The Star Trek Enterprise parked at Burj Al Arab?

Posted on October 17, 2011 by bong

DUBAI has this pre-occupation for building the tallest, grandest, and weirdest skyscrapers. And that’s not necessarily bad. In fact, thanks to Dubai, we derive a lot of entertainment from these structures.

Take for instance Burj Al Arab. It is easily one of the most recognizable structures in the world today. Apart from the fact that it is the only 7-star hotel in the world (and probably the most expensive coffee/tea as well), it apparently has other “secret” oddities to offer.

Now, just what do you think this weird appendage to Burj Al Arab is? Go ahead, hazard a guess? Continue reading →

Posted in Cool Stuff, Curiosities, Destinations, MY VARIED INTERESTS, P.E.P. TALK, Photography, Places, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lure of Manila

Posted on October 15, 2011 by bong

I TOOK these two photos on board a dinner cruise ship in Manila Bay not very long ago.

It wasn’t easy taking photos at night while on a bumpy boat ride. (For that matter, it wasn’t fun having a full meal under similar circumstances either.)

These are the best two from probably the 2-dozen photos I took that evening.

I am quite pleased with this two not so much for their photographic quality (of which there is none, I concede) but for something abstract. For me at least, they sort of express the “hard to explain” lure that Manila has over visitors approaching its shores.

These are probably the same sights that welcome mariners and tourists on cruise liners approaching Manila harbor at night. No wonder they fall in love with Manila at first sight.

Posted in Destinations, MY VARIED INTERESTS, P.E.P. TALK, Photography, Places, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

My other theory of relativity

Posted on October 13, 2011 by bong

Photo Credit: ddoves.com

A FRIEND of mine was telling me the other day about a guy he knows who is allegedly dating a lady about 20 years his junior. I was quick to label the guy a ‘cradle snatcher’ only to find out that my friend was referring to his dad who happens to be 83 years old.

This kinda funny exchange made me ponder about the relativity of age. Continue reading →

Posted in Curiosities, Musings, MY VARIED INTERESTS, THOSE THINGS I DO | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Destinations to add to my Bucket List

Posted on October 11, 2011 by bong

My BUCKET LIST is getting longer and longer! Soon it is no longer appropriate to call it a “bucket List.” How does a “Bath Tub List” sound? Or even a “Swimming Pool List”?

The Cave of Crystals, Naica Mine, Mexico | Photo Credit: www.boredpanda.com

Thanks to the Internet, Facebook, and the iPad I’m discovering great must-visit places that I’ve not even heard before. The only problem is that I’m discovering too many of them too soon! Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Travel, Adventures, Climbing, Curiosities, Destinations, MY VARIED INTERESTS, P.E.P. TALK, Photography, Places, THOSE THINGS I DO, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Despicable!

Posted on October 9, 2011 by bong

I SAW these photos in a forwarded email that landed on my bulk folder a couple of months ago. My first reaction was that of utter disbelief. “This can’t be true!” “Maybe this is just a hoax.” “Maybe these are just manipulated images.”

A closer scrutiny of the images, however, dashed all of my hopes that the scenes in the photos are unreal. They are real. There is no doubt about it. I can’t conjure the right words to describe how I feel about these photos so I’ll keep it at that. The photos speak for themselves.

Click on the “Continue Reading” link to view the entire gory gallery. Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacies, Curiosities, MY VARIED INTERESTS, Rants, THOSE THINGS I DO | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

I Guessed!

Posted on October 7, 2011 by bong

MOST OF you probably found this very funny. I did, too. But do you know what I find really funny about it? Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Musings, MY BAG OF TRICKS, THOSE THINGS I DO | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Posted on October 6, 2011 by bong

RIP, Steve.

~oOo~

Posted from a MacBook Air running OS X Lion

Best viewed from an iPad

 

 

Posted in Events, P.E.P. TALK, People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parañaque’s Golezeums

Posted on October 5, 2011 by bong

I first saw it a couple of months ago when I paid a visit to our subdivision’s homeowners association office to pay for our monthly association dues.

The previously paved but uncovered open area adjacent to our subdivision’s tiny clubhouse cum office now has a roof. And it looks beautiful. Suddenly a functional auditorium “slash” basketball court “slash” community center is right there in the middle of our subdivision.

That’s when I noticed the sign board in front: “GOLEZEUM Under Construction”

What the eff is a Golezeum? Continue reading →

Posted in Curiosities, Musings, MY VARIED INTERESTS, Politics, THOSE THINGS I DO | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Air Mail what?

Posted on October 3, 2011 by bong

MY FRIEND Karen would probably kill me for blogging about this. But I’ll do it anyway.

We had a funny exchange over a FaceBook status she posted on her wall very recently.

Being in a cold and desolate place away from her friends for about a year already she is asking — make that begging — her FaceBook friends to send her snail mails. Can you believe that? Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Friends, Humor, Musings, MY BAG OF TRICKS, MY FAMILY & FRIENDS, THOSE THINGS I DO | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This craze called Oktoberfest and my theory about the fuzzy relationship of beer and cleavage

Posted on October 1, 2011 by bong

I DIDN’T really understand all the excitement about Oktoberfest until I saw these photos from an article on The Telegraph (via FlipBoard on the iPad) announcing the opening of Oktoberfest 2011 in Munich, Germany.

Now I at least have a little appreciation of why men from all over the world are drooling to experience it.

As for the ladies… well, I guess they love the idea of drooling men. After all, beer possesses this wonderful effect of making all women look uniformly gorgeous. That’s not to say that the ladies going to Oktoberfest are not gorgeous, however. Judging from these photos lots of them are, in fact, blissfully gorgeous.

What is still fuzzy to me, however, is the significance or connection of cleavage to beer during Oktoberfest. Surely, for something that’s been going on for ages there must be a scientific explanation to it.

After downing a few bottle of beers I guess I’m ready to give it a try (postulating a theory, that is). Continue reading →

Posted in Curiosities, Events, MY BAG OF TRICKS, MY VARIED INTERESTS, Naughty, P.E.P. TALK, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A new Starbucks that’s a spitting distance from the office. Hooray!

Posted on September 30, 2011 by bong

I originally described this new Starbucks Cafe as “walking distance” from where I work. But then I realized that the Starbucks in Roxas Boulevard corner UN Avenue is walking distance. And so is the Starbucks in Midtown Wing of Robinson’s Manila.

This new Starbucks branch at the ground floor of J. P. Laurel Building in Roxas Boulevard corner Pedro Gil, Malate, Manila is almost perfect for me. It’s a mere 100 meters (or less) from our office building, it has a great view of Manila Bay (and a good supply of great views inside, if you know what I mean), and it was unscathed by the never-before-seen storm surge that ravaged many of the ground-floor establishments along Roxas Boulevard a few days ago.

It’s only shortcoming is that it does not have free Wi-Fi. But I won’t take it against it since very few Starbucks stores offer free Wi-Fi. I’m just happy to have a nearby Starbucks Cafe to buy my cup of Green Tea Soy Latte from anytime I need one. And to have an alternative work area when it gets too “hot” or too “boring” in the office.

I’m sure I won’t have trouble blending in with the mostly college student clientele of this Starbucks branch.

Posted in Food & Dining, MY VARIED INTERESTS, P.E.P. TALK, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have you seen, or heard of, Shadow Art?

Posted on September 20, 2011 by bong

Does anyone know what shadow art is? Have you actually seen one?

I’ve seen some via the Internet recently, and it immediately aroused my curiosity. Here are some amazing Shadow Art creations.

Continue reading →

Posted in Cool Stuff, MY VARIED INTERESTS, Projects, THOSE THINGS I DO | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment