Sunday, January 1, 2012

Próspero Año Nuevo

I assumed that the faint knock on our slightly ajar door was from the housekeeping lady. It was a man's voice I heard however, and he only spoke Spanish to Shervin. I was able to make out a few words which included "señor" and "comida". The mere mention of comida, the Spanish word for lunch and also food, made me jump off the bed.

The invitation was timely. We were just about to head out for a meal.

The owner did not speak a single English word. While Shervin could only say gracias.

The owner of Hotel Regional in Palenque led us to a long table temporarily set up at the hall just across our room. He asked Shervin and me to sit while he served us a meal of chicken and (to my delight) rice. He and his wife laid food portions for the other people as well, who I mostly recognized as the hostel staff. Such kind gesture to serve the workers who serve them.

Top: Dessert #2, a whole peach swimming in what seems to be unsweetened condensed milk. Left: Chicken dish that resembles the Filipino afritada Right: Dessert #1, a moist flan-ish cake.

Like in my home country Philippines, a prayer was a prelude to our home-cooked feast. The comida was fantastic, though could have been more wonderful had there been actual conversations as opposed to an exchange of lone words such as:

Shervin: Familia (pertaining to the group)?
Owner: Trabajo.

We excused ourselves with our sincerest muchas gracias when the chatter dropped its merriness and picked up a business tone.

Win these! Left: Shot glass from Puebla, Puebla. Beside it is our New Year eve drink, a cappuccino-flavored mezcal. Right: Leather bookmark from Palenque, Chipas. Pardon me, but I just gotta show one of the fake nails I bought here. First time I ever wore those stick-ons and I feel like a cougar in a Mexican telenovela.

Six hours later, we had dinner at Lonely Planet recommended Mara's (which didn't disappoint) and went back straight to our hostel after. We decided to spend the last night of the year low-key. It's an hour into 2012 right now and I could still hear the noise of the owner's family celebrating the New Year from the hall. Though I'm slightly tempted to take a peek at their shindig, I chose to stay in bed and do some blonking (blogging while drinking). Beside my slumbering Luna. And my husband who's watching a Naruto episode.

An epic ender for 2011, I must say.

And oh, 2012 kicks off awesomely with a giveaway! I got a shot glass and a leather bookmark (yah know, lightweight stuff I could easily carry around a few more countries before flying back home) up for grabs. Joining is uber easy! Simply post your fave Pinay Travel Junkie 2011 blog post's title and URL on your wall. Don't forget to tag Pinay Travel Junkie so I'd be notified of your entry.

Nope, it doesn't have to be verbatim.

Luna will pick the winner via rolled up bits of paper with the contestants' names. We're old school like that. Note: Prizes will be sent when we've arrived in the Philippines (yes, contest open to Philippine residents only) after our trip, roughly half a year from now. If for some reason your prize gets lost/stolen/destroyed, I'll search for another cool souvenir from some other country as replacement. Winners will be announced on January 15.

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20 comments:

melo : out of town blog said...
January 1, 2012 at 5:15 PM

Luna is so behaved in the photo... hahaha i bet she wants to dance on top of the table hahahaha

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 1, 2012 at 5:16 PM

Melo, she actually danced on the floor! LOL.

Micamyx said...
January 1, 2012 at 7:36 PM

'Blonking' is a cool word hehe :D

Based on some bloggers I've met, Mexico and the Philippines have a lot in common. At times naiisip ko na sana hindi na lang tinanggal sa curriculum natin dati ang Spanish para kahit saan talaga pwede na mag-work ang Pinoy without much hassle hehe. Cute ni Luna! Dance kayo ng Senorita ni Justin Timberlake :P

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 2, 2012 at 12:08 AM

Yep Mica, heaps in common! Haha, sige sayawin namin yan ni Luna. Lol.

Unknown said...
January 2, 2012 at 8:58 AM

Happy new year to you and your family! =)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 2, 2012 at 10:36 AM

Happy New Year Tin!

Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com said...
January 2, 2012 at 11:01 AM

That yellow thing is a peach?? Thought it was a dish of soft-boiled eggs. hehe Good to know you've had a good time with the locals on NY day. A bit sad to eat on your own in a foreign country. Happy new year Gay! Kisses to Luna.

Bonzenti [Con Tour Blog] said...
January 2, 2012 at 11:11 AM

Is "Palenque" means market in the Philippines ga-ye? Sounds the same with our Palengke. Spanish is now being proposed to be reverted back to college curriculum. A debate that Chinese instead of Spanish is advantageous in the Philippines. :-). Prospero Ano Nuevo ga-ye, and to the family.:-). Wish you good health together with the family and more blessings and travels for 2012. :-).

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 2, 2012 at 11:18 AM

It's got a bunch of definitions Kuya Bonz. Lemme quote Wiki: "The first European to visit the ruins and publish an account was the priest Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada in 1567; at the time the local Chol Maya called it Otolum meaning "Land with strong houses", and de la Nada roughly translated this into Spanish to give the site the name "Palenque", meaning "fortification"."

There you go :)

killerfillers said...
January 2, 2012 at 1:52 PM

Happy New Year!! Already sent my address for the postcard:p

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 2, 2012 at 1:54 PM

Would like to call you by first name, pero parang oks pa rin ang "KillerFillers" :) Happy New Year!

Sumi Go said...
January 3, 2012 at 12:49 AM

The peach in unsweetened condensed milk looks yummy.. ^^ Forgive my takaw-tingin self.. haha.. Btw, I can't imagine having a quiet meal. It would've been heaps of fun if the hostel owner knew some English. But it was good that he's nice.. :) Anyway, have a wonderful 2012 to you and your family! ^^

Following your blog now Ms. Gay.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 3, 2012 at 6:56 AM

Haha! It is yummy! It's good the the sauce ain't too sweet, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to finish it.

Happy New Year Sumi.

tndcallphilippines said...
January 3, 2012 at 2:07 PM

you should have taken a peek at the shindig! maybe had some of their famous tequila. :) Happy new year!

Journeys and Travels said...
January 3, 2012 at 2:18 PM

Happy New Year. I missed Mexican food. This is a great lunch and indeed, one that evokes great Mexican friendships I have had.

I love the scene and Luna seems amaze at the table setting.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 3, 2012 at 8:40 PM

Happy New Year Doc Wends!

kumiko mae said...
January 4, 2012 at 9:53 AM

Aww I love your old school giveaway. I'm so glad I stumbled upon your blog today. I'm planning to travel this 2012 and I hope to be inspired with blogs like yours. :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 4, 2012 at 11:49 AM

Thanks for dropping by! Have an awesome 2012! I'm pretty sure I'll garner heaps of beauty tips from you :)

Admin/Author said...
January 5, 2012 at 12:03 AM

Must have been awkward dining without talking...hehe. Happy new year!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 5, 2012 at 12:23 AM

Super awkwaaard! Haha.

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