Atraksyong Magaganda sa Bustos - A Basic Photography Seminar

Under the auspices project of Mayor Arnel Mendoza of Bustos, Bulacan, I was given the opportunity to attend the free basic photography workshop sponsored by the Municipality of Bustos held at Villa Rosalinda Events Venue. 

The Honorable  Mayor was even more generous to offer the workshop not only to Bustos but throughout the province of Bulacan. I reside in Plaridel which is the nearby town of Bustos J Thank you po for allowing us to participate in this project.

The said project aims to promote the tourism of Bustos focusing on the theme of “Atraksyong Magaganda sa Bustos”.

Participants were given lectures and techniques by Mr. Val E. Rodriguez, Chief Photojournalist of The Philippine Star and a favorite photographer of the late President Corazon Aquino. 

While Mr. Borj Meneses,  a contributing photographer of FHM and other known magazines gave his take of Basic Photography and some post processing wonders .

Since both photographers were known Ambassadors of Canon, Canon Marketing were also present during the event. All canon user attendees were given free service cleaning of their cameras and lenses. It’s a good thing, I’m an avid Canon user since then so I was able to avail the free cleaning services J.

  

Long before, I’ve only known Bustos for its delicacies. If Malolos has its ensaymada and San Miguel has its Pastillas de leche, Bustos has its pride of Minasa cookie and dry wafer like Barquillos. In fact these products has been a favorite pasalubong of some Bulakenyos.      

Today, Bustos has been continuously making wave in promoting their town. The Minasa Festival,  a one week event televised activity showcasing  the colorful parade of street dancing, local delicacies and photo exhibits of some of the known tourist attraction and cultural heritage sites of Bustos is one of the pride and successful project of the municipality. In fact, chosen photos for the photography workshop will be seen in the photo exhibit in SM Baliuag next January 2014.

During the photowalk, the participants were divided into different groups. I was grouped and assigned to visit, Our Daily Bread Farm, Ivatan House of Nazareth Orphanage, Bustos Dam and Mercado Ancestral House. This is my first real photowalk experience and I could say that this was indeed an awesome and fun learning experience. Photo enthusiast of all ages gathered for one purpose which is to capture the fun and beauty of Bustos.

Allow me to share with you some of my shots during the photowalk :)

The opportunity and experience I have obtained during the seminar is indeed a once in a lifetime experience. With this seminar, I was able to explore the wanders of Bustos and the bonus part of it, you acquired new friends sharing the same passion for photography. Salute to the Office of the Mayor for spearheading this successful endeavor. Good luck and More Power to All.   

        

A Taste of Winter Street Food in South Korea

Street Food 101, South Korea Edition

I am a confessed street food addict. Paralleled with our hunger to explore new places is also our gastronomic adventures to try some of the famous street food of the place. Thus, on our visit to South Korea last November of 2012, allow me to share our take of Korean streetfooding. 

NAMPO-DONG NIGHTIME ALLEYWAYS  

Since we arrived past 9 in the evening at Gimhae International Airport and travel from the airport to Sum Guesthouse at Nampo-dong, Busan took almost 1 hour, we were able to reached the guesthouse at almost past 10:00 in the evening. With the recommendation from Jay, the ever reliable and accommodating manager, our feet brought us to the some of the “pojangmacha” or the late night street cart tent at Nampo-dong. Familiar right? We’ve seen this in some of the Korean Telenovela where yuppies  dine and drink their Soju after office hours.

Since Ahjuhma is not English conversant, we just point to her what we want to order.It's a good thing that ahjumma understand our "turo-turo" order method :) 

Kalguksu

For our first order we tried the steaming hot kalguksu or noodles. Since it was already past 11 pm., and the temperature is freezing at 3 degrees temperature outside, kalguksu is our primer pojangmacha choice.

Kimbap

Kimbap or Gimpap is a famous Korean dish which is made up of steamed white rice stuffed with various vegetable ingredients rolled in dried seaweeds with garnished roasted sesame oil on top and served in bite-size slices. Price would range between 1-2 USD per 4-6 slice. Ahjumma even give us free kimchi as side dish and appetizer. 

Odeng Gook

Odeng Gook is a fish cake on a  stick and broiled in broth. This is a must try during winter season. This is the cheapest street food in Korea. All you need to do is grabbed a stick and start eating it as many as you like and ahjumma will count up the skewers before you leave and ask for your payment after. Each stick cost around .46 cents USD.

We even witnessed one male Korean costumer who after eating his number of Odeng ran away and did not even pay for his order. We pity the nice ahjumma as she cannot run after the bad guy as no one will be left on her store cart.

My friends choice of odeng gook :)

Banana/Strawberry Milk

Until now we are still craving for this kind of milk that we had bought in one of the convenience store in Busan.

INSADONG SSAMZIEGIL

After buying some souvenirs at Insadong Ssamziegil area, we walked down the alley and tried some street foods at Insadong area.

Tteobokki

Tteobokki is the most popular street food in Korea. You can see it anywhere be it in Busan or Seoul as majority of the store cart are selling it. It is a serving of rice cakes and processed seafood in a spicy red sauce.   It is sold between 2-3 USD per serving.

Dakkochi

Dakkochi are simple skewers of grilled chicken and vegetable. It has a unique flame-broiled flavor and you can choose your sauce option for basting be it spicy or not. Average price per stick is almost 2 USD

Hoddeok

Hoddeok or sweet pancake with some peanut butter and cinnamon filling is also one of the favorite winter snack in South Korea. The dough is fried up until the caramel in the center is form and it is best to be eaten while it's still hot.

Over-all we enjoyed our street fooding and snacking experience in South Korea. There are really a lot to try but for a beginner like us above foodies are great choices as primer.

Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama, Japan

Minao Mirai dubbed as the “Harbour of the Future” is a large urban area in the central Yokohama. It is blessed with great location therefore a lot of attractions can be found here. Myriads of Yokohama’s tourist attraction, hotels, shopping, museum and theme park are well placed in this area. No wonder it is one of the most sought after district in Yokohama.

On our recent trip in Yokohama last February, my mom and my uncle booked our accommodation in two of the luxurious hotels situated in Minato Mirai 21. To ensure that we have the most comfortable and memorable stay in Yokohama and spoiled as we are we are lucky to experienced the luxurious feel of Pan Pacific and Intercontinetal Hotel.     

Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu

We were initially booked at Pan Pacific Hotel. I’ve noticed that hotel lobby in Japan is simple and has a  minimalist design and not as grandiose as the hotels I’ve seen in Macau and in Manila. Well, this is just based on my own observation only J

and this is the lobby of Pan Pacific Hotel I am referring

and this is the room booked for us 

and the spectacular view of the Minato Mirai and Cosmo World from our room veranda

Pan Pacific is a one minute walk from Minato Mirai station and  connected to  a mall near the station. What I simply love about this hotel is the balcony overlooking the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel. The Ferris Wheel illuminates at night and changes its colors and effects every 15 minutes.

Cosmo World

Cosmo World is an amusement theme park in the center of Minato Mirai. Unlike any other theme parks in Japan entrance to the Park is free of charge. You pay only per ride or the attraction of your choice. Distinct of this themepark is the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel, the underwater Roller Coaster and other rides and gaming attractions for the whole family.

Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel

The hotel has a unique blend of architecture with a unique boat-shaped like outside structure is also situated within the central district of Minato Mirai. 

our room here is a lot bigger as compared to Pan Pacific  

and here's Intercon's perspective view of Minato Mirai

Since we have overload tour schedule at Mt. Fuji, Yeti Resort and Tokyo Disneyland, we have only limited stay at both hotels and were not able explore some of the hotel's luxurious amenities and more so with the hotels nearby attractions such as the Landmark Tower, Red Brickwall, Nissin Museum etc. :( We hope on our next visit we will have a relax more itinerary and get a chance to explore the area.

Over-all we truly have the most pampered and comfortable stay at Minato Mirai 21. Our heartfelt thanks again to our generous sponsors. Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu   

Date of Visit: February 2013

   

The Venetian Resort Hotel: A Taste of Italy in Macau

The Venetian Hotel is a luxury and casino resort situated in Estrada de Baia de N. Senhora de Esperanca, s/n, Macau, China. It is a unique huge complex comprising of hotel, resort, casino, shopping retails, fine dining and food court. Thus, it is a fully integrated resort where you can do all your travel leisure plus you will be dazzled by different street performers and have a once in a lifetime gondola experience .

(From Thet's Camera)

Owned and managed by the Las Vegas Sands and patterned after its sister casino resort, The Venetian in Las Vegas, The Venetian Macau is considered to be one of the largest casino in the world and even largest single structure in Asia.  

Since my sister is working in a construction firm in Macau, I have the opportunity to see the hotel a couple of times during my visit. On my latest and previous visit in Hongkong on 2011, my friends and I decided to have a taste of luxurious stay in Venetian. With only an hour ferry ride from Hongkong, we decided to have a side trip at Macau and booked a Bella Suite with Twin Bed for a peso value of around Php9k+ since we are 4 pax we decided to split the cost into 4 and voila we have a Venetian taste of  Macau. It has a free shuttle bus from Macau and Taipa Ferry Terminal.

The room is huge with about 70 sqm. floor area. It has a  2 queen sized bed good enough for 4 persons.  

What’s even more special about the Bella Suite is that it has a cozy living room for you to lounge around :)

the bathroom is even spacious too

and here are some of the snapshots around the hotel :)

the exquisite Venetian's Ceiling Mural 

Hall Entrance leading to the Casino area 

The Gondola Ride 

      

The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel is truly once in a lifetime leisure experience. It has a rare combination of facilities and amenities for you to enjoy luxury at its best bringing the taste of Italy in Asia.

Date of Visit : November 2011

The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel

Estrada de Baia de N. Senhora de ESperanca, s/n,

Macau, China

Website: www.thevenetianmacao.com