Pulse

Today, the last Sunday of September, is World Heart Day.

How do you intend to celebrate?

The World Heart Federation has collaborated with organizations around the world to mark the day with the theme "Team Up for Healthy Hearts". Most of the activities are geared towards educating the public about the global burden of cardiovascular disease and promoting healthy lifestyle choices to prevent heart disease.

Labels: medical information

No Reservations is much, much more than the story of 2 chefs who do things very differently and yet fall in love. It also speaks about grief and recovery; that being strong does not necessarily mean that you can't show emotion; about finding love when you least expect it; and that life is not always in your control.

Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Kate, one of New York's finest chefs. She demands perfection and has devoted her life to the kitchen, nixing love and relationships. She exists only to please herself. All these changes when raising a child suddenly becomes her responsibility. The hiring of an Italian sous chef played by Aaron Eckhart rocks her world all the more. How she manages is what the rest of the movie is all about. That's just the appetizer.

As Kate, Zeta-Jones gets to display a myriad of emotions from anger, sadness to joy. She also does well essaying the role of a chef that you find yourself believing she did those dishes by herself. Aaron Eckhart is charming as Nick, the laid back sous chef - a perfect contrast to Kate.

The movie is not without its dramatic moments and most of these are related to the relationship between Kate and her niece and how they manage to rise above tragedy. No onions necessary, the scenes were enough to make me cry.

Without reservations, I encourage you to watch this movie - to laugh, cry and to experience what happens in a chef's kitchen.

no reservations, movie, chef, catherine zeta jones, aaron eckhart

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

Much has been said about the Ateneo-La Salle basketball rivalry. It has even reached The New York Times. Krispy Kreme even issued a new doughnut to celebrate the rivalry.

I'm not rooting for either one. I'd rather have the plain amazing glaze doughnut. Technically, I should be rooting for the maroons. However, college basketball has never been my interest. Never saw a game while in college although I named a stuffed toy Benjie because the Maroons were very popular then.

Bloggers have revealed their colors. From their posts, we know now who's blue and who's green. Here's a short list.

Bianca - Brown Baron - Cathy - Frances - Howie - Jane - Maki - Ria - Sexy Mom

Aileen - Allen - Anton - Katrina - Linnor - Monaco - Nick - Tina Elaine

What about you? Are you rooting for the blue eagle or the green archer?

Which leads me to one other question. Enlighten me please.

Which was named earlier, the eagle or the archer?

I would presume the eagle, otherwise why would the other team call themselves archers? Am I right?

ateneo, la salle, uaap, blue eagle, green archer

I don't like being shouted at or having to endure other forms of verbal abuse. I don't like it at all.

In fact, when I get shouted at, my tendency is to rethink the importance of that person in my life. After all, I don't think anyone deserves to be treated as such. If he or she does not really matter much to you, then why continue the relationship and subject yourself to more abuse?

I find too that sometimes other people change when they realize that you don't like how they're treating you. But if somehow you give them the impression that it's all right, then you can never stop the abuse. You have to stand up for your right and show them what is right. Or, in my case, sever the relationship until I see a conscious attempt at change.

Sometimes, however, abusers think that their offense can be healed by time. They let time pass and wait for them to be forgiven or the offense forgotten. I don't agree with this behavior at all. Abusers should be responsible enough to acknowledge their offense and mature enough to apologize. Why are they so tough dispensing abuse yet too scared to say I'm sorry? Why is doing the right thing more difficult?

How we feel is important to us. How we make others feel is important too. Is it truthful to say that we are victims all the time? Are we not guilty too of dispensing verbal abuse somehow, somewhat? Let's reexamine our lives then.

The key to stopping abuse is to recognize it, whether you are the abuser or the abused.

This post is part of the Blog Catalog's group writing project, the Bloggers Unite campaign to stop the abuse.

blog catalog, bloggers unite, stop the abuse, verbal abuse, group writing project

Labels: group writing project

I've blogged about Lakbay Pilipinas twice already when I joined their contests 1 and 2.

Now, this is an invitation to check out my post about Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa at Philippines Travel blog.

Here's what the people behind the sites say about them.

LakbayPilipinas.com mission is to develop, innovate, and offer comprehensive travel guide to travellers. The goal of this blog is provide a community for travel bloggers by sharing their views, insights and personal travel experiences.

Philippines Travel Blog aims to collect comprehensive travel journals, diaries and photos from all over the Philippines. We hope to give you a good mix of relevant and fresh travel news about the Philippine travel industry.

Labels: travel

Do you believe in the superstition about walking under the ladder?

I don't and apparently so does these 2 students, unless they're clueless about it.

I don't believe in superstitions but if it can be helped, I try to avoid putting myself in that situation. Here, the alternative was to walk on the street instead of the sidewalk which is a real and not just a perceived danger. I chose to walk under the ladder.

Labels: exercise time

Melo Villareal of Philippine Travel Blog is running another contest. This time, it's a sort of a group writing project on Philippine destinations. The following are required to score an 8 oz Starbucks coffee tumbler: comment on the post, blog about the contest and submit an article about a recent trip to a local destination.

There are only 9 such tumblers offered. Do you want to win one too? Start blogging about the contest and your recent trip to any Philippine destination then head to Lakbay Pilipinas to comment on the contest post.

melo villareal, starbucks, lakbay pilipinas, philippine travel blog, contest, philippine destination

Labels: contest

A total of 122 participants put in their two cents worth and contributed to Daily Blog Tips group writing project on Tips and Tricks. I was one of them.

The following are my favorite sets of tips and tricks.

A blogger's tips on keeping the creativity juices flowing. If not for this post by Ajay, I would not have learned about this project. Ajay acknowledges that blogging is hard work. She lists ways on how to remain creative.

Thirteen tips to help you resume your health and fitness program if you get off track. Janie reiterates that keeping fit is a work in progress. She understands setbacks and encourages others to rise above these obstacles.

Top 10 countdown of your most creative relaxation ideas. Destressing is important to me. This post published by Sparky, a psychiatrist, in How to Cope with Pain enumerates just how we can get our bodies and minds to take a time-out.

There are 118 more sets of tips and tricks for you to discover. Head to Daily Blog Tips now.

daily blog tips, group writing project tips and tricks

Labels: group writing project

Labels: movies

Sarah aka GnomeyNewt of bluejar.com recently ran a "how-to" group writing project. Forty four entries were accepted, one of them mine.

Labels: group writing project

This restaurant was very popular in the 90's for its baby back ribs and other flame grilled specialties. One by one, however, branches started closing and somehow it lost its clientele.

Racks is staging a comeback. It now has 3 branches in El Pueblo, Greenhills and Makati.

I tried the El Pueblo branch sometime ago for breakfast and was satisfied. Today, I had the Hickory Chicken (PHP 140) for lunch at their Greenhills branch. And true to the restaurant's promise, it did fall off its bone. It was very juicy and tender and came with rice and a choice of side.

Besides the food, other good things about Racks include a warm and friendly staff and its bright interiors which carry a country home theme.

Let's hope that Racks the restaurant will continue and not fall off its bone.

racks, el pueblo, greenhills, restaurant, baby back ribs

Treadmill x 45 minutes x 272 calories

Labels: exercise time, taste test

Yeah right.

To a physician, a 4-hour workweek sounds like wishful thinking. After all, we devote most of our waking hours to the hospital and are even on call after that.

But Timothy Ferriss promises a 4-Hour Workweek and more. Escape 9-5. Live Anywhere. Join the New Rich.

I'm definitely interested. Intrigued, even. I wonder if his principles apply to people like me.

It's a good thing then that Manila Freelancer is giving away a copy of the book. Check out Melo Villareal's post, comment and then blog about it. After that, you're on way to getting a copy of the book. How it changes your workweek is up to you.

the 4-hour workweek: escape 9-5, live anywhere, join the new rich, timothy ferriss, manila freelancer, melo villareal, contest

Photo from this site.

Labels: contest

To enjoy the movie Underdog, one should always remember that it was made precisely for children. My cousin from Marikina's son Miguel, who also happens to be my inaanak, enjoyed the movie much more than I did.

The plot is predictable but engaging enough. The funniest scenes were those of Underdog (Shoeshine) interacting with his human. However, I felt though that too many scenes were shown in the trailers leaving little room for surprises. Many references were made to Superman and indeed the entire movie seems like a spoof of Superman.

If you really want to see the movie, bring out the inner child in you. Otherwise, you can wait for it to be shown on The Disney Channel.

underdog, movies, disney, superman

Labels: movies

So you've applied the photography tips you've learned online, took a lot of pictures while on vacation using the principles of looking good, now what?

It's time to organize your photographs. Here are some tips and tricks.

Do it as soon after the trip as possible. I know you have a myriad of things to do upon getting back but believe me, organizing your photographs is one chore that you don't want to postpone. Otherwise, you might not have the time to do it at all or worse, your memory might fail you. It's best done when everything is fresh from your mind. Also, the longer you keep those prints unfiled will expose them to fingerprints, etc.

Digital vs traditional. There are two ways of organizing your travel pictures, printing them and storing them in a photo album or uploading them to a photo site. Personally, I use both.

• Photo sharing sites. The advantage of digital storage is the ability to share your pictures to friends, family and even the world. It's less costly too. I upload my pictures to Flickr. Other options are Webshots, Slide, Smilebox, Multiply, etc.
• Photo albums. My photo albums are specific for the destination. I don't mix pictures taken in Singapore with those from Hong Kong or Malaysia, for example. When available, I buy a photo album emblazoned with the destination, like I did for Hong Kong Disneyland.

Labels: group writing project, photography, travel

I learned about Le Ching way back in the 1990's while in medical school. My friend Geraldine introduced me to the place and the rest of the barkada loved it too. I remember it was one of our "to-do" things after the board exams. We wanted comfort food.

Since then, I've been visiting the place either alone or with friends and family when I'm in Greenhills. My favorite is their Spareribs Rice (PHP 97) which I order all the time, occasionally pairing it with hakao (PHP 75) or century egg (PHP 38). The other items in the menu are similarly priced and pleasing to the palate. Geraldine loves the spareribs rice too and chicken feet (PHP 65). My mom loves the shrimp cheongfan.

Don't be turned off however by its no frills decorating. Both branches in Greenhills look like an office canteen. Although Le Ching Too, which is in Shoppesville too but faces the tiangge, is more modern in design, it needs some renovation compared to the original branch in Shoppesville facing McDonalds.

Some years ago, while in fellowship training, my friends and I made a mission to go to Le Ching. A professor tagged along, was appalled at the place and brought us instead to the then Maxim's, now MXT, also in Shoppesville. The ambiance was definitely better, the food more expensive but we were less satisfied physically and emotionally. Somehow, the combination of cheap yet delicious food is more filling. Ambiance does not fill you up.

The restaurant may have gotten older in appearance but the taste remains. It has not changed since the time I first became a customer. The reason is probably good management. I am not party to their labor relations but just an observant one. I see the same faces I saw in the 90's. I think that's enough testament that the workers and management enjoy a healthy relationship.

Some 15 years later, I am as faithful to Le Ching as I was in those days as a medical student. Though I hope it considers renovation, I intend to remain a customer for as long as they continue to serve good food.

le ching, greenhills, chinese restaurant, spareribs rice

Le Ching
G/F Units 8-10 Shoppesville Arcade,
Greenhills Shopping Center
Ortigas Avenue, San Juan
Phone: 7263677

Labels: taste test

The Brave One tells the story of Erica Bain, New York's Streetwalker, who becomes a victim of a street crime and later takes matters into her own hands.

As usual, two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster acts up a storm. I feel however that the actor has become a victim of typecasting. Her roles often show her as a tough, no nonsense person. I want her to show her versatility. A comedy perhaps? A romantic one at that? Meryll Streep can easily shift from one genre to the other and so does Julia Roberts who proved in Erin Brockovich that she can do much much more beyond Pretty Woman. I think Jodie Foster should try to go beyond the familiar.

The other star of the movie is the city of New York. What we see however is its dark and ugly side. The violence shown in the movie is enough to scare the prospective tourist.

After all, bravery is harder to come by than cowardice or apathy.

the brave one, movie, jodie foster, new york

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

One of the reasons why I decluttered last Sunday was because a group has been soliciting things to donate to an orphanage in Bulacan. Here are some of my finds and what I'm giving the children.

My own toys. I'm way past playing with toys from my childhood but I'm only giving away a select few. I've kept the ones with sentimental value and which hold special memories. I've not checked what's inside the cabinets too so there might be more than what I remember.

Reserve gifts that were never given away. I know you've also chanced upon a good deal or bargain and ended up buying what you don't actually need. You convince yourself that there will be a time you will need it. Meanwhile, leave it in storage. That's the story behind these toys.

Toys from kiddie meals. I usually order a kiddie meal when abroad. The serving size is just enough for me. It comes with a free toy. It's relatively inexpensive compared to the other items on the menu. My collection includes such from A&W, Arby's, Burger King, McDonalds, Jack in the Box and Popeye. These include the merchandise of Kim Possible, Star Wars, Batman, Transformers, Barbie, etc. They haven't been opened too.

Items from my friend Rita. She's the quintessential shopper. She frequents Tutuban and similar places looking for good deals and when she does, she buys something for me too. I'm sure she wouldn't mind that I'm giving these away. After all, she was the one who initiated the shift of our Christmas party from only adults to include children.

Drink of the month toys. Toys that came with very expensive drinks. My dad brought these home after buffet meals at Saisaki or Dads with clients, business associates. He agrees with giving these toys to the orphanage. Up to now, I can't believe why the drinks are priced that way.

I thought about giving these toys to my nephews and niece but they have their fair share of toys and parents to give them what they need. I believe the children of the orphanage need these things more and will appreciate them more.

decluttering, toys, children, charity, orphanage

Labels: friends, musings

I love movies. Watching them destresses me. My college yearbook describes me as a movie addict. After all, back then I would watch a movie a week and rent laser discs in between. Since I started this online journal, I've blogged about movies 29 times. That's roughly 16% of the total number of posts.

What I've learned from watching movies is that there are key elements to a great movie experience.

Watch it on the big screen. Home theaters have become popular but experiencing a movie for the first time in the theater is an experience not to be missed. Everything is just larger than life and sounds so well. You're helping Edu Manzano's campaign too. And if you follow the rest of the tips below, you can watch it uninterrupted.

Choose the cinema well. I like the following cinemas - Shang Cineplex, Greenhills Theater Mall and Rockwell. I don't like watching movies in The Podium. My feet don't reach the floor of the movie theater.

Be on time. If you're on time, you can watch the trailers and the movie from its beginning. Also, you don't inconvenience and distract other people already watching the movie as you move yourself to your seat.

Choose your seat well. Your seat would likely depend on your visual acuity. If no seat to your liking is available, consider waiting for the next screening. You don't want to strain your eyes and crane your neck while sitting in the front row.

Watch the trailers. It's always nice to see what's next and plan your next adventure. It provides a teaser of the movie, you can then decide whether to see it in full or not.

Start at the beginning. You can only fully understand the movie if seen from the beginning. And when you do that, you're less likely to turn to your companion and ask "How'd that happen?" which can be pretty distracting to the other members of the audience.

Turn your cellphone off or silence it. I saw a cartoon once and a senior citizen's phone rang. She picked it up and it was even in speakerphone mode. Good she left the theater hurriedly. If you must use your phone, leave the theater and just return when you're done calling.

Empty your bladder. You don't want the urge to pee when the movie is at its climax. My mom wanted me to go to the toilet with her just when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters were battling in the Department of Mysteries. She had to go on her own.

Bring a friend or not. Is your friend the noisy type? If so, better watch the movie alone.

Observe good manners. If you want to be treated well, treat others well too. Chew silently. Turn off your cellphone. Whisper. Don't kick the seat in front of you.

Don't read reviews before seeing the movie. It spoils the entire movie experience. You end up checking if the critic got it right. And if a critic writes badly about a movie, you might decide not to see it and miss one you could have enjoyed. Read the review after seeing the movie and then compare.

Dress comfortably. Some theaters can be very cold. Bring a jacket if you must.

Make sure you're rested. I watched Jurassic Park after coming from a 32-hour duty and I slept through it. Get a good shut-eye before seeing a movie. Otherwise, you'd be wasting your money and your snoring might hit a nerve.

Popcorn, perhaps? The icing on the cake. Eat whatever fills you. Of course, remember to follow the rules of the cinema. Dispose your trash properly. Eat in moderation.

These tips work for me. I'm sure they'd work for you too.


This post is part of the "How To" group writing project of Sarah Pacopac aka GnomeyNewt of Blue Jar.com.

movies, how to group writing project, bluejar.com

Labels: group writing project, movies

The comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry which stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James tells the story of 2 firefighters, the best of friends, who stick it out with each other whether battling fire, the government or the justice system.

Labels: movies

Before SumoSam opened in The Ledge, Shangri-La Mall's restaurant row, I was already a fan. Not because I've tasted it before but because I heard that Marvin Agustin owns the Japanese restaurant. I'm not exactly a fan of the guy but I admire how he has changed his life and succeeded. His life is a true rags-to-riches story. And that alone warrants our support

When the store did open, it did not disappoint. In fact it has become one of my favorite restaurants in the mall. And many seem to share my sentiments. It is perhaps the busiest in the row with guests willing to wait. Tables and chairs have spilled on both sides of the restaurant, another testament to its drawing power.

In picture is my lunch today, Chicken Teriyaki (PHP165). Although pricier than Teriyaki Boy's, the SumoSam version tastes as good but comes with a side of greens. On other visits, I've tried the tori chizu roll, California roll, Japanese fried rice, gohan, tori kawayari, salmon belly teriyaki, kani bakon, hot prawn salad, ebi tempura, etc. They were all excellent and impressed my dining companions too whether they were family or friends.

The place is also a great location to spot celebrities. On separate occasions, I chanced upon Lucy Torres-Gomez and Richard Gomez, Gelli de Belen, Ariel Rivera and their kids and of course, Marvin.

Although I was first attracted to the restaurant because of Marvin, the food and service are what makes me come back again and again.

Kudos to Marvin and his team for a job well done.

sumosam, shangri-la mall, the ledge, marvin agustin, japanese food

Labels: taste test

The last 10 days have been very busy for me. Covering for 6 doctors who were in a medical conference. Taking care of my own patients. Three hospitals. Three clinics. Starting work at 6 AM. Ending at 7 PM. Answering calls in between. Occasionally going back to the hospital. Typing reports. (Yet finding time to blog, eat out and watch a movie. Didn't I just tell you that Me Time is important too?)

That should be enough reason for me to have a lazy Sunday. But then I decided to do some cleaning and declutter so that I can set up the printer I bought last Sunday and find stuff to give to charity.

I found...reserve gifts dating back to 2001 that were not given away...unfinished cross stitch projects...manuals of computer games long abandoned...expired medicine...freebies from restaurants...knitting needles...promotional items such as Post-Its, alarm clocks, ballpens, CDs, bags...planners never written on...expired film...manuals of appliances already broken or given away...photographs...brochures from past trips, the oldest one being from 2003...yarn...empty patient charts...toys...prescription pads...account statements...reference materials already outdated...expired microwave popcorn...etc...etc

In the middle of it all, I felt my eyes getting heavy and sleepy. I wanted to quit but couldn't. In my attempt to clean my room, the clutter has spread to the other areas of the house. I was pretty sure I wouldn't hear the end of it from my mom and her girl Friday if I don't finish the job.

I did but there's still work to be done (and yet I haven't decluttered what's inside the cabinets). Today, I gave some of my finds to my secretary for use in the clinic and the CDs I gave to a fellow in training. I'm giving the toys to an orphanage and the medical journals to a library.

After all, I agree with whoever said that

One man's clutter is another man's treasure.

Labels: musings

I remember reading Nancy Drew pocketbooks as a child because sister no. 3 used to bring them home from the library. Beyond that, I don't recall anything at all about the books.

The movie Nancy Drew is about a Ms. Goody Two Shoes teenager clueless about fashion, boys, etc and who'd rather be solving mysteries and piecing clues together. Emma Roberts plays the girl detective really well and you'd understand why Nancy Drew seems totally misplaced in LA. Josh Flitter plays her sidekick Corky and manages to run away with each scene he's in. Totally funny, much more so than how he was in License to Wed. Tate Donovan plays Nancy's dad and does wonderfully too but the author seems to have aged a lot since I last saw him in the OC.

The movie is engaging from start to finish and ends with the teenage detective kissing her childhood friend. Well, she's probably not as clueless after all.

nancy drew, movies, emma roberts, josh flitter, tate donovan

Labels: movies

Recent events led me to add this rejoinder to my previous post Time Management Prescription.

How you manage your time affects not only your life but others' too. Below are ways to handle your own time so that others may maximize theirs too. These tips apply to those who share office space, equipment, etc with other people.

Start early and on time. Being punctual gives you the full benefit of your allotted time and prevents encroachment on other people's time. It also earns you the respect of clients.

Allow for traffic, etc. More often than not, we blame traffic and other people for our tardiness. Factor that in the equation and still manage to be on time. You owe your clients and peers that much. Be responsible enough to make adjustments.

End on time. Understand that there are other people who will use the space or the equipment. They have a right to start on time. Don't spend their time as if it were your own.

Set a good example. If you started late because the person ahead of you ended late, don't use it as an excuse to end late and encroach on the time of the person after you. Keep to your time. Otherwise, you are as abusive as the person who abused your time.

Respect other people's time. Try to keep within your time. If you must encroach on another person's time, be courteous enough to apologize and remember not to do it again.

Time is important to everyone. Don't behave as if only yours matters.


This post is a part of the group writing project on time management hosted by Inspiration Bit.

group writing project, time management, prescription, inspiration bit

Labels: group writing project

Labels: announcement, friends

As a physician, time management is essential to my work. It allows me to give the best care to my patients and to have enough time to spend taking care of myself and my family.

Here is my prescription for time management.

Organize. I plan all my activities the day before and plot in my mind the most energy and time saving route and sequence of activities. Doing so leaves me with more energy and time for emergencies and other stuff.

Prioritize. Do the most important and emergent things first. Otherwise, if you focus on minor details initially, you lose time which is often necessary in handling bigger things.

Delegate. Recognize that no man is an island. Harness the support of those around you. And when it's their turn to ask your help, lend a hand.

Don't procrastinate. Jump in and do what is required of you. Do not wallow in timidity, negativity or self-pity. Those three never get the job done.

Know your body clock. Find the time your body is most productive and do most of your activities then.

Learn to say no. Consider your limitations. You're not superman after all. Accept only what you can handle.

Use other avenues. If time is an issue, find other means to get your job done. My mobile phone takes care of my blogging when I don't have time to power up a PC or laptop.

Me Time is important too. With all the things we set out to do and the little time that we have, burn out is an occupational hazard. Remember to leave some time for yourself to recharge. A renewed spirit is more productive and gets the job done faster.

Apply daily.


This post is part of the group writing project on time management hosted by Inspiration Bit.

group writing project, time management, inspiration bit

Labels: group writing project

Labels: taste test

The movie The Invasion which topbills Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig was not at all what I expected. The trailer shows a space shuttle accident and Nicole Kidman evading detection by not showing emotion while walking through people whose minds have been controlled. I expected to see aliens. I did not expect the plot to be medical in nature. It is Outbreak once again but this time the offending agent is from out of this world. The problem with the movie is that although the plot is medical in nature, it neglects to address this issue altogether. Although some explanation is given, it appears far fetched and forced. Much of the movie was devoted to running and evading detection. And so you leave the moviehouse with more questions than answers.

Nicole Kidman is one of the prettiest faces in the film industry and she remains beautiful all throughout the movie despite the many difficulties her character experiences. The movie is a waste of her talent and Daniel Craig's for they do very little apart from running, acting surprised or paranoid.

The movie is engaging enough but the plot is simply too incredible to believe. Medicine, although not an exact science, is not as simple as it was presented in the movie.

the invasion, nicole kidman, daniel craig, movie, review

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

One of the highlights of our visit to the happiest place on earth was the character breakfast at Plaza Inn.

Breakfast is not included in Disney's Hollywood Hotel and since I wanted to experience Disney magic to the fullest, I booked breakfast at Plaza Inn. And at a discounted rate too because I booked it at the time of reservation.

It was my first time to have breakfast a a theme park. I passed off Singapore Zoo's Breakfast with Orangutans. I don't think I'd be comfortable eating with animals.

Labels: hongkong, taste test, travel

I frequent 2 restaurant rows that have Penang Hill as a tenant. However, it's only today that I was able to try their menu.

One of the draws of a restaurant to a potential customer is the number of people already inside. Somehow, seeing many people inside leads the potential customer into thinking that the restaurant must be good.

That's precisely why it took me a long time before enjoying a meal at Penang Hill. In the many instances I passed both restaurants, there seems to be very few or no people at all inside. In fact, eating there today was accidental. We wanted to try Chosun Korean BBQ which opened yesterday at the Ledge but it was full. And so was Sumosam. And because there were seats available and no wait list, we opted for Penang Hill.

And what a nice accident it was. The food was good and relatively inexpensive. We spent less than PHP2000 for 8 dishes for 5 people and all of us ordered drinks too. In fact, there was still enough for 1 more person.

In picture are the dishes we enjoyed -- Satay Kajang (PHP 180), Grilled Pork Dumplings (PHP 110), Asian Style Spring Rolls (PHP 140), Broccoli and Bean Curd (PHP165), Prawns with Salted Egg Sauce (PHP365), Bagoong Fried Rice (PHP 220). I forgot to take pictures of the Tom Yang Goong (PHP 240) and the Hainanese Chicken (PHP 250).

My companions couldn't stop raving about the Tom Yang Goong. I didn't like it as much as I don't really go for sour broth. The Hainanese Chicken was my choice but it cannot compare with what I've tasted in Singapore or locally in EDSA Shangri-La Hotel or Saints Cafe.

Today's food trip brought back memories of my recent travel to Malaysia. I plan to go back to Penang Hill once more to try the roti and nasi rendang, 2 of the dishes I enjoyed in KL. I hope others would give it a chance too. Otherwise, it would only attract the spillover crowd.

penang hill, malaysia, food, restaurant

Treadmill x 30 minutes x 160 calories

Labels: exercise time, taste test

The movie Hairspray is not only wonderful because of its story, music and cast but also because it is instructive about life in the sixties.

Hairspray. The movie shows the widespread use of hairspray and notes how it has changed women's views about how hair should be styled. This trend would continue on until the 1980s when the use of aerosol dipped because of its link to environmental damage.

Smoking and Pregnancy. A brief scene in the movie showed pregnant women smoking and drinking alcohol. Studies linking smoking to birth defects were first started in the 1960s. This was followed by aggressive lobbying on the part of the medical profession to protect unborn babies and pregnant mothers about the hazards of smoking.

Segregation vs Integration. Much of the conflict in the movie is about segregation of black and white and the difficult road to integration. While there has been integration since then, discrimination remains and is not exclusive to color. This may be on the subject of religion, weight, sexual preference, etc.

We've definitely gone a long way from the sixties but still the problems remain. Let's keep working at it.

hairspray, movie, nikki blonsky, john travolta,zac efron

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies