April 11, 2023

Holy Week in Norway

Just like that, the long holiday is finally over and the alarm clock is on again. Well, we did not travel last week so I will just share our Holy Week last year. This was our third Holy Week in Norway; we were in Røros in 2017, Oslo in 2019 and last year we were able to visit Stugudalen.



I was looking forward to our Holy Week break because even though we are in Norway, my son has classes so hindi rin naman kami makapagtravel talaga so naghihintay talaga ko ng walang pasok. Unfortunately, the weather was not good so we were stuck at home for the first few days. My son was preoccupied with his project. I’m thankful that my mom has the materials so I was able to save money, no need to buy art materials. 



Anyway, my mom’s sister-in-law has a cottage in Stugudalen and they usually go there every Holy Week so my mom decided to visit so we can meet them again after two decades. We were supposed to stay in Stugudalen but all accommodations were fully-booked. But we still pushed our trip kahit day tour na lang. So we had a last-minute grocery shopping so I can cook Pork and Liver adobo for our potluck. We also took advantage of the Easter Sale so we bought some chocolates. 



Day Trip at Stugudalen and Tydal Nature Park 

Travel time is more than four hours so we left early to catch the first boat trip. No more snow in Ørland but when we reached Stugudalen, parang Winter Wonderland na naman. We also dropped by at Tydal Nature Park on our way home. This deserves a separate post. 




We traveled more than 5 hours on our way home because we did not ride a Ferry so it was a long drive but I was able to see the second-longest bridge span in Norway which is Hålogaland Bridge. 


Northern Lights 

It was a long day for us but I couldn’t sleep yet because according to the Northern Lights forecast, there will be an 83% chance of Northern Lights. This was my second Aurora Borealis experience in Norway and the first experience for my son. 


Easter Sunday 

My aunt invited us for Easter lunch so we eat, play, eat, and play. We also had an Easter egg hunt and I won.





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April 04, 2023

Trip to Ørland Cultural Center

My son has no face-to-face classes for two weeks, ang sarap magvacation but we don’t have travel plans yet. So we will just spend our Holy Week break at home and because of that, I decided to do some throwback posts.


Over a year ago, we visited Ørland Cultural Center, our first agenda is to go to the police station, yes police station because my mom needs to get some documents for my brother’s Schengen Visa Application. For the past decades, my mom always goes to the police station just to get UDI and Invitation Letter with a stamp. But last year, we were surprised when the police told her that she no longer needs to go there, she can just download the form online and stamps are no longer needed. This is good news because we can just type the details, print and sign. 



Since we were already at the Ørland Cultural Center, we decided to explore the area and check what is new. We’ve been here, a few times already so we knew that they have a library, cinema, and tourist information. We watched Avengers: Endgame here way back in 2019. 





Last year, we discovered that there is Wetland Exhibition, Gallery Hans, and The Hannah Ryggen Center. Fortunately, there is an English translation so we were able to learn something new. 

Wetland Exhibition Center 

There are six Wetland Visitor Centers in Norway and this is one of the six centers so we are lucky to visit one. By visiting the centers, guests can gain an understanding and become more aware of the value of the wetlands and how to protect them. The exhibit focuses on these four areas; Grandefjæra, Hovsfjæra, Innstrandfjæra and Kråkvågsvaet 





Gallery Hans and Hannah Ryggen Center 

Hannah Ryggen is a Swedish artist who settled on a small farm in Norway after marrying her painter husband Hans Ryggen. We're able to see some of their masterpiece in the center. 





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March 28, 2023

The Song

Just this week we watched “The Song” movie, an American romantic drama film in 2014. The film was inspired by the book Song of Songs and Solomon’s Life. The story is about Jed King; a struggling musician and son of successful country music legend, David King. 

At a festival, he met Rose, the daughter of a vineyard owner. He fell in love, married her, and wrote a song about her wife. This song became an instrument to his stardom but because of his fame, it affected his marriage and life choices. 

I like this song, it can be a wedding song too. 



The Song (Awaken Love) by Alan Powell 

I'd been waiting on you to come along 
Seeing notes on a page but not the song 
Had a hole in my heart and a pain so strong 
Only a woman like you could take me on 

There's a plan for us, a hand divine 
The waiting was worth it now you're my wife 
We've been taking our time and doing this right 
But tonight I'm not gonna just kiss you good night 

You, the song my heart sings 
Awake love I want you to know we're making love 
Deeper than our bodies you are written on my soul 
 You're eyes like the dawn you are beauty 
The touch of your skin consumes me 
You shine like the sun pure and lovely 

Set me as a seal upon your heart 
O love stronger than death 
Flashes of fire with purest desire 
No waters will get quench 
Awaken love awaken love 
No riches or power appeal 
All will find they are truly alive 
In Love as it was meant to be 
This is love as it was meant to be

Love is the power that heals 
Love is the power that heals
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March 22, 2023

Recycling in Norway

A year ago, we were in Norway so almost every day, Facebook reminds me of my memories including my “Recycling Experience in Norway”. Every time I visit my mom, hindi nawawala yung “reminders” sa first few days so at least we are updated with the new changes just like how they manage their waste. 

If you will visit Norway, for the first time, you will immediately notice the cleanliness and iba na ang simoy ng hangin, fresh air talaga. So I was not surprised when Norway is always part of the Top 10 Cleanest Countries in the world. 

According to the World Population Review site, cleanliness is not just about the look but it should lead to a better and longer life by having clean air, pure water, waste management, and effective sanitation for human health. 

Denmark - 82.5 
Luxembourg - 82.3 
Switzerland - 81.5 
United Kingdom - 81.3 
France - 80 
Austria - 79.6 
Finland - 78.9 
Sweden - 78.7 
Norway - 77.7 
Germany - 77.2 

Pant System 

Based on the article, Norway scored a perfect 100 score for Sanitation and Drinking water, which is true because you can drink their tap water. No need to buy bottled water. But of course, there are occasions when we still buy bottled water, juice, or soft drink pero hindi madalas kasi ang mahal.


In addition, there is an extra fee every time you buy bottled juice, water, or soda, and soda or beer in cans, the rate is ranging from 1 to 2.5NOK. This fee is called “pant” or deposit in English. I remember when I was young, uso pa dati yung “deposit” kung bibili ka ng soft drinks na nasa glass bottle. So you need to return the bottle in order to claim your deposit. 

In Norway, they have pant machines at the entrance of the supermarket so it would be easy for people to return plastic bottles and cans. The rate varies depending on the size of the bottles and cans, sometimes meron pa nare-reject so make sure in good condition yung isosoli mo. The machine will total your returns and will give you a receipt which you can use to pay for your groceries or if you are generous, you can just donate it to charity using the machine too. 



This is one thing that I wish we have in the Philippines before I used to collect plastic bottles and cans and visit junkshops but I stopped doing this because I realized, mas malaki expense namin sa pagpunta sa junkshop kaysa sa nakukuha. But I still collect them in a separate trash bag pero sa garbage collector ko na binibigay. 

Waste Management 

As far as I can remember, there are only two trash bins during my last visit to my mom so I was surprised when I saw 3 trash bins last year. So may nagbago na naman, so they have bins for plastic packaging, food, and organic leftover and general waste. On top of that, they still collect paper, metal, glass, and other loose and oversized waste; this waste needs to deliver to a recycling station. As well as garden waste should be delivered to waste disposal points. 


Textiles, Clothes, or Shoes 

If you have clothes, shoes, towels, curtains, bedlinen, and others that you are not using, you can donate them to Salvation Army. In Norway, there are collection bins where you can put this stuff. Every time we visit Norway, marami ako naiiwan na gamit ng anak ko because I know malalakihan na niya yun and hindi na magagamit pa. So kapag wala mapagbigyan mama ko, she will drop my son’s stuff in these collection bins.


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March 20, 2023

Unfinished Korean Drama Series

As of this writing, I already finished 179 Korean drama series and I also have a long list of unfinished Korean drama series. I am creating this post so that before starting a new series, I can look at this list and check if my interest has changed already. Kung nasa mood na ba ko ulit ituloy. 


My brain can’t remember all of these series so having a list is important. #signsofaging I hope this list won't be long, dapat mas mabawasan. :)

A Witch's Love Epi 7 
Beauty Inside Epi 2
Cafe Minamdang Epi 3
Coffee Prince Epi 7 
Dali & Cocky Prince Epi 5
Dear My Friends Epi 8 
Doctor Prisoner Epi 7 
Do You Like Brahms Epi 4
Faith Epi 5 
Forest Epi 14
Gaus Electronics Epi 7
Hotel Del Luna Epi 7 
Hospital Playlist Season 2 Epi 4 
I Have a Lover Epi 12 
Little Women Epi 2
Numbers Epi 7
One Spring Night Epi 5 
Queen for 7 Days Epi 9 
Red Sleeve Epi 8 
Run On Epi 6 
School 2017 Epi 3 
She Would Never Know Epi 1
Strong Girl Nam Soon Epi 6
Summer Strike Epi 10
Tale of the Nine-Tailed Epi 2
The Worst of Evil Epi 6
Thirty-Nine Epi 6 
Tomorrow Epi 3
Unlock My Boss Epi 1
Vagabond Epi 4
Wirst of Evil Epi 6
Youth of May Epi 3

Let me know which series is worth watching. 
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March 17, 2023

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nowadays, I seldom buy baking ingredients because I rarely bake, sayang naman ingredients kapag naexpire lang. All-purpose flour shelf life is only 6 months so lagi na lang may natatapon kapag hindi ko naubos. And because of that, I only buy 2kg or less. 

Anyway, last November my son and his groupmates baked “Chocolate Chip Cookie” in school so I bought some of the ingredients (his share) and since konti lang naman need nila, I still have leftovers so after few months, sinipag ulit ako magbake. 

I used to buy Betty Crocker instant mixes so I have tried baking Oatmeal Cookie and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie, my two boys like the taste of these cookies. But last year, I started baking Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from scratch and it was a big hit. We prefer this compared to instant mix cookies. I baked these cookies before we flew to Norway and when I came back hindi ko na makita yung printed recipe ko.



I have Chef RV Manabat Recipe Book but his recipe needs shortening and I don’t have that so I checked Pinterest to look for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. I tried the recipe of Dessert Now Dinner Later and after trying her recipe, save ko na agad for future use. View the full recipe here. 

Ingredients  

1 cup butter, room temperature  
3/4 cup brown sugar  
3/4 cup granulated sugar  
2 large eggs  
1 tsp vanilla extract  
2 cups all-purpose flour  
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats  
1 tsp baking soda  
1/2 tsp salt  
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips



I don’t have vanilla extract and brown sugar so I only used white sugar. I also used dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips. My oatmeal chocolate chip cookies taste good even though I did not follow all the ingredients. My cookies only lasted for one week, may pagpipigil pa iyan. I notice, medyo light yung color nung cookies baka dahil walang brown sugar and vanilla extract?
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March 14, 2023

3 Days Trip in Cebu

Even though Cebu is not our favorite place, we already visited this province a few times already. Why? Cebu has several flights in a day so whenever there is a seat sale, nakakabook kami unlike other provinces na limited ang flights. 

Last year, Philippine Airlines has a “Great Mabuhay Miles Getaway Promotion” so we did not waste the opportunity and we booked Manila - Cebu -Manila flight for 4500 miles + PHP2879 per person. I was shocked when I learned about the taxes and surcharges kasi wala pa PHP600 yung fee dati kapag domestic flight. But this is still a good deal because nowadays, airline tickets are really expensive.


Manila to Cebu 

This was our first family trip since COVID-19 happened so I was a little bit excited. We booked this flight knowing that my son has no morning classes but a week before our trip, the teacher changed their online classes schedule, nagkaroon na ng morning classes. Waah! I was glad that we book an early flight but I was still nervous, so during our trip, I was praying that there would be no flight delay so my son won’t be absent. 


Boarding is on time but it took a while because we need to ride a bus. We already ate our breakfast while waiting for our boarding so we did not touch the snack that was served. Ito na lang yung meal sa Philippine Airlines, hindi rin naman nakakabusog. I don’t know when they changed it, kasi bread pa yung food last Batanes trip namin. 




Fortunately, we landed at Cebu International Airport earlier than expected so my son was not absent from his first class. The perks of online classes so kahit sa cellphone lang pwede na magclass. Natagalan din sa pagbaba because we also need to ride a bus. From the airport to Sheraton Mactan Resort, my husband just booked Grab. 


Sheraton Mactan Resort 

When we learned that there will be Sheraton Mactan Resort, my husband has been saving his points for this resort so we were delighted when it finally opened before my son’s birthday. We’ve been to Shangri la Mactan Resort and Crimson Mactan Resort and Spa so I am looking forward to our Sheraton Mactan Resort experience. 


Compared to our previous Cebu trips, we did not do any tours and we just had Staycation at Sheraton Mactan Resort. We knew that this resort is not cheap so we want to maximize our stay. We were in the resort for 3 days and 2 nights. As usual, this resort deserves a separate post. 

Read: Birthday Staycation at Sheraton Mactan Resort




Cebu to Manila 

If our Manila to Cebu flight was on time, our Cebu to Manila flight was changed so my husband requested for late check-out. Our travel time from the resort to the airport was less than 25 minutes, it was my first time at the new Cebu International Airport, hindi pa ganito yung airport nung last na punta namin. 



Cebu Mabuhay Lounge 

Yung last Cebu trip namin, kami ng anak ko ang nakalounge, ngayon si hubby naman. My husband has lounge benefits so he ate at the Mabuhay Lounge while my son ate in one of the restaurants at the airport. We just ate snacks since we are still full from our late buffet breakfast (brunch). 




Our flight was rescheduled and it was also delayed so ang tagal ng biyahe namin. Nalipasan na kami ng dinner kasi same pa rin naman ang snack na binigay. 


Despite that, we still enjoyed our short trip to Mactan, Cebu. I just hope na may magaganda rin na resort na malapit lang para hindi na kelangan mag-eroplano pa. 

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