.|.. nina's photoblog and her life through the lens ..|.: August 2006

Nina at Villa Escudero

A number of us went to Villa Escudero last weekend, a resort about 2 hour drive from Makati. We didn't stay overnight otherwise we could have enjoyed the chalet by the lake.

From the main entrance we took the 'karabau cart' to the restaurant where we had our lunch. Then we watched the cultural show while some others went for the bamboo rafting and at the end some of us went into the museum. Nina, Rannie and I didn't go to the museum.

Here is one of the photos of Nina taken there.

Nina adjusted well

Nina has been adjusting well so far in Manila. She doesn't have trouble sleeping, eating, playing, etc.

Nina has moved few times since she was born. When she was one month old, in Singapore, we moved from Bayshore to Tanamera, and then from Tanamera to Simei when she 18 months. And now she is in Manila. By the time we're back in Singapore, she will probably attend school already. :-)

Happy Birthday Oom Rika

Pee ka boo, Oom Rika ... surpriseeeee ... happy birthday !

Mommy's love

A Mother's Love is like an island
In life's ocean vast and wide,
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the restless, rising tide ...

A Mother's Love is like a fortress
And we seek protection there
When the waves of tribulation
Seem to drown us in despair ...

A Mother's Love's a sanctuary
Where our souls can find sweet rest
From the struggle and the tension
Of life's fast and futile quest ...

A Mother's Love is like a tower
Rising far above the crowd,
And her smile is like the sunshine
Breaking through a threatening cloud ...

A Mother's Love is like a beacon
Burning bright with Faith and Prayer,
And through the changing scenes of life
We can find a Haven There ...

For A Mother's Love is fashioned
After God's enduring love,
It is endless and unfailing
Like the love of Him above ...

For God knew in His great wisdom
That He couldn't be Everywhere,
So He put His Little Children
In a Loving Mother's Care.

[Author Unknown]

This was taken last weekend in front of the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral - Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, in Intramuros, Manila.

Nina at Manila Cathedral

We went to Intramuros or the Wall City in Manila last weekend, where the Manila Cathedral and St. Augustine church are. See below for the photos.

Nina in Manila's Chinatown

OK, you can't see the Chinatown in the photo, but it was taken there on Saturday. :-) Nina just woke up and she was in the car with her mommy and I was outside shooting while waiting for our Moms to finish shopping at the Bee Bee Hopiah shop.

There are still lots of old and very old buildings in Manila's Chinatown. They keep them well. The streets in Chinatown are narrow, so during busy hours this place is heavily jammed.

Happy Birthday, Mommy

Today is her mommy's birthday. The photo below was taken last weekend, at the junction of North Dr and Rizal St in Makati, if I am not mistaken. It's still early and I have not taken new photos of Nina for today yet. She is still sleeping.

Happy Birthday, mommy !

Touched Down : Manila

It was 5pm local time in Manila on Friday, 11th August 2006, when our flight SQ74 from Singapore touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. We just completed the 3hrs 15min flight from Singapore. Nina did well during the flight. She slept for about an hour after her milk, not long after we took off and was quite active after that but wasn't cranky at all. She played pee-kaa-boo with me, her Ah-Mah, Mamu and one of the flight attendants while sitting on her mommy's lap.

We brought with us our personal belongings in a total of 14 checked-in boxes and luggages plus 6 carry-in bags. The carry-in bags were mostly my photography stuffs. We cleared the immigration and custom smoothly, fortunately. My decision to bring all the stuffs with me inside of shipping them was right. I don't have to wait for my work permit to be approved and issued first before I can receive my shipment.

Two vans from Fraser Place have waited for us outside at the Nissan Transport Center. One for us and one for Mei Chiang's family. Fortunately all my boxes and luggages could go into the van. It was raining that evening in Manila and the fact that it was Friday evening made the traffic worse. It took us about an hour to reach Fraser Place eventhough it was about 10-15km ride. First impression, Manila is very similar to Jakarta.

Nina adjusted herself well. Prior to this, she was in Jakarta and Bandung for a week, back in Singapore at our Tanamera apartment for one day, then we moved to our Savannah apartment and stayed there for about 10 days and then left for Manila. We are very lucky that she managed to adapt well. She had no problem eating, sleeping and playing inside the 200sqm apartment(!), twice the size of our Savannah unit. Nina could get lost inside the apartment. :-)

So, here you go, Nina is back. First few photos shot inside our apartment.