Mon père, ce héros

My dad's a directional driller in the oil & gas industry. To make it simple, he's like Bruce Willis in Armageddon and I'm Liv Tyler, minus the going to space part and me living on the rig and having my boyfriend shot at (although one wrong move, and I don't doubt my dad would bring out the shotgun! Watch out, Ross! Haha).

At the Singapore Zoo in the early '90s

I grew up without seeing my dad much because he worked offshore. Some stints would last a few weeks, some a few months. I didn't really think much of it because it was like that since I was born and the only way I knew. I guess it would've been strange if my dad was the 9-5 office guy because I was just so used to the way things were. Even though my dad was away a lot and we didn't have the technological advancements such as Facebook and Skype back then, I never felt like he was absent. Sure, he missed a few dance recitals and swimming competitions, but he never once made me feel unloved or uncared for. My dad has always prioritised my mother and me and I knew he was out there working his ass off to provide a comfortable life for us. He has stopped at nothing just to be able to put me in the best schools and get pretty much anything I wanted. Saying that, I am spoiled to an extent but definitely not a brat as I was raised to appreciate what I have and know how lucky I am to have the life I live.

I wish I got my dad's green eyes

I'm a daddy's girl and my dad is my hero. I admire him for all that he's been through and all that he puts up with. He is sarcastic and says it like it is. He's not afraid to speak his mind and is honest. He's a hard worker and a tough critic. He is strong and has a soft heart. He is quick tempered and impatient. Sometimes his words slice through your heart when he's angry. But he'll also be the first to say sorry when he has to. These are just some of his strengths and his flaws, but these are what makes my daddy. I've never looked up to anyone like I do to him and I'm proud to call him my father.

The signature Jack look

Thank you for everything, Dad. I probably don't even know half of what you've gone through to give me this beautiful life. But know that I appreciate every bit of it. I thank God every day that He chose you to be my dad. I love you!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Wishing all dads out there a Happy Father's Day as well! 

xoxoxo

Would you like a smokie?

I'm a little picky when it comes to seafood. I don't eat oysters, clams, or mussels. However, I do love lobster, crab, shrimp, scallops, and certain types of fish (ones that aren't too "fishy" tasting). I will try almost anything once though so when Ross kept raving about the smokies from Arbroath, I was curious to see what the fuss was all about.

First, a little history! Arbroath is on the North Sea Coast of Scotland, about 16 miles east of Dundee and 45 miles south of Aberdeen. In 1839 a new harbour was built and became one of the larger fishing ports in Scotland by the 20th century. The fishing industry grew, however, from the 1980s onwards quota cuts and decommissioning affected the industry throughout Scotland. Today, the fish processing sector is still one of the largest employers in Arbroath, however, fish for processing now comes from other areas such as Aberdeen, Norway, and Ireland.¹

Arbroath Harbour

Arbroath is most famous for its smokies, which was first created in the village of Auchmithie. Line-caught haddock from the North Sea is gutted and head removed, then salted before being tied up in pairs and hung on rods to dry. Once they are dry, the haddock is smoked over beach or oak hard wood. Arbroath was awarded a Protected Geographical Indication in 2004, which means the smokie can only be called such if it is produced within 4km of Arbroath. Today, family-owned and run smokehouses still fill the town with its delicious smokie aromas with recurring surnames like Spink, Cargill, Swankie, and Smith claiming their smokies as the best.^1,2,3

Looking out onto the North Sea

We drove from Ross' hometown of Leven, which is just north of Edinburgh, and it took us a little over an hour to get to the little coastal town of Arbroath. We found a spot to park at the harbour and went for a walk around the Fit o' the Toon, the area of land given to attract fishermen to Arbroath in the 1800s.² You could immediately smell the delicious smokie air and we'd arrived around lunch time so I was ready to feast!

M&M Spink looking out onto the harbour

We came across M&M Spink's, a small family-run business founded by William (Bill) Spink in 1965, who continues his family's tradition that began in Auchmithie.³ The smokehouse overlooks the harbour with its modest yet inviting entrance located at 10 Marketgate. It felt like we were walking into someone's backyard and they just happened to have a lot of smoked fish hanging around. They had also just gotten back from sea so there were crates of fresh fish ready to be gutted and beheaded. They let us into the back where the magic happens - there were batches of fish being dried whilst others were about to go into the smoker. It all smelled so good, I had to refrain myself from grabbing a fish and eating it right then and there. Ross and I finally decided on getting haddock and salmon and the lady who was taking care of our orders said she'd just made fresh fish cakes so we told her to throw a couple into the bag as well. We made our purchase, thanked them, and off we went to find a place to eat our smokies.

M&M Spink at 10 Marketgate (left)

We found a place overlooking the sea on King's Drive next to Victoria Park where we indulged in the smokies. You could taste the fresh smokey-ness in each bite that melted in your mouth. Both were so delicious, however, I think I prefer the salmon just a little more than the haddock. We ate with our fingers and didn't even need side dishes because one each of the haddock and salmon was enough to fill both Ross and I up. We saved the fish cakes for breakfast the following day and boy, were they yummy! I'm not really one to have seafood for breakfast but I'd have an Arbroath smokie fish cake any day.

M&M Spink's smoked salmon

M&M Spink's smokie

The fish were delicious but what I found the most interesting was Arbroath's history behind the smokie. There are so many huge companies taking over and taking small businesses out so seeing the family-run smokehouses still practicing years of tradition was really cool. Though the town is not bustling like it was many years ago, I'm glad that people still make it a point to travel to Arbroath just for the smokie. I would definitely recommend a visit to Arbroath, if not for its smokie, then for its history.

Sources:
1) Wikipedia: Abroath
2) The Larder (9 July 2012) by Catharina Day
3) M&M Spink Arbroath 10 Marketgate, Arbroath, Angus, Scotland DD11 1AY UK

Checking off my bucket list

Everyone has a bucket list or at least can come up with a few things they would absolutely want to experience within their lifetime. Thought I'd share a few things that I've been so fortunate to be able to tick off my list.

Fly Like a Bird (2008)
I was flying before I could walk so riding in airplanes has been the norm for as long as I can remember. I think my interest in riding in a chopper developed when I'd listen to my dad's stories about his survival courses and jumping out of helicopters when I was a kid. Never really thought I'd get the chance to ride in a helicopter until I joined Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) a year out of university. I got to go an EC130 (now H130) - a lightweight single-engine rotorcraft - and got to see the city and Manila Bay from a bird's eye view. Really different experience from flying in a jumbo jet because you're able to see so much more of the land and sea beneath you. What a great experience! (Unfortunately I don't have any photos of me in the EC130, but here are some photos from an exhibit we did while I was working for Eurocopter)

Be a Tomb Raider (2010)
Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world. I'd read about it in school and was fascinated by the photographs and its history. This amazing piece of architecture was built in the 12th century; if you've ever visited Angkor then you'll appreciate just how talented the builders were in the beautiful intricacies of its design, and all of it done without modern day technology. The famous Ta Prohm is the temple within the Angkor Wat complex where the trees and jungle have grown out of its ruins. It's mesmerising to see the interaction between nature and man. So glad I can check this off my list.

Witness the Fairies (2015)
The foot of the Black Cuillins on the Isle of Skye is where you'll find the Fairy Pools. I had first read about the Fairy Pools from an article online - way before I'd met my Scotsman - and was immediately enamoured by the enchanting beauty of the crystal clear natural pools and waterfalls. Ross and I visited the Pools during our Scotland trip in January. It was our last day on Skye and the Fairy Pools were our final stop before continuing the drive home. I was suffering from a horrendous hangover from one too many drams the night before but as soon as I got my hike on and saw Mother's Nature's amazing creation, I felt awesome. The freezing cold temperatures also probably helped to alleviate the pounding in my head. Because it was that - COLD - and we didn't have any wet suits with us, we didn't get to jump in. So I'm definitely going back next time (most likely in the summer!) and making sure I've packed the right gear and jumping in!

Cheers,

J xxx

Where are you from?

I have quite the international background and am proud of it. My father is American from Kansas City, Missouri, and my mother is Filipino, originally from Iloilo but moved to Manila when she was still a toddler. If growing up in a bi-racial household isn't international enough, I've also lived in several cities and attended international schools in each of them. I was born in the Philippines, moved to Miri, Malaysia when I was 5 years old, then to Singapore when I was 8. In 1994 we moved back to the Philippines, and after graduating from high school I moved to New Jersey for a year, then to Boston, MA. I moved back to Manila when I was 22, then back to Singapore in 2012, and just recently moved back to Manila again in February of this year. Whew - quite a mouthful! I am a dual citizen and speak three languages and can get by with a couple more. I am definitely what you call a Third Culture Kid.

I believe myself to be lucky with all the moving and traveling I've been doing from a young age, on top of being a mixed race person. I've also been fortunate to have been able to grow up and become friends with people with similar backgrounds and lifestyles. For the most part it never really occurred to me that I was "different" because we were all "different" together. It's funny when people try to decipher where I'm from and kinda cool when I travel and the locals think I'm from their country. More often than not, my conversations with people whom I just met will become a funny story to tell later. One time I was getting my nails done at a nail salon in Boston owned by a Vietnamese family - the manicurist said I was "too white" to be Filipino. Another time during a trip to Vietnam, a local insisted I was - and I kid you not - half Vietnamese, half Ukrainian. Always interesting to see what people have to say!

Photo credit: Pinterest

However, my situation has also left me still seeking the feeling of "belonging". For example, I'm not American enough to my American family and not Filipino enough on my Filipino side. I was born in Manila and cumulatively have lived in the Philippines the longest but I still can't help but feel like I don't completely belong. In all the other places I've lived, I was obviously a foreigner or expat but in my birthplace I'm still labeled foreign. I just can't quite fit in. I'm comfortable with being a "stranger" but as I get older, I'd like to find a place where I am content. Every time I travel, I'm always subconsciously thinking if I've finally found that place. There are a few places I absolutely love but only time will tell if one them will be home, or if I'll even ever find it.

How does it feel to have been born and raised in the same place and know where home is? That is a question I'll never be able to answer and it will always leave me curious. Do I wish I had grown up differently? Definitely not. But what I do hope is that some day I will be able to find somewhere that I can finally call my HOME. Though I will not look nor speak the same as the locals, I hope to find somewhere I belong. For now at least, I have a gypsy soul.

Photo credit: Pinterest