February 25, 2009
February 23, 2009
The Metropolis from 49 Floors Up
Metro Manila as seen from the 49th floor of One San Miguel building in Ortigas.
from top: Ortigas, view looking towards Makati and Fort Bonifacio
February 22, 2009
Roxas Boulevard, Manila
Went to Roxas Boulevard in Manila to catch the sunset after a quick trip to Binondo (Chinatown) to buy some hopia.
pics, from top: the famous Manila Bay sunset, Hyatt & Diamond hotels, two kids goofing on camera, the baywalk
Feb. 22, 2009
February 18, 2009
Worthy Successor to my 795SW?
This new point-and-shoot from Canon - the PowerShot D10 - seems to be a worthy successor to my constant travel companion, my tried and tested Olympus 795SW.
The gist: 12.1 megapixels, waterproof up to 33 ft, 3x optical zoom, shock and freeze-proof, at $330. And I dig the Bondi blue scheme.
February 15, 2009
Hot Air Balloon Night Glow
During the Hot Air Balloon Festival
Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga
February 14, 2009
Paragliders in Formation
During the Hot Air Balloon Festival
February 14, 2009
February 13, 2009
Vigan
The trip was gruelling - me and my family rode the Partas bus for 8 hours, from Cubao to Vigan, Ilocos Sur. We reached the old town about mid-morning, and we checked in Vigan Plaza Hotel - an old building located right next to Plaza Burgos and the famed street lined with Spanish-era buildings. The hotel is expensive, almost 5000 pesos for the ancestral suite, but has a quaint old-world feel to it, and the amenities are tops.
The cobblestoned Crisologo Street just next to the hotel is replete with old Spanish-era houses - accented with capiz shell-shutters and ornate carvings - and some of which were converted into shops selling religious icons and antiques. This section of the town is also a UNICEF World Heritage Site.
We hired a calesa (a horse-drawn carriage) to take us around the town. We were whisked to several museums (Sy-Quia, Crisologo, Burgos and the old house of President Elpidio Quirino), two old churches (one is St. Paul's, a fine example of earthquake baroque architecture) and to Punta Baluarte, the residence of a local official that has its own zoo.
Since it was only an overnight trip (we planned to go to Pagudpud, but decided to go to Baguio the next day instead), we tried to see most of the sights in one day. We dropped by some of the turo-turo along the way to sample the local cuisine, and went to a pottery as well.
Pics, from top: cobblestone street with Spanish-era buildings, a calesa, a tiger in Punta Baluarte, jars in a pottery.
(note: I went to Vigan last December 13 with my family, but I wasn't able to write a travelogue for the trip. Here it is...)
(note: I went to Vigan last December 13 with my family, but I wasn't able to write a travelogue for the trip. Here it is...)
February 1, 2009
Jump
Me, jumping on the water
Mount Pinatubo crater lake, January 31, 2009
update: The pic was chosen as photo of the day by Gadling travel blog. Yay!
image composed using PhotoShop CS3; images taken using Olympus 795SW at Hi mode
Pinatubo Crater Lake
Panorama view of the Mount Pinatubo crater lake
taken January 31, using Olympus 795SW @panorama mode, images stitched using the Olympus Master 2 software
Trek to Mount Pinatubo
It was still dark when we arrived at Capas Junction in Capas, Tarlac to meet our guide and driver who will guide us to Mt. Pinatubo - the volcano which erupted in 1991.
We - me, Syg, Randy, Sol and Aris - all from UP AstroSoc - were to rendervouz with Charm, Jodl and their officemates at GE. Since we arrived early, about 5 am after an hour and a half bus ride from Cubao, we set off and wait at the basecamp after another 40 minute off-road vehicle ride through lahar-inundated fields and rivers.
The place that we are going to visit is the crater lake that formed when the volcano blew a large part of it summit in the 1991 eruption, forming a huge crater that later was filled with water to form a lake. The deepest part of the lake is 500 feet.
The trek to the crater lake is not very difficult, although the sky was overcast when we started out and there was a drizzle when we were halfway through. We met several Aeta kids on our way up, as well as a platoon of soldiers guarding the trail.
The view of the crater lake is magnificent. The water is aquamarine with milky sheen on it, amid the backdrop of ash-encrusted cliffs that border the caldera.
The water is cold, but it's worth it to take a dip. Visitors can rent a boat there to explore the lake further but the caretaker at the camp should be informed beforehand. We swam some more after having brunch, and we left just around noon, when more tourists arrive to see the place.
How to get there:
You need to get to Capas, Tarlac (get a bus from Cubao, and get off at Capas Junction; fare is PhP147 each way). Rent a 4x4 vehicle for 3,750 for one day, and get a guide for 500 pesos.
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