~ last july 6, the dragon boat team had their annual competition at manila bay... it was quite early in the morning and my eyes were still squinting from the sun, my head still groggy and i'm still yawning... from where i'm standing... i can hear the crowd cheering and the rhythmic beating of the drums...thanks to my super zoom-in canon camera...i manage to get these shots...

learn more about them : www.pdbf.com

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~a pole without a flag... used to be the old chinese embassy in malate.

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galette paysanne ~

(a round flat French cake, pastry, tart, or pancake,
often filled or topped with jam,cream, cheese or meat)

hamburger crepe~

~parisian inspired interior, soothing ambience...

C'est la maison de "Cafe Breton "~ serving nothing but

delectable, scrumptious Crepes all day long.

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~ an old spanish brasserie called Casino Español... serving original spanish cuisine... this is only the exterior part of the restaurant. It is located along t.m. kalaw and literally beside Instituto Cervantes ( a spanish school ).

This place was inaugurated on January 1917 by Claro M. recto ...
In a plaque written in Spanish :

Casa de Espana

Olimpo de las artes

templo del porvenir
bendita seas las musas

danzaran sobre tu cesped

y gustaran la miel de tus colmenas

Es el manantial donde las almas nobles el agua

pura del ensueno besan,

la torre de marfil donde se guarde

el tesoro ideal de nuestra lengua

~ translation:

The house of Spain

Olympus of the arts

Temple of the future
Blessed are the muses who dances at

the lawn and

tasted the honey from your bee hives
It is the source where the souls of the noble of

pure water dream kisses ,

the tower of ivory to look out for,

the ideal treasure of our tongue...

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~aren't we all just addicted to coffee?! although personally i prefer to drink tea. I think filipinos enjoy drinking coffee...whether it's breakfast with hot pandesals (bread) or merienda ( afternoon tea) or even after dinner... coffee has become part of our daily life...

ps. this photo may look vintage but this was recently taken along bel-air makati...



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~ one of the worst things that could happen to you... getting stuck inside your car... couldn't go outside or move ahead because it was raining heavily and floods are everywhere... this is always the situation here... like today, it's raining like cats and dogs literally here in metro manila... tonight, on our way home, we couldn't pass by some of the streets or even the small alleys, hence the traffic... because water was just too deep...commuters were also stuck because buses and taxis couldn't get in...

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~ until recently... high-rise condominums are rising up here and there despite the recession. This one was taken outside our balcony...we used to have a clear view of the makati skyline... but this one blocked our partial view.
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~no,this isn't an art exhibit... frequently seen at the mall are paintings like these which are for sale...usually they are originals but most of them are just replicas. while i was silently taking this photo...this salesgirl inside seems to be lost in her thoughts...apparently she's sleeping...

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the milkfish is an unofficial national symbol of the Philippines,
where it is called bangus. Because milkfish is notorious for being much bonier than other food fish in the country, deboned milkfish, or "boneless bangus. In this picture you have deep-fried bangus belly...

some garlic rice

~Natong (Filipino: laing) is a Filipino dish native to Bicol.

It is a spicy and creamy dish of taro leaves (which give the dish a rough feeling), pork, and chili peppers cooked in coconut milk. It is served on a Net leaf. The net leaf is found on the Taro tree which is native to Bicol.

~my family and i had dinner last night at a restaurant serving filipino cuisine...

since we're so hungry almost all the food in there seems to be appetizing, but bec. we're on a strict diet, we just choose what we really wanted to eat...

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~photo was taken along sta. cruz bridge overlooking Pasig river on the side of the escolta area.

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~ nothing really significant about this. Most parts here in Manila, you'd see concrete barriers like this... it looks good during daytime but it can be a sore in the evening... a lot of the drivers tend to drive fast that barriers like these are often one of the causes during car accidents.

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~ this building here used to be the bank of Prudential, but since then, it's changed to BPI ( also a banking service provider). It looks old and un-restored before, but i think the owner had it renovated recently thus appreciate its pink inspired palette. This edifice is located along escolta and sta. cruz church.

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~ this is a Calesa. It's a horse driven carriage.

Back in the 18th century, this was the mode of transportation for the spaniards or the illustrados as they would call it.

But nowadays, locals near the downtown area are still using it and also in places like luneta or intramuros where tourists can go for a ride.

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~ this is one of the old houses located just around the malate area where it used to be a place for the bourgeois, i think that was back in the 70's or 80's,but now, times have changed, people choose to live in the suburban area where there is less traffic.
~ i like how the roofs are neatly line together and the apartment-lish style of this building. You don't see this kind of structure here anymore.

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"-" ~ this boy is selling green mangoes on his cart, for just a few pesos you can have a yummy slice of it and put with a dash of salt or Bagoong ( one of our delicacies ) a.k.a shrimp paste, it's typical here in Manila especially in the downtown area.

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`it's been raining like crazy these past few days due to typhoon and whenever the weather is bad so is our poor internet signal. Sharing with you a photo of Manila City Hall located near Central (LRT) Station and SM Manila. Taken late afternoon, tried to get a close up on this one.
During peak hours, cars are like ants swarming everywhere. Causing great traffic as always are jeepneys and buses. But, thanks to corrupt cops and not-too-faulty traffic lights, traffic seems to be in order today.

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a visit inside Hyatt hotel led us to one of the fine dining restaurant called Lili...serving chinese cuisine,

the food was amazing and so was the over all ambience.

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this is our post office located in between the sta. cruz and Jones bridge. took this photo while i was inside the car so the view is quite far away...but pls. zoom in to see a more closer view...

the blogger these days has been pretty slow... like so slow i have to wait for almost an hour just to get my pictures uploaded...whew!

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~along Makati you'll find tall, skyscraper edifices like this one.

Makati - is our so called "wall street", where most of the high establishments like business, banking and most of the embassies are located.

On weekdays, cars are found everywhere and people who are off to work are busy with the hassle and bustle of daily life...

On weekends, it's the total opposite... it's mostly quiet and people aren't so crowded... hence, less traffic which is always a pain when you're driving around metro manila.

it was gloomy when i took this photo so i have to tease the color a little bit.

thanks to the many wonders of flickr and co. :)

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~` Sta. cruz church, located in the centre of downtown area, just along the banks of Pasig River. Since 80 % here are devotees of catholic faith, people who live near this area often visit this place, especially during novenas, 9 mornings,ash wednesday or simply just attending daily or sunday mass.

Outside the church little kids would sell you sampaguita flowers, diffrent sorts of candles and rosary beads as well.

amidst the busy chaotic street, you'll find serenity once you get inside.
built during the spanish era and even surviving the japanese occupation.

also, outside the church is a huge fountain, that has intricate designs and also some carvings that signifies the name of the streets.

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pour ma premiere jour, i decided to share with you sunset @ Manila Bay..just right along the strip of Roxas blvd.
one of the best sights to see whenever you're in town. the view is simply breathtaking. a must-see!

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~ welcome! ~ this blog is dedicated to explore you in and around Manila (my hometown)... anything and everything that has to do with this place... from the food, to the culture, to the history, religion and architecture... join me as i wander and discover the true heart of manila...~
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