Cookies, Flowers and Sponge Cakes

Some photos from last week:

I made apple-cinnamon-walnut cookies

Alstroemeria and mums I bought from the office's neighboring flower shop. (I also bought a couple of roses which are now hanging upside down. I'm air-drying them.)

Castella (Japanese honey sponge cake)! My first attempt at making sponge cake. It was really good, if I may say so. I think I'll be making more of these light-textured cakes. They were pretty easy to make too.

Sanity-Keeping in San Juan, La Union

During the past few weeks (or months), stress has been eating up my sanity so I decided to take some time off work and treat myself to a short R&R. I took a seven-hour bus ride to San Juan, La Union last Monday for an overnight trip. It was my first time going to Region I.

I thought La Union was gonna be warm like Manila but I ended up shivering in the winds haha.

I took surfing lessons in the afternoon. Too bad the waves were too big and the tide was high-- totally not for a beginner like me. After hitting my face into the board a number of times (This kept happening when waves hit me while going away from the shore), I still managed to stand up and ride my first wave. Not bad for experience, I guess. At least, I was able to strike out "Try surfing" off my bucketlist. :)

When I could barely push myself from the board, I decided to stop and just sit by the shore-- my favorite beach activity.

I was supposed to try surfing again the following morning but the waves were still too strong for a beginner and my arms and chest were sore like mad so I ditched the plan. I decided to just read a book at the restaurant. The breaking waves make for the perfect background music.

The view from my room's porch. Not bad.

I miss the winds up north. That short trip was amazing.