Sunset to a New Year

As the sunset in the final day of the year. May we wakeup on the
sunrise of the coming year filled with hope.
The photo above is the final sunset of 2008 shot using an Iphone.

2008 the year in review

2008 is a good year for me despite of the current economic crisis we experience in the last months of the year below are my recollection of the events that occur to me over the last 12 months (365 days).
- Started the year with a trip back to Manila for a couple of weeks vacation. Spend the first day of the year on a plane.
- Spend a few days relaxing at the Beach have a quality time with my wife and of course did some good photography.
-Did more shoot in my Lomo cam than in digital getting fond of cross processed images.
-Started to get unhappy with my present Job at that time began to think of other alternatives.
-Still continue to work out consistently (at least 3x a week) having lost a significant amount of weight and people started to notice that I'm losing weight which motivates me to workout harder. Getting used  to eating healthy cut down on Carbs and Fat although still pig out occasionally.
- Got a new job offer in another company in another country but still in the Middle East so its time to move on.
-Reach middle age celebrate it alone away from Family and Friends.
-Run my first marathon after 25 years. Running become a new passion along with Photography. So spending my time in Photography lessens.
-Overall it was a good 2008 with some changes happens. Although the year did not finished in good shape I'm still Thankful for the graces of 2008 hope this coming year will be better.

Above the clouds

The photo above was shot using the Camera of an Iphone. The picture quality is acceptable good for an impromptu photo opp when youre out with your family and friends so you can snap souvenir photo without lugging around a big camera. The last camera phone I enjoy using was a SE K70i.
This will be a good alternative for my DSLR specially that I don't
have a P&S digicam.

DUBAI SKYLINE

Been attempting to shoot this picture for the past two years. I was able to achieve this during my recent trip to Dubai. The photo above is the Dubai skyline stretching Sheik Zayed Road from the Emirates Tower Burj Dubai and the Building at Business Bay. I want to take Maricon for providing access at their Project Site to get a good vantage point for this shot.

Grand Mosque

Shot using Lomo LC-A loaded with Konica Centuria film

The biggest Mosque in Bahrain located at the sea side of Al Fateh Highway. If youre going to Juffair from Manama you will never miss this Mosque.
They said this mosque can hold up to 7000 worshiper... that's how big it is.

Index revisited

During my recent weekend trip to Dubai I got a chance to take a shot at the previous project I have worked on.

It seems that there are substantial progress from the time I left the project. The penthouse structure is already completed as what my former colleagues told me major structural works are already completed.

Regarding the works inside or interior of the building I don’t have a slightest idea on the progress as this photo was shot in front of the newly opened Dubai Mall when I visited the place which incidentally will be a topic of my later post.

Salam at Dusk

Shot Handheld using my DSLR set in ISO 800 

This is the photo the ongoing construction of Salam Resort (the project I'm currently working on in Bahrain) at dusk. The structure shown in the photo is the Hotel one of the several structure of the resort which includes SPA, Hotel Villas and Royal Villas.

As the color of the skies blended with the illumination of the Tower Cranes I took advantage of this took a few snaps before heading home to finish another day at work.

Juffair

Shot using Lomo LC-A

This is the area where most of the expats in Bahrain reside. You can find the luxurious flats here and you can also find good restaurants and coffee shops within the area.

Rental are more expensive compare to other part of the city but reasonable.

Gudaibiya

The photo above was shot using Lomo LC-A loaded with Kodak BW400CN

Its Bahrain equivalent of Dubai's Karama or Satwa most of the Filipinos in Bahrain  resides in this area. You can see several Filipino shops even Filipino "Carinderia" style restaurant here.

Theres one place I go in some Thursday night where they serves really good pork barbecue. So after having my Barbecue dinner stroll around the area and take some snaps.

Got it in 16:46

Running at around 1:00 PM in a 5% uphill steep in the middle of the desert with a slight sand storm I was able to clock in a 3KM run in 16 min 46 sec to cover my stage in the Bahrain Marathon relay. It was slower than my training time (I usually clock in between 16 min to 16:30 but I didn't expect running in this type of condition having done most of my training during night time and a relatively level surface but more or less I run in a  stronger intensity.

Since I want to familiarize with the route of my stage what I did is for me to be drop off at the end of my stage and walk and slow jog to the start of the stage as my warm up (so more or less I did 6Km combination of walk,slow jog and run)

It was a fun day and I have a good time at the end of the race me and my teammates gather around and have a couple of Beer I also rewarded myself with my Favorite Pizza it will be back to low carbs diet and weight training next week.

Sunset at work

The picture above was shot from using my DSLR

After a days work there nothing more relaxing than looking at the sunset through my corner office window.
At this time of the year daytime are becoming shorter so I can witness the sunset before I leave the office.

Training for a race

The photo above will be the running shoes I'll be using for training and eventually for the race.

At the end of the month I'll be running again in a Marathon after 25 years, yes 25 years.The last marathon I run was a 5K during highschool.
Now I will run in a relay marathon were our company has entered a team it will be 16 stages were each stage is 3 km so in short it will be a 3K run for each person. Yah its just 3K but the objective of the is to finish it in 15 min or less if you will do the math you have to run with an average speed of 12 km/hr as for me thats the speed I'm running if I'm doing high intensity run
The last time I timed my run I was able to cover 3K in 17:30.
Right now I'm training for the race so its a mix of endurance run and power run for the next 4 weeks and some core works it means no weight training for the meantime.

To Laptop or not to Laptop

The end of Ramadan will be in a few days time, but the day are not yet confirm it depends on the moon as they say. It means there will be a few days holiday. I will take advantage of this holiday to go back to Dubai for a few days stay, to visit my wife and of course to meet up with my friends there.
I got a nasty habit of traveling heavy since I pack most of my stuff I can think of. But not this time, I made sure that I will be traveling light. The first one to go off my list is my DSLR. Ihave  decided not to bring a DSLR on this trip I’ll just bring my Lomo LCA and a couple rolls of film I can always buy film there in case I need more. If I’m not bringing my DSLR there will be other stuff that I don’t need like lenses, extra chargers, batteries and others.
As I'm packing my things as we speak just a few change of clothes my running shoes as I ‘m training right now in preparation for a short marathon I will run (that will be another story). Other stuff for sure I’ll be bringing will be my Ipod, my Phone, the External HDD with the new seasons of TV shows in it.
As I almost complete my packing is I’m still thinking whether should I bring the Laptop or not. There are still lots of space in my backpack but carrying that will be some weight as my objective is to travel really light.
There are still a couple of days to think about it then I can just slip it in my bag even in the last minute. Anyway looking forward to go back to Dubai after a month and a half.

New Apartment

After almost a month, I finally moved out from the Apartment that my company has provided for my temporary accompdation. So I moved in to my new apartment a fully furnished two bedroom apartment with Satellite TV, Internet connection most of all the building has a Gym which I can use for FREE. Incidently I share this apartment with a Brazilian Guy. What I like most on my new place is the location, just a stone throw away from the Supermarket, strip of restaurants nearby including Starbucks and Costa.

Right now I'm enjoying my stay on my new place after a week. I'll keep you updated I will post some pictures after I have the rolls of Film I have are processed which I'm having a hard time finding a lab to do it in Bahrain but that will be another blog entry.

Reaching Middle Age

Its been 4 decades since I was born. Its been full of ups and downs mostly ups I supposed. I think its the most unfamiliar birthdays I have so far. Celebrating it on a new place alone without my friends and family beside me thanks for the advance technology at least they were in touch to send in their greetings and wishes. As they say life begins at 40 so heres to a new life and more blessings to come.

Shooting with Film

The Photo above is my Lomo LC-A and my stash of assorted Film which ironically shot using my DSLR

I've been shooting mostly with Film for the past months using my Lomo LC-A and sometimes the Lomo Fisheye. Because of their compactness which you can bring everywhere, I just slide inside my everyday bag no more heavy gears to carry.

Before leaving Dubai I purchased several rolls of assorted film so I will have a stash in case I will have a hard time purchasing film in Bahrain during my first few weeks here. So far I haven't shoot much except during my walk in the town last weekend while looking for an apartment to stay and incidentally I haven't finish one roll.

Maybe this weekend I'll go around town again to shoot. I'll post the pictures after its processed.

New Project

The photo above was shot using a Lomo LC-A loaded with Fuji Superia Film

This will the new project I'll be working on in Bahrain its a Hotel Resort and Spa located in the Southwest portion of Bahrain around 40 Km from the city its a 1 hour travel from where I live. Right its still in its structural stages this will keep me busy and in Bahrain for the next few years. As always I will keep you posted on its development every now and then.

Check on the photo below to see how far is our project site from where live.

Brand New Day

This is the view as I wake up to a Brand new day in a Brand new place going to a Brand new Work. Things are going smoothly lately hope it will continue all throughout.

Touchdown Bahrain

The photo above is the view from my Hotel Room

I arrived at Bahrain international airport around 8:30 AM local time. There was a long que at the Visa Counter so it took me over 2 hours before I was able to come from the Airport but not before passing by Duty Free to grab a couple of six pack.

Right now I’m in my hotel room writing this post thanks to the complimentary Wifi connection from the Hotel. I might snooze off for a couple of hour then run a little workout at the Gym downstairs then hacve a walk at the city later to see whats on and maybe take some shots. Will keep you posted on my adventure here.

Till then.

Leaving on a Jetplane again

On a couple of days I'll be leaving Dubai to move to Bahrain still here in the Middle East in a little laid back place. It will not be a permanent setup I will still go back to Dubai after a year or two who knows only time will tell. I will leave behind here all the good and bad experience I had in these place. Its a welcome change for me a new place to stay a new work to tackle and some new place to photograph.

I'll keep you posted on my new adventure there as I go along with my everyday life there.