Where the river meets the sea [Watery & Outdoor Wednesday]

@ mirandablue

A calm refuge from Lamon Bay and the Pacific  Ocean, this shallow, protected body of water at Cagbalete Island is surrounded by mangrove forest.

This estuary is the point where man, the sea---his immemorial ally and adversary--and the land meet and challenge each other.  My friend, Sally, was caught by surprise by the rising tide while crossing this estuary.

@ mirandablue

Posted for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

Written [Photo Hunt]

@ mirandablue

A declaration of love for Ruth carved written in tree trunk. 

Love for country inspired a martyr to write a poem on the eve of his execution.  Now etched on marble at the Rizal Park, "Mi Ultimo Adios" (or My Last Farewell in English) is a patriotic swan song written by Dr. Jose Rizal on the night before his execution on December 30, 1896.

@ mirandablue

Posted for Photo Hunt hosted by TN Chick

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

Thai Spring Rolls

@ mirandablue

Did I tell you that I love appetizers?  I demolished these Thai spring rolls in one sitting.  My friend was running late for our dinner at Jatujak and while waiting, I munched on these scrumptious spring rolls.  Each roll was brimming with flavors of pork, shrimps, cilantro, mushrooms, bean sprouts.  The sweet chili sauce is to die for! After I finished 3 rolls, I asked for more sauce, planning to leave the 2 rolls for my friend.  But after a few minutes, I reached for the 4th, then the last one.  When my friend arrived, I was grinning like a Cheshire cat.:p

Posted for Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

Vessel [Sisidlan]

Marami ang pwedeng interpretasyon sa sisidlan o lalagyan.  

@ mirandablue

Mapanuklas ang mga Pinoy sa mga makabagong ideya, manipulasyon, pananaliksik sa mga bagong hugis at pamamaraan gamit ang ating mga katutubong materyales.  Hindi man katutubong materyal, ang balat ng ahas ay hindi tradisyonal na ginagamit na sisidlan.  Kung dati, mga bags at sapatos lang ang pinag-gagamitan nito, ngayon pati furniture, home decor at fashion accessories ay gumagamit na rin ng balat ng ahas. Tingnan mo itong mga modernong hugis ng sisidlan na minolde sa fiber glass, nakalamina ang tininang balat ng sea snake at stainless steel ang rim.  Hindi endangered ang sea snake kaya pinapayagan ito ng gobyerno.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Filipino craftsmen are innovative in coming up with fresh ideas in the manipulation of indigenous materials, and the exploration of new forms and techniques.  Snake skin, although not indigenous, is not a traditional material for vessels.  This material used to be exclusively used for bags and shoes, and now being applied to furniture, home decor and fashion accessories.  Check out these contemporary shapes of vessels (or vas) molded from fiber glass and laminated with dyed sea snake skin and stainless steel rim.  The government allows use of this material because sea snakes are not endangered.

Here's another interpretation of vessel.

 Vessels in Manila Bay                                       @ mirandablue

For Thursday two Questions - you are invited to answer these questions and join.

1.  What are your favorite vessels in your home?

2.  Why is an average person afraid of snakes?

Sabang port [Watery & Outdoor Wednesday]

@ mirandablue

A passenger boat docked at Sabang port in Camarines Sur. The mountain range across the bay is part of the Bicol Peninsula that stretches approximately 150 kilometers southeast to Caramoan.  The bay is part of the Lagonoy Gulf.

Posted for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

A night of music [My World]

@ mirandablue

One of the pleasant ways to spend a hot and humid Saturday night in Manila is to enjoy free outdoor performances.  There's the Concert at the Park at the Rizal Park open-air auditorium, a 24-string guitar quartet every Friday afternoon this November at Paco Park Presents, ballet performances, and film screenings at Cinema-in-the-Open-Air under the Cultural Center of the Philippines.  Malls have their own shows and they're also for free.  One of my friend's daughter is studying violin and she invited me to this free concert of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra at the Eastwood Mall.

The orchestra played a variety of classical pieces like Rhapsody in Blue as well as contemporary music such as Lady Gaga's Poker Face in orchestral arrangements. People at the mall stopped for a while to enjoy the music, even Fritz relaxed and listened.  The concert sure reached a sincerely appreciative audience.

@ mirandablue

@ mirandablue

Posted for My World - Tuesday

Ayala Avenue flyover [Sunday Bridges]

@ mirandablue

This is Monday morning traffic as I was approaching the Ayala Avenue tunnel going to Roxas Boulevard.  Above the tunnel is the Ayala Avenue and EDSA intersection, on top is the drab Ayala flyover.  Also seen is the footbridge crossing EDSA.  Ayala Avenue is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, crossing through the heart of Makati's central business district.  Because of the many businesses located on the avenue, Ayala Avenue is nicknamed the Wall Street of the Philippines.  When the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) was constructed, the flyover was added for left turners to EDSA.

Posted for Sunday Bridges

Juicy [Photo Hunt]

@ mirandablue

A Vietnamese appetizer--Chao Tom or grilled diced shrimps on sugarcane stick.  I love the idea of juicy sugarcane skewer with its sweet flavor blending into the garlicky shrimp mixture.  The grilled shrimp is eaten wrapped in crisp lettuce with rice vermicelli and basil leaves and dipped in nước chấm. Scrumptious!

Posted for Photo-Hunt hosted by TN Chick

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

I Love Appetizers

@ mirandablue

I love appetizers--both warm and cold.  Appetizers assuage hunger, and the small servings are designed to be savored, to be lingered on.  When I have time for an appetizer, I relish every morsel.  Loading up on appetizers is also my way of cheating on rice.:p

Before the main course was served, I munched on fried beancurd and jellyfish salad with century egg.  I love this beancurd at Mey Lin Pot and Noddle House---the texture is so fine, I thought they were mushrooms.  And the aroma and flavor of cilantro enhanced the vinaigrette sauce. As always, the contrasting flavors of this chilled, crunchy jellyfish salad and the rich creaminess of century egg are delectable.

@ mirandablue

Posted for Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

Thick [Malapot]

 @ mirandablue

A heart-stopping dish 'ika nga.  Sugpo na may aligue sauce---malapot, masarap at nakamamatay sa mga taong may problema sa cholesterol.  Ingat lang!

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Prawns with crab fat sauce---a heart-stopping dish.  The thick sauce is delicious but this dish is potentially deadly to those with cholesterol problem.  Take care!

For Thursday Two Questions - you are invited to join and answer:


1.  What are the foods that you love but aren't good for you?
2.  What is the most disgusting food/dish you have ever tried?

Simply Pagudpud [Watery and Outdoor Wednesday]

@ mirandablue

Winded from walking to the tip of Malingay Cove from Blue Lagoon, I take a moment to lean on a craggy slope and gaze out across the lush mountains, jagged rocks, a deserted stretch of white sandy beach and a small resort community on the other side of the cove.  A perfect place to seek relief from the pressure of a crowded city life and adopt the pace of nature.  This is one the places that I would like to return to before developers swoop in and complicate this charming simplicity.

@ mirandablue

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

Malingay Cove @ mirandablue

Posted for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

Ginger [Ruby Tuesday]

@ mirandablue

Been absent at Ruby Tuesday for quite awhile.  For a comeback, let me share this vibrant ginger flower with you.  Took these photos at the garden in Eastwood when I took my 4-year old nephew and Fritz to watch the dancing fountain.  It rained earlier that afternoon---droplets of rain still cling to the petals.  I was delighted when I saw this ginger flower...my grandmother had this plant in her garden and I used to bring the flowers to school.

Ginger is a rhizome of the perennial herb which is indigenous to the South west coast of India and the Malabar coast of the state of Kerala. Gingers, a multifaceted herb,enjoy a special position in the botanical kingdom with their elegance in form, texture, sparkling color, and amazing symmetry. The word ginger conjures up images of an exotic oriental food flavoring; however, edible ginger - Zingiber officinale, is only one of approximately 1,300 species of the very diverse Zingiberaceae family.  Source:  The Flower Expert

 Ginger @ mirandablue

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Stone bridge [Sunday Bridges]

@ mirandablue

A stone bridge over a small lagoon that leads to the marble wall etched with Jose Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios" and a diorama of his execution.  Located in Rizal Park, Manila.

Posted for Sunday Bridges hosted by Louis