Macapagal Bridge at Dusk

A view from the top

A view of Montilla boulevard late at night.

You can see the lack of traffic at this time of the day. It may not look busy but some people are still out on the streets.

Thanks Tin!

Guess.

I want to post something different for today's post. Something abstract but not quite.

For anyone who's game I have a few questions for you:

1. What was I riding when I took this picture?

I have a few hints. It's one of the least expensive ride in Butuan. I think it runs from 5 to 6 pesos per trip for each passenger.

But in Manila it's the opposite. I dare say that because when you consider that the route for this ride is limited (short distance of travel only), it's not that comfortable, and the overhead shouldn't cost that much the asking fare of the drivers is quite steep!

For Butuanons(this should be easy):

2. Where was I when I took this picture?

I don't have any prizes to offer- just some moments to take away the boredom (mine).

Photo taken June 7 at 6.30 PM.

Rizal Park at Night

As requested.


We just came out of mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. The lights were too pretty to pass up so we had to stop for a moment to get some photos. We weren't the only ones who thought so too as you can see.

Only a few hours to go until December 25.

Take care!

Amber

Libertad. Entrance gate of Sto. Nino Shrine.

All Saints' Day and All Soul's Day

Every November 1 and 2, Filipinos return to their hometown for a unique kind of family get together. We spend the days at the local cemetery to visit our deceased family members. To the uninitiated this means that we bring foods, flowers, lots of candles, and sometimes musical instruments to the burial place. I know picnics and cemetery doesn't normally don't go together but in our culture they do.

Yesterday we left for Barangay Libertad cemetery at 3 in the afternoon. We arrived at around 4. Traffic was relatively light compared to last year although the place is as crowded as ever. Kudos to the traffic enforcers for making our trip there stress-free.

Because we spend two days yearly at this place, a number of well-to-do has constructed structures to make their stay at the burial site as comfortable as possible. This is why my uncle called our cemetery as "subdivision of the dead." It is funny because it has truth in them, and sad too because the place looks too overcrowded with all the concrete buildings close together. Anyway, before I rained on anyone's parade you'll see why at the photo below.

Some of these buildings are bare with only benches for sitting, while others have the works: airconditioning, restrooms, appliances etc. In our case, our elders opted for a garden memorial to make it more easy on the eyes (less claustrophobic too).

Our family usually spends the first few minutes (or hours) talking and eating. When it gets darker, we pray. Then we talk some more, take photos, laugh.

We left at around 6, when the sun has set, and the night is more pronounced.

Suez

While driving around Montilla boulevard with my friend I took the opportunity to try to capture photo street scenes along the way. If I'm lucky I could get an interesting photo through this exercise. Btw, this is my attempt at shooting the barbecue stands that sprouts every night in the streets. This is what I call Suez canal barbecue-- They're near a huge 'canal', and they sell barbecue.

Hitch

I was waiting for my friend to finish with her business at a printing shop when I decided to go outside and try to take a photo. This was taken at Montilla Boulevard, just across SJIT (Saint Joseph Institute of Technology). I felt a bit frustrated that I wasn't able to take a photo of the school earlier when there was still light.

I wonder where this couple is going with their luggage. They had been standing there for a while while I was busy taking pictures.

Carnival_Peryahan sa Butuan

So we we were finally able to have some semblance of a fiesta activity. Woot. Was it fun! Absolutely fun. Haha.

The kid in us had a blast riding the ferris wheel, octopus, rollercoaster. We also enjoyed the death wall. You watch a man ride a dirt bike on the wall. Without both hands on the wheel. Without both hands and eyes covered, riding on the wall. That sort of thing. And for the first time they also included in their gig a wall climbing mini-car. Awesome. Imagine us holding on to the said wall.

We didn't know watching death wall was as heart stopping as riding the 'rollercoaster'.

The rollercoaster at 30 pesos per person was not bad. The adrenalin you feel from riding the chugging lump of tetanus-ridden lump of metal was at par to the fancier Space shuttle of enchanted kingdom.

Bonus- Its located at Libertad Sports Complex so the place is spacious, non muddy.
Watch out- Street urchins extorting you for supposedly guarding your vehicle.