WHEW!!!

So Christmas has come and gone once again.... all done... and we all have managed to see it through.... Through all the DRAMAS and disappointments brought by the HOLIDAYS, am still quite HAPPY for so many things... the little blessings.... the little joys.... the people in my life who continually supports and love me for who I am.... friendships that lasts and survives time, distance and heartaches.... for all the possibilities that each and every day brings.... and for more moments with my MOM....

So rest up all( including you, SANTA...)and lets do it all again next year!!! Now on to making it through the New Year Countdown!!!

MERRY XMas To One and All!!!

Though life is full of UPs and DOWNs - one thing is ALWAYS certain, XMAS is the time of the year when we all must Forgive, Forget, and Be Merry!!! Share the Love to One and All!!!

Merry Christmas All!!!

am flying away..... again....

well, here at the airport now... flying off to Manila for the Holidays..... this time around, am actually excited about getting to Manila - even with all the dramas and personal matters I need to deal with, each and every trip.... i did not even mind the long process and travel to get to the airport, the long wait which just got longer as my flight is half an hour delayed... Nope, none of those matters now... it can only be because it is the Holidays... My favorite time of the year....Don't know why, i never get tired of this time of the year.... year after year, sorrows and happiness passes.... getting older... heartaches & frustrations.... but my feelings when XMas time comes remains the same... all the things I remember about XMas - growing up, friends and family, love ones - they all come coming back and once again, am like a little boy in a Toy Shop!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!!!

"Sweet & Sour": Xmas Get Together 2010

Dec 11th, we had our annual XMas dinner get together.... Juliana, David, Sue n Cecilia and myself... a bit earlier than usual but with everyone's busy schedule, this was the only Open date we all had....

The place picked was SOLO PASTA - a somewhat chichi place in the heart of one of Taipei's busier and popular streets.... The place from the outside was inviting enough but a bit on the dark side - with totally minimal lighting.... once inside, you feel the darkness even more... just a tad bit low lighting to create a really romantic ambiance.... once, the dishes were served, I realized what the low lighting is all about - so as to not see how little is on one's plate - especially considering the prices being a bit on the HIGHER/PRICEY end... When I first looked at the MENU and see the choices and prices, I was a bit AMAZED - I mean PASTA and GNOCCHI dishes for about US$10 and up... and this does not include anything else... no soup, no bread, no salad, no drinks... so I was thinking: "hmmmmm, maybe the servings are big.."... well, they were served on BIIIG PLATES anyway.... the look of the food leaves nothing to be desired... and from the first taste, I was already turned off... my Gnocchi, all 25 little pieces of them were served cold... not hot, not warm but COLD! And everyone else on my table seemed not as please with their choices.... and looking around, I can tell everyone else have the same feel for the place... no one seemed to have ordered extras... only the main dishes - I guess they too, felt everything was pricey... and upon leaving, no one seems to have smiles on their faces... so we decided not to move places for desserts.... SOUR NOTE for the Nite....

Thank GOD for LAVAZZA - we ended the nite on a SWEET NOTE! Coffee and big slices of SWEETS, coupled with exchanging of gifts, and endless and fun conversation - I completely forgotten about my bad dinner.... that is, until I got back home and realized I was still hungry from my minimalist dinner... hahahahahahaha

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

Stories Are Gifts: SHARE!!!

...so Starbucks' new slogan for the holidays go.... Yes, Indeed!!! I could not Agree more... am Loving this so much, it makes me want to go and have a cup each and every time I pass by a Starbucks....

First saw this in Manila last month, but sadly, I was not allowed to photograph at all... not sure why??? I was totally disappointed as I was really loving the TAG LINE.... and thought it was IRONIC that Starbucks was asking us to share and yet, they do not let their shops share by forbidding them to photograph... I even went as far as asking for permission first and talking about BLOGGING it... still, they would not budge... the employees, though friendly, was afraid their Bosses will be upset and they will be terminated...

Then I came back to Taipei, and saw the same familiar illustrations... yet, it is a bit different, as gone was the Tag Line... the focus more is on playing in the snow.... not much about the Sharing of Stories... which was also a disappointment...

That is until my Annual get together XMas dinner with the girls - and Juliana gifted us all with this year's cookie jar (oh so cute with a Rudolph lid cover)... as if it was not enough - the added bonus for me was that it came in a Brown Starbucks Holiday paper bag with the tag line I love most...

Truly a Double treat!!!
More Starbucks XMas 2010 Photos Here

It's That TIme of the Year Once More...

...and I really could not be HAPPIER.... yes, yes, life is FULL of DRAMAs, Ups and Downs, and TESTs, lately - still, it never fails, come this time of the year - I forget all and start humming joyful XMas ditties....

Normally, if I were back in the Bay Area, I would already have my XMas tree up, presents bought and wrapped, and XMas music fills the room - along with Just Desserts pumpkin Cookies or Carrot cake, as well as EGG NOGs & Apple Cider... the each nite, I would pick a different neighborhood to drive around or walk about - admiring and reveling on all the WONDERFUL XMAS displays from each home or shops... and loving every minute of it... the mechanical window displays of both Saks and Macys.... the incorporation of little doggies and kitties at Nieman Marcus' window displays... the glistening with so much XMas lights homes by the Marina... they were all wonders to see... the lighting of the Trees in both Union Square & Ghirardelli Square - all are TRULY not to be missed... seeing them all became a TRADITION!

In Taiwan, it is mostly at the Department stores that one can feel and revel in the XMas wonders.... some homes and churches, of course - but really, most of it are can only be seen at retail shops... this is truly one of those countries where one can Honestly say, XMas has become too commercialized... still, it does not stop me from going around and seeing and taking in all that I could... and there is still so much to see...

SOGO Department Store:

FORMOSA Regeant's Giant XMas Tree & Shops:

MORE XMAS in TAIWAN PHOTOS HERE

Of course, once in Manila - it is a totally different story.... being such a Catholic country - Christmas is in abundance.... everywhere you look, every corner - you can see and feel XMas... hell, I was seeing XMas since way back in October.... here are a few of the more WONDERFUL & MAGICAL displays I have seen so far....

AYALA MALLS has twinkling life sized Ballerinas & Nutcrackers all over - both on the ground and flying up in the air... MORE PHOTOS HERE:

...and my FAVE so FAR - Rustan's Mall - soooooo MAGICAL looking.... if you are a toy and fantasy lover - these windows are not to be missed..... COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE:

PS: Do share Holiday Photos from your parts of the world... would love to see them.... :))