Florida: You can Never Tell!
Posted by Tess
Living for many years in Manila made me believe that urban living is all about towering buildings, bumper to bumper automobiles, dense population, & etc. This conceived notion, however, changed after I moved in to one of the largest cities in Florida. Of course, the giant corporate buildings and high skylines are also present. The same as the traffic jam which is a major concern everyday. However, one thing that really amazes me are the animals that I never imagined would also be roaming around the busy city roads. This is the reason why I never keep my camera away from me. These rare opportunities are just hard to miss!
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| A huge farm of cows near a major interstate highway |
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| Florida Sand Hill Cranes in front of Sweet Bay Store |
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| Turkey walking at the back of our building |
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| A beautiful bird doing a morning walk near our gate |
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Posted by May - Trivial things in Hawaii
What travelers to Hawaii should know is that as soon as they step on the island, they are instantly faced with 5 new addictions. Addiction to shopping, addiction to water and surfing, addiction to whale and dolphin watching, addiction to exotic food and addiction to Hula dances.
In reality though (not bursting any bubble here), everything in Hawaii and the Hawaiian Islands is expensive. Hotel rooms, parking space, luau, shows and food. Good news, beaches and sunset-watching are always free to all.
And on Kauai, nothing is dirt cheap except this. Red dirt shirts and bags are great souvenir items for travelers. The shirts are colored orange using Kauai's red dirt (soil) itself. The texture is quite stiff and while the shirts are very unique and original, they are hardly wearable due to their grainy feel and quality.
photo by May
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Posted by Olivia - "Along the Pasig River (Ilog Pasig), Philippines"
I once tried the Pasig River Ferry and have been interested trying it once more with my camera and a good friend with me.
In God's time, it did happen.
One night, I was chatting with an old friend who I have not met since we graduated in high school. She asked me to have a date with her and I said sure. She asked where we would go. At first, I totally had no idea. So I told her that we better decide when we meet the following day. As we converse through FB, I suddenly thought of taking the ride through Pasig River to Manila City. Then we did.
Here are some of the pictures that I took.
I will not describe it, but let your thoughts run through it.
That was the end of the cruise...but not of the trip...
Lost in the Land of the Royals
Posted by Tess
One thing I learned from my training at Speechpower is the power of spoken words - "what our mind can conceive, our body can achieve". If you believe in affirmation, then you know what I am talking about.
I have always been fascinated by the life of the royals even when I was small. Princess Dianne has always been one of my favorites, and I followed her life from the Palace to the tragic car accident that took her life. My interest in the monarchy became a silent prayer, which eventually was answered surprisingly in 1998 when I won a study grant in London, United Kingdom. It was my first trip abroad, first plane ride, first winter, and first confirmation that affirmation does really work. Indeed, dreams do come true to people who have faith!
Though I made sure that I attended my classes religiously as scheduled, despite my very tight allowance, I tried to live my life as it was my last chance to see London. I explored every tourist attraction that my budget would afford. I visited museums, galleries, palaces, theaters, bars, and yes, finally had my picture taken beside my favorite icon, Princess Dianne at the Wax Museum.
It may be a short trip; surely, I wasn't able to see everything, but definitely it changed my whole perspective, and indeed changed me as a person!
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| Oxford University |
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| Madame Tussauds Museum |
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| Hampton Court |
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| Buckingham Palace |
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Big Ben Clock
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Posted by May - "Seeing Kauai through different eyes"
I have been looking at Kauai from a lazy pair of eyes. I was not aware of it though I can't say I have been neglecting the beauty of it. But once you know you are in a place to permanently stay, you tend to say the words "they will always be there" referring to places you think you ought to visit but you won't because you're too absorbed in everything else.
Now that I know we are moving out of Hawaii soon, I see this beautiful place through sad eyes. Who knows when we can go back to visit Hawaii again in our lifetime? Maybe never. Maybe once a year. Then again, maybe never. The sea, they make me sad. My husband's favorite place in the world I know is beside me. Except me, there's the sea. Moving to the continental US will make him forget it. So, heartbroken as I am, coming to love Hawaii as I do, it really is heartbreaking.
Going through this tree tunnel once, twice, everytime. I'm never gonna get tired of passing by this long, calming road with tree canopies. Seeing these tall kayaks, I will always remember how I once tried to brave it but got lost by bundle of nerves.
* Tree Tunnel is located on Kauai's south side.
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| colored kayaks @ Poipu |
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| passing through Kauai's Tree Tunnel |
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Posted by May - My Colorado State-of-Mind
Colorado is a rich state with rich God-given wondrous blessings, sights and diversity. It is also the home of the famous ROCKIES where people meet and greet the majestic snow-capped mountains in winter and the greens in summer. I remember I dreamed of the state once long time ago and in the dream, I was carrying a heavy leather couch. Didn't make a whole lot of sense but now that I have actually been there, I interpret the dream as the "heavy weight on my shoulders" - referring to life-altering, GROWN UP decisions I have to make as a part of being US - the married couple.
Colorado Springs has affordable housing from Ranch style to 2 story family residences in very secure and semi-posh living community. It is the current TOP 5 Family CITY to be in. It's a bit of a laid-back town, depending on who you are, how you perceive the city and how you react to it. Since I'm not into fast life or what not any longer (as all married women ought to be), I'm finally "settling down" which means I have a family to prioritize.
All in all, I give Colorado Springs two thumbs up. And when words fail to express what the eyes can, photos can. So I give you the picture-perfect town of Colorado Springs.
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| the scenery |
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| Cadet Chapel |
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| Broadmoor |
A Glimpse of the Past
Posted by Tess
One thing I like about travelling to different places is the opportunity to see landmark changed by time and learn its story. I got that chance last summer when, accompanied by my neighbors, I explored Ybor City, Florida which is a historic neighborhood known for its cigar factory.
According to history, Ybor City was founded in 1885 by a group of cigar manufacturers led by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and was originally populated by the Cuban and Spanish immigrants who worked in the many cigar factories. The community was unique in the American south for its multi-ethnic nature and its civic organizations, which included mutual aid societies and an active organized labor presence.
As the museum’s volunteer escorted us to the Casitas or small houses, which were provided then to the workers by cigar manufacturers/owners, I was reminded of my childhood hometown back in the Philippines where life was very much simple and uncomplicated. It was said that back then people did not have electricity or plumbing; women did all the sewing of their clothes; men made their children’s toys; only one doctor was available to serve the whole community; and interestingly, porch played a very important role to people’s lives as it connected them socially to their neighbors.
As our guide described, Ybor City grew and prospered until the Great Depression when a sharp reduction in the worldwide demand for fine cigars started the neighborhood on a slow drop. By the end of World War II, a steady stream of residents were leaving the aging neighborhood. This process picked up through the 1950s and 60s, when the Federal Urban Renewal program and the construction of Interstate 4 resulted in the destruction of many buildings in the area, including most of the housing units. Virtually abandoned, Ybor City fell off into a decades-long period of neglect and decay.
Beginning in the 1980s, however, the area around the old Ybor City business district began a slow recovery. If you visit the city today, you will notice that it has become a haven for artists. It has also turned to a popular nightlife and entertainment district, and many multi-family residential units have already been built encouraging more and more residents to make Ybor City their new home.
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The Dance of Hula
written by May
I have watched Lilo (of Lilo and Stitch) the movie. She attended hula dance class everyday in grass skirts and leis around her head, neck, wrist and ankle. It was beautiful. I was still in Korea then and I thought it was one of the most graceful dances I have ever seen. The sway of hips, the movement of hands, the flick of hair all come to an emotion, to express a rich, centuries-old culture from crossing the Polynesian islands to landing in a new island so green with lush forests and so blue with pristine waters. That's the Hawaiian hula.
My very first chance to see a real hula dance was in Poipu, Kauai. It was a free mall show with girls in sets of costumes and men with barely nothing. With the beat of the drums and the sound of barefoot whispers, so the rhythmic sway of love begins. It was soothing and exciting at the same time. Captivating to the core.
My real hula show was Luau Kalamaku's performance at Kilohana Plantation (paid show). It was awe-inspiring.
Hula dancers have a certain grace around them. The long wavy hair, the bronze skin, the light steps and the smile. As a woman, I thought swaying your hips back and forth was easy enough. Wrong. The body lines and movements are supposed to tell a story. As an audience, I thought watching the show was enough experience. Wrong. Hula is a display of long Hawaiian journey to a peaceful life on the island. Understanding the culture even more makes audience appreciate the beauty of the dance, from the first beat of the drum down to the last bow.
Hula is an experience of a lifetime. And when you finally do see it, it will make you ask yourself and wonder, "Can I dance?"
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| photo by May: Tahitian at Poipu |
