India

The good thing about business trips is that you are given the chance to be in new places. Since moving to Middle East in 2017, I went to 5 countries for the first time, with India as the latest. Primarily, I go to work but during off-days, I check the tourist destinations in the area where I am staying. I don't bring my DSLR camera during business trips lately. And sometimes, I wish I did. I have been using my phone camera a lot and maybe next time, when the pandemic is over, I will be bringing my DSLR camera during business trips.

 

Duyan

My three-week vacation is over. I spent 95% of my time at home because it was raining throughout. How did I forget that August is monsoon season in the Philippines. But still, it was still a good break from the 40 deg C temperature in United Arab Emirates. 

During my vacation, I gained 4 kgs. How can I resist my mom's home-cooked meals? For 21 days, I did not visit the gym. I ate, and ate, and ate until I fall asleep. Good times. And in that 21 days, only 2 days were sunny. That's the only time we were able to explore the city and the mountain side.

Duyan is the Filipino term for hammock. It is also a cafe in the Silay City, where the photo was taken.  How I wish the weather was better during my vacation but nature is beyond our control. So instead of regretting, just make the most of it especially if you are with your family and loved ones.

Oh - and I just recently saw the trailer of the movie Edie. It inspires me travel. If workload is a little lighter, I will pack my stuff and travel.

/totomai
2018/08/29

Burning

The temperature started to reach mid-40's and it's giving me a burning sensation every time I go out of my accommodation. It is my first summer here in the Middle East as a resident. My friends and colleagues told me that this is still not the peak of summer season, perhaps in a month, it will hit 50 deg C and higher. 

the hot maize spotlight

exposes sea waves' jewels

continental range

/totomai

Louvre

A few weeks ago, a friend sent me a message asking why I haven't posted travel photos lately.  I was quite busy with work. But one weekend, instead of staying at home, I decided to go to Louvre Abu Dhabi, the latest architecture and tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi, United 

rain in the desert
wipes out footprints of camels
trekking back in time

/totomai

Auction

Five years ago, we went to the Tsukiji Fish Market to experience the tuna auction. However, we made a huge mistake of not checking the schedule. The auction was canceled because of the March 11 earthquake. The tuna auction is often listed as one of the must-do things in Tokyo. And with the news of the market’s possible relocation at the end of the year, we again decided to give it a go.

a giant tuna 

from wasabi-green sea to

a pool of soy sauce 

/totomai

Equator

What would you do if you have to spend 12 hours at the airport waiting for your next flight? That would be sad, uninteresting and boring. I arrived at Quito from Esmeraldas around 12 noon and my flight to Houston will be at midnight. Thinking that I may never have the chance to visit Ecuador again, I saw to it that I can visit the Equator. So days before my flight, I contacted Happy Gringo for a half-day tour. It was quite pricey but considering that it will be hassle-free and safe, I took the offer.

Quito

My first business trip for this year was in Ecuador, a 2-week assignment in one of the refineries in Esmeraldas. It was my first time in South America. Prior to my flight, I searched for information on what to do in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador and the point of disembarkation. I have few hours to go around the city before flying to Esmeraldas.

Greens

Hitachi Seaside Park is one of my favorite parks in Japan. Mainly because of its surreal landscapes all year-long. And as a photo enthusiast, I could not ask for more to see reality and fantasy merge before my eyes and my camera. The park is quite popular during spring and autumn, but not in summer. Maybe because it’s too green?

Planes

I just returned from a business trip, my first in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I can also say this is my last travel for the first half of 2015. From January to June of this year, I traveled a total of 45,032 miles to four countries (South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

Miyajima

The very first time I saw a postcard of Miyajima, I knew I had to be there. Instead of checking the internet for information, I asked my Japanese officemates about their first-hand experiences in the said island. That was in 2012. Fast-forward to 2015

Lakes

In 2012, I reached the summit of Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain. It was one of the highlights of my stay here in Japan, though I don't have any plan to climb it again. However, I had plans of visiting the five lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji. Luckily, there was an available Fujigoko (Fuji five lakes) photo tour at the start of the year. The one day tour costs from 8,000 - 12,000 yen depending on the travel date. 

The Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, Fujigoko) were formed hundreds of years ago by lava flows which dammed up rivers during Mount Fuji's multiple eruptions. more here

Dim

I just had my very first business trip in the Philippines. It was a one-week assignment in Bataan to commission and start-up the equipment we supplied to one of the refineries in the Philippines. My work was finished a day earlier so I asked the approval of my superior if I can have a quick vacation to my hometown. He agreed. But that request is being threatened by the incoming super typhoon.

empty bottles were painted, and turned into a creative chandelier

saw this in a local restaurant in the Philippines

Angola

Last September, for about three weeks, I was assigned in one of the Floating Production Storage (FPSO) facilities located in African seas. So far, it was the farthest business trip I had and my very first time in Africa – Angola to be exact. Applying for visa was not a problem but I was required to have a yellow fever vaccination before I can proceed with the application. It was single injection but the pain can be felt for a couple of days. I was also required to pass the survival training which is a must for engineers going off-shore. Though I was kind of hesitant with the assignment at first, especially with the outbreak of the Ebola crisis, I had no choice since I was in charge of this project. 

Surreal

Between summer and autumn, there is a must-see place in Japan that everyone must see. The Hitachi Seaside Park is often listed as one of the most surreal places to visit. Though seasonal flowers are being showcased throughout the year, mid-April to mid-May and end of September to mid-October are considered perfect time to visit. Nemophila or baby-blue eyes turns the park into a blue mountain in April / May and kochia bushes turn it to a blushing hill in October. It must be noted that Kochia or fire bushes are quite selfish as they turn green just after two weeks of being red.

Gunkanjima

I am fascinated with abandoned places or haikyo in Japanese. These places project mystery and intrigue that photographers and explorers could not resist. I and my friends have been planning of exploring haikyo in Japan but it did not materialize.  Either we didn't have the time to plan carefully or just too afraid to admit that we are scared,

Haikyo is the Japanese word for ruin (廃墟), obviously composed of廃 (hai = useless, obsolete) and 墟 (kyo = hill) – used as a synonym for both urban exploration and abandoned places. more here.

I have been reading blogs about haikyo in Japan but never had the chance to join any of the haikyo groups. The exact location of the places listed on the blogs are omitted most of the time.  However, there is this abandoned place that is often mentioned as one the must-see haikyo in the world, the Gunkajima Island also known as Hashima Island or the Battleship Island.

Kinchakuda

If you want to experience spring once again in these late summer-early autumn days, then go to Ikebukuro station and take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Koma station. In less than an hour, you will find yourself in Kinchakuda-Manjushage Park.

Kinchakuda-Manjushage Park extends along a pouch-shaped rice field embraced by the Koma River. It is just spectacular to see over a million red spider lilies blossoming out together in Kinchakuda along the river. The best time to view the blossom is from the middle of September to the middle of October. more here

 

London

It's been a year since I went to London to watch The Championships popularly known as Wimbledon. I was able to blog about it but wasn't able to write about the rest of my trip. Well, I had another one - about Bournesmouth. I stayed near Bayswater Underground and during my trip, I had been using  the Tube a lot. The Tube is London's public metro system. I found it to be very convenient as I didn't find it complicated like that of Japan's.

Bloomsville

It’s a wrap! Springtime’s over. And if you think that Japan only showcases cherry blossoms or popularly known as sakura during spring, think again. Japan is blessed with various flower species, which in one way or another, have the same charm and appeal as that of cherry blossoms. It’s about time to know some of them. It may be a year early but here are some of the places you should visit next spring in Bloomsville aka Japan. Again, I am not including the cherry blossoms spots.

Villages

It is still winter in Japan and you still have the time to visit the the Shirakawa-go and Gokayama villages in Gifu and Toyama prefectures. These two villages were listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. I have been to Shirakawa-go last summer of 2012. I made a promise that if I can get a chance to visit it again in winter, I definitely will. That day came just two weeks ago, after joining a photography club bus tour.

Fanboy

I will fly 6,000 miles for a chance to see the Swiss Miss, Martina Hingis this Wimbledon. I know it’s a long shot, especially since she is out of the professional tennis scene, but she usually plays the Legend’s Invitational during Grand Slams, so there’s still a small glimmer of hope. (The chance would have been bigger if she still coaches Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Too bad they had to part ways after the French Open).