My Barista Friends

This album goes out to the friends I've made from all the coffee I've been drinking. This list doesn't show everyone of them though. These folks help cheer me up throughout the day. Yes I drink so much coffee that I made friends with numerous baristas. Some of them even know what I'll have on sight.

Behind The Counter. Walk to the counter and you’ll see some thing like this. This lovely lady, like her friends make great coffee.

Weekends At Burgos Circle

I didn't feel like staying at home. I was going to meet some friends tonight, so I thought I'd go and work out. After a few sets I went out and enjoyed the afternoon. Bonifacio Global City is a lovely place. A shame I don't get to enjoy it during the weekdays. Well, it's the weekend, here I am, and with a camera in hand I went out to doing what I like doing-- wandering. Though, no, I'm not necessarily lost. I hardly ever get t go out and enjoy the sights around here though. Taking a second look shows some things I usually miss out on when I go about my daily grind.

Burgos Circle. It doesn't look obvious from here, but the grassy area with the trees at the other side of the road is a roundabout, which also serves as a small park. Towering buildings around it provide shade in the afternoon if the trees still won't suffice. The place is surrounded by several restaurants, pubs and other shops that usually open until late night. Dogs, kids and joggers frequent the area during the weekend afternoons.

December Nights In Ayala

It was a quiet night. I thought I’d go out and enjoy the lights. It doesn’t have to be a dark and gloomy night. There are lights everywhere cheerful and sparkling making it alright.

Lights All Around. Visitors look on admiring the season themed lights, like the local shop customers and the tourists taking a stroll.

Failed Errand, No Problem

It was the start of October and I was going to go and have the car serviced. Sadly, they're unable to accomodate me so they had me reschedule instead. It was an afternoon too lovely to go home early. I went back to Alabang Town Center. It’s been a while since I’ve last been there.

Rocking Benches. I like how innovative this is. It’s a lovechild of your run of the mill bench and rocking chair. And they mixed in a dash of Kit-Kat. It’s the first time I saw a furniture of its kind and it naturally blends in with the surroundings. No awkward looking furniture sticking like a sore thumb here. But I think it’s mean for couples. Or folks with extra girth maybe? (Ehem. Namely yours truly.)

Sunday At Silay City

View From My Seat. I've chosen this table. To my left is the view of the counter top, and the darker area beyond was for the bar and more interesting (read: Alcoholic) drinks. Also there's a good view of the menu if I'm not contented with the one that's already on the table provided by the waiter.

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon. The family had no intention of going out to hang out so I decided to go catch up with my cousin. He knew a quiet place or two. I'm keen on having some pleasant surprises. And so off we go!

Afternoon At The Town Center

How time flies... It's already been more than a month since I've been there. I've posted earlier the Stallions as a separate entry because I found them to be unique and I had more than enough pictures of them to make a separate entry. I haven't seen any mall with such decorations. At least not yet. But they're not the only ones I took a picture of. It was a lovely afternoon after all and there were lots to see. At least for me.

Stairs Towards Interesting Things. It was around mid afternoon at the time. It wasn't too bright nor the light was any dramatic. These unassuming stairs don't look like much but it's after going through them that I found some fun things. Horse sculptures, among others.

Steel Stallions Of Alabang Town Center

Horses made of wire, roaming around the place. I watched them all afternoon to my heart's desire.

Playing In The Shrubs. These steel sculptures almost look alive when shot in monochrome.

Quiet Coffee Nights

Not every night is a restful night for someone used to staying up late at night. When it's my night off and I'm having a bout of insomnia, I tend to go out. And so here I wander again. Here are a few shots I have from some nights I've been out.

Up For A Long Night. A customer sifts through his documents getting ready to work through the night... Or at least until the coffee shop closes.

Fiddling With RAW Meat

It seems I have tendencies to word things a bit differently. Oh the puns I play with. No, I'm not playing with food. Nor meat for that matter. No meat was fiddled with during the creation of this entry... But there were some cooked meat that were consumed.

Waiting For The Order. My buddy explores the whole room while we wait for the goodies we ordered. Yes, I have scary friends. He will cut you. Beware. LOL just kidding, he's a nice guy.

Lost At Nuvali

I've been recently going through some very sad days. But that's for another entry. March has been morose a month for me, and I needed to somehow distance myself from the blues and even for a fleeting moment and get away. And so I went and pursued some jaunts that I've been planning to do with someone, which I ended up doing it by myself. Down south is this place I've heard about but haven't really visited. It's called Nuvali.

The place is more vast than I thought... Lots of vacant grasslands and a lovely lagoon.
Strolling in here is a walk in a park. ;)

The Contrast Behind The Contrast

It's amazing what one simple contrast in an image can convey. Humor me as I try to be an art fart for this post. I took a picture of a friend while she was puffing on a cigarette. This may be the most contrasting image I've ever taken.

Contrasts. I see the contrast in more than one level. What do your portraits convey?

To begin with she was wearing a flamboyantly loud and colorful blouse. To me it was very eye catching and I really liked it. She's a nice and funny girl but the expression on her face and the hardcore way she puffs on that cigarette gives me a "Try your luck messing with me and I will tear you apart and feed you to my pet Arowanas". That night she looked like the most fabulous gangster I've ever seen. One can only imagine the contrast in that. To bring out the contrast I envisioned when I saw her dress I dulled out the rest of the image, which emphasized how that dress stood out. The overall image and dress I think conveys the complex and contrasting person in the image. How about you? What's the story in your picture?

Until then, Let's get lost and wander! :)

San Mateo In Monochrome

When somebody hears the word "San Mateo", folks where I live would instantly think "San Mateo, Rizal". I however, remember "San Mateo" differently...

This is a man-made stream that runs along Park Place in the Archstone Apartments area in front of Whole Foods.
It has decorative fountains on both ends and bridges in between. It's a romantic place. Even if you're alone.