Canyon Ranch

Last night, we visited Heinz-Werner's abode at Canyon Ranch. It is situated in the most prime location in Carmona, Cavite, and is part of the sprawling 77-hectare San Lazaro Leisure Park. Its high elevation provides stunning views of landmark surroundings.



Though the lot area is small, the house has nice architectural design. There are lots of finished houses but a community is yet to establish.

Fast foods

When it comes to Filipinos, there are different fast food chains that can provide just the right kind of taste that we are looking for. Jollibee, Mcdonalds, Red Ribbon and Chowking are the top fast food chains in the Philippines to date, serving their unique menu from their delectable choices of hamburgers, crispy chicken, spaghetti, and other pinoy meals for Filipinos all over the world to enjoy.





Since we arrived here three weeks ago, dirk and our guests prefer to cook in our new kitchen. I missed so much these fastfoods that up to now my lunch and dinner come fom take-outs.

Charity Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner but because of the last typhoons that affected most of our kababayans, the celebration will not be the same. It's just once a year but we also need to prioritize the repair for damage caused by Ondoy and Peping. We, Filipinos are survivors and no amount of storm can dampen the spirit of christmas.


For many years now, actor Aga Muhlach started the project Maaga ang Pasko sa Jollibee. He asked the people to donate at any Jollibee branch used toys, books and other things for the poor kids. In turn, the biggest franchise food chain in the country will also make a counterpart on the donations.

Alone but not Lost

Yesterday, our guests tried for the first time to drive to SM Santa Rosa without us. Dirk cannot leave our house because of the on-going post-construction. They succeeded in finding the store chain and shopped for some foods and house items.

Weekly Bonding

My children lives a few kilometer from our place and since they're busy with their work and schooling, we only meet on the weekend. It's hard to see them all at one time because of their schedules. They're near yet so far, at least i'm just a ring/text and few kilometers away. But that's life, my only consolation is that i'm here for them in the joyous season. They asked me to take some solo pictures of them for their friendster and facebook account. Even my grandchildren are addicted to farmville in facebook.


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Our lunch at Razon's last saturday where i taste for the first time a dish called sisig

A German Visitor

Yesterday, Hans-werner visited us in our new place. He's vacationing here alone and his wife was not able to join him because of work schedule. He had a house in Carmona which is just few kilometers from ou place. We invited him to joined us for lunch.

The Kitchen Queen

I'm on temporarily hiatus and semi-retired on my domestic duties. Let the guests do the cooking and do some household work. Here in our new home, Swetha, Arthur's russian girlfriend is our kitchen queen. They loved to go to the public market to buy some fresh fish, vegetables and fruits. She also cooked well and even bring her own spices from Moscow.

Our Guest Bed

Our guest bed was delivered yesterday. Its made of massive wood and its very heavy. Look at the pictures below on how they bring the bed to the second floor of our house. We have it customized in one of the furniture shops along Tagaytay road. They dismantled the bed and screwed it together in the bedroom.

Cost- Cutting Measures

Life is not that easy, with the present economic crisis, we're also doing some cost cutting measures on our new house. As much as possible, we don't use the air condition that much, we want to save on electricity and water as well.


We still have few plants in our garden and we have a sensor that if the soil is dry then our hose will automatically water all the plants.


We also don't hire an interior decorator, we just do it ourselves, we have a very tight budget and every single cent that we save helps. We shipped some of our painting and some household items. But since we're already at the Mall of Asia yesterday, we just look at some paintings available there but we're going to buy that later when the pocket is already stabilized.

The Power of Plants

In our new house, to conceal the outside unit of the aircon, we covered it with plants which also serve as our fence at the moment.



We also have thai bamboo to cover us from the neighbor's peep.

My Christmas Tree

Here in the Philippines, putting christmas decorations starts during the BER months. So as early as September, some people already starting to decorate their homes. When we arrive here, or house is already decorated with christmas bling blings. My daughters used our old christmas tree from our rented house but all the christmas balls and the red star are from Germany.



That spot of the house is my favorite where i have a small artificial flower garden.

Fine Dining at Home

We don't have internet connection yesterday thats why i was not able to blog. My day is not complete without an entry in my blog world. For the first time, instead of eating in the restaurant, Arthur's girlfriend cooked for us.


She prepared vegetable salad, tenderloin with curry and another pork dish with vegetables. It tastes good but i only eat the pork because i dont eat vegetables.



Also yesterday, three of our balikbayan boxes arrived. You know what is inside, well its dirk's beer dispenser and beers from germany and the two other package contained the roll up door and my sampayan, imported from Germany.

Pool Hopping

Yesterday, we showed our guests the other swimming pools in our area. They're already familiar with our villas pool but never been tokyo and bali pools.


The Tokyo Mansion japanese inspired swimming pool

The Bali indonesian pool at Bali Mansions

Dinner at King Bee

Yesterday, Espenia, Arthur's girlfriend from Moscow arrived late afternoon. We know how tired the flight is but still she managed to joined us for dinner at a chinese restaurant nearby.


We're fastfood fanatics but this time its something special and different. We have dimsum as starters and ordered fried ducks and chicken.


The good thing here in Philippines, the price of foods are reasonable and affordable.

The Village Rules

Here in our subdivision, there are some rules that needs to be strictly followed. Our landscapers are supposed to start the garden project the other day but due to some paper requirements, they were not able to do so. They need a working permit from me and a gatepass. That's why, they need to finish the landscaping yesterday otherwise the blue grass will turned to yellow and had no use anymore.

Workers are not allowed to enter if they wear shorts and slippers, when working in the site its fine. They should also not smell of liquor and motorbikes are a not allowed. Request letter is needed when working overtime. In general, i like their security protection to homeowners.

Friday Blues

Dirk was too busy installing the toilet and other accessories inside our house. Slowly its getting better and look like a house now, though we still needs lots of furniture. But because of financial constraints, we're concentrating on what is really needed, we need to prioritize things.


Our search for furniture continued today, we found a nice dining table for a reasonable price.

We also window shop for paintings but its the least of our priority right now.

Dirk also chooses some plants for our small garden

Haircut

Body pampering and other services in the Philippines are cheaper compared to Europe. Our last haircut was three months ago during our vacation here. So, one of the first thing we do here is to have a haircut.

Dirk's haircut cost only 80 pesos which is just one euro something with back massage at SM mall fully airconditioned barber shop, in Germany, he pays 16 euro.