Merry Christmas

This was how our living room looked like last Christmas. Ang liit lang ng Christmas tree namin no? But that's ok, it's the spirit of Christmas that counts.



This Christmas, I'm a little sad because I won't be able to take some pictures since my digicam is still at the repair shop. Plus, my parents won't be coming home for the holidays. Thankfully, we'll be seeing each other by the end of next month.



This will be my last entry for the year... Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to all!

Pau's Back

Tons of work has kept me from updating this blog for more than a month now. My current situation is still no different but this time I choose to slack for a while and blog.



The photo above is this blog's first guest photo. The shot was taken by my sister inside the House of Music (Haus der Musik) in Vienna. That's me trying desperately to virtually conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It was a very entertaining interactive activity but apparently, I suck at it big time. I never thought conducting would be so difficult. In one of my attempts, one musician got so mad at me. He stood up, started scolding me and urged everyone to walk out, leaving me alone on the stage. What a shame! Good thing I did not understand everything he said since it was in German, otherwise, I would have been more hurt. Hahaha! At least now I have more respect for conductors.

Les Champs-Elysées

They say it's probably the most famous avenue in the world. For that reason alone, I took a picture of it. In English, its name means - The Elysian Fields. In classic Greek mythology, Elysia is the resting place of the heroes after death. Thinking about it now, it's name gives me the creeps. Hehehe. Hope everybody had a happy Halloween!

Analog Sky

I took this photo just outside our office buliding using yosa's sleek camera. Another beautiful sky...

~o~O~o~

I've been so busy at work lately. Haven't had much time to blog since last week. They say being busy at work is a good thing because at least you know you still have your job.

Sleeping Tigers

Last weekend, a few of my officemates and I went to Tagaytay to tour our visiting Japanese counterpart. Part of our itinerary was the Residence Inn which houses a small zoo. I pity the animals there because they were confined in such small and somewhat dirty cages. Quite a big difference from their natural habitat. I noticed also that most of them were sleeping when we got there. Either they're sick and tired of being caged or it was really just their siesta time.

It's a Bird

Early this week, we all heard the news that Superman is dead. The actor who played the man of steel that is. Superman was the first ever film I watched on the big screen and could probably the one that sparked my flair for watching hollywood movies. I believe now he's truly soaring up in the heavens.

~o~O~o~

TGIF! Happy weekend to all!

A Night at the Louvre

My night shot at the Louvre. I actually did not want to take the picture with that making out couple. The truth is, I patiently waited for them to finish and go away. After about 15 minutes of waiting, I realized that they're probably practicing for some kind of kissing marathon and me waiting further would be a total waste of time. I decided that they could add some interesting element into the photo (hopefully, not a very distracting element) so I went ahead and photographed away. I'll just imagine that those two are Robert Langdon and Sophie from The Da Vinci Code.

A View from Below

A lot of pictures did not make the cut during my YNP series. This is one of those pictures. This shot was taken amidst the giant Sequoia grove. I decided to post this today in relation to yesterday's post. I just wanted to show both perspectives of looking down and looking up.

A View from the Top

Top view of Swan Lake at EK. This shot was taken while riding the Wheel of Fate. I remember fearing that I might suddenly drop my camera while taking this shot. There was this psychological effect that either my camera was getting heavier or a stronger force of gravity was pulling on it. Of course, I held on to my camera real tight and took one quick shot. Whew!

By The Rocky Beach

Still along the 17-mile drive. If you look closely at the picture, you'll see those lovey doveys walking along the beach. How sweet!

Grand Canyon

Its silent vastness gives you a sense of peace and well-being. A feeling of oneness with nature. Or as someone I know puts it, a feeling of being so near to God.



The sights there are truly awesome but somehow, it was quite a challenge for me to capture its awesomeness on camera. I'm sure my friends eyefocus and shutteraddict would be able to take brilliant pictures from there.

Cotton Candy Sky

Those pinkish clouds sort of remind me of the cotton candies I used to eat when I was young. Don't you sometimes wish we could go back to being a child once again... Those were the times when we find joy even in the most simple things in life.

Old House

My father recalls that they had the biggest house in their small barrio in Ilocos when he was a child. Now outdated, worn-out and damaged through time, the former status of my grandparents' house in their barrio remains only as a faint memory in the distant past. Seeing the modern houses (some far bigger) in its neighborhood everytime we visit there makes my father get a little depressed of what their house had become. Someday he wants to restore it so that it may reclaim what he thinks is its rightful throne.

Peace Palace

Locating this palace in Den Haag was pretty tough but we were determined to find it because it looked very nice on the post card that we saw. Hehe. Sure enough it was really nice. Every country in the world contributed something in the construction of this building, thus promoting peace among all nations. For example, the clock at the bell tower was contributed by Switzerland. Makes me wonder: What did the Philippines contribute?

While I'm At It

Another mirror project of mine. See me enjoying the carousel ride? Actually, if you're really into that "hilo" trip, there are far more better rides than this. I suggest taking the following rides at EK: Up Up And Away, Flying Fiesta and Condor (this one's the ultimate "pampahilo"!).

Merry-Go-Round

As a kid, I think I was never able to ride a carousel. Not because I never had the chance to do so, but I guess because I never found it appealing. Since childhood, I always take the more thrilling rides because I thought that's where I'll get my money's worth. But when EK's ride-all-you-can came around, I thought I might as well give it a try. As "unthrilling" as it may seem, I actually found it quite enjoyable.

Knights' Hall

At first I thought it was a church, but then I learned that the building is called the Ridderzaal (Knight's Hall) and was supposed to be part of a palace that was never completed. It is the oldest among the Parliament Buildings in Den Haag and is still being used for political events.

~o~O~o~

After visiting pebrerodose and aidsaaronn's blogs, I took a quiz that they both did. I found out that: I taste like Bread. I am a staple in almost everyone's diet. Friends like me are a complement to any other friends I get on with almost everyone, remaining mostly in the background, but providing substance when it would otherwise be lacking. What Flavour Are You?

Hoover Dam

Yesterday, a friend and I were talking about some good romantic movies. One of the movies that came up was Fools Rush In. We both thought it was good because it was funny and romantic. The movie featured several scenes at the Hoover Dam. My friend then asked me if I had been there. She said she does not recall me showing her any picture from there. So here it is, my favorite shot at the dam.

On The Golden Gate

I tried to cross this bridge on foot. But midway, I eventually gave up. It was too long for me. Hehe.

The Metro

The underground train in Paris is called the Metro. This has to be the most confusing and challenging subway system I have ever been to. Its map literally looks like a spider web. Novices will surely spend several minutes looking at the map, figuring out how to get from one point to another. After figuring it out, another challenge is the actual going and transferring to the different lines. It's really quite an adventure.

~o~O~o~

I don't know why, but Fridays are usually the busiest day of the week for me. I almost was not able to do this today. Having been able to complete this final task for the day, I'm now looking forward to having a great weekend.

Overcast Sky

The simple beauty of the sky is something that we could all easily appreciate. For me, its something that has infinite possibilities.

~o~O~o~

Today has been one sleepy Thursday for me. But during lunch time, I became temporarily wide awake because of a dance production number in our canteen. Imagine 10 guys dressed like ancient Egyptians dancing ala-that's entertainment! I thought it was really funny but I was trying very hard to suppress my laughter because I did not want to offend the performers. Apparently, today is ethnic day (how the ancient Eyptians relate? i'm still figuring it out). Don't know if there's really such a thing or it's just something that our canteen concessionaire made-up. It may very well be just a gimmick so that they could do this sort of promotion that if you buy P50 worth of food from them, you'd be entitled to win different sorts of prizes. Well, I fell for it. I bought exactly P50 worth of food from them (normally, I only spend less than P30 for my lunch) so that I can pick a prize. Guess what I won... A ballpen. Good thing I get to pick the color of the pen. I picked green, of course.

Hundred Islands

This photo goes back to the summer of year 2000, during my first company outing at Hundred Islands, Pangasinan. The water from the island where we were staying to the nearby island was shallow enough that one does not need any swimming skills to go to it. Just watch out for those nasty sea urchins which may pierce and leave spikes in your feet if you step on them. Ouch! The photo shows my ex-officemates trying to go to that nearby island. It has been more than four years since then, I wonder how they all are...

YNP Series, Final Part - Half Dome

The peak at the right of the photo is called the Half Dome. As its name suggests, it literally looks like a dome cut in half. The other half of the dome is believed to have fallen sometime during the ice age. Avid hikers in the US usually want the Half Dome as part of their accomplishments. I'm not an avid hiker (not yet, at least) but I really wanted to go to its peak. If ever I have the chance to go back to Yosemite, I would definitely grab the opportunity do so.



This is the last of my YNP Series. I really enjoyed posting these pictures as I got to appreciate once more how beautiful it really was there. God is truly great.

YNP Series, Part 4 - Giant Sequoia

"Giant sequoias are the largest living things on earth in terms of volume. They can grow to stand 300 feet tall and 30 feet across, and they can live for 3,000 years. The ice ages and other climactic changes brought these redwoods to the brink of extinction. Today, The redwoods stand as survivors of the earth's distant past." - These words taken form a placard at the area where these trees are found.



The tree in the picture is therefore just a small giant sequoia tree. The bigger trees have a fence around them, probably to protect them from being traumatized by the people, just like what we're doing... haha.

YNP Series, Part 3 - Bridalveil Falls

This is the most accessible of all the waterfalls in the valley. That's why I was able to go near it without much hiking. But at some point I had to stop because I was already getting all wet. This is the photo I took at the spot where I stopped. Here you can see the falls, the thick mist and a droplet on the lens of my camera.

~o~O~o~

Yesterday, I got news that my brother's wife is already in labor at the hospital. The funny thing is that if she gave birth yesterday, their baby will be the third in the family to have a birthday of September 16. I mean, what are the odds? Haha. They say amusing coincidences like this is God's way of making us laugh or smile at the wonders of life. To my new niece, welcome to the world!

YNP Series, Part 2 - Tunnel View

Said to be the most photographed view of the valley, the Tunnel View got its name because it is the first view that one will see after exiting the tunnel.

~o~O~o~

Today is the birthday of my older sister, Angela. Coincidentally, it is also the birthday of her 3rd child, Ayong, as we fondly call him. I wish them both a very happy birthday.

YNP Series, Part 1 - Mirror Lake

The best nature trip I had so far is at Yosemite National Park. Every sight just takes my breath away. This is why I've decided to do a little series on it. So for the next few days, I'll be posting pictures that I took from there. First in the series is the Mirror Lake. Here, one will have a good view of Yosemite Falls and its reflection.

~o~O~o~

People here in the office are so disappointed because we cannot watch the live telecast of The Amazing Race 5. We know it's an exciting episode because they're in the Philippines! Our friends from abroad are the ones updating us of the developments. It's kind of a spoiler but we're really interested to know what's happening. Guess we'll just have to wait for tonight's replay to actually see what transpired. But oh no! Anne and I are planning to go to the gym later. Better talk her out of it. Hehehe.

Missing Them

I did not go to work to today. I need to run some emergency errands that my family in Vienna requested. Of course, I'm glad to do it for them. The last time I saw all of them was when I went there for my brother's wedding. And this month, his wife is already due to give birth. How time flies! We already know it's a girl. Another wonderful addition to the family!

Cubic Roofs

Rotterdam is claimed to be a city with outstanding architecture. Just look at these odd looking houses. Sort of reminds you of Rubik's Cube, right? And check out those bikes parked outside. Bikes are one of the primary means of transportation in Holland. So you better stay clear of those bike lanes. Believe me, I learned this the hard way.

~o~O~o~

I'm really hoping to accomplish a lot at work today. I want to make a good start for the week. I know I always joke that I don't work on Mondays, and although that was a joke, I think it has a psychological affect on me. It's time to change all that. Joke or not, I work on Mondays. I hope.

Great Pairs

Great pairs of shoes, I meant. Haha. I'm sure the owners would agree. Guess who they are...

~o~O~o~

Speaking of shoes, Anne just bought a nice pair of shoes last night. She said she's running out of decent "shoeses" to wear so she had to buy one. Yeap, "shoeses", that what she jokingly calls them. Well, I thought, if there was a single word to call many pairs of shoes it would be - "shoeses".

Crescent Moon

That is Sainte-Chapelle's silhouette. This church is said to have gargoyle sculptures on it's roof, although I did not see it for myself.

~o~O~o~

I have finally finished changing my template. I was so frustrated yesterday because my blog was so messed up and I could not fix it because I think blogger's web hosting server was down. What a nightmare! Anyway, I hope you like the new look.

The Strip

The Las Vegas strip at dusk. Since the night is still too young, the traffic is still light and the crowd is just starting fill-up the streets. An hour more and I'm sure the strip will be jam packed with cars and people.

~o~O~o~

I'm on the process of changing my blog's template today so you may find things a little bit messed up in here for the meantime. I'm actually having difficulty, as blogger.com seems to have a problem at this time. I hope things will turn out well...

Vintage

Think of driving a car like this on the roads of Metro Manila. Surely you'll be an eye cather, but imagine all the pollution and heat! Just two days ago, we saw a sky blue top down vintage car cruising through EDSA. It was a pretty cool sight.

Alone

In the desert so hot,

I try to grab the wind.

All alone, I could not.

Attempting, I won't end...



Photo taken at the Mojave Desert.

Fair Spring

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna. Considered as one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria, the palace and its gardens are said to be a Baroque work of art. The palace was being renovated when I went there and the flowers in the garden were just staring to bloom. They say the best time to go there is during summer. Maybe someday I will.

Lovely Night

This lovely night

The moon's so bright

The pine trees bathe

On light and shade



This is one of earliest pictures taken on my digital camera.

Jingle Balls

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh



Hey! Today is September 1. The begining of the "ber" months as we Filipinos put it and our indication that christmas is fast approaching! Yey!

A Duck For All Seasons

Camera shy? Not this one. This duck literally stopped and stood still while I was taking this shot. I bet he'll give Donald a run for his money.

Sneak Peek

A view through one of the archways of the Colosseum.

XXX Marks The Spot

Going to the red light district was not really part of our itinerary in Amsterdam. Actually, even if we wanted to go there, we would not know where to go because this place is not marked anywhere on the map that we have. We were already about the leave the city and were on our way back to the train station when we accidentally stumbled upon this place and whoa! was it a shock.

A Ghost Tree

Reaching out towards the vast sea,

The life-long struggle of this tree.

Would it be comforting to know,

Its spirit now flies to and fro?



This is one of the sights seen along the 17 mile drive in Monterey, CA.

The Wheel Of Fate

Do you believe in fate? Well, I do...

As Close As It Gets

This was as nearest I ever got to the Eiffel Tower. Too bad, I was not able to climb it and could not yet say that I have conquered the most well-known monument in Europe.

Roaming At Night

A view of the Tiber River and St. Peter's Basilica at night. Although I had a slight buzz due to the half bottle of red wine I drank during dinner, I still realized that Rome is a wonderful place to explore even without daylight.

Windmills At Sundown

Windmills are a usual sight along some of the freeways in California. I was fascinated by their silhouettes during sunset so I just had to capture it.

Pointing To Heaven

The National Monument in Amsterdam. A phallic symbol? Not really. I learned somewhere that this structure was built to commemorate their World War II victims.

A Sight Of Me

This was my very first attempt on a mirror project of sorts. Directly behind me is a view of Yosemite National Park's Half Dome.

Make A Wish

Probably one of the funnest parts in a kid's birthday party is the blowing of the candle. This shot was taken last weekend during my nephew's birthday celebration.

A Bloom In The Sky

There's no better way of ending your fun-filled day at Enchanted Kingdom than watching their fireworks display. Watch the lights as they take on different colors and forms.