Smoggy morning/Our World Tuesday

Lourdes School from my window

A friend from out-of-town was supposed to fly to Manila for a short vacation but a problem at work didn't allow her to leave as planned.   She called and asked me to use her hotel booking as the 3-night stay was already paid for.   Since I've been working at home, a change of scenery sounds great---so I packed my bag and lap top and drove about 15 kilometers to Astoria Plaza.  Astoria Plaza is a 5-minute walk from my old office building.  Two friends and former colleagues joined me for breakfast every morning to enjoy the breakfast buffet.

Took these photos from the window of the suite--yes, it was a suite!  How lucky can a girl get? There's the tower where I worked for 12 years---the Philippine Stock Exchange Center. 

I was enjoying my quiet time but the smile faded when I saw the smog-covered skyline. These photos were taken a little before 9 a.m.  Looking towards the west at EDSA and beyond, a thick layer of smog blanketed the city.  This is the quality of air we breath everyday.  

According to the United Nations, Metro Manila is one of the five most polluted cities in the world, with an estimated 4% of the vast metropolis's disease-related deaths linked to air pollution.

smog-covered morning

For decades, there have been measures in bringing down air pollution levels to acceptable standards---there's the Clean Air Act of 1999, but pollution seems to get worse every year.  The government has been  seeking public support to turn Metro Manila into a healthy metropolis.  Taking public transport or car-pooling is encouraged, walking or using bikes, use of energy-efficient products, and conserving electricity are few tips to curb individual air emissions.  MMDA opened bike lanes around the metro and even lends bikes to commuters.

I hope we'd see more electric-powered jeepneys on the roads instead of the usual diesel-fueled jeepneys.  Clean air should be an individual concern if we're looking at a better quality of life.

Feel it...Breath it...Believe it...and you'll be walking on air.

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Sunset from the bridge [SWF]

@ mirandablue

Drive-by shots from the bridge approaching the C5 toll gate.  Traffic was bumper-to-bumper on Saturday afternoon as vehicles slowed down towards the toll gate.  I couldn't resist and took advantage of the slow-moving traffic to take photos of this glowing sunset.

@ mirandablue

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Unexpected sunset [SWF]

@ mirandablue

It was a rainy weekend and the horizon was grey and gloomy on Sunday afternoon.  I wanted to go out for a run but the intermittent rain discouraged me.  By late afternoon, I was hanging out at the roof deck taking photos of tiny wildflowers growing on some planters when I noticed the light changed.  When I looked up, I was delighted to see this vibrant sunset sky a little after 7 o'clock.

@ mirandablue

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." ~ Henry David Thoreau

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Scatterings of pink [SWF]

@ mirandablue

I was back to the roof deck recently after a long absence.  My view of  Ortigas Center was now obstructed by this new 4-story house being constructed across the street.  But the fat pinkish cloud that looked like a scattering of sand made for an interesting sky-watch.

To my right, looking towards Eastwood, was this dark, heavy cloud that seemed to threaten the dry, quiet dusk.

@ mirandablue

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Fading sunset [SWF]

@ mirandablue

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,

but to fight my greatest enemy---myself.

Make me always ready to come to you

with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset,

my Spirit may come to you without shame.

~ a Native American Prayer

@ mirandablue

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Dusk over Ortigas Center

@ mirandablue

My great day came and went, I do not know how.  Because it did not pass through dawn when it came, nor through dusk when it went.  - Antonio Porchia

@ mirandablue

Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk. - William Arthur Ward

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After the rain [SWF]

@ mirandablue

It was a rainy Sunday morning and a damp afternoon of drizzle.  But when the sky cleared late in the afternoon, the sky turned orange as the setting sun was breaking through.

@ mirandablue

May I never miss a sunset or a rainbow because I am looking down. 

~ Sara June Parker

@ mirandablue
Jan. 9th, 2011

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Glint of light [SWF]

@ mirandablue

Don't tell me the moon is shining, show me the glint of light on broken glass. 

~ Anton Chekhov

Showing the glint of light on broken glass is a challenge.  This photo doesn't even come close to the beauty of Anton Chekhov, but this brings back warm, tranquil afternoons at my roof deck...sitting under the soothing sky of blues and oranges, sipping coffee with my feet up, waiting for a crimson sunset.

Posted for Sky-Watch Friday

First sunset [SWF]

@ mirandablue

A lazy Saturday.  Hung-over from the New Year's revelries.  Wallowed in Fritz' attention and a Dexter marathon.   It was late in the afternoon when I finally took a shower, grabbed my camera and ran to the roof deck to bask in the first sunset of 2011 with a cup of coffee.


Another new year, another roller coaster of challenges and opportunities.  From Brazil to Belgium, Moscow to Manila...no rest for the wicked in 2011.  Cheers!

@ mirandablue

@ mirandablue

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Eastern sky at sunset [SWF]

@ mirandablue

The city has been blanketed with grey skies and some drizzles when I have been wishing for sunshine.  But I am loving the mild weather we have right now, and thankful that there were no tropical storms to put a damper on the Christmas weekend.  Still I want some colors for Sky-Watch...so here's looking east at sunset in late November.  While the west was full of drama, the eastern sky was a canvas of soft delicate hues.

@ mirandablue

This is my wish for you:  Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirit sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete your life.

Wishing you a fabulous New Year!

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Dawn [SWF]

@ mirandablue

Dawn from my bedroom window as the sun gently tiptoes over the horizon.

Wishing you and yours a warm and wondrous Christmas!

@ mirandablue

Dawn:  When men [or women] of reason go to bed.  ~Ambrose Bierce

@ mirandablue

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Golden Clouds [SWF]

@ mirandablue

Looking at the golden clouds feels like listening to a haunting piece of music.  Straining  my ears to hear the faintest echo and capture the fading melody.  I would like to hold on to it's warmth, wishing this golden moment to linger.  But like smoke, it was fleeting...it stayed just long enough to take my breath away.

@ mirandablue

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Dusk in motion [SWF]

@ mirandablue

A calming dusk from my roof in late November.  It came slowly after the sun disappeared.  The rich shades of orange, yellow, gray and blue mingled to create a sky alive with color.  

"Never lose an opportunity to see anything that is beautiful.  It is God's handwriting---a wayside sacrament.  Welcome it in every fair face, every fair sky, every fair flower."         

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Rainbow [SWF]

@ mirandablue

"Born of the shower, and colored by the sun."  This was my second sighting of a rainbow in two weeks.  I think it's God's way of saying everything is going to be alright.  Viewed from my rooftop (where else?) on late Saturday afternoon, I was facing east and the sunset behind me.  If you haven't noticed, the sun is always behind you when you face a rainbow.  And the rain is in the direction of the rainbow.

@ mirandablue

Someday we'll find it, 

The Rainbow Connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me...

~ Kermit the Frog

@ mirandablue

Posted for Sky-watch Friday

Silent poetry [SWF]

@ mirandablue

I hope you're not getting tired of the views from my roof.  The rooftops and distant sky-scrappers are actually boring, but the sky has always something beautiful to offer.  Being on the roof at sunrise or sunset feels like sitting on the front-row seat to the greatest show on earth, and it's free.  From bold strokes of gold to splashes of purple and orange---this is silent poetry. 

@ mirandablue

At sunset

Nature is painting for us

Day after day...

Pictures of infinite beauty.

- John Ruskin

@ mirandablue

Peace...is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank.

Posted for Sky-Watch Friday