The Windy Landscape

The famous Bangui windmills

There was a wedding photoshoot!

I was fortunate to come back for the 3rd time to Bangui and stand at the base of the famous wind turbines. This time around I was with quite a number of members of the Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society, some of which are first timers. They had fun taking their numerous pictures against the back drop of the sleek Ilocos windmills. 

Papaitan and Coke early lunch

While most my companions were enjoying the sights in the wind turbine site, immersing themselves int the hot and sunny weather, I chose to sit inside a small makeshift cafe cum carinderia at around the vicinity of windmill no. 5.  It was barely past 10amand I was already sampling a bowl of papaitan, rice and a plate of dinakdakan. Yum! I downed all of it with a cold bottle of regular Coke. How's that as alternative to baking under the sun in the Bangui shores. Talk about mixed priorities! 

The wiser PNPCSI members who stayed indoors

Wrightia pubescens

But seriously, I love this part of the Philippines, particularly the long coastal areas of Ilocos Norte.  Which is probably why there are a lot of other tourists there with us, trying to get the feel of the nice beach, the tall waves and the unique coastal landscapes.

But another highlight of this return-to-Bangui trip is finally seeing a specimen of laniti or Wrightia pubescens in flower.  It has the pinwheel flowers, trademark of Apocynaceae members.  Also very beautiful.  I can't wait collecting the lanite seedlings over at U.P. campus.

Lanite flower detail

 

The Cootie Catcher

Max's cootie-catcher

Reminds me of a flower

I was with PNPCSI friends Ernie and Lanie yesterday and we decided to eat in Max's while waiting for Ronald and Anthony.  Of course if you are in Max'syou have to order their traditional very tasty and crispy fried chicken, which we did.  While waiting for our order we noticed something different in Max's table set up. They had  origami art which the waiters call the 'cootie catcher'.  

The witty answers

It reminds me of the paper flower my neighbors used to make in my childhood days in La Loma. My former playmates pencil in words behind the paper flaps to answer simple yes-or-no questions. They sort of use it for fortune-telling. Then they ask question like if their parents will buy them new toys or the sorts.

From flat sheet

To pass-off time we sampled Max's cootie catcher.  Lanie was contemplating if she should attend mass in UST.  The cootie catcher answered: 'Only if you are very good'. So Lanie felt guilty and decided to attend mass.  We also asked if Ronald and Anthony will be coming soon.  Answer: 'Do you really have to ask?'.  Then our chicken lunch arrived.

In between eating our sumptuous chicken we asked more questions which we let the cootie catcher answer.  The replies are funny and really entertained us.  Question: does the cootie catcher work? We did not have the chance to ask this.  But Ronald and Anthony arrived way after our meal was finished, which made us had more time playing with the paper toy. 'Do you really have to ask?'

Disclaimer:  Not in any way affiliated with Max's and its subsidiaries.  Hope I am so I could enjoy more of the spring chicken. Hehehe!

A Smaller Orchid Display

Green wall booth

Vangie Go's winning entry

I was back at Quezon Memorial Circle, this time for the Philippine Orchid Society's Mid-year Show. The selling area and the exhibits are again in Hardin ng mga Bulaklak complex, the same place used in the last show. But the booth displays are recognizably much smaller. The organizers alloted a tiny area for display entries so that more exhibitors could join the competition. Orchid booths are cuter, but not that luxurious and extravagant looking. Still, I enjoyed going around and looking at the different orchids, native and not, in bloom. 

The Orchid Show is open 8 to 6 PM from Aug 30 to Sept 10.



Phalaenopsis hybrids in Purificacion booth



Puentespina display



Another orchid display combined with other ornamentals



Malvarosa Orchids display