Bowling Practice + the Swimming Pool

More than a week from now, we’ll be having the 2^nd phase of our company sports tournament. Because we have few female players because of scarcity of women employees in our department, we are allowed to play unlimited events as long as it will not compromise the game schedule. 

Liked in the 1^st phase, I’ll be playing again in 2 events in the 2^nd phase, the bowling and dart. Frankly speaking, it was my first time to be involved in those two events. I bought dart pins and joined the practice which until now I can’t manage to get three pins on the same target and also joined the first bowling practice this afternoon. Bowling is a popular pastime and tournament sports, but sadly Cagayan de Oro City only has one bowling center, which is located in an exclusive subdivision. 

Moving forward after my first practice game I managed to get a total score of 90, hmmm beginner’s luck, and 2^nd round was funny because most of the balls ended in the gutter, thus, I end up with a total score of 69. Ha! The game looks easy to play, but honestly, I find it hard to throw the ball straight. Maybe more practice I’ll be able to figure out the techniques of the game. 

Anyway, because heading back to the office, I took a photo of the swimming pool at the country club. I wish we were one of the homeowners and so that we can get to enjoy the amenities of the subdivision. Envious! 

 Water World Wednesday

SkyWatch Friday

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The Huangpu River Cruise in Shanghai China

After our tour at the Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower, we headed to the dock for our Huangpu River Cruise which we were scheduled to board the 11:00AM ferry.

The snake like river is the largest river in Shanghai about 114kilometers long and 400 meters wide with an average depth of 11 meters. Huangpu River divided Shanghai into east and west part, the Pudong and Puxi respectively. 

 

Cruising the Huangpu River lets tourists like us witness the development of Shanghai. You’ll be amazed with the well known the Bund, from the historical buildings that were preserved to the modern buildings made of steels and glasses aligning along the river bank.

These are some of the photos taken using my Galaxy Note 3 smartphone.

The cruise wharf taken before boarding.

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Food Trip in Nanjing, China: The Lunch in the Employee Cafeteria

Those are the breakfast meals we had, next stop is the lunch meals at the company’s cafeteria.

Like the rest of the employees of the engineering technology center in Jiangning District, we had our lunch at one of the level of their three-storey cafeteria between 12NN to 1PM. Yep! You read it right, the company has a 3-storey self-service restaurant that caters their thousands of employees.

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Blue and Peaceful

It's the 8th day of January, and the busy body me never got a chance to post something here until today. Yay! 

Anyway it's a brand new year and I hope everyone is doing well in their first eight days and hoping that our whole year will be peaceful, with more blessings, graces and happiness.

To start this year's series of photos, here's one that I took last Monday, a blue and peaceful sea. I drove myself to Iligan from Cagayan de Oro the other day and took few minutes to stop by at the Centennial Park. The sea look do serene in a sunny midday. 

It was a good decision to pull over to take some snaps for Water World Wednesday. Because by late afternoon, this scene transformed into a gloomy sight because of the threatening rain and dark gray clouds, the first for the year in this part of the world.

And as of this writing, I can hear the rain drops pounding on our roof. Let's enjoy the wonderful rainy day!

By the way this photo was taken using my fresh Samsung Smart Camera WB250F.

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Sail to Freedom

"I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do."
~Robert A. Heinlein~

Photo taken one Sunday morning at the beach in Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

Water World Wednesday

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Enjoying the Warm Sea Water

“Children learn best through their everyday experiences  with the people they love and trust, and when the learning is fun. And the best place for these experiences is outdoors, in the natural world.”

Center for Families, Communities, Schools and Children’s Learning

My little boy enjoying the warm sea water in one early Sunday Morning at Opol, Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

 

Water World Wednesday

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Water Flowing from Big Jars

"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles."
~Washington Irving~

These are jars fountain at the main entrance of Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City, taken using my smartphone. 

Water World Wednesday

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Water Fountain at SM

While rain is still devastating parts of Metro Manila and some Luzon provinces brought about by the southwest monsoon (habagat) intensified by Tropical Storm “Maring”, the Southern part of the Philippines particularly in Cagayan de Oro is luckily experiencing bright sunny day today. Although "Maring" had left the Philippine Area of Responsibility, still rain continues to pour. I hope and pray that our kababayans in the Metro and in Luzon will stay safe. 

Meanwhile, I'm sharing to you this water fountain located at SM Rotonda. I seldom see the fountain working but last Sunday because of the SM "3-Day Sale", it was showing its grandest. 

Sorry for the "not so" bright photo, because I only have with me my smartphone and that time it has a low battery life "sad" :(.

Water World Wednesday

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Pot Fountain

Water flowing from the mouth of a clay pot, at the main entrance of Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City, where we stayed last week during our official business in the city.

Taken using my Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone. The ever reliable gadget with built in camera that always comes in handy when I'm too lazy to carry with me the bulky Canon 60D DSLR.

Water World Wednesday

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Back to the Sea

We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came.
~John F. Kennedy~

 

Photo taken on Sunday July 21, 2013 while having lunch in one of the restuarants in Opol Misamis Oriental.

Water World Wednesday

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Sunday at the Beach

Two weeks ago on an early (6AM) Sunday morning, we went to a nearby beach because husband and son had colds and runny noses the previous days. It is said that morning dip at the beach will help heal the sickness brought by the rainy season quicker.

The sky is almost clear from gray clouds, the rain had finally stopped and we've welcome the rising of Mr. Sun.

X was checking out the sea water if cold or not.

Watching his Ate washing and preparing his floater.

And finally hopped in his floater for a relaxing ride..

Minutes later my sister-in-law and her family arrived and joined us. We left the beach around 9AM after breakfast, because the Mr. Sun was already shining intensely.

Water World Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

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Watery Croton Leaves

Locally known as San Francisco, Croton plants are one of the colorful leafy plants you will ever see.  The leaves have variegated colors, from bright yellow, orange and red to refreshing green.

The array of croton plants above are brightly displayed in our front yard. And since it's raining here in our city in the middle of the summer months, the crotons leaves are still bright eventhough they are covered with droplets of water.

Have you seen these plants with blooms? I did! You can check out my macro shot here.

Water World Wednesday

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Play in the Sand

“Time is a game played beautifully by children.”
~ Heraclitus ~

Water World Wednesday

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Live Your Life

Life is full of surprises, there are those so called "hard times" that will makes us feel down and wounded. But after those, Life will hand us something amazing that makes us happy and glad that we're alive.

Happy Wednesday!

The photo above was taken on March 3, 2013 at Opol, Misamis Oriental, Philippines.

Water World Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

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First Family Vacation 2013: Manila Ocean Park - Oceanarium

Why I chose Metro Manila as our first destination this year’s Vacation, was because I want my little boy to see the fishes, the water creatures + the birds. Manila Ocean Park is the best place to see them up close here in the Philippines.

We arrived at Metro Manila on January 24, 2013 around 10AM, checked-in at Tune Hotels and in the afternoon off we went to Manila Ocean Park. We arrived there a round 4PM too late to watch the Sea Lion Show so we availed only the Oceanarium + Musical Fountain Show package at P500.00 + P150 for the Kingdom of Prey experience.

Our First Stop was the Kingdom of Prey (I’ll make a separate post for this one soon), then the Oceanarium and these are the photos that we’re able to take. But unfortunately most were dark because flash photography is not allowed. Nevertheless, the photos are still passable.

A family picture at the well known MOP sign at the entrance.

Father and Son at the Oceanarium entrance. Hubby posing while Xye looking somewhere.

 Some big fresh water fishes.

Some fishes of the sea..

chambered nautilus

lion fish

 

 posing with the Giant Trevallies at the back..

And a family pose at the Asia's largest walk through underwater tunnel.

Manila Ocean Park is indeed a friendly place for adults and kids. We are lucky to have this one of a kind water attraction in our country.

Water World Wednesday

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Nymphaeaceae - Water Lily

Nymphaeaceae commonly called Water Lily is a family of flowering plants that live in freshwater areas like ponds and with tropical climates around the world.

I saw these water lilies in a man-made pond somewhere in Bukidnon, I asked hubby to pull over for me to take some snaps. The weather was not that good, hence the photos are not well lighted. I wanted to take a closer shot, unfortunately this is the most my lens can take me. Nevertheless, they still look great for me. 

Next time when we visit the province, I hope to see them blooming again and hope they will be little bit closer to the edge of the pond for me to be able to take a close up photos. 

A share for Water World Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

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Aerial View Taal Volcano Island

Taal Volcano is considered as one of the smallest and famous volcano in the world the highest peak stands about 1,312 feet and is geographically located at Batangas in the island of Luzon, Philippines. It is also one of the active volcanoes in the world that is why Taal Volcano was named one of the Decade Volcanoes by scientist.

The photos below with (watermarks) were taken while on board Cebu Pacific flight from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila on January 24, 2013.

The Taal Volcano Island

 The photo above actually shows the Taal Volcano Island which was formed by massive eruptions in the past. The tiny speck in the right most of the picture is actually the remnant of the old crater, it is the most photographed part of the volcano island, as shown in most postcards. 

photo not mine

Photo by storm-crypt

The water surrounding the volcano island is called the Taal Lake it is believe to be the crater of the prehistoric volcano.

The Taal Volcano Island

 Another lake can be found in the main caldera of Taal Volcano Island and it is called the Crater Lake.

The Crater Lake

The photo above is said to be the original mouth of Taal Volcano, not what the post cards are usually showing.

Can you see that small stone in the middle of the Crater Lake, it is actually a small island inside the lake (Crater Lake), within the island (Taal Volcano Island), within the lake (Taal Lake).

This is the view, a picturesque of Taal Volcano Island from an aircraft window.

Next time, when you fly to Manila from the south (Visayas or Mindanao) make sure to choose the seat near the window (seat A) and mesmerize the the beauty of nature only seen in the Philippines.

Water World Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

sources: 
http://tourism-philippines.com/taal-volcano/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taal_Volcano
http://www.ehow.com/about_4586201_what-smallest-volcano-world.html

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Watery Papaya Leaf

The papaya fever is not over yet. If you have read about my previous post about the three (3) papaya trees that we have in our front yard, well I have good news. This morning I saw little fruits sprouting from the 2nd papaya tree that we have. Yep! I think our 2nd papaya plant may not only be a female tree after all but a hermaphrodite. Although I'm not that sure yet, we have to observe the little babies that she has right now if it will grow into sweet over-sized fruits that we're expecting her to, then we can conclude that she really is a hermaphrodite. No pictures yet, I was in a hurry this morning. I'll take pictures this afternoon as soon as I arrive home. Meanwhile here's one of her beautiful leaves, feeling refreshed after the rain.

Water World Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

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Raining Outside

Based on Pag-asa's forecast there is no Tropical Cyclone within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. but as of this writing the rain is heavily pouring outside. 

Anything without cover are all wet just like these leaves.

Water World Wednesday

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Watery Vinca Flowers

This is an overdue post, supposedly posted after Christmas but because of the holiday hangover and last minute rush I wasn't able to. Anyway, it's better late that never. 

I'm sharing to you these water drenched vinca flowers in our frontyard, taken on early morning of Christmas Day. Yep! It rained that time because of the Low Pressure Area cruising in the southern part on Mindanao, Philippines. 

Flowers, leaves are beautiful sights especially when they are watery because of the rain.

My 2013 first share for Water World Wednesday hosted by Ate Kim and Wednesday Whites by Raya.

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