Friday Town Shootout: Water, Glass, Shiny Objects and Reflections.

I'm excited to do this post cos it's my first time in a long time to do the Friday Town Shootout! This week's topic is what it says on my title; water, glass, shiny objects, and reflections.

Disclaimer: Do not expect much from me, I am not a season photographer/traveler like the others on this page. To see more of this week and to participate in the upcoming FSOs, click here. Imma be representing Metro Manila, Philippines.

I was at Harbor Square with a couple of friends on a Thursday night. There are a lot of bars in this place and is a favorite hangout during the weekends.

Bar in a yacht. Wonder how much the drinks/entrance fee costs there. No, we didn't try and we didn't ask. Well, maybe some other time!

Okay, the next batch of pictures are indoors and this is something you have seen before but hey, it's got glasses, water.. okay, chemicals. Pictures are taken during my Physiological Biochemistry Laboratory class.

Testing for the presence of sugars. You gotta love it being assorted.
Uhm yeah, those are my nails. Matches with the chemical!
Some more of the chemicals.

So that's it for this week. It's not much compared to the others but I hope you guys enjoyed. Join us now!

Much Love,

2009: A Look Back.

2010 is officially in, folks! Start a new chapter in my life; my new sheets needs to be filled up with stories of happiness, sorrow, new adventures, new people, and other stuff I have to deal with. 2009 has been an eventful year for me, it seems like a lot of things happened, all went by in a blur! It has been a good year.

Join me as I look back and recall things that happened in 2009 - good and bad.

Blogging.

I met a lot of really fantastic bloggers this year. A lot of them I met through Friday Town Shootout where you get to show off your place. To the Friday Town Shootout Gang, I'm grateful to have met you guys, you know who you are. Here's to another year ahead of us!

Not to forget, the truckload of Filipinos I met this year. Let's all continue to blog and represent our beloved Motherland.

Also, I met a lot of people outside these circles. Shout out goes to: MAKE MONEY ONLINE FREE!!! -- testimonial of a skeptic, TRAVELOG, Reena's Thoughts, John abuzz, Lend Me Your Eyes: Abstract Paintings Art Blog, Blogtrotter, Cottage Farm Villa.

And of course, I can't put everyone up there LOL! I am grateful for the comments each and every one of you leave. They make my day and really motivates me to blog more. So never stop giving me some love, haha!


Last but not the least, this is the year I started to blog on Blogger! I remember back in February, I was struggling with my blog cos I'm trying to figure out how to get comments. But that's another story, all is well now!

Me.

This beer is best served cold. On the rocks, beybe! Not a fan of too much Beer, though. I vomit easily, dunno why. I go hard!

The first time I really got myself into Alcohol was during my birthday last May. After my birthday, what followed is a weekly drinking session in different bars around the capital. I danced my ass off, met a lot of new people through drinking, burned a lot of money, and angered my parents. But hey, I am completely aware of all the things I do even when drunk. Nowadays, I'm trying to change by not drinking and partying too much lol!

I'm addicted to trying new things so I end up not going at home at least once a week lol! I go with friends to nearby provinces to eat and drink the whole night long.

Broke up with a boyfriend then found a new one after a month.

I shifted from Computer Science to Psychology. Now I'm loving every minute of Psychology, except when I have to take Statistics and Probability and Chemistry lol! I still meet with my old buddies from Computer Science and continued to meet loads of new people in Psychology.

Participated in Psychology Night.

Not a really good shot but this is where I tried loads of things. Bring it on!

Yay campfire! Before and after shots.

Went to loads of new and exciting places. Tried a lot of things. Ate a lot of food.

Watched a lot of movies especially classic Films (12 Angry Men, A Streetcar Named Desire, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Sunset Blvd., Casablanca, The Godfather, AND LOADS MORE!) downloaded a massive amount of songs and read a lot of books. = More information, I learned to appreciate Life and the World more.

Family.

A dear Grandfather died. A respectful man, the first Filipino Professor in the University of Pennsylvania. May he rest in peace.

Marco.

Kent.

Godmother to 2 handsome little boys.

Visited the Cemetery to pay respects to the roots of my Mother's side.

Bonded a lot with my Mother's clan. This really means LOADS OF GOOD FOOD.

Not really a merry Christmas.

***

Damn, I think I wrote a lot! It's like the Summary of my life this 2009. It's great to make something like this, though. I'm sure I left out a few minor details but the major ones are all here!

Hmm, I'm craving for Hot Chocolate, Swiss Miss in particular!

Have a Happy New Year, everyone!

Much Love,

Half.Crazy

On Hiatus for a while.

As some of you know, my classes started yesterday, April 20. I didn't go to classes since it's the first day and all; I only attended the first one and spent the afternoon with boyfriend and a few friends, I missed 3 classes LOL. Even though my classes are only MWF, I go home 6PM and it's really tiring, I swear I don't have the strength to do anything, I can't even turn on the computer and check out daily sites that I dig!

So I have to stop blogging for a while but I'll continue to visit your blogs and try to do the Town Shootouts, I just need some rest as I'm actually having a bit of a blogger's block LOL. Give me a week or so to rest and adjust to my new environment (new school, new friends, etc.) and I'll come back when I have something to write.

Much Love,

Town Shootout: Native Restaurants and Food

It's Friday morning in here so here I go again and the rest of the Friday Shootout Gang (Reggie Girl thought of that) bringing you another week of free trips, fancy photos, adventures and a whole lot more from Metro Manila, Philippines. This week's episode is again packed with adventures and oodles of goodies and is chosen by the lovely Loida of Welcome to 2L3B's World....

Now you know you want to see some more and perhaps better adventures and photos than this one here so I say click and visit on one or two of those links on the right side of this blog under 'Friday Town Shootout Participants'. Trust me, you will never be disappointed. Also, we're asking everyone up for this kind of thing to join us every Friday. No strict rules - just point and shoot with respect to the theme and improvise a little! Hope to see YOU next week.

This fast food restaurant is called Karasa in 168 Mall, Divisoria, Metro Manila. They have various Philippine dishes like Lechon Kawali (Roasted pig), Sisig (Ground Pork or Beef with Liver) with Egg, Roasted Chicken and a whole lot more. People line up, say their orders and these girls hand it to them on a sizzling plate. On the other end of the line is the Cashier and people sit down on various seats and tables in the Food Court. Mom ordered Talong (Eggplant) in Karasa. I didn't eat it because it looks scary LOL.

Another famous Philippine Dish, Liempo or Grilled Spareribs. Filipinos usually eat Liempo with Rice, sometimes accompanied with Egg and gravy. Most popular and the best tasting gravy (or maybe it's a sauce?) would be Mang Tomas, also featured above. Grilled Spareribs is one of my favorite Filipino dishes!

Saging na Saba. I don't know its English name but it is sliced bananas in a sweet concoction of sugar and sago. Mom prepared this, by the way.

This is one of the Fast Food restaurants in Landmark Food Court, Makati. If there is ever a National Fast Food Chain here in the Philippines, it would be Jollibee, strongly competing with McDonald's.

While at the Food Court in Landmark, Makati, we ordered from Porky's. Mom ordered the first photo. Picadillo with sliced bananas, egg and rice. Ordered the second photo, Picadillo with Porkchop and Vegetables. Of course we'll come back for more. Are you drooling now? LOL.

In my previous post I mentioned going to Guilly's, Glorietta 5, Makati, for my brother's birthday. It was a simple birthday with extraordinary dishes! First photo is Tofu with vegetables; Second is Nilagang Baka. I don't really know what it is in English but it is Beef thrown in with potatoes, vegetables and sometimes bananas. Third is Garlic Chicken and 4th, Fish Fillet with French Fries. Okay, the last one is not exactly a native dish but I just had to put that in because it was my favorite dish that night LOL.

Okay, I really hope you guys enjoyed, that was a pretty long post, sorry for taking so much of your time LOL.

Much Love,

Trip in the City.

Yesterday we went to Alabang, Muntinlupa (also a part of Metro Manila) to pick up a package for my brother as it was also his birthday yesterday. He got some sort of an iPhone called Samsung P2.

It was unbearably hot yesterday, I don't understand why some people can stand the heat! I don't know why but every time I go out of the house for the whole day, I come back sick when I get home in the evening LOL. It's the first time we got out of the house ever since my vacation so I was happy to go out even though it's hot!

CLICK EVERY PHOTO YOU THINK IS INTERESTING TO ENLARGE.

Sky looks like this yesterday before we went out. The clouds look a bit gloomy but trust me, it was so hot outside!

As you can see, Alabang is a little barren but if given a decade more, it would boost and grow like Makati with all the office buildings and maybe Malls. Right now, the place is pretty green. This part of Metro Manila is actually so clean I had a hard time to spot candy wrappers - in some parts anyway LOL.

People under the shade of a tree. Even if under a tree, it's still so hot I'm surprised they haven't taken their clothes off!

We don't often see this kind of architecture here in Metro Manila. This one's situated beside the Highway, I dream of having to hang out in there someday!

One of the busy streets in Alabang. If you click to enlarge, there's actually black fog amidst the roar of vehicles LOL.

A little zooming on one of those Philippine Jeepneys and we get this. The Jeepney is the primary mode of transportation here in the Philippines. And the primary smoke belchers! They're the King of the Streets. Jeepneys are public transportations and if I'm not mistaken, the National Vehicle of the Philippines or something like that LOL. Jeepneys can have a capacity of 18-22 people, depending how long the seats are. They have different routes.

Pretty garden in Alabang Hills. We're on the way to that building in the distance. It was a good walk but still so hot. Yeah, how many times I've used 'hot' in this post LOL.

So anyway we got home, rested for a while and went out for Dinner to celebrate my brother's birthday. He asked his two best friends to come, we ate at Guilly's Island in Glorietta 5, Makati. I didn't take any good shots of the restaurant because there were many people around, it would look weird for me to just snap photos while they talk and dine with their friends and family LOL. I had some shots of the foods prepared but I'll be saving that for the upcoming Friday Town Shootout!

In the meantime here's some photos of the Makati at night.


Okay, hope you guys had fun and see YOU at the Friday Town Shootout. Topic on Friday is restaurants around town and food.

Much Love,

Being given an Award.

I've been given this Neno's Award by Ron Centeno of In My Own Words and Sardonyx of Hula, Scoop, Atbp - Talk about having the same Awards from 2 different people LOL. This may not be an Emmy, Oscar, Grammy, or a Golden Globe Award but I appreciate these two people for appreciating my efforts when it comes to the world of blogging.

Now I have to write why I love blogging. (The award requires it.)

• I originally created this blog so that I can record all the things in my life. Okay, not all as I choose not to share other personal things, just the surface of the whole thing.
• Social networking. It's alright if strangers read whatever I have to say. Eventually these strangers become my friends anyway.
  
• I can explore the world through other people's blogs. Isn't it amazing to see all the other countries in the world I might not visit someday? Take for example the Friday Town Shootout (Anyone can join, ask me about that if interested). It's amazing to have different themes every week and see the world through other people's lens. Usually only pictures but it is awesome having to surf through Canada, US, Japan, China and other countries out of my reach.. for the meantime.
• I blog because I want to let out my other emotions. The other emotions goes to the ears of my awesome friends.
• I can learn loads of things by reading people's blogs. I have a dream to participate in a certain game show LOL that requires brains and show off whatever I have learned through other people's blogs and other mediums. Isn't that awesome or was that just plain nerdy LOL.
• I'm always interested in what people have to say around the world so I'm always excited to read comments and their opinions. And hey, I'll be a Psychologist someday!
• Oh and I also blog to improve my writing because I know I'm not the best when it comes to grammar but absolutely conscious when it comes to it. Oh and I'm not a Writer and never will be even if I try hard LOL.
  

The aims of this award:

• As a dedication for those who love blogging activity and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

• To seek the reasons why we all love blogging!

• Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it

• Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

• Answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

• Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

• Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

I also would like to give an award to these people: (Hope you wouldn't mind!)

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff...
Life is too short to be ordinary...
balut & natto
Crisfield, Maryland
Shadowmoon - Papercraft & etc
Redlan's web of arts
intrepid traveler
An Explorer's View of Life
Zeus Gazette
John abuzz
Shey_strides
Sawdust Action
MAKE MONEY ONLINE FREE!!! -- testimonial of a skeptic
Welcome to 2L3B's World...
Lend Me Your Eyes
Padfoot and Prongs
Blonde Mav's Movie Reviews and Musings
Reena's Thoughts

P.S., I gotta give props to these people who always swing by on my page. You don't have to do a blog about this or tag some people even though that's what the rules say LOL. I just appreciate that you guys never forget to remember me! :)

Much Love,

Town Shootout: Main Street

Yay, it's that time of the week again, Friday Town Shootouts! Before you continue, read this! I actually feature 3 neighborhoods as I always end up going from one end of a certain district to another so yes, I consider the 3 neighborhoods my 'Town'. Here in the Philippines, we don't really use the word town to describe certain locations. Either it's a city, municipality or a province. I live in the capital which is Manila, so I'm going to show you the 3 neighborhoods which I consider my 'Town'. Wait, isn't that a little cheating? LOL. I'm going to show you the best of Manila anyway.

We also don't have 'Main' Streets in here but I understand it's like the busiest and the most important street in a certain place. We sort of have many 'main' streets in here.

OTHER PARTICIPANTS:
Flowers and more in Brazil
The Butler and Bagman Chronicles in Charleston, SC
TRAVELOG in Japan
Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... in Newnan, Georgia
Welcome to 2L3B's World... in Shenzhen, China
Crisfield, Maryland
An Explorer's View of Life in Toronto, Canada
A Scattering in Ontario, Canada
Papa And Mema in St. Augustine

CLICK EVERY PHOTO TO ENLARGE.

That's the Sta. Ana Church in the left and a Police Station beside it. Didn't get a good shot because I can't take my camera out for too long. Someone might snatch it LOL.

Sta.Ana busy Market. I always see the old woman on the right side. A year ago she was selling biscuits now she's only selling cigarettes. Poor lady! May God bless her; she doesn't deserve to work anymore.

Another busy street in Sta. Ana. That is an old school converted to businesses. The tricycles you see here wait all day under the blazing sun.

This is a sidewalk in one of Paco's many main streets. Vendors almost always block the sidewalk, giving little space for pedestrians who are going to cross the streets.

Now we go to Makati. This photo was taken in Makati Ave., one of Makati's many busy and 'main' streets. People almost always encounter traffic in here.


This is not a main street but I just wanted to show this to you guys to give you an idea of the neighborhoods around Manila. The people are always scattered in the roads LOL, tangled wires and vehicles just parked any where people feel like it.

This is one of Makati's extravagant Malls, probably the most popular, Glorietta. This is where I usually go to hang out with friends, watch movies, etc.

Another busy street in Makati.

One busy and important street in Makati. There's the Post Office, a nearby Police and Fire Station which we can't see in this photo, various schools and Call Centers are situated in here. I think this is Gil Puyat Street. Or maybe Avenue? LOL.

Quite a sight in the middle of an intersection in Makati. The Manila Peninsula owns this 'landmark'.

Hope you guys enjoyed as much as I did! Do come to Manila, Philippines, we're probably the friendliest country in all of Southeast Asia. Beat that other Southeast Asian countries! :P Just kidding, haha.

Much Love,

P.S. It's already 2AM in here, I'll edit this post when I wake up in the morning LOL. I have to put in links to the participants.