Fonda de la Madrugada

http://www.fonda-m.com/space.html

This month's Dinner was organized by Maj (referred to her before as Flounder) and with an almost unanimous votation, the mexican theme won.

If you're in Japan and you're looking for an entirely different atmosphere from your usual everyday japanese atmosphere, I must say this resto's one of those places to go. Though situated in the midst of Harajuku, it felt like we were transported to an entirely different country as we made our way deeper into Harajuku's underground. Yep, the place was sprawled underground Omotesando's busy street; with two floors of authentic Mexican atmosphere (at least as compared to what I've seen on TV haha). Food was good (though Cicada's was better) but it took us 3 looong hours to finish the course we had..haha. Servings were so big we are seriously considering not eating tomorrow. It's not only the servings though..it's the number of dishes as well. Like, usually, in your dinner course, you only have 1 or 2 appetizers right? But with the dinner course they had, we have 3 big servings of appetizers. Plus a soup with some rice on it. Plus three kinds of main dishes. Plus 2 kinds of desserts. Good thing the mint tea we had somehow helped us digest some of what we ate in the last 3 hours. haha. It wasn't enough though and that we have to go to another cafe just so we can have another tea, to help us digest some of the food we ate. haha. I must admit, if not only for the shoes I was wearing, I would like to walk my way home. =P

The place is interesting...posh yet squatter-like, haha (we were thinking if the couple on the table next to us were TV personalities or the girl at least, a model). But it does give you a Mexican feel. Complete with a group of guys serenading you with Mexican songs. Their Volare was good!! While we were racking our brains though on what song to request, we were reminded of J Lo's and Marc Anthony's "No Me Ames"..beautiful beautiful song....Just learned this evening though that No Me Ames either means "Dont Love Me" or "You Don't Love Me".

Anyways, it's my turn next month!! Hmm...I'd like it to be extra special as it's gonna be our Christmas dinner of some sort. Have no idea yet though on what theme it'll gonna be..

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(No Me Ames translation..)

Tell me why you're crying...
Of happiness.
And why are you drowning?f
or loneliness
Tell me why you take my hands so strongly,
and let yourthoughts carry you away

I love you so much
And why is that?
Crazy stubborn person,
stop doubting it any longer
Even though in the future there will be a huge wall
I'm not afraid, I want to fall in love

Dont love me, because you think that
I may appear different
You dont think its right
For us to see time go by together?

Dont love me, I understand
the lie that it would be
If your love, I don't deserve,
dont love me, just stay another day

Dont love me, because I am lost,
Because I changed the world,
Because its destiny
Because it can't be,
We both are like a mirror,
And you would be my own reflection

Don't love me, you would be dying
Within a war full of regrets,
dont love me to be on this
Earth, I would like to throw your enormous love
for the blue of the sky
I dont know what to say to you, that's the truth
When people want to, they know how to hurt

You and I will depart, they would not move,
But in this sky dont leave me alone
Dont leave me, dont leave me, dont listen to me
If I say to you "dont love me"
Dont let me.
Do not disable my heart with that
"Dont love me"

Dont love me,
I'm begging you,
leave me with my bitterness
You know well, that I can't,
that its useless,
That I will always love you

Dont love me,
because I would make you suffer
with this heart of mine
that was filled with a thousand winters.
Dont love me,
so that way you can forget of your gray days.

I want you to love me,
just to love me
Dont love me, you and I will fly,
With with the other,
and we will always be together
This love is like the sun
that comes out after the storm
Like 2 comets on the same path

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ang kulit din nila ano??? mahal naman pala isa't isa bat sinasabi pang wag mo ko mahalin???haha

Petroleum Refining Conference

Got my first experience in attending an international professional conference today. And it was a curious experience as I got to learn the latest in petroleum upgrading and some of the latest concerns in our field. What was actually more of a challenge for me was to interact with the different learned professionals and talk/interact with them on a professional level whilst devouring my sushi.

Was so happy though that for once, nobody considered me a "young girl" and conversed with me on an equal level and listened as well to what I have to say, albeit they did most of the talking while I did much of the asking haha.

Was surprised though that they remembered me from earlier (I always thought people would easily forget my face..hehe). And was happy with one of the presentor's reaction (and my boss' at that, hehe) to my question to him earlier during the conference; hence paving for a longer professional discussion when later we talked during dinner.

Well, for some, my experience today might be just the usual everyday affair for them. But still, i'm gonna note this as this was my first time. And i'm gonna note this cause for the first time, i'm not a "young girl/lady" anymore.

I was reminded though with today's lectures that there's soooo much that i'm yet to learn about my field.

Anyways, i hope tomorrow's gonna be just as great, or better.