to the world's largest bat colony and shits Unknown 9:20 AM

Our trip to the world's largest bat colony is the highlights (for me) of our Davao tour. This cave which houses millions of fruit bats is the prettiest and foulest thing I've seen. I can't remember asking if you can enter the cave, but maybe you can if your nose is strong enough to endure the pain.

The technique; stop breathing.

hummingbird nest Unknown 2:48 PM

I caught two hummingbirds in this branch of whatever plant this is somewhere in the Garden.  Uh.. yeah, the Gardens by the Bay.  I wasn't able to include this in the A-Z Challenge because it's a black and white photo.. and the black and white link party I know happens every Sunday which is a rest day for the A-Z Challenge participants.

But I found another link party for my black and white photos just now, and I'm glad I did.  I wish my shots are pretty enough for them to include me in their cool group.

which is colder Unknown 9:33 PM

Genting, they said, is one of the coldest parts in Malaysia.  I was also told that it's colder than Baguio and Benguet, so they advised me to bring a thick jacket, thick long sleeve shirts, and leggings and a pair of shoes which I don't have.  Yeah, I only had my usual flip flops and sandals.. they were laughing at me, actually.. but what can I do?  That's all I have.  But I had to see for myself to agree.

It's not.

I've arrived in Baguio at 4 or 5 in the morning, same time we arrived in Genting.  It's nothing compared to how cold Baguio is, especially in the morning.  I had to layer clothing to survive in Baguio with a really thick jacket, a thick sweatshirt and a shirt underneath.  It actually felt like I had to add more and/or double my pants but I wouldn't be able to move freely if I did that.  While in Genting, I was only wearing a long sleeve shirt and a shirt underneath, and of course a pair of pants( I figured I should mention I was also wearing my pants).  I don't know if I'm used to cold weather, but it really wasn't that cold.. but it's foggy.

tunnel of bloom Unknown 3:16 PM

The tunnel of bloom is what I called this long walkway to the Gardens by the Bay.  It's a connection between the MRT and Gardens by the Bay.  You'll see a lot of flowers in there displayed on its wall lined with tall mirrors.  People started to pose in front of those wallpaper flowers and I can't resist shooting them as well, but I failed.

I continued to take their photos while walking; these people, they're just fascinating, and I was able to get a good shot of someone from my back.

My camera was processing the last shot it took, and a few seconds later, I saw my subject staring straight at my camera, or maybe at me for shooting her without permission.  She already had passed by me when I saw her face looking like I don't know if pissed.  But I seriously like this photo.

quarter to eight Unknown 9:18 PM

The sun was still up at seven thirty in the evening in Genting.. setting up at seven quarter.  It was really fascinating for me because in the Philippines the sun sets at around six to six thirty.. the latest would be seven in the evening.

I think I've mentioned many times before that the time zone they follow in Malaysia as well as in Singapore doesn't match their time.  I mean, both of them share the same time zone with the Philippines but it seems like they must adjust their time one hour less.. you know, just a thought.

keep it cool Unknown 8:23 PM

How long can you wait for your food before you lose your cool because you're starving and you keep noticing that some people in the other tables are getting their food already when you know you came first and ordered first before them?

I think we waited for about an hour before our food finally landed in our table.  There was nothing fancy in our orders.. just normal wanton noodles, chicken, rice and tea (that's all I remember).  But no one lost their cool, we were just kind of crying and begging for our food to come because we noticed that everyone's eating already and we're staring at their every bite.. drooling.

I almost tapped the kitchen wall (which was a glass wall) because we're sitting next to it and remind the chef of our order.  But I saw how busy he was and he might just ignore me, so I thought of shooting him instead.

high above me Unknown 5:57 PM

One of the most amazing things about flying at 5 in the afternoon or 5 in the morning is to catch the sun sets or rises.  But of course you need to be sitting next to the window to fully enjoy this moment.. and I was sitting next to the window, and was enjoying this magical view up above; watching the colors change from orange, to reddish orange and blue, until the entire sky was covered with blue and purple and a bit of orange.

biker girl be like Unknown 9:09 PM

I caught her in one of the streets in Singapore.. seriously pedaling away from her dad.  You can see it on her face.  I'm not making this up.

I love every angle of this shot.  I'm super lucky to catch her in the middle.  Her dad looking a bit concerned that his girl was being shot by a stranger and/or she might leave him behind, and run away with Roman.  I love the passion being shown in here.

Her legs might be shorter than her dad's, but her eagerness to win this race and finally reach that street to blend in with the other bikers and hold hands with Roman is her ultimate goal.. even just for a few moments away from her dad and finally with her love.

admiring Genting in the morning Unknown 7:14 PM

Today is the first day of the A to Z Challenge where for the whole month of April, those of us who agreed to post daily with titles corresponding the letters in the alphabet must finish it wholeheartedly or we'll be hit by a lightning in our sleep.  That sounds awful, but I will do my best to update this shit and stick with my theme.. which is booooringgg.

And today, I would like to share with you this lovely shots I took in Genting.  I took them at around 8:30 in the morning.  I wasn't able to catch the sunrise though but.. I think it's ok.  I love it.  I love the fog effect.  :>

one festive night at River Hongbao Unknown 9:07 PM

I am not familiar with this festivity, but I liked it, and kind of planned to go there when I saw it from afar.  We were walking through the bay area when those colorful things (I had no idea what they were) caught my attention.  We decided to go there after eating at Makansutra.

The crowd was doubled as soon as the moon got up at around 8 o'clock in the evening.  It was still very weird for me to see the sun at 7:30 pm although Singapore and the Philippines share the same time zone.  I think I got used to it at the third or fourth week of my stay.

daddy moment Unknown 11:31 AM

I'm linking up this cute daddy moment photo to Wordless Wednesday (although it's already Thursday) ..but they're not in any way related to me.. I just thought, a lovely moment like that must be documented, so I took a shot.  

I'm sorry, it's meant to be wordless, right?  :>

pg m-m-m-moments Unknown 1:58 PM

It was Christmas day.  Everyone's busy preparing for the party (our annual party), and since they've got everything under control, and since our baby Erin was crying nonstop, I decided to take her to the playground.  Thankfully there's one in the area we're at.

It wasn't occupied when we got there, except for the cutest baby on the swing and her mother, or maybe that's her tita with her and we joined them.  Erin became the happiest, cutest, little runner in the playground.  I had to chase her all over.

She went from the swing, to that little horse on a spring, to the slide.. I joined her on the slide.  I had to, even if I looked ridiculous.  Maybe I was being over protective of her, but she is so fragile! and so clumsy like her little tita.

the dinosaur babies Unknown 8:50 PM

It was 35 - 40°C or more that day, and they found a way to cool it up.  There was an old woman who was a bit tempted to join the kids, and I was waiting for her to dip in, but I don't know what changed her mind.

 

chilling in Esplanade Unknown 11:14 PM

My friends kinda know me for saying that this guy or that girl looks like that celebrity or the person we know, because people do have look-a-likes.

I actually have a doppelganger, who I met in elementary.  I'm 2 years older than her.  She was my brother's classmate.  She transferred in our school during my last year, and followed me in high school which caught a lot of attention when she performed in a stage for a school event.  But I never talked to her.. never even tried to be friends with her, and she never bothered me, so that's cool, she understood.

She's taller.. actually, she's tall.  We have the same complexion.  I do think we have the same eyes, which was really scary when I see her face, and she also have dimples; both cheeks.  We can really be mistaken as twins, except that, I'm way shorter.

Her name is Catherine, by the way.  If you see someone who looks like me, call her Catherine, and ask her side of story.

PS.

I asked my friend where Chito Miranda was during that time and I showed this photo to her, she confirmed it's not him (the guy in sunglasses).. but look at that girl beside him.  She's kinda like Neri from afar.  :>

a different taste of train rides Unknown 10:43 PM

I don't want to make it sound like I've fallen in love with Singapore's trains, their train system.. but I think I did..  I am in love with it.  You know, I live in a country with one of the worst train systems in the world and Singapore showed me that trains can really be fun to ride on.  It was always smooth, even on rush hour.. which seemed to be every hour in Singapore.  I don't know, but this is what I noticed in our short stay in that lovely city; everyone in the train stations' on a rush any time of the day.  

People seemed normal in the streets, in the malls, in the parks, but people in the train stations are all running, like they're always in a hurry! even if their escalators and walkalators are 3 or 4 times faster than the normal speed.. they're still running!  But they do know how to say "excuse me" properly, and they never shove people blocking their way.. that's also one of the things I like about Singapore; the people are nice.. the locals especially are nicer.

One time in the LRT, I was kind of hugging the pole, and a woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I could let her kids grab on the pole so they won't fly or tumble down when the train run.  "of course! I'm so sorry!" was what said I immediately, a bit ashamed of it.  The kids were kind of about my size, and they were like 7 or 8 years old.

two birds, one stone Unknown 7:54 PM

I wanted to tell a story about this whole KL-SG trip but it might ignite something that I might not be able to control, so, I just thought of creating a story behind each photos I took instead.  I don't know though if I can do it, but I'm always up for the challenge.  I haven't posted on this damn blog in ages, anyway, and I owe this one at least 3 posts in a week.  I'd really try to come out with a story (interesting or not) for each photos I made for this whole trip.

Starting with "postcard from Singapore"

He's been working his ass in this wonderful city.. leaving his family behind.  He's from China, I think.  Working in a Singaporean kitchen isn't easy.  No, he's not a dishwasher, he's a chef.. a very good one, for almost 3 years.  I found him by the bay, passing the time, and I thought maybe this guy would make a good pose, and he did.  He didn't mind.  He's a celebrity.  He's used to paparazzi.

The title has nothing to do with the content, yes.. and uh.. well.

the sky before seven Unknown 7:59 PM

I don't know if I could fool you for saying that the sky did look like that at seven in the morning, because it doesn't look like it, does it?

But I failed to wake up earlier because my body knew it was weekend and I had to drag my ass to shower (thankfully their hot shower was working) and get out there and do the morning walk and try not to look like a tourist.  I wanted to say 'try not to look like an idiot' but I thought that might be too harsh.  But I did look like an idiot and a little bit clumsy.. I don't know if I could share that though.

down the alley Unknown 10:02 PM

I was so curious about this street, this alley, but I never had the courage to use it, to pass through it.  I always use the main road.  It's not only that I'm not familiar, but people also know that I was a stranger, and I was reminded by the guard (of that compound) to be careful on using those alleys.  But I do want to give this alley a chance to be explored.. so maybe next time I will.

      

hiking in black and white summit Unknown 7:41 PM

I took this one when we were going down the summit (Mt. Pulag Summit) and we passed by tons of groups going up, and there were already about a hundred when we left.  That's how much people went hiking on Labor Day..  I had no idea it could get that crowded in the mountain.  I was actually expecting only a few people to share this wonderful experience with, but it was alright.

silent Sunday Unknown 6:03 PM