(1362) MUSIC AND ME (Feb. 16, 2017) WEARING RED ON VALENTINE'S AND CHRISTMAS DAY

Tito Cabunagan, middle, No. 3 chess player of Palau, wears red also on Valentine's day with his daughter at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort.

 I am wearing my red polo shirt only on Valentine's and Christmas day. That shirt is more than 20 years but still looks new because I wear it only twice a year.
 In 2017 Valentine's day dinner at Palau Royal Resort, I asked Tito Cabunagan, Len-Len Pineda, Lorna Castaneto, wearing pink, for photos as they wearing red, too.

In 2015, Lorna asked me to teach her chess for possible inclusion of her to the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan. There’s no fee involved. I just want to develop new chess talent if she had it.

But something abusive happened right from the start. She doesn’t want me to teach her at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 because she is shy that many co-employees will see her practicing. So I agree with the venue—Bethlehem Park, where I need to spend some for gas.

I just tolerated this abuse of a ‘free’ student and teach her for the first time. No potential I can see as her motivation is only to travel to Europe for free. I told her that the 2016 WCO is a non-election year and she should be ready to spend at least $1,000.00.

In the first lesson, James dela Cruz, the Jack of all trade friend of mine came and he played a friendly game with Lorna with his level ‘lowered’ to give some tips and aspects of the game. He doesn’t see also any potential from Lorna, who even brought a notebook for taking notes.

The 2^nd chess lesson didn’t happen as I went to Bethlehem Park and Lorna doesn’t show up. I spent some time and cash for gas and she doesn’t treat this lesson seriously. She gave me 2 pieces of candy in the first lesson—that’s all!

In the 2^nd lesson, still no improvement whatsoever. James came also and brought me a papaya and a sour sap. Lorna asked for the sour sap. I gave it to her. No problem. I can deal with that.
BUT NOT WITH THIS: Lorna knew that Jeff Balbalosa also plays chess. When she said to me, “Can I ask Jeff to teach me chess? Is he married?” I only answered he is married with kids. What she didn’t think about is—Am I not a good teacher (for free) and still ask somebody to teach her for free, of course. It’s not about the teacher, it’s about her motivation to learn and to FLIRT because she’s been single at the age of 40+ because she is choosy.
             

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              December 29, 2002-March 29, 2017 

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
              The Beginning of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              Soon to be published as a book

              Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013 -- Mrch 29, 2017

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002--March 29, 2017 

(883) MUSIC AND ME (Jan. 08, 2015) DRAGON TEI OFFERS A LOT TO TOURISTS AND LOCAL

Roberto Hernandez has been the musician of Dragon Tei, Teppan Dragon and Donburi Dragon Japanese Restaurants for 11 months. He transferred to Palau Royal Resort in June 01, 2007 but his wife Flor, 2nd from left (back row) still works at Dragon Tei until now.      (Photo by Florabel Avila)

The unicorn fish or um in Palau language. Best fish barbecue that you can eat the tasty intestine.
                                                       (Photo by Florabel Avila)

PREPARING THE BENTO FOR DIVE SHOPS AND LOCAL CUSTOMERS ALIKE.
                                                        (Photo by Florabel Avila)

                         GIANT CLAMS

                EVEN ON HALLOWEEN, THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER TO GUESTS.
                                                                (Photo by Florabel Avila)

DURING THEIR LEISURE HOURS, DRAGON TEI STAFF ALWAYS GO SWIMMING AND HAVE PICNIC AT THE NEW KB (KOROR-BABELDAOB) BRIDGE, NOW CALLED JAPAN-PALAU FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE. THE 20-YEAR-OLD FORMER BRIDGE HAD FELL AFTER A $5-MILLION RENOVATION JOB IN 1997.                    (Photo by Florabel Avila)

THE OLD AND FALLEN KB BRIDGE IN JUNE 2005 IS THE BACKGROUND OF THIS HERNANDEZ FAMILY ONLY PHOTO TOGETHER WHILE SWIMMING AT THE AIRAI SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.  KAREN AT LEFT, FLOR AT RIGHT AND ROBERTO IN THE MIDDLE.
                                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

BARRACUDA FISH MEAT IS WHITE, THE REDDISH FISH FOR SASHIMI IS FROM YELLOW FIN TUNA.                                               (Photo by Florabel Avila)

"Gudo" displaying his artistic sashimi on top of banana leaves.     (Photo by Florabel Avila)

                          ARTISTIC SHELLS COLLECTION FOR SALE AT DRAGON TEI.
                                                                (Photo by Florabel Avila)

NECKLACE, TOO.

AND EARRINGS.

JON-JON, THAT'S A VERY BIG SKIP JACK!

MABEL, YOU CAN REALLY LIFT THAT?

This year's collection of round fruits by Roberto includes papaya, guava, cantaloupe, water melon, pear, kiwi, tomato, apples, oranges, mandarin oranges, sour sop, mango, grapes, grape fruit, banana and pomegranate. 
     The sour sop on the laptop is this... (from Dragon Tei)

UAE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly asked for this exotic fruit during his 4-hour visit to Palau in February 2010.

                                                                 (Photo by Florabel Avila)

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2223213667651635496#editor/target=post;postID=562009628453507179;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=172;src=link 

TRYING PALAU EXOTIC FOOD -- FRUIT BAT!
     These Japanese family of 4 tried eating fruit bat at Dragon Tei Japanese Restaurant on March 12, 2014 with my wife Flor as the one who prepared it in front of them.                                                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



  EXOTIC PALAU FOOD -- FRUIT BAT!

Me and my wife Ma. Florida Hernandez worked at Dragon Tei, Teppan Dragon, Donburi Dragon in May 2006. She is still working there currently and I transferred at Palau Royal Resort in June 01, 2007.

While working there, sometimes I saw some Palauan men selling fruit bat for $5.00 per piece. The restaurant sell it for $25.00 per piece to customers mostly Japanese who wants to try exotic food.

                Florabel Avila displaying the exotic fruit bat before it will be cooked.
                                                             (Photo by Florabel Avila)
                                  

             This time it's Cecile Bustamante's turn to display a different fruit bat.
                                                            (Photo by Florabel Avila)

                                             The fruit bat soup.
                                                               (Photo by Florabel Avila)


Sometimes at night, I saw some Palauan men with airgun hunting fruit bat. The other guy have a big flashlight while the other one will shoot the fruit bat.

Actually, many of them will not eat the fruit bat and before it will be served, usually Flor will take care of it but usually suggest to guest to have a photo session first with the wings of the bat spread out.

Sometimes she will scare the guests and put it very close to them with the teeth coming out that looks like a devil with its black color and straight ears.

In March 10, 2014, a Japanese family of 4 were my guests at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. The daughter gave me $10.00 tip right away with me not even starting the first song yet.

I played mostly Japanese songs and at 11:00 pm, I talked to them because I thought it's not their first time in Palau because I heard the daughter said, "Roberto san" or Mr. Robert. I thought she knows me earlier. But not. It's their first time in Palau.

The son and the daughter had a photo with me at the keyboard with the cashier that took the photo not having a steady hand and it's a little blurred.

  
The family came again at Breeze Bar on March 12, 2014. They sat near me so I was able to sing even without mike some songs that they have requested.
As usual, before I start playing, the daughter gave me $10.00 tip again. 

When I mentioned to them that my wife works at Dragon Tei, they said that they tried fruit bat there.
I showed them the picture of my wife that is at the cover page of my song books, they recognized her.

They had dinner at Waves Restaurant on March 13 before going back to Japan. This is where the first photo of this post was taken. No tip this time.
I asked them to check the Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com  to see this post in the future. 


Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
                The Beginning of Chess In Palau
                By Roberto Hernandez
                April 2014
                To be published as a book in the future
   






Source: Music and Me 
             By Roberto Hernandez
             February 2015