Of war... wisdom...

... and the Greek goddess salad dressing... a gift from a JOYful yogini friend.  I had it over mixed greens, rocket, cherry tomatoes, and diced cucumber.  It was creamy and I bet calorie-laden.  Not that I'm counting my calorie intake.

The original recipe has anchovies but you can probably substitute that with miso paste.  Make sure though that the miso paste that you are using doesn't have bonito flakes.  Otherwise, what's the point?

The recipe is easy to make but it might be difficult to find some of the ingredients here in the Philippines. 

Tarragon vinegar?  Not sure if I can find it at the supermarket but guessing that some shops in the weekend organic markets in either Salcedo or Lung center should have it.

Recipe is here.

***


It's the inauguration of Noynoy Aquino, the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines. 

May the Goddess of wisdom bless him and guide him as he serves and leads this nation in the next six years.

Photo from www.noynoy.ph

1 0 8

"Why 108?" my friend asked.

"108 is said to be an auspicious number in Hinduism and Buddhism," I replied.

We were in Tagaytay yesterday.  A friend who's been living in the US came home with her American husband so it was a good opportunity for us to reconnect and catch up.  I was wearing my Buddhist prayer beads and at some point, one of them asked how it is used.

"Just like how you use the rosary," I said.

It's suppose to help you remember how many times you've already chanted your mantra.

But why 108?  I googled for some answers and this site gave several reasons as to why there are 108 beads in the mala.

This is my favorite:

108
Some say that 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.

Have to go and grab something to eat.  It's almost eleven o'clock in the morning and all I've had is a cup of coffee.

I'm like a bird...

eating sunflower seeds for dinner... it's supposed to be a functional food which provides benefits beyond the basics (National Sunflower Association, 2010).  I still have plenty but I'm not giving any to the mouse that has been roaming in my room since last week.  It's not my pet and it's not as cute as Mickey.  If he doesn't go away in the next few weeks, I'm moving out!

Still eating the seeds and it's almost 11pm.

I'll leave you with Nelly (a youtube video by user Marcos1510casa).



Om.

Cheese and Crackers

Yes, that's my standard snack for the past few days and becomes my lunch as well if I eat it between 12-1.

I googled for recipes and I found this.  Apple, cheddar, and crackers snack... hmnnn... cheddar and crackers sounds yummy but with apple?

Ten years ago, I learned about sliced tomatoes on crackers topped with freshly ground black pepper.  It was addicting!  Simple but filling.  But there should be some cheese for protein.

Breakfast has been standard.  Muesli, yoghurt, and fruit, which is either papaya or banana.  Lunch is either the cheese and crackers, or vegetarian rice topping, or vegetarian bibimbap, or some veggie dishes from Bodhi.

Dinner is either mixed greens with Japanese sesame dressing or stir fried noodles from Karate Kid in Trinoma.

I honestly want to go back to the island.  Either that, or I look for a place with a nice kitchen.  But still, life is crazy in Manila.  I should really move to somewhere quieter, where I can earn more, and travel some more.

Happy Father's Day

Gratitude to Zerofourzulu for sharing this video.

Japanese Sesame Salad Dressing

Tesa introduced me to this salad dressing earlier this year and I've been craving for it since.  There was a similar but less creamy version of this back in paradise but the bottled version is almost always sinfully delicious.

I had it over mixed greens, rocket, and chopped tomatoes, and it was just heavenly.  Click here to see Dragonlife's quick and easy way of preparing this dressing.

Cheers.

In the presence of the one who practices ahimsa...

After almost two months of living by the beach, eating wholesome plant-based diet, and practicing asana and pranayama daily, I'm back in the smog-filled, vata-aggravating city of Manila.  


Flying in at 5 o'clock on Monday morning, I rested for 2 hours after arriving in my rented place.  Before noon, I went straight to the office to check my teaching schedule for the semester and immediately proceeded to the College of Education to process my admission.  Yes, I'm studying again starting this semester.  I'm a provisional phd in education student under the research and evaluation program.


Being a good student that I think I am, I read the instructions posted on the board.


"1st time MS and PhD students, see your program advisor for pre-advising before enlisting."


I missed the orientation program for new graduate students last May 29 because I was abroad.  After receiving their congratulatory email from the College secretariat, I immediately emailed them to ask if I could correspond with my possible program adviser via email.  Two weeks passed and still I didn't receive any reply.  I sent another email.  Still no reply.


So I went to the Department of Research and Evaluation for consultation.  


"Yes???" The lady seated behind the long table asked.


"Excuse me, ma'am.  I'm a new phd student and I'm here for pre-advising."


"Pre-advising is over.  It's the last day of registration and you're already late."  She said nonchalantly.


"I understand that but I was out of the country and emailed the secretariat for advise weeks ago yet didn't receive any reply.  I read from the announcement board that new graduate students should see their program adviser for pre-advising that's why I'm here."


"I don't know you.  Where are your papers?  You should have prioritized your registration.  The University will not wait for you, you know."


With head bowed, I asked, "what should I do?"


"Go to the secretary's office and get your documents."


"Ok.  Thank you, ma'am."


That was my first encounter with this fierce lady who I later found out that the most "terror" professor in the College of Education.  My friend said she's a very good professor and a sought after research speaker but everyone in the College detests her and the students avoid her classes.


"As long as she teaches well, I think I should be fine."  I told my friend.


Interestingly, I didn't feel any resentment towards her.  If this was 10 years ago, I would have felt blood rushing up to my head.  But things have changed.  My close friends even said I've changed a lot.  I've become more peaceful and even non-"confrontational".  Perhaps it's the yoga. ;-)


I went to the College secretariat and claimed my documents.  The lady behind the counter instructed me to go to the University registrar's office to process my admission and then go back to my department for advising.  Thus, I went and queued for 2 hours to claim my admission slip.


Upon returning to College of Education, I went back to see the fierce lady and had a 2-hour orientation with her regarding the program.  What occurred in that meeting is worthy of another post.   In that 120 minutes, I learned a lot from this professor and at the end, she agreed to be my program adviser.  She advised me to enlist in 2 subjects this semester and even gave me her mobile number in case I wouldn't be able to find her the next day.


"Wow! You must have found her soft spot.  She's not usually like that to students unless she likes you."  A graduate student I met earlier commented when she saw me with the esteemed professor.


Then I remembered a line in one of yoga texts that I've read in the past, "in the presence of those who practice ahimsa or nonviolence, even the wild animals become tame and friendly."  


I am not saying that my program adviser is a tiger but she definitely softened in the end.  


Maybe because she saw that I am genuinely interested in the program and that I have the proper background and experience to survive it...


maybe she felt some peace in the atmosphere... 


or maybe the tranquilizer was taking effect.