D-d-d-dragons

I wanna buy these dragon figurines from Lladró and Swarovski. 

This one's Lladro the Dragon by Lladró, US$ 560.00

 This one's from Swarovski,  US$ 400.00.

I wonder when I'll get them?  Lol!

Lladró Great Red Dragon figurine

This one from Lladró looks fierce.   The price is quite fierce, too.  USD 25,000.00.  Gaa!  Lol!

Venezia, Italia - The Maze to Piazza San Marco

This I believe is my all-time favorite photo that I took.  It was a slightly drizzly fall day in Venice, and I was going around in a maze trying to find Piazza San Marco.  The map I bought at the railway station didn't help any even if it cost me €11 or €18 (whispers:  pretty souvenir though, with a high quality plastic packet/cover, hehe!).  But losing my way was still worth it 'cause I ended up exploring other areas and streets in Venice and came across the scene above.

It was of two people walking ahead of me.  They were in coats and hats.  And given the gloominess of the day, the aesthetics of Venice, and some dark underpinnings in the atmosphere of the scene, I had to capture this very Venice but not touristy scene (with a cellphone cam, alas, 'cause it was faster to just flip it out and shoot); before the two people walking ahead of me totally disappear from view.

I just love this photo and the characteristic Venice scene I feel it was able to evoke.  Glad the shot made it in time. And yeah, I made it to Piazza San Marco eventually.  :P

See my other Venice trip photos here and here.

Venezia, Italia - The Surreal Train Ride

After a Eurostar Trenitalia train ride from Florence, the scene above was what greeted me as I stepped out of the railway station in Venice.

Railway stations are of course similar wherever I went in Europe.  But on this Venice trip, I was really unprepared and quite stunned to behold the scene I captured above once out of the station.  Really unexpected, unique, and beautiful I just had to photograph it.  Hehe!

However, I must also say, there was one other moment I wish I had thought to photograph on this Venice trip. Like railway stations, a train ride is just about like any other train ride, except this one I took to Venice.  Because in the train on the way, as it got nearer to the station, there was an absolutely surreal scene.  So surreal and rather incredible that it just totally failed to enter my mind to photograph it.  It was like a scene off Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away...the train ride over the sea, minus the characters of course, hehe.  My train was seemingly gliding over the waters off Venice.  And I saw some gondolas and Venice structures afar.  Incredible.  I was really awed, so awed I failed to photograph it.  Lol!  Worth a return trip one day though, if only to record that train scene.  Perhaps next time.

Firenze, Italia - Of Whimsy, Cafe Bars and Gelato

Below are some of my favorite Florence, Italy trip pics.

I arrived in Florence on a rainy October night, after a long bus ride from Avignon, France.  I must say that my Florence trip is among my favorites.

The place is full of character.  Even the pension I stayed in used to be a religious property, along Via dei Seragli.  It's situated just across one of the old bridges spanning the Arno River.  And along the way, you get to walk past a few antique and design galleries with pieces I think you'd only find in Florence.  Very interesting indeed.

I like this photo 'cause it's a bit whimsical.  The Duomo is behind me and amid the gloom, there comes this burst of color and even more character from a lady's umbrella behind me; an umbrella with clouds against a sky blue background.  It's colors broke the gloominess of the photo's color theme as a consequence of the day's rainy fall weather -- a clean pop of white and blue against this gloomy backdrop.  Pretty fun seeing it.  Only in Florence I guess.  Lol.

2.  My cafe bar breakfast

Villeneuve Lez Avignon, France - A Recollection

Below is a collection of favorite photos I took while exploring the old part of the little town of Villeneuve Lez Avignon in France.  It's just across the River Rhone from the city of Avignon.  Avignon is actually the first city I went to on my first trip to France during the fall of 2005.  Not Paris.  So it has quite a memorable hold on me.  It also wasn't very touristy around that time I arrived, as compared with Italy, or Paris itself.  I was the lone tourist exploring the place, except for 3 Swiss visitors at Fort St. André.  Hehe!

 me and my map in hand, at the portal to Fort St.  André

1.  What seems to be an old church

Above is a bit of an arresting site.  I had to stop in my tracks and take a shot.  It seemed to be an old structure that was probably a church some long time ago, given the presence of a belfry at its top.  Or maybe it was actually still a church.  Add to that the structure of a low stone well in the foreground and I just had to photograph it.  hehe.


2.  Perspective of two schoolgirls walking

Two French schoolgirls probably walking home.  I like this scene and perspective when I chanced upon it.


3.  Old provincial French street

France on My Mind

These photos, taken in the fall of 2005 with my cellphone camera, were of my arrival and first trip to France. 

After bidding my Barcelona host thank you and farewell at the Barcelona Sants transport hub with kisses on each others' cheeks and some hugs, I took an overnight bus from Barcelona, and arrived in Avignon before sunrise. 

 exploring old Avignon on arrival

All the shops were closed. Not much cars and people on the streets. Everyone was still in bed. The night and the streets were quiet. I didn't know really where I was going and there was no one around really to ask. It seemed like I had everywhere to go and everything to see. But that I just had to have patience and wait an hour or two for daybreak before I can fully enjoy this freedom with more degree of equanimity.

Winter Song

I'm liking this music and video.. hehe! Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. Animation by Crush Design.

Winter Songs from Crush Design on Vimeo.

Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum

Bum bum bum bum bum bum

Bum bum bum bum bum bum

This is my winter song to you.

The storm is coming soon,

It rolls in from the sea

My voice; a beacon in the night.

My words will be your light,

To carry you to me.

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love

They say that things just cannot grow

Beneath the winter snow,

Or so I have been told.

They say were buried far,

Just like a distant star

I simply cannot hold.

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

This is my winter song.

December never felt so wrong,

Cause you’re not where you belong;

Inside my arms.

Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum

Bum bum bum bum bum bum

Bum bum bum bum bum bum

I still believe in summer days.

The seasons always change

And life will find a way.

I’ll be your harvester of light

And send it out tonight

So we can start again.

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

This is my winter song.

December never felt so wrong,

Cause you’re not where you belong;

Inside my arms.

This is my winter song to you.

The storm is coming soon

It rolls in from the sea.

My love a beacon in the night.

My words will be your light

To carry you to me.

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Is love alive?

Dehydration

Turns out I've been dehydrated for several weeks already.  Exacerbated by travelling, and flights and not drinking enough water. No wonder then.  'Cause even I was wondering why I seemed to lack energy while on the road exploring, and was slow in movements until this week when things seemed to have gotten worse.  It's like you have the flu but you don't have the fever.   And the coughing was really strange and painful.

So I went to see a doctor yesterday and dehydration was the verdict + allergies.  It's just soooo hot lately that the doctor says these days make it even more imperative to drink plenty of water and he means mineral water in my case; not juice, sugary liquids, distilled water or any other derivative.

So after the doctor's visit we went to buy the meds he prescribed and get me some mineral water.  But which mineral water does my companion end up bringing to the car as we waited in the parking lot for her to return from the grocery?  Evian mineral water. "Natural mineral water from the French Alps" so the label says.  Waaaah!  The few 1.5L bottles she got of those cost about as much as what we pay for our water utility bill.  Lol!  Or we could have gotten about two to three times more of the one- to two-liter bottles of mineral water from local brands with the amount we shelled out for these Evian ones.  *sigh*

Good thing it doesn't seem to make me feel bloated, unlike most water I drink, especially cold ones (that's why I seldom drink plenty).  Oh well.  I'm a bit better now though.  No more painful and hard coughing.  Just have to drink that for a week more I guess. 

* photo from globalpackagegallery.com

Yellow Brick Road and KCRW

I'm currently liking hearing this song from indie artist duo Angus and Julia Stone called Yellow Brick Road.

I first heard it being played in the car stereo while I was on the road in L.A. a few weeks ago.  I liked the melody and it also had some words pertaining to California plus some pretty good guitar riffs that I thought "how apt" and made sure to research on it online.  Lol!

The radio station playing it was 89.9 KCRW.  It has since become one of my favorite radio stations.

screenshot of kcrw.com

They broadcast not just interesting music programs (like KCRW Eclectic24) but also cultural/arts review programs (deejays discussing/critiquing books, etc.) and news from NPR.

Polaroid Pogo

testing my Pogo: the 2" x 3" pics produced by the
device and the device printing my pic of the Eiffel Tower

I just bought a new toy called Polaroid Pogo. It's an ultra-portable photo printer which prints out 2" x 3" pics from a bluetooth enabled device (such as a cellphone or computer) or from a digital camera via USB.

I kind of had a few misgivings about buying one 'cause of a review I read by a photography person in the creative industry. But he was comparing it with a Fujifilm mobile printer which isn't available for sale anywhere except in Japan or eBay.

Poladroid!

the Poladroid app opened and processing a
photo I dragged and dropped to it, background is
the Firefox browser app with websites opened

I was searching for leads re where to find a Fujifilm mobile photo printer I've been wanting to buy and came across this application called Poladroid.

The Apple iPad and Why I'm Not Getting One, Yet

1. 64gb max capacity
- My 80gb Apple iPod Video 5.5 gen has less than 15gb available capacity now after all the multimedia items I archive to it. Do the math: 80gb total minus 15 free = 65gb used. 64gb? I might be the only one who thinks it but it just seems rather outdated.

I Just Like This Song

"So bizarre, yet so cliche

That every day is a new day

And all those candles can't
make me stay the same
Since I was born yesterday"

I first heard this on an episode of the TV series Felicity: Born Yesterday by indie artist Mike Schmid. I just like it. You can also find it here.

My Travel Habits and Essentials

For some reason, am more of a backpacker than anything else, even when I don't want to. It just makes things easier for me, especially since I bring tons of stuff with a carryon. No little purses for me when travelling. 

If you have a possible better suggestion regarding my carryon bag, please let me know. I'd really like to know how others can get by with a strolling bag or a bag you can't really store underneath a plane, bus, or train seat? 'Cause I don't have the build nor the frame to be able to carry such a bag over me and store in a plane or train's overhead bin without assistance. And I'd hate to inconvenience a fellow passenger/stranger by asking them to store it for me. Hehe!

Anyhoo, apart from the obvious, here are my travel must haves (or not) and one or two habits whenever I travel:




1. Travel documents
I have photocopies of travel docs in my check in luggage, soft copies with my email. Having shots of the docs in one's digital camera is quite a good idea I read in a forum.

2. Footwear
I always never forget to bring a pair of my super versatile Teva Olowahu model sandals. It's verrrry comfy even if you walk with it the whole day and through the night over sand and paved or cobblestoned streets... beats wearing my Diesel sneakers when I was in Europe.

my beat up Teva sandals in Germany

I use the same slippers in the hotel and bathroom/toilets. Hehe! If I can collect one in every color I will. Lol! Though of course you can't wear this in winter conditions outside. It's not sold in Manila anymore, to my dismay. Got my first pair at Bratpack 5 years ago (they don't sell Teva shoes anymore). And bought some more of this model on a U.S. trip last year.

3. No laptop
Yeah. Right. Easier said than done.

Nada mas...

Musings good enough to tweet but am blogging 'em here instead... :P

1. would like Christian Dior, IKEA, and H&M to open stores in Manila

2. Some people are lucky to have had Paul Krugman as their professor.

3. I admire Ben Bernanke, whatever happens.. hehe!

4. The U.S. (and possibly the rest of the world) is lucky to have a Paul Krugman, and a Ben Bernanke in the right place at the right time. Lol! See this.

5. Wish there were more iMax theaters around so I won't have to endure the stress and the crowds of Metro Manila congregating in one location (one reason I don't want to go to SM Mall of Asia or its cinema to see a movie on a weekend... Spare me puhlease... Gaah!) just so I can watch Avatar.

New Cellphone

Sony Ericsson T707

I just got myself a new cellphone. Replaced my old Sony Ericsson w800i Walkman phone with another Sony Ericsson, a T707 in lucid blue. My old SE still works except the camera's autofocus doesn't work as fast anymore, and I just got tired of it. Plus its casing has come a bit loose from its screws after I've dropped it more than a dozen times already (and it still works). It's been my phone for more than the past 4 years.

I've been hankering for a clamshell phone again and it's great that SE released a new set of clamshell design phones last year. I used to have a Sony Ericsson Z600 clamshell phone with striped casing design.

Z600 in stripes

Fishies

I have new pets... Hehe!

my little fishies

Someone gave me a couple of pet fishes as a gift last Wednesday when I got home and was shown them. One of them is a Siamese fighting fish or betta splendens fish which I've been looking around forever to buy whenever I'm in a mall; and always find that the pet stores are out of stock or not selling them. So I was pleasantly surprised to come home and find I was given one. Got one at last!

Harry, my betta fish

Betta or betta splenden fishes are supposed to be among the lowest maintenance type of pet fishes around. They are suitable for beginner fish pet owners. I wasn't sure at first if it was a male or female betta. Now I find it is male, so I name it Harry. If it were female, I'd name it Desdemona. Lol!




Harry, typical of betta splenden fishes, reacts whenever I put a mirror in front of him. It's funny. His fins flare out, as do some kind of dark gill/s under his jaws... And his tiny little side fins begin flapping really fast. Lol!

Finally got to use the little betta aquarium kit (made of plastic) I bought in Vancouver. It's pretty easy to carry around and locate somewhere else in the house. But because the fishes came to me unexpectedly, the small aquarium was hastily made. No plants, just some smooth little pebbles. Maybe I'd change them to some colored stones another time. Will definitely add a little plant soon so Harry can have his little hidey hole. Hehe!



The other fishes in the small tank are a another type of betta fish called a penang betta (grows up to 9 or 12 cms only), and a sucker fish or plecostomus -- an algae eater that helps clean the tank.

I remember we used to have a big aquarium with different kinds of fish when I was small -- it had goldfishes, angel fishes, guppies, a plecostomus, tetra fishes and other fish. All decorative. My eldest brother was basically their owner, and us youngest of the siblings the onlookers. Lol!

The sucker fish might prove to be a problem later though, when it gets larger. Might give it away to another fish pet owner with a bigger tank. Maybe I'd get a couple of neon tetra fishes next time. Hehe!

It’s That Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas shmismas…

my shot of a parol or lantern being sold on the road

I’m liking this Christmas. My dad and I, with some help, have put up lights around the house, gates, garage, garden, roof. We got us some parols too… plain and with lights… made of plastic/paper and of capiz. We did a pretty good job of it I think.

I am wondering what if I lived overseas, will we still be able to put up the kind of lights we get to put up here? Will definitely miss that if not.

Google Wave Preview

Some thoughts on my Google Wave preview:

First off, I had some expectations of what I wanted Google Wave to be. But so far, it hasn't met them yet. Therefore, I'm not too active nor frequently visit my Google Wave after the first few tries, unlike Facebook. Not all my friends or family have Google accounts (hence they have no access to Wave). And I haven't added any Wave Extension I like nor find useful (for me) yet either.

My primary expectations/Google Wave wishlist:

• integration with my blog/s (blogger.com, multiply.com) whereby I can post my blogs via Google Wave
• integration with my online photo albums whereby I can provide links to and -- even better -- allow fellow Wavers to view within Google Wave photos I posted to another online photo album
  

It is fun though doing collaborative activities in Wave. I see my friends and fellow Wavers typing in their responses to a specific wave in real time as I know they've also seen mine and it's like we're all just in the same room but we just don't happen to see each other.

For now, I see Wave being better used by groups/members pursuing a project together, or doing collaborative research (i.e. the scientific community) where up to the minute results and posts to be shared to multiple relevant Wavers is of the essence.

As for me I'll probably only be more active in Wave if my most frequent online activities are integrated with it quite seamlessly (blogging and uploading photos to share). Until then, I still love multiply.com for photo albums sharing within a blog. hehe!

My First New Year's Resolution for 2010

the three photo albums of my first Europe trip

Recently, I went through the 3 photo albums I made more than a year ago, of my first trip to Europe. When I was creating them at that time, I was detached and too tired to appreciate the end result, like it was just another thing in my to-do list to cross out. Probably because I got tired of editing and seeing the same photos when I was choosing them for print, and when I was doing the layout for each album page.

the Spain album, opened

Surprisingly, when I checked them out again last week, I actually liked what I saw. I wrote my captions for many of the photos, no scrapbook decors you buy in the store but the trip mementos attached (museum tickets, metro tickets, bus tickets, train tickets, restaurant napkins with words in the respective country's language written on them, cards, receipts, etc.).

the Portugal and southern France album with
my Eurolines bus ticket attached to the page divider on the left

the Vatican pages with a ticket to
the Musei Vaticani attached on the right depicting
Adam and God from Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel

Florence, Italy photos and the Trenitalia train ticket to
Venice attached on the right

I've decided that in the course of the next many months, I must slowly but steadily create a few new photo albums again for photos from my succeeding trips, as well as family pics; all of them shot from 2007 onwards. I find I have tons digital photos from travels and with family/relatives that I haven't printed and posted to photo albums (not the online kind) or put in photo frames/holders.

This year I have several family and relatives from overseas who've come and will come to holiday in the Philippines/Asia. So that would add significantly to the photos I need to have printed out. As you might have guessed already, my family live overseas, and a lot of my relatives aren't Philippine citizens or residents.

I've also already bought some Ikea frames from my last trip to Canada, and I hope to get in November (rubbing my palms together here.. Lol!) a starburst metal picture holder you hang on the wall (from Ikea again) which I saw but failed to buy last time in Vancouver.

I know it's kinda early, but since I have tons of pictures to go through, I already know my first new year's resolution and I look forward to fulfilling it. Hehe!

Adorable!

Came across this video in Youtube.com of this sweet tired persian cat. It's quite funny...



Now if only the kitten totally fell off backwards, then talagang super funny na sana sya.. Lol!

Life is Sweet... and Blessed

"I thank you God for this most amazing day,
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees,
and for the blue dream of sky
and for everything which is natural,
which is infinite,
which is yes."

-- e. e. cummings

Spent a nice and lazy Saturday afternoon and evening on a park overlooking the beach and mountains in Vancouver... joined the locals, chilled out, and caught some warmth and sunshine with no humidity. Saying that this time spent is 'nice' could be an understatement. hehe!

This park/beach is just across the street from where am staying. And across that beach you get to see some snow-capped mountains. I see the beach and mountains right away when I step out the door/look out through the glass panes... You can say this park/beach is like my 'front yard'. lol. It's great.


Laid down my sarong from Puerto Galera on the grass and watched people strolling, walking, running, blading, skating, sunning, laid down reading (like me), sleeping, biking, playing volleyball, badminton, basketball and frisbee, on picnics, grilling, sleeping, dads spending time with their toddler/s on the grass or on the sand, families, kids on the beach, people taking photos, hardly any tourists around, etc... And later in the day watched the sunset.


I could live this life every weekend when there's the sun when I can.. but alas, some things aren't really meant to last. hehe! So we enjoy it while we can... it's like that saying "when in Rome, do as the Romans do..." hihi!

Hence the photos.... posting here some pics of my time at the park.... enjoy.. :)

a sailboat and some snow-capped mountains


a guy across me at the park enjoying his siesta and
beyond him can be seen the bike trail, beach, and
some snow-capped mountains....


shot of sunset taken while wind/air became chilly

Maple Leaf Land

Currently up here on the land of the maple leaf, working in the offices of the company otherwise known as the big blue.

Bienvenue au Canada
the big board over the immigration counters on arrival at the airport

I currently have a runny nose and a bout with the flu. But posting some pics here of some scenes on the drive to work while I have time. hehe!

nice drive

snow-capped mountains

pretty

puh-weh-de na! hehe!

Haven't explored much yet so enjoy these pics first.

Robson Street, Van coo vah

gimmick area downtown on a Friday night

iPod Radio Alarm Clock

I just bought a portable speaker system for my iPod Video called iMini, from Ozaki (the brand name). It's actually an FM radio alarm clock that can also play music from an iPod, and charge the iPod battery at the same time.

iMini radio alarm clock on the right with

my iPod docked on it, and other stuff atop a bookshelf

The pros:

• 
  Its size is small enough to bring anywhere with you. It's like desktop size. So you can also stuff it in your check in baggage when travelling. Hehe!



• alarm clock
• FM radio



• can dock most if not all models of Apple iPods (from 1st to 5th generation), iPod Nano (1st and 2nd gen.) and iPod mini and charges the iPod whenever it's docked (even as it plays music).



• can also play music from another portable mp3 player via a 3.5mm jack (included)



• uses power from a 110v - 250v adapter (included); which means you can bring it with you to the US or Europe and have no problems. Alternatively, it can use power from AAA batteries (not included)



• comes in different colors from which to choose



• comes with 6 months of warranty



• USB port so you can connect it to your PC

The cons:

• Battery power died out in 2-3 days (mostly using FM radio). Batteries used were Energizer's e2 Advanced model (supposed to last 50% longer than the normal Energizer Max alkaline batteries)



• poor FM reception



• not for audiophiles
  

So if you're looking for an iPod speaker system that's portable, doesn't take too much space, that need not be an audiophile's dream but is also a radio alarm clock, and is being compared with Altec Lansing speakers, then the iMini is for you. It's not that expensive too at less than Php 3k.

Digressions for the curious:
1. My iPod is supposed to be white but the black one was delivered instead of the white I ordered and paid for (*exasperated sigh*). But that's another story.

2. The little Tiffany lamp in the pic was something I bought in Germany and hand-carried back to Manila. I use it as a nightlight. =)

3. Bought the iMini at Ambassador Appliance in Park Square in Makati.



4. Photos above were taken using the 2.0mp camera of my Sony Ericsson w800i mobile phone

Martika - Love Thy Will be Done

One of my favorite songs and videos... great lyrics, song, and cinematography/photography...

"I see all of your creations as one perfect complex
No one less beautiful or more special than the next..."



God's will be done indeed. =)

music written by Prince
sung by Martika
video directed by Michael Haussman

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'. =)

Guilty!

Okay, time for some low-brow content (just can't resist).. hehe.

I don't recall which site got me started on reading some society chizmiz blogs tonight... Let me try to recall the originating page as I write this. But these blogs and their reader comments are just so so entertaining and funny one link just leads to another! It's a freakin' high school-mind-like guilty pleasure reading them. Lol!

And one of the society guys being mentioned (or is it attacked?) was a high schoolmate (and friend of friends) who's part owner of this now-rather-notorious dance bar a stone's throw away from where I work... Shhh!

I especially love Kitty's Go's "When Chic Hits the Fan" blog. Lol! Way to go Kitty! (a high schoolmate of some cousins naman).

Now I recall the site that led me to the above links: the blog by Professional Heckler who provides satire and wit re local current events and celebrities, which led me to the blog by the Aussie guy allegedly wronged by a socialite Pinoy ex which in turn led me to Kitty Go's site.

So to spread the guilty pleasure around, see this and this. Enjoy the reads ladies, gents, and gheys... ahihi!

Tracking My Apple iPod Shipment

I've finally succumbed to the call of the iPod, 7-9 years after its first release.

Above is a screenshot off amazon.com of the shipment of Apple iPod Video 5.5 Generation that I ordered. I tracked the courier shipment of the package. (Though of course, this blog post will only be posted with the above screenshot once the item's reached its intended destination. Hehe!) So it has left the seller in New York and just departed New Jersey.

I just hope that when it arrives at the delivery address I entered, that the item shipped is the right version and not the latest iPod Classic/6th Generation... crossing my fingers. Don't want and am afraid of the hassle and headache of returning an item plus the wait time for the returns and refund processing and follow-ups.

You might find it strange that I opted for the older version; but having read the reviews online, it turns out that newer is not necessarily better. One consumer/reviewer online even posted that the latest version is "a lemon" and that many discerning consumers have noticed, promptly returned their latest version and are scouting for this version which is now discontinued by Apple. Lol! And that the best iPod version it seems is arguably the Apple iPod Video 5.5 Gen. This version should come in a box with one side depicting Johnny Depp/Capt. Sparrow in the movie Pirates of the Carribean, not the one with pop artist Nelly Furtado.

I thought I need only buy the latest/Classic one, but found out that the Apple accessory called Camera Connector does not work with the Classic version or versions after the 5.5 Gen (read: the latest), and not with the Mini, Nano, or Touch either.


The Camera Connector accessory makes transferring/backing up image files from a digital camera or card reader straight to the iPod Video without lugging around a laptop with you or needing a computer to do so, especially when you're travelling. So it's more convenient and you get to archive your image files straight away. 'Cause the first time I went around Europe, I always had to take time to make stops at photo stores so that my image files could be written to CD and I can free up my camera cards again. I find it weird why the latest iPods aren't compatible with the Camera Connector accessory.

I largely ignored getting myself an iPod of any sort all these years 'cause I didn't think I needed a fancy portable mp3/music player, until I learned that this iPod Video version can actually also be a portable external hard disk where I can view the photos I've backed up straight away. I recently lost several months' worth of photographs, music files, and carefully archived copies of important docs after my generic (Seagate?) portable external hard drive crashed and I don't think it was even 2 years old yet and it also still had about 30 gb of capacity available when it did. So this time, I don't mind spending more on something that I expect should last longer and is altogether more convenient and easy to use.

This version of the iPod actually costs more now than the latest models. I can't believe it at first either. But I guess demand drove the cost up? Since the 6th/Classic/latest version turns out to be inferior to the older version? *shrugs*

This iPod seems like a personal computer already. I can store probably almost all multimedia files I've accumulated and am still accumulating with it, then view them, listen to them, play with them, etc. So it's not just a music machine then, and therefore not entirely a waste of money and probably not hyped either like I used to think it was (but I'll know once I got my order in my hands. hehe!). Hmmm... The only thing missing with it is Internet capability. Lol!

I just hope they deliver the correct version, and that it functions right. I first checked out if Manila computer stores still sell that version but no, all now sell the latest. So when I saw that only 1 was left in stock in amazon.com -- the white one -- I just finally had to buy it. I need it and would likely not find another brand new one anytime and anwhere accessible soon. Lol! So let's just wait for the delivery and hope all turns out right.