Weekend with friends.

Aldwin's college buddy, Jeff and his wife, Monique, drove up from OC to spend the weekend with us.

They were actually on a week-long vacation from work, with San Francisco and the Bay area as their last stop. Before coming here, they spent time at Sequioa and Yosemite National Parks. Kinda like a second honeymoon (or was it the fourth? hehe) for them :0).

Although it was the first time that I met Jeff and Monique, we were really hitting it off before Saturday was over! It was nice to be with people that just gets you --your humor, your stories, even your memories (of what seems like a too distant land). It has been a long while since Aldwin and I laughed that much with another couple. It's sad really 'coz they live ~7 hours from us :0P

It's ok though. We're bound to see them again soon -- after three weeks, to be exact. It's our turn to drive down to their part of Cali. I'm sure it'll be so much fun!

Just like how this weekend was :0)

***
The Winchester Mystery House


Construction at the Winchester Mystery House started in 1884 and continued uninterrupted (including weekends) until the death of its owner, Sarah Winchester, in 1922. This is because Mrs. Winchester believed that continuous construction of the house would provide a home for the spirits killed (and at that time, being killed) by the Winchester rifles. She was told by a psychic that it was the only way that the spirits can be appeased and she can reach immortality.

As a result of 38 years of incessant building, the house now have a total of 160 rooms, 40 stairways, 47 firplaces, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 6 kitchens and 13 bathrooms.

Ok, you say. That's big but what's so mysterious about that?

Well, in order to "confuse" the spirits, Mrs. Winchester had staircases built that ends in the ceiling, doors that open to walls and to the outside (with a sheer drop to the ground below), cabinets opening into rooms and windows on floors.

During the one hour tour, we passed a staircase that descends 7 steps and then rises 11, saw a cabinet that's only an inch deep, admired an exquisite Tiffany stained glass window that has never seen the sunshine and posed in front of the beautiful $3,000 (at that time) stained glass front doors that were never used.

Really, I don't know whether to marvel at the oddities or shake my head at the staggering waste of money.

As large as the house is, it never welcomed any visitors during Mrs. Winchester's lifetime. But seeing the dozens of visitors that milled around the house's gift shop at present, I guess Sarah Winchester kinda achieved her campaign for immortality through this house.

***
Pakwan Pakistani

Said a restaurant sign we passed in San Francisco.

"Sa sobrang mahal dito" said Mr.A to us.

"You can only Pakwan Pakistani for a price. Isa lang, di pwede dalawa man lang."

It was hilarious at that time. Oh well, I guess you had to be there :0P

***
Sesame-flavored ice cream


One of the dessert choices at the buffet we went to in Japantown. At first, I was hesistant to try it when I saw its greyish-blue color. But surprisingly, I really liked it! :0)

It's creamy with the toasty taste of sesame seeds. The seeds were ground to itsy-bitsy pieces that they looked like specks of ground black pepper. Made me think of the after-taste of Buchi.