[MyWorld] Working on a Car and Hanging Out

For MyWorld Tuesday I share a couple of typical street scenes in, well, my world, in the Philippines.

I took these photos this week close to the "wet" market we go to for much of our fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and seafood. I've posted a number of images from this area before.

[Click image to enlarge.]

Manila, 2011

For these street photographs I did a bit of post-processing to make them more appealing to me. Tell me what you think... did it work? 

[MyWorld] Notre Dame de Vie Chapel

Since I returned to Manila, my honey and I have been hunting for a new home. Wanting to stay in the same area we've lived most of the past two decades, in the southern part of the city, we've been cruising around, looking at options in different subdivisions.

One day we stumbled on a development we'd not seen before, and this is the sight that caught my eyes.

I've since learned that this is Notre Dame de Vie Chapel, a venue for weddings and other social events. I think another time I'll have to go in closer to see what else there is to discover. But this day we were on a mission, so I stopped with just admiring this large glass dome.

Manila, 2011

I am also happy to report that we found a suitable house and are now fully engaged in packing up our belongings to make the move over the next weeks.

And this is my world at the moment, so I share with the community at MyWorld Tuesday.

[MyWorld] Schönbrunn Palace

Some people can escape the hot city life in summer to a small cabin by the lake (just saying). Other people go to a summer residence on a massive acreage. Like the 1400-room Schönbrunn Palace in Austria. But you'd have to be royalty.

 

 Vienna, 2011

 

Between the palace and Neptune Fountain are 32 statues of deities and virtues. And behind the fountain, still farther up on the hill, is a rather useless structure, in my opinion, called Gloriette, designed and built to glorify Habsburg power. Today it is a café serving the throngs of locals and tourists ambling the grounds.

Looking back down from the fountain you get a better picture of the size of this palace. Contrast it to the buildings in the city behind it.

The history of this imperial summer residence goes back to 1569. It holds various  styles of large gardens, an arboretum and a forest that was used as a hunting ground.  But the only animals I saw wouldn't be of much interest to hunters. Oh, and there is a children's zoo that I did not enter.

Call me crazy, but given a choice (and I've been told I do have a few drops of blue blood in my veins), I'd take the cabin. The trappings associated with this life are much too restrictive for my tastes.

And this was part of my world this week, so I am linked with MyWorld Tuesday where many others share a peek into their corner of the world.

[MyWorld] Building a Controversy

Today I show you an unusual piece of architecture you will either love or hate. It's not a building to elicit tapioca responses and thus has been the subject of lively controversy.

This is the headquarters of the Romanian Architects' Union.

Bucharest, 2011

The bottom stone portion are the remains of a circa 1890 house in Bucharest called Casa Paucescu. It was occupied by the infamous Securitate, the secret police of communist Romania, and was destroyed during the Romanian anti-communist Revolution of December 1989.

In 2003 architects Zeno Bogdanescu and Dan Marin designed and built this modern glass structure inside and on top of the ruins, preserving the remains of the original house as a memorial to the revolution.

So, what do you say... love? hate? was it worth preserving this part of the historic building with a grim past?

Original Casa Pucescu

Linking with MyWorld Tuesday.

[MyWorld] Chişinău Cathedral

Today I worked in Chişinău, the capital of Moldova. Before the final rays of sun disappeared I made it to the central Cathedral Park to capture this beautiful Orthodox church and its bell tower. Architect A. Melnikov designed these buildings in the style of late Russian classicism and they were erected between 1831-1835.

 Moldova, 2011

Seeing people enter the church, I followed. When I went inside, I heard a mass in progress with gorgeous choir music. Standing at the very back, I listened for quite some time and was ale to snap this one image of the spectacular interior without disturbing the devout.

This today was MyWorld. Follow the link to explore many other worlds!

[MyWorld] Flower for Women Power

Today is the 100-year anniversary of International Women's Day. I join the many around the globe celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. 

As I was walking around the central district of Bucharest today, I saw flower vendors on nearly every street corner. It is perceptibly a day that matters in Romania. Many women get the day off work and I even received a lovely white freesia from our lunch waiter. 

    Bucharest, 2011

And this is MyWorld today!

Up, Up and Awaaaay!

Right click on this and open in a new tab to hear what's on my brain.

Split, 2009

Okay, so I'm not really going up in a balloon, but I am boarding a plane in a few days to go work on a project in Europe. I expect that my blogging over the next months is going to be much more sporadic than it has been. Just a heads up for anyone who may miss me. I know I'll miss you.

And this is linked to My World Tuesday and Ruby Tuesday.

[MyWorld] Working with Waste

Meet Ann Wizer and her Invisible Sisters.

 Makati, 2011

Ann is an American visual artist, environmentalist and activist. Like me, she has lived in Asia for over 25 years. And she works with waste. In her art she started with natural debris and about a decade ago moved to industrial waste. Why? Because, she says, "there's just too much of it." I sure agree!

In 2008 Ann started her social enterprise in the Philippines: Invisible Sisters. This organization teaches marginalized women to crochet and knit fashion accessories from plastic waste materials. This provides poor mothers and grandmothers with skills, income and self-esteem.

And the consumer gets a colorful handcrafted one-of-a-kind must-have item that is not only creative and trendy but ecofriendly. How cool is that?

You can read more about this celebrated eco-warrior and her wonderful design intervention into poverty reduction and environmental protection at her website. And by the way, she is looking for partners and investors, so if the glove fits, do connect with her through her website.

I spoke to Ann and took these photos last Saturday when my friend Jill and I visited Art in the Park in Jaime Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati. After two decades in the world of designing, producing and marketing handcrafted products, I know a little about the effort and dedication that success  in this field requires. And so I greatly admire people with heart like Ann who use their creative talents to make our world a better place.

So with this post I join the community at MyWorld Tuesday.

Love Is in the Air

I'm a few hours late to greet you for Valentine's Day, but love works for me 24/7 365 days a year. You too?

To get you in the mood for this theme, right click and open in a new tab to listen to this sweet tune.

Kathmandu, 2010

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and a richness to life that nothing else can bring. - Oscar Wilde

As sweet and musical
As bright Apollo's lute, strung with his hair;
And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony. - W. Shakespeare

There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.- Friedrich Nietzsche

Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart. - Marcus Aurelius

Linking with Ruby Tuesday and MyWorld Tuesday.

[MyWorld] Heritage Houses

In an earlier post I described our lovely rooms at the resort we stayed in between Christmas and New Years. One of a number of things that made this a great place to stay are the accommodations in authentic heritage houses. I quote from their website:

Sitio Remedios is a private village resort situated in an 18,000 square meter of land in Barangay Victoria, Currimao, Ilocos Norte, facing the South China Sea. It is a re-created Ilocano village typical of the mid-fifties, and stands as a reminder of a more genteel era. The houses and other buildings are made of vintage bricks and wood salvaged from mid-century structures mostly from the towns of Ilocos Norte. The lay-out is in a grid typical of Spanish times, the quadricula, respectful of spaces and ancient trees, amid which the structures are built. The houses were constructed by workers coming from the towns where the houses were sourced, guided by architect Rex Hofileña, who without any detailed architectural plans, coached them to surface their innate artistry and skill to build remembrances of their Ilocano past.

Here are a few of the houses. Details can be seen when enlarged.

 

 

 

 Ilocos Norte, 2010

In a future post I will show some more scenes of this special place.

Linking with MyWorld Tuesday, where hundreds of others share a glimpse of their world.

Red for Good Luck

Red is the color for good luck and success for Chinese everywhere and over the weeks of the lunar new year celebrations, China is bathed in the color.

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year's Eve and Thursday is the first day of the Year of the Rabbit. A couple of weeks ago when I was in China, on the streets and in the stores and malls red decorations were coming out on display. Makeshift shops on the streets selling red new year products were starting to pop up like mushrooms. 

 Chinese knots

 Chinese lanterns, calendars, red pockets and calligraphy posters

 Guangdong, 2011

 Mall decoration

 

 Even red underwear for good luck

I wish you and yours 

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Today I link with MyWorld Tuesday and Ruby Tuesday.

[MyWorld] Dessert Buns

In the weeks before and after Chinese New Year, family and friends gather to celebrate. As in every culture I know, food is at the center of the social activities. 

In southern China, these steamed or deep fried dessert buns are offered to guests in households and restaurants everywhere. 

Some make the buns at home; others buy them from makers like this.

Wuchuan, 2011

When they are fresh, still warm, they are mouth-watering delicious.

Eating (too much) with good friends was a big part of my world during my travels in China last week. I link this with the community at MyWorld Tuesday.

[MyWorld] Rustic Elegance

In Ilocos Norte, already a few weeks ago, we stayed at a most delightful resort. Having a definite preference for uniqueness and character, this place may rank as one of the top ten I've ever stayed in. From the moment we entered the grounds and were treated to a bright smile and fresh wet towel to the moment we left four days later, we felt pampered and well-looked after. A bit of heaven on earth, one might say.

The resort cannot be considered the lap of luxury, but it far exceeded comfort through the meticulous attention to detail in historical design and decor, both inside and outside. There was too much of interest on the grounds to cover in one post, so today I share with you a few views of our own accommodation. [Details are best seen when photos are enlarged.]

 

 

 Ilocos, 2010

In the photos: the entrance to our suite, an antique wood carved angel, our bed, capiz shell panels and mirror in our bedroom, view from our sitting room (yes, no window), outdoor rain shower, door to small courtyard, and the scene as we leave our suite.

And for four glorious days and nights, that was my world... and I link with MyWorld Tuesday.