Verdant Sonya's Garden

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,

Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,

Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,

With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:

There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,

Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight;

And there the snake throws her enamell’d skin,

Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in...

~ W. Shakespeare from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

The most enchanting garden one will ever lay their eyes upon in the Philippines is Sonya's Garden located in Tagaytay, which is roughly a 2-hour drive heading south from Manila. I had heard about this place that will transport you to a Shakespearean soliloquy in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in years past but have only been graced with time and good company to visit it 3 days ago. It's a very well kept secret garden, truly verdant with blooming flowers and shrubbery all year round. The garden is also fecund with vegetables, herbs and fruit-bearing trees which are served at their organic restaurant and just the thought of that is quite exultant. Kudos to the owner, all gardeners, caretakers and horticulturists because the wonder they have achieved here is worthy to dwell in the annals of the history of Philippine gardens.

 

 

The cabanas decorated with lace, flower-patterned sheets and embroidery of sorts found all around the garden property are romantic and I will say, this whole reservation is capable of surpassing the botanical gardens I've been to in some cities outside the Philippines.  

Planting and landscaping began in 1998 at Sonya's Garden and as one may expect, all shrubberies, trees and flowering plants have taken root making the organic flow and growth of all manner of flora a marvelous sight to imbibe.

Herewith is a photo of their house salad served at their conservatory restaurant area:

Varieties of Morning Glorys, Hibisuses, Impatiences, Hydrangeas, Butterfly Peas, Geranium flower varieties, Mums and many, many others hang or lay about everywhere. 

Aside from the luscious garden itself, the property houses a bakery with their artisanal boulangerie items; an apothecary where lotions, spices, oils, candles are sold, a gift shop, the restaurant I mentioned earlier and a bed and breakfast.

Visit the place if you are able, it will be an experience.

The Tartan Table: Olde Scottish Food

A stumbled into a notable 'hole in the wall' restaurant in Central Florida, about 47 miles from Tampa named The Tartan Table and dining here was intimate and flavorful. I sampled a Scottish Meat Pie made from Angus Beef which was served with mash (potatoes), chips (or fries) and a freshly baked dinner roll by the cook who also owned the place. Turns out, the cook is a native of Edinburgh, she was in the restaurant business there and is a transplant to Spring Hill, Fl. I was much obliged that the pie crust she used for my meat pie was the puff pastry-type, that buttery flair to it I remember distinctly and the chips (which we do not have much expectations from) were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

The ambiance and decor was of course Scottish and each table was clothed with different Tartan patterns that represented a few clans from Scotland; I dined at the “Taylor” clan table, as it were. 

My waiter was a personable young man who was very well versed with the menu, theme and the nuance of the place. It was a special touch that the chef/owner herself came to meet me at the table and chatted a bit. It’s gestures like that which make dining special. I just relished in the pleasant experience I had here and if I ever go back to the area, I will want to visit it again.  

~~~

Bisbee: Scores of History in One Mountain

Center w/ desert flora

Lately, I've had the inclination towards mysterious places, be it spots I chanced upon the inter webs, books or locations I may have visited from before. I do remember going to this Arizona town named Bisbee and to this day I am still perplexed by it’s state. The town stood as if suspended in time, somewhat ghostly, yet one could see the town’s vista in the US92 thoroughfare.

The Lavander Pit

Bisbee, was set up as a prime mining town of copper, gold and silver around 1880 thanks to the nearby Lavander Pit. The quarry was very rich in minerals and has yielded much of the turquoise deposits (known as the Bisbee Blue) in the southwest along with other semiprecious stones like Azurite, Aragonite and Cuprite.

Notice anyone?

As I moseyed through the town I found quite an eclectic, new age-y feel to it. History did also reveal that Bisbee was quite the hippy, counter-culture hub in the 60s and it’s esoteric art all around proves it. 

I spy w/ my little eye: Frida, Elvis and an obscure Hula girl...

Art fence for the communal garden, I think...

Even though Bisbee is the current seat of the Cochise County of Arizona, it had that bucolic feel to it, yea, even a torpidity in the afternoon air. Perhaps when the quarry became depleted, so went it’s energy.  Is the bygone feel Bisbee’s charm today where it sits? That’s for the sojourner to say, isn't it?

Lodge

Would make a nice coffee shop, Ey?

A touch of torpedo...

In an odd way, Bisbee took my interest because it’s like several decades were deposited in one mountain here, the old west Americana, standing true to its motto, “an American Original.” 

~~~

Time Stood Still at Gadsden

Quite a while back I stumbled into a hotel that time forgot in Douglas, Arizona. The town itself was very sleepy in that desert sense with tumbleweeds meeting you as you enter the town, (cue in a duel of quick draw between two cowboys). But I digress, turns out, this hotel named Gadsden which was built in 1907 has stood witness to quite a few historical events and historical people.

During my visit, the hotel was run by laid back staff which is understandable as Douglas itself does not have a lot of tourists anymore. Back in the 1900's, Gadsden was built for cattle ranchers to lodge in  whilst in Douglas when they were away from home. In 1929, it suffered a catastrophic fire but was restored. The style of architecture of the hotel is Renaissance Revival and I deem it as part of the Gilded Age as it was built during that era in America. Check out the rich-colored marble columns and grand staircase.

Lobby

  view from the 2nd floor

It is apparent that when Gadsden was built, no expense was spared for its quality materials, above is an authentic Tiffany stained glass situated on top of the staircase that depicts the Sonora Desert complete with a Saguaro cactus and other desert-scapes.

Just below the Tiffany-stained glass window is this preserved regal lioness in her full size and stateliness.  (Wanted to touch her just to see if she would bite).

Rooms...

It is often the case with hotels and Inns that with age comes the ghost stories. Legends have been spread all over that Gadsden has it's paranormal inhabitants and during Halloween season, this is a popular destination to test those theories. Hmm.

couldn't resist...

more Tiffany glass on the ceiling

Press:
Per research it is noted that Gadsden was used in a Paul Newman, Nastassja Kinski and a Tom Selleck movie. It was also visited by FL Eleanor Roosevelt and Arizona impressionist painter Effie Anderson Smith who resided and completed several paintings in this hotel in the 1940s. Lastly, Gadsden was featured in Travel Channel's Hotel Impossible in 2013 wherein more renovations were conducted.

My Life in France: by Julia Child w/ Alex Prud d'homme

I enjoyed reading this book immensely. I devoured the words and details just as Julia Child did her Sole Meuniére the first time she went to her la belle France. This book to me was mainly a travelogue with gastronomy as the main purpose and Sacré bleu! How it transported me. 

The novel chronicles Julia's years in France, her escapades through the little towns all over the country, her culinary adventures, building relationships with fellow food lovers, her time and in detail at Lé Cordon Bleu and the hurdles of book publishing.

The book is very well written in narrative form and one almost walked, thought and felt as Julia did as she imbibed France even to the aroma of the streets in Marseilles. France is made beautiful by her in this book and I like her feet-to-the-ground approach in dining and touring, preferring local flavors or “holes in the wall” restaurants and finding kindred among the culinary enthusiasts in those circles. It is also touching that her husband is given the due that he deserves as Julia's financier during her Lé Cordon Bleu days, being a great support and a gateway to notable contacts for her.

Do give this a tumble, you won't regret it and like any good book, there is the objective to finish it, but you'll feel sad when it ends. 

~~~

Street Preacher in Savannah...

He was happy and had a purpose.

Just Being: Miami

Orange

Red

Blu Redux:

Been meaning to post the room I stayed in at the Radisson Blu in Edinburgh but have forgotten to do so.

For £250 per night, this spacious sleeping quarters for transient sentient beings housed all 4 of us traveling. That translates to £62.50 per night for each of us confederates while we imbibed and inhaled the city and the chilly air of cosmo Edinburgh. 

2 double beds, a queen bed, soft clean sheets, a knock out bathroom, a sweet Spanish hotel worker who had no idea how to work this ultra sophisticated coffee maker (like us) available in the room and 5 sets of giggles in 3 different languages because of this mishap. Priceless!

I do recommend it!

The Vespa:

- an uncompromising fusion of breathtaking performance, technical superiority and classic design. The visual flow of the modern and decisive lines of the cowls, the round and sloping front headlight, the passenger footrests with fold out from the body, are all characteristics which make Vespa unique. The Vespa maintains the fundamental characteristics which make every Vespa an incomparable vehicle in the scooter world. The monocoque body made entirely from steel is a construction philosophy which ensures legendary sturdiness, reliability and superior rigidity, all to the advantage of riding precision.

~ so said their website. Do I want one? yes; do I need it? A big NO!!

Funky Shoes, Purple Leaf and An Eerie Castle :

WEEK OF MARCH 18, 2012:

The Funky Shoes:

Theme: Shoes Monday. Votes: 16. 

These are indeed the funkiest shoes I own. I do not mean to be vulgar when I wear it, I just appreciate good workmanship and style.

The Purple Leaf:

Theme: Leaf On Thursday. Votes: 28.

This Purple Agave Lipstick Plant  gave me the highest votes up to the time of it's post and maybe even to date! I like it but I didn't expect this kind of reception for it! mahvelous!

The Eerie Castle:

Theme: Monochrome Monday. Votes: 19.

This photo I processed to make it look as vintage as possible, in fact, medieval. Like the age and architecture of the castle! Edinburgh Castle to be exact. To me it's as if, a period piece film is about to unfold with this pic! ;-)

Windows at The Blu

Wanted to share this picture I took at the Radisson Blu in Edinburgh, I was very impressed with this hotel, from the hospitality to the the conveniences it offered. For a reasonable price ($250 US per night), breakfast samples of blood sausages, Haggis-es and Lorne sausages with other hearty British fares, comfy beds and sincerely friendly staff - I well liked many things about this hotel.

Semi-occasional Street Fashion Blogger: Set 1

Sometimes when I am able and when folks are obliging, I take a photo of people with notable clothes on the streets. With this set of street fashion photos I feature mostly fall/winter clothes that are stylish, practical and fun! 

 (London)

*heart that sweater, love the rustic laced-up boots and how this gorgeous lady accessorized!

(London)

A visiting student in London, I liked the readiness in her fashion sense. 

(London)

2 friends taking a break at the steps of St. Paul's. How about them burnt orange boots!

(Edinburgh)

This plaid pea coat/jacket is a departure from the usual warm weather clothes out there. Love this lady's turn up sheep-skin lined boots!

(London)

Her trousers which could pass as riding pants with the riding boots and white shirt were cool to see in London itself. A land of equestrians and jodpurs.

(London)

What is not to take note about this outfit? Colors, colors!

- Thanks ladies for helping to make the streets interesting and not boring at all!