Apologies

To my fellow Dabawenyos,

Apologies to those who have signed up for tonight's led class at Metrolifestyle Davao.

Flight from Hongkong was delayed.  We left HK at 3:30pm and we're now in Manila waiting for our flight to Davao.

We've rescheduled the class tomorrow at 1-3pm.  Hope to see you there.

Namaste.

Vegelicious Cuisine Davao

Fritz and I were supposed to look for this Evergreen Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Uyanguren (Davao City) but the Universe led us to this small but really nice and friendly eatery... Vegelicious Cuisine. 5 viands, 3 cups of rice, 2 glasses of fresh melon juice... all for only 150php (3.5USD). Too bad I wasn't into picture-taking lately so I didn't have camera with me. Anyway, for my Dabawenyo brothers and sisters, check the place out. It's right in the corner of Monteverde and Sales Streets, in front of RCBC Sta. Ana. You can also call them at (63 82) 2255612. Look for Maricel.

Johann's birthday today. He's now 13 years old. Will post some of his new photos soon. Ciao.

Trees for Mount Apo

A little inspiration to start the year.

Plant more trees.

Protect Mount Apo.

Make it cleaner...

Make it greener.

(I honestly don't have any clue what's the status with Mt. Apo,
I just thought those lines would compliment the photo well.)

Photos by Bob Mata.

Eternally Grateful

Our karma yoga project with the Rotaract Club of Munting Pag-Asa was a success. Thanks to all the people who made this project possible. Thanks also to Jane, Chona, Tina, Ria and Sarah for spreading the word.

Jenny said many also bought the tickets but didn't attend, especially their male members. Maybe next time we'll have a yoga-for-men workshop in Davao.

It's the usual excuse... yoga is for women and only for the flexible.

Yoga isn't about the flexibility of the physical body but the flexibility of the mind... the flexibility to accept things in life... to acknowledge that things are impermanent and only transitory... to believe that even a tight inflexible body can become soft and supple through the regular practice of yoga.

Our inflexibility hinders us from exploring our full potential... it is a form of ignorance or avidya, one of the 5 obstacles in the path of yoga.

Avidyasmita Raga Dvesabhinivesah Klesah
(Ignorance, egoism, attachment, hatred, and clinging to bodily life are the five obstacles.)
Yoga Sutra II:3

Anityasuci Duhkhanatmasu Nitya Suci Sukhatmakhyatir Avidya
(Ignorance is regarding the impermanent as permanent, the impure as pure, the painful as pleasant, and the non-Self as the Self.)
Yoga Sutra II:5

Until we wipe the fog off the mirror, we won't be able to see our faces clearly and we become ignorant of our own selves.

The organizers and the instructors. I'll post more photos once I receive them from Jen.

Got to start packing to make sure I only have 20kg of luggage. Namaste.

Taj Minar Indian Restaurant & Bar in Davao

One of the things in my to-do-list-in-Davao was to try the Taj Minar Indian Resto-bar. I was able to convince my high school buddy to have lunch with me there yesterday. It was my friend's first take at Indian cuisine so I ordered the more familiar dishes.

Papadum and Vegetable samosa for entree. Basmati rice + tandoori for Ryan and Palak Paneer + Naan for me.

The papadum was good but it didn't come with a dip so I asked for mango chutney...

which had too much ginger so I didn't like it.

The very colorful plain rice. I was expecting plained steamed basmati rice so it was a good surprise. An "A" for presentation. ;-)

The garlic naan didn't impress me. It tasted like a flat unleavened bread pan-fried in garlic butter.

The battery went empty when I was about to take a photo of the Spinach Paneer, which was also very disappointing.

I haven't been to India but have tasted good Indian food in Manila and Riyadh. Only the samosa passed my taste buds but it also needed more cumin.

The Chef came to the table and asked if we liked the food. I had to tell him honestly that the food was too Filipinized. I guess they had to lessen the spices to suit the Pinoy tongue as a lot of Filipinos don't really Indian food.

But is it really the solution? I remembered the Filipino waiter at the Tajbah Restaurant in Riyadh telling me that many Filipinos liked Kofta and other dishes in tomato-based sauces. The solution to make Pinoys like Indian food might not be to tone down the spices but to let them try dishes in tomato-based or yoghurt-based sauces.

Toning down the spiciness of an Indian dish is like diluting the teachings of yoga so that it becomes more acceptable to a given group of people.

I just had to post this. I'm a coconut-loving convert.

I need to have my durian shake before I leave tomorrow though.

Peace.

Yoga in Davao

A Karma Yoga Project

July 13, Sunday 1:30-5pm Intro to Ashtanga class and demo

July 14, Monday 7:30-9pm Basic Ashtanga class
July 15, Tuesday 7:30-9pm Basic Ashtanga class

Venue: Smashville Fitness Center, Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City

All proceeds will go to Rotary Shares Life, a program of the Rotaract Club of Munting Pag-asa Davao to assist the children with cancer admitted at the Davao Medical Center. This program consists of activities that address the psychological needs of the children, as well as the needs of the caregivers like the parents.