I was especially inspired since we renovated and repainted the kitchen firetruck red and my wife came back from Australia with a treasure trove of holiday recipes and inspirations - thanks to Donna Hay!
Since everybody else was working on Christmas eve, I was left alone with Nanie and Olive (my office manager) to conquer the kitchen. We were able to whip up a little Grilled Salmon, Ham with Spicy Mango Confit, Steamed Garlic Scallops, Green Noodles with Seafood Brisket, Lentil Soup, Buttered Veggies (turned out to be a disaster but Don rescued it from oblivion) and Raspberry Cake with Caramelized Fresh Berries on the side for dessert. For a little Filipino fare, Olive cooked her famous embutido and leche flan which was truly sinful!
While waiting for everybody to come, we had some chardonnay, blue cheese and crackers which Freedom tried with his chocolate Smarties!
The gang after the feast... we gave our gifts at the struck of midnight. Freedom got a mini drum set (our sleep will never be the same again) among many other things while I got a travel folio and a full collection of Woody Allen films!
Come new year, it was just me, Olive, Don, Nanie and Freedom as everybody else had their own parties to go to, but by midnight, we were all together to greet 2009. The fireworks display was short, but the sight of hundreds of candles on paper balloons floating on air was a truly magical sight.
At 1 am, we were all shuttling our way between the street party at Pub Street, the revelry at Linga Bar and the live band at Cafe Central.
By 4:30, we were hungry as wolves from all the partying, so we went home to raid the fridge.
By 5:30, we made our way to Angkor Wat to catch the first sunrise of 2009. The freezing cold didn't deter us as we came prepared with our own thermos of coffee and tea! By now, the pack was now reduced to me, my wife, Olive and Don.
Then slowly, at around 6 am, a hazy blue sunlit sky made its way to the horizon... revealing Angkor Wat's distinct spires...
I have seen it a million times, but it is still a magical, exhilarating sight...
Happy New Year everyone!
ingit na naman ako. super ganda!
ReplyDeleteWow - good company and great feast!
ReplyDeleteAfter Xmas in Kep, we were toying with the idea of NY in SRP but then changed our minds again (argh!) and look at what we missed (argh again!)!! And as if to taunt us, it rained in PP the whole night plus there was a one-hour black out in our area. Grabe!
Hope 2009 will be happier and more prosperous for all of us.
P.S. This is the first time I've seen Ate O here. Na-miss ko ang mga luto niya waaaaaaa!!
What a festive New Year you've had over there! Here, UK was awashed with ice and bitterly cold breeze that made us just stay at home and watch the fireworks on t.v. Still, as we welcome the year of the carabao, may we all have a bountiful 2009!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics as usual :)
@blagadag: kamusta naman po ang new year nyo dyan sa saudi? hope it was fun!
ReplyDelete@sreisaat: sobrang sayang, we were really hoping that dito kayo magpasko or mag new year! miss olive's embutido and leche flan were a big hit - and you missed them! hahaha. oh well, sa susunod na pasko po!
@chezza:i can just imagine - we almost died of the cold here and to think it's only around 10 - 15 degrees. Imagine dyan sa UK when the cold is really really unbearably cold! Well, wish you guys a great 2009! Cheers...
magical indeed ang iyong holidays... haaay, i just wish that someday, i could actualize the artist in me...
ReplyDeleteanyhow, hampey new year!
@wandering commuter: it's never too late... 2009 might be a good year to realize the artist in you! i don't see why not!
ReplyDeletehapi nyu yir!
The menu sounds yummy;)
ReplyDeleteand what to say about the sunrise, beautiful.. magical!
gosh, the pics of angkor are just wonderful.
ReplyDeletehappy new year!
hi loven
ReplyDeletenice to see you back
happy new year!
wow the 6am blue sky is breathtaking!
I was on vacation on new year eve and can't wait up due to fatigue to catch the 1st sunrise by the lake
ReplyDelete@sharon: thanks… so far my guests enjoyed what we prepared… I’m also glad you had a magical new year by the shores!
ReplyDelete@kawadjan: manigong bagong taon din po. How was NY in Bangkok?
@alex: thanks. Am trying to be more dedicated with blogging this year… so much things I’ve missed!
@borneo falcon: aw, too bad you weren’t able to catch up with the first sunrise… I’m sure you had fun though, that’s why you couldn’t get up that early! Lol.
uy, grabe yan ang tawag na "walang tulugan" hindi ba umulan dyan? dito kasi we had wet new year. Miag-ao church ba yan ang isa sa mga photo frames?
ReplyDeleteI always want to catch the new year sunrise too. Ganda ng angkor wat. Ibang scenery naman ang nakita ko. yung pindala mong postcard ay solar eclipse sa angkor wat. I'll post it soon. Btw, nakarating na dyan ang card na pinadala ko. Yung postcard mo, tamang december 24 dumating.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
@Redlan: yup, my mom and sis told me that it's raining like crazy there for new year! yup, those are my artwrks of miag-ao church and binondo church on the wall. Glad to know na you have the postcard na... haven;t received yours yet, but i'll check in the post office! Cheers!
ReplyDeletehappy christmas and a happy new year, mate :) it's been a while but im glad that you're back from your vacation!
ReplyDeletethat was a very cool kitchen, really artistic :) why am i not surprised..hehe
loved that angkor what... really mystifying especially with that blue hue... hays...
see yah!
Ron! I'm glad you're officially back in the blogosphere too! I have to catch up with your last posts though... am slowly getting back on my feet and i can;t wait to read your new tales!
ReplyDeleteThe Gucci Gift is a good sign of a great year! Senkyus Bong! XOXO
ReplyDeleteMatanong ko lang, what's with watching the first sunrise sa New Year? I might as well do that and wag nang uminom ng madami para makabangon ng maaga sa bed, huh' :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you bro and to your family.
Ey! I soOO like the dining table at ang ganda ng pics mo!
bro, the blue photos are wow!!!!!!
ReplyDeletenakaka-iyak sa ganda!
@palangga: my pleasure!
ReplyDelete@edregin: the secret para umabot hanggang sunrise is to dance like there's no tomorrow para matunaw agad ang ininom! hehehe. the thing here also is that there were a lot of parties to go to, kaya umabot kami hanggang 5 am... so tuloy na lang hanggang sunrise, di ba!
@jake: musta naman ang new year dyan sa san fran?
winner!
ReplyDeletewow!!!! what can I say kundi wow.!!!
ReplyDeleteyour house looks like a mini museum. lav the the walls.
and what better way to spend new years eve than with your family and close friends......
plus---sunrise sa angkor wat. what more can one ask for. wow!!!
@fuchsiaboy: tumpak!
ReplyDelete@pusang gala: hahaha... musta na anton? how was your new year?
What a wonderful feast! Happy New year to you, your family, and staff!
ReplyDeletethanks dennis! i'm enjoying the new look and feel of your blog! keep it up and happy new year to you too!
ReplyDeleteCool fotos! both for your crib and 2009 sunrise fotos!
ReplyDeleteHapi New Year my blogfriend!
thanks kris!
ReplyDelete