Wednesday, October 20, 2010

What Has Been Clouding My Mind?

Curly-haired little girl?

We are always traveling, my husband and I. We drive, we fly, we sail miles and miles. We wonder as we wander. And it was during one of these wanders that I developed a penchant for clouds. (I think this happened when I shifted into a home-based freelancing career where I spend most of my hours in the confines of our house.)

Our Mighty Creator looking over us


Pristine white ... cottony soft ... irregularly shaped... somewhat dream-like ....as if a fantasy.


Winnie The Pooh exerting to fly

My closest encounters with them were during plane rides that are usually interrupted by air pockets. Then one day, while hubby and I were exploring planet Earth, I began seeing images portrayed by the clouds of different shapes. Like a tableau portrayed in the game Charades. I saw an atomic bomb explosion, a turtle, white, raging ocean, and many more I can't remember.


Atomic bomb explosion

The grandeur of the clouds way up above us makes me gape, leaving me dreamy and awestruck, reminding me that there are a lot of things I do not know about. This means that there is so much to explore. They are a glimpse to the Force that is behind everything.


The Merlion of Singapore

You may not see what I see. Or you may see things I did not see. But cloud-watching may just be pretty much like life and the diverse perspectives that individuals see. The least we can do is respect one another's point of view.


Little Bear talking to Papa Bear


The abyss

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Happy Birthday!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Shoot and Run







Many years ago, I ditched jogging/running in favor of walking due to the many bad publicity about the heart-pumping activity. Although it has not become a fad here in the place where we currently reside, I have started running again just a couple of months ago. The feel of the wind against my face, the outdoor scent (I am a work-at-home individual so going “outdoor” sort of thrills me) the sight and ruckus of kids playing, smiling faces of socializing, the calming effects of the sight of the still waters of the river visible from my “jogging track”, the rhythm of my pounding heart, in sync with my retiring iPod and the exhilaration of sucking in oxygen and jettisoning carbon dioxide making my nostrils flap like a bird’s wings, all make me look forward to my late afternoons these days.











For the longest time, I had wanted to capture the moments during my run. But my bulky camera prevented me from doing so. Nonetheless, when the inconveniences of my monthly period overtook my excitement to run, while hubby was available to run, I thought of the idea that while he run, I shoot.











Late afternoons own a special place in my heart. Muted orange sunsets playing with the shadows can be so sad and heart-breaking to gaze at but very romantic. It was one of those afternoons, because we started late and most children have already gone back to their homes. We run just inside the subdivision where we live.









Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Touring Around The World In Sampaguita Gardens

To get past this towering gate, please pay 10 bucks

What's inside that we have to pay for entrance?

Oh, "Cory yellow ribbon" becomes a lantern. (Posting date happens to also be the date of PNoy's inauguration as 15th president.)

After roasting ourselves over the weekend under the Boracay sun, we extended our anniversary celebration in Kalibo where we explored an interesting place, Sampaguita Gardens. On our way from Boracay to this place, hubby just mentioned that we will get a massage somewhere. So I wondered why we have to pay entrance at the gate.

Let's check out what's inside!

Nature!

Green is in!

Segregate!

This is cool! Literally.

Cooling down

As we entered its premises, I found out that it is some sort of a theme park ideal for touring kids, only, it carries an assortment of themes. It has a humid coffee shop with an out-of-order air conditioning system. But I love the biscocho they sell there, more milky than buttery and oily.


Disneyland of Kalibo


Mickey and Minnie, not really!

Walking up its long driveway, I discovered a giant "playhouse" which I think was inspired by Disneyland. Theme ideas seemed to be patterned from places where the owner had been to. Souvenir items are sold inside, including items with the wedding and Christmas themes. The second floor houses the Christmas exhibit where you have to pay an entrance to see it. The wedding dolls were timely to remind us of our own wedding four years ago.


Happy Anniversary!


The estate also accommodates a not-quite-maintained swimming pool, a "hotel building," which reminded me of an elementary school building, and a garden where some replicas of tourist spots across the globe are stationed. But the place I am interested to explore would have been a building with huge wooden double doors carved with mandala design. I think a sort of mandala maze might have been housed inside. Only, it was locked and the only thing that greeted us there was a CCTV camera.


Open up, we will pay for entrance

Every breath you take, I'll be watching you...

Let me in!
Nancy Drew's Adventure Into The Mystery of the Locked Door

So, we were all sweat (as it was in mid-afternoon in the summer) when we landed in very humid and windy Bangkok, err, I mean, when we entered their Thai-themed spa. Air conditioning might have been on vacation leave and in its place was a brawny industrial fan. One funny thing was that we had our massage Swedish-Shiatsu style while a gold-plated Thai buddha patiently waited outside with his palms together. But still, the massage was really good. A telltale sign was that hubby snored. The facilities were impressive, quite old and not well-maintained. Or let's just say that they were not used often.


Fishy-fishy!

El Nino phenomenon

How deer the dare! Oh, deer!

Horse back-breaking ride
Merry, but doesn't go 'Round!


We heard that this place was not doing quite well, explaining its sad state. Well, if only the owner would invest in the customer service training for the staff and market it to Boracay holidaymakers. We're curious how they operate in December when one of their favorite themes comes into season.


Penchant for all things Christmas

Christmas all year long!

Parking area