A Weekender's Blogger

Fireworks taken by GE X500

2012-02-11T18:22:00.005-08:00

It's the 3rd Pyromusical Competition! And again, it's now time to bring out the tripod and take those nice fireworks! The venue was in Mall of Asia in the Philippines, and every year organizers have improved crowd control. Every year, I also go to the same restaurant and viewing area - Avenetto. This, I think, the best spot because you can see everything from an elevated level.

And this time, I decided to use the SCN: Fireworks Mode of GE X500 as opposed of going for Manual Mode. The results were as good as using the manual mode. Below are the shots taken. Hope you enjoy.

This is just the first Saturday and the Pyromusical competition will run on several weekends until March, 2012.

Seoul, South Korea Through the Lens of GE X500

2011-12-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Seoul Through The Lens of GE X500

Seoul, South Korea has been the best Asian trip so far. It beats my previous Hong Kong and Singapore trip by a mile. It has than modern facet we all look up to with a developed country, but there's also a lots of culture and personality that you can learn from this city. Of course, during my travels, I have always brought GE X5 and now GE X500 to capture places of interests. Below are some of the photos I took using my camera. I also created some clips using GE X500 and they were edited using Windows Live Movie Maker.

Videos using GE X500.

Weekend Trip to Seoul, South Korea Through GE X500

2011-11-28T07:54:00.001-08:00

Our Thanksgiving Weekend Trip to Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, South Korea was my final Asian destination this year. And what a way to end a travel-filled trip this year than to go to this famous Asian City!!! We booked our flight through one of Cebu Pacific Air's ridiculous seat sales early this year. The good thing about following US Holidays even if you work here in Manila is that all of their holidays are usually long weekends. I booked online via www.cebupacificair.com, and our travel date was set - November 24-27.

If you are a Filipino citizen, you still need to apply for a Korean Tourist visa. For more information about the requirements, visit Korean embassy's website or drop by their office at McKinley Hill. We went to the embassy last October to submit our requirements. If you have a US Visa or any visa from the OECD countries with arrival stamps, processing time is much faster - only 3 days. Anyway, all of our visa's were approved on time, so we book a hotel.

As usual, I went to www.agoda.com and www.asiarooms.com to book for a hotel, and we chose Western Co-op, located across Dongdaemun Shopping district.

One of the things that you need to be aware of is that when you plan to visit Korea during the last quarter of the year, it's already autumn-winter season so be sure to pack the right clothes or else you won't enjoy your trip to there.

We arrived in Seoul, South Korea pass 8pm (local time), and as soon as we went to the bus stop we immediately felt the chills of cold winter breeze. It was -4 deg. Celcius that night. We purchased a ticket for KRW14,000 each and boarded bus 6001. Good thing Western Coop is one of the bus stops. So all we just dropped off and checked in - it was very convenient.

Western Co-op is a very nice hotel, packed with basic amenities and they even have wifi in every room. The reception area is very cozy. I have also noticed that they have kitchen utensils were you can cook. Be sure to bring a plug adaptor as their power outlets are different than the ones we have here in the Philippines. There's also a convenience store right beside and is also a walking distance to famous Dongdaemun Shopping District. Overall, for the price that we paid, which is KRW150,000/night, this was already reasonable.

The next morning we decided to go to Namsangol Hanok Village. We just took the subway and with two stops we were already there. There's no entrance fee and it's a nice place where you would see locals both young and old stroll. This place also features traditional Korean Houses called "Hanok" and you also get to wear costumes and experience local stuff for a cheap price. We wore costumes for KRW3000 each and took some photos as well. Unfortunately, we were not able to catch a staged wedding ceremony which normally happens after lunch. Overall, this was a good introduction to the early culture of Korea.

After that, we ate at a local Korean restaurant and tried Bulgogi. The good thing about local Korean restaurants is that they have unlimited side dishes - so you can have all the Kimchi you want! Then we headed to Gyeokbokgung Palace. We were able to catch a glimpse of "Changing the Guards" Ceremony. The palace is a big complex where you can see the main throne room, other big structures, folk museum and some Hanoks as well.

Then we headed at Mt. Namsan and drove our way to N Seoul Tower. It is best to go to this place during early evening so you can appreciate the night lights of Seoul. There is a revolving restaurant, museum, gift shops and observation deck. A lot of couples go to this place to lock their padlocks at the railing of the observation deck - cheesy act, but a lot really do it!

We went back at the hotel around 9pm, so there's still time to roam around Dongdaemun Market. The night is very alive here! Even until 2am, the malls, department stores, and flea market is still alive and a lot of people are still flocking even at the wee hours of the morning! You can get good bargain on clothes and accessories here in Dongdaemun. You can definitely bargain here. Be sure to check out APM Mall, Doota, MaxStyle.

The following day we went to Everland, which is a theme park outside Seoul. The resort complex also houses a Water Park, which was closed during our visit because of the Winter Season. Entrance fee for groups was KRW24000. The theme park has a zoo, runs a regular parade show and houses dozens of rides including the tallest and steepest wooden roller coaster in the world, which is T-express. When we visited, Everland celebrated their first day of Winter Season so we caught the first Christmas Parade!

Around 4pm, we visited Korean Folk Village. This is the place where they shot "Jewel in the Palace". It's a whole complex featuring early Korean communities with Hanoks. There's also a river where you can experience riding their traditional boats. This is park, just like Namsangol Hanok Village, is all about knowing the early culture of Korea. This is a good place to stroll and immerse yourself with the traditional Korean culture.

Of course, the last night is all about shopping - so we dropped by MyeongDong and Dongdaemun until 3am and went straight to the airport!

We had a lot of good times in Seoul. I still missed a lot of places like Stars Avenue, Lotte World, Nanta Theatre and more, which means another trip to Seoul is warranted.

Corregidor Trip Through GE X500

2011-10-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

A Weekend in Corregidor - Through GE X500

It's been a while since my last local trip, Boracay, which was about a month ago. With some of the US office mates that visited in Manila, I decided to take them to Corregidor. At the same time, this was my first trip to this Rocky island as well. Imagine - living 20+ years in Manila, and I haven't even visited this tourist destination.

I can booked online (suggested) via Sun Cruises (www.corregidorphilippines.com) for a Day Trip of Php1999.00 with an additional surcharge of Php100. I would suggest you book the Day Trip rather than the overnight, because the experience is really worth a day for regular tourists, unless you have other things to do in the island on top of the regular tour.

The ferry dock is located in CCP, beside Folk Arts Theatre. We were there before 7:00am to avoid the hassle. I would suggest, prior to the trip, you bring an umbrella, cap and lots of bottled water as it could get very humid at high noon. The boat trip would be a little more than an hour. The ferry is airconditioned and very comfortable. Plus, there's a viewing deck at the 2nd floor so you can go outside and take pictures.

As soon as we arrived at the island, we boarded one of the selected numbered buses marked as "English Guiding" tours. The bus can accommodate around 25 people. There will be a short introduction on the island and then we were off to the first ruins.

Most of the things you would see in the guided tour are ruined Barracks, Batteries, Japanese Tunnels, and Memorial Monuments. I don't want to spoil much of the information, the tour guide will help you narrate the events as we pass through each ruin. There is a photo opportunity every stop - around 10-15 minutes.

Then we had our lunch back at Corregidor Inn, at La Playa resturant. This is part of the package that we've paid, and it's buffet style. There's enough food, and the taste is pretty ok.

After the lunch, we headed to the Malinta Tunnel and watched the Lights and Sounds Show. But we have to pay Php150.00 for that. I read a couple of reviews that it was not good, but I find it ok and interesting.

Then we went back to the docks 2:30pm to board the ferry back to Manila.

Below are more photos I took on this small historic island.

Boracay through GE X500

2011-09-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

Boracay has been my favorite holiday place! Everytime I visit the island, I am still excited to explore and capture things! This is the first time I took my brand new GE X500 and do some photowalk.

Here are some of the shots I took using GE X500. Hope you like them. For the full review please follow this link:
http://freezy-menthol.blogspot.com/2011/09/ge-x500-camera-review-and-sample-shots.html

GE X500 Camera Review and Sample Shots

2011-09-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a year since I purchased my first bridge camera, the GE X5, and my review probably gave helpful information to a lot of potential and aspiring people who wants to have an SLR-like feature in a compact build at a very affordable price. I have brought my GE X5 to a lot of different places, if you have been following my blog, and has never failed to capture the places that I've been to. GE instantly created a runaway success for this model.

What better way to continue on this success by releasing its younger brother, GE X500. Priced at Php9995, the new model boasts the same old size, weight and build but GE has added a few more surprises in its sleeve.

For one, GX500 includes a 16-megapixel sensor, 15X Optical Zoom, and 27mm wide angle lens. We'll talk more about these features as we go along with the review. They have also added new scenes on the SCN option of the camera. They also improved some of the menu icons and displays, such as the battery status, and scene selection.

Just like with my GE X5 which I used during my trip to Boracay last year, I decided to bring both cameras to my trip to Boracay this year! Probably a good venue to do my first photowalk with GE X500 and also to do a quick comparison with my older unit, GE X5.

The photos I have captured on my GE X500 were set to 5mp only. This is to save precious memory during my trip.

First, I took some interesting macro shots, and just like its older brother (GEx5), GE X500 handled it pretty well.

Next stop would be slow-shutter speed photos. These would come in handy for those fantastic night shots. Here, this is pretty tricky - instead of doing the "Manual Mode" and adjust the shutter speed, I let the 'Fireworks' option under the 'SCN' mode do the magic! This means that you no longer have to go on Manual mode and figure out some settings on the shutter speed. The SCN option will program everything automatically. Here are some shots of some firedancers in Boracay. (Please note that for night shots like te ones below, we recommend the use of a tripod.

Another added scene on the 'SCN' mode is "Sketch". This is pretty handy if in case you want to do some creative shots without post production. Here are some samples of Sketch Photos. This would add a little bit of fun into your shots.

One of the most popular features of GE X5 was the Panorama Mode. They also included that feature on the GE X500. Here a sample shot of a Panoramic Photo captured using GE X500. It was still able to capture the same lighting conditions on all three frames, as you can see from the sample below, the transitions from one frame to another is almost seamless.

The user experience of GE X500 is pretty much the same with GE X5. There were only some minor changes on the user interface that improved a lot on the user experience. The battery life is pretty much the same with GE X5. At full charge, I am able to use the camera for about a week or normal use. But if you're into photography and a lot of night mode and flash, it'll last for 3 days.

Here's an example of the HDR feature of GE X500 (and X5), wherein you can make HDR adjustments on the unit itself, avoiding post production on your PCs. On the left - original photo. On the right - HDR processed

Overall, GE X500 is a worthy upgrade to GE X5. The body and design is the same, but they have improved the interface, added some scenes, and effects, increased the megapixel count. GE x500 even manage to have a lower retail price as compared to X5.

If you are new to photography who do not have the budget, or if you already have an SLR but is already tired of bringing a lot of things when you travel, or if you really wanted to be practical - then GE X500 will be the right bridge camera for you.

[added, 10/31] More Macro Samples:

More sample photos:
http://freezy-menthol.blogspot.com/2011/09/boracay-through-ge-x500.html

A Casual Weekend in Hong Kong and Macau

2011-08-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

For Filipinos, Hong Kong and Macau are the default "first-out-of-the-country" go to because of various cheap airfares available. These places also showcase alot of diffent things to do like shopping malls,theme parks and casinos (Macau). And in most cases, after visiting these places, we Filipinos yearn to come back again and again.

For me, this was my 4th time to visit Hong Kong and my 1st time to visit Macau. I think its about time to put my travel into writing, just in case some folks would want to know the where-to's and the how-to's of these places.

I originally planned to JUST visit Macau, so I booked it during one of those crazy seat sales in Cebu Pacific. Luckily, I was able to book some pretty cheap tickets going to Macau during my preferred dates,July 2-5. During seat sales sales, you can get for as low as Php1,800.00 roundtrip, which I did.

After securing the airline tickets, the next step was to book a hotel. I logged on to www.asiatravel.com and checked out some cheap hotels in Macau. To my surprise, there were REALLY FEW budget hotels in Macau, like Ole London. The problem is, because of the scarcity of budget hotels, they are oftentimes fully booked (and expensive) on weekends. The next choices of hotels were already very expensive, like Venetian, Wynn, MGM and Grand Lisboa. Now, if you have the budget to spend a night or two on these hotels, then by all means go ahead. At one point, I wanted to cancel my trip becausethe hotels in Macau were really expensive, but then I thought, I could just take a ferry to Hong Kong, stay there for the first 2 nights, and on my last day, roam around Macau - which I eventually did. So I also secured Ferry Tickets online. you can check CotaiJet's website, but usually a roudtrip would cost HK$350.00.

Now there are two major Ferry Terminals in Macau as well as in Hong Kong. In Macau, there's the Taipa Terminal, which is just adjacentto the Macau International Airport. There's another one after crossing the bridge that connects Taipa island the main Macau area. In Hong Kong, there is the Hong Kong-MacauFerry terminal located in Shun Tak Center, Hong Kong Island. The other one is the Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal which is located in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Like I mentioned earlier, my first few days were in Hong Kong, and I stayed at the hotel I regularly go to whenever I am in Hong Kong. Harour Plaza Resort City is a destination of its own. It is located in Tin Shui Wai District in New Territories. Many wouldconsider it a bit far from the hustle and bustle of Mong Kong and Central, but if you a privy to Hong Kong public transportation, Tin Shui Wai to Tsim Sha Tsuiwould take you 30 mins by MTR or 40 mins by bus. Harbour Plaza Resort City has a mall on the ground floor (pretty much like Resorts World Manila without the Casino) and Tin Shui Wai Park which offers a good stroll every morning. The hotel is also a few tram-stops away from Hong Kong Wetland Park, which,I have yet to visit. The malk on the ground floor has good brands like Giordano, Bossini, Nike, Converse, Addidas Fila, etc and they are as cheap as the ones you see in Tsim Sha Tsui. Kinswood Ginza Mall also has 4 cinemas. If you are not the "adventurous-eater" type, there's 7-11, KFC, And Mcdonalds. I couldwrite a separate blog about Harbour Plaza Resort City, but one thing I would also add is that they offer spacious rooms with full amenities as opposed to those hotels in Hong Kong at a reasonable price of around Php2900 to Php3400.

Since this is my 4th time in Hong Kong, I have to go to places I have never checked out before, so I opted for two major activites - Ngong Ping 360 and Victoria Peak at Night.

Ngong Ping 360 can be reached via MTR. Alight at Tung Chung station, and the entrance to the park is just a few meters away. You can also travel by bus, and in my case, from Tin Shui Wai, take bus E64 and alight at Tung Chung Fire Station stop. Ngong Ping 360 opens at 10am.

I came about 20 minutes early. Riding the cable car gives you a fantastic view of Lantau Island and other outlying islands. Also, you can see Chep Lak Kok International Airport as well. The whole one-way cable car trip was about 30 mins. Once I arrived at Ngong Ping Village, I went to see the big bronze Buddha. Getting there can be a bit of a challenge, but since, I could say I'm fit, I can was able to conquer the steps reaching the bronze Buddha. Upon reaching the peak, There was ice cream and bottled water - which I consider a form of reward. I stayed for a couple of minutes, took some pictures and went inside the hall to see some artifacts about Buddhism and such. At this point, no cameras were not allowed. After that, I went down to the Ngong Ping Village to eat some lunch, buy some souvenirs and watch some shows.

There were 2 regular shows that you can at Ngong Ping Village - Walking with Buddha and the Three Monkeys. You can buy them as a package when you purchase the Round Trip Cable Car Ticket, or you can buy them separately at Ngong Ping Village. Walking with Buddha and The Three Monkeys Story both run every three minutes, each of them alternating so you can hop from one show to another.

Walking with Buddha was a cartoon film showcasing the life of Buddha from his early life as prince until he became the Enlightened One. The Monkey Story is also a cartoon film showcasing good values and teachings. Both of them obviously educational!

The other show, which I think don`t run regularly was the Shaolin Kung Fu demo. After which, you can sign-up for a free training with the Shaolin Kung Fu Masters!

The whole Ngong Ping 360 Tour can took me half a day which gave me time to do the best thing in Hong Kong - shopping! Whats more convenient is after doing Ngong Ping 360, I went to the mall adjacent to it - the CityGate Outlet Mall. The first time I went to this mall was last year with my family. The mall showcased a lot of imported brands with reasonable `on sale` prices. Plus you get tempted to shop more, because as you spending increases so as your rebates. For example, in Giordano, shop until you reach HK$500 and geta rebate of HK$100. And just like last year, I took time in searching the racks and getting that best deal! I was able to shop for some khakis at Giordao, some shirts for my mom at Mango at Sports Gear at Adidas! All way below HK$500.

Another thing that I visited last time was The Peak, located at Hong Kong island. But of course on these visits, I usually go in the afternoon, so I decided to have my 3rd trip at night. So I brought my camera and tripod so I can take some fantastic night shots at the Peak. My third trip was a charm and was considerably easy since I already know how to. But for first timers, if you`re coming from Tsim Shat Sui, there are two options: take the MTR and alight at Central and walk north until you reach the Tram Station (which is always crowded). Or, for a more intimate trip, take the Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Terminal and cross Victoria Harbour. As soon as you alight on the other side, take a bus ride going to the Peak. I arrived their around 5pm, so I grabbed some snack first at Burger King. And then as night fell, I went up to the Peak Sky Park and spent some quality time with my camera taking night shots of the famous Hong Kong Skyline.

I went back to the hotel, packed my bags and readied for my trip back to Macau the following day. I left the hotel around 8am to catch my Ferry going to back to Macau. My ferry ride to Macau was scheduled at 10am, but since I arrived pretty early at Hong Kong - Macau Terminal at Shun Tak Station, they let me in at the 9:30am trip. As soon as I arrived in Macau, I boarded the Venetian Macao Bus. Take note, riding hotel buses in Macau is free so you can practically roam around this little city without even paying for bus fares. As soon as I arrived in Venetian Macao, the grand hallway welcomed me and the guests with grand paintings and great decorations! No wonder this hotel was the most talked about in Macao! I put my bags on the luggage counter and started strolling around the hotel.

The Venetian Macao is huge! They have the Grand Canal Mall, wherein you can shop while riding to one of those famous Venice Gondolas. Then there`s the Casino, which for me was the largest I seen so far (comparing to Resorts World and Pagcor in Manila). I played some slot machines, but I won`t deal on that in detail since it did not do well. But after gambling, I boarded the bus to bring me to the City Center and walked around Senado Square and Ruins of St. Paul.

Senado Square reminded me of Intramuros. If Intramuros was inspired by Spanish influence, Senado Square is inspired by Portugese Influence. Similarly, you can visit some old churches, but the most famous one would be Ruins of St. Paul. I spent probably 3 hours just roaming around and taking clicks on my camera, then decided to go back to Venetian Macao.

As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I took my bags and went to the airport to catch my 11pm flight. I took a final peak of the Venetian Hotel and took a photo of its tower.

This will not be my last trip to Hong Kong and evidently to Macau.

Hong Kong and Macau 2011 - Through the GE X5

2011-07-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong has been always my favorite near-out-of-the-country destination when I have long weekends. But this has been my first time to travel alone. As a privy commuter in Hong Kong, I was already fairly familiar with the streets and with the place, so for the most part I just relaxed in my hotel room. But it was also a good opportunity for me to cross the Pearl Delta and visit Macau.

Macau is about 45 minutes away via ferry. You can ride a Ferry via two major terminals in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong - Macau Ferry Terminal and Hong Kong - China Ferry Terminal have regular trips to Macau. The usual price would cost HK$170. Once in Macau, you'll get to see historical sites, and ultra-complex Casinos!

It was definitely worth the visit. Here are some photos I have taken in Macau and in Hong Kong using GE X5

Macau

Hong Kong

Kota Kinabalu Through GE X5 Pro Camera

2011-06-03T05:24:00.000-07:00

Most Filipinos would opt to go to Singapore or Hong Kong, but little did they know that there's also a very interesting place to go to just south of Palawan - the island of Borneo. Borneo is being occupied by 3 countries, Brunei, Malaysia (Sabah), and Indonesia (Kalimantan).

Kota Kinabalu, is a the capital of Sabah Malaysia and is home to the highest Mountain in Sabah - Mt. Kinabalu. Apart from that the resort city is also home to the nearby island which is part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

The city is also famous for its seaside bars and restaurants and their outlet stores, which I would say is a lot better than those you see in Hong Kong.

So, if you want try something new, go to Kota Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Weekend Trip

2011-05-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

Getting to Kota Kinabalu is fairly easy, there are flights going from Manila via Cebu Pacific or Clark via AirAsia. I flew via Cebu Pac on a Friday afternoon. It was one of the most horrible experience I had in NAIA T3. It had long lines from the get go and it was very humid inside. The immigration line was very long - coz, they only have 2 immigration officers. No wonder it was voted the worst airport. So I just got in on time and made the regular process. Flight o KK was sheduled at 1350.

I booked a hotel through http://www.agoda.com/ and chose Switz Paradise Hotel. This was the first time I booked through Agoda. I usually book at http://www.asiatravel.com/. So far so good, booking at Agoda was a breeze.

Kota Kinabalu City, Sabah, Malaysia

I arrived at Kota Kinabalu pass 7pm. Unlike Hong Kong or Singapore, where you can ride an MRT in the airport, there's no option here but to ride an airport taxi or walk until you reach outside the airport and catch a bus. The taxi will bring you to the city center for 30 ringgits, which is fair IMO. I was able to check in Switz Paradise Hotel. Upon settling my stuff in my room, I was surprised that for a budget hotel, they have wifi in my room, And by the way speaking of budget, this hotel's standard room costs 88 ringgits per night. Of course, the hotel offered the very basic of necessities like towels, complimentary bottled waters and a soap - which means you have to buy or bring your toothbrush, toothpaste and shampoo.

My hotel is inside the Asia City Mall

After settling in, I decided to go out to get some dinner, the place that I stayed in was very near other commercial areas like Warisan Square, Centerpoint Sabah Mall and Waterefront Bars. Western fastfood chains are readily available. Outside the hotel you could already see Mcdonalds across the street. I was surprised with the shops that I found like Quicksilver which is cheaper as compared in Manila. There a couple of outlet stores but were already closed. And then of course, I immediately smiled when I saw Starbucks and bought a tumbler of Malaysia which I collect for 38 Ringgit. I also ordered a Grande Iced Caramel Macchiato for 13.80 Ringgit. The tumbler's a bit expensive compared to the ones I have bought from other countries, but hey, price is not an issue for a collector. It was raining a that time, so I couldn't go to the Waterfront and stroll, but there a couple of interesting bars there.

Shops and malls are bountiful in KK

Waterfront area is a good nice to hang-out

Waterfront is a place where all the bars line up

Waterfront bars in the morning

The next day, I already planned to go to Tunku Rahman Abdul Park or specifically Palau Manukan, which is one of the several islands this park has to offer. I opted for Manukan since this is the most amenities are readily available. I walked from my hotel to Jesselton, without a map, I opted to walk a the Waterfront until I reach the Jesselton Ferry terminal. A good 30-minute walk will let you see pass the bay front sites of Kota Kinabalu. But if you are not the walking type, then better ride a bus or a taxi. Upon reaching Jesselton point, I immediately purchased a boat ride to Palau Manukan which costs 17 ringgit. You can opt to rent other items such as mats, snorkle gears, life vests and fins. Then you need to pay the terminal fee and tariff which is around 10 ringgit. I caught the first boat at 8am and arrived at Palau Manukan around 8:30am.

Walking by the waterfront early morning let's you discover the city center more intimately.

Jesselton Point

The beach is clean, and the white sands are ok - not coarse. But if course, my bench mark was always Boracay sands, but this is pretty close. The scenery reminds me of Anawangin without the lagoon and with amenities. Why? Because the beach has pine trees!!! I snorkled a couple of time and roamed the island and then I headed back to the mainland around 11pm. After that, I took a rest and decided to shop at Center Point Sabah. They have the basic brands like Giordano (bought a shirt there with "Malaysia" on its print). But I was surprised thT the Factory Outlet Shop (FOS) sells branded items very cheap. I bought 3 GAP, 2 Zara and 1 Old Navy shirt for 70 ringgit or about 1000 pesos - imagine that!!! My budget was fully unprepared for this, so I decided to use my swipey card. After that, I decided to watch Kung Fu Panda 2. There's a cinema in the mall. To my surprise, the ticket prices for a 2d and 3d films are 7 ringgit and 15 ringgit respectively - very cheap compared to the cinemas here in Manila. Coincidentally, Kung Fu Panda features one Malaysian artist, Michelle Yeoh, so the movie was jampacked and well received by fellow Malaysians. I was so tired that day, that I decided to sleep pass 8pm.

Palau Manukan, part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

So the next day, I woke up early and decided ate at Mcdonalds Api-api branch before heading our for city tour and do some photowalk. But then last minute, I decided to go back to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and visit another island - Palau Mamuntik. So I went back to Jesselton, but this time I took a bus from Warisan Square. It was a good 10 minute ride. So I went on paying the island trip, tariff and terminal fees. And spent the whole day just snorkeling. I actually find Palau Mamuntik the better beach and snorkeling area compared to Palau Manukan. The island is pretty small, but common amenities are also available - changing rooms, toilets, cafeteria. If you decide to eat buffet lunch, yo need to pay 45 ringgit, but if your on a budget, they have cheap meals at the cafe, all less than 10 ringgit. It was also on this island that I found a big monitor lizards and fishes swimming at you when you snorkel. I also met new friends here, I Chinese Family, an Australian couple, and an American Backpacker - call that UN. I stayed until 3pm and then decided to go back to the main island. I just went to the mall adjacent to Jesselton point which is Suria Sabah. They have upscale stores and Reject shops. I ate at the food court which provides a good view of Palau Gaya!!! A came back at the hotel around 5pm and slept the early evening.

Palau Mamuntik

The last day, I decided to take an early walk and go to the observatory. It was my last day, so I decided to stroll the city. Going uphill is an attraction by itself, by I wouldn't recommend to those who don't like walking at all. The first pit stop is Atksinson's Clock Tower. Its the oldest clock tower in Kota Kinabalu and a historical relic. So I stopped and clicked some photos. And then I went uphill to go the observatory. Upon reaching the observatory, you can clearly see the whole Kota Kinabalu City and a couple of islands within the Tunku Abdul Raman Marine Park. I would recommend that you go here between 6am to8am, the temperature is ok! And then now it's time for me to check out, but my flight is at 6pm, so I decided to leave my bags at the counter and run a quick souvenir shopping at Center Point Sabah and Warisan Square.

Old Atkinson's Clock Tower

Observatory

some of the malls and commercial complexes in KK City

There were still a lot of activities I've missed, especially hiking Mt. Kinabalu and visiting the other island - enough reason for me to go back to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

India Video Montage - Shot Through Iphone 4

2011-05-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

Not only am I fond of taking photos of the different places I have been, but I have a new found hobby in editing short clips taken using my Iphone 4. The video below shows different clips around New Delhi and Agra during my trip last April 4. I used the app "Splice" to edit these clips straight on my Iphone.

From the Philippines, there is now a direct flight Manila-Delhi via Philippine Airlines. Also, India just recently announced, that for Filipinos wanting to visit India as tourists for less than 30 days, they now have "visa-on-arrival" in India's international hubs like Delhi Internatinal Airport, which means that you don't need to go to Indian Embassy in Makati to have a tourist visa stamped on your passport. :)

Incredible India Through GE X5

2011-04-11T22:44:00.000-07:00

I have already mapped out the out-of-the-country trips for the entire year, so going to India was an unplanned trip for me. I had to attend a Leadership Meeting, together with the "gods" of our company (VPs, SVPs and Directors). But of course, since we're there primarily for work, there will inevitably be days that we can go out and discover the sights that India (al least the Northern part) has to offer. So by default, we have to go to Taj Mahal!!! From Delhi, it will take around 4-5 hours to reach Agra, so its best that you leave very early. We left around 6:30am and arrived around 1:00pm. The Taj Complex is a huge, government maintained complex. A foreigner will need to pay INR750 entrance fee which already includes a wallet guide, bottled water, plastic feet covers (you'll need this once you enter the main tomb). It is also best to bring your passport should they ask at the security gate. You will first be welcomed by huge Fort. This is your first pit stop before you can even see the Taj Majal.

The picture below will give you a peek once your inside the fort - a majestic view of Taj Mahal.

After passing the complex, you will be welcomed by a lush garden and water fountain (at that time, the fountain was still turned off). From here, you can now take pictures of the grand tomb.

Because of security restrictions, taking pictures INSIDE the tomb is strictly prohibited, so this is the nearest that I can click using my GE x5.

Cherry Mobile Eclipse User Review

2011-04-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

Cherry Mobile Eclipse: Who Says Smart Phones Need to be Expensive?

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Cherry Mobile is one of the youngest players on the entry level handsets in the Philippines. It has become a popular choice for budget conscious people. But recently, they have also decided to enter the Smartphone market with both Windows based and Android based devices. The first Windows Phone that they have released was Cherry Mobile Eclipse with Windows Mobile 6.5 Operating System. I bought this phone at a very tempting price of Php4999.00. With that price, this can be considered the cheapest WinMo phone in the Philippine market. I already have an Iphone 4, but because I am a traveller and needed a phone that's open line and I could take anywhere without the fear of being charged with Globe's ridiculous roaming charges, I decided to buy this one. I still need a smartphone that I can work with and I think Eclipse with the WinMo OS installed would be fine.

The 3.2 inch screen is great. But be warned, native applications are stylus driven.

The box contents are just very basic - phone, stylus, charger, battery, cable, earphone and manual. You still have to purchase a separate memory card. It can accommodate up to 8GB of external memory. The build quality is just ok. The back cover is made of brushed metal paint, but under that is all plastic. The black front face really brings a professional impression. There is a 2-megapixel camera at back (very basic and not the best of quality). It also has a sensor so you can auto-rotate the screen. The left side houses the volume rocker, lock key and mini-USB port. The right side only has one button which is the camera shutter. There are three touch sensitive keys on the bottom of the screen.

It's brushed rear cover gives a very good impression

The honeycomb style menu is very thumb friendly, but once you go into the menus, you'll find yourself using the stylus

The WinMo 6.5 OS installed on the phone comes with the "Today Screen" and then a Honeycomb grid as the main menu. But when you go deeper into the interface, you'll find yourself already using the stylus (which I find really annoying). So what I did was to download applications to improve the user interface and allow thumb input rather than using a stylus. I have installed SPB Mobile Shell version 3.5.5 and SPB Keyboard. Both can be found at http://www.4shared.com/ or http://www.umnet.com/. The already has a built in Facebook application. It's not as snazzy as the Iphone interface but much better than the Nokie Symbian Facebook app. And of course, they'll know your using a WinMo phone everytime you update because the status will also have a footnote saying "via Windows Phone". Other native applications include MS office mobile suite (which I think is the edge of this phone over android and Iphone). It has a good calendar and email application. And because of this, I have migrated by portable email onto this phone. In short, I have passed the "work" phone to Cherry mobile Eclipse. My Iphone is now my personal non-office phone.

The default screen would be the "Today Screen" which offers a snazzy inferface just like with Microsoft Zune

The camera is offer very poor quality, but the additional options make it look usable as well. There's timer, brightness, modes and such. The video camera is also ok - only usable for email. Don't expect DVD quality videos on the phone. Below are some sample photos.

Multimedia handling is also ok. It has the Windows Media Player that can play music and videos. You can download a DIVX application so you can watch .avi videos. The loudspeaker is not that good though as well as the earphones that came with the package. Please bear that this phone does not have a 3.5 mm jack, which means you can't use any standard earphone. It only houses a 2.5 mm jack, so this means you need to buy an adapter (probably in CDR king). But, again, as a regular user, I don't mind because I have another gadget to complete my music-listening and video-watching needs. All in all, the Cherry Eclipse is very good phone for its price range.

If you are techie enough, you can download applications that will improve WinMo's user interface

The SPB Mobile Shell application gives a better interface for your WinMo phone.

This may be the cheapest smartphone, but it can be a work horse. Since it's WinMo, it very easy to sync office files, calendars and emails. Multimedia is ok, but it's nothing compared to the likes of Android and Apple. The good thing about the phone is the freedom for me to tinker with the interface and do whatever I want. This is what I miss about an open source system. Oh, and did I mention it's dual sim... "So pick a fruit - Cherry, Apple or Blackberry"

Ipad 1 on Sale in the Philippines after Ipad 2 Announcement

2011-03-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

(This was my first blog entry typed using Ipad)

Almost a year ago, one revolutionary device was announced by Apple, they changed mobile computing. They have reinvented a lot of devices from portable music player (Ipod) to mobile phone (Iphone). After announcing Ipad, then followed an onslought of similar devices mainly backed up by Android OS. The generation of tablets has started and whatever Apple-haters say, they have defined this category and this is the reason why they have 90% of the market share at the time of this writing.

Having said that, the entry level Ipad 16GB wifi did cost $499.00 in the US which is officially priced at Php23990.00. Although for Apple standards, the price is one of the cheapest, but of course its still expensive for a normal Pinoy, since other competing products provide cheaper alternatives - netbooks, Cherry Superion. And of course there are those ridiculous resellers at Ebay.com and Sulit.com selling he entry level Ipad 16GB at around Php27000 and above. And because of this, I decided not buy Ipad and just settled on getting an Iphone 4 and Iphone 3GS through my Globe Rewards Program.

And then there was the much awaited announcement of Ipad 2 a few weeks ago. This was an answer to other competing Android Tablets and an army of which arriving towards the end of the year. Ipad 2's entry level price was announced at $499. And then, I thought, knowing Apple's pricing pattern I assumed the Ipad 1's price was adjusted. And I was correct!!! The Ipad 1's price in the App Online Store was adjusted to $399 for the 16GB and the official price in the Philippines was adjusted to $19990. That's a Php4000 drop!!!

And so my interest in buying an Ipad was again renewed. Should I buy Ipad 2 - dual cameras, faster processor and thinner profile? Or should I buy, the now cheaper Ipad 1? I actually considered a lot of things. For one, I actually don't need the cameras since I already have that on my Iphone 4. A faster processir will help, but upon playing with Ipad 1 at one of the Mac Reseller Stores in Mall of Asia, I think Ipad 1 was still fast and responsive. And so I made a decision to buy the entry level Ipad for Php19,990.00

I would say it's worth the purchase. I am now using this to track my projects at work. I am now practically paperless at work from taking down notes and minutes of the meeting to planning my meetings and conference calls. This gadget was also a good companion to keep me entertained and informed with tons of games and apps. Plus the sync of both my Iphones and Ipad make it all the more interesting. Of course, I don't intend to jailbreak them.

Oh, and after the price adjustment, some resellers online still sell the Ipad 1 at Php27000 and above so be warned. If you are interested in buying the now cheaper Ipad 1, just go to Mac/Apple Reseller Store in ang of our Malls here in Manila. The Ipad 1 is still a competitive device and is still a looker so I won't consider it dated yet.

Weekend in Singapore, 2011

2011-02-21T00:41:00.001-08:00

I took my GE x5 for a stroll over the weekend at Singapore. This is my first out-of-the country trip this year (2011) and apart from going to Universal Studios, Sentosa, Marina Bay and other hot spots around the city, I also look forward to taking a lot of photos using GE X5, just like what I did in Taipei. I do hope you enjoy some of the shots using my camera.

Of course, the Universal Studio Logo is a must to be taken. This is an early evening shot of the famous logo that stands in front of the theme park.

This is the Hollywood area of the theme park with a lot of restaurants and souvenir shops.

This is a photo of Battlestar Galactica and the Mummy Ride, two of the most popular attractions in the theme park

Another shot of the logo, we came in early and the park was still closed, so might as well kill time by taking photos.

The following day, we went to Marina Bay area and also took some pictures. This is a shot of the Singapore CBD from the balcony of the Marina Bay Sands Skypark. Here is a shot from another side of the balcony of the Skypark with a fantastic view of the Singapore Flyer

Now here is another angle of Marina Bay Sands from the park adjacent the Singapore Flyer.

Here are some great photos of Marina Bay Sands and other adjacent buildings like the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Mall, etc. Another night shot of the Singapore skyline Singapore CBD taken from the Marina Bay Sands Skypark.

I just can't help but take more shots of Marina Bay Sands.

GE X5 Fireworks Shots - 2nd Pyromusical Competition

2011-02-12T16:09:00.001-08:00

It has been a while since I used my GE X5 for artistic shots, simply I don't have time for the past couple of weeks to do this. But last 2.11.11, I just have to bring my camera and my tripod and watch the 2nd Annual Pyromusical Competition at Mall of Asia Bay Area. I can still remember last year how I used my Canon 1000d for the event and produced great results, but that was a thing of the past. I am confident that with GE x5's manual capabilities, this camera can be at par with the shots I took last year. True enough, this little gadget did not disappoint me, so here are some of the pictures I have taken from GE x5.

The Pyromusical Competition will run all Saturdays from February 12 to March 12, 2011 at the Mall of Asia Bay Area. Ticket would range from Php100 to Php1500. But I would suggest for you to get a decent reservation at any veranda restaurants in the bay area. You can get as much as Php300 per head which is already consumable, depending on the restaurant you want to dine.

Iphone 4 Review, Camera Samples

2010-11-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

Iphone 4 Review from a Regular User

Note: This is not a tech review, this is based on a normal end-user.

It's been a while since the last time I made a review of a mobile phone I recently purchased. I was not really an Apple fanboy before, I did not make any big deal about the Iphone and it's iOS operating system. Even with 3 iterations, I would still opt to buy a regular phone from the safer brands - Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

What made me switch to an Iphone 4 were two things: (1) When a purchased Ipod Touch 3rd Gen, and (2) When I was eligible with my mobile carrier's (Globe Telecoms) loyalty award.

The ipod touch 3rd gen made me introduce to the iOS ecosystem. It was user friendly and the apps were just totally awesome. But the loyalty award was really the deciding factor to purchase one because I only got this phone for Php9000. It was really a great deal.

There are so many good things to say about the Iphone 4, but there are few flaws as well.

The display is was really sharp. Comparing with my Ipod Touch (which I sold eventually), the resolution difference was really clear. The improved processing speed made multitasking easier and responses faster. With the most updated OS, downloading apps was a lot easier since all of them are now compatible on the new version. By default, the pre-istalled apps would do the work of a regular smartphone. But downloading specific apps would make it a workhorse.

One example was when I went to Taiwan for a backpacking trip. I avoided the pains of paying roaming charges whenever I call my family from my hotel, I would use the default wifi connection to do a facetime call (my brother has an Ipod touch 4). Or, I would call him via the latest update on Yahoo Messenger App. I would also do wifi based SMS through the Chikka application.

I was on leave from work when I was in Taipei, but I had to make a few calls and a little work. And Iphone 4 just did the job! I was able to check my emails with attached screenshots. Most phone would just display plain text (e.g. Blackberry). I was able to access my work desktop through the Citrix App. And I was able to facilitate a Webex Meeting. And yes! These are all available on the Iphone.

The map and GPS application helped me find my way in Taipei. The photo and video application (samples below) captured places I have been in Taipei. The music and games kept me pre-occupied while waiting for my flight.

Overall, this is a complete mobile phone. Some of the things that could've improved would be its battery life. At times, it would last for 24 hours under heavy usage. But would last for 3 days if there's a lot of standby time. Buying a case is a must, since it's a fingerprint magent, but this hides the design of the phone, so I would suggest buy a transparent case.

Below are some sample pictures and videos that I've taken during my trip.

Taipei Video shot through GE X5

2010-11-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

Here are some video clips that I have compiled during my trip in Taipei last October, 2010. I used GE X5 video recording and the clips were really great.

Weekend in Taipei, Taiwan

2010-10-30T03:08:00.000-07:00

This was my first time to travel alone and discover a new place. I went to Taipei, Taiwan last October 23 with one thing in mind, to see Taipei 101. But I got more than what I had wished for. I get to experience the culture, more sites and of course new friends.

I arrived at the Tuoyan International Airport pass midnight. At the arrival area, shops were already closed and there was a couple of bus company's offering last trip to Taipei Main Station. With very very limited ability to understand Chinese, I had a hard time asking folks how much and what bus number I should take, but luckily to old Filipino-Chinese couple helped me find my way through the bus ticketing lane.

When I rode a bus, I also met another person who is Filipino-Chinese who had work there in Taipei, but has a family in the Philippines and he helped me find my hotel near Taipei Main Station. We were able to find my hotel: Chair-Man Hotel.

The next day, after eating the breakfast provided by the hotel, I walked until I reach the Taipei Main Station and alighted the CKS Station for my first stop - CKS Memorial Hall.

It was a very big complex, and on a weekend there were a lot of teenagers practicing dance routines doing group projects in the park, which is not a common thing here in Manila. The complex is free and you can visit the three main buildings of the complex.

Later that day, I of course went to Taipei 101. They had an entrance fee of around NTD90 to reach the observation deck on the 89th floor.

Taipei 101

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

Bohol Weekend Trip

2010-09-04T14:47:00.000-07:00

I have been travelling in different places, and most of them happened this year. Most of my friends suggested that I try Bohol. So I waited for the right opportunity, meaning another seat sale. I got my plane ticket for Php78 via Zest Air and a free accommodation via Club Astoria, so it was really a good deal.
This is also a good time to take my recently bought GE X5 to another trip, first one being in Boracay a few weeks back. So below are the pictures I have taken in Bohol.

Boracay Through GE X5

2010-08-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

12/06/10 Blog has been added with new pictures

This is my second time in Boracay this year, and the first time I brought my GE x5 and test it's full capability. At most, it did impress me as it is the most compact budget bridge camera that acts and looks like a DSLR. I did take a couple of Panorama shots and the best one is on the set below. The camera was also able to capture great sunset pictures.

I also took the liberty of taking some video clips. I have yet to edit them and publish a small MTV as a sample of the videos being taken by GE x5. I do hope you enjoy the pics below.

Below is also a sample video I have made using GE x5, with the exception of some underwater shots taken from a different camera.

Below are additional pictures that were taken using GE X5 during my third trip this year in Boracay.

GE X5 Camera Review and Sample Shots

2010-07-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Follow me on twitter @freezymenthol
Note: You can also join the Facebook Page for more GEX5 Information:
http://www.facebook.com/cb.bautista1#!/group.php?gid=115454671840786&ref=mf

There are more sample shots and video clips on other related blogs I have posted (copy and paste the link on your browser):

http://freezy-menthol.blogspot.com/2010/11/taipei-video-shot-through-gex5.html

http://freezy-menthol.blogspot.com/2010/10/weekend-in-taipei-taiwan.html

http://freezy-menthol.blogspot.com/2010/09/bohol-weekend-trip.html

http://freezy-menthol.blogspot.com/2010/08/boracay-through-ge-x5.html

http://freezy-menthol.blogspot.com/2011/02/ge-x5-fireworks-shots-2nd-pyromusical.html

After using Canon 1000d for almost a year, I finally decided that I really do not need an SLR especially when I travel. The reason is that when I travel I end up wasting 1 hand carry luggage just for bringing the SLR gear in a bag. After a couple of contemplations, I decided to switch over to a bridge camera. The next problem is, what bridge camera to decide. There are tons of bridge cameras out there, with besting features such a telephoto zoom lenses etc. But what's striking is also their tag prices. A bridge camera like Fuji HS10 or Lumix LX3 would range mid Php25,000 - and that's already bordering a the entry level SLR.

And then I saw one the shelf of a store a nice looking thing called GE x5 Bridge Camera. Although unfamiliar brand, I do know GE makes durable refs so most probably they also build durable Bridge Cameras. Another striking feature is that the body looks like a small SLR. For those advanced users, it also has that Manual Mode which I do need when I travel. And the best part is its price, and almost half of it competitors and offers much more!

The package that I bought includes a strap, batteriers and a charger, 4Gig memory card and a Motorola Rokr Phone (not sure why they included it there).

Of course I have to test it immediately. Surprisingly its shutter speed (manual) ranges from 30 seconds to 1/2000 second - even better than Powershot G10 with the slowest shutter speed of 15 seconds. What does that mean? Well, you can just take fantastic night shots, which I will try to post later.

Below are sample of night shots taken from MOA

Overall, I would recommend this for hobbyist in photography, that does have a hard time carrying a couple of lenses and then carrying a bag. The GE X5 does well as a bridge camera that does act out basic SLR features.

Here are some down-sized photos highlighting the focusing capability of GE X5.

A weekend at Hong Kong (3rd Visit)

2010-07-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

Visiting Hong Kong always brings excitement to my senses, even if this was already my third time to do so. The good thing about this trip and now, I have my SLR to capture the lights, the people and the culture of Hong Kong...

A Sofitel Weekend

2010-06-07T17:28:00.001-07:00

We spent our weekend at Sofitel to celebrate my mom's birthday. I took the opportunity of dong some photo walk as well

A Boracay Weekend - Through the Lens

2010-06-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

It has been two years since I last had a vacation in Boracay. A lot has changed, and the already commercialized island, has been MORE commercialized with known establishments in Manila already here (like Starbucks, Yellow Cab etc.)

I also brought my SLR and underwater digital camera. Below are the photos I have taken during my leisure time in Boracay. Some I have watermarked, but the rest I just decided to include in this blog.