Thursday, June 30, 2011

Transformers: Dark of the Moon Movie Screening at Shang Cineplex

Last night, June 29, 2011, the movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon opened at cinemas nationwide. And we were lucky enough to have a FREE movie screening at Shangri-la Cineplex courtesy of Nuffnang Philippines and PLDT myDSL!

I would love to share our photos during the awesome event but my storage capacity here at Blogger has been used up.

For now, you can visit my Runner's Toe FB Page for event photos or click HERE.

Thank you Nuffnang and PLDT myDSL!

~POST TO BE UPDATED
With my favorite autobot Bumblebee!
Bloggers Lhan Matias and wifey
Photowall shot with my wifey
 More pics uploaded in my FB account :-)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Five of Asia's Most Overlooked Cities

Sometimes the best times are hard away from the tourist trails. Here are 5 lesser-visited Asian cities that provide just as much culture and fun as their more famous alternatives.

 

Kagoshima, Japan


If you're so well traveled in Japan that you can tick off Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, how about paying the quaint Kagoshima down south a visit?

With its balmy seaside breezes and mild sunshine, Kagoshima can pass for Naples on a summer day. No visit to Kagoshima is complete without a ferry ride to the massive stratovolcano Sakurajima, one of the most famous volcanoes in the country. And before you leave, be sure to sample Kagoshima's famous tonkatsu, a pork dish that is not breaded and deep fried as you'd expect from other parts of the country, but delicately caramelized.

 

Chengdu, China


Most foreign backpackers in China will be no stranger to Chengdu, a popular stopping point for travelers intending to journey up to Tibet. What many tourists fail to notice, however, is that Chengdu is worth much more than a one-night stopover.

Unlike other cities in this booming country, Chengdu possesses a laid-back vibe -- so much so that the Chinese have voted it the country's fourth most livable city. Locals are generally friendly and you're likely to bump into many like-minded tourists itchy for adventure and conversation.

Much of the local scene takes place at the sprawling People's Park, where the city's residents engage in their favorite pastimes throughout the day, be it tai chi, sipping tea by the lake, playing majong in the open or dancing. Entry to important archeological dig Jinsha Excavation Site may be steep at 80 RMB, but the huge number of artifacts there is well worth the ticket. At night, explore the bustling wine-and-dine area of Jinli Ancient Street for some after-dark action.

 

Kaohsiung, Taiwan


Taiwan is not just all about Taipei. Kaohsiung, the island's second-biggest city, is quickly outgrowing its reputation as an industrial and commercial hub to become a fascinating tourist destination in its own right.

Despite the wealth of historical buildings and the untouched forests in this sprawling city, for years Kaohsiung has been something of an underdog on the tourist circuit due to the city's reliance on industry, which polluted the city's waterways and air. But not any more. Recent efforts to clean up the city are finally reaping results: the romantically named Love River used to reek of sewage but is now the city's tourism focal point. A visit to Kaohsiung is incomplete without a sail on the river at night on a barge, with outdoor cafes and beautifully lit historical sights flanking the river on both sides.

Another great way to take in the city is to attend the annual Lantern Festival, a dizzying parade of fireworks, live concerts, lanterns and lip-smacking street food. The Lantern Festival is usually held in the middle of the Chinese New Year.

 

Daegu, South Korea


Neon-lit metropolises Seoul and Pusan may overshadow the quiet South Korean city of Daegu, but the latter deserves its own place in the spotlight.

For many Korean domestic travelers, Daegu's reputation for its sweet juicy apples and beautiful women is enough to warrant a visit. The city is also drawing visitors for its thriving traditional Asian medicine market. Check out the Yangnyeongsi herbal medicine market if you fancy bringing home some herbal curios back home.

With its textiles and clothing manufacturing industries going strong, the city is also positioning itself as a fashion hub in the Asia region in recent years. To see for yourself just how successful this rebranding has been, check out Daegu's central shopping district, Yasigolmok.

 

Sagada, Philippines


The Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines are practically a national symbol, synonymous with the Chocolate Hills and ube ice cream. But apart from the rice terraces there is little to see and do at Banaue.

Enter Sagada, a quiet town deep in the Mountain Province. The rice terraces at Sagada may be smaller than those of Banaue but is still photogenic and, better yet, there's plenty to do around town to keep you occupied for a day or two. Sagada's hanging coffins (coffins with mummified bodies hanging in a cave) leave quite an impression, while adrenalin junkies won't want to pass up the opportunity to hike at the Bomod-Ok falls or venture into the town's eerily beautiful caves.

*Article source: http://ph.travel.yahoo.com


Friday, June 24, 2011

Stranded for Four Hours, Brings back Ondoy

Last night, classes was suspended even at the University of the East College of Law due to heavy rains brought by the Tropical Storm Falcon.

But the suspension of classes came too late, at 6PM the main thoroughfares are already flooded and there are heavy traffic build-up everywhere.


And to add up, jeepneys are no longer plying to our area, so I decided to take another route by riding a bus. It took me more than an hour to get a ride because all buses and other PUJ's are already filled up to the brim!

Alas! at past 7PM I was able to ride at standing only status but the traffic situation along Recto Avenue going to Legarda-Nagtahan area is already non-moving.


Thanks to the TV on board of the bus and my boredom during the long 3 hours trip was somehow lessened. After one hour of standing only, I was able to take a seat because most passengers are already walking due to non-moving traffic along Legarda Street.


At long last, we reached the Nagtahan Flyover at 10PM. The usual 20-30 minutes ride to our area in Santol, Quezon City took me more than four hours. This reminded me again of the wrath of Typhoon Ondoy. That typhoon made me stranded at the LRT V. Mapa station until 3AM due to more than 10 feet high flood at the Ramon Magsaysay Avenue.

Still, I thank God for I was able to go home safely and without the need to walk through the flooded streets.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Thank you to our GM, Sir Erwin Lacson!

This posting is kinda late because the events happened more than a month ago, but as a sign of heartfelt gratitude to our General Manager, Sir Erwin Lacson who just resigned last week, I would like to share his birthday treat last month to us with some of the company managers.

First stop, at Shakeys Pizza, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City on May 12, 2011. The exact birthdate of Sir Erwin.



Second stop, at Piadina Italian Passion Food, Robinsons Galleria on May 31, 2011.


Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to Sir Erwin for not just being so generous, but for believing in my capabilities and for giving me a good break.

Thank you and God Bless!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

PLDT myDSL's Internet to Sawa TRANSFORMS my Internet Experience from 3Mbps to 5Mbps

PLDT myDSL is boosting all their myDSL plans starting with the Plan 3000 subscribers.Which means subscribers will soon enjoy a FREE and UNLIMITED speed boost up to 5Mbps from the previous 3Mbps!

With PLDT myDSL's Internet to Sawa up to 5Mbps, subscribers can now stream, download and play online as much as they want!

And with 5Mbps internet speed, you can not ask for more but more time to have internet, more downloads, more streaming, more playing online.

PLDT myDSL's speed boost up to 5Mbps will literally make our lives online just a second click away, so convenient, no lag time, no long wait.

I have been blogging since last year 2010, but I just started being active in the Nuffnang community this year 2011. My transformation from a regular blogger to a Nuffnanger made my blogging life more enjoyable and challenging.

My first live fight screening of a Manny Pacquiao bout was courtesy of Nuffnang during the Pacquiao-Mosley fight. 

And my first FREE movie screening at Greenbelt 3 was also courtesy of Nuffnang at the X-Men First Class screening.

Thank you Nuffnang for making my blogging experience extraordinary!

Thank you PLDT myDSL for giving this FREE and UNLIMITED speed boost up to 5Mbps!

Visit www.myworldmydsl.com for more information or call 171 to confirm your subscripstion today!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Raymund's Birthday Treat at Shabu Shabu SM North

I just got home from the meet-up and birthday treat of my High School barkada and Church wedding Bestman, Raymund at Shabu Shabu, The Block SM North EDSA.

I do not normally go to Chinese or Korean restaurants so it was my first time to have a Shabu Shabu lunch, it was a memorable Birthday treat indeed!


And additional dessert at Starbucks Coffee in Shoppes,Victoria Plaza, Timog Avenue.

The birthday celebrant at near right
Thank you and Happy Birthday bro Raymund!!! God Bless!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

12 Most Beautiful Lakes in the World

Wow! The Taal Lake in the Philippines was included in the Yahoo! Travel 12 Most Beautiful Lakes in the World. Being a Filipino, I am proud to have Taal Lake in our country and I am happy that I have seen this picturesque beauty personally in several occasions but I would love to conquer the volcano island and its crater someday.~


These 12 lakes go to all the right extremes—highest, deepest, clearest—and showcase nature at its most spectacular. Soak up the views from a boat, a cable car, a trailhead, or a castle tower.


Malawi

Lake Malawi


Home to 1,000 species of fish—estimated to be more than anyplace on earth—Lake Malawi (also called Lake Nyasa) is Africa's third largest lake at 363 miles long and up to about 50 miles wide in spots. Located in a depression 2,300 feet below sea level, it's positioned at the crossroads of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, and supports hundreds of local villages with its rich underwater stock (which is, unfortunately, gradually being depleted due to over-fishing). The lake's southern portion—as well as a bordering nub of wildlife-rich land, Cape Maclear—represents the world's first freshwater national park; it was also named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. A star of the waters here is the mbuna, a native freshwater fish known for eating directly from people's hands. Bring your snorkel gear—as beautiful as the scenery is, the best part about Lake Malawi is what's swimming beneath you in the crystal clear water.
Nearby: Cape Maclear, located within Lake Malawi National Park, is a perfect base for exploring the area.


Alberta, Canada

Peyto Lake


Alberta's Lake Louise is the famous one, on all the postcards and posters. But Louise's sister lake 29 miles north along Icefields Parkway, a two-laner that winds 142 miles through the Canadian Rockies, is even more picturesque. Thanks to glacial rock flour that flows in when the ice and snow melt every summer, the waters of Banff National Park's Peyto Lake are a brilliant turquoise more often associated with warm-weather paradises like Antigua and Bora-Bora. For the most dramatic views of the 1.7-mile-long stunner, encircled with dense forest and craggy mountain peaks, pull into the lot at Bow Summit, the parkway's highest point, and follow the steep hike to the overlook.
Nearby: The town of Banff, the heart of the park, is 62 miles south of Peyto Lake.


Oregon

Crater Lake


Thousands of years ago, the top of a 12,000-foot-high volcano in the Cascade Range exploded. The massive pit left behind became known as Crater Lake, the centerpiece of a national park in southern Oregon that displays nature at its rawest and most powerful. Forests of towering evergreens and 2,000-foot-high cliffs surround the lake, where extraordinarily deep waters—at 1,943 feet, it's the deepest lake in the United States—yield an intense sapphire-blue hue. If winter hiking and cross-country skiing aren't your thing, wait until early July to visit, when the roads have been plowed and the trails cleared. Rim Drive, a 33-mile road that encircles the lake, has picture-perfect views from all sides. For a closer look, follow the mile-long Cleetwood Cove Trail to the shore. Brace yourself before diving in: The water temperature rarely rises above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nearby: The laid-back mountain town of Bend, 112 miles away, makes a nice home base for a Crater Lake day trip.


Philippines

Taal Lake


This dangerous beauty, situated just 37.28 miles south of Manila, has two distinct claims to fame: It is the deepest lake in the Philippines, with a depth of 564 feet. It is also home to one of the world's smallest but most active volcanoes, the Taal Volcano, which sits within its waters on the island of Luzon. The lake itself was formed when a larger volcanic crater here collapsed; now seismologists spend a lot of time monitoring this spot for tremors, and sending out frequent eruption warnings through the country's Department of Tourism. Plenty of tour groups offer trips to the natural wonder—in spite of the fact that it has been declared a permanent danger zone. A safer way to see the volcano is by taking a drive along the Tagaytay-Taal ridge in nearby Tagaytay City.
Nearby: Adjacent Tagaytay City offers some well-priced accommodations, in addition to the best views of the lake.


Guatemala

Lake Atitlán


Nearly a mile up in the highlands of Guatemala, Atitlán (Lago de Atitlán) rests at the foot of three massive conical volcanoes. Small Mayan villages line its shores, which are set off by steep hills draped with oak and pine trees and nearly 800 plant species. There's no single, must-see view of the lake, so try several vantage points: from up high on Highway 1; from the town of Panajachel, the buzzing market hub that juts out into the water; or aboard a lancha, one of the many small boats that ferry visitors from village to village. We're saddened to note that the lake has built up high levels of blue-green algae over the years (in October and November 2009, a film of green scum began briefly marring its surface; since then there have been ambitious efforts to solve the problem).
Nearby: Panajachel is about 2.5 hours by car from Guatemala City.


Scotland

Loch Lomond


With a backdrop of windswept rolling hills and medieval castles, Loch Lomond feels like it's straight out of a Victorian romance novel. The 24-mile-long lake is dotted with islands, some so small that they disappear when the water levels are high, and others large enough to be (sparsely) inhabited. Most ferries stop at the largest island, Inchmurrin (population 11), so visitors can get a look at the remains of a 7th-century monastery and the 14th century Lennox Castle, used often as a hunting lodge for kings.
Nearby: The lake is 24 miles north of Glasgow and 66 west of Edinburgh.


Italy

Lake Garda


If the shape of Italy is a couture boot, think of the imprint of Lake Garda as a design from the funky sister line—long and skinny at the top, opening up toward the bottom. Garda is the country's largest lake and one of the most popular vacation spots among Italians. The southern shore is home to hot springs, resort towns with pastel villas and terra-cotta-roofed hotels, and most of Garda's 28 miles of serene, pebbly beaches. To the north are the jagged peaks of the Dolomites, a magnet for hikers and bicyclists who want to test their endurance. In Malcesine, an adorable speck of a town with cobblestoned streets and a medieval castle, you can board a cable car up to Mount Baldo for one of the best aerial views of the lake.
Nearby: Lake Garda is about halfway between Milan (89 miles away) and Venice (109 miles away), but to get the full, relaxing effect, stay in one of the south shore's many small towns.


France

Lake Annecy


This alpine lake in the heart of the French Alps is a looker, but don't expect to spend your visit gazing over the water in quiet reflection. Lake Annecy is all about activity—particularly in August, when Paris shuts down and the French take extended holidays. Sailors, kayakers, and water-skiers crisscross the water; bikers and hikers hit surrounding nature trails; and refugees from the city fill the outdoor tables at the lakeside restaurants and bars. Repeat visitors know to plan their trip for the first Saturday of August, when a staggering, nearly two-hour-long fireworks display illuminates the water.
Nearby: The closest major city is Geneva, 30 miles north, in Switzerland, but most people stay right on the lake.


Croatia

Plitvice Lakes


These 16 blue-green lakes, hidden by thick vegetation and connected by hundreds of waterfalls, could be the set for the next Jurassic Park. For adventure as well as killer views, start at one of the lower lakes and work your way up following the sturdy wooden planks that turn what could be a treacherous trek into a fun hike. Take a detour along the 10-minute loop that leads to the region's tallest fall, 230-foot-high Veliki Slap ("Big Waterfall"), a breadth of streaming white water that collects in turquoise pools. While hiking, keep your eyes peeled for deer, wildcats, boars, wolves, and bears—a more likely sighting than a T. rex.
Nearby: There are four hotels in Plitvice Lakes National Park, but most people drive in for the day from Zagreb, about 2 hours by car.


Kenya

Lake Nakuru


The water is blue enough, and the backdrop—grasslands and rocky hillsides—has the makings of a nice photo, but neither is what sets this lake in central Kenya apart. The real draw here is the mass of pink on Nakuru's edges. Flamingos are one of the few species that can withstand the lake's hostile conditions—the water has so much sodium carbonate that it burns nearly everything that touches it —and they flock to the lake en masse. There can be as many as a million birds feeding on algae in the shallows at one time, wading side by side.
Nearby: The lake is in the heart of Lake Nakuru National Park, a sanctuary for black-and-white rhinos, three hours by car from Nairobi.


New Zealand

Lake Matheson


Alternately known as Mirror Lake, this South Island lake is famous for its reflections of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Visiting just after dawn is ideal, when the water is at its calmest and mirror images are impossibly perfect. The lake itself is well worth exploring, too. Park near the Clearwater River suspension bridge and follow the 1-mile loop past kahikatea and rimu trees, which have extra-tall trunks and fanciful bushy tops and look like something from a Dr. Seuss book.
Nearby: Fox Glacier township, a village that serves as a base camp for trekkers, is three miles east of the lake.


Slovenia

Lake Bled


Why not get to the good stuff right away? To take in this Slovenian lake's most breathtaking vista, head immediately to Bled Castle, at the edge of a sheer, 460-foot-high cliff. You'll see mountains in every direction—the Julian Alps and the Karavanke range—and below, the Alpine lake and its main attraction, Bled Island, a tiny forested circle that's home to the 17th-century Church of the Assumption and its prominent baroque clock tower. Down on the lake's shore, board a pletna boat (similar to a gondola) to the island. Be sure to ring the church bell and make a wish before returning to the mainland. Mountains shield the water from icy northern winds, so Lake Bled is warm, relatively speaking (79 degrees Fahrenheit). If that's still too chilly, head to the lake's northern section, where three hotels have built pools around natural thermal springs.
Nearby: The Slovenian capital of Ljubljana is an easy 35 miles away.

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*Article source from Yahoo! Travel, 12 Most Beautiful Lakes in the World by Beth Collins