Alam Mo Ba? (Do You Know?)

Alam mo ba na kailangan mong humakbang ng 252 steps bago mo marating ang tuktok ng Lourdes Grotto sa Baguio City? Noong una akong pumunta sa lugar na ito, talagang nahirapan ako, pero kinaya naman.

{Do you know that it takes 252 steps before you reach the Lourdes Grotto in Baguio City? When I first went here, it was really a very trying moment, but happy I was able to handle it.}

Ang litratong ito ay kuha noong Marso, nang yayain ko ang aking pinsan na samahan akong maglakwatsa sa Baguio dahil hindi ako masyadong nakalakwatsa noong Panagbenga Festival, kaya imbes na mag-Vigan ako, minabuti kong mag-Baguio naman. Una naming pinuntahan ang Lourdes Grotto para marami-rami pa kaming lakas. Plano naming bilangin kung ilang hakbang papunta sa grotto, pero nawala rin kami sa bilang, siguro dala ng pagod. Sa isang palabas sa telebisyon ko nalaman kung ilang hakbang papunta sa grotto.

{This picture was captured last March, when my cousin and I went to Baguio. I wasn't able to roam around the city during the Panagbenga Festival, so instead of going to Vigan, I decided to just roam around Baguio that time. We first visited this place, so we still have lots of energy. We planned on counting the steps, but due to exhaustion, we lost count. It was in a television program that I learned the number of steps going to the grotto.}

Kayo, nakapunta na ba kayo sa Lourdes Grotto sa Baguio?

{Have you been to the Lourdes Grotto in Baguio?}

*** Jenn ***

S = "Stairway to Nowhere"

The ruins of this house was located near our house in La Union. Whenever I see it, I can't help but feel sad about it - a very good land put to waste... but at the same time, I am intrigued as to the history of this house.

I just hope the owners would do something about it, though. If I own this land, I might put up a business since the school is just nearby.

*** Jenn ***

Rays

While traveling back home from the out of town trip with family and close neighbors, my sister said that the sun rays looked great. I peeked by the vehicle's window and saw its beauty, too, so I took out my camera and took some shots. The first two ones looked awful as the vehicle was moving, but I think I captured a good one on my third try.

This was taken along the town of Pandi in the province of Bulacan.

*** Jenn ***

ps - Would like to inform that I will be MIA (missing in action) for four days... my brother and I will be traveling to our paternal hometown and will go on a side trip to Ilocos Sur before heading home. Aunt Julie said we will be saying some prayer intentions for all the departed loved ones, so we have to be there.

My proposed schedule:

22 May (Friday) - Travel to La Union at 10AM; watching the sunset at Paratong Beach
23 May (Saturday) - Stay at home, help with the preparations
24 May (Sunday) - Hear mass in San Juan church; go to San Fernando City come lunch time - visit Thunderbird Resort in Poro Point, then to the provincial capitol for another sunset watch by the Phil-Chinese Friendship Pagoda.
25 May (Monday) - Travel to Candon, Ilocos Sur first thing in the morning then travel to Vigan City soon after. Will stay in Vigan and travel back home at 9:30PM.

Will resume with my regular blogging come Tuesday morning.

Lahat Ay Payak (All Are Simple)

Maraming dahilan kung bakit gusto ko ang buhay probinsiya. Una ay sapagkat ang buhay ay simple, mabagal ang takbo ng oras at nae-enjoy ko ng husto ang kagandahan ng kapaligiran. Sabi ko nga, kung papipiliin ako kung saan ako titira habangbuhay, gugustuhin ko sa probinsiya. Pero siyempre, dapat may Internet! Hahaha.

{I could list down a lot of reasons why I love to live in the countryside. One is because living is simple, all is laid back, and I could get to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature the most. I actually told myself, if I am to choose where to live forever, I'd choose to live in the countryside. But of course, there has to be Internet! Hahaha.}

Ang mga litratong ito ay kuha Oktubre 2008. Mula sa simbahan ng Balaoan sa La Union, ako ay pumunta sa may grotto ilang kilometro ang layo. Pagkatapos kong makuhanan ng litrato ang grotto, naglakad ako sa may bukid kung saan ang mga magsasaka ay naghahanda para sa pananghalian. Silang lahat ay nagsama sama sa may lilim ng puno upang pagsaluhan ang mga pagkaing inihanda ng kanilang mga kabiyak. Payak man ang pamumuhay, bakas sa kanilang mukha ang kasiyahan.

{These pictures were taken October 2008. From the church in Balaoan, La Union, I went to the grotto a few kilometers away. After taking pictures of the grotto, I walk at the nearby farm where the farmers were getting ready for lunch. All of them gathered under the shade of a tree to share the lunch prepared by their wives. Their living might be simple, but happiness can be seen through their faces.}

*** Jenn ***

R = Red Roses

I took this picture off a flower shop when sister and I went to SM Mall of Asia in January. At that time, I still haven't received a flower yet, so I figured I just took pictures of it. =) This is some sort of a drive by shot, as my sister was rushing me. So I just went to the shop, took a picture and left.

*** Jenn ***

Spider X

A picture I took near my Aunt Lorie's house. We were there to eat lunch after visiting daddy's grave for his second death anniversary. After eating lunch, it was quite a boring afternoon, so I just walked around to look for subjects to take pictures of. I was taking pictures of this flower, when I ducked because of the web, and when I looked at it, I saw it had a spider. Instead of freaking out, I just took a picture of it. =)

Happy Sunday!

*** Jenn ***