Winter Macros

While some of my fellow bloggers in cold climes are posting bright spring photos to banish the dreariness of gray winter, I was moved to find in my archives these macros I took on my walks on the Sunshine Coast of BC last winter. The shapes, textures and colors of this eclectic group of winter foliage appeal to me. As usual, details can better be seen when enlarged.

Sunshine Coast, BC, 2010

I'm joining the good folks posting for Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday.

Binondo Bridge

The Binondo Bridge spans the Pasig River close to where it flows into the port in Manila Bay.

 Manila, 2011

Linking with bridges from around the world at Sunday Bridges.

Black Family

Family of black pigs, that is. 

 Gansu, 2007

Have you ever seen black pigs or swine?

Linked with Photo Hunter where the theme is mostly black and with Camera Critters.

[SkyWatch] Sky in the Sand

You may have seen the beach photos taken in Ilocos I posted earlier with sunset silhouettes and reflections. On that same evening walk, I marveled at the beauty of the sky colors in the sand (better viewed enlarged). 

 

Ilocos, 2010

Help me get better at choosing my images to post. Which is your favorite? And why? Which is your least favorite? Why? I have thick skin, so please don't worry; I'd so much rather learn something than be falsely praised.

I link this post with SkyWatch Friday and Weekend Reflections.

T is for Tricycle

An everyday form of public transportation found throughout the Philippines is the tricycle. This is typically a small 50-125CC motorcycle with a side car that works like a taxi for short distances and in areas not covered by buses or other mass transit. 

Less common these days, it seems to me, is the pedal-powered tricycle, a vinyl-covered sidecar mounted to a regular bicycle frame. Yet a few days ago I spotted these two in Malate, a touristy area near Manila Bay...
 

Manila, 2011

... and I thought they'd be fun to share for T at Alphabe-Thursday and Signs, Signs.

F is for Fountain

Today I show you yet another spot on the grounds of Sitio Remedios, the resort I've featured a number of times in the past weeks (here, here and here).

Looking out from the little chapel, you see this fabulous fountain with a statue of Saint Michael the Archangel in the classical pose of showing Satan who's boss.

 Ilocos, 2010

I thought it looked fantastic at night all lit up, too.

This post joins the good folks playing along at ABC Wednesday where the letter today is F, as well as with Watery Wednesday.

[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.