Cloudzilla

Seen while walking out of the Ateneo de Manila University campus on our way home at 6:00 in the evening a few days ago.

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Golden path

It wasn't until I tried taking pictures of a sunset from start to finish that I realized that the sun's reflection on the water lasts for only a few minutes. Taken at the Manila Bay looking towards the hills of the Bataan Peninsula.

See what's reflecting what at James' Weekend Reflections.

High and low

Looking out across the rooftops of some of the upscale residential subdivisions around Capitol Hills Golf & Country Club from the roof deck of Dencio's Bar and Grill. I've already posted a photo of the building being constructed on the right, which will become the tallest building in Katipunan Avenue when it's done. The cluster of buildings on the left is the residential and commercial condominiums of Eastwood City. These are all in Quezon City, but the farther buildings in the middle are already in the Ortigas Center of Pasig City.

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Calling all City Daily Photo bloggers! Our theme for June 1 is Funny Signs. That should be fun! And don't forget to vote for the July theme!

The last days of summer

During the past two weeks, Manila's daytime weather has still been that of summer: hot. But it has also started becoming very humid, and late in the afternoon, dark clouds would gather, the wind would become a little cooler and sometimes, rain would fall in the early evening. I saw this young man flying a kite in the brown fields of the University of the Philippines as the sun was setting behind the evening's rain clouds. Pretty soon, the grass of the fields will be bright green again.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our beautiful world.

D'oh!

On the second day of our recollection last week, the first prayer period was at 6:30 in the morning. So I finally woke up early enough to catch a sunrise. Only to discover that, from the highest point of the Loyola Retreat House (which was the second floor deck), the sunrise was behind the trees and over the next hill.

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Bellarocca: Body & soul

Aside from swimming and golf, what else is there to do at Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa? Aqua sports, of course. You've already seen the kayaks on the beach in my Water, earth & sky post the other day. You can also choose to go snorkeling or windsurfing, and the aqua sports center also has jet skis and aqua scooters.

Because of the unusual mix of clouds here, this photo is especially for Sky Watch Friday.


You can take the hobie cat out for a sail, like the three women out there in the distance. If you choose water skiing or a banana boat, you'll be towed by one of these boats in the marina.




If peace and quiet is what you crave, Bellarocca has a meditation sanctuary, which is also where wedding ceremonies at the resort are usually held.




The main spa of Bellarocca is still being constructed, but I think that it cannot beat the location of the remote spa. It is set on one of the highest points of the island and the view is magnificent. Of course, to appreciate the view you have to be able to stay awake during a relaxing massage. Can you?




One of the best experiences at Bellarocca: the dining. The food is excellent. As usual, we found the serving sizes too big for us, especially since we enjoy having more than just one course; the staff were kind enough to split all the dishes for us, which we really appreciated. I love these wooden arches at the entrance of the main dining room, though we didn't have all our meals here. Tomorrow, my last Bellarocca post, I will show you where some of our meals were served.




Of course, Bellarocca also has more sedate indoor activities; it has a library and a lovely billiard table, and every room is equipped with internet access and a home theater system. But who wants to stay indoors on an island resort this gorgeous? BELLAROCCA SERIES #5

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Glory and praise

Another lovely sunset at Manila Bay. It would have been more fitting if this were a sunrise, but since that's next to impossible for me, I thought this would be a good enough choice for today. I've always wanted to get a photo of sunlight streaming through a break in the clouds, and now I have. Happiness.

A blessed and joyful Easter to everyone!

Urban or rural, natural or man-made, take a sightseeing tour of our world's diverse scenery!

Day-tripping

THEME DAY: PASSAGEWAY • Alright, I'm cheating again here because we've left Metro Manila. We're on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, better known as SCTEx, although where exactly, I have no idea. The SCTex goes through three provinces north of Manila: Pampanga, Bataan and Tarlac. Since it opened in 2008, day trips from Manila to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which is located in the province of Zambales, have become easier; it is 110 kilometers away from Manila but the trip now only takes an hour and forty five minutes compared to three hours before the road was constructed. Last year, I took a trip to Subic Bay with my sister and nieces. This time, my girlfriends and I went a bit farther. Come back tomorrow to see where we spent last Thursday.



From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Passage a: a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes b: a corridor or lobby giving access to the different rooms or parts of a building or apartment. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

SEE IT SUNDAY: DIRECTION

Big cloud, small sailboat

Watching a most unusual sunset on Manila Bay. The orange color seems to be blocked by the big cloud and the rest of the sky remained blue even after the sun had completely set. I loved that the sailboat crossed the bay while I was taking photos, and I waited for it to get to the exact position—just so.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our beautiful world.

SEE IT SUNDAY: SUNSET

I feel like howling

A full moon over the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. Sofitel is located in the same complex as the Cultural Center of the Philippines and overlooks Manila Bay and its beautiful sunsets. Its flagship restaurant is Spiral, famous in the metro for its huge buffet spread. Its bar, 7Pecados by the Bay, I've featured quite a few times already.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our beautiful world.

Wired sky

The evening's rain clouds limned by a rosy sunset, a little haze from vehicular pollution, and the ubiquitous power cables crisscrossing over your head. Welcome to Metro Manila.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our interesting world.

Across two cities

Looking north from the fifth floor of Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City, I saw this cloud touched by the late afternoon sun rising high over the tallest buildings of the Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our beautiful world.