwang Panganay.

Banwang Panganay

After the much needed coffee, endless jokes even hugot along the way of what we could think of, the nonstop ulit2x comment of how much have changed since the last time (which translates only 2 years ago) and one hour and 30 mins, we come to the familiar cranky road to home, because truck by truck of sugar cane pass through it, I think every other year they had to make some road repairs, and still nothings has been changed. 

The golden sun covered the long lined sugar cane trails from Hinigaran to Crossing Daan. The salty air remnant from Hinigaran sealine, sweet burned canes, and the tall BISCOM chimney against the dusk I am so amazed to look at as a child. It is the last thing I saw when I leave, and now the first thing I see upon arriving. All around me is simply home. I fight the urge to sing Westlife's song (an empty street, an empty heart) roll down the windows and stretch my hand in the air, like you know what u see in the movies. Ok , cut. lols.

Bons souvenirs

We passed by our elementary school, where Edz and myself would walk from Nanay Lourdes', play kick game made of flowers from calachuchi tree, the old church beside it where we used to play around at least after classes, and go to prayer room all because it has A/C, and we like it there. When I was in high school, it has been my my sanctuary where I had countless tears and prayers made.

Further is the Mercado, it looked shabby from the last time I've been here. New stores are popping up, well just as it should be. Passing through High school, I can't help but smile, and just like that it brings so many mixed memories at once. 

So before we knew it, we are at the very place where we built our hopes and dreams, the santan and bougainvillea flowers, the water pump outside which is apparently left unused for so long, and my dear Mudra waiting for us to come inside. So glad to be finally back, to sleep all day, eat all day, and just do nothing all day but catch up. What a great plan indeed and now I will do it just as I have planned. Thank you Lord for the holidays!

Happy to be home,

itsmelory (^.^)

To Appenzell

Located in the Southern alpine region of Switzerland, Appenzell is famous for its traditional milk and cheese. Something particularly striking about Appenzell is the holding of democratic assemblies in open public which usually happens in the last Sunday of April, however these public meetings was abolished in 1997. 

The region is mostly inhabited by German speaking Catholics which has preserved it's many old customs and traditions producing cheese, muslin s, and men wearing red festive waist coasts.

If you intend to go back in time- Appenzel is exactly the place to be. Traditional houses, fascinating Swiss costumes, Edelweis emblem caps and hats, tobacco pipes, and not to mention cows everywhere and probably the tastiest cheese (which you could smell from way 2 blocks away) . Picture typical milk man, against the green grass of home- now you're exactly imagining Appenzell. 

Yes, traditional Swiss costumes, a quick stopover to get some souvenirs!

Grateful to motherland- Switzerland! Lols.

I think I fell asleep on the way back to Uzwil, it was fast dark when we have arrived for  dinner prepared by my colleague- a Chinese resto right in St. Gallen. Anyway, can't realy complain..the hot soup and German beer was all good. Happy and grateful to have taken this trip, oops, hope I don't forget the Swiss knife I've been wanting to get for myself! Lols. 

Enjoying all C's in the land of C's,

itsmelory (^.^)

Sweets for my sweet @ Läderach

The best thing about this trip is always the chocolate experience! From HQ, we drove about 45mins to Läderach Schoggi-Erlebnis und Schokoladen-Boutique. Thanks to Oli for being the  tour guide. Can't help but notice that it was just half passed 1PM, but passing through this roads, it became dark fast and temperature dropped low tremendously. 
One of the Chinese delegate was almost fainting probably because of fast driving, and imagine the scent of White flower, I feel like I'm the one fainting!  
Thankfully we arrived sooner before I'm completely nauseous, and almost instantly the sweet scent of chocolates greeted us. Oh, I've seen that the mood's been lifted! 



Hold it, we stopped the urge to sample this carefully wrapped selections of chocolates, because first- the tour! The tour started with the history of the cacao bean, to processing it. Each one gets own spoon for tasting the chocolates, white, dark, milk of various chocolate percentage. 

I can't (clears throat) get any prouder to see our machines right there, making and actually tasting maybe one of the best chocolates in the world (take if from me). At the end of the tour is of course the chocolate shopping! 

Love & chocolates,

itsmelory (^.^)

At work @ CH

Guten morgen Uzwil! Time to go to work today, after my 2nd cup of coffee I readied myself to go HQ. I worry that my jacket would not hold off the cold.  After much confusion for which entrance to take, I managed to find the main door to the main building.  Thank you Jacky for seeing me at the office entrance. I need a better coat next time! 

It was nice to finally meet Oli(whom I've only talked to over the phone), of course Marco 1, Marco 2 and Senor Ziegler whom I've seen back in Manila couple of months ago. Since my Nik is currently enjoying burgers in the USA, I went with Senor Ziegler for a quick tour around the HQ. It was quite amazing, and chilling (literally, Lols) since we were atop the newest CEO Building overlooking the rest of Uzwil. I could use a cup of coffee now-seriously! 

After a quick tour, we went for lunch together. Lunch was perfecto, typical Swiss meal: warm soup, veal with mushroom, potato rosti, and salad. Too hungry so no photo hehe. 

Then Oli and Marco asked me to join the Chinese delegates for a tour, what a lucky day indeed, our first stop? Find some chocolates of course! 

Enjoying all Swiss, 

itsmelory (^.^)

The Sunday in Sankt Gallen

From the train station and clueless where to go, I just followed the cobbled streets and signs to where ever it would lead me, I mean who's going to get lost here? Sankt Gallen is probably one of those Swiss charming old town, quiet and good for strolling and shopping too.

Sank Gallen

Eggzoited face, I smell shopping now!

St. Laurenzen Kirche (St. Lawrence Church)

So my feet lead me here. A Protestant church considered one of the important 

churches in St. Gallen. 

The Abbey 

The Abbey of St. Gallen is a Roman Catholic monastery built in as early as 719. The Abbey is one of the richest medieval libraries in the world and is a UNESCO Heritage site. 

Just in time for hearing mass..

and lighted some candle.

What a great experience esp the sight seeing, so proud of myself! I walked back to the train station, stopped over to get some sliced pizza and coffee. I always dreamed of doing this, al fresco style eating and yes- a  bit of shopping too! I went back to the hotel with new beauty products and moisturizer to try on! Lols.  

Happiness & love,

itsmelory (^.^)

Quiet town of Uzwil

Uzwil is a municipality of Wil in the canton of St. Gallen, northeastern part of Switzerland. It took us no more than 1 hour before we finally reached Uzwil, truth was...we missed the train stop- thanks to Jacky who for some reason overlooked it! So we got off Sank Gallen then took another ticket to go back 2 stations away to Uzwil! 

Hotel Uzwil 

Just a stone's away from the train exit, Hotel Uzwil was pretty much convenient, such a cozy place to stay!  After a quick check in, we went out for  dinner , some Pad Thai surprisingly just along Uzwil. After a bottle of beer, we bade goodnight, Jacky was a gentleman himself even walking me to the hotel door, I know he don't mean to but...xie xie Jacky! 

Oh ser gut. English please?

Some comfy bed, just what I needed now! 

I kicked off my boots and jumped here!

Some franks. Swiss Franks. 

Gutern morgen

Good morning Sunday! Feeling great today after some hot coffee and that nice, croissant, bacon and eggs. So with no itinerary at hand,  took the train to St. Gallen to do more of sightseeing!

Uzwil train station. I'm used to crowded train station but this is a relief!  

Typical Sunday morning. Yes, those are cows right in there, 

after all this is what you would see in Switzerland. 

SBB Train

Speaking of railways, SBB is the biggest railway system in Switzerland, welcome aboard! 

Comfy chairs and a good scenic windows to enjoy more of CH!

I think I'd like to say that Europe is nice. The transport system, the modern culture, I like it.. because yeah it's different from what I am used to, but just so you know, home is still where the heart is, and the differences is what sets them apart. Europe is all that, and Philippines..brings so much more warmth! 

Until next post,

itsmelory (^.^)