29 March 2009
Mom attended a conference on 28th and 29th of March, so she just let us three siblings go out and have fun. Sister wanted to go back to MV Doulos so badly, and I am in the mood for some walking, so we persuaded brother to come along. Happy he decided to come with us.
The original plan was to check out the ship, but since we went out early, we talked about checking other places first and just go to the port after lunch.
We took the bus and we asked to be dropped off at Lawton. Seeing the fountain at the Liwasang Bonifacio, siblings and I quickly ran to the place to take some shots. Brother used our old digital camera, I used my camera. The Post Office Building is my favorite building because of its columns, and although the building looked great in color (it's colored pink), I prefer it in sepia.
From Lawton, we took a jeepney ride and we got off in front of the Manila Cathedral. We have visited the church lots of times already, so we didn't go inside anymore. Brother went near the church, while I just stayed outside and took some shots by the fence.
While with friends the day before, Ferj showed us pictures he took from Fort Santiago. Because we were just a walk away from the fort, might as well go there. I have already took enough pictures from the Fort the last time I went there in August, so I didn't take that much pictures from here anymore. I just kept up with the sepia toned pictures and personally liked this photo - very "old meets new".
We ate lunch after strolling around the Fort, we decided to go to the port. Brother made a mistake when he asked the jeepney driver to stop at a wrong street corner, which made us walk ultra long. When we got to the port, this is what we saw... long line of people wanting to enter the ship! For a while we thought about whether it was a good idea to still go, but my sister needed to replace my Doulos bag, so after an hour of deliberation, we decided to line up.
I wasn't able to get her name, but she's a staff from Japan, who was outside to give entertainment to the kids who were with their parents while lining up. It was difficult to take pictures of her because she was a bit busy and people were walking.
Because brother and I weren't buying anything from the ship, we just waited by the deck. It was very crowded and very hot inside, so it was just better for us to stay by the deck. When sister arrived, she was a bit tired, so the three of us just sat there and ate some snacks - ice cream and popcorn.
By the deck of the ship is where this nice sunset was being seen. I guess everyone at the ship loved the sight of it.
Leaving the ship wasn't complete without a picture with the staff. The staff from Mongolia who was about to tour us inside the ship was currently on duty, so no tour of us anymore. Anyway, this is Daniel, he's a staff from France.
From the port area, we walked to Rizal Park. Just after entering, we spotted the green train, and we stayed for a while hoping it would pass by again, but after about 30 minutes, we realized it's not coming back anymore, only to find the train parked already. Anyway, it looks like a train, but it had car's wheels as the park didn't have railroad tracks. About two years ago, I came to know about Thomas the train, but found it weird for this one to be green. Just last weekend, I came to realize that there were a lot of trains, and I don't know if this one's Henry or Percy, as there were two green trains.
Was chatting with K on YM and I found out that Percy is the small one and Henry is the green one.. but still, I don't know who is this train. It's just amazing to see a new thing at the park, K told me that Thomas and Friends were, and still are a big factor in helping kids read and all that, now that it's coming to the Philippines, I hope the legacy that they have will be able to help Filipino kids, too!
We were about to leave and during this day I was trying so hard to do that panning shot, but I really can't get it. I was able to freeze that kiosk, but I was hoping to freeze the carriage and make the background look hazy... I wonder if a point and shoot camera can do such shots.
We got home around 10PM. It was a tiring, tiring day.. but I did have so much fun!
*** Jenn ***
