Diario de Mascarenhas

by Zai The chapter of our life here in Ponsonby is coming to a close.   We thought we would only stay here for a maximum of three months. But ten months later, we have grown to love this place. Living at Vermont Street has been a real treat for us. We got to meet new people and had made friends here. We got to entertain old friends.  Even though we were living a Spartan life, we were able to manage. We celebrated our birthdays, anniversaries, we got to travel within and outside of NZ and so much more. It had seemed like a holiday even though we had come from a disaster of our home getting flooded in Parnell. Ponsonby welcomed us and it was our home for several months. We have come to appreciate that even though life can turn at any moment, there is a rainbow at each dark moment. We are grateful.   I will surely miss this place. It has now become another dream of ours to stay in this area. We don't know how our life will turn up this coming 2024. We have radical plans tha...

by Steve:   Friday: 10 Nov Excited to travel after a Rollercoaster of a yr. Emilio popped in, gave us a blessing. Uber was early 1115 sm. Check-in was not open. Had to wait. Smooth check-in  customs & we got XPF currency from Travelex.  Crap rate of 57 when the rate on XE was 65. Boarded at 255 pm, good legroom. Meal of butter chicken, rice, cheese & crackers, juice.  Very nicely presented in a box. Suz had just the cheese & crackers from me. Good external cameras show view of sky & ground. Arrived 425 pm Quick customs, then got our luggage fast as & all scanned thru. Got a pocket wifi dongle as no sim card available at airport. Had to wait 4 shuttle to get full. At our airbnb by 630 pm & it gets dark just after 6 pm. Caroline was friendly,  she left after we got keys . Zai and I went to Mobil 10 mins walk from our place & got eggs, bread etc. Everything is costly on par with NZ prices Headed to bed soon after admiring the lovely...

   When I was 7 or eight years old, my sister and I moved, studied and lived in Davao City with our Aunt Nene who was still single at the time. We stayed in the old house in Bolton which Lola Sayong built long time back in the 60's and where the Yap children grew up.  This was in the early eighties. We went to school at Magallanes Elementary school. I was in the second grade and Ate Zaida was on the fourth. This was during a turbulent time in our family life. Mama and papa had some marital issues hence the two of us were sent to Davao to study. It was during these times when we were being told that we may have to choose between our parents, to whom will we go with if they separate. It was crazy times. I remember going to school with no 'baon' or if we do get some baon it is not enough to buy something. I remember my teacher, Mrs Zarsoso. She was a great teacher. She was the first one who taught us to memorise a poem on the same day, which I still remembered when I went b...