PAP36B [Dubai - Ibn Batuta Mall/Quidam]

After lunch at Souk Madinat Al Jumeirah's Dome restaurant, we moved to the Ibn Batuta Mall to collect our tickets at the Quidam box office. We had many hours to spare before the show started at 8:00 pm. So we roamed Ibn Batuta's four courts: China, India, Persia and Egypt.

We were VIP Tapis Rouge ticket holders for Quidam and so we lined up at the red carpet entrance by 7:00 pm and enjoyed drinks, pica-pica and other amenities at the VIP Tapis Rouge tent. Unfortunately, my digital camera's memory cards were full at this time and we managed to get only two shots. Photography was not allowed inside the Quidam theatre.

The theatre was actually a huge tent in Cirque du Soleil's trademark royal blue and yellow. The tent has a capacity to sit 2,500 viewers. As VIP Tapis Rouge ticket holders, we were seated at the "front" of a circular revolving stage. We were at the front of sorts since the overhead pulley system and tracks ensured that entrances by performers faced us, allowing us a real nice vantage point for watching a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

Photos by Blogger, Dennis Mendoza and a beautiful stranger.

PAP36A [Dubai - Souk Madinat Al Jumeirah]

Dennis and I flew to Abu Dhabi from Riyadh, despite the fact that Circque du Soleil's Quidam will be in Dubai. The primary reason was to save on hotel room costs while the secondary one was to enjoy the company of now Abu Dhabi-based colleagues/friends. We stayed with the Ochoas and visited with the Celestinos.

On the day we were to watch Quidam (Jan. 11), we rode a small bus to Dubai from Abu Dhabi. It cost us only 16.00 Dhs per though the return trip was another story and cost us 300% more! It took us about an hour and half on the road. On reaching Dubai, we stopped at the Mall of the Emirates and took a short taxi ride to Souk Madinat Al Jumeirah and enjoyed the bazaar-like ambience of the mall.

Photos by Blogger and Dennis Mendoza.

PAP35 [Homecoming]

One wonderful part of our homecoming, was hosting Lola Ganda/Mommy Donida even for a few hours. She is such delightful company for she keeps you in stitches and engages you in endless chatter interspersed with her unique witticisms. And she's such a fashionista to boot!

This is just our second date with her (in two years huh) but it looks like it's going to be a regular thing from here on.

Dining (actually, lunching) with her at Serendra Plaza's Portico. The table is empty but we had house specialty tofu omelette, and shrimps and pork dishes whose "titles" I could not now recall. Starter was another delight: pomelo salad with a sweet vinaigrette. All washed down with special house blend ginger-lemonade.

Note: Portico staff is top-notch. We enjoyed their easy banter with us, as well.

Dennis with stylish Lola Ganda/Mommy Donida with the huge black and white balls at Serendra Plaza, and waiting for lunch to be served at Portico.

Dennis and Lola Ganda/Mommy Donida in gold coordinates, at Lola Ganda's living room in Paranaque. She said we should pick her up at 11:00 am, on the dot and we did! He he. We didn't want to disappoint such a lovely lady.

The photograph shows them at full-length, the better to capture Lola Ganda's gold footwear.

Blogger and Dennis with Lola Ganda/Mommy Donida at her living room and her Christmas tree.

Dennis and Blogger under the "now-legendary" Turkish chandelier. What prendship Elmore would describe as lighting fixture with a certain provenance.

Dennis and Blogger with our Christmas tree. The tree and trimmings on the living room balcony and stairs were a "surprisa" of sorts for us by Ate Mayet and conspirators. It was indeed a lovely surprise.

Photos by Blogger and Dennis Mendoza.

PAP34 [Housewarming]

Super dami the tao at our housewarming. Box office hit!
It was the first time that the Magnos and the Mendozas came together, so it's also probably historical and certainly hysterical. He he. This is the eksena at the living area na tagus-tagusan sa dining area.

Jog and young family sa stairs where you can also see somehow what's going on at the terrace.
Turkish lamp also making dungaw from the ceiling. The baby (Howie) is my godson. Lucky baby huh?!?

Dennis' nephew JR and girlfriend Lisa enjoying dessert at the dining area where the dining chairs were backed up against the wall for more space.

Blogger's nephews and niece bonding at the garage area -- my, how they have grown!!!
There's Ana, Gavriel, Jeremy, Paolo and Jonathan.

Dennis' nephew (Gabriel), hilaw na nephew-in-law (Levy), niece (Joanna) and apo, the cute and cuddly Luigi, at the still-empty but cool foyer.



My three pretty nieces bonding on our really gigantic (though it does not seem apparent in this shot) bed: Gabrielli, Frances and Tricia.

Dennis' niece Lea and look-alike daughter, infront of our little fountain at the terrace.

The other Bismontes: Kuya Tanton, Candace, Ernst and young wife and new-born son, Kristine (she of the Bismontes who went to Hong Kong) and Ate Elaine with Dennis at the balcony.
This group of Bismontes used to own the house and lot where Merrill Court now, pardon the adjective, "proudly" stands.

My wonderful and helpful sisters (Tess, in grey; sister-in-law Ate Lilia; Flor and Doris, in blue) with Dennis' Ate Bab and daughter Karen, at the still-immaculate kitchen.

More of Dennis' sandamakmak na nieces and nephews:
Kathleen, Richard, Jog and Bryan infront of Merrill Court.

Photographs by Blogger.

PAP33 [Rare photographs of a cute toddler]

We're taking a break from our Christmas vacation chronicles!

Yeaaaaarrrrs back when I was but a toddler, my parents (most probably, my mother) somehow were able to have my photographs taken by an ambulant photographer. The funny thing is that this photographer must have been without any apt props; I had to be seated in a potty training seat! Missing props aside, I think my propensity to flash my sweetest smile is the most endearing in these shots. He he. Note that these are my earliest photographs in existence. In the family, it looks like I am the only one with photographs at this age. They're collectors' items then, aren't they?

PAP32 [Hong Kong views]

This series of photographs completes my chronicle of our Hong Kong trip in December 2006. This particular set is the result of my pretentious amateur photographer's (PAP) itch to click away with my criminal, er, digital camera - which, by the way, I think needs an upgrade.

Robot-like contraption
(actually, the coin-eating telescope) at the Peak.

I am not really keen about orientation so I am unsure if this is the northern, nor the southern nor western nor eastern part of the view from the Peak. I am sure that my vantage point was at the back of the viewing deck.

The most photographed angle from the Peak.
I swear, everyone has a shot infront of this view - us included.

A preponderance of buddhas -
our friend Almita would have a field day choosing which one she likes best. Shopkeepers actually don't want you taking photographs of their wares. But I have already taken this shot before I asked for permission which was not granted.

A lighthouse at the Peak.

The sinks, er, the seats at the Ocean Theatre.

Toilet signage at the Star Ferry port at Hong Kong side.
We actually realized how cheap and easy it is to use the ferry to cross to Kowloon and back, late in the day, so to speak. We used the ferry only on our last day in Hong Kong.

Bad planning. Tsk, tsk.

Wheel mechanism of the cable car that brings you to the Peak,
or is it merely decoration?

Chili sauce from around the world,
at Bubba Gump's at the Peak.

Photos by Blogger.

PAP31 [Victoria Peak]

Group photo of Dennis and the Bismontes.
We did have a real group photo that includes Blogger.
It was taken by an "in-house" photographer but we were unable to scan. Maybe later.

Blogger and Dennis.

Little boy Lloyd against one of the paintings/drawings at the viewing deck.

The loving and lovable Bismonte kids: Lloyd, Carlo and Kristine.

Kristine and Carlo with Minnie Mouse, sort of.

Carlo and the view at the Peak.

The Bismonte kids at one of the seemingly hundreds of souvenir shops.

The Bismonte kids still at the shopping deck.

Blogger and Dennis (below) against walls of colorful prints.
These walls lead you to the shops.

Photos by Blogger and Dennis Mendoza.