Eat Right🍴... Drive Life 🌿

Just recently, over a couple of days... I've posted on Facebook photos sharing my sort of personal food regimen and meal preferences. The aim is... to primarily impress upon readers, really... the utter significance of the nutritional and culinary choices made toward a healthy lifestyle.

In about a week, I'll officially be a septuagenarian. Yes folks, I'll be turning 70... no aches and pains, no dietary restrictions, no supplements nor prescribed maintenance, remains no less physically active.... simply, staying life-driven. Of course, what works with one may not necessarily work with another. What I then wish to mainly share are guidelines and suggestions, which may be tweaked some to fit into one's conscientious efforts toward healthy living.

Thus, in not necessarily sequential an order...

Know, understand and accept a decided dietary guide.
With today's readily available digital information... continue to have a better grasp of nutritional values. 
Nutritional rebalancing need not be abrupt. Perhaps the "less‐of/more-of-instead" approach would be gradually more effective and the change sustainable.
When practical, buy local and support small-time farmers and fisherfolks.
When preparing and cooking food... let it be fun and innovative. 
Let each meal be a celebration.

Bon appetit... Cheers!

The Soul Nourishing Akiki Trail Climb Up Mt. Pulag...

A message from a friend last month only had to contain "Akiki" for me to jump in on a climb 

The determined bunch...

invitation that was accomplished this past weekend. I have climbed Mt.Pulag before via the Ambangeg Trail... only to be told to turn back at Camp 2 due to winds too strong for an open assault across the highland grasslands. There was a lingering storm. This time was no different. A storm was again a threat but, yet again... enough window for the climb to happen. The plan was an Akiki-Ambangeg traverse... Akiki, the more challenging trail of the two, being a DENR start-of-climb day decision. The gods were with us. 

From the outset, Akiki was outright steep. It initially started with steps and trail sections randomly in concrete... in a way, a needed notice perhaps to prepare one indeed... for even more rigorous hurdles to further arrive at! Roughly

Steel hanging bridge across
the Eddet River

two hours into the ascent... and crossing a steel hanging bridge spanning the Eddet River... there was this daunting rise of a mountain that was to lead us to Marlboro Camp for the night... before resuming the assault at 1:00 am to be at peak by sunrise. The trail "ESS"-ing up the way tamed the steepness some... but no kidding... the reason why Akiki is often referred to as a "killer" trail. Ten to fourteen hours of continues assault till up the peak... a definite not for the "weak-at-knees" as it was what the climb was all about... come prominent physical conditioning need. Often I get asked how I get through the climbs' series of demands to which I can only offer... respect nature, dance with the terrain to the beat of own tunes... may the rhythms be physically or spiritually paced.

Along the trail... from pine to mossy forests to high elevation grassland... what a generous visual fare from nature... and along, the immersive sense of.

A couple of one-eyebrow-raising anecdotes... 

... a friendly couple from the bovine kind, followed a threesome of us for a while... and a white moth which took fancy to my forefinger while on a rest, and stayed even as I continued up the trail for roughly twenty minutes... I had to force it to fly off so I could regain use of my finger. Of course, some "hmmmm" thoughts... dawned on me. 

And aaah... close to the heavens, what only mountain peaks have ways of delivering... the utmost spectacle of nature's beauty... so out-of-body and spiritually humbling moments. Life is rich... CHEERS!

Special thanks to Jim Mordeno for the invitation...  organizer Sai Cruz and the rest of the fun bunch whose youthful drive... I as much am inspired by.

More Of A Personal Treasure Even Is... That Sense of Fulfillment...

Easily we so say how reaching "happiness" is the gist on why we do what we do. We at

Mesquite Flats
Death Valley, California

 times in our efforts, however... lose "us" within ourselves. What I have always maintained is that, beyond happiness even is... one's own sense of fulfillment. 

Fulfillment is wealth not materially measured. It only requires an assessment of honest and real personal values... as long as the sharing or giving of which does not hinder one's own sense of self. But, yes... let own deeds be the building blocks toward the very notion.

Ah, yes... the many ways... giving anonymously, mentoring, sharing, unconditional trust and emotions, connecting with nature, healthy living, reasonable tolerance to others' misgivings, forgiving, faith and spirituality, a pause for appreciation that we even "woke-up", recycling, support of local products, owning a pet, giving way in traffic, earnest joy in others' successes, quiet celebrations... and the list ever continues.

Indeed, cultivating such conscientious practices can only enrich each our own unadvertised sense of well-being and worth. Simply wishing to share... CHEERS! 

The roads and rivers we follow, the heights we reach, the forests and
deserts we cross... yet, none ever is as vast and high as when we 
step deep into our own inner selves. 

On Physical Fitness...

Atop a Tacloban mountain overlook.

Yesterday, I was up at 4am. It was a dry and cool morning. Fit for a short trek. By 5am, I was up this nearby peak that doesn't seem to have a designated name.(In fact, a search has Google Maps identifies it only as "Mountain"... my Samsung Health application indicates a 156-meter elevation.) Later in the morning, with a major mountain climb nearing... I went for an activity medical clearance. At my age... closing in on becoming a septuagenarian, my doctor needed a reassurance by having me take a stress test which required an ECG done while on a treadmill with a cardiologist present. Having finished and passing the 7-stage test, I was asked by the attending technician, what my "secret" is.

The truth is... there actually is no secret. What I wish to cover on this post thus is how what

ECG Stress Test

works with me when it comes to physical regimen... doesn't necessarily mean will similarly apply to others. In my early 40's, I did try a gym routine. Too confining for me. I travel more than the average person so... that easily became deemed impractical. Plus, the time management freak that I am, eventually found it too time consuming. I prefer workouts being simply incorporated into my usual activities. I walk rather than ride or drive when I can, I use stairs rather than escalators and elevators when practical, do toe lifts or use grocery baskets as weights when waiting on line, use own body weight in a self created series of home workouts for body toning... to share a few options. I find running as my most complete workout... and trekking, reconnects me with nature and spiritual self while providing me the physical exercise.

I wish to only imply thus... that one really has to first assess own physical capabilities and difficulties and work from there. Religiously practice an own doable set, then slowly add targeted exercises to address functions incurred with some difficulty. Listen to music, enjoy the outdoors... and other complementary fun activities practical when doing chosen physical exercises. Eventually, surprise yourself. Cheers!

Peak views and random nature trail scenes.

How My Latest 5-Day Escape Went...

A tentative Kaparkan Falls exploration idea was hatched during a spelunking excursion last March with travel buddy Gil... who then introduced me to a new friend in Linda.

Both have already made pioneering visits more than once to Tineg, Abra's not-so-easily reached natural wonder. Around the later part of August became the chosen period on the assumption that the monsoon season on the northern part of the country would already be waning down by then. So came Saturday of last week, off I was.

(Gil already gave prior notice on his unfortunate inability to join-in because of unexpected last minute visitors. Meanwhile, Linda was still not certain because of still continuing heavy rains in Baguio, her home.)

The Flight to Manila was on schedule and upon reaching the city... the choice was either to go by land straight to Bangued, or stop by Baguio if Linda was going to be able to still join me.

Baguio it became, as a follow-up notice from Linda indicated her likelihood of now being able to as well go. In looking back, her familiarity with the destination allowed me to experience the excursion in ways I most likely would not have been able to on a first visit.

Ah, the way over was on a military grade truck. And once we arrived at the yet unpaved rest of the way... it then became the onset of a four-hour bump-roll-grind-slide... hardly a moment without a scream, demands in jest that the destination better be "all worth it" a few times repeated, the ride in fact was "hellish" as advertised. 

KAPARKAN FALLS

How could I not, as I did... just turn into utter silence and gasp upon first glimpse. A series of cascades and waterfalls carved by nature from up a limestone mountain down to Abra's Tineg River. My attempts in trying to describe the awe inspiring scene would likely be a series of understatements... so, instead... I'll simply let these images better convey the captured essence of being witness to the wonder of Kaparkan.

The decided hike back, as rigorous as it was... I would have not have traded for the easier option of being back on the truck ride. This side note was an experience altogether separate. Red clayish mud would at times try to pull my shoes off my feet as my steps would be treacherously suctioned in. A 10kg backpack added weight, the occasional direct sun along cleared sections, a seeming adrenaline drain from the simultaneous excitement in the essence of the excursion altogether... I let caution prevail. Linda went ahead as she was pressed on time trying to get to a separate destination next. I decided to take my time... and ah, butterflies, dragonflies, wild flowers, rolling hills, the fresh air... and the hike itself made the experience not an ordeal at all... instead, another series of humbling and soul cleansing moments. 

AFTER KAPARKAN FALLS

Often I get asked how I get to places and manage the time to do so. For me... it simply is a lifestyle discipline in synchronizing personal activities, travels included. Looking at my return route... I needed a place for a night's rest up. So, Vigan... the one historical city that just doesn't get "old"... was easily a definite. 

The following day, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Sta. Maria I finally did get to. This UNESCO Heritage Site, one of only four Philippine Baroque Churches designated as such... and the only one I had to yet reach.  Quite a landmark it, indeed... is!

Bauang, La Union was a mere hour away. The area's noted vineyards then became the next stop of interest... driven by my curiosity considering the quite tropical climate the region has. But, yes, harvest of the red cardinal grape hybrid variety is actually three times a year I was told. 

An overnight in Manila, an hour flight to Cebu the next morning, a two hour ferry to Leyte...

and finally, a two hour van ride to current home Tacloban City... concluded yet another "full-of -personal-highlights" getaway.  

(By way of Cebu is often a preferred route when time permits because of flight frequency and better fare options. I also enjoy the fastcraft ferry crossing to Leyte, fair weather considered.)

CHEERS!

Smiles Come In Different Shades....

There is an unadulterated child's, a familiar, a social reach, one with tones of endearment,

career protocol... and yes, an "exploitative" smile, along a few others in between. What I wish to

Eagerly, each day we must await...

expound on though on this share is... the unseen, silent, for-own-self smile... that only a few who truly know you can read. And with nary a word... they let out your harmonious smile through them, who in turn won't even dare to explain it to others, knowing full well that there is just no way. These are the friends who in conversations... you take random turns at completing or filling in the blanks in each other's sentences...  

Before I continue on further though... let me point

Nurture life in the most earnest
ways we know how...

to "exploitative". In this instance, it really is

about those who have come to rely on others' to ignite their own smiles so they can continually, even if temporarily so, overcome their pains and hide their demons. I once was a volunteer on a city suicide hotline and yes, a short stretch it was. (My predominantly positive personna I thought was going to be enough... perhaps a case or two too many, but I did discover my threshold... and mind you, not a moment of the experience went for naught.) Also, having once helped care a terminally ill cancer patient... who early on had come to peace with his fate more than the many who surrounded him. (This time... this left a life imprint becoming even larger deeper in me... as time continue to go.) I have no clinical psychiatry background... so, I'll simply leave this portion at this and leave it to readers to sort of apply own finishing comments or thoughts. 

Now going back into citing instances to further illustrate the gist of this write-up... this time

The roads we seek to navigate,
so around we may explore... 

with my then 16 year old daughter Gina as we happen to simultaneously looked at each other accompanied by subtle yet just as deep from the heart smiles... she outright just said, "Yeah, Dad... I'm you." At that particular moment, I was being quietly thankful that I was able to register equal attention to her considering she and my son are mere fourteen months apart... and in their early formative years... it was mostly sports with my overly-active toddler son whenever we three were all out together. And of course with my son Danny, smiles turning into gut-wrenching laughter at the silliest of observations without the need for trading explanations.  And with certain friends as well, when attempts to end the night at say two in the morning would find us simply move from the living room sofas to the kitchen floor only to realize hints of the about to be upon us morning sun. Ah, life's little treasures not allowed to simply let pass!

What's often amazing for me though is... when all of a sudden someone would ask me how

Head architect we each are, to the
very life we each oh-so-choose!

come I'm not smiling while, meantime... I'd be in my most gratuitous, at peace with self and belief in the moment. Yes, creating own personal space, be it away solo or in the middle a crowd of three or hundreds... is a practice not easy to be skilled at without discipline and determination. But once attained... objective detachment can be so freeing, humbling... thus allowing ethereal glow from a long, silent and hidden a smile.

This article is written in tribute to a long time known and endeared friend among a circle of close friends... who just passed away the other day. I always remembered the crescendos in the laughter within her smiles... her sense of serenity behind the guarded but not hidden self reflecting smiles... which easily and often disarm time and again many of us. I for one, was quietly in awe of her spirit and resolve to conquer the odds while ensuring that she did not deny herself whatever there was to cherish. You see, since we've known her, she was already in a condition which could have taken her away from us at any moment's time since twenty or so years ago. 

Ms. Patricia Charles, may you now indeed be... In Eternal Peace and Bliss!

Life by nature, is porous enough... yet, the basic ways among
the simple many can lead to fulfillment and inspired
benevolence... which then create advocacies upon
which many legacies are driven from... 

A California Recall...

Thankfully, yesterday's earthquake which rattled Southern California to scenes of chaos
(... understandably as "the-big-one" naturally comes forefront to the minds of many), was far enough from the San Andreas Fault, else... destructions might have been of most anticipatedly feared proportions.  Thus said, collectively... a sigh of relief in one sense.

Events like this, meantime... triggers in me a mental data search for past subject location experiences, purposely on the lighter side of events, and yes... a personal exercise out of habit to see how much and how prompt I am able to process out still, selected data from own cranial storage space. Har har...

Ah, absolutely... the drive from Monterey to Big Sur, especially the most immersive ever third time. The Pacific coast, hillside estates, quaint communities, sand, surf, uncrowded beaches, bluffs, rugged shorelines... a stretch which every so often found me rubbing my eyes, as if to undream scenic sequences as they unrolled before me.

Once in Monterey, a book, the movie... each time I never let "Cannery Row" escape me. Something about human characterizations allowing me to imagine my "space" and "role" given a certain time and circumstance. So, where else would I outright head to but to the famed district... again mentally giving life to fictitious "would-bes" and "what-ifs". Indeed, life is about navigating around or through... the trivial, trying and fanciful!

Carmel-by-the-Sea... what a throwback to whatever time one

chooses to fit the gift of a "fairy-tale-like" village setting. Best to just stay speechless, or not write about anymore... lest the attempt may shortchange the inescapably felt essence of wonderment.

And Big Sur, nature does what it easily does... be it to keep captive or engage a soul. 

Indeed, as climate change continues to evolve, it may now primarily be a literary reference to how a destination was once... still, I'll continue to ever hum... "it never rains in Southern California"!

More of Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur...