thewanderkat

04 January 2014

New Year 2014 at Marina Bay Sands

The last of all firsts for me in 2013, spending New Year's Eve away from my family. I initially wanted to go up the MBS Skypark and take pictures from there but as I thought it would be, it was closed for the public because there was going to be an event there.

So my friends and I ended up with a spot near the Louis Vuitton building just outside MBS. Any spot around the bay had a great view as the place looked extra spectacular with all the lights and all the excitement and anticipation emanating from every person who was there.

Surprisingly, being there since 7:30 pm did not feel like forever. It would have been a long and patient wait for the midnight fireworks had it not been for the calls we made to family and friends from home and watching the pre-midnight light show. Somewhere nearby, a concert by the band The Wanted was also happening.

The show started at exactly 12:00mn. The first few seconds were a bit disappointing but it caught up with my expectations. But then it disappointed me again because it didn't last as long as I expected. I was told that in previous years, the show lasted 15-20 minutes. But nevertheless, it was a great show and I guess it was long enough to welcome the new year.

As for the pictures, i also disappointed myself. I may have just one or two fireworks photo that I consider acceptable. I would blame it on the flimsy and kind-of-broken tripod that i was able to borrow (special thanks to Jucile) but one should never blame his equipment for failing at something, so I will just say it was a good try and I'll practice more in the future. Plus i wanted to be able to appreciate the show and not keep looking behind the viewfinder so it was ok to not take pictures from then on. I let my 4s take a video clip while I watched.

So, hello 2014! So much to look forward to this year! I will dedicate a special blog post to officially welcome you in this blog!

Meantime, the photos I managed to take, both from a 4s and a D90.

27 December 2013

Will Shakespeare's Sonnet 18

One of the things that inspired me this year is videography and short films. I don't know the technicalities of film-making but i try to learn from those wonderfully created by professionals or genius amateurs online. This is only my third video project from back in 2012. I love how it's written. I chose a paraphrased version of the poem so it's easier to relate to. The clips aren't a lot, though. I had only one trip to the beach and i wish i had more varied scenes to shoot.

23 December 2013

My December

December had been fairly eventful, what with all the holiday spirit hovering in people's minds, if not everyday then at least every weekend. For the entire month, I felt like I didn't want to do any work in the office. I figured there are days like that, when your mind or body just kind of has a mind of its own or something (or maybe that's just me, hehe). I wanted to feel the Christmas spirit anywhere I went. Of course, I didn't so the best I did was listen to Michael Buble's Christmas songs while waiting for the bus, reading Coelho in the train while wishing I had the chance to visit home during the holidays.

I'm glad to have spent some days with my Filipino colleagues. On this Friday night, we decided to gather and have an exchange of simple presents, jokes and stories, all of which really made my day.

Kat and Cath

Brian

They "heart" me!

Val and her animated expressions

meet Reena

laughing at April's stories, I guess

Adi was explaining something

Reena laughing at her genius "idea"

April opening her present!

She got cute bookmarks, she says thanks

Uh-oh! She didn't look happy...

photo taking never ends, even at the bus stop

I spent Christmas Eve at Desiree's, thankful to be around more people who spoke bisaya this time. Almost all the Filipinos I work with and the people at home are from Luzon and at times I find it quite exhausting to be always speaking in Tagalog most of the time. I think I've never been able to converse in Bisaya for a while except when I call home or chat with friends.

Anyway, Charlie and Louie invited me for their Christmas dinner, which was really simple and intimate but nevertheless a good way to spend the night.

We also did a little exchange of gifts, not knowing who will get our present, I chose a good book to give away, John Green's "The Fault In Our Stars" which I also haven't read but I notice it's getting good reviews so I was confident it was a good present to give. I got a fleece blanket from Dorothy and a nice little coin purse from Charlie and Louie which had a nice message printed on it.

Merry Christmas from us!

I have a lot of answers to this question.

Dorothy (and baby) and me!

Obligatory group photo

Louie <3 br="" charlie="">

I also kinda wanted to have the book for myself.

22 December 2013

Marina Bay Sands & Gardens By The Bay

Here were some that I took about three to four months ago, as I strolled by Marina Bay Sands and passed by Gardens By The Bay. The architecture is really quite something. It kind of reminds me of an alien mother ship that has landed on the ground and has stood there for years – minus all the creepiness, of course. I haven't been inside the Gardens yet but one day I will go inside and photograph the beautiful flora there.

The Marina Bay Sands, is really majestic up close. I saw it for the first time two years ago and to this day, I still think it's one of the most unique buildings in the world. Every night there's a light show that every tourist or local would enjoy watching. Some photos I took back then are found here and here, if you'd like to see.

Both attractions are just walking distance from each other. Camera phone photos do not give justice to the view especially at night, but here they are anyway.