Past the end of the age of discovery

You get surprised when you are not surprised at all.

What?!

Nope! The guy is a good colleague, the person in this post was a college person.

Well, that happened to me yesterday.

Out of nowhere, someone messaged me, and it was completely unexpected.

maybe some of you have this experience already.

When someone who you once cared about (nope! not another cringey flashback) and who you parted with anger, combusting on the side, suddenly sent you msgs.

Bitukang Manok, Quezon

So many changing of the seasons has passed that the anger has sailed past the horizon decades ago. Like poop that has decomped and has descended to the substrata in your aunty's teen years.

So that was a new experience I encountered where it was like meeting someone you know and yet the person is, decades ago, not within your emotional scale. Time really makes a lot of difference. I am glad.

Madongan Dam in Dingras, Ilocos Norte (Photo is copyrighted)

 Life is a constantly changing season. And I am happy it is that way.

Ilocos Norte Road Scenes

This is the Sinking Bell Tower in Laoag City. Older folks said that a man on horseback can enter the tower in the old times. Now the tower has sunk such that those who are allowed to enter have to bend. The bell tower is just a walking distance from St. William Cathedral. The cathedral was built in 1612 by Augustinian friars to replace a wooden chapel.

The bell tower has been a common sight when I attended junior high school at the MMSU Laboratory High School that I did not give it much attention. Today, the sight of it also means "I am back home."

The following photos were taken along the road during my last trip to Ilocos Norte via bus.

                         Entrance to Vigan
 

Somewhat blurred...well they are really blurred...

..

Some nature shots

                     

This intersection is so memorable. This is located in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

 

Manong vendor who sells those native household tools is about to cross the intersection towards the city center of Batac. He came from the Paoay-Batac road in front of the sprawling main campus of Mariano Marcos State University. The pedestrian lane bypasses the national highway.

The San Nicolas municipal hall

Park beside San Nicolas municipal hall

The San Nicolas rotonda, on the far right you can see the municipal hall and its red rooftop.

Just a glimpse and yet so excited! Laoag!

Another pic of the welcome arc of Laoag City

The Gilbert Bridge that connects Laoag to other towns

                                               

      The Aurora Park is like an island at the foot of Gilbert Bridge

                  

The Marcos Hall of Justice Building is the 2-story building in the background

A shopping square near the provincial capitol of Ilocos Norte

The Dingras municipal hall. From Laoag to San Nicolas, on to Sarrat, the town of Dingras comes next.

                     

                     

                     

Provincial feels

     

               

                   

I realized that you also have to reconnect sometimes...

Accessories within your budget and where to get them!

Quarantine and Accessories

I love accessories!

I love jewelries!

Yup! I love making them, even if I don't wear them as much as any female-loving accesorizer does. So whenever I am in malls whether I am just passing through, I would spend more time googling them even if I've seen them more than a dozen times already (as in every day!). 

Here are some hair bands on display at Landark Makati. They range from Ph39 (simple single color or metal) to more than Ph200-300 (sometimes these are the pretty little things that you may not find in any shop).

Simple but still cute hair bands at Landmark Makati. These are priced at Ph59+ upwards.

Some more hair bands, I think these are priced at Ph79+ upwards

Some more hair bands, I think these are priced at Ph89+ upwards

 I think these are priced at Ph89+ upwards

The price of these cuties usually start at less than Ph50 upwards

And these striking pretties are from Ph 70+ upwards

When I make accessories. I usually go to the mecca of accessory makers -- Quiapo. But I go directly to the queen - Wellmanson.

Here are some ready-made necklaces that you can also recreate into your own style or idea.

Some display cases are placed strategically inside the store to give you ideas on which to buy and use.

Another display case

And here they are -- the mommies!

Here are more shots of sample accessories that you can DIY!

                        

Some mooore!

                          

And if you are like me who likes to spend time creating accessories, this place is definitely the go-to place!

                         

Just rows and rows of hanging eye candy!

                        

                         

Hats too! A close friend is fond of them so I bought one for her.

Would you like to try one? These hats are best when you spend a lot of time outdoors. You should use these hats if you don't have an umbrella with you. 

                     

There is a lot to choose from. Pick one!

                     

I like the yellow color. It means happiness and good days to me.

These are classy!

                        

I like those two too! Simply classic!

How much? I don't remember, ut I know these are very very affordable. I think they cost not more than $2-5 today (the hat in the pic below was just over $2). This shopping jaunt was done pre-pandemic, around 2018. 

And here are some more of their goods

                         

You can buy these alphabet links and other cute charms too for your bracelets or necklaces.

Have fun in your DIY! Take care while shopping and it would be better/safer and more fun to bring someone with you too.

Use your face mask! Stay safe!