Understanding April Fools' Day

April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, although not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, the jokes only last until noon: like UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in Ireland, France, and the USA, the jokes last all day.

The origin of April Fools' Day is obscure. One likely theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian Calendar which it replaced. In many pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signaled the start of the spring planting season. An April Fool was someone who did this prematurely. Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors. In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the times of Noah. An English newspaper article published on April 13th, 1789 said that the day had its origins when he sent the raven off too early, before the waters had receded. He did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April. A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd. Read more of April Fools' Day here.

I just want to greet you all
a Happy April Fools' Day
everyone and all!

Be safe!

-sHenG-

A Different High... On a Saturday Gone By (Part 3)

This is the end of my Different High series... and this again, since we were on a Food Appreciation Tour with the Davao bloggers, is about...

FOOD.

After the lunch in Ranchero Grill Davao, we had enough time to go on a tour of Davao, we went to a certain coffee shop called Kasagingan, to kill time and be bummers because of our full tummies, and by 3pm, we were scheduled to go to Crocodile Park.

It was my third time to visit Crocodile Park and since I was already sleepy that time (I woke up before 4 am, remember!), I decided to stay in the car and sleep. By 6pm, the other bloggers who went inside the park were already back so we went to the city proper for the last meal of the day...dinner.

Ram's Lechon Manok

Ram's is an alfresco restaurant located a few meters away from SM City Davao. Along Quimpo Boulevard. Just a walk away, really. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lito and Ruby Magtoto.

Before you go inside Ram's, at the entrance, you will see displays of the fresh seafood they will readily cook for you if you want to have sizzling hot foodies goodies served before you.


But since we were already booked for dinner, our table was already loaded with extra cool meals they have prepared for us.

the all-time favorite lechon manok
P120 -whole chicken

pancit bam-i
P150 - good for 4

Bam-i is a comnibation of pancit mami and sotanghon noodles with veggie overload. Healthy and super delicious, they have the best bam-i I have by far tasted.

lato'
P90 - good for 4

Lato, i dunno what it is in the English term but this happens to be a seaweed. Harvested fresh from underwater, preparation is easy since this is done the same way kinilaw is done, no more cooking. I am surprised that underneath this mouth-watering seaweeds is a favorite too, kilawin. Kilawin is grilled pork and sliced into pieces and added up with kalamansi and a lot of spice. A healthy pulutan especially for the Pinoys.

yummy squid rings in oyster sauce
P120 - good for 4

We were already eating good food when this beauty arrived in front of us, sizzling HOT. The owners were so generous to add this to our table. And we were already complaining of the many foods they have prepared for us.

Ram's winner white-marlin in sweet and sour
P150 - good for 4

I love the feel of the fish, you would never know it is fish. No fishy taste, and no fishy smell, sweet and sour just fit for the tastebuds. We never knew this was fish until we asked Sir Lito, the owner, of the names of the food we were eating.

After the sumptuous dinner we had, we were served fruits,OMG, food overload!

And again, the night was ours, with smiles on our faces. Satisfied and happy, we went back to Gensan with adrenaline high and food stories, I mean good stories to tell.

If you are in Davao, visit Ram's, good food, affordable meals.

Gensan blogger's group
with Davao's Lyle, Brendel and Migs, and CDO's Chiq

A Different High... On a Saturday Gone By (Part2)

Davao Food Appreciation Tour or DFAT is a day of meet-up for bloggers. We in Gensan group, were invited to join the Davao bloggers for the DFAT Year 2. Also present were Manila bloggers and a representative from Cagayan de Oro.

DFAT Participants, March 14, 2009

After the successful Outland Adventure trip, everyone of us were all so hungry. We were divided into two groups after that. And the man, Bariles himself was lucky to have booked a food galore trip with Ranchero Grill Davao. With us were Davao bloggers Lyle, Brendel, Migs, Christian and Cagayan blogger Chiq.

Ranchero Grill
Tionko Avenue cor. Arellano St., Davao City

Function Room

We were all so lucky to be given first class accommodation and dined in their function room.

And the following pics are those foodies goodies we feasted upon. I cannot describe the feeling of having dined in a very classy restaurant, fine dining at its goodness. Everything was just excellent, the friendly waiters and the nice ambience. Everything in Ranchero Grill is worth a try. If you are in Davao, book a lunch here!

Seafoods Platter

This is uber delicious, me being a lover of seafoods is quite pleased that this platter was served right in front of me. Holy cow! Was I lucky?

Angus Feast Babyback Ribs

And speaking of holy cows, here's the best baby back ribs I have tasted, called Angust Feast, this made all of us drool. The hunger went away because of this, and speaking of the growling tummies we had, it was still grumpy when we went in; the grumpiness of our tummies were silenced by the Angus Feast.

Fried Quail

I was surprised to know that this little fried thing in our platters were quails. I have never tasted a quail in my life, except I guess for the quail eggs which are being sold on groceries and bus terminals. This one is a goody. Tastes like chicken, what do you expect?

Beef Pochero

I so love this saucy beef pochero they served us, went well with the crabs that was included in the platter.

The Feast Platter

You can get this whole platter, good for four persons, for only P750.00 depending on the dish inclusions on the platter. This platter included 2 large crabs, shrimps, vegetable salad, kinilaw, fried pugo and barbecue.

Ranchero's Yummy Kinilaw

Why is Kinilaw popular in Davao and Gensan? This is the question asked by Caryn, she was served with this famous kinilaw when she stepped in Davao last Juanuary. Probably because Davao and Gensan is famous with its Tuna Industry. We serve the best tuna belly, tuna sashimi, and other Tuna products.

Barbecue, every Pinoy's favorite.

Already loaded.

Gensan and Davao Bloggers

Already with smiles on their faces because of the sumptuous meal prepared before us.

Ranchero Rating: 5 stars!

Visit Ranchero Grill at Tionko Avenue cor. Arellano St., Davao City

A Different High... On a Saturday Gone By (Part1)

I am never this adventurous. But then again, i thought I should give it a try.

And so, although I am in my busy days, i could never let that lone Saturday pass without me joining the group.

I woke up at 4am, nudged the hubby to wake up, and prepared myself. I had to cook breakfast for the kids, prepare whatever food I can leave them with, had a cold shower, and dressed up and with my new sneakers, went with the hubby.

Where in the world we were going was also a question for me, but was very excited knowing it's a different adventure i am trying out.

It was the second day of the Davao Food Appreciation Tour and we, being delegates from General Santos were invited to meet other bloggers from Manila, Cagayan de Oro and of course, Davao.

So when we reached Davao City, we had a small stop at McDonald's to meet other bloggers and proceeded to this place...

Outland Adventure
Located in Diversion Road, Maa, Davao City.

The place is cool, lots of people, everyone full of energy and eager to try out the longest, fastest and tallest zipline in Asia. So there I was, getting myself ready for whatever comes my way. Hah!



So with the gears ready and placed on me, this is what I looked like with all the harnesses, and every safety device they have hooked on me.

We walked a little more than 20 minutes to a steep hill, and sHenG, still smiling.

Here's me, and in our Gensan group is Honey, the City Mayor's daughter and Romarie, presently crowned Miss Gensan.

While waiting for the wooden raft to transport us across the lake. The raft can carry at most 10 passengers so we waited while the first group was riding it to bring them to the hardest part of the adventure, the walking!


And after the crossover, the adventure requires you to walk a few good distance uphill, hmmm, 45 degrees? Maybe, because it was super steep, but made easier because of the trail that was laid before us.

Still displaying a smile but feeling tired all over, my knees shaking and knocking together.

Still walking, and my knees are already feeble.

A short stop on this sign, although very much spent up and feeling out of air. This made me smile, really, and made me think what a crazy adventure for a cheap thrill I am doing.

Gasping for air, I still went up, I cannot afford to go back and walk my way down.

When we reached the flat area where the platform for the zip is located, everyone waits for their turn to do the zip adventure. I chose the Superman style.

Hubby is No. 33 and I am No. 34. but I don't want to be left behind so I had to switch numbers with him, I went my way first. The zip is all for 15 seconds or so, almost a kilometer distance, and it was a killer thrill!

Here's Romarie flying her way!

And here's me! Superwoman! Ready to go!

The feeling was very high, ecstatic, I dunno, I can't explain it, and while doing the zip for more than 15 seconds or so, I cannot help but praise the Almighty Creator for the nice view I was looking down to. Everything was very nice, and magnificent, perfect. The feeling was good, and me flying and conquering one of my fears.

what i saw, while looking down!

I don't know where I got the strength to do it, or the courage to pursue what I did, but everything was well worth it. This trip to Davao was one of the things I never expected to do in my life, but I was able to overcome my fear of trying out extreme whatevers.

me arriving at the end of the zipline

If there's one thing I could muster with my strength all used up with this different high adventure, it's this: I wish I could fly.

Have a Good Laugh!

Ladies and gentlemen, I tell you, I am really busy, but in my continuing absence, I don't think I can totally abandon you without letting you know you are loved.

So for today, let me share this to you.

Have a good laugh!

I hope I made your day!

sHenG