Hotel Promo

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Nikon Coolpix P300 sample shots

In reference to my blog about my new toy, here are some sample shots.  Mostly are set in auto scene detection.  Comments are welcome :)












Snake Island Panoramic View

Panoramic view of swimming pool at Microtel

Maximum optical zoom

Macro shot of hermit crab
Macro shot of Hello Kitty



Outdoor nigh shot

Outdoor night shot, no lights at all

Outdoor night shot

Sunrise at past 6am

Sunrise at past 6am

My toy also has features like scene retouch, editing of pictures with scene insertion (like fish eye), manual settings (for aperture and shutter speed), aperture mode, shutter mode, sepia, 360 degrees panoramic shots and many others.  I'm still learning picture tricks from my camera especially the manual settings.  I need to know how to make the background blur while focusing on the subject.  Would you know how?  I'm so lovin' my toy! :)

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

My New Toy

Remember my post about which camera to choose?  Well, I'm nearing to wanting to have Nikon Coolpix P300 among others.  I chose this camera since it works best in night shots or low lighting, which is one of the features I'm looking after.  After a long wait, I finally got my camera!  Night shots are really great with f1.8.  I tried taking pictures in my dark room (no lights at all) and still it captures a very well and very bright room!  Macro shots are also great.  I also love its panoramic shots, with choices of 180 degrees to 360 degrees.  Another feature that I love is that you can edit pictures in an instant, whether you want it to have more lighting, skin retouch or special effects (such as fish eye).  I'm still learning how to use each features.  I'm trying to find out how to make blurred background while the image/subject is very clear.  I guess this will be applicable in manual settings which this camera also offers.  I really am enjoying my new toy.  I'll post some sample shots soon so you can appreciate it :)

Monday, August 8, 2011

Latest Bag Buy: Coach Daisy Signature File Bag


I've waited for this bag for 2 months! Haha!  And I was surprised that it comes with a small wristlet.  Total value is $276 but I only bought it for only $134!  More than 50% savings!

This was not originally my first choice.  I'm only eyeing for a Steve Madden or Fossil bag and my budget is not more than $100.  But my sister saw this bag and asked me if I liked it.  Learning its just only $134, I gave in!  I'm really happy I did!  It was so cute and versatile.  I can even use it at the office.  I'm so lovin' my new bag!

I'm still waiting for my other bag.  Expected of arrival by end of the month.  I'll let you know when it arrives :)

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Feeling Japanese and Chinese at The Same Time

It may sound like a good combination, but in food, it does. I had the following recipe cooked for our dinner last Friday. These are just very easy and quick recipe. I got the Tonkatsu recipe from my sister and the Broccoli in Sweet Chili and Hoisin Sauce was listed in my notebook of recipes. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of the finished product since I'm only using email to post in blogger. Anyway, let me know how it went should you want to try these recipes.


Tonkatsu



Porkchop

Flour

Egg (beaten)

Japanese Breadcrumbs



For the sauce:

Worcestershire sauce

Ketchup



Simply dip the porkchop in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Fry until golden brown. For the sauce, just mix together the worcestershire and ketchup equally. You may use tomato or banana ketchup depending on your taste.





Broccoli in Sweet Chili and Hoisin Sauce



Broccoli

Onions, sliced

Sweet chili sauce, about 1 tablespoon

Hoisin sauce, about 1 tablespoon

Fried garlic



Saute onion. Put in the broccoli. Add the sweet chili and hoisin sauce. Mix and cook until desired crispiness of the broccoli. Serve with fried garlic on top.

*For this recipe, you may also try other vegetables such as asparagus, kangkong or sitaw. It's best to make the veggies half cooked.



Bon Apetit!

Testing Part 2

Since I still cannot post in Blogger using my laptop (refer to my post last July 25), I'm trying this email feature in posting directly to my blog. Awhile ago, I tried editing my old post but I cannot do so. What is happening to Blogger?? This post via email is very limited. I'm not sure if I can post pictures using this. Has anyone tried this feature? Please help.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Incubus: Live in Manila

It was a last minute decision when I decided to buy tickets for Incubus concert. I bought the ticket a day before the concert date. When I first heard they are going to perform again here in the Philippines for the 3rd time, I am eager and determined to watch them. I wanted to be at the front seat or at least near to it but the ticket prices were quite high. Many things have happened months before the concert date and I really need to tighten my budget. Even the cheapest ticket at the General Admission, I'm having seconds thought of buying it as this will affect the budget that I am holding. But nevertheless, I wouldn't want to pass this concert as this is already their 3rd time to visit the Philippines. I'm not sure if there will still be a 4th time. They've been in the music industry for years. We don't know if they can and still able to record albums in the succeeding years. So I thought, If Not Now, When? The same title of their newest album got me inspired to finally buy a ticket. I am so happy I did.

I was once again alone when I decided to watch the concert. Doesn't matter as this is already my nth time in watching concert alone. But it's quite different this time. I will be meeting a few people from Girltalk who share the same passion and who will also be watching the concert alone. At least soloist people will later be a company. It will be a sort of a small EB for us. I will only get to meet 3 new people. All of them are also fond of watching concerts.

I arrived at Araneta Coliseum at exactly 6pm. I immediately fall in line at the Gen Ad area. I just texted the people I am to meet of my whereabouts. With or without them, I must find a good seat. Unfortunately, the first person I texted left her ticket at home so she needs to go back. She was already in Araneta area when I arrived. So when its time to go in, I go in anyway and just texted the other two of my whereabouts. I was inside the Araneta at around 7pm. My seat was already in the 2nd to the last row but the view of the stage is directly in front of it. There are quite a number of people already in the free seating section at that early. At about quarter to 8pm, two other girls already met me at my seat. Finally, I'm no longer alone.

The concert started at 8:15pm with the front act, Franco. I don't know them but their music good. They're a good band on my first impression. And it seems their songs are good as well. They sang 4 songs as front act. After they performed, Incubus staff are still preparing the stage: sound check, mic test, musical instruments test, decor, etc. It took about 15-20 minutes to finish. Incubus' concert finally started at around 9:20 pm. It was a long wait, but worth it. First song, Megalomaniac. I can see from my seat that the expensive standing area in the front row are jumping uniformly while this song is being played. Quite a nice sight to see.

The songs in their concert are combination of old and new songs from different albums. That's a good thing as I am not quite familiar with the songs from their new album. I already googled the setlist of their concert based from previous country (Indonesia and Malaysia). At least somehow I know what songs will they be playing. It's unfortunate they will not be singing Are You In, Stellar, Dig, The Original (new album) and Thieves (new album). But I'm very much content with their setlist especially they sang my current favorite, In the Company of Wolves, at encore. Again, I don't know or memorize the lyrics of all of their song. Another mistake I should've already learned!

Here's their setlist:

Megalomaniac
Wish You Were Here
Consequence
Pardon Me
Anna Molly
Love Hurts
Circles
Look Alive
Promises, Promises
The Warmth
Drive
Sick Sad Little World
Isadore
Glass
Talk Shows On Mute
Adolescents
A Crow Left Of The Murder

Encore set:
I Miss You
In The Company of Wolves
Nice To Know You

They always have pause after each song and Brandon keeps on saying Thank You. This somehow bore some of the audience as some of the people at my surroundings sat if they don't know the song or if they're at pause.

I love how they ended the concert with the song, Nice to Know You. Really fits the situation. It was sad (at least for me) that Brandon didn't take off his shirt on his 3rd time concert in the Philippines. Although, he teases people by attempting to remove his shirt at the final encore set. But that's ok. At least they sang and perform really good even if they're quite old already. I feel like I was just listening to my mp3 player. That's how good they are. Brandon was still able to reach those high notes with ease and without difficulty. His voice is still the same. I'm really glad I was able to watch this concert. This is another one of the best concerts I have attended.

To Incubus, it's Nice to Know [Hear] You and I [Will] Miss You and will always Wish You Were Here.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Testing...

I wonder what's wrong with blogger.  The past weekend (and several weeks before) I cannot create nor edit a post.  There's this spinning icon in the writing board and in the lower left it says: "waiting for www.google-analytics.com".  I waited and waited but it never stopped.  I was using my netbook and my browser is Google Chrome.  I already reported it to blogger help/support but I still got no response.  They have several topics in their support forum similiar to my problem.  I tried their solution but to no avail.  I thought it was just my connection but I am able to load other websites with ease.

So now I tried it at a different computer and different browser.  It worked! I am using a desktop and my browser is IE 7.  What could be the problem?  Has anyone encountered the same?

By the way, I also tried using IE 8 as browser in my netbook but I still get the same problem.  I haven't tried it though in Firefox.  Care to share your experience and solution?