Today is Fool is Cool Day!

First and foremost...

Image Source

Anyone close to me knows that when my friends travel, I always ask for pictures. I ask for pictures for the following reasons:

• I am a photo/photography enthusiast.
• I am curious how the photo was taken.
• Pictures of places and adventure (most especially raw ones) are eye candies to me.
• I am curious what struck my friend's fancy by capturing a certain image.
• I just ask them to upload it in their own personal Social Networking Site so I can look at it.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY, I do not ask for pictures and put it in my blog without their permission, or borrowing their photos without crediting where it came from. ( I'm still a pissed at moment after recently finding out that some of my photos in the blog were allegedly stolen, and by stolen I mean "Save-As-If-My-Own-Then-Upload-It-Somewhere-Without-Crediting" kind.

Two years ago, I have this personal project where I take photos of funny business establishment names, wrong spelling/ grammar, and the likes. My friends find it really funny (after showing them my then cute collection of funny pictures) that they decided to join in the fun, take photos and send them to me as well. I asked my friends to take photos of funny signage and pictures of where they went. Today, since it's cool to be fool day, (April 1) I am uploading some of my personal favorites! ( I have 68 of them I am only uploading a few).

Photo from Karen Tumaliuan

The Philippine Azkals in UPLB

Warning: Photos Galore.

I would like to dedicate this post to "Benjamin Garcia" who's the biggest self-imposed long lost relative of the Younghusbands. (Sige ipagpilitan mo kuya!)

I already knew that Phil and James Younghusband won't be there ( Thanks to connections ) but my nephew who's a member of LBFS (Los Banos Football School) needs to be there by 1pm because according to their coach, the Azkals will have a Photo Op with LBFS ( or the other way around.)

Anyway, today is really funny. Let the pictures' caption speak and tell the story for themselves.

The crowd by the time we arrived 

Megan Fox in "the Tip" (Full Video)

Sabine's Notebook: A Reflection, perhaps?

One Thursday Morning, I met up with my friends from grad school to have coffee. My friend took this book out of her bag and showed this to me:

Sabine's Notebook by Nick Bantock

This is the second book of the sequel. To those (like me) who have not read what the book is all about, Griffin (Male Lead) in his lonesome, wrote an imaginary letter to someone and was received by Sabine. Since he created his recipient all in his mind, he thought that Sabine is just a joke and a work of fiction that he created. So when Sabine, ( the recipient of the letter that he sent to the Universe) told Griffin that she is coming to see him... Griffin got scared and "ran away" via "finding-himself-journey".

What Summer?

My nephew approached me few nights ago and asked: What is Summer?

Image Source 

Such a simple question but it took me a minute to answer because all my past summers came flashing back. To name a few I decided to jot a few things down and see if I can still remember them....

•  Drinking secretly at the UPLB Freedom Park Grounds, with HS friends, while watching the stars.
•  Sleepover's at Escobin's Blue Box Computer Shop at YMCA in UPLB.
• Got my first try of the "blow job" drink at Leandro's. No Elbi Square yet during that time.
• The Blackett sibs, my cousins, coming home from UK with an automatic plan that we'll all go out of town.
• Summer of 1998, before everything started.
• Getting something done, haircut perhaps?
• Being literally out of school's vicinity...

My first Academic School year will end in a few weeks and I have no plans for summer. It's been seven years since I had my last taste of a real summer vacation and not "Summer Vacation Leave" (which is only a few days. Other than describing beaches, summer hats, sun glasses and SPF lotions, I had forgotten what "Summer" really meant.

I want to go somewhere this Summer. Somewhere that does not lead to a memory. Hopefully.

Traffic in Los Baños: Sign of Progress, Problem or Progressing Problem?

Back in 2007, when I was still living in the city, I was told by my highschool friend that I'd be surprised that our beloved Los Baños enforces strict traffic rules, no spitting and no jaywalking and the citizens have grown to be disciplined. So when I came home last year, I was surprised that one of the major complaints is the traffic in our so-called progressive municipality.


So in my attempt to really check what's going on, I used "Photo Voice" (Thanks Faye Abalos for the inspiration) to let the photos speak for themselves... oh well, I just couldn't really resist including captions. 

Build up starts at 5pm

[Late Post] Coffee Blends Blending well

Coffee Blends is probably the oldest surviving coffee shop within the vicinity of UPLB that I know, that serves  good coffee. Before the majority of the Coffee Shops were established, this little nook serves as the usual hang out of those in Graduate School for their sessions of intellectual Sparring.A Professor of mine actually recommended this place for they serve good coffee and good food so we decided to try it out.

They call it "White Pasta"

(Sorry I forgot what this is called but this tastes good)

Oreo Cheesecake

Tips:

• Opens late in the afternoon, say, around three.
• Unfortunately No Wifi
• Good Service
• Good Food
• They have smoking and non-smoking areas
• Cannot bring food bought from outside or you have to pay corkage fee.
• Coffee Price: It depends but approx 100+

Despite all the options for coffee shops around UPLB, Coffee Blends seems to have secured itself with the number of loyal customers still patronizing their good food. Therefore, they're still blending well. 

Must Try! :D

Review: Boston Cafe

There are three Boston Cafe coffee shops from Robinson's Townmall to UP Gate along  (Via Lopez Avenue). During my first week in elbi, I thought this was the "local Starbucks" of the community.

Java Chip, 85 - Laude Size (Medium), 95 - Magna (Large)

Good Customer Service + Pretty Good Wifi

I always order the safest coffee flavor in coffee shops so that I won't get too disappointed. I ordered Java Chip and to describe the taste, it was more like: " Getting there, but not quite. " And it's not just one flavor. The Choco Mint misses the mint and sometimes they just put Vanilla ice cream on top of the coffee for whatever purpose.


Someone I know shared that all coffee types tastes the same.

Tips/s:

• They don't call out your name for you to get your coffee, they bring your coffee to you.
• Free Wifi Access to all three branches.
• Boston Cafes are strategically placed in: 1) Robinson's Town Mall,  catering to those outside vicinity/proximity of UPLB. 2) Grove, this caters to students, faculty and the likes. 3) One Caldi Place, at the back of Vega Center, inside UPLB Campus for those wanting a little bit more privacy/space.
• Grove Branch operates 24/7.