Happy birthday

Birthday greetings go out to my two colleagues namely:

Marc Apiado (dob: 27 Jul 2010) or Pute/Redford White as he is more popularly known as...

and the original blacky-in-denial, Francis Silverio (dob: 28 July 2010)

Fred Perry

something I've wanted to buy for the longest time...

the older sibling guarding the new baby

Tada! in the flesh...or rather in the tan!

awww...brothers reunited hehe

I'm a big big fan of Fred Perry and today, I bought my second Fred Perry holdall in tan! Since i can't afford yet to buy a Mulberry Piccadilly, the next best thing is to get a fellow British product at a more affordable price...i'm loving it the more I look at it. Can't wait for the third one...

ihatetv

I have no cable TV connection at home, thus, all the TV I ever need to watch, I can view them at iwantv.com. But lately, iwantv is making me to unwantv! I've written their technical staff several times already via email to complain about the slooooooooooooooow streaming of their shows and the solutions they have suggested are just plain useless. I've reached the point where I have to watch from pinoychannel.tv instead. Otherwise, how can i keep up with my tv show of the moment, Magkaribal!

I used to have good words for iwantv but now, I simply take them back! no more recommending it forever!

p.s. this was iwantv's email to me dated 28 July 2010 / 0247H

Hello,

You may also try to adjust the connection speed of the windows media player by choosing lower than 256 kbps or higher. You will need to choose the connection setting fit for your connection at the time you are accessing.

Thank you!
iWantv! Feedback

so naturally i had to give a reply...

my gosh, this is so complicated and it doesn't help. I'm using Bayantel broadband and i was hoping your assistance would be plain and simple. Please remember not everyone is a technical person like you are!

Blast from the Past!

It seems like we are getting a 'gift' that we used to receive during the time of the late President Cory Aquino....blackouts! And now that her son is the current president, can we expect the blackouts/brownouts to make a come-back???

Life was once again put on hold (for working people, that is) as the blackout that occured yesterday due to typhoon Basyang (international codename: Conson) not only affected public transport and traffic lights but also basic business operations. No computer, fax, photocopying machine, PBX or any other office equipment could be turned on. And if your office, like mine, is located in a building that has inadequate generator power, all you can do is open your windows and wish for a breeze to cool you down. Office people were sent home mid-day or early afternoon. Malls were packed to the fullest with patrons hoping to cool themselves. Traffic was relatively light in most areas except in areas where public utility vehicles insist on clogging the streets.

Aiyayay...let there be light!

These are my confessions...

Pure talent and eerily sexy. That's how I would describe Usher. I've been to a lot of concerts the past year or so...Pussycat Dolls, David Archuleta, David Cook, Ne-yo, Then and Now...but I'd have to say this is one of the best shows I've seen so far. It all started with a front act...namely Nina and South Border...

Someday...

I listed to them belt out 3 or 4 songs but I wasn't really 'listening' because, admit it or not, us concert goers are there for the main act and not the front act. So after the front act and a couple of minutes to properly set up the stage, out comes...

He sang, rapped, danced, gyrated, wriggled like a spineless creature, grabbed his crotch a la Michael Jackson, teased, seduced and basically gave his best performance. No wonder they were touting this as the most anticipated concert of the year.

My Confessions, Burn, Love in this Club, Nice and Slow, OMG were some of the songs he sang and danced to. And boy, did he keep the people standing almost the entire night dancing to his tunes. My Confession is that I also couldn't help but dance that night which I normally would never do in any other concerts.

Boom Boom Pow!

I arrived a bit too early at SM Mall of Asia for Usher's concert...a tad excited I have to admit...so I had an early dinner first with my very good friend P. Then he told me about this Yamato drummer group, whom I happened to read about earlier in the newspaper and I was thinking to myself what I waste coz I wanted to see them perform but the show is all the way to SM North Edsa. P said there's also a performance at Mall of Asia! But I said its not written in the newspaper. There was a misprint or something. Aw, how can the organizers do that to such a wonderful show (i think it is wonderful). So since Im early still and with about an hour to spare, I went to the Music Hall to wait for the Yamato show to start. Since the Music Hall is like an open area, there is no entrance fee to speak of. People started coming to the hall around 5 minutes before the show started (7:30 pm was the officially start). 7:30 came and show promptly started. Lights were dimmed and the drummers took their places. A short introduction was given by the representative from the Embassy of Japan and not long after, the magic started...

I was totally blown away. I could not possible describe it in words but the drummers were simply stunning! From their comical routine to the non-stop beating of the drums, I was at awe. Sadly, I could not watch the entire show as Usher was waiting for me but I made a vow that I must visit Japan soon and soak up as much of their wonderful culture.

I'm going to see Usher, LIVE!

P: I might have a ticket to Usher's concert at MOA, you ok watching alone?

Me: Choosy I ain't! Silver tickets (expecting to be placed at the standing section)?

P: Platinum, worth P9,000 (US$ 200) a pop!

Me: Yahoo!!!! and I don't care if I watch it alone.

Well, for somebody who is used to doing thing alone most of the time, like travelling overseas, eating at restaurants, shopping, watching a movie...what is watching a 2 hour concert alone. You're surrounded by thousands of people shouting and dancing and the place is definitely going to be in a party mood!

now what to wear to this most anticipated concert of the year...

Magkaribal (Competitors)

I hardly watch anything Tagalog much less a drama series but I'm definitely hooked on Philippine's first fashionserye (fashion series). So far it's been an interesting watch (although its on its first week only) and hopefully the storyline is kept interesting for a long time.

Confrontations between Gretchen Barreto's (Victoria Valerio) and Angel Aquino's (Vera) characters remind me of confrontations between Linda Evans (Krystle Carrington) and Joan Collins (Alexis Carrington) ....very Dynastic!

Hong Kong...part 3

Before there was even a Hong Kong Disneyland, there was already Ocean Park Hong Kong. Opened in 1977, Ocean Park houses a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park, 19 rides and other attractions. To date and to my knowledge, tourists and locals still prefer to go to Ocean Park than Disneyland specially the mainlanders (China). When I went to Ocean Park, it happened to be a holiday in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan because of the dragon boat festival. Which meant the park was super crowded. Mainlanders are the main components of the crowd but there were also Indians, Malaysians and Filipinos.

Ocean Park Main Entrance

Ocean Park is actually divided into two sections separated by mountains. Each section has its own entrance/exit. To move from one area to the other, you can either take the cable car...

...and for people like me who are afraid of heights, we can now rejoice since Ocean Park has decided to build a train that passes through a mountain to cross to the other side.

At one section of Ocean Park, you will see one or two live Pandas if one is lucky

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat

There's also a bungee trampoline

The Sky Star which is basically a giant balloon that you could take a ride on (although that day it was closed for maintainance)

that is Whisker, by the way, one of Ocean Park's official mascots.

There's also a Bird Theatre with owls, hawks, and other feathered friend showing their talents

I was one of the early 'birds' so this was taken before the show even started

Shy owl with his not-so-shy trainer

A Goldfish Treasures

There's also a purely kids area called Whisker's Harbour...with rides like the Frog Hopper, Mini Ferris Wheel, games similar to carnivals, merry go round, etc

There's a sea lion show but i didn't bother to watch as the show schedule did not match mine.

So off I went to the other section of Ocean Park, riding the dimly lit train (not complaining here...still a lot better than taking the cable car)

These are some of the rides available...

None of the rides actually interested me as I am afraid of heights.

There is also the famed world's second longest outdoor escalator....its like 4 super long escalators and believe me, if you're afraid of heights like I am, hold on tight to the railing. Im not kidding when i tell you that during my ride down one of the escalators, the one going up suddenly stopped and a number of people were frozen and refused to move either up nor down ( i would be the same and would hold on for dear life)

There was still a lot of construction and improvements inside the park and I certainly am looking forward to the 'new' Ocean Park

Tai Shue Wan entrance...or rather it is my exit point!

Hong Kong...part 2

I haven't been to Victoria Peak and Ocean Park for the longest time and since I wasn't doing anything much on this trip to Hong Kong, I decided to visit the two place. First up is the Victoria Peak. Officially, the mountain is called Mount Austin but its popular name is The Peak. There are two ways of getting to the Peak, one is by coach and the 2nd one, which is the more popular, historic and scenic route up the Peak is via the Peak Tram.

The Tram started its operations way back in 1888. Of course the one you see above is already the modern tram. But the old trams were probably made of authentic wood. The ride up takes about 10 minutes as the Tram moves slowly up the mountain. Since Mount Austin is dotted with houses, the Tram makes at least two stops as residents get down to go to their houses.

Up at The Peak, you will find the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria adjacent to each other. Peak Galleria houses shops and restaurants while Peak Tower house Madame Tussauds and the viewing deck.

Let me show you some of the shots I took looking down at the Hong Kong Island and a bit of Kowloon

Madame Tussauds is also a popular destination as it houses life-like wax figures of famous personalities.

Inside you will find the likes of Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman...

...Mr Donkey himself, Eddie Murphy...

...Madonna...

...the King of Pop...

...Tina Turner...

You also have Chinese/Hong Kong/Taiwanese/Korean stars like Leon Lai (i have a friend who had the biggest crush on him years and years ago)

...Ip Man...

...Bae Yong Joon...

You can also find stars that have passed away like Teresa Teng...

...John Lennon (Beatles)...

..and Anna Mui (Im not exactly sure about her name but I do remember her in my younger years as a concert performer)

Some of the Royal Family of England with a clown (that is definitely not me and I don't know that guy!)...

You can also find Einstein mingling with the crowd...

...and boxing legend Muhammad Ali...(i wonder when Paquiao's will be added)

There are still hundreds of political, celebrities and stars littering the whole of Madame Tussauds which I wasn't able to take pictures of anymore but it'll be best to bring along someone to take your pictures as most of these wax figurines are tall! And an ordinary tri-pod might not do. And finally, the star of Madame Tussauds is, of course Madame Tussaud herself!