Sunnyvale Pictures - Outside Headstrong office

Had some picture taking yesterday outside Headstrong Sunnyvale office with Chryshyll and Abhishek. Yes! We went to the office to finish testing since we have to deliver the data to the client for their testing.

Holyweek Adventure - Singapore

Our last stop in our holyweek trip is Singapore. When we arrived there and after checking in at our hotel, Tita Sheila met us for dinner at her apartment. We had videoke sessions there hehehe...

The following day, Laiza, Manang and I didn't join the others in roaming around Singapore since we were able to do that 2 years ago and we don't want to spend our money going there again. So what the three of us did is go to Sim Lim Square and buy portable hard drives and memory cards. We planned to go to Singapore Night Safari but the fees are too expensive so we just decided to meet up at Suntec since there a Body Shop sale there. After their shopping at Body Shop, we had our dinner.

Tita Lai, Shirley and I had an extra day at Singapore the following day since our flight is 12:00 am via Cebu Pacific and the rest of the group had an early morning flight back to Manila. We tour around Orchard Road and met Tita Lai's barkada.

BTW, we saw Jet Li at one of the malls that we visited!

Holyweek Adventure - City Tour at Ho Chi Minh City

Visited famous landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) - Notre Dame Basilica and Post Office. After the roaming around the city, we went straight to Ben Thanh Market where you can find lots of things to buy, from souvenirs, shirts and of course, bags! I was able to buy some souvenir shirts, ref magnets for my collection, and 5 North Face bags - 3 backpacks, 1 belt bag and 1 body bag - all for the price of USD60!!!

Holyweek Adventure - Cu Chi Tunnel

After a nice adventure in Cambodia, we took a bus and went to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The bus trip, which crosses the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, took us around 6 hours of travel before we reach our city of destination. We didn't had a hard time completing the different forms because the bus personnel did that for us! We arrived at the hotel at around 7pm so what we did is find our hotel and eat our dinner.

After dinner, we checked the rates for the different tours that the hotel is offering. We were really interested going to the Cu Chi Tunnel so that is our itinerary the following day.

Going to the famous Cu Chi Tunnel (they featured it in one of the episode of the Amazing Race) took us around 2 hours by bus. Cu Chi Tunnel is a netwrok of tunnels that spans for at least 200 kms. These tunnel were built by Vietnamese as hiding place against enemies.

Warning: If you are claustrophobic, better not try entering these tunnels.

Holyweek Adventure - Choeung Ek Genocide Museem

After visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum, we went straight to the Choeung Ek Museum popularly known as the Killing Fields. This area was where the Khmer killed their enemies. This is a mass graveyard of some 9K plus of Cambodians. Right now, it is a buddhist memorial to the terror brought by the Khmer soldiers and Pol Pot. You can find here a stupa that contains human skulls and numerous grave pits.

Holyweek Adventure - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is one of the two gloomiest places I've ever been. Before this was converted into prison and torture center under Pol Pot, this was originally a 5-building school complex. While inside this complex, you would really feel the hardships that the prisons felt when they were here. I got so affected that I almost throw up. You can see in every prison cell the different pictures of those who stayed here before they were brought to the Killing Fields. Some of the rooms where converted into a museum where you can see how they were tortured and killed.

I'm very thankful to God that this didn't happen to us, Filipinos.

Holyweek Adventure - Royal Palace, Phnom Penh

After several days at Siem Reap, we went back to Phnom Penh. As soon as we got back from the capital city and a little bit of rest, we started our tour riding a tuktuk. Our first destination, Cambodia's Royal Palace. Compared to Thailand's Royal Palace, Cambodia's Royal Palace is less grandeur. Though the structures inside are very beautiful, they don't have any golden temples or golden structures inside it. But still, the palace looks very interesting!

Holyweek Adventure - Preash Khan Temple

The last temple that we visited is Preash Khan Temple. This temple is very huge! It has a mini-Parthenon inside it. This is where the royalties usually conduct gatherings. This place is a very good place for photoholics!

Holyweek Adventure - Neak Pean Temple

Second to the last temple that we visited is the Neak Pean Temple. This temple is very different compared to those that we have already visited. This is a pool type temple during rainy seasons. People usually go here when they are sick. They take a bath on one of the pools depending on the person's birth year.

Holyweek Adventure - Ta Som Temple

This temple is very famous for its entrance because huge trees grow on top of its main gates. They say that previously, there is a buddha's face that is covered by roots of a tree but unforntunately the tree died so they have to remove it. It is also famous for its Apsara carvings on the walls of the temple.

Holyweek Adventure - East Mebon Temple

After the hiking adventure, we visited next the East Mebon temple. This temple is a bit small compared to the other temples that we've visited. One distinct feature of this temple is that it is guarded by 4 elephants on its corners and only one is still intact up to this time.

Holyweek Adventure - Kbal Spean

They say that when you go to Banteay Srey, you should also visit Kbal Spean. This is a place up in a mountain where you can see carvings on the floor of a river. According to Sarat, they well carved to provide holy water to the people living at the foot of the mountain. They believed that waters flowing from this river will be blessed if they passed these carvings of phallus (representation of male genitals).

Barbeque Party at Homestead

Last night, we had a barbeque party here at our hotel to celebrate Tita Chrysh Ti's birthday. Eventhough it's very cold outside and we're just five, Edge, Janice, Cary, Tita Chrysh and me, we really enjoyed the experience!!! Sarap ng food!!! hehehe...
Also in this album are pictures that I took around the hotel premises before Tita Chrysh and I went to Lucky's for a quick grocery.

Holyweek Adventure - Banteay Srey

After the not so successful sunrise viewing, we went to Banteay Srey, the citadel of women. This temple is famous because of its pink colored walls. This is also where female warriors were trained. It is very beautiful because of the carvings at the wall that is very detailed because it depicts different Hindu stories of Hindu gods like Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.

Holyweek Adventure - Sras Srang

Our second day of tour started with a sunrise in Sras Srang Temple. They said that a temple was built in the middle of this lake but now only the remains of it is still visible during dry season. We weren't able to enjoy the sunrise since it rained the previous night and there are a lot of clouds. We had our breakfast here in a small restaurant near the lake.

Holyweek Adventure - Sunset at Bakeng Mountain

After touring 4 temples, we were told that we will be having a little hiking activity for the sunset at Bakeng Mountain. You have 2 options on how to go to the top, either by foot or by elephant (which is a bit costly), so we took the harder part - by foot. It took us about 15 minutes of trekking before we reached the top but what we don't know is that we still have to go on top of a somewhat tower to see the view properly. The way to the top of the tower is a bit scary coz the steps are very small and very steep! Upon reaching the top, you would see a 360 view of the whole complex. You can see Ankor Wat here perfectly! Unfortunately, we didn't see the sunset properly because of rain clouds so we just enjoy it by taking a lot of pictures.

Note: This is also the site where Lara Croft used her powerful telescope to take a peek at what's happening in one of the temples.

Holyweek Adventure - Bayon Temple and others

After the tour around the Ta Phrom Temple, our group passed by the Leper King Terrace and Elephant Terrace, these terraces is where the king of Cambodia usually stays whenever there are parades or tournaments. After a brief stop at the two terraces, we visited the Bayon tempe. This temple is very famous for its stone faces. To know more about the Bayon temple, check this link - http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-bayon.htm . After visiting the giant face temple, we passed by the statues that depict the very famous story in the Hindu religion, the Churning of the Sea of Milk.

Holyweek Adventure - Ta Phrom Temple

After touring around the Banteay Kdei temple, we headed straight to our next destination - the Ta Phrom Temple. This temple is one of the featured temples in the Angelina Jolie movie, Tomb Raider 1. It's here that you can see huge trees on top of the temples. Very interesting! You will also see here an Apsara between the roots of a tree!

Holyweek Adventure - Banteay Kdei

After exploring the vast and complex structure of Angkor Wat, our group then went to Banteay Kdei. Most of the temples here are a bit destroyed but it is still very beautiful. We also saw a huge tree at the back of the temple. For more information on Banteay Kdei, visit this site - http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-bankdei.htm :)

Holyweek Adventure - Exploring Angkor Wat

After the viewing of sunrise at Angkor Wat, we decided to take our breakfast at a nearby restaurant. When breakfast is over, all of us headed to the entrance of the majestic Angkor Wat. Our tourguide, Sarat, explained to us the details of this temple and the different designs and sculptures inside it. The carvings on the wall of the temple depicts the different stories of Cambodia and the Buddhist religion. Cambodia's history indeed is very interesting! Actually, I was very intrigued on how this huge temple was built so I decided to buy a book about Angkor Wat.

Holyweek Adventure - Sunrise at Ankor Wat

With the holyweek addik , we woke up at around 5am in the morning to see the sunrise at the world famous Ankor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I don't know what to put here so I just put all the shots I have. The view is breathtaking!!!

Celebration at Castro

Cary, Edge, Janice, Abhishek, Chryshyll and I went to Castro in downtown Mountainview to celebrate Tita Chrysh Ti's bday. We had dinner at Pasta?, an italian pasta resto, and had our dessert at Gelato Classico Italian Ice Cream where they serve very good gelato! Happy birthday, Tita Chrysh!!! :)

Holyweek Adventure - Golden Temple Villa, Siem Reap

With Holyweek Addiks, some pictures at our hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Nice place, good service, serves delicious native cambodian food, and lots of freebies - massage, welcome drinks and internet access!!!

Holyweek Adventure - 3 Khai Islands

With holyweek addiks, our island tour on the 3 Khai Islands - Khai Nok Island, Khai Nui Island, Khai Nai Island - in Phuket, Thailand. White sand beaches and cristal clear water. Sarap mag-swim! hehehe...

Holyweek Adventure - Central Festival Mall and Kata Beach

With Holyweek addik, we visited the famous mall in Phuket - the Central Festival Mall. It's like Rustan's here in Manila. Many high-end shops but mostly are on sale... hehehe... was able to buy a pair of shoes and 2 pairs of slippers. After that we went to Kata Beach for a swim and view the sunset.

Holyweek Adventure - Phi Phi Island

With the holyweek addik, our island tour at the famous Phi Phi Island in Phuket, Thailand.

First pictures at Mountainview, California

Got a chance to take some pictures when Tita Chrysh and I went to the grocery near our hotel last Sunday, July 13. Pictures here are taken near the main freeway outside the Homestead Studio Suites. Take also a peek at my room... hehehe....

Holyweek Adventure - Kota Beach

With Holyweek Addiks at Kota Beach in Phuket, Thailand. Not all of us went to Kota Beach since some decided to stay at their respective rooms to just take a rest. We met them for the "supposed to be" sunset viewing at Rawai Beach but we just had our dinner there.

Holyweek Adventure - Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

With Holyweek Addik at Pattaya, Thailand. This place is very beautiful!!! Entertaining cultural show, funny elephant show and breathtaking botanical garden!

Holyweek Adventure - Reclining and Golden Buddha

With the Holyweek addiks visiting the famous Reclining Buddha and Golden Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand

Holyweek Getaway - Royal Palace, Bangkok

With the Holyweek addik group this time at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Golden temples, great architechture and Jade Buddha. Very interesting! :)

Holyweek Getaway - Floating Market

With the holyweek addik group last Holyweek. Bangkok, Thailand is our first destination.

Weekend at Pundaquit, Zambales

Capones Island

Welcome out of town gimik for Richard with Tita Lai, Harry, Ed, Will, Deo, Tita Os, Tintin, Manang, Concepcion Family, Esquejo Family and Tyapon Family. After attending the Sun Life Outing at Bulacan, we headed straight to Zambales for a summer get-away. Island hopping at Anawangin (good for camping) and Capones (white sand!!!). We weren't able to go to the famous lighthouse at Capones because the weather is too hot!!!

Pinatubo Experience

Joined the Sun Life Photography club in their hiking adventure at Mount Pinatubo in Zambales. It took us at least 2.5 hours going up to this very beautiful volcano! What a nice experience but I don't think I will do it again... hehehehe...

Holiday at Pangasinan

Went to Lingayen and Hundred Islands in Pangasinan with Richard, Tita Lai, Cap, Boss Neil and his wife Arlene last May 1 and 2, 2008.

Surfing Adventure at San Juan, La Union

Weekend surfing with Carissa, Aqui, Juber, Katitay, Rosa and Aaron. Unfortunately, di ako nakatayo sa surf board... Pagbalik ko, magppipicture na lang ako... hehehehe :P

Weekend at Tagaytay

Overnight at Canyon Woods then went to Caleruega with Ekai, Carissa, Aqui, Ross, Juber, Nabs and Trina. Haliparot, Boom na Boom, Boom and Saddle!

Balai Isabel, Taal, Batangas

Headstrong Outing 2008 - Batch 1, Hiking at Taal Volcano