MANILA, Philippines – After making landfall in Aurora, Tropical Storm “Juaning” (international name: Nock-ten) weakened but picked up speed and changed direction, travelling northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Those twin attacks in Norway were something I'd never thought I'd hear happening in my lifetime...

Looka here -> http://travelvolunteer.net/

Penne Rigate alla Boscaiola

Description:
Penne Rigate is a thin tube pasta with sharp diagonally cut ends, which resemble the end of a quill pen. Penne pasta is approximately 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches in length. The rigate in the pasta name indicates that the pasta has a ridged surface.

Ingredients:
350 g Penne Rigate
50 g butter
50 g dried porcini mushrooms
1 medium onion
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon tomato paste
4 tablespoons of EVOO
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
salt
freshly ground pepper


Directions:
Soak the mushrooms in warm water for 2 hours, drain and finely chop and keep back in 3 ladles of water.

Brown the onion in the oil and add the mushrooms.

Add the mushroom, water, salt, tomato paste, bay leaf and cook over low heat.

Cook the penne rigate pasta. Pour into the sauce and add butter, pepper and parsley.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Kids & Family

With no idiot box at home, and two movie choices of Transformers (Dark of the Moon) and this last installment of the Harry Potter movie series, guess where I ended up on a late Sunday night?

{You must be already familiar with the Harry Potter characters and story if you will read this review.}


While Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (from what I could remember of it) wasn't too bad, there's a certain resignation and jaded eye I had expected to encounter when viewing this film - after all, I'd read and re-read the books so many times, and the last book was not even my favorite - even if it was the conclusion of a long-awaited confrontation between the Boy-Who-Lived and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

It is a good enjoyable film, and one I could claim comes 2nd favorite in my list for the Harry Potter film series. How it treats certain aspects of the story is a little bit different from the book but is still certainly acceptable in the Harry Potter universe.

There are underlying messages in how some of the dilemna are solved (such as how to get rid of the Elder Wand - that was surprisingly simple! *grin*) which would probably be used in some philosophical discussion over tankards of beer and chips somewhere hehehe...but all is well that ends well.

I've seen the three actors portraying the lead characters practically grow up into teenagers on this series - I am just happy it was possible that they completed all of them instead of being replaced.

Speaking of actors, this is one of those times I can really appreciate Helena Bonham's versatility. I could really think of her as Hermione transformed through Polyjuice potion in how she conducted herself in the Gringott's bank robbing scene. Another kudos from me to to Alan Rickman. Though he wasn't what I had actually envisioned for Snape's character (I thought Gary Oldman would be more menacing as our oily-haired, snivellling Professor Snape), I did shed a tear or two over Snape's scenes explaining his duplicity.

{SPOILERS...beware!}
..
..
..
You won't get to see Percy's reconciliation with his family. In relation, you don't get to see them bonding (if you will excuse the term) over Fred's death.
Mr. Ollivander ends up as the one who confirms or completes the explanation about the Deathly Hallows instead of Luna's eccentric father.
The Bloody Baron's relationship with Ravenclaw's Ghost (The Grey Lady) and her connection to the Ravenclaw Horcrux is twisted neatly.
The dark facet of Dumbledore's past is also treated very lightly - no mention of skeletons in closets in the film at all or of Dumbledore's guilty past!
Crabbe is not seen anymore as Draco's sidekick when they fight it out in the Room of Requirement (I thought at first Crabbe became a colored person in the film! wth?)

You will get too see though (different from the book) how Ron and Hermione got the basilik fangs and destroyed another Horcrux - Helga Hufflepuff's cup - as well as their kissing scene (or the back of Ron's head) in the familiar Chamber of Shadows.



If there is one thing I really enjoyed so much in this film, it was the battle scenes between Voldemort's forces and the Hogwarts' defenders.
For these scenes, as well as the dragon escape alone, I'd be happy recommend the movie.

It must be the bloodthirsty part of me - all those magical fighting scenes, giants, ginormous spiders, dementors and spells sproinging all over the place was enough to make me cheer and enjoy the movie.
There's even some light scenes as well - with Neville Longbottom, and with the Harry Potter and the Hogwarts students as he first reunites with them - talk about the English gift of understatement *wink* His character, like in the book shines a bit more in this conclusion - such a big step from his timid image at the start.
I won't say anything anymore on how I felt about abbreviated scenes of some of the more familiar characters as I understand its a movie and difficult to really portray all scenes in the book which may have affected us greatly during our reading them.

Oh well, enough rambling on....what are you waiting for?
Go ahead, sit back and enjoy the conclusion.
You might as well giggle too as you see the "adult" Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Ron, and even Draco with their respective brood in the last scene 19 years later as the train follows the faithful tradition and takes their children this time to Hogwarts.

As for me..I'm left with the question - what do they do with all those new wands if its a case of winning it off its owner...bugger..

Listening to Classical Guitar and Flamenco Radio

LIFE - as a train journey

I would like to thank John (Stormlizard) for allowing me to share this on my site.

I saw this ages ago, and the combination of his thoughts, the pictures and the music at that time made me appreciate it as I pondered all the truths he said.

Since I've been posting about trains lately, I remembered this and dug through John's numerous wonderful powerpoint presentations :-)

Please check it out and enjoy your train journey...

Attachment: Life On The Train.pps

The Bicol Express Train Nostalgia Run (Chito's post)

http://chitoirigo.multiply.com/journal/item/169/The_Bicol_Express_Train_Nostalgia_Run
Please check out the above link of my friend Chito.
I am sure you will enjoy as much as I did reading about his "run" on a long-absent favorite.



++++
As for my thoughts...

Simply put, I *heart* iron horses.

I wasn't born when trains were still around in my hometown of Cebu.
But my parents sometimes get that nostalgic glow in their eyes and describe to me how there used to be a train bringing people as far as Carcar up south or was it Danao up north?

Now all I can see are lingering traces of the presence of pre-WWII iron horses in the crumbling columns supporting train tracks over a valley in the quaint town of San Fernando in the south.

But I've sort of made up for it.

My train-loving deprived soul takes in a little bit of sunshine every time I ride an MRT train in Manila (even if I feel like a squashed Portuguese sardine with my flattened butt resting against somebody else's bony hip... and the train really is only for short distances).



train nearing MRT Ayala Station


I inevitably get this warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest when I also board trains in Japan - I know its going to bring me to a hitherto unknown destination wherein a new adventure awaits - and where I am sure good things will happen.
And since you can practically set your clocks against the punctuality of Japan trains, it makes it really easy to travel that country even if you do not speak an iota of Japanese.



a shinkansen speeding by in Japan


Still though, I was keeping alive that flame in my heart... that someday I'd see something like those shinkansens in my own country - and used by those who eschew flying.

There's something ultimately romantic and thrilling (with some insistent prodding from my overactive imagination) about a train ala The Orient Express or even a simple unadorned iron horse stoically bringing people of all shapes, sizes and types into an interconnected line of train stations where their goal may be located - plus you also get to see varying slices of life when you gaze out of the window into the passing countryside.


PNR (Philippine National Railways) Logo



Ferrocarril Manila-Dagupan ca 1885


When the "Bicol Express" was said to be coming back I was inwardly doing cartwheels. (I get a kick of saying Bicol Express because one of my favorite spicy stews is also named the same). I impatiently brushed aside thoughts on the problems sure to plague those determined folks to make it work. I just focused on the utter joy and anticipation when I too could one day add the experience of riding a long-distance iron horse in the Philippines.

For now, I shall live vicariously through Chito's experience...but I am pretty sure I will be riding the Bicol Express before the year is out :-)