Garandee's Kawawang Undies

Garandee and I have been doing our own dusting, packing and moving the past few days, and we are totally exhausted! So far we've got 75% of our stuff moved, mostly my wife's junk... Tomorrow I finally get to move some of my stuff.

Though the past week has been totally hectic and difficult, it was also a great opportunity for some husband and wife bonding.

Garando: "Phew, that's definitely the last batch we're doing today. I'll go back to our new home tomorrow to sort the boxes out and do some cleaning."

Garandee: "Hai... sooo tsukareta (tired)..."

Garando: "Now go freshen up and get dressed. Let's eat out tonight!"

Garandee: "OK! Something oishii (delicious) ne..."

Garando: "Yes, let's treat ourselves tonight."

Garandee: "DO!! Where are my undies?!?!"

Garando: " ??? "


Garandee: "My undies were all in this box... and it's not here!"

Garando: "We must've moved it along with the others this morning."

Garandee: "NYOOOO!!! Those were all my undies!"

Garando: " ... "

Garandee: "sigh... "

Garando: "you can use mine."

Garandee: "EEEEHHHH?!?! MAJI DE (are you nuts)?!?!"

Garando: "Here's a bikini cut. It's the smallest one I got."

Garandee: "Oh my goodness..."

After a few minutes...

Garando: "How is it?"

Garandee: "It's sooooo BIG for me!!!"

Garando: "Use a clip or something."

Garandee: " ... "

To my friends, so sorry for not being able to bloghop yet. Hopefully my life will go back to normal after we're all settled in our new home.

Thanks for your understanding!

Garando mode:
Better it was her undies than the other way around.
Read More......

Kablogs Award

A few months ago I happened to come across the OFW (Overseas Filipino workers / expatriates) community in the internet. I enjoyed reading blogs about their experiences living in foreign soil, their personal thoughts about home and family, and not to mention the really nice photos they share!

Recently Thoughtsmoto held the "Kablogs award" - The Filipino worker/expat blog awards to recognize the best blogs among the community. I was a proud supporter but I had no idea that non-OFW blogs could also win!


"Blog na nagpapakita ng kakaibang
impormasyon at mga kwento."
A blog that contains unique information and stories

Late last week I was very surprised when Balut & Natto was awarded with the "Astig Ng Blog Mo (Your blog is Cool)" Award!

Thank you to the Kablogs team, and of course to all those who nominated and voted for me! I really appreciate it!

I also want to congratulate all the other winners specially Isladenebz for winning the "Great Layout" Award! Head on over here to see the rest of the awards.


Garando mode:
Maraming Salamat Po (Thank you very much)!! Read More......

Garandee Has a Fever

Oh my gulay...

The turnover date of our new home is in a couple of days and I had no idea the preparations for the move would be this hectic! Apart from my day job's already crazy schedule, all the requirements and paperwork that came with my mortgage application, the furniture and supplier hunt ate up whatever free time I had left.

Worst of all, I think my wife's finally got the "new home fever".

Garandee: "Oh, what's that you bought?"

Garando: "It's a cable organizer! It wraps all my PC's cables and wires together making it all neat and tidy. It's so cool! Perfect for my new room!"

Garandee: "IKAW!!!"

Garando: " !!! "

Garandee: "IT'S NOT WHITE!!!"

Garando: " ??? "


Garandee: "Why - didn't - you - buy - WHITE?!?!"

Garando: "uhh... because I was thinking about cleaning up the wires?"

Garandee: "You should have bought WHITE!!"

Garando: "but..."

Garandee: "Ask me first before you buy OK?! You didn't tell me you'll buy..."

Garando: "...black?"

Garandee: "Nyo! That... whatever that thing is!"

Garando: "I meant the cables and wires are black. It matches right?"

Garandee: "NYO! You didn't say you'll buy... Oh never mind! It's your room anyway."

That evening...

Garando: "Not bad, not bad at all! I couldn't get all the wires in, but it sure looks a lot tidier now. What do you think of my BLACK cable organizer? Pretty cool, huh?"

She gave me that "look" and I instantly knew what was on her mind.

Garandee's mind: "WHAT-EVAAHH!!"

New home fever.



Garando mode:
So sorry for dropping in and out of existence. Extremely busy right now...
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Obento Po!

Here's something I almost forgot to write about. A few months ago, just as I was about to leave for work, I found this taped on our front door.


Happy days are back again.


Enter Garandee Bento 2.0
Wrapped exactly the way they do it in Japan, in elementary schools to be exact. I guess now I better be nice to her all the time or else I might find some of that delectable natto in there.


Best of all, it's finally microwave safe. Itadakimasu!

I took those photos this morning, so yes, that obento sign is still plastered on our front door. And apparently Garandee's bento theme for today is "Bora-bora" (Japanized meat balls).


Garando mode:
MEAT!! Read More......

Back from Sick Leave

Sorry for the looong absence!! I caught the flu a couple of weeks back and it was one of the worst influenzas I ever had to go through. It took me four days to finish watching that Angels and Demons film. I was that sick!


Was it AH1N1? Beats me. I didn't bother to have my throat swabbed because I can be very ticklish.

But one thing's for sure, when I'm bedridden Garandee loses a chauffeur.

Garandee: "DO! I'll take a TAXI going home, rest ikaw!"

Garando: "Try walking over to that gas station by the intersection. I always found it easier to get a TAXI over there."

Garandee: "Nyo, I don't want. It's dangelous!"

Garando: "Dangerous? It's a very populated area so it should be safe."

Garandee: "Nyo, might EXPLODE!"

Garando: "Explode?!?!"

Garandee: "...then I will become afro."

Garando: " ... "

Afro wife has seen too many action movies.


Garando mode:
It's dreadful how much work piles up after coming back from a long sick leave... Read More......

Conversations In Bed

After a busy day at work, it's the conversations that couples have before going to sleep that usually matter most...

Garandee: "Garando..."

Garando: "Yaaawn... Yes dear?"

Garandee: "Why is your nose too small for your face?"

Garando: "It's not small... You just find it unusual because your head's too big."

Garandee: "Nyo! My head is normal!"

Garando: "Then why do you think your eyes are too far apart?"

Garandee: "NYO! My eyes are fine! It's your stomach that's big!

Garando: " ... "

Garandee: "You really need to go on a diet you know, and you have always been telling me that... that... Do?"

Garando: "ZZZzzzzzz...."


Garandee mode:
Wake up, I'm not done with you yet! Read More......

Warsaw, Poland: Series 2 (part 2)

Separated by war, Iza’s grandparents struggle to survive each day with the hope of finding each other again… alive. This post continues their fascinating story through World War II.

read part one


Iza’s grandfather decided to join the ranks of the British SAS as a fighter pilot. If he was never to see his family again, he might was well fight in their honor.


Years passed and her grandfather survived mission after mission, taking down Axis planes and bombing strategic targets. Through the horrors of battle, his wife and children were never far from his mind.


He was staying alive for them.



1945 Germany surrenders. At this point, Poland was obliterated. Millions upon millions of Polish Jews were executed during the holocaust.


But the end of the war also meant that her grandfather can finally go back home. Back to that remote town in Poland, back to his family. Something he had been looking forward to for six long years.

…if his family ever survived at all.


Upon reaching the old town where they used to live, he searched tirelessly until he saw what looked like his children. After six gruesome years of fighting, his children struggled to recognize him.

He was taken to their new home, and there he finally saw his wife.


It was their first time to meet after being separated for six long years.


For Iza’s grandfather, nothing has changed. But for her grandmother, life had moved on. She had married someone else for she thought that her husband was killed at sea.


Her grandfather went back to England and settled there. Perhaps seeing his family alive was well enough, even if he could no longer live them.


Poland should and always be an inspiration to all the countries who have been or are currently oppressed. The lessons that we learn from its history should never ever be forgotten.

In these photos:
I chanced a photo exhibit called "Warsaw from Above" that featured never-seen-before aerial reconnaissance photographs of Poland during World War II. These Allied planes served as witness to the utter devastation of Warsaw, you will even notice some of its buildings continue to spew out smoke as it burned to the ground.


Garandee mode:
It's such a sad story po...
Read More......

Warsaw, Poland: Series 2 (part 1)

Poland’s history was nothing short of heartbreaking after being devastated by the Third Reich during World War II and enduring the hard life brought about the Soviet Communist regime. But it’s through these grueling times you will find stories of hope, courage and faith.


I want to share one of the most amazing World War II stories I’ve ever heard, told by my good friend, Iza.


Iza’s grandparents lived in a diverse town a few miles from Warsaw, where people of different nationalities lived together with the Polish in harmony.


Her grandfather was a fisherman and was out at sea when news broke out that the German Nazis had invaded Poland.


As the Nazi’s pushed deeper into their country, Iza’s grandmother had no choice but to flee the town. Not knowing the state of her husband made the already dire situation even more agonizing.


Luckily, their German neighbors who were almost like family to them, took her and her children as they relocated somewhere they thought would be safe:


Right in the middle of Nazi occupied territory.



Iza’s family posed as house servants to their German neighbors, earning them the necessary permits to prevent them from being thrown into the ghettos.


Each day they lived in fear, not knowing how long their permit will last, or if civilian spies would soon blow their cover.


Iza’s grandfather feared for his family’s safety, but sailing back home would mean certain death for him and his crew.


Fuel and supplies were running low, he made a painful decision to turn back and sail to the nearest country that has not yet been occupied by the Germans.


Iza’s grandparents had no clue that they will be separated on that fateful day. Each day as both struggled to survive, hope diminished that they would ever see each other again… But this is only half the story.


In these photos:
- Surviving Ghettos now serve as monuments dedicated to the Jewish people who died during the holocaust.
- A parade of residents in costume representing the Polish, British, Russian battalions, and a Jewish family to commemorate both the heroes and victims of World War II.

to be continued....


Garandee mode:
Do, what happened next? TELL ME!!
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A Contest Entry

Glenda of Oodles and Goodles, is celebrating her birthday this June and she's giving away beautiful prizes to somebody who can share the best quote. Check out the prizes and rules here.

And here's my entry! Drum roll please...


Ok, I know that's not exactly a winning entry. But it was better than the other quote I was looking at:

"She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon."
- Groucho Marx


Garando mode:
Wishing you a happy birthday, Glenda! Read More......

Special Skills

Last night we were scanning through cable TV channels when we came across this live show that featured Chinese acrobats.

Garando: "Wow! These Chinese acrobats are so amazing aren't they?"

Garandee: "They must have started training at a very young age. I bet it earns them a lot of money."

Garando: "True. It takes years to develop that special skill."

Garandee: "Do... What's my special skill?"

Garando: "Complaining."

Garandee: "Complaining!! And what's your special skill?!"

Garando: "Cleaning up your mess."

Garandee: "NYO!!"


Garando mode:
I slept very well that night
Read More......

Blog Awards and A Blog Feature

I'd like to thank a few people for recognizing Balut & Natto with awards and for featuring my site in their blog. I want you guys to know how much I really appreciate it!


Blog Feature
Balut and Natto was featured here by Isladenebz, who's based in the Middle East and is one of the notable OFW (Filipino Expatriate) bloggers in the internet.


Interesting Blog Award and I Love Your Blog Award
from The Pope, who's also based in the Middle East and is a significant contributor to the upcoming "Kablogs" the Pinoy Expat Blog Awards.


Neno's Award and Kreative Blogger Award
from Shadowmoon, who hails from Brazil. Shadowmoon creates brilliant papercraft models, it's an amazing showcase of creativity and attention to detail! Since this is the second time I received these awards, you can read the meme here.


Garando mode:
Arigato gozaimasu! Maraming salamat po! Thank you very much! Read More......

The Japaninang

There is no escape.

Now that Garandee has decided to settle in the Philippines, a country whose population is about 80% Catholic, it was only a matter of time before she became a Ninang (Godmother)

So about a year ago, she finally got the offer she couldn't refuse. She became a full-pledged Ninang with all the necessary perks included. A year later, she was invited to her goddaughter's first birthday party.

It was about an hour's drive to her goddaughter's party and Garandee was pretty excited to see her.

BUT we were late... and goddaughter wasn't too pleased.


Isn't she adorable?



She was very skeptical when I took out my bucket of excuses...


But it looks like she bought it! So we were off the hook...


Her big brother is also a cutie by the way.


...thank heavens they didn't follow after their Dad.


Garandee: "I will limit my godchildren to at most, two. The less I have the more attention and love I can give them!"

Garando: "Good luck with that. I stopped counting godkids after reaching seven."

(play Godfather theme here)


Garandee mode:
SEVEN!?!?
Read More......