Channeling A Sunday in the Park

Reminiscent of George Seurat's A Sunday in the Park, this very small park in our small town known for shoes displays shoe sculpture. Some stood as planters with ornamental peanut plants while the rest are plastered with fake greens. Hardly topiaries, yet they have a certain charm to them. 

Wispy White Michelia Champaca

It is my first time to come across this sweet smelling flower. By chance I looked up as I was taking a walk around our retreat's forest-like venue. I noticed that one tree was full of white wisps that spread a delightful fragrance. Dig this: the luxurious perfume Joy by Jean Patou (voted as Scent of the Century in 2000) has the Michelia  in it.

I'm Not Girly, But I Love Pink

Many, many years back I used to stay away from the color pink. I thought they were weakling and saccharine colors which was far from my personality. But in the recent years I have come to love the color. I think they are strong accents and give any color scheme a nice touch.

These two quotes from C. JoyBell C. make me love pink all the more:

• “Pink is a beautiful color, because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawns.”

• “People usually associate the colour pink with weakness and naiveté; but I associate this colour with the most beautiful parts of the day— dawn and dusk! And in my searching through mystical writings, I have found that pink is actually related to the utmost levels of the Tree of Life. I've also seen it in pictures of the sky surrounding the most magnificent Aurora Borealis! So pink is strong and wonderful.” 

And yes, real men wear pink, too. 

I Am But a Traveler

Traveler's Palm or Traveler's Tree is what it is called. My discovery:  "Hey, it's got a flower!"  Not a palm. Indeed, a tree, kin to the banana plant and bird-of-paradise varieties. For lack of the obvious colorful flowers one might expect in a resort I was forced to scrutinize whatever was there. And I was taken by surprise. Never knew that this huge fan-like plant had flowers of its own.

The traveler sees what he sees,

the tourist sees what he has come to see.

- Gilbert K. Chesterton

The Details Show It

at Bag of Beans, Tagaytay

I feel honored by the coffee shop that took the time to furnish their restroom with a huge pot of flowers. Even though they were in the middle of renovations, they did not scrimp on them. This tells me that the Owners or its Management team are mindful and caring people, people with a space in their hearts for the divine.

Grace of Serenity

Just my luck to have a getaway at this time of year when the rains have come and summer is over. Never mind that we had to cancel our tour to the lake, the caves, and other such tourist must-sees in the islands. Couldn't have had a better deal than having to spend the whole day doing nothing but stare at the wide open cove and the gentle lapping of water on its shores. 

That moment was just picture perfect. Externally and internally.