Sightseeing in Stuttgart, Germany

Stuttgart is the 6th largest city in Germany. It is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg. We had a sightseeing in this city last October 2010. Like any other big German cities, it is full of historical buildings, architecture and monuments that are worthy to see and experience.

striking a pose at the Schlossplatz or the castle square in Stuttgart, Germany. The buildings on the background is the Neues Schloss (the New Castle), completed in 1807. It has a Baroque/Classicism architecture ; reconstructed with modern interior. It currently houses government offices.

Simple But Happy Life

I have quite a simple but happy life. We don't have a luxurious living but we have all the basic things we need. We just live according to our means. Hubby works to pay our monthly bills and all the things we need in our day to day living. When there are extra finances, we buy some things that we need. I am happy to get a new laptop and DSLR camera as Christmas presents. I would love to have a blackberry storm but it is not anymore in our budget..lol!

Sometimes life is just so simple. It is the simpliest thing that makes a person happy. I am thankful that I have quite a good life right now. Trials and problems might be always along the way but these are only challenges which test us how strong and determined we are to face it. Besides, God sees everything and He won't give us crosses that we cannot carry.

Have a blessed weekend!

Wish I'm Home

I always believed in the saying, "There is no place like home". A lot of people had been asking me if I want to go back again in my home country in the future. I already found my second home here in Europe but I always believed, that one day, I will find my way back home.

How I just wish that I am home this time...even just to give comfort especially to a loveone. Sometimes it is just difficult to be away from your loveones but there are always ways where you can meet again....and again!

One of the beautiful scenes I miss from my home country. There is where I used to sit especially in the afternoon watching the beauty as the sun goes down....what a priceless view of nature and I truly miss it!

Vegas Vacation

2008, 2009, 2010 and now we are in 2011. I am trying to remember how many years had passed since I spent a two-months vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. It was one of the most memorable and fabulous vacation I ever had. I am hoping to visit again United States in the near future and wishes to stay in any hotels on 5th ave. It is a luxury hotel but an affordable one. Here I am and Portia inside The Forum Shops in Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas. She is one of the good people I met in this city. Thanks a lot my friend for the company you gave me while in Vegas. I hope you are doing great wherever you are now.

Life's Burden

"Be assured beyond all doubting,
In the trial you're passing through,
That the Lord's great love and mercy
Is at work for good in you."

-Anon.

I miss this sunset in the Philippines!

Beef Broccoli Recipe

It seems that I am talking about food again here. This is not really a good idea. Anyway, I just miss cooking this recipe and after a year of not preparing it, I cooked it again last week. I wish to read about lipozene reviews when I am talking about food.

This beef brocoli recipe w came from a very good friend of mine. I only made my own style. You can see in the image here that there are brocoli, carrots, green pepper and beef that are mixed all together. I just don't have enough time to write the complete recipe of this and how to prepare it. I will see if I can do it in my future post. Watch it out!

This is a good food because it has a lot of vegetables like carrots and brocoli which are high in fibers and vitamins. I love this food!

Sinulog Festival in Cebu

The Sinulog festival in Cebu is a famous celebration in this city. It is an annual festival held every third Sunday of January. It has become a tourists magnet which attracts visitors from all parts of the Philippines and even from the whole world. The festival features a street parade with participants in bright colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs.

Here are some images taken during our visit last January 2010.

The Sinulog contest is always held in Cebu City Sports Complex

SINULOG TODAY:

Since 1521, devotion to the Santo Niño has grown and has taken root in Philippine popular piety, particularly in the Visayas; pilgrims from different parts of Cebu and the rest of the Philippines make their yearly journey to the church to take part in the procession and festival. Starting in 1980, the Cebu City government organized the Sinulog Mardi Gras and eventually gave incentives to tribal dance groups. The first Sinulog parade was held in 1980, organized by Dávid Odilao, then Regional Director of the Ministry of Sports, and Youth Development. The parade was composed of students dressed in Moro costumes, dancing the Sinulog to the beating of drums.

The idea caught and thus, under the direction of the Cebu City Mayor Florentino Solon with the help of several influential Cebuanos, Odilao turned over the Sinulog project to the Cebu City Historical Committee under Kagawad Jesus Garcia. It was the task of the Committee to conceptualize the Sinulog festival and make it into a yearly event from then on.

In 1981 the following year, the concept of the Sinulog Parade was actualized, involving practically every sector in the Cebuano community. Marking its difference from another popular festival, the Ati-Atihan in Aklan, the Sinulog focuses not on the ritual itself but on the historical aspects of the dance, which, as it has been said, represents the link the country's embrace of Christian faith.

The Sinulog dance steps were believed to originate from Rajah Humabon's adviser, Baladhay. It was during Humabon's grief when Baladhay was driven sick. He then ordered his native tribe to bring Baladhay into a chapel where the Santo Niño was enthroned. Moments later, surprisingly, Baldhay was heard shouting and was found dancing with outmost alertness. Baladhay was questioned as to whether why was he awake and was shouting. Baladhay explained that he found a small child, pointing to the image of the Santo Niño, on top of him and trying to wake him up. He, at great astonishment, scared the child away by shouting but couldn't explain why he was dancing the movements of the river. Up to this day, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward movement dance is still used by the Santo Niño devotees believing that it was the Santo Niño's choice to have Baladhay dance. more Sinulog infos here