Of travel and pictures

I wish I had known of KFC’s Sweet escape photo contest sooner [I wish I’d stored it in my cell phone alarm].

According to organizers,

“The mechanics are actually very simple. You can have your photo taken with your family or friends drinking Krushers anywhere in the Philippines. Just be sure to make it look like you’re actually at your dream destination,” explains Cha-cha Calma-Juinio, general manager of KFC Philippines.

Say the whole barkada wants to explore the African Safari. You need not go far. Just visit the Manila Zoo, have your group photo taken with a giraffe — garbed in your Indiana Jones outfit with your favorite cup of KFC Krushers in hand — and you’re good to go.

This contest seemed perfect [and relatively easy…it’s not as if you had to make cordless phone reviews]!

One, I love to travel.

Two, I love to take pictures.

Too bad the contest has ended already…I was already racking my brains  for ideas and ready to scan my telephone contact list and pick up my landline phone to call my friends for a pictorial! Oh well!

Next time!

US diary: part 2: Glendale, CA

Before we move on to LA, I would like to make special mention of a small city nearby.

Glendale is a small, beautiful community outside of LA. What Glendale is to LA is like what Paranaque is to Makati, not just in terms of distance, but also structurally. If LA is full of buildings, malls, and yuppies, Glendale is like a homey city.

 We didn’t get to go around Glendale that much, but I truly enjoyed one of their “parks/malls”: Americana (which reminded me so much of Alabang Town Center).

View from the top: A park surrounded by stores…some of them high end [some selling women’s and men’s clothing, some selling accessories]!

*****

I liked the place because it wasn’t your conventional mall. Para syang park na mall. The place was relaxing, and pwedeng tambay lang.

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There was spacious lawn of green, green grass. We spent an hour sitting on the grass and watching people who pass by.

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And the flowers, wow talaga! In full bloom! Ang gaganda! [The big brown building in the backdrop is Barnes & Noble, the US’s version of National Bookstore.]

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There was also a fountain in the middle. Malaki-laki na sya for a place like this.

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There was this “Oscar’s trophy–looking” statue in the middle [I just don’t know it’s significance]…seemingly guarding the park.

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There are also fountains shows every afternoon/evening. Although not as great as those in Bellagio, nakakatuwa pa din siempre! The kids loved these shows! After all, who doesn’t like fountains coming alive?

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A cute vintage ice cream truck by the side…

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Americana’s version of a cable car!

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The cars look more nicer than those in SFO. And on top of that, the ride is free! Ride all you can ito!

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The friendly conductor also served as the tour guide, welcoming us and pointing to stores as we went around.

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It was a short ride, after all, Americana is a small place. Yet it was so fun to go around!

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These cars are disable friendly…wheelchairs can be loaded. Here, the trip is near its end as the train passes by the fountain.

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At the end of the ride, the conductor let the kids ring the bell [it’s like the “toot” of a train]. Here, Wendy is actually pulling the string to signal the car’s arrival.

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So there, if you are in the LA area and have the time and want to go somewhere relaxing, try going to Americana [and Glendale].

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Related posts:

US diary: part 1: San Francisco, CA

Dead-o

Do you think this should be applied in the Philippines?

The highest-ranking official accused of collusion with gangs that terrorized the central city of Chongqing has been executed, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

Wen Qiang, 55, former director of the Chongqing Justice Bureau, had been convicted of corruption charges involving organized crime, Xinhua said. He was sentenced to death by a lower court April 14 for accepting bribes, shielding criminal gangs, rape and failing to account for his cash and assets, the news agency said.

Wen lost an appeal May 21. He was executed in Chongqing on Wednesday.

Source: CNN, July 7, 2010

We’ve heard of Chinese officials charged with corruption being executed, and this is not the first time. I honeslty find it inhuman. Regardless, this issue is not as simple as an iphone warranty.