New Year, New Hope

Happy New Year to All!!!!!

Wishing you all, my family, friends and relatives a prosperous new year. Unlike last year that we have a big party at home with more or less 150 guests, this year, dirk and me decided to have a quiet new year. After our 5 weeks of vacation in the Philippines and China, we really feel exhausted and just want to relax. After all we deserved our much needed rest and beside Dirk got sick, we have lots of paper works to do, house work, vacation laundry etc, makes it hard for us to organize a new year party.


But at 6 pm new years eve, elena called and invited us to spend the new year with them with some close friends. She did prepared mouth watering finger foods in a nice table settings. At that time we didnt think of diet, what is important is that our stomach is full to welcome the year of the rat.

A cold sunday

The weather here is very cold and the trees are still covered with snow, much better to stay at home and relax.

Today is the 19th birthday of Riza, the daughter of my friend elena. Unlike last year where she had a grand debut with matching 18 roses, 18 candles etc, now its more simple, just family and close friends.

Warm Up

After 5 weeks of vacation in the Philippines and Shenzhen, China, adjustment is really hard. With 7-hour difference, dirk and me sleep at 3 pm and woke up at midnight here in Germany. Somehow my body clock is not yet normal. From 32 degrees in the Philippines and here in Germany is minus 6. And from wearing summer clothes to winter clothes. My body is really confused.

We really have a wonderful vacation in which the first week, we spent it with my family in Laguna and Manila, this give me time to bond with my children, the second week, we did fly to Bohol and stayed at alona beach. Our activities includes a trip to Chocolate Hills, visit Baclayon Church, hanging bridge, Loboc river cruise, picture taking with the tarsier. On our flight back to manila, we were elevated to the business class of Philippine Air Lines, its because we're sitting in the emergency exit of the economy class.

From the Centennial Airport we proceeded to the Domestic Airport to catch our flight to Boracay. The trip which is supposed to be 10 minutes going to the domestic turned one hour because of this heavy traffic in makati, the manila peninsula drama.

We stayed almost three weeks in boracay enjoying the nice beach and delicious foods. Then we did fly to hongkong before proceeding to shenzhen china where I enjoyed shopping spree,



Dirk did celebrated his bday in 5-star mission hills hotel, with the biggest golf course in the world with 216 holes. In one of his play, he had hole in
one, a nice gift for his birthday.


CHRISTMAS EVE

We have a wonderful christmas eve at elena's house. Although not yet recovered from
jetlag, we managed to share the christmas moment exchanging gifts and eating together delicious foods(german and filipino) prepared by elena, a good cook.