Kagilagilalas Kitchen Adventures

Ribs with Asian salad and mashed potato

Pork Binagoongan

(Yes, we finally gave in to using paper plates. So much practical!)

Pan-fried salmon with Teriyaki rice

The making of the best dessert in the world

(next to cream puffs and egg pie)

Deep-fried Oreos

Southern-Style Fried Chicken and Rotelle Alfredo

Pinoy Porkchops (HE cooked!)

Washington DC is not in the state of Washington

As I said, geography is my next best subject after math.

We finally arrived in DC (District of Columbia -- ngayon ko lang nalaman yan, in fairness) after hours on the road so it was almost dark when we got there.  We then decided to make this a 2-day stopover so we could maximize the trip.  Day 1 was spent walking, walking some more, and then walking again (I slowly started to understand why we needed 2 days in DC). 

Oh, and did I mention that the parts we visited in the east were in heat wave? For the whole week???

Lincoln Memorial

Me to Paulo: OK na ko, makita ko lang si Pareng Lincoln.

There were only a few people when we got there.  It was a week day after all.

Just like in the movies

People there were polite.  They waited for their turn to get a "solo" photo in front of Lincoln.

Mural

Photo credit: a kind stranger

With the columns outside

They drained the reflecting pool across the memorial, so there's nothing more to do here.

Washington Monument

Me to self: Bakit si Abraham Lincoln, kamukha niya yun monument niya tapos George Washington gets an Egyptian obelisk?

We spotted Kuya with an SLR so we figured, "Ahh, photographer."  And then he took this photo.  Asan na yun obelisk??? We could be anywhere, really.

Lesson learned: kami na lang magpi-picture sa amin.

Hindi na maganda kalagayan ng fez ko dito.  Heatstroke.

World War II Monument.  I heart Pinas.

*drum roll* Paulo's masterpiece *standing slow clap*

After 2 hours of walking (stopping only to take photos), we got back to the car, drove to the subway and took the train.  My feet = numb.

Cave of the Winds: Like Walking to My Death

If you thought I already fought valiantly for my life in the Maid of the Mist Boat Tour, I am afraid you are mistaken, my friend.  In the former attraction, we were at least safe and sound, just watching the mist (and tons of water) cover us from the boat.  Cave of the Winds is a different story.  The first part was easy, though.  Gearing up with a bright yellow rain coat and the official Niagara Falls State Park sandals (which came with the ticket purchase) was super fun.  Oh, and the elevator ride plunging you a hundred or so feet down the Niagara Gorge was a relaxing experience.  But once you step away from comfort of the elevator, you can already feel the temperature dropping and hear the water thundering down the falls.  Then your heart begins to beat a lot faster (his from excitement, mine from heart attack) because you know that in a few moments you will be able to walk along the actual gorge, touch the waters of Niagara Falls...and die.

Nikola Tesla's monument was nestled in front of that dreaded attraction

Still dry

Water was calm in this part of the falls. 

My favorite feature of the yellow rain gear?  It was big enough to cover my bag too!

A little wild here...

I did not post photos of me actually standing beside the falls (you get the picture).

See the fake smile?

 

The white plastic bag contained our shoes.  They didn't get wet! Ingeniuos!

Dry hair, soaked feet!

Ikaw na matapang.  Ikaw na.

Spot the rainbow.

Top-right is the infamous Hurricane Deck (we went there too, no photos) where you are literally blown away by the mighty falls.

I survived it all, obviously.  And am glad I kept my balls in tact for this one heck of an experience.  We only live once, right?



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Niagara Falls State Park ATBP.

We availed the Niagara USA Discovery Pass as it was the most economical way to tour the entire park.  For 33 USD each, it already includes access to 5 attractions namely, Maid of the Mist, Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, Niagara Aquarium, Niagara: Legends of Adventure Movie and Cave of the Winds.  On top of that, you get to ride the state park trolley for free! 

You can check out the site here.

With post-Maiden of the Mist hair

Before the short movie on the magic and myths surrounding the Niagara Falls

The mandatory mirror shot at the gift shop

Air-drying is the best.

Caught in between

Niagara rocks! (pun intended)

At the Niagara Gorge.

Canada backdrop

Paulo's panning shot

The energy pyramid at the Aquarium

Fishy fishy

Shy Nemo

Random K.

Being home alone means...

...eating leftover pasta for brunch
...watching E! shows on TV
...chatting with Manilenyos
...watching the 1st season of How I Met Your Mother
...and of course, the obvious.

Mga Maling Akala sa Maid of the Mist

My next best subject after Math is Geography, so I only learned then that the Niagara Falls lie between the U.S. (in the state of New York) and the Canadian border.  I thought this was just a photo op stopover, but am glad I took the chance to brave these majestic falls. Two major falls at that -- the Horseshoe and the American falls.  The experience was unforgettable.

A view of both falls

Before the dreaded boat ride

Maid of the Mist Boat

Free blue rain gear -- I seriously thought this was enough to keep me dry.

I was so wrong.

Breathtaking

I didn't realize we were going under the falls also.

I was so wrong...again.

No photos were taken while we were IN the falls. I could barely open my eyes.  Kaya ito na lang.

Fun

Watered down.