2016 Philippine Pyromusical Competition

19-March-2016 Saturday 1930H in Mall of Asia Seaside, Pasay City, Philippines

My 18th family trip initiated, countless city trip and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. 

The spectacular Pyromusical Competition at SM MOA paint the Manila Bay skies with the much-awaited pyromusical displays. Eleven participating countries will fight head-to-head in this competition: Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom, USA, The Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Australia, China, and France, with opening and closing exhibitions by Platinum Fireworks, Inc. Philippines.

Silver Ticket for P100, Gold Center Ticket for P300 and VIP Ticket for P600. I purchased a discounted ticket from Metrodeal. On March 19, we watched France's representatives, the Brezac Artefices and the closing exhibition of Platinum Fireworks, Inc. Philippines.

After France showcased their fireworks and an intermission number, winners were announced. China for 2nd runner-up, Germany for 1st runner-up while United Kingdom won 2016 Philippine Pyromusical Competition.

2016 Philippine Pyromusical Competition (France)

London City Tour 1st part; Sightseeing the Streets at Night

3-days England Autumn Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

October 03 to 06, 2014

London Heathrow Airport Arrival at night

Upon arriving on my hostel near Kensai Green Station, I went to Oxford Circus Station where some of the bright night lights occur. From Oxford Street (Exit 5 of Oxford Circus Station), I went to Regent Street, crossing to Piccadilly Station. Going to left road is the Shaftesbury Avenue where some of the west-end theaters particularly the 2 shows I booked and the China town is located. Then, I stopped-by to Piccadilly Park and Trafalgar Park. Piccadilly Circus is the London version of Times Square.

Piccadilly Circus is a busy square in the heart of London. It is famous for the fountain that was installed here at the end of the nineteenth century and for the neon advertising that turned the square into a miniature version of Times Square. The name 'Piccadilly' originates from a seventeenth-century frilled collar named piccadil. Roger Baker, a tailor who became rich making piccadils lived in the area. The word 'Circus' refers to the roundabout around which the traffic circulated.

London City Tour 1st part; Sightseeing the Streets at Night (Trafalgar Square)

Nagoya Tour last part; Evening at Sakae

6-days Revisiting Summer Japan for Mt. Fuji (3,776masl) Solo Trek
August 07-13, 2014

Nagoya Tour 2nd Part; afternoon at Nagoya Castle

How to go to Sakae;
Just a metro ride going to Sakae Station. Admission is free except for the Ferris Wheel and the Nagoya TV Tower. Photography and video taking with monopod and tripod is permitted inside the premise.

Sakae district is formed around Sakae intersection Otsu-dori going north-south and Hirokoji-dori going east-west, and is the main shopping district of Nagoya. Parallel to Otsu-dori is Hisaya-odori; this road runs from Yaba-cho to Sakae except for Sotobori-dori, which is maintained as Hisaya Ōdori Park. Popular events are held in this park on the weekend. Also, inside Hisaya-odori Park is the 180-meter Nagoya TV Tower, built in 1954, which is often mentioned as a symbol of Nagoya. At night, the tower is lit and can be seen all over Sakae. Adjacent to the tower is a large facility called Oasis 21, which has restaurants, stores, and a bus terminal. Adjacent to Oasis 21 is the major cultural facility Aichi Fine Arts Center, which contains facilities such as Aichi Fine Art Museum and Aichi Performing Arts Theater.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakae,_Nagoya

Nagoya Tour last Part; evening at Sakae (Nagoya TV Tower)

Marrakesh Walk Tour last part; Jemaa El Fna Square at Night

4-days Morocco Self-guided Solo Tour
July 03 to July 06, 2014

Marrakesh walk tour 1st part; Strolling the Old Medina

How to go to Place Jemaa El Fna;
From Marrakesh Airport, just go to the only Airport arrival exit and the bus #19 is waiting there every 30 minutes. Fare costs 30MAD ($3.7) which has around 20 minute travel to the last stop, Place Jemaa. Photography and video taking is permitted.

The cultural space of Jemaa El Fna square has been proclaimed masterpiece of the intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The Jamaa El Fna Square is situated in the heart of the Medina. The cultural and artistic crossroads is used not only as a meeting piece for local people, but also for story tellers, acrobats, musicians, dancers, smoke charmers, traditional healers and fortune-tellers. It is also a plate for trading and entertainment. The Square is a model for urban planning giving priority to people, culture, encounter and exchange.

During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists. As the day progresses, the entertainment on offer changes: the snake charmers depart, and late in the day the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As darkness falls, the square fills with dozens of food-stalls as the number of people on the square peaks. The square is edged along one side by the Marrakesh souk, a traditional North African market catering both for the common daily needs of the locals, and for the tourist trade. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jemaa_el-Fnaa
 

Marrakesh walk tour; Jemaa El Fna Square at night

London City Tour last part; Sightseeing at Night

6-days England Summer Solo Travel (United Kingdom)

June 27 to July 03, 2014

​London City tour 5th part; other tourist spots

How to go to these Places;
London Eye and Westminster Palace is a bridge away from Westminster Station of Circle and District line. Marble Arch is just upon exit from Marble Arch Station of Central line. Tower Bridge is around 700m away from exit of Tower hill Station of Circle, District and DLR lines.

In my opinion and based on my experience, photography at night is better and concentrated on where all major tourist spots located. Thus, my usual practice is to stroll most of this places and walk around with my travel buddies, my camera and tripod. Starting from Tower Bridge on my 1st night, followed by the Marble Arch and nearby art sculptures on 2nd night and finally the stunning London Eye and Big Ben of Westminster Palace on the 3rd night. 

London City sightseeing at night (Westminster's London Eye)

Salzburg City Tour at Night

Central Europe 8th part; 2-days sightseeing solo in Austria

October 26 to October 27, 2013

Dachstein Ice & Mammoth Cave 

 Arriving around 2000H at night on Salzburg station coming from Dachstein bus trips, I hesitated initially if to continue the night shots because city center is around 2 kilometers away and I'm lost and tired to pursue it. Thinking the motto of "Don't waste the opportunity of being here", after dinner from the train station, I walked myself away and just navigate the streets. My train estimated time of departure going to Venice is 0140H, I timed myself to stop strolling and go back at 0000H.

Salzburg is a city in central Austria, near the German (Bavarian) border. If you have seen the movie The Sound of Music, you may think you know all there is to see in Salzburg. Admittedly, it is difficult not to burst into songs when you're walking along the Salzach River, or climbing up to the Hohensalzburg fortress which looms over the city. But there is a lot more to this compact, courtly city than Julie Andrews and as Mozart's birthplace.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Salzburg

Salzburg City tour at night (Domplatz)

Yerevan City Night Strolling

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

on Khor Virap monastery overlooking Mt. Ararat

After finishing those 2 days of day tour I just spent my dinner in a special burger stand just 50 meters away of the hostel. Afterwards, I went back to the city to maximize my time feeling the city center winter ambiance and Armenian ordinary life.

The Cascade is a giant stairway in Yerevan, Armenia. It links the downtown Kentron area of Yerevan with the Monument neighborhood. Inside the Cascade, underneath the exterior steps is an escalator going the length of the complex. There are also rooms connected to some of the landings along the escalators which comprise the Cafesjian Museum of Art. The exterior of Cascade, in addition to stairs has multiple levels with fountains and sculptures. The stairs afford walkers unobstructed views of central Yerevan and Mount Ararat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerevan_Cascade

Yerevan Cascade Park

Until Evening in the Peak Tram to Sky Terrace 428

4-days winter budget family tour in Hongkong-Macau

saturday to wednesday february 02-06, 2013

12 divine zodiac generals, a ngong ping specials

peak tram at night (2011)
peak tower sky terrace 428 night shots (2011)
 

After finishing the Avenue of the Stars in the morning and Ngong ping 360 in the afternoon, amazing skyscrapers nightscapes was the trip for the night. We went here via central subway station from tung chung station. Around 200meters away is the distance of The Tram main entrance to the subway.

 peak tram to sky terrace 428

Beijing Olympic Park Night Shots

6-days winter solo backpacking in Mainland China

january 26 -  february 01, 2013 saturday to friday

Great Wall of China in Mutianyu, a great DIY trip

I went to this site with the objective to have night shots on the sports arena. I believe this most picturesque at night. The place can be easily navigate through "green" subway, line 8.

The Olympic Green is an Olympic Park in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The Ling Long Pagoda or Linglong Tower (Multifunctional Studio Tower houses a part of the International Broadcast Center (IBC). It is located near the Olympic Cauldron, on the northwest side of the Bird's Nest Stadium. "Ling Long"  means delicate, and is referred to as the Delicate Tower in Chinese.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Green

Beijing National Stadium "Bird's Nest"

Beijing National Stadium "Bird's Nest"

Shanghai City Day Tour (SWFC & The Bund at Night)

6-days winter solo backpacking in Mainland China

january 26 -  february 01, 2013 saturday to friday

Shanghai City day tour (yuyuan and S&T museum)

Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) was the second-tallest building in the world and the tallest structure in Mainland China. It also had the highest occupied floor and the highest height to roof, two categories used to determine the title of "world’s tallest building". The SWFC opened its observation deck 30 August 2008 as the world's tallest at the time of its completion, offers views from 474 m (1,555 ft) above ground level.

The SWFC will be exceeded in height by the adjacent Shanghai Tower, which is due for completion in 2014. SWFC, Shanghai Tower and Jin Mao Tower will form the world's first adjacent grouping of three supertall skyscrapers.

how to get to SWFC Observatory;
just take metro subway bound to lujiazu station which is almost 400 meters away to the building. Entrance fee cost 150 cny with opening hours from 0900H-2000H.

3 giants of shanghai

Souq Sharq and Nearby Area Nightscape

january 18, 2013

friday

Pinoy Digital Photographer's in Kuwait another gathering and photowalk activity on friday night.

The Souq Sharq is a major shopping centre in Kuwait City. The centre began as a traditional souq but as the city has undergone investment has expanded into a modernized western-style shopping mall
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souq_Sharq

souq sharq and nearby area nightscape

souq sharq and nearby area nightscape

Sightseeing above the Cairo Tower at Night

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

strolling the modern egyptian museum

From Modern Egyptian Museum, I just walked towards this tower for about more than a kilometer crossing the Nile river and seeing the Tahrir Square on my way.

How to go here;
Starting from Sadat station, just crossed the Tahrir Square going the Nile river. The tower is seen already while walking on the streets, follow its visibility. Entrance fee costs 70 EGP for adults and 35 EGP for students. Opens daily from 0900H to 0000H.

Photography is allowed on the viewing deck, and strolling can be enough at most 1 hour.

The Cairo Tower, also known as Borg Al-Qāhira, is a free-standing concrete tower located in Cairo, Egypt. At 187 m (614 ft), it has been the tallest structure in Egypt and North Africa for 50 years. It was the tallest structure in Africa for 10 years, until 1971 when it was surpassed by Hillbrow Tower in South Africa. One of Cairo's well-known landmarks, it stands in the Zamalek district on Gezira Island in the River Nile, close to Downtown Cairo.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Tower

sightseeing above the cairo tower at night

Kuwait 50th Constitution Day Fireworks Celebration

grandest fireworks setting a new world record

november 10, 2012 saturday

"I guess we all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks, but for the ledger of our daily work." - Neil Armstrong

The whooping KD 4.163 million (USD 14.786 million / PHP 608.29 million) worth of fireworks display on a single night, making the State of Kuwait launched Guinness World Record firing a massive 77,282 projectiles continuously for an hour to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its national constitution. The celebration took place from the Kuwait Towers to Green Island with over nine phases spread over 4.5 km. Event was scheduled from 3pm to 10pm but the fireworks show just started 8pm and lasted until 9pm.

kuwait 50th constitution day fireworks celebration

kuwait 50th constitution day fireworks celebration

Beirut Central Night Shots

3 days solo travel in lebanon

may 18-19, 2012 friday to sunday

sidon (saida) fast tripping

After finishing the day visiting the best places upnorth, downsouth and far east, Beirut's best is its central night shots. Fortunate for me, the guesthouse I chose is only 300 meters away so walking is always the best and cheapest mean of transportation for a budget backpacker.

ottoman clock tower

ottoman clock tower

Jaipur Pink City by Night Tour

solo traveling new delhi - jaipur - agra (india) in 1.5 days

may 18-19, 2012 friday to saturday

new delhi morning city tour (india gate, humayun's tomb & red fort)

Arrived in jaipur train station at 1750H via platform #2. Lots of rickshaw drivers awaiting outside asking friendly for my reason for visit. I have to stop getting irritated by them that's why I submitted myself to one of them and asked where is this hotel I booked. He immediately replied he knows it but giving some bad insights on that hotel thinking I will change my mind. I paid 20INR because the hotel is almost 300 meters away the station. I immediately went-out the vehicle directly to hotel entrance. I asked the attendant that I have availed a tour that is affiliated with them. He phoned someone, confirming my tour then he said a van will pick me up on this hotel after couple of minutes.

Jaipur also popularly known as the 'Pink City', is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727. Jaipur is one of the finest planned cities of India, located in the semi-desert lands of Rajasthan. The city which once had been the capital of the royalty now is the capital city of Rajasthan.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur

jaipur pink city by night landmark stop-over

Hongkong at Night

touring hongkong and macau in 3.5 winter days

december 4-7, 2011 sunday to wednesday

touring hongkong and macau in 3.5 winter days

day one: HONGKONG, CHINA

with 1 hkd = php5.6

this day includes the transportation to NAIA terminal 3, to hongkong international airport, going to kowloon and walking my way to avenue of the stars.

avenue of the stars

hongkong night market

Al Faisaliah Center, at the Globe at Night

ballpen-shape tower of riyadh city

october 14, 2011 friday

The Al Faisaliah Center is a commercial skyscraper located in the business district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the second tallest building in riyadh city after the Kingdom Centre. Immediately below it an outside viewing deck; at ground level, there is a shopping center with major world brands. The Al Faisaliah Center is about 267 meters high and consists of 44 floors.

The Al Faisaliah Complex in Riyadh plays a key part in the city's urban development. The 240,000-square-metre complex includes Saudi Arabia's first skyscraper - a distinctive 267-metre-high office tower - a five-star hotel, a banqueting and conference centre, luxury apartments and a three-storey retail mall. The office tower is square in plan, designed around a compact central core, and tapers to a point, with four main corner columns defining its unique silhouette. Viewing decks at stages up the building correspond with giant K-braces, which transfer loads to the corner columns. The building is clad in silver-anodized aluminum panels with cantilevered sun shading devices which minimize glare, allowing the use of non-reflective, energy-efficient glass. These layered facades provide maximum control over the internal environment.

Above its thirty floors of office space, the tower houses the highest restaurant in Saudi Arabia, set within a golden glass sphere 200 metres above ground level. The viewing deck below the globe provides a breathtaking panorama of Riyadh and the surrounding landscape. At its pinnacle, the tower narrows to a brightly lit lantern, topped by a stainless-steel finial.

al faisaliah outside

Rizal Park Cheers to 2012 Countdown

cheers to a new year in the park

december 31, 2011 saturday

National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) once again put the celebration in rizal park central lagoon. with theme, "cheers to 2012" and hosted by different local radio DJ's headed by Leila Chikadora. A free admission event showcasing some of the famous rock bands in the country like imago, paramita and sandwich. there is also continuous dancing water fountain and light show while the stage performances are ongoing. program started at 1800H up to 0400H the following day.

rizal park central lagoon

Negros Occidental Tourist Life at Night

my last 2011 summer escapade

may 28-29, 2011 saturday to sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spot that fits to my budget at limited amount of time.
additional tasks: to have  night shot in the ruins and taste best chicken inasal.

negros occidental 7-falls trekking

continued...

the ruins of negros occidental

Batanes 3rd Day; A Boat to Sabtang Island

holy week specials for a unique philippine province
april 21-24, 2011 thursday to sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my budget at limited amount of time 

additional tasks: to conquer this 3 famous place of batan, sabtang and itbayat islands and taste there local delicacies 

northernmost best wonder, batanes islands
day 1: batan island tour

day 2: basco capital

day 2: biking marlboro country 

continue... 

DAY THREE: (black saturday)
SABTANG ISLAND

as advised by the tour manager, we have to woke-up as early as 7am because service van have to leave the assembly place by 8am. we reached ivana port 10am due to having a huge crowd merge into one set of schedule. the ocean that time was very calm so we managed to arrive in sabtang port very smoothly, no dancing waves occured. then registered in toruism office nearby, after couple of minutes, the road tour started. according to the guide, we have 4 stops to drop-by. and yes another 1st time, to ride above the service jeep, top-load escapade along the narrow roads beside the cliff. what a roller-coaster trip, shout-for-joy excitement indeed. below is the list in order of time visited;

'faluwa' ride in ivana port