playing on repeat

Christmastime in the District

Mariel — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:53:12 +0000

Last Saturday afternoon, I walked around D.C. in search of some holiday cheer. I hadn’t been feeling the Christmas spirit, and decided to get myself out of the rut by seeing what wintertime activities were taking place in town. Can’t say I was totally successful, though. In a city with no shortage of flags, it was not easy to take one’s mind off the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, if only briefly. Every flag was flown at half-staff, and I was especially stunned while walking by the Washington Monument and seeing its fifty flags.

Anyway, here are some Christmas-y moments I captured that afternoon:

The Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Art turns into an ice skating rink in the winter.

Santarchy, D.C.’s version of SantaCon.

The Capitol Christmas tree.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons

Mariel — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:53:51 +0000

Falling leaves and layers of clothing.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreign

Mariel — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 20:10:18 +0000

Tourists checking out signs next to Buckingham Palace.

Eat, Pray, Play

Mariel — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:58:09 +0000

Not the best photo, but I like it nonetheless. This is the plaza of the rural Philippine town where my grandparents’ farm is located. My short visit there last month coincided with their fiesta, which is a day of celebration for the whole town. Aside from getting to enjoy musical performances and other activities in the plaza, people open up their houses and prepare lots of food for visitors.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Silhouette

Mariel — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:55:51 +0000

Newseum. First Amendment.

Fun in the Fog

Mariel — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:56:47 +0000

Last Friday, while on vacation in the motherland, I got to spend a few hours in Tagaytay with my cousin and her family. Located a little more than 50 kilometers outside of Manila, it is the perfect day trip or weekend getaway destination for those looking for cooler temperatures and stunning landscapes – with views of Taal Volcano and its surrounding lake being the biggest draw for out-of-towners. Nothing like spending a cold day having hot stew next to an active volcano in the Pacific Ring of Fire. ;)

On a clear day, this is what you would see. But it happened to be a foggy day, so this is what we saw…

The best view I got of the volcano. And it lasted barely a minute before being engulfed by the fog again.

The fog made for some cool moody shots, though.

Spooky.

We went on a zip line late in the afternoon when the fog had subsided a bit. Iñigo, my cousin’s 8-year-old stepson, went by himself. Such a fearless boy. Unfortunately, he couldn’t show off photos of his fearlessness at school because he skipped his classes that day to go with us.

Farsickness

Mariel — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 05:56:12 +0000

I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell

— “Beauty and the Beast”

The Charm of Charleston

Mariel — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:19:40 +0000

I hope those of you here in the U.S. enjoyed your Fourth of July BBQs and fireworks. My family is spending the week in Charleston, SC. I mean, what more appropriate way to celebrate the country’s independence than to explore the first state to secede from the young Union, right? ;)

Although this is only my second time in South Carolina, it has become one of my favorite Southern states to visit. And Charleston, in particular, is absolutely lovely.

Carriage tours are a popular way to explore the city.

This visitor center was once a train station.

The Long White Bridge at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

I could get used to relaxing on the veranda of the plantation house with the warm summer breeze blowing.

What could very well be the loudest peacock in all of South Carolina, roaming the plantation’s cafe.

The streets of Charleston are lined with various flowering trees and Palmetto trees.

The cannon display at Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor. It is the site where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired.

The pier that leads to the fort.

The fountain at the Waterfront Park offers much-needed relief from the heatwave.

People claiming their spot at the Waterfront Park for the fireworks show.

Still at the Waterfront Park.

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which connects Charleston to Mt. Pleasant, over the Cooper River.

Rainbow Row.

A typical street in Charleston. Have I mentioned that it is a lovely city?

Sightseeing

Mariel — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:47:02 +0000

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.

— Marcel Proust

Under the Bahamian Sun

Mariel — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:47:20 +0000

I have a confession to make: I do not love beach/resort getaways as much as most people do. It’s not that I don’t find them enjoyable; it’s just that they do not match the idea I have in my head of what makes for an ideal travel experience. Still, when an opportunity to go island-hopping in the Bahamas came up a while back, who was I to decline it, right? Definitely the most luxurious and self-indulgent vacation I’ve ever had. (Also, I got to swim with dolphins!)

Thought I’d share some photos: