Time flies by so quickly when you're happy. Our adventures are not always filled with joy. But we are grateful as we move on to the next chapter of our lives.
Ever since Boria was a kid, mom always cut his hair. I wanted to try it too. He was little scared, but he told that he trusts me with everything. After a few minutes, I started laughing, but at the same time I wanted to cry. Turns out I had made a bald spot on the back of his head. Mom picked up the machine and showed me how she usually cut hair.
In the evening, husband and I went to the night market to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. Time flies so fast, but I still vividly remember Boris and I getting married like it was yesterday.
The holidays are approaching, so downtown Mako has several Christmas trees with bright multi-colored lights. Some decorations are still under construction. The adults are being helped by tiny workers.
Whoever makes the prettiest and gets the most votes gets the money. We are delighted with this Filipino tradition. The local people are engaged in joint creativity, reveal their talents, and create a holiday with their own hands.
The Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world. It lasts four months. September through the end of December.
For Boria it is strange that in the Philippines, December is warm and the ground is not covered with snow. For more than 30 years of his life, December has always been cold for him. Since he met me, all his days and nights have become warm.
There are a lot of Christmas lanterns here. They're all made from improvised materials. Plastic bottles, bags, drink straws, forks, spoons and more. You can only see it if you get really close. It's beautiful! The people of Maco are very talented.
I bought drinks and some street food. Then we went back to Balut place so I could snack on my favorite treat.
Some kids came up to us and started singing a Christmas song.
Today is an unusual day. A sunshower on the island. At first glance it looks like snow. It's a very beautiful sight. I remember the first time I saw snow. How magical it is.
Cold drops crashing against hot metal and turning into vapor.
A few months ago, I planted the eggplant seeds we brought from Russia. I had almost given up hope. Now it's finally time to harvest the fruits of my labor. I will prepare one of our favorite local dishes called Tortan talon or eggplant omelet.
Tortang talong is one of the best egg dishes in the world. It consists of just a few ingredients: eggplant, eggs, pepper and salt. I also added some garlic because I like it.
I also fried up some dried anchovies, steamed some okra and sliced tomatoes. Mom made some pickle vegetables that I grown to love.
For dessert, we have papaya. A simple lunch, but very tasty.
A few days later we celebrated New Year's Eve. In the Philippines, there is a tradition of placing 12 round fruits in the house. This is believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year.
I bought several varieties of fruit. Some of them Boria had never seen before.
We also cooked kebabs and other dishes for our New Year's Eve dinner. I warned them that the place could be very noisy at midnight.
Filipinos have our own traditions.
When midnight came, Boria realized I wasn't exaggerating. Besides fireworks and firecrackers, people sing karaoke, cars honk, and motorcycles with tails made of tin cans and pieces of metal whiz by. But the noisiest are motorcycles with converted straight-through mufflers. They crackle deafeningly.
Filipinos believe that loud noises scare away evil spirits and ward off bad luck.
Boria realized one thing: we will probably never buy a used motorcycle here.
This is probably one of the most interesting and enjoyable parts of living in the Philippines. I am happy to have spent these amazing days with the people I love.
5 авг 2023
