Happy Halloween!

If you are attracted to the spooky, scary, creepy side of Halloween, there's nothing on this blog for you today.

Perhaps I've missed something, but I see mostly the cute and friendly side of this holiday here in Manila. In our village (subdivision) there will be a little party for the residents and their young kids in the afternoon, followed by a house-to-house tour of trick-or-treating. Like in America, from where of course this tradition was adopted, the kids will dress up as their favorite characters.

These are just a few images of the holiday I captured right on our street to wish you a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

 Manila, 2010

What will you do this Halloween?

This post is linked to Mosaic Monday, where people who like to create interesting montages gather to share.

On Benches in Boredom

Is it a universal phenomena that women drag their sweethearts out to the mall, then leave the hapless fellows waiting on benches in boredom while they check out the sales? 

I did think that these seats in the upscale Greenbelt Mall in Makati were rather handsome and unique...

Manila, 2010

...and that the reflections on the mirror clean floor would make a fine addition to James' collection of Weekend Reflections. Go check out the links to others sharing their reflections.

[SkyWatch] Blue Sky. Three Seasons?

Kyoto, 2009

On first glance, one could say there are three seasons represented here.  But in fact, the clear blue sky is the same in each image, as I captured these within 20 minutes of each other.

Posted for SkyWatch Friday where amazing skies from around the globe await you.

F is for Funky Fashion

Meet Astrud Crisologo. She is a Filipina designer of funky fashion.

Yesterday I told you about a special art exhibit I attended. Astrud and some of her creations were there. I did not interview her in any way, but we did chat a bit. I like her fun, friendly and funky style, in both her personality and her work.

I'll let my fotos do the talking, but her flexibility is clear. Look at her photographs printed on her reverse satin dresses; French toile inspired Filipino images on chair seats, lamp shades, even water bottles; metal chandelier with blue roses; bags and accessories. 

But perhaps the funkiest of her fashion creations is her footwear. About these a sign says:

These shoes represent the artist's love affair with fashion - something Filipino but with Occidental influences. It depicts the constant struggle between practicality and frivolity, vanity and modesty, comfort and pain. It serves as a weapon and a security blanket all at the same time. The artists reflects the good vs the bad in the contrast of textures, the sharp with the blunt, the familiar with the strange.

Fabulous, right? So without further fanfare, a potpourri of images; each can be enlarged:

 

 

 

 

Manila, 2010

And this is my F post for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. It's a fine bunch and there are always fantastic takes on the week's letter.

O is for Opening

Tonight I attended the opening of an art exhibit called "a Magical Mystery Tour" presented by the Carl Jung Circle Center headed by my lovely friend, Rose.

The theme for the exhibit came from a quote by Jungian analyst, Thomas Moore: Through a magical, spiritual use of images, the arts nourish the soul, creating a richly varied atmosphere, an environment that is not only practical but spiritually nutritious.

Thirteen artists from its community and faculty displayed a rich variety of mediums and styles. 

The well attended opening featured paintings, sculptures, paper masks, photography, jewelry and other stirring forms of artistic expression. The artists were there to answer questions about their work. And as can be expected at a well organized opening, there were well-wishing flowers, servers offering sangria and appetizers, and, of course, the official photographer (that was NOT me!).

Here is a sprinkling of what I saw:

 

 

 

 

 

Manila, 2010

The exhibit runs for another two days at the LTI Center on Reposo Avenue in Makati. If you live in the city, I highly recommend stopping by for a look. 

At ABC Wednesday, the letter of the week is O. Go take a look at how others played with the letter.

[Any photo can be enlarged and will open in a new tab when you click on it.]

[MyWorld] Are You a Bag Lady?

I'm not a bag lady. No, of course you're not, I can hear you say. 

But I don't mean the poor woman we see on the street, wandering aimlessly, collecting endless bags, the one we pity and think, there go I but for the grace...

No, I mean I'm not the modern day "material girl" who shops till she drops, who collects more shoes and bags than she can reasonably use. The kind who will spend a pretty penny to get a Ferragamo, Gucci or Manolo Blahnik. Those bags leave me cold.

But look at these bags! Bags like these can make my eyes pop!

Manila, 2010

These are woven bags made by traditional raffia weavers on the Philippine island of Bohol. To satisfy a growing global demand for natural and sustainable product, the raffia (a palm leaf fiber) has been combined with various other environmentally friendly materials like recycled newspapers and old plastic twine.

With the collaborative support of the government and the European Chamber of Commerce, this superb project brings together the weavers who are trained to work the materials, the designers who create trendy bag and accessory designs, and the exporters who market the bags. 

Everyone is a winner. Including the end consumer who not only gets a unique one-of-a-kind handmade bag but also plays her part in the global sustainability effort.

And That's My World. Check out the many other worlds by clicking on the link.

So tell me, are you a bag lady?

How Best to Change a Battery

The Dominos pizza chain made advertising history when in 1973 they announced their new 30-minute delivery guarantee. Of course the "...or it's free" part of the tagline has long been dropped, but that we don't remember. Fast pizza home delivery has been the standard ever since.

But have you ever had a new car battery delivered and installed in about an hour? Like this? Let me tell you...

Last week I went to a trade show and when I returned to my car, I turned the key and heard the dreaded click... try again... click... Battery deader than a door knob. Take a deep breath.

I went back inside to seek help from friends who were exhibiting. I was informed of this delivery service and was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly it all went.

The order was placed by phone and after about 40 minutes of chatting with friends I received a message on my cell phone that the man had arrived. I went outside, we found each other easily, and we went to my car.

First he checked that the battery was indeed beyond boosting. Then within minutes he had the dead battery out and the new one in.

Here's what it looked like:

Manila, 2010

Top of the line battery, delivery and installation, less than $100. No fuss, no muss. Easy to stay mellow.

And this happy little story gets posted to Mellow Yellow Monday and Mosaic Monday. Check out the links for more fun takes on the themes.

Young and Old Crossing a Footbridge

Dapitan, 2008

Dapitan City sits on the northwestern coast of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao in the province of Zamboanga del Norte. This footbridge in the tropics crosses one of a number of rivers and tributaries in and around the city; I can't name it for you. 

Posted for Sunday Bridges and Scenic Sunday.

Reflection in a Konditorei

Vienna, 2003

This is the mirror in the Demel Konditorei. This rococo style bakery and pastry shop was Royal Patisserie to the Emperors of Austria a couple of centuries ago. Now it's merely the most famous and expensive shop of its kind in Vienna. But they still make everything from scratch and by hand - no machines in this kitchen.

Perhaps it is therefore tantamount to sacrilege for me to say that I did not enjoy my cake. Oops!

And in case you're curious, this is a(n unimpressive) view of the pastry shelf.

Posting this for James' Weekend Reflections.

[SKyWatch] Drama

Cavite, 2010

This is another shot out of an airplane. Here I'm flying south from Manila along the coastline of Cavite in the early evening when the sun sets and gives me these fabulous special effects. Another case where bigger really is better.

Linking with SkyWatch Friday where more stunning skies around the globe await you.

E is for Entertainment

To be honest with you, I'm usually a titch cynical about "cultural" shows put on for tourists. But we were in Ulaanbaatar on a special mission and we could not say "no" to our hosts when they suggested we go. A nudge is sometimes a blessing. 

The show of traditional Mongolian musicians, singers, dancers and acrobats in a small intimate theater turned out to be one of the delightful highlights of our stay in the capital.

 

 

 Ulaanbaatar, 2007

If you'd really like to be entertained here today, I gladly nudge you to visit this video (after you say hello to me) and learn a little about the music made with the two-stringed marin whoor (horse-headed violin) that often accompanies khoomii, Mongolian throat singing. It's a treat to the receptive ear.

I'm linking with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Go check out other fun takes on the letter E this week.