Chateau De La Mer is a part of the five acres Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center compound in Amoingon, Boac,Marinduque, Philippines. Visit Related Website: engrvv.wix.com/chateau-du-mmer
Some photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing in your copyrights. Cheers!
David B. Katague is an online memoirist and cultural essayist whose writing has appeared on HubPages
This is Part 2 of Ditas Macrine Katague (my youngest daughter) travel to India with her friend and former boss Cathy Sandoval( at the California Public Utilities Commission, Sacramento )💥💥
Ditas my youngest daughter is now in India enjoying a 2-week vacation. This is a needed vacation for as the saying goes " All Work💥 Without Play, Makes Jill a Dull Girl (or Jack a Dull Boy)".
I have not been to India, but have been enjoying scenes from Jaipur, India from the CBS TV show Amazing Race just recently. Attached are some photos Ditas send me via her Face Book page taken in Punjab, Agra, New Delhi as well in Jaipur.
Jaipur is the first planned city of India and it's numerous tourist attractions gives it the name Paris of India. It is also known as the pink city due to its dominant colour scheme of the town.
Two out of three places in these photos are items in Ditas Bucket list - the Golden Temple(Punjab) and the Taj Mahal( Agra). Photos of her trip to Ranthambhore National Park to see the tigers (but they were shy the day of the visit) will be posted in Part 2 of this Series in my next posting.
The other day, I was talking during meal times to my co-residents here at THD of the more than 300 years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines ( 1565-1898). One of the Spanish traditions still popular in the Philippines is a Formal Dance-The Rigodon de Honor. I am reposting this article I wrote several years ago with the above update.
I was talking to my neighbor the other day about dance and music in the Philippines. She asked me if I have heard of the dance Rigodon de Honor. I told her Macrine and I did participate in the dance in 2001. I told her I have written a short article about the dance on my blog that I am reposting today.
The Grand Entrance and Parade of Participants- Note my matching Barong to Macrine's Terno! Macrine did not used the matching removable butterfly sleeves bolero, since it was a very warm evening.
About fifteen years ago, Macrine and I had the honor to be invited to participate at the Rigodon De Honor dance at the Grand Ball of the May Flower Festival in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines. Right in the middle of the Dance Promenade
The Rigodon de Honor is an elegant dance which was brought to the Philippines by the Filipinos who returned from their travels abroad during the Spanish era. This dance takes its name from its opening performances at formal affairs such as the President's Inaugural Ball and other Festivals in Philippines and also in other parts of the world. In Marinduque, members of the provincial government, including the Governor and his wife, legislative officials, and other prominent members of the town are usually invited to participate in the Rigodon. Traditionally, a ballroom waltz dance would follow the Rigodon. This particular dance is a form of quadrille which is a historic dance performed usually by four couples in a square formation.
In Marinduque, it is an honor to be invited to participate in the dance. It meant you belong to the high society of the town and recognized as a leader in the community. Macrine and I were invited to dance at the Grand Ball of the May Flower Festival in Boac in May, 2001. At that time Macrine was the President of Marinduque International Inc-a non-profit worldwide organization based in US and Canada whose main goals is to conduct medical mission to the needy in Marinduque every other year. At that time, I also served as acting Treasurer of the organization. For the whole month of May, we (sixteen couples) practiced almost everyday. Near the end of the dance, a part called the CADENA ( it means chain) had to be performed perfectly, otherwise confusion and mayhem could ruined the dance.
As I mentioned above, to be invited to participate in the Rigodon is considered as the subtle way of "branding" certain members of the community to specific social ranks. Usually performed as a party opener, the Rigodon starts off by calling the names of the participants; first the rich and influential who will compose the cabezera or headline followed by the not so popular and lesser ranking dancers who will then form the costados or sideline. The Cabezera's will start the dance movement first and then followed by the costados. What a way to brand and assign social ranks in the community!
The following video as danced by the young men and women of the Philippines is an excellent visual description of the dance, costumes and music. Enjoy
My Blood Test Results came in the other day. My nephrologist call me early this morning, that my blood Potassium level is on the high side.5.9 mmol/L. She immediately prescribed pills that should lower my K level and advise me to eat food with low K. I did some search on how serious is when your K level is high. She told me to take the pill right away and have a blood test in the next 2 weeks to monitor my K levels and hopefully with the pill my Potassium would fall on the Normal Range of 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/L.
I called immediately CVS for my prescription and I was told my insurance has not authorized the pills and is waiting from my insurance approval which could take a couple of days. In the meantime, I have started monitoring my diet so I can avoid food with High Potassium.
Good Bye Bananas and Avocados, my favorite lentil soup and fresh oranges for breakfast.
Here are the results of my search. High levels Potassium in your Blood is known as Hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia occurs when potassium levels go above 5.5 mmol/L. A potassium level above 6.5 mmol/L can cause heart problems that require immediate medical attention.
Chronic kidney disease can decrease the kidneys’ ability to remove excess potassium from the body. High potassium levels can causeTrusted Source
serious symptoms, including irregular heart function and muscle cramping.
Medications used to treat kidney disease can also raise potassium levels. One possible way to help manage potassium levels is by making dietary changes. This may mean limiting your intake of potassium and making substitutions with some lower-potassium foods.
This article discusses common high-potassium foods that people may wish to limit in their diet.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, CKD affects over 37 million Americans and is the result of a gradual loss of kidney function over time. Causes of CKD include high blood pressure and diabetes.
CKD can worsen over time, and kidneys can stop working completely, but this is rare.
There is no cure for CKD, but treatment can manage symptoms and keep the kidneys functioning. Most people manage their disease with a healthy lifestyle, management of underlying conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and medications to treat symptoms.
In the early stages of kidney disease, a person may not experience any symptoms. As CKD progresses, it may cause:
Because CKD is a lifelong condition, it is vital to have regular check-ups to monitor kidney function.
People with CKD have an increased risk for cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. Regular checkups can help discover problems early and prevent complications. Read for more details the reference below:
Here are 5 Drugs You May Need to Avoid or Adjust if You Have Kidney Disease
Cholesterol medications. The dosing of certain cholesterol medications, known as "statins", may need to be adjusted if you have chronic kidney disease.
Pain medications. ...
Anti-microbial meds. ...
Diabetes medications. ...
Upset stomach/antacid medications.
Meanwhile enjoy my potted Poinsettia here at THD-my Gilded Cage
LEFT-OVER of our Dim Sum Lunch ( mostly vegetable dishes) last month in San Ramon, CA
Last Month, Dinah, Alix, Brendan and I were in the Mall at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon, enjoying a late Dim Sum lunch. Besides the basic Seafood(Shrimp and Crab) and Meat (Pork and Chicken) offerings, this was my first time I enjoyed vegetable dishes prepared and served the Dim Sum way.
While talking to some of my co-residents here at THD, I was surprise that a few of them are not familiar with this gastronomic delight that I really enjoyed. So this is the reason for this posting.
Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese meal made up of small plates of dumplings and other snack dishes and is usually accompanied by tea. Similar to the way that the Spanish eat tapas, the dishes are shared among family and friends. Typically dim sum is consumed during brunch hours — late morning to lunchtime. During the weekend, the best Dim Sum restaurants are usually crowded. So be patient and enjoy your meal in spite of the noise and huge crowds. Do not forget to order your favorite tea.
Photo Credit: Carlos Avila_His Favorite-Baked Pork Barbecue Buns, Shumai and Dumplings
If you want to try this gastronomic adventure for the first time, here is the basic and popular Dim Sum dishes. I suggest you try.
Dim sum dishes include an assortment of seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes that are prepared in various ways: steamed, fried, or baked.
Here’s a list of some of the most popular dishes to get you started:
Shumai (siu mai, shao mai)—These are thin, round wrappers in a cup shape and hold a filling — usually of pork, shrimp, or a combination of the two — and often a small amount of vegetables like bamboo shoots, black mushrooms, and water chestnuts. (Jessica Spengler/ Flickr)
Shrimp dumpling (har gow, xia jiao)— One of the most popular dishes at dim sum, these are chunks of shrimp encased in a thin translucent dumpling wrapper and served in a bamboo steamer. (Charles Haynes/ Flickr)
Soup dumplings (xiaolong bao) — Commonly referred to as ‘soup dumplings,’ these delicate items are filled with hot broth and pork and are served in a bamboo steamer. Though these are originally from Shanghai, their national popularity has secured their status as a dim sum staple. (Ted Murphy/Flickr)
BBQ pork buns (charsiu bao, chashao bao)— These are fluffy, bready white buns stuffed with sticky and sweet barbecue seasoned pork and served in a bamboo steamer. (Kate Hopkins/Flickr)
My Recommended Dish for first timer from Modern China Cafe is their DIM SUM PLATTER / $16
(Two of Each: Siu Mai, Har Gow, BBQ Pork Bun, Vegetable Dumpling)
Location: 1525 North Main St., Walnut Creek, Ca 94596. Tel # 925-988-8008
Here's the difference between, dumplings, Momos and Dim sums. Dumplings are balls of flour filled with a stuffing. Momos are also dumplings that contain some form of filling, be it vegetarian or meat. Dim sums are small snacks in Chinese cuisine that are eaten for lunch. They too have fillings covered with dough, but the dough is semi- or completely transparent. 1525 N. Main St.BonB
