Norway:Øyungsdammen / Mellomkollen Loop Day Hike

We decided to do another loop hike but apparently this one took us much longer. We still started late because the bus schedule that we got in Nydalen was I think 10:40 AM or something. Originally we planned to get ready at 9am (and by now, we should have learned that there are bus and metro schedules : p that we can check on the Ruter app -which I don't have we only rely on Malou)

Nydalen bus stop but, we have to take the #51 Bus in the other side of the road

there is a toilet in this mall

apple pie from Baker Hansen 

waiting for bus #51 Maridalen

follow the signs

some things to remember while roaming the forest

there are clear signs and paint marks on the trees too

going to  Oyungsdammen first

Oyungsdammen -brought sandwiches for lunch

we got to have a picture of Oyungsdammen - had to climb up a steep area for this

follow some more signs and your map app

to Mellomkollen peak

hare's tail cotton grass

Jesse forgot to resume the app in a few occasions

the route

HOPE Worldwide Philippines 2020

Our company sponsors our cause.I pray that this gift will come up as a memorial offering before God.

#hopeworldwidephilippines
#openit

Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

I remember volunteering in Baseco and Payatas starting in the early 2000's. I didn't have much myself but distributing relief goods, Christmas care packages and books or cleaning out the Hope center where the kids had their day care/computer classes  brought joy to my heart. ❤️ Today I am able to give because of my work. Our CEO once told us that he could have stayed employed and help some, but starting a company can help even more people - which is true to this day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBBwXJ4FK2P/?igshid=1w105e1syfpna

Norway-Kolsåstoppen Loop Day Hike

Since our flight has been canceled again, Jesse and Malou headed for a Medium hike at Kolsåstoppen still in Oslo. We packed some sandwiches and left the apartment at 10:30AM and went to National Theater station after which we headed to the Bus Station to take bus 150 to Gullhaug to Stein Gard. We had to wait about 22 mins because we missed the other bus 3 mins before we got there. It is handy to always check your Ruter app for departures so you can plan ahead especially if you have a tight schedule.

Bus 150 Stop 

From Stein Gard we entered a farm and from there followed the mobile app for the trail.

Stein Gard farm jump off

Sometimes we get off tangent so we check the app and go back a couple of times until we are on the right trail again because there are some forks.

Lunch at the lake side 

wild flowers along the path

clover leaves 

pine trees

are we there yet? 

this is not it yet

OK this is the spot

under the shade 

the farthest I can go 

it's better than the pics

We stayed at the top for about less than an hour I think. It was probably 20 degrees Celsius that time. I still brought a down jacket 😅 just in case the temperature drops in the middle of nowhere.
The decent was not as I expected, it was more challenging and there were more people going up and down there. There were loose rocks but I'm surprised I made it out. The contrast is there were steps with railings too in the steep areas. I also saw many teens and little kids on this side.

Overall it was great. We had an afternoon worship service at 1700 so we had to go at 1600PM but we missed the bus 150 again because we didn't flag it I guess. So we had had to wait another 30 minutes or so. 

Tayabas, Quezon-Holidays 2019

A day after the annual Give a Gift from the Heart Christmas gift giving event, I decided to stay home to rest before heading to Manila to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family. However, I experienced flu like symptoms and had to delay the trip. Four days have passed (December 26th) and I still don't feel okay to travel so I went to the see the doctor and as expected, I was advised to take antibiotics (co-amoxiclav) for 7 days and another meds for colds. The meds made me feel better along with malunggay soup and I was able to travel to Makati for the visa appointment. 

On January 1st we headed to Makati for our visa appointment at the embassy the next day.
We stayed at the Green Sun Hotel which we booked in Agoda and paid in 7-11.

Green Sun Hotel

New Bistro Deli Pasong Tamo

Starbucks - got ourselves the blueberry cheesecake

I was advised to come back on January 3rd for
another check-up. I had lab tests and I was relieved I was not anemic,my kidneys are okay and my lungs are clear thank God. I had to take another 7-day antibiotics dose because of UTI and scheduled the routine urinalysis and consultation on January 13th. I went hiking (link for Maynuba) on the last day of taking my meds which was a Saturday so I made sure I took them - strictly not on an empty stomach. I tried to eat a rice meal early in the morning after hours of traveling in the van, I tried so hard not to puke everything I've eaten hahaha. 

So the results were okay and I have to maintain what the antibiotics have cleared by eating clean and having less coffee. I have cut down on colas for many years but have not really avoided coffee. But these days I limit myself to one cup a day in the morning from 4 cups a day! I was also given cranberry pills as supplement.

Also, when I look back, I can say that it probably was for the best since we had to review for the APLA NTS final exams set January 10th. So we had plenty of time listening to the recordings of the three-day class and focused on reading Luke and Acts which was a great experience to me.


Anyway, I am planning to visit my family this February.

That sums up our holidays!

Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal:Mt. Maynoba Day-Hike

This world's not my home
Just a-passing through
Through this life I wander
Treasure stored up yonder
Somewhere beyond the blue
On my way I learn
Through each path I take
Every day I'm growing
On my way I'm knowing

Heaven's worth the wait

-Anchor for the Soul 

by J. Brian Craig

My first day-hike of the year, I'm not really planning on a couple even because age is definitely catching up on me-my right knee hurt after, so I shouldn't forget wearing my knee support next time. There were 11 of us from different departments and I'm just walking behind them with the sweeper following us.

The weather was fair and the trail is dry in most parts. There's no rain even if a few days before that, there were showers so we were kind of hoping for it not to rain and it didn't!

Even with the dry trail, some parts are still slippery because of the small rocks and dry leaves and some of us slipped but imagine if it had rained! The steep cliff is waiting down there-perhaps one will manage to survive it with a few broken bones but then it can be worse-I guess that's the risk but this is supposed to be an easy climb like the ones I have always joined - just fun climbs :) Mt. Nalayag is still the most dangerous for me to date LOL.

crowded spot, let's go to another... 

0230 ETD Open iT Lucena

0530 ETA Cayabu, Rizal

0545 breakfast (small eatery offering adobo, longanisa, hotdogs, chopsuey, rice etc) 

0615 registration and orientation, prayer

0630 trekking approx 2 hrs to summit with some 75 degree hike trails

0745 ETA viewing deck (no sea of clouds at his time) 

0830 ETA Mt. Maynoba Summit 662 ASL

1100 ETA falls #7 (can't remember, that's the last one)

12NN Back to jump off about 15 minutes walk down a few stream crossings

1300 Wash up then lunch at another carinderia (I had betamax, pork chops and half rice)
1430 ETD Cayabu, off to Tanay for Balaw Balaw Restaurant
1630 ETA Balaw Balaw Restaurant, Art Gallery and Museum
1800 ETD from resto, off to Lucena
2200 ETA Office

that's a bunch of crunchy crickets for you! 

good for 6-8 pax of seafood and pink Balaw Balaw rice

Lucena, Quezon:A Gift from the heart. Himig ko Handog ko 2019

It's the most wonderful time of the year!This year generous donors - friends, officemates and good hearted people whose hearts overflow with gratitude for their blessings - made this gift giving possible.

Acts 10:1-4 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

I believe that these gifts have come up as memorial offering before God. May God bless us all as we remember his love for all mankind.

0800 Dalahican residents assemble at the basketball court
09:30 Worship Service

Matthew 2:1-12

The magi visits the messiah

• What do you seek? 

Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

• Where do you look? 

Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

• What do you give? 

Gold a sign of acceptance that Jesus is their king

Incense used in the temple, recognizing that he is a high priest

Myrh- for the dead, because Jesus will die on the cross

Sya ang Hari, taga gabay, taga pagligtas

10:00 Christmas Songs
Opening Prayer
Opening Remarks
1015Games

Balloon pop relay (kids)

Grab the cup (adults)

1030 Intermission Number B4G
1100 Games
Pass the message (adults)

The boat is sinking
1130 Lunch
1145 Gift Giving
12NN candies and some more games for the kids while waiting for the jeepney
1215 rented jeepney arrives to transport them back to Dalahican

Grab the cup game 

Beneficiaries 

Met there:
Nezel
Nanay Imelda
Steph
Feebie
Nova
Arlene
May
Gina
Jiovanni
Maricel
Criselda
Princess
Shane sister of Princess

As disciples of Christ in the 21st century, we continue what disciples in the book of Acts have done, except healing and driving out demons of course.
(notes from the NTS APLA class 2019)
Acts 3:1-10
v8-10 Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

When people feel loved and cared for, it open doors to their hearts like what the man in the story in Acts expressed.

Do we show good deeds to get something in return?
-to feel good about ourselves?
-to have good reputation?

We glorify God by the good things we show. We can be channels of the love of God by showing we care.