Pool @ Fontana [Watery Wednesday]

@ mirandablue

One of the swimming pools at Fontana Leisure Park and Hotel in Clark Ecozone.

Join us at Watery Wednesday

Nostalgia [OWM & WS]

There is nothing special about this beach, in fact, I've never been here for almost two decades. But that weekend after we buried our grandmother, my siblings, cousins and I, had a sentimental yearning to see the beach of our childhood. This is where we frolicked during summer vacations, learned how to swim, chased hermit crabs, watched sunsets and dreamed of the world beyond Guimaras Strait. This stretch of seashore was our playground, from the Kissing Rocks to this rustic resort. Nothing has changed around here except for a wider beach erosion, and the owner as well as the nipa huts got older. The simplicity of life here is achingly sweet and familiar.

stroll to Kissing Rocks

the old Talisay is still standing

my cousins talking about the good ol' days

Posted for Our Weekend Memoirs and Weekend Snapshot

A weekend with Jan-Q and Fritz

 

One Sunday afternoon in September, I brought Jan-Q and Fritz to Bonifacio High Street.  This is Fritz' favorite hangout---he loves to strut and lounge on the grass and watch dogs walking around the place.  This is where I stretch my legs, punctuating my walks with a cold drink or hot coffee while browsing the latest best-sellers at Fully Booked,  or contemplate at the water features around the mall grounds, or check out what's on sale in one of the stores.

Jan-Q, on the other hand, was reluctant to pose for the camera.  He thinks  it was so uncool  and "baduy" that his Tita  was taking lots of pictures.:P  He obliged because of my "near-senior-citizen-status" and  I was paying for dinner (hehehe).

This sculpture makes me think of meteors coming from space.

 I always tell my young nephews that they will  thank me someday for their  cute baby pictures, snapshots of their toothless grin and framed bunny-rabbit smiles, their  rock 'n roll poses and awkward moments in front of the camera, and all the memories that go with the photos.  And of course, they would show me the photos to remind me of their names when I'm a  senile and doddering old woman.:P

Fritz doesn't mind...he loves to lick the camera!

Posted for Our Weekend Memoirs and Weekend Snapshot

Weekend in Subic

These photos are the opposite of the scene outside.  It's still raining and many parts of Metro Manila are still submerged from last Saturday's onslaught of tropical storm "Ondoy" (international codename: Ketsana).

These were taken from the deck of Mirage Hotel in Subic two weekends ago.  It was my second stay in this hotel--it's a small hotel, nothing fancy, they have free wi-fi and rates are affordable.  I like the location because the beach is right at  the doorstep, and it's a short drive to the Subic Bay Freeport.  We had breakfast at the patio and enjoyed the sunshine.  The afternoon was wet and we stayed in and chilled.  Right next door is a 7-Eleven where we got our overdose of coffee, and next to 7-Eleven is a Mexican cantina where we had lunch.  The food was unexciting and pricey.  It was the most boring Mexican food I ever had!

From the hotel's patio, you can see the Subic Bay Port across the bay and the nearby coves.  It was a stress-free weekend with a bit of adventure at the Zoobic Safari, lots of shopping at the duty-free shops and factory outlets, and food overload.  What more could I ask for?

Posted for Our Weekend Memoirs and Weekend Snapshot

UW campus tour

view of Johnson Hall from the rose garden

Two weekends ago, I was visiting Seattle and spent a good part of my Saturday walking around the University of Washington campus. After seeing blooms at the streets of Downtown Seattle, I wanted to see more flowers so Che brought me to UW campus. Che was Franzia's (my cousin) college roommate and been living in Seattle for the past 5 years. She didn't grant me bragging rights but I'm telling you anyway (heee-hee)---she is a Fulbright scholar who had just finished her Ph.D. at the University of Washington. Another Filipina scientist we can be proud of.:P

There were no classes on Saturday so we had the campus to ourselves. It was a bit chilly and cloudy but according to my "guide", it's the usual Seattle weather---perfect weather for walking. So we walked and talked and laughed and took a wrong turn a few times.

UW campus is simply impressive. It was opened in 1861, one of the oldest public universities on the west coast and the largest university in the northwest at 643 acres of park-like grounds with a mix of modern and neo-Gothic buildings.

approaching Drumheller Fountain

We lingered at the Frosh Pond/Drumheller Fountain and watched the ducklings, smelled the roses and rested our feet before walking again towards Lake Washington.

It was a breeze walking in the lush surroundings, amidst old buildings, deserted streets and empty benches. I was in Wonderland! I marveled at the young brilliant minds nurtured here---what an excellent environment.

Suzallo Library, built in 1926, across the Red Square

No, he's not my boyfriend and I was not whisked away in this stretch limo. This guy grabbed me while I was about to pose near George Washington's bronze statue. I believe he was part of a wedding entourage, or perhaps a groom-to-be having his last hurray.:P

Will post more photos from UW soon.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot and Our Weekend Memoirs

Seattle's Space Needle - Weekend Snapshot

My first visit to Seattle was fun and interesting. Although it was a business trip, I made sure I'd have some free time to spend with a friend living in Seattle and see the sights, sample the food , and get the feel of the local culture. Thanks to Che for being a great host, and tirelessly showing me around this beautiful city of the Pacific Northwest.

After checking out the malls, we boarded the monorail to see the famous landmark---the Space Needle. Towering at 605 feet, the space needle provides a great view of downtown Seattle skyline, the mountains, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands. It is also adjacent to the campus of Seattle Center where EMP/SFM (Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum) is located.

posing near the entrance of the EMP/SFM

I was mesmerized at the exterior of the EMP/SFM building. A fusion of textures and mirrored colors of purple, silver and gold, there were reds and blues at different angles of the structure. The architect, Frank O. Gehry, looked to music for inspiration. And the structure symbolizes the energy and fluidity of music. I hope to explore this museum the next time I'm in Seattle.

After sunset around 8:30 pm, Che and I boarded a ferry to Seacrest Dock, crossing Elliott Bay to see Seattle's skyline. The temperature was freezing for me but seeing the full moon and this beautiful nighttime view of the city were all worth it.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot

Cebu Cathedral Museum - Weekend Snapshot

Across the street from the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the Cathedral Museum, the ecclesiastical museum of the Archdiocese of Cebu. The museum is housed in a former rectory built in 1840 and made from cut-coral stones and hardwood. On the ground floor is a memorial chapel and a small area showing the original flooring when the house was first constructed, during the Spanish regime, the American occupation to the present.

The grand staircase leads to the second floor, an open gallery exhibiting photographs and illustrations depicting the growth of Catholicism in Cebu. There are collections of antique sculptures, chalices and ciboriums and other religious artifacts from the Spanish colonial times.

Entrance fee is 50 pesos.

overlooking the Cebu Cathedral and garden

view of the museum from the garden

a crucifixion mural

Michael the Archangel tramples Satan

not sure if this is Saint Rose

the prestigious Spanish medal

Enjoy Weekend Snapshot

The Terraces at Ayala-Cebu (Weekend Snapshot)

I hardly recognized Ayala Mall-Cebu last weekend but I loved it! Terraces now surround the side of the mall facing the lush garden and fountains, and across the park where Cafe Laguna is, are rows of new restaurants and cafes. I spotted Cyma, a Greek restaurant that I sometimes go to at Greenbelt 2; The Gustavian, a deli that I love (been to their Mactan branch last week), good ol' Cafe Laguna and Starbucks are in the same locations, new coffee shops, more restaurants and a Fully-Booked branch.

A Cebuano friend told me the new mall opened on October 2008 (I was in Cebu in February or March this year but stayed in Mactan the whole time). It is a 600-million pesos redevelopment that transformed what used to be a simple lagoon area to a row of high-end restaurants and a cool park complete with fountains. This mall is a favorite destination when I'm in Cebu for work--- I usually stay at the nearby hotel, meet friends at Bo's Coffee, dine at Bigby's, indulge a cheese craving at Roma Mia, have a beer at Tequilla Joe's or enjoy live music at Ratsky [when it was newly opened].

The garden definitely tops the attraction at The Terraces. Parents bring their kids here, young people hang out, friends chat by the fountain, boys skate around. And I'm sure The Terraces is livelier at night---Cebuano folks, tourists and expats in Cebu love the night-life! And of course, this is a cool place to walk around for somebody like me who was killing time, waiting for an evening flight.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot