Capture: Yellow Cabbies

After spending almost an eternity trying to get out of Central Park I finally found an exit and landed myself on Central Park West Drive. The day was pretty gloomy but the weather wasn’t aweful that made walking around the Big Apple bearable.

At the crossing of 87th, the stop light turned red and got my attention as the row of vehicles waiting for traffic were mostly the famous yellow New York cabbies but one black vehicle. There are apporximately 10,000 of these infamous taxicabs roaming around Manhattan and I thought this photo speaks for the amount of taxicabs in the city.

“Yellow Cabbies” photo taken by me. Manhattan, New York

Heaven on Earth is an awfuly big secret

 

“I just feel like everyone tries to do something different, but you always wind up doing the same damn thing”

 

When Richard lands in Bangkok, all he wanted is to have an adventure – an ultimate adventure. Not the typical tourist destination, not the the typical prepackaged resort, nor the typical backpacker’s route – but a once in a lifetime experience that travelguides just won’t cut it. The problem is, everybody seems to be going to the same place and doing the same thing- until he meets Daffy (Robert Carlyle).
Daffy speaks about a paradise that is a myth in the tourist world, a paradise that only a few deserve to know and only a handful could find. Then Daffy hands Richard a map to a supposedly secret island where you will find a beach.

But it isn’t just any beach, it is the ultimate perfect beach.

Now that fate has handed him an adventure he couldn’t surpass, Richard (played by Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio) recruits a French couple; beautiful Françoise (Virginie Ledoyen) and sweet caring boyfriend Étienne (Guillaume Canet star in Joyeux Noël) to come with him to the island and search for this paradise.

“My name is Richard. So what else do you need to know? Stuff about my family, or where I’m from? None of that matters. Not once you cross the ocean and cut yourself loose, looking for something more beautiful, something more exciting and yes, I admit, something more dangerous. So after eighteen hours in the back of an airplane, three dumb movies, two plastic meals, six beers and absolutely no sleep, I finally touch down; in Bangkok. “

But like any paradise it has its price, as beautiful as it may seem it is far from perfect. Shark infested waters, untrustworthy tribe, a dangerous secret – a perfect cocktail for a ride you’ll never forget. Based on the book of the same name by Alex Garland, The Beach is a story of an American backpacker (in the novel he is British) trying to escape reality looking for a thrill and ends up in an adventure he will never forget. Like most backpackers in Thailand he is captivated by its beauty and charm. Every traveler wants to find his own paradise and Richard is determined to find his own in the exotic land of coconut trees and buddhas, and will all of these comes a deception that in escaping reality perilous forces is at hand and only a few brave will conquer the courage to face them.

The Lord of the Flies inspired story depicts a dog-eat-dog world even in paradise. It isn’t easy finding a peace of heaven you can call your own and that essentially, every one of us is looking for an escape. Enjoy the coconut trees, pristine waters, white sand beaches and the beauty of Thailand in this film, in a blink of an eye it may soon be gone from your movie screen.

Aliwan Fiesta

“This festival is not just about music and dances, they actually have their own stories to tell – stories that are native to their town or province of origin”

Words and photos by Orville del Rosario

Summer breeze gave me goosebumps as my officemate, Francis, and I walked towards Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Manila to watch the Aliwan Fiesta. It was almost at the end of April, halfway out of the summer season, but it felt like summer was just getting started. The heat of the sun was pretty much right on! Good thing the clouds were giving the best shade at the time, hiding the mighty hot sun lights. We could see the towers of Star City as we were getting closer. I was so excited because this would officially be my first photo shoot ever. We were actually trying to enter a photo competition organized by a local AM radio station in the Philippines, the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). The theme was the Aliwan Fiesta, from anything taken during the street dancing competition and parade. I got into this because Francis, being a photography enthusiast, encouraged me (a newbie in photography ) to come with him to watch the festival and take some photos. He said that there was a photo competition and we should join. Of course I wanted to join, this was a new experience for me, both in my life and in photography. So we decided that we would come to the Aliwan and take as many photos as we can. We were joined by Ethel, another officemate, and the three of us were on the same team. Like I said, this would be my first time to attend a real photography event and first time to watch the Aliwan Fiesta.

The Aliwan Fiesta is yearly event where different provinces and cities across the country showcase their own festivals; for example the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, Dinagyang Festival of Davao, Panagbenga or the Flower Festival of Baguio City, Kadayawan Festival of Ilo-Ilo, and Karatong Festival of Dulag, Leyte to name a few.

This festival is not just about music and dances, they actually have their own stories to tell – stories that are native to their town or province of origin, like the Karatong Festival from the town of Dulag in the province of Leyte. Karatong is the Waray (a native of and language in Leyte) word for bamboo. During the olden times, way before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the people in Dulag used bamboos to warn the town if there were enemies, such as pirates and tribes, who wanted to invade their lands. They would make loud noises to warn the townsmen of the arrival of the intruders, and would use it also as their weapon in the form of spears to fight against the enemies. With the story they have, they will make it into a series of routines, amazing music and dance moves.

To be in the presence of such diverse and rich cultures, it makes me feel so proud that I am a Filipino. We have different culture, traditions, beliefs, but through these events we become one united nation. Yes, the main purpose of the Aliwan Festival is to showcase the talents of each province or town, and that it is a competition more than anything, but this is also a time where different people, or shall I say “tribes”, from across the seven thousand one hundred and one islands of the Philippine archipelago, meet and be one as a nation. Together, they show to the world how rich our culture is, and how we preserve it, which is through our festivals.

All the festivals are great and we should be proud of them. On a personal note, the Karatong Festival in particular, is what I am most proud of. Simply because my mom is from Dulag, Leyte, where the Karatong Festival originated. She lived and grew up there, and I am proud to say that she is a native of Dulag, and I am proud to say that I have a blood of a Waray. And I was so thankful to God the He gave me the opportunity to have watched the performance of the Karatong Festival. I was so honored and proud that during the performance, and even got teary eyed. To simply be there and witness all that – not to mention how amazing they were with their performance – is just overwhelming and unbelievable. I was so proud of that moment, that I kept saying to my officemates that my mom is from where the Karatong Festival originated. God, that was so amazing! I am very happy I got to watch their festival.

Orville is a graduate of Electronic and Communications Engineer in the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Currently working as an Associate Software Engineer at an IT company.

If you win a free trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’d say, united kingdom…hehe..I dunno, maybe because I love Harry Potter that much that I wanted to see London and all that…haha. But seriously though, I think the place is cool..with all the castles and stuff and I want to see the stonehenge.

A Town Like Paris

“At the age of twenty-eight, Bryce Corbett was stuck in a dead-end job in London, nursing a broken heart and hungry for some kind- any kind- of change. On a whim he applied for a job in Paris, and before he knew it, found himself with a job offer in hand on his way to the City of Light.
So begins Corbett’s love affair with Paris- home of l’amour and la vie boheme- and he determines to make the city his own, no matter how many bottles of Bordeaux it takes. He rents an apartment in the trendy neighbourhood of Le Marais, happily settles into the French work/life balance (six weeks of paid vacation), braves the local gym (neon-spandex mandatory), and fumbles his way through more than a few awkward lessons in French love. From the smoky cafes to the glittering nightlife, Corbett samples everything his ewfound culture has to offer, apprearing in on a French television game show, hobnobbing with celebrities at Cannes, and attempting to parse the amusing nuances ehind French politics and why French women really don’t get fat. Still, he remains an ex-pat at heart – until he dinds himself falling in love with a Paris showgirl, a beauty whose sequin-clad high-kicks are the toast of the Champs Elysees, proving that in a town like Paris, you never know what will happen next…”

Mostly comedy, partly romance, and a great introduction to Paris, this book is hard to put down. Corbett takes us on his wild adventure about the city of Lights almost giving us hints of the how-to-become-a-Parisian during his journey and a few funny tidbits about one of the world’s most beloved city. He takes us to the backstreets, the underground, the secrets, the unkown, the experience of what it’s like to be an ex-pat in Paris, something that guidebooks just wouldn’t cut for you. This book is for lovers, ex-pats, and travel fans (though as my female friend have suggested, this literary is a guy’s book, once you read it you’ll know why) or just anyone who feels like they’re in the urge of doing something bold out of their ordinary lives to make it a little bit extra-ordinary.

That’s excactly what Bryce Corbett did.

Canada’s Northern Art

“Behind the glass display, tiny intricate figurines will bedazzle your eyes as the naked eye closely watch how such micro statues were made with such details.”

 

                                   

“Eskimoan people arrived in the Canadian Arctic between 5,000 and 8,000 years ago,” reads the board that hangs on the wall where a display of tiny artefacts made from ivory, stone, antlers, and sinews are showcased. It reminds us that in a way, every one of us originates from somewhere yet we all come together in the Great White North where everyone co-exists together as a country filled with culture. Tiny replicas of igloos and gameboards sits beside each other behind the glass display while at the corner one’s eye, a Nanuk’s (polar bear in Inuktikut) fur hangs on the other side of the musem. Tucked away on the southwest side of Queen’s Quay Terminal lies the Museum of Inuit Art where artefacts, sculptures, ceramics and art displays are showcased. It opened about a year and a half to two ago, MIA is devoted exclusively to Inuit art and culture.

Behind the glass display, tiny intricate figurines will bedazzle your eyes as the naked eye closely watch how such micro statues are made with such details. Colours of pigment are commonly used for a dimensional look, though sometimes the colouring are caused by aging when the figurine is made from ivory. Ivory is made from the tusks of Walrus or Narwhal and is common to be found in Inuit Art. The artist will sand the tusk to a size so small and micro that sometimes it takes awhile until you get the big pucture. “Sometimes, they’d have a contest up North, where they’d make things like these and the smaller they are the better,” says Jane, of the people who maintains the museum. Across from these tiny figurines, a few pieces will intrigue a person, Jane explains that these are replicas of an Inuit game called Cribbage, a difficult and somewhat confusing type of European card game. Entering the next room, a large sculpture made of whalebone, ivory, clay, stone and inlay greets the visitor, a composition made by Manasie Akpaliapik where his works are based on Inuit myths, songs and stories that reflect concern with balance between the earth and life that is necessary for us to survive.

Mother and Child is one of the most important themes in Inuit Art and the museum showcases a broad of style and fashion of them. A typical sculpture of an Inuit mother and child is where the mother holds her baby inside her Aumak. Aumak is a parka with oversized hood a mother wears devised to keep the infants safe from harsh weather conditions. Sometimes, the infant will just pop its head out of the Aumak or sometimes its full body can be seen held between her mother’s arms.

The prized collection of micro figurines are followed through the next room which exhibits artifacts that will literally take the breath away of any visitors to the museum. These objects can size up smaller than a grain of rice but the details on them reflects the hardwork the artist has put upon it. This itself, is worth the trip to the MIA.

A collection of Contemporary Arts displays right before entering the Gallery. Contemporary Inuit Art starts as early as 1970s as an attempt to straddle Inuit culture and that of other people. Shaman in Flight by David Ruben Piqtoukun is an excellent example where not only he uses stone, inlay and wood (typical mediums for Inuit Art) but also steel, a typical modern art medium. The Museum also showcases other forms and mediums such as ivory carvings, Puvirnituq (stone printmaking), tapestries (the Tapestry section is under construction at the moment), Ceramic Arts, and a room where you can listen to the hums of Inuit songs and hymns. (Call for any information on any of their current Exhibitions)

 

                                                                      

“Sometimes, they’d have a contest up North, where they’d make things like these and the smaller they are the better,”

 The Gallery has a collection of more then 300 pots, stone carvings, and ivory figurines. Curate by Ingo Hessel, the collection has been growing since its inauguration and certainly adds the charm to the beautiful site of Harbourfront. Unlike most museums in Toronto, a visit to the Museum of Inuit Art is one of its kind and authentic to its experience in learning the lives of the true North Canadians.

Canada’s growing influx in immigration especially in Toronto infuses the melting pot of our culture. We as a society acknowledges culture from all over the world; from Chinese to Indian, Native Africans to Pacific Islanders, European to South American – but we fail to notice background of the Inuits of Northern Canada. Canada’s Inuits have been around longer than any Immigrants to Canada yet there is still the struggle for people to understand and appreciate the Inuit people. Walking out of the Museum of Inuit Art and Gallery gives a new perception of the cultures that these amazing group of people have contributed to Canada since thousands of years ago – and still counting.

 

 

 

 

all photos taken by me with the permission from

Museum of Inuit Art and Gallery 207 Queen’s Quay West

Admission Adults $6, Students & Seniors $5, Children under five Free

hours of Operation: Daily 10-6

http://www.miagallery.ca/

How to get there: From Union Station, take the 509 and get off at Queen’s Quay Terminal, from Spadina Station take the 510 Streetcar and get off at Queen’s Quay Terminal

CAPTURE: Punting

On a fine beautiful day during my trip in England my friend suggested we head to the city of Cambridge, about an hour train ride away from Baldock (an hour and a half to two hours train from London). A quaint, peaceful small city, Cambridge is known for its University (Cambridge University, 4th oldest University in the world).

Like the rest of England, I was thrilled to see cobble stoned streets, cute little shoppes, century old houses, gargoyle-guarded church, cafes and botiques. Walking around the campus of Cambridge University are constant reminders of ‘Keep Quiet’ to give the students the peace they need to study. However, what stood out for me the most is a Cambridge tradition called punting.

Punting is a past time for Cambridge students (and locals), where a flat bottomed boat is proppeled by a long pole along the river Cam within the University. It isn’t like a Gondola ride in Venice but observing students flip through their thick text books while sitting on the simple raft and the chauffer pushes the raft along the river looked more serene for me. I could have gone for a ride but there were still a lot of places I had to see around Cambridge so I patiently waited until a ‘punt’ boat came along. It wasn’t easy waitig at the top of the bridge for boats to come by below you.

There were times were three boats came at the same time, and then just one but it went by too fast. Until I waited patiently for this punt to float along the river, slowly and took a few snapshots until I got a good one.

“Punting” photo taken by me. Cambridge, England

Toronto: The Unknown City

The city of Toronto celebrated it’s 250th annivery on March 6, 2009. This is a book I highly recommend, a read that is just going to make you love Toronto even more bringing you its secrets that even some of the locals never knew about (believe me, it is like a history book to me)

Toronto, named by UNESCO as the world’s most multicultural city, attracts thousands of toursts annually to its fascinating neighbourhoods and thriving cultural scene. But in its 250-year history, Toronto has also become a place of many intriguing secrets.

Toronto:The Unknown City delves into the lesser-known spaces and stories of Hogtown, offering tantalizing tidbits of local lore, offbeat facts, and surprising anecdotes that will captivate visitors and locals alike. From sealed-off public spaces to lost railways, tales of true crime to behind-the-scenes movie gossip, this book is packed with revelations. There’s also a guide to one of the world’s most eclectic dining scenes, plus celebrity stories, sports snippets, a backstage tour of the threatre and music worlds, fabulous shopping tips, and much more. Titillating and tempting, Toronto: The Unkown City lifts the veil off Canada’s largest metropolis to reveal the mysteries, marvels and monstrosities that lie beneath.

A book that will truly inspire locals to understand the city of Toronto even further, and for tourists, this might just help you blend in. Revealing secrets, locations and facts about Toronto not everyone knows about, read this and you could boast being a walking-talking-Toronto-guide.

Other books available in the Unknown City series: Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, New York, San Francisco, and many more!

CAPTURE: What in the world?!

Exhausted we were from parasailing and being deeply disappointed with the submarine tour, my friends and I decided to explore the rest of Catalina Island more on foot. We passed by quirky shoppes, other touristy activities and a casino that turned out to be a museum (and worse, closed for the day), eventually we decided to just keep walking and relax for the remainder of the day before we had back to the port and get on the Catalina Flyer to take us back to Newport Beach.

Along the coastline, we noticed something peculiar with the palm trees. From below and afar, they looked just as fine but when we walked by a tree about our height we noticed there was something queer about the way it was trimmed. We laughed, and joked and thought whoever was their landscaper had a great sense (and dirty) of humour. The display was way too phallyc to be just a coincidence and a real close resemblance to…well, take a look at the photo and you decide.

“Phallyc” photo taken by me. Catalina Island, California

Uncontacted Tribes

An amazing video delivering awareness with the survival of uncontacted tribes around the world. It is very intersting to watch the impact of the outside world has to these nomadic people. There is a great ordeal that some of these tribes are being wiped out – from diseases, logging, genocide, violence or losing their culture.
There are two parts to the video.

The video is not mine, it is embeded from youtube.

Got Gas? Canada says goodbye to a funny group of friends.

It is undoubtedly Canada’s funniest comedy. When Corner Gas came out on Canadian television six years ago, the cast of Corner Gas had no idea that their lovely show would even last one season. Located in the fictional town of Dog River, Saskatchewan, the show consists of a great collection of casts: Brent Leroy, the owner of the show’s infamous corner gas; his bestfriend Hank Yarbo, Dog River’s most likely candidate ‘village idiot’; Wanda Dollard, opposite Yarbo as the candidate for the town’s smartest person who coincidentally works as a clerk at corner gas; Brent’s mother Emma who often has to deal with her husband Oscar’s shortcomings (a runner up to Hank); the town’s two officers Sergeant Davis Quinton and Constable Karen Pelly; and the town’s newcomer Lacey Burrows who moved from the big city (Toronto) to re-open Ruby’s Cafe beside Corner Gas, completing an ensemble that truly promises a laugh out loud Canadian style.
But tonight, April 13, 2009, the laughter is coming to an end.

The show is dubbed one of Canada’s funniest comedies and true to it. Unlike most of its American and British counterpart comedies, Corner Gas has a different style and effect on being funny. The comedy doesn’t rely much on sexual innuendos or creating a character that is ill-fatedly retarded (Hank and Oscar’s shortcomings are just due to their innocence or lack of understanding of what’s going on around them). It relies on the character’s wits, shortcomings, quirkiness, light humour and oddness that just makes it entirely laughable. And if a show can pull off cameos with politicians being less-reserved, then it must be funny (former Govt. General Adrian Clarkson, I will take that barn down with you!)

Little or less is known much about the life in the Canadian Praires and having a comedy sketch in rural Saskatchewan is like a dose of a new medicine. How do people in the Prairies live their everyday lives? How crazy do they get when things aren’t as accesible around in the middle of nowhere? And what excactly is a gopher? The show uncovers a beautiful scenery of Saskatchewan and the lives of the people in a small praire town. Fictional Dog River is located in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, a once sleepy town which closest biggest city is Regina, it has gathered attraction to tourists ever since the show aired. Tourists now flock to the area to visit the site of Dog River and possibly see some of their favourite characters on set. Corner Gas definitely put Saskatchewan on the map.

Garnering international attention, Corner Gas has made an impact on Canadian Television and foremost the hearts of Canadians. The characters of the shower are relatable that’s what makes them funny. They are not far-fetched from the norms of society can easily fit one in a group of friends. We have become friends with them, we have become a part of this small group of people in a small town in rural Canada. And yes, we are saddened to see the go.

So why, if it truly does gather a lot of great criticism and international attention, is the show ending? Creator and Producer Brent Butt (no, it’s not to be funny, that really is his last name) says that he wanted to end the show during its highest peak. Butt claims that he wanted to end the show while people still remember it being funny, and not remembered as “used to be funny”. Some shows end because people stopped liking them, he wanted people to like the show as much as they liked the beggining til the end. That makes sense. (Brent Butt plays Brent Leroy in the show, yes, the Corner Gas owner) Tonight, I will probably skip watching another of my favourite show Heroes and watch the finale of my favourite Canadian comedy instead. Corner Gas is definitely a show I will remember being funny. I will probably cry, but most of all I will laugh.