Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

The Blooms that Caught my Eye – The Kamunting Flowers

By on June 30, 2025

These flowers really grabbed my attention when we hiked up the mountains of Sagada, especially at the spot where we checked out the Sea of Clouds in Marlboro Hills. It’s known as Karamunting flowers (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) commonly referred to as Rose myrtle, a wildflower that thrives in the chilly mountains. Kamunting flowers have a lovely violet-pink mix with six petals and red and yellow sepals. It’s an evergreen shrub that produces a round brown fruit.

I took a few photos of Kamunting flowers because I was so enchanted by these gorgeous blooms. They were the most stunning wildflowers I captured in Marlboro Hills.

These flowers are really lovely and they even glow in the dark.The upcoming post will feature more northern blooms. Sagada is adorned with breathtaking flowers that flourish throughout its mountains, riverbanks, as well as in both upland and lowland areas.

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Wildlife/Animals/Pets

How do dogs greet one another?

By on June 23, 2025

Lovely greeting pictures of Frosty showcasing him as he meets and greets dogs of different breeds.

I have three dogs: Ruby, a Chow Chow, Frosty, a Coton de Tulear and Maki, a Jack Terrier. Frosty always joins me for my morning walk, while the other two bigger dogs stay at home. I plan their walks separately because I can’t manage all three dogs at once. Whenever I take Frosty for a morning or afternoon walk, he greets all the dogs we encounter in the park. It does not matter whether the dog is large or small, as long as it is friendly, they will rush to meet my dog. I believe this is simply a natural way for dogs to greet or communicate with one another, their body movements can be easily recognized through eye contact, tail wagging, and body posture. Interestingly, dogs occasionally sniff each other’s behinds, don’t you think? Is that truly a pleasant scent?

Having a Dog as a Pet

If you’re looking for a genuine friend who will love you no matter what, get yourself a dog! Spending time with my dog keeps me both mentally and physically healthy.

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

Papaya with a Star-Shaped Seed Cavity

By on June 18, 2025

The Philippines is home to various types of papaya, including well-known varieties such as Sinta, Red Lady, Sunset Solo, Kapoho Solo and among these, the royal star papaya stands out due to its unique internal cavities, which are shaped like a perfect star. It is recognized for its pleasant aroma; while some people find it sweet, others describe its flavor as mildly sweet, yet it boasts a long shelf life. It is indeed fascinating to observe how the interior forms into a star filled with seeds. One great thing about royal papaya is that you can enjoy Royal Star papayas even when they’re half ripe. Royal Star papayas represent a novel hybrid variety of Carica papaya.

The Royal Star Papaya is an incredibly nutritious tropical fruit.

Papaya, a tropical fruit renowned for its benefits on digestive health, is rich in vital nutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants, it is also recognized for its health advantages, certain compounds in papayas may possess anticancer properties and reduce the risk of heart disease in addition to numerous other health benefits.

I personally planted this papaya in our backyard, and it has developed into a beautiful, fruitful plant that produces many fruits capable of sustaining the family, you can count on it to provide us with fruits every week. Even after we pick the fruits for this week, you can still see the ripe ones ready for the next week. It is a wonderful pleasure to enjoy the benefits of the tree you have planted.

Core Section of a Star-Shaped Papaya

The star-shaped cavities are a natural variation in the structure of the fruit, especially when it has been cultivated from specific hybrids or varieties.

This star shape is formed by the configuration of the flesh and seeds within the fruit.

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Sagada Adventure

By on June 10, 2025

Stunning sites await you during your visit to Sagada. If you are in search of adventure, Sagada serves as the perfect destination for you. Awe-inspiring vistas greet you as you journey through Sagada.

Sagada presents some of the most exquisite natural attractions

I created a collage showcasing all distinctive attractions in a single frame, with the name of the place highlighted. This makes it easy to choose a destination when visiting Sagada.

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Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Restaurant Review | Travel and Adventure

Must-Try Restaurants in Sagada

By on June 7, 2025

When I’m in a new town, I usually find a landmark to help me get my bearings and explore from there. After a long day of touring, I often find myself really hungry and craving food, which can be tricky if I’m not familiar with the area and trying to figure out where to eat.

We’re spending 5 days in Sagada and are unsure about where to grab a bite. Being a 5th class municipality, the dining options are pretty limited. We did some online searching for ideas, but asking locals is definitely a better way to find the best spots near our guesthouse. Our tour guide suggested a couple of restaurants, but we decided to explore and see what we could find ourselves. Our package tour includes breakfast, but lunch and dinner are on us. The great part is we get to pick our own favorites without having to rely on what’s served to us.

Top Dining Establishments to Experience in Sagada

Despite the rain and a temperature drop of 18 degrees, we ultimately discovered a simple restaurant, Slabhouse, for our meal. There are three of us, and the restaurant’s menu offers a variety of quality dishes. They provide straightforward yet reasonably priced food. The establishment is cozy, featuring an elegant dining area, and for those who prefer an open-air experience, there is a veranda that allows you to enjoy the refreshing cool air of Sagada.

We enjoyed dining Al Fresco, surrounded by people from various countries savoring their meals. The menu featured simple yet delicious local dishes.

Slabhouse restaurant offers an all-day breakfast menu, a variety of rice meal combinations, desserts, pasta, pancit, rice meals, and appetizers, among other options. We ordered sizzling pork sisig, pork sinigang and pancit bihon. Each dish was fresh and flavorful, served piping hot, with a smoky aroma that filled the air upon arrival at our table. The enticing scent heightened our appetite, making it difficult to resist tasting the food right away.

Pork sinigang is a delicious and comforting sour soup originating from the Philippines. With its tamarind paste providing a distinctive flavor, this wonderful dish is ideal when paired with rice for a fulfilling meal. When I cook at home, I opt for Kamias as the best alternative if tamarind isn’t on hand. Both fruits are recognized for their sour taste, which is frequently used in Filipino cooking. When you’re in a chilly location like Sagada, a warm bowl of soup feels so comforting as the temperatures drop. Soup has a soothing effect.

Sizzling pork sisig pairs perfectly with sinigang and fresh hot steamed rice. It’s so delicious that it makes my mouth watering. My appetite really increases! OMG! I’m going to put my diet on hold to fully enjoy the local foods that Sagada has to offer.

Our third order, Pancit bihon, is a comforting dish that is served hot at the table and has a delightful aroma, was brought out still smoky and piping hot.

Just like the first two, this Pancit bihon was a delightful surprise that paired perfectly with the other dishes. It’s a classic Filipino noodle dish made with chicken, chicken liver, and gizzard. I really enjoyed the tasty crystal noodles; they were cooked just right and had a delicious flavor that I couldn’t get enough of. All three dishes we ordered were enough to feed 3 to 5 people. I felt so satisfied after finally tasting the food I had been craving that night.

Indeed, my vacation here in Sagada has been a truly wonderful experience as I have come to discover their local cuisine as well as the beautiful tourist attractions that Sagada has to offer.

Slabhouse Cafe and Restaurant is situated in Sagada, Mountain Province, along the main street of the town proper, just 50 steps away from the Guesthouse. Slabhouse turned into our go-to spot for meals while we were in Sagada. A dining establishment worth considering during your visit to Sagada.

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Hanging Coffins of Sagada

By on June 5, 2025

For two millennia, the Igorots of Sagada have been laying their loved ones to rest by putting their bodies in snug wooden coffins and hoisting them onto brackets secured to the cliffside. They also have the tradition of burying them inside caves. The deceased are arranged in a half-fetal position to fit into the compact coffins. This custom is intended to protect the dead from floods and animals, and they believe it aids the departed in transitioning to heaven more peacefully.

You can see rows of pine coffins, some dating back a hundred years, with names painted on them, hanging from the steep cliffs of Echo Valley. The Igorots are proactive about preparing for the death of their elders, often carving their own coffins ahead of time if they sense that death is near.

Echo Valley Famous for its stunning scenery and intriguing cliffside burial customs. It is primarily recognized as the entrance to the Hanging Coffins, a top tourist attraction in Sagada.

Burial Cave – Stack of coffins inside the cave

If you yell while strolling down the path to the burial site, your voice will definitely bounce back throughout the valley. During the burial, the ancestors will yell and scream at the top of their lungs to awaken the previous dead, letting them know that an elder is about to join them in heaven. The echoes can be heard all over the valley.

Echo Valley was explored on the third day of our Sagada adventure. The hike was somewhat challenging, as we navigated up and down past the cemetery. Along the way, you’ll encounter towering cliffs and caves before arriving at the hanging coffins. It was a fascinating sight to see how the Igorot people carry out this unique burial practice.

It was April and summer in the Philippines when we visited this location. This is the optimal time to explore Sagada. The temperature was pleasantly cool, reaching 18 degrees Celsius, and dropping to a chilly 14 degrees at night. The journey by car from Manila to Sagada takes approximately six hours. However, during the rainy season, travel time can double, and access may be restricted due to landslides. Therefore, summer is the ideal season for a visit.

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