Sofia's Basket

A basket of fruits for Sofia's birthday

Last September, a young Filipino family arrived and occupied the house (approximately) 70 meters south of my accommodation.  Yes, I finally have a neighbour in the chook farm compound.

Edwin- the head of the family, has been helping me with the poultry farm operation since then.  His wife Zuzette, coincidentally, was born and grew up in a town 36 kilometers southwest of my hometown.  The couple has two daughters named Sofia and Ezra.

Ezra is 4 years old, and Sophia turned 8 yesterday.  The family invited some friends to dine with them, and because it's a local tradition to bring a plate, I decided to make a cake for Sophia.  I heard from Edwin that Zuzette loves chocolate cake so I baked one... but frosting and designing it for an eight-year old girl was simply a mountain to climb.

I love to personalize my creations but this time I couldn't think of a cake that would fit the birthday girl.  Sofia loves telling a lot of detailed stories, she has a torrent of words!  Though she speaks and understands Filipino, she expresses her thoughts and feelings in English.  Her name reminds me of my Philosophy subject back in the uni- exactly the time when our professor said, "...Philos means love, and sophia means wisdom."

To make the story short, I ended up with a basketweave design.

The chocolate basket cake, left lateral view.

I am glad Sofia loved it, she and her parents were very happy and grateful!  The guests had literally dropped their jaw upon seeing it, and I am thankful they all said, "Hmmm... beautiful!"- the Australian way of saying delicious. 

Sofia realized she forgot to make a wish before blowing the candle.

After cutting the cake... (Photo taken using my mobile phone.)

I was happy with the outcome of this masterpiece, my plans were executed well and the cake turned out as what I had actually imagined.  To prove that the basket was really a cake, I made sure to take a photo after it was cut (Since I arrived in Australia, I have learned to use the word 'cut' in place of the preferred Filipino term- slice). 

A slice of the basket cake.

Unlike the photo above, weaving the creamy chocolate frosting was NOT a piece of cake; but it was fun!  I didn't post it last October, but I also made a chocolate doll cake for Ezra's birthday!  Somebody up there tells us to love our neighbour, I hope my gestures count.


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Australiana

Featuring the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star, and the Southern Cross constellation. 

Last September 15, 2011, I posted this on my Twitter timeline: 

In Adelaide City... drove a friend- Marie to the Immigration; she'll take the citizenship test today. Good luck to her.  

Well, she passed.  This afternoon, Marie took her Australian citizenship pledge at Port Wakefield Council Office in Balaklava.  A dinner party immediately followed at our friend's place at Salter's Spring Road.  There were plenty of food, and the drinks were overflowing!  Everybody was happy.  

I baked a cake for the new Australian.  She was surprised and very happy when she saw it.  Marie loved it; she was very grateful!

 

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!  Oi, oi, oi! 

This was my first attempt to draw or paint (or whatever we call it) an Australian flag, and I'd say it was successful.  No doubt, this cake was the centrepiece of the celebration.



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Thirty-two

My birthday cake specially made by Ate Fely Shumacher.

It's been quite a while since I had a birthday party- it was ten years ago right after getting my veterinary license.   

I didn't have the plan to celebrate this year, but my Titas in Port Wakefield organized something.  It was supposedly a surprise party but they failed to keep it, so I volunteered to procure a whole roasted pork.  Special thanks to my friends who are working in the piggery farm, we got the size we want at a lower price.  We didn't use a skewer but it turned up as an authentic Philippine lechon! 

It was a double celebration:  my birthday, and for getting the Australian citizenship this year!  Cheers!

The main dish.

Hogwarts-inspired dessert table.

The long table.

The celebrant with the event planners.

August 27, 2011.
4:30pm-11:00pm

A place to B...

An abandoned house along Short Terrace, Balaklava, South Australia.

What could be more frustrating than watching a beautiful sunset knowing that the day has ended with another wrong decision made.  Here I am again trying to uplift my own spirit after realizing that today’s toil would equate to almost nothing after being affected by some lapses that others have done.   

But after the sun has hidden behind the York Peninsula hills and as the flickering highway lights of Port Wakefield starts to appear across the western horizon, my instinct would instantly direct me to the east reminding me that it is worthwhile to enjoy the rest of the night, fall in a deep slumber, and get up looking at the lovely sunrise the next day.    

There’s, actually, another thing in the eastern side of Port Wakefield that shows me how pleasant and relaxing my life would B if I start to go slow, and learn to handle every day-to-day challenge wisely.  I am always inspired how the locals in Balaklava, South Australia—20 kilometres east of this poultry farm- deal with their daily activities with a bit of time to enjoy with their mates in the evening. 

The locals enjoying their beer in Terminus Hotel, Railway Terrace.

There must be something within each of these blokes that makes them happy and, I believe, contented up to their golden years.  Their smiles have actually outweighed their wrinkles telling me that they have proven their resilience through the years. 

Well, their place—Balaklava is an unfrequented town compared to Port Wakefield (my workplace).  But it was once called the ‘industrial centre of the north (of Adelaide)’ because many Australian farm machineries were manufactured in this town.  Grain farming was also encouraged in mid-1900 when the early European settlers built some large grain storage facilities close to the railway running from a town in eastern South Australia to the most important port during those years—Port Wakefield.

Grain silo 1 beside the old tramway.

Grain silo 2.

Grain silo 3.

Until today, Balaklava is still thriving with its local farmer’s grains, and hay products which are exported to Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China.

Balaklava's grains.

HARVESTING.  Balaklava-Adelaide Road (Gwy Tce).

Oats, cut oats and hay along Balaklava Road.

Patrick Portlink (S.A.) South Australia’s first inland container terminal.

Office of BALCO- Australia’s leading processor and exporter of high-grade oaten and cereal hay.

There are two leading Australian banks, a supermarket, hi-tech gadgets and appliance shop that have their branch prospering in Balaklava proving that this town is economically sufficient despite its seclusion.

ANZ (pronounced as /ey-en-zed/) bank at Balaklava's main street.

There are fast foods and two hotels catering for the locals and guests, where night life is also guaranteed especially during weekends.

The Royal Hotel at Edith Terrace.

...and if you want some locally-made yet delicious pizza and pasta, Balaklava is really the place to B!

 

Balaklava Pizza and Pasta. Yiros-flavoured pizza, small at Au$11.

Balaklava, S.A. is also known for its annual horse-racing festival - Balaklava Cup, and a culture and arts show - the Eisteddfod which are both celebrated every August.  I don’t have a decent photo of the racecourse, so better come and see it yourself.

St. Andrews Catholic church, 1889.

Several old and historical buildings are still standing until today and if you are interested in history, the Balaklava Centenary Hall is the best place to explore.  Picture-taking is not allowed inside, though.  The museum's swarming with donated historical articles with a 3-dollar entrance fee... it is really worth a visit!

Ph. number 08 8862 1854

Open 2.30pm to 4pm on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Other times by appointment.

Balaklava is 92 kilometres north of- or about an hour drive from Adelaide, a little town with a lot of things to boast and to teach.    





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Sevenhill, South Australia

The photo shows the details of the outside walls of St. Aloysius Church in Sevenhill, South Australia.  The bricks were, actually, quarried just around the property back in 1864.  If you are thinking that this is just another typical church, you're wrong, because there are quite a few things that make it so unique.  So why not join me, as I trace my journey back from the poultry farm in the town of Port Wakefield to the charming village of Sevenhill in the Clare Valley Region!

Sevenhill, S.A. is around 69 kilometres from my place, and while I was driving along the former railway town named Halburry, I noticed this antique shop beside the road.  I just thought it's worth more than just a thousand words, isn't it?

I went through the town of Auburn and after a few kilometers, I was attracted to this verdant hill on the right where a flock of sheep was peacefully grazing.  I hadn't seen any shephered looking after them, though, and so I thought that we may be sharing the same loving 'shephered'.   

Not so far away from the flock of sheep, there was a herd of Angus cattle in a relatively dense pasture!  Well, I had seen the virtue of the patience in this herd; surely, these animals have trusted that in due time, the farmer will eventually take them to a greener pasture that they always desire. 

The fresh buds growing out from the wooden vine reminded me that it's springtime Down Under; and in a region where wine is the primary product, nothing's lovelier than the serenity of this landscape! 

The St. Aloysius Church humbly standing in the middle of the vineyard.  This was built by the Jesuit priests thirteen years after they arrived from Austria to escape from the political and religious prosecution that time.  The Society of Jesus started the vineyard, currently 59 hectares with 16 varieties of vines, in 1952- a year after their settlement in the village.

 

However, due to the lack of funding during those years, the original plan of this church was not followed.  Have you noticed the the front tower?  The steeple is missing!  As you can see from the previous photo, there's a white post standing on the front-left, that's the church bell...  Sevenhill's St. Aloysius Church has no belfry!
    
The tree in the photo above is a red gum, it's endemic in the area... its timber was used in the roof arches of the church.

These days, anticipated masses are held every Saturday at six in the evening.

The holy water stoup located at the left-side entrance of the church.

The underground cellar of the Society of Jesus.

The visitor centre and the cellar is...

Open daily:
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday/Sunday/Public Holidays 10am-5pm

and closed during Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday.

The Sevenhill major wine products- white, red and fortified sacramental wines, and a wide range of other wines.  The altar wines are distributed althroughout Australia, and some are exported to India, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. 

After the mass, I was physically hungry.  It's good because the Sevenhill Hotel- bar and restaurant is just located nearby.  

...with a very hospitable, and beautiful bar tender and cashier.

Fresh Tommy Ruff Fillets on a Bed of Rice with Bokchoy and a Thai Curry Sauce (Au$24)

...serving one of the best meals I have ever eaten!  A glass of Anne's LN Moscato completed my meal ( I didn't have my dessert), it's value was actually much, much more than its price (Au$6)!

It was only a 5-hour vacation but it was so meaningful!  And while the meal that I had is a 'must try', visiting Sevenhill's church and cellar door is a 'must do'!




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Turista

Napakaganda ng Kangaroo Island!

Ang bus na aming sinakyan galing Adelaide patungong Cape Jervis kung nasaan ang Sealion 2000 ferry.

Kasalukuyang ala-una ng madaling araw sa South Australia. Kararating ko lang galing sa Kangaroo Island; ako'y namasyal sapagkat walang laman ang mga chicken sheds ngayon (matapos ang halos isang buwang harvesting) kaya tatlong araw akong walang pasok sa trabaho.

Saka na ako magkukwento tungkol sa naganap na tour, sapagkat masyado akong apektado ngayon sa nangyari kaninang lunch time doon sa Vivonne Bay Bistro.

Masarap ang pagkain, tomato soup with a bread roll and butter, garden fresh and pasta salads, isang hiwang Australian-style roasted chicken at isang malaking Australian sausage. Maraming salamat sa Kangaroo Island Tours and Charters sa napakasarap na pagkain kanina.

...the two-course lunch at the Vivonne Bay Bistro, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Ngunit hindi tungkol sa pagkain ang aking kuwento ngayon.
Sa isang mesa doon sa bistro, sampu kaming nakaupo, siyempre hindi magkakakilala. May mag-asawang nasa retired age na, sila'y galing Canberra kasama ang kanilang dalawang kaibigang nagmula pa sa New Zealand. Napamakuwento at napakamausisa ni Lola, hindi niya halos maubos ang kanyang sopas at lumalamig na rin ang kanyang tinapay sapagkat tanong nang tanong sa aming lahat na nakapalibot sa mesa.

Una niyang napansin ang tatlong magkakabarkadang nasa kanyang kanan. Tinanong niya, "Where are you from?"

Ang isa ay taga-Hongkong, ang isa naman ay taga-Korea at ang isa ay nagmula pa sa Japan. Tinanong ni Lola kung anong ginagawa nila sa Australia. Sagot nila, "Our parents have sent us here to study in the University of Adelaide."

Ang hapag na nasa likuran ko kaninang lunch time sa Kangaroo Island.

Ang isang 20 years old na binibining nagngangalang Agnieszka Koss na taga-Poland ang ngayon nama'y sumagot sa tanong ni Lola. "I am studying and at the same time working in my country, I am just visiting my uncle here in Adelaide for a month and be back to Warsaw soon."

"I've been in Australia for nine months now. I've been to Fiji and had also spent a month in New Zealand..." sabi naman nitong 21 years old na binatang taga-Denmark.

"Oh, that's good! So are you working as you go along?" ang tanong ng matanda sa Danish na si Phillip Andre Westh Olsen.

"Nah... no! I have no time for that. Just travelling..." sagot nito.

"And how about you, young man?" ang tanong ni Lola sa akin. (Natuwa akong kahit na thirty na ako, young pa rin ang tingin niya sa akin, o malabo lang siguro ang kanyang mga mata.)

"Uhmn... I'm working in a poultry farm in a small town called Port Wakefield, around 91 kilometers northwest of Adelaide." Ang sagot ko sa kanya.

"Ah! So you're a worker!"

"...and a tourist at the same time," ang mabilis kong sagot.

Nang dahil sa kuwentuhan kaninang pananghalian, nakita at naramdaman ko ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng aking bansang Pilipinas.






I'll show you the photos taken from Kangaroo Island in my succeeding posts.

Come and Glow!

(The Adelaide Central Market Series part 2)
Part 1- Say Cheese...

"The best things in life are free!"

If dairy, pastry, and coffee are not your cup of tea, don't worry because the Adelaide Central Market has a lot more to offer! So while other curious customers flock around the free taste counter to try some bits and pieces of the different varieties of soft and hard cheeses with fig jam and Australian-made crackers, let us proceed to the most colourful area in the gourmet market- the fruits and veg section.




There's a wide range of fresh fruits to choose from! In Adelaide Central Market, you can hardly tell the current season of the year; you'll surely get confused whether it's winter, spring, summer or fall.

The bountiful harvest being displayed in the market stalls is enough to describe the vastness of the Australian continent! From apples and apricots to bananas, cherries and dates... lemons, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, pineapples... upto strawberries, ...and zucchinis! And with these figs and grapes, I'm sure you are now convinced that in this market we can complete our alphabet!

The fig fruits remind me of Adam and Eve...

The Australian Department of Health has been promoting it's "Go for 2 & 5 Campaign" for 6 years now. With 2 kinds of fruit and 5 servings of different vegetables everyday, we can live longer, healthier and happier!

"Filipinos can't live without rice," they said.
"Australians cannot live without potatoes," I replied.

The following veggies displayed in the House of Organics caught my attention in the market. Honestly, I haven't experienced cooking them yet.

FENNEL BULB is aromatic and flavourful herb with both culinary and medicinal importance. It is used as an ingredient of European sausages, meat balls and salads as well as in Italian's risottos and pastas. This herb is one of the spices in the Chinese' five-spice powder, and is also widely used in the India and the Middle East.

-Wikipedia

TURNIP'S roots are good source of Vitamin C! This crop is closely related to radish, cabbage, cauliflowers, broccoli and Brussel sprouts (that green stuff on the upper left of the photo above).

-Wikipedia

SWEDES (Swedish Turnip) or rutabaga are root crops that can be added to casseroles, salads and stews but can also be baked, boiled or grilled.

CELERIAC is like celery; and it is used as an ingredient in soup and stews!

KOHLRABI is a German turnip, which literally means 'cabbage turnip'. It can be eaten raw or cooked and it taste like broccoli stem or cabbage.

PARSNIPS are cousins of carrots! It was once used as an energy source when potato was not yet discovered. These days, parsnips are the common ingredient in casseroles, soups and stews.

-Wikipedia

Hey, these vegetables are not just for your 'eyes'...
Five veggies a day can keep the doctor away!

Sweet corn at PhP43.00 each...

Finally, for this post, the nuts!

Fruits and nuts goes well with chocolate bars, and so with post.

It reminds me of the kasuy in Antipolo, Rizal.

In Adelaide Central Market, tourists don't just come and go, they come and glow!




To be continued...