Roll with the Awards

This blog has received several awards given by great bloggers, and I want to recognize and thank them for the awards they have given. I would also like to apologize if it was just now that I posted this, I just got swamped with some errands. But please do know that I am so thankful for recognizing this blog. Thanks a lot!

So here are the awards:

This one came from Anya of Kutsara at Tinidor blog, a photo blog filled with lots of yummy and delicious foods. I initially knew of Anya when I started dropping ECs on food blogs, but I have gotten to know more of her when we both took part of several food related memes.

This golden award came from Maiylah of Maiylah's Snippets blog. I came to know Maiylah through an article posted in a blog talking about a photo shoot / get-together Maiylah organized, and being a newbie photographer, I got interested in the article and headed on her blog. She hosts Food Friday meme, so from there we became friends.

This last award was given by Toni, the author of a travel blog called Gala Tayo! I think I have known Toni through Link Referral, and her blog really amazed me so I started commenting on her posts. From there we drop by each other's blogs once in a while.

The great bloggers whom I am thankful of knowing. Thanks again for the awards! May God bless your generous hearts.

*** Jenn ***

Love Birds

I spotted these lovely lovebirds in Market One, the weekend market located in the grounds of the Lung Center of the Philippines. Honestly, I come to the place mainly to take pictures, but of course I do a little shopping, too! If I could break it down, it's probably 80% picture taking and 20% shopping. =)

Our neighbors breed lovebirds, but I still haven't visited their house, so when I saw these birds in the market, I immediately took a shot. I forgot to ask how much a pair cost, but I think it's about 2-3USD. If I am to choose, I think these blue ones looked good, but I prefer the yellow with green and black feathers I saw on the other cage. I initially chose that one to share, but it was a bit blurry, so I guess this one will do.

Thanks for dropping by my Camera Critters for this week. This early, I want to thank you for the comments. Hope you guys drop by again next week. Happy Sunday, everyone!

*** Jenn ***

Beautiful

I have heard of so many stories and I have seen so many wonderful pictures from my mom's hometown, but seeing it personally gave me that first hand look at how great the place really was. I have been in my mom's hometown so many times, but it was just last July that I was able to check out the famous Barangay Ilog Malino and Barangay Patar, famous for their beach resorts.

At that time, we were invited by Uncle Pete (mom's younger brother) and his family to come have a vacation with them because they are about to migrate to the US (they are actually in the US now) and they wanted us to celebrate with them. Of course, who would not say no for a free vacation, right?

This picture was taken from the private beach house we rented. A sneak peek of the wonderful paradise - this place is where I soaked up the sun and eventually got sun burned (but I still loved it), and this is where I first tried to snorkel and floated without any qualms whatsoever. I still don't know how to swim, but this is where I took giant steps towards learning how to.

*** Jenn ***

Dianeskie's B-Day Contest

My dear friend Diane is celebrating her birthday on the 31st, and in celebration of her 25th birthday, she decided to do a contest. Up for grabs are yummy prizes that include 10USD for the first prize and 5USD for the second prize. She will also be giving some of her used scrapbook magazines for some lucky contestants. Well, it's not everyday that a blogger holds out a contest, so might as well join, right?

Please check out these blogs for more information:

|A Handful of Surprises | My Paper Scraps |
|I Am a Nikon Girl | Digitally Diane | Somewhere Over the Rainbow|

All of my blogs are joining, to increase my chances *winks*. Well, like what I have said, it's not everyday that someone puts up a contest, and it's certainly not everyday that Diane gives out contests, so I want to try my luck. In every situation, we have to be "in it to win it," so I say, "Tira Tira!" Hahahaha!

Thanks for the contest, D!

*** Jenn ***

Lawa ng Labasin

This is Lawa ng Labasin (Lake Labasin) in Villa Escudero - San Pablo City, Laguna. I got to see this place when mom invited me to come with her; every year, their office always go out of town one summer day as part of their bonding moment, and to relax as well. I happily tagged along because I still haven't been there and I wanted to see how beautiful it was in real life. I only get to see it on the Internet, so for a while I was a bit jealous with people who actually went there. Well, not anymore - and I am so thankful for the opportunity to see the place up close.

As part of the experience, visitors can raft around the lake for as long as they can. No worries, visitors are provided with life vests and there is a life guard on stand by, in case something bad happens. Too bad I wasn't able to do this one, but maybe if there will be another chance, I will. For now, I will just have this picture (and countless more) to take a look at.

*** Jenn ***

Ayaw Ko (Reject)

Kung merong dalawang pagkain ang hinding-hindi ko talaga kakainin, iyon ay ang atay (lalo na ng manok) at okra. Pero siyempre, medyo weirdo kung litrato ng atay ang ilalahok ko, kaya eto na lang, ang okra. =)

Bata pa lang ako, ayaw ko na talagang kumain ng okra. Ang daming pagkakataong "pinipilit" ako ng aking ama na kumain, at minsan talagang mino-motivate pa ako, pero hindi ko talaga gusto. Tina-try ko, oo, pero hindi ko magawang lunukin, unang nguya pa lang, nagre-react na kaagad ang katawan ko! Hindi ko gusto ang pakiramdam habang nginunguya ito, pero kaya ko namang kumain ng saluyot. Siguro nasa isip ko na rin na hindi ko talaga ito gusto. Bukod kasi sa madulas, iba rin ang lasa kaya't kahit anong liit at kahit anong pilit, di ko talaga ito makakakain. Pero, kung ito ay ala Fear Factor, at ako ay babayaran, kahit 500 pesos, kakainin ko ito. Hahahaha.

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English Translation:

If there are two foods that I totally won't eat, it would be liver (especially chicken's) and okra. But of course, it would be too weird if I post a picture of a liver, so I would just post a picture of the okra.

Ever since I was a child, I have not wanted this food. So many instances that my late father would "force" me to eat one, even motivated me at some point, but I just cannot swallow it. The slimy feeling it gives in my mouth sends shivers, and it was funny because I can eat jute! Maybe it's all in the head, but if someone would give me a reward, even just 500 pesos, I'd eat it. Hahahaha.

*** Jenn ***

F = Fountain

Sister and I saw this fountain along the Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Being there is like being in a different country, with lots of posh shops looking like the shopping streets of New York, and a row of condominiums that look like a big manor by the end of the street. Anyway, the fountain isn't as majestic as the other fountains I have seen, but looking at it still takes out the stresses, in one way or the other.

And I don't really know what's in fountains, but I have lots of fountain pictures in my file! Whenever I see one, I just couldn't resist not having a picture next to it! I ought to show all the fountain pictures, but I don't want to flood the post, so I will just have to show these pictures, for now. Maybe in round four of ABC Wednesday, I will show more fountain pictures for "F" if I don't have other "F" pictures. =)

*** Jenn ***

Rosebud

Because my travel blog is currently talking about my vacation with mom in Pangasinan last July, my Ruby Tuesday photo for today was taken from that vacation as well.

This is a not-so-good shot of one of the very few rosebuds in my Aunt Rosa's garden. When grandpa was still alive, Aunt Rosa took care of him, but seeing her father bedridden saddened my Aunt, so using the land around their house, she planted lots of different flowering plants to cheer her up.

There weren't that much flowers in the garden, two strong typhoons visited their place that destroyed some of the plants, but this rose managed to have some buds, and of course, I didn't take it for granted. =)

When we were there last November (2007), they were at first interested why we (brother and I) take lots of pictures of their garden and animals, but I guess they already embraced the fact that we loved taking pictures of anything that fancies us, in fact, Aunt Rosa's husband (Uncle Marcial) even guided me to some of their flowers so I could take pictures of it, too! =)

*** Jenn ***