Kanin Club: Gimme More Gimme More

Gosh, I’ve been on a rice binge lately. Yes, that means carbo-overload which in turn translates to fats!!!

One of my favorite Filipino restaurants that have a myriad of rice specialties is Kanin Club.

My favorite dish at Kanin Club restaurant is Sinigang na Sinangag (P200), which is closely a rice version of dry Sinigang. Sinigang inspired fried rice complete with pork liempo and vegetable tempura. The vegetable tempura on top of heap of rice surprisingly adds a different crunch to the whole dish. It was a complete meal on its own with the pork liempo adding the meat to the dish.

Vegetarian Curry (P140) is another must-try at Kanin Club. It’s basically the vegetable you find in Pinakbet with delicious Filipino curry sauce. There is a choice of chicken or vegetable and I opted to get the vegetarian one to make up for all the rice I was going to eat.

My friends tried the Crispy Diniguan, which I didn’t touch at all because I don’t really eat Dinuguan. I guess working at the hospital, my imagination can run pretty gory and Diniguan would never be on my order list.

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Coffee Breaks the Heart

After my shift, I marched to Robinson’s Galleria to check out Bayo store.

Last time I shopped at Bayo was a few years ago. In some blogs though, I saw that Bayo together with Johnson’s Body Care came out with a new summer line called, Soft Skin Collection. I like the pieces that I saw and got so intrigued that I wanted to see the clothes up close. Thus, the sudden shopping visit at Galleria.

After walking around and checking out some other stores, I got thirsty and decided that I need my caffeine fix.

I remembered the coffee breaks I take with Erik at Starbucks all of a sudden. Sigh, his shift ended a couple of hours earlier than mine today. We barely talked because it was a frenzy day in the hospital.

I walked towards Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and wondered if I should just go to TGI Friday’s instead and order the Three-for-All appetizer and a milkshake. I don’t need the extra calories so I opted to veer left and buy my coffee.

After placing my order and waiting for my change, I did a double take when I saw Erik at a corner of the coffee shop. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me because I was just thinking about him.

A smile creeps in the corners of my mouth but fades as quickly as an ice cube melting in the heat outside when I saw who he was with. Sitting beside him was Kate!

Yes Kate, one of my two bunkmates at La Corona de Pagsanjan 2 weekends ago! I didn’t even realize these two were close. Erik was pretty friendly with everyone but I thought I was his best buddy there. He didn’t mention he was getting coffee with Kate. I’ve never seen these two get coffee together at Starbucks so what was going on?

They were so glued in their discussion that they didn’t even notice that I stopped in my tracks a few tables away. I debated whether to go to their table or sit on another and wait for them to notice me. Anyway, I decided to just leave.

I wasn’t really that bothered. Erik can choose who he can have coffee with. He’s a good buddy at the hospital but I don’t own him or his coffee time. I think Kate is nice anyway. It’s a bit surprising to see them get coffee AFTER shift though.

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Take Some Heat Off

The heat outside is so crazy!

In this heat, anything cold will do. But I suddenly thought of a frozen dessert made from sweetened water flavored with iced fruit or juice or puree… strawberries in this case.

I’m craving for Antonio’s strawberry sorbet!

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Oh Rafael, Rafael, Let Down Your Hair

I’m getting really so frustrated with Rafael. The other night when he picked me up from the house to have dinner, we had to stop by a PC shop along Aurora Blvd so he can get something for his friend Russell. He could have done that prior to picking me up but decided that I should wait for him in the car while he runs an errand for a friend.

Aren’t we having “quality time” issues? And yet, here we are spending time not really spending time with each other? That 1-hour at the store waiting for the counter guy to process his order would have been a good time for us to talk and catch-up. Geez.

I was already in such a lousy mood that I didn’t have an appetite for dinner at all.

In the car, I started telling him about a UST classmate’s sister who tried out for the Amazing Race Asia show. He didn’t even look like he had any interest in what I was telling him. At some point, I heard him humming to the music playing in his radio while I was talking. I suddenly stopped yapping and stared out the window.

He asked me about how my reviews are coming along. I answered curtly that it’s taking a lot of my time but last time I studied was right before the Pagsanjan trip. He started complaining about not being able to spend time that he wants to spend with me. He also added how I don’t make an effort to make time for him.

What?! I did a double take.

He continued with how I spend more time with others like when I spent the weekend with other medical interns instead of taking a trip with him and my impromptu coffee meet-ups with Vanessa and Charlize. He was visibly upset.

Excuse me, where was this coming from? Does he take time to meet up with me or ask me out lately?

I argued that me and the other medical interns needed a break after quite a busy month at the hospital. Besides, it was out first time to ever go out. What was the big deal? Why was he being so uptight about the trip to Pagsanjan Falls?

We further squabbled and I kept pointing out the fact that he spends so much time on his running and hanging out with friends on his past time when he could easily be the one to adjust his time for me.

I take one trip out of town and he makes it a point of his argument? Chill.

You're asking me to make time for you? Why don't you take the initiative and make time with me?

Dinner was quick and tasteless. Both of us were occupied with our own thoughts.

It was a quiet drive back home.

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Spicy Fingers

I believe in retail therapy. It’s really quite therapeutic to have purchase power. I especially enjoy shopping if I find a number of interesting items for such a small price.

After spending time shopping in Greenbelt, I headed to Spicy Fingers for some snacks and to rest my throbbing legs.

I ordered cheeseburger with fries. It was really yummy particularly the sweet barbecue sauce they served on the side. The delicious beef patty was juicy and meaty. I had sauce dripping on my fingers as I chomp on my burger.

My bill was less than P300 and my afternoon snack was well worth it.

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Pagsanjan Trip with Team Med

We checked in at La Corona de Pagsanjan a little before 12nn. Check-in time was at 2pm but Erik was able to swing the receptionist’s mind to allow us to do an early check in. Erik really has his charming ways –and probably good karma too because he’s such a sweet and uber nice fellow.

I was bunking with Kate and Steph, next door to Erik and Mike. The other 6 settled in their rooms as well.

After lunch and a bit of rest, the afternoon activities started. Rope marshals oriented us on some safety guidelines. They assisted us in most of the rope activities but we basically did all the rope challenges as a team. It was fun to see the girls belaying the boys. Erik was surely heavy but I didn’t mind at all carrying his weight in my arms as he traversed the rope line.

The highlight of the whole Saturday afternoon was the Slide for Life. Everyone had to climb about 25 meters of the mountainside slope in order to get to the top or the take-off point. I was pretty scared at first but Erik’s calming voice and soft reassurance soothed my fears.

I jumped. The slide hurled me forward. I screamed. Not in fear, but in complete utter joy.

That weekend ended and I was beaming from ear to ear come the next work day.

The Doc is out! :)

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I Need a Break!

I’ve been pulling again long long hours at work that I barely find the time to write or have any more fun. At least, outside work. Not that I’m really complaining. I also love being in the hospital. There’s some kind of rush at certain peak hours that I really take pleasure in.

I really can’t whine anyway because Erik has been such a great company. During down times, we talk endlessly about anything under the sun. We talk about the patients. We talk about how we’re so tired of the food choices in the area that’s within walking distance. We never run of things to talk about.

We actually were talking about personal travel plans. It’s been a while since Rafael and I took a trip anywhere. Our schedules don’t really match these days. I know he has more leniency to adjust his schedule but he doesn’t seem to take the initiative to do so. I digress.

Anyway, I have never been to Pagsanjan Falls and I’m thinking of going there for a day trip.

Erik hasn’t been there either.

The Doc is Out!

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