Tagaytay on a Clear Day

Visited on August 2010

Notes from the Author.    There are many new things happening in Tagaytay these days. 

My last visit was in 2009, and I’m seeing new developments.  There are new restos, more botique hotels, condo developments, town malls and new activities.

Tagaytay is  one of the nearest escapes from the city, about an hour 1/2 trip from Manila. 

Here are some photos to share:

The Picnic Grove.  

The Zipline at the Picnic Grove.  One of the popular activities in Tagaytay.  They also have cable cars.

Taal Lake and Taal Volcano on a clear day.

 

The Taal Vista Hotel.  My first time to come to Taal Vista, and it’s highly recommendable if you’re thinking of an over-night stay. The rates are on the high side, but it is one of the best.

  Taken from Leslie’s Bulalo Restaurant.  If you like Bulalo for lunch, go to Leslie’s.

Anvaya Cove Travel Photography

Visited on April 9, 2010

Notes from the Author.  I had another travel photography trip in Anvaya Cove last week,  conducted by the Filipinas Heritage.  Anvaya Cove is Ayala Land’s first leisure community located in Morong Bataan, not very far from Subic Bay.   It’s an exclusive beach resort with beach lots  for sale.  Aside from the beach, they have a nature camp for company team building activities.

It was excruciatingly hot that day and to take photos in the middle of the day was not fun at all.  My thoughts were somewhere else like taking a dive into the pool or sleeping (haha).

But I paid for a photography workshop, so I had to make an effort at least to take good pictures or pretend.     I would say that my best shots weren’t about the beach or the pools (which were really inviting at that time), but  my shots of nature, people and the beach life.

Here are some of my best shots:

Good Friday Processions

Taken on  April 2, 2010

Notes from the Author.   A common Catholic practice in the Philippines during Good Friday or “Biyernes Santo” are the religious processions.  Catholics  join in as the different statues of Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, St. Peter and other significant characters during the time of crucifixion of Christ are paraded across town.

This year was my first time to join a procession.  It was a long and arduous walk under the summer heat,  which lasted about 2 hrs and 45 mins.   Truly it was a form of sacrifice.  And every year, Catholics would join processions as a way of showing their devotion to Christ, Mother Mary and the saints.  My relatives always join every year, and they have been walking for more than 30 years.  

Beautiful Central Park at NYC

Central Park in Autumn of 2008

Notes from the Author.  One of my favorite trips in NYC is my visit to Central Park. 

Central Park is about 843 acres or 6% of Manhattan's total acreage.  Practically, you would have to walk about 6 miles from North to South, or if you follow all the walking trails, about 58 miles.  In short, one day isn’t enough!   So, I just had a glimpse of  Central Park which is fine by me, although I would love to re-visit as there is still so much to see.

For more info, visit:  http://www.centralpark.com/

You can’t miss Central Park when you’re in New York.    I’m pretty sure summer is beautiful,  but autumn is also a nice season to be there with leaves turning red and orange.   

The Jellyfish Display at the Manila Ocean Park

Visited on March 2010

Notes from the Author.  Catch the new Jellyfish display at the Manila Ocean Park this summer.    Just got a preview today of the so-called “dancing sea fairies”.   Really magical to watch.

One of the jellyfish featured was the Blubber Jellyfish.  They were placed in light changing aquariums.  Since the Jellyfish is a semi-transparent creature, the colored lights pass thru their skins, and the effect is amazing!    (Reminds me a bit of the lava lamp.)

See the Jellyfish glow in the dark…

  Dramatic in Red!

One of the jellyfish which I found interesting  is  the ‘immortal jellyfish’ because it has the ability to return to it’s juvenile stage, thus, it never dies, until it gets eaten. 

Some facts about the Jellyfish:  They dont’ have eyes, noses, ears or brains.  They only have tiny sensors.   I’m not sure whether they have the ability to feel pain or fear, because even bugs can sense fear. 

Of course, the Manila Ocean Park is known for housing different aquatic animals, especially fish. 

Some photos in the Oceanarium

  The underwater tunnel

Visit their site:  http://www.manilaoceanpark.com/index.html

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta – Clark, Angeles

visited February 2010

Notes from the Author. My friend and I recently went to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga. The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is held once a year. This year was my first time to go and it was a smash! There was a big crowd doing the same thing we’re doing – taking lots and lots of pictures. (Didn’t know that a lot of Filipinos are fascinated by Hot Air Balloons.)

Hot Airballooners up in the sky. I was able to shoot this with a Panasonic Lumix 12x zoom.

Fancy Hot A ir Balloons – Turtle, Barnhouse, Sun. (The turtle was my favorite!)

Flight of the balloons at sunrise. (We had to wake up at 4:30 am and be at the site by 5:30am for the balloon flight. But it was all worth it. )

Balloons dispersing in the early morning sky at the Clark Airbase, Angeles City.

Taken at around 6:30 pm, almost dusk. This is what they call the Hot Air Balloon Night Glow.

The event started with a man parachuting while carrying the Philippine flag with the Philippine National Anthem being played in the background.

Aside from the Air Balloon Flights, the 4- day event was packed with other activities such as the Paragliding exhibition, Ultralight Aircraft Flyby, Kite flying, Skydiving exhibition, Aerobatic display and many more.

www.philballoonfest.net

The Ayala Triangle Courtyard

Notes from the Author.   There’s a new park in Paseo de Roxas corner Makati Ave.  Actually, it is not really  new as the park has been there for a long time, but it was not developed until recently.  So now, the park was given a facelift, and  it’s now known as the Ayala Triangle Courtyard.  The nice thing about this park is it’s WIFI-ready, so you can  relax in the park while you surf the net.  

I haven’t seen the park at night time, but they say that it’s pretty with all the lights.

The Ayala Triangle Courtyard is adjacent to or the back of   the Ayala Stock Exchange building