Whitey

my pet Whitey at rest

Bought a Tripod in Quiapo

Manila Central Post Office at Dusk

I took the photo above with my cellphone camera while inside a moving vehicle. That's the back of the Manila Central Post Office -- a neoclassical structure designed by American architects Burnham/Parson (same guy/s who architected Chicago, among others) when the Philippines was a colony of the U.S. in the early 1900s -- by the bank of the Pasig River, with Jones Bridge at dusk.

The photo was taken on my way home after a day in Quiapo/Carriedo and Chinatown with a friend. I was able to attend mass at Sta. Cruz Church while waiting to meet said friend who was really nice enough to accompany me to Quiapo and help me lug around that tripod and even insisted on paying for our merienda meal at a little hole in the wall noodle house in Chinatown. I kinda felt bad about those, but I really appreciated those efforts, so I owe that friend very big!

So, I went to Quiapo to buy a tripod for my DSLR camera. The first shop I entered, at the corner of Hidalgo Street, beside Henry's camera store, had some young Westerners buying camera gear. Naligaw rin sila in Quiapo? lol. The store sold tripods. But I wasn't able to find the tripod brand/model I was looking for there. And what they have, doesn't come with a bag.

In the end, I found the tripod I was looking for at a store called M20.
Interestingly enough, its show window had this collection of really old cameras to the new ones like they archived the evolution of cameras. Two of those on display were similar to my grandfather's old camera, which I remember playing with when I was less than 10 years old, maybe 6 more or less, and seated inside his office behind his desk, which had in turn become my dad's office/desk. My granddad had passed away by then (he passed away when I was an infant).

old RolleiFlex Camera

Anyway, I don't know what brand it is but it's the sort of old camera where its viewfinder is at the top, and two round lenses are on the side facing the subject. So when you use the camera, it stands vertical, instead of horizontal (like how we use cameras now). To compose your shot, you bend your neck forward to be able to peek into the viewfinder, at least if I recall right. Lol! And when you click to shoot, you actually see the aperture blades closing in like it does on those James Bond montage, lol. I remember even seeing probably dust in the viewfinder. Like some slivers or specks of dirt or sometihng. *It was like this camera and shown above. It's just nice seeing that camera again.

They also displayed a Diana fisheye lomo camera but I didn't ask if they sell lomo cameras as I'm staying away from spending too much money when I don't even have time to have films processed. Maluho na yan! Next time na! haha!

So back to the tripod thingie, I bought a Velbon Sherpa 800R. And it came with a bag. So that was good. It was the last in stock and I was able to bargain with the salespeople re the price. Glad I had my friend with me. We were able to lower it further. Lol! I had really no idea what right tripod to buy but asked around from some photography-enthusiast friends the day before buying, and that's what they recommended. Finally I have a tripod now and can maximise the use of my DSLR. hihi!

*camera photo from cosmonet.org

Philippines - Map of Visited Areas

The Lakbayan results below only reminds me of how much more there is to see in my own country than in Singapore. Areas marked in blue are places where I've been to or passed through travelling around the country eversince I can remember... with family on weekends out of town, or friends.

My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Singapore was kind of a dud, if not for some friends who hosted me while there. There isn't much to do in Singapore but the city stuff.... and we have lots of that and more in Manila.. *sigh*. Greenbelt, Bonifacio High Street, Serendra.... much more interesting, and hands down the winners especially after Greenbelt 5 opened... more beautiful/interesting people to see too.. hihi!

I guess for someone like me who likes culture and travel photography more than I do shopping for fashion and stuff, Singapore didn't exactly meet my expectations. What they have, we usually have, except for the strict enforcement of the law. :P So what else might be interesting? But thank goodness for the Singapore Zoo. But that's it. Lol!

I'm sure I'm really gonna be bored if I live and work there so I've turned down job offers for Singapore IT work. If ever I accept an offer, it might be because I'll be sharing a flat with good friends and hence lessen the chances of boring myself to tears and homesickness.

I was actually quite eager to go back to 'pinas again especially while at the airport waiting to board my flight back home. I was eager to see different things again, no matter how third world. Different housing structures.. unruly billboards... huuuge traffic.... pastoral farmlands and silhouettes of mountains by the highway, great beaches.. different kinds of people with varying degrees of dress and fashion sense... At least it seems more diverse and alive.

It was just somehow tiring seeing the same landscape of similar housing structures and all that in Singapore.. everything seemed uniform. It actually crossed my mind that is this what it might be like (even a bit) living in a communist country? Heck even China seems more interesting. In Singapore, I was at the metro already and it seemed like I was still in their mall. Things like that... It was like there was something missing and I just can't point out exactly what it was? Soul maybe? I don't know... I was just glad to go back to something like the Philippines.. Lol!

In the meantime, all things being equal, I'd rather stick with the Philippines, its life, vibrancy, places to see, culture, and diversity of people than settle in Singapore. It was good while it lasted but it's not a destination I'd care to go out of my way to revisit for leisure purposes unless somebody else foots the bill. :P

Life and Dreams

"It's not about how you achieve your dreams,
but how you live your life.

If you lead your life the right way,
the karma will take care of itself.

The dreams will come to you."

-- Professor Randy Pausch

at the closing of his "last lecture"

at Carnegie Mellon University

Words of wisdom aren't they? Certainly resonated with me and some of the major choices I've made with my life, whether good or bad. So it also reminded me of how true those words are.

And I'm sure many who read, listened, attended, or saw that lecture have several instances in their lives to which that statement applies and they can relate to.

The professor has since passed away but am glad I finally got to watch what his "last lecture" was all about. =)

You Might Wanna Read This

a transcript of Warren Buffet's interview with CNBC... re the current Wall Street crisis affecting the US and the global economy.

New or Used Car?

If the car in question is not a reliable German car (read BMW or Audi that gives you value for money), buy used. hehe!

If I had the money now and as well as for any additional maintenance costs (what with the roads and reckless drivers in Metro Manila) I'd buy an Audi (new or used). *sigh* or should that be, *huhu!*? Lol.

me and my Audi :P in Germany, with my initials on the plate

I'm one of those people who sort of live according to the principle derived from a quote by William Morris, "Have nothing that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Keeps things simple. :)

That's why I bought and use a Mac (though it's not that expensive anymore now), and just got myself an older version of the iPod (the iPod Video, which costs about 2x or more the cost of the latest iPod Classic version). Using Mac saves me computer repair problems in the long run (not to mention the time and effort it'd take to have it repaired), and gives me a better computing experience. And I would buy a designer bag (i.e. Hermes, Dior, Balenciaga, Loewe, Lanvin, or LV... the authentic ones of course :P) if I know I can use it on a daily basis without breaking my back. hehe!

I guess in the end it's a matter of being able to afford quality or knowing the value for money of the item one wishes to own and use. If it means less time and effort spent trying to keep up with the Joneses yet still not be dowdy (unlike when you change cars every few years because there's a new hot Japanese car model out..), less headache for me, less time spent for maintenance, and hence I get to spend my time and live my life in quality, then I say go for it. Time is now my luxury. I'd rather spend it doing things I like doing than spend it over headaches, inconvenience, and stress that shouldn't have been there in the first place.

I'm for spending more now for a few more expensive/quality items that I know I'll be using regularly and would last me longer, than often buying less expensive but ultimately unusable items that probably wouldn't last 2-3 years and end up looking like it's ready to reside in a trash bin, sold, or given away in a shorter time than you would have liked.

The above principle doesn't always apply to my apparel/shoe shopping habits though. And I don't buy accessories much, only when I need them. But that's another story.

Just my two cents'. =)