Alex & Lhiza

Brady Rono

2009-10-28T08:00:00.010-04:00

After a long time, we met my cousin Brady when his ship Queen Victoria docked in New York harbor. At the same time, we also met Mharla (his sister) and Roy when their Royal Carribean ship was also docked at Bayonne, New Jersey.

Click on the photo to view the album.

The Hamptons

2009-09-17T10:49:00.025-04:00

If we are to believe the New York newspapers, the Hamptons are filled with self-indulgent models, celebrities and wannabees on a trek to see and be seen. I guess for about 8 weeks in July and August, that’s probably true. In that time frame, people pay outrageous amounts of money to rent mansions along the south shore of Long Island, the roads between the towns are always clogged, beaches are jammed and the top priority seems to be how to get into the “hot” club each night.
But the Hamptons that insiders know and love, is the Hamptons that exists the other 10 months of the year. The series of small, bucolic villages that dot the southern shore of Long Island, NY and known as the “Hamptons” starts at Westhampton and stretches out to the eastern tip of the island at Montauk.
Immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”, the Hamptons (more specifically Southhampton) has long been the summer respite of New Yorkers seeking to escape the heat of the City. Twentysomethings who “share” houses during the season, rub shoulders with celebrities, politicians and high powered business types during a frantic summer of partying that leave most exhausted by Labor Day.
But before the crowd gets there and after they have returned to the City, the Hamptons offer a wonderful weekend retreat of pristine beaches, quaint shops, antique stores, wineries, top rated restaurants and plenty of things to do to occupy your time.

Staying in a place that feels like your own personal mansion tops all those attractions. Singing 'til the past midnight, drinking wine and cocktails, breakfast on the outside patio overlooking speeding boats on the harbour, relaxing on the heated pool and cruising the river wondering what famous people own those luxurious waterfront mansions. What a relaxed and an enjoyable weekend...

There's really much to do in the Hamptons, Long Island's summer playground for the rich and famous.

Don't forget to watch this video. My first try on using the Flip UltraHD camcorder and the Cyberlink PowerDirector.

See also our last year's summer trips, click here.

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With Lau & Jopas

2009-08-27T08:24:00.006-04:00

Strolling around Manhattan with my fellow Abadians, Laura Vera & Jopas Romero. From Macy's at 34th Street to Times Square & 42nd Street - Sephora, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Sanrio, Hard Rock Cafe... Browse our photos here.

Click on the photo to view the album.

Times Square

2009-08-03T11:16:00.004-04:00

At Times Square, August 1, 2009. View rest of the photos here.

Forest Park

2009-07-20T09:06:00.005-04:00

Summertime. Company picnic at the Forest Park. Click on the photo or view the album here.

Lake George, NY

2009-07-04T21:40:00.001-04:00

Six Flags Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom in Lake George, NY

See more galleries:
Lake George Album 1
Lake George Album 2
Six Flags Album 1
Six Flags Album 2

Six Flags Great Adventure

2009-04-16T21:32:00.002-04:00

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey

New York International Auto Show

2009-04-11T10:25:00.009-04:00

New York International Auto Show at Javits Convention Center, 11th Avenue between 34th & 39th Streets. April 11, 2009.

View more photos.

Times Square

2009-01-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

At Times Square, January 3, 2009. View rest of the photos here.

Our Summer Getaways

2008-08-08T11:08:00.002-04:00

...Also, we had a glimpse on the lifestyles of the rich and famous...

Summer runs from late-June through early September. Our weekends were filled with enjoyable and relaxing getaways. It'll be no wonder if we count this season as our favorite time of year. We are having fun.

As soon as we felt the heat, we took the road for a return trip to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania. They added a new water theme park, the Boardwalk, said to be the largest water play structure in the world.

Then we tried to unwind a weekend at the Splish Splash Waterpark in Riverhead, NY.

The plan on the fourth of July road trip was an overnight camp with canoeing and river rafting. But it was really difficult to look for a campsite during the holiday, so we headed to another theme park. It was the Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut. This theme park has a lot of unique rides including the world class Boulder Dash wood coaster. Though it is the largest water park in Connecticut, a seven-acre expansion is said to be added wherein the first phase is projected to open in 2010.

A weekend after (July 12), we had a privilege tour inside a luxury cruise ship, the Explorer of the Seas. This Royal Caribbean cruise ship is huge, there are lots of things to do on it. There is a shopping area, theaters, ice skating rink and a mini golf course. For those who love to gamble, there is also a casino. You will sometimes forget you are inside a ship. One more thing, the ship's crew are amazing. You will really feel like a royalty.

It wasn't the last great water-related experience we had. Our boating adventure in West Hampton in Long Island last July 26th tops our summer getaway. Cruising on the water just lifts your stress. You're too busy having fun to worry about work and just a time away from TV, phones and computers makes the boating experience a great one. Also, we had a glimpse on the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Whoa! what a busy summer. Add to that the birthday parties and picnics we were invited to celebrate every weekend. Again, we are having fun!

A trip to Alex Bay and a medieval castle wedding

2007-08-06T16:42:00.003-04:00

...see our photos as we savored close-up the spectacular scenery and magnificent island homes in thousand islands...

We are really grateful that we're invited in an exclusive garden wedding in upstate New York. Castle wedding has been a choice of many celebrities since it is more memorable and more romantic. Leah and Brad uttered their "I do, I do" at the Singer Castle at Dark Island in Chippewa Bay, NY just in the border of U.S. and Canada. Our best wishes to the loving couple. We are also happy to finally meet our relatives (Avila-Rono) in Ottawa and Mississagua, Canada.

The next day, we enjoyed the leisurely cruise, which highlights the "Millionaire's Row" section of the U.S. islands and then loops into Canadian waters before heading back to Alexandria Bay.

Anna Marie's Babyshower

2007-04-24T16:20:00.001-04:00

Together with our friends, we went to Ate Marie's house for her babyshower. Since it was a great summer day, it was also our first BBQ party for this year.

Spiderman is coming to town...

2007-04-16T14:37:00.001-04:00

...watch the 7.5 minutes video footage of the fight between Peter & Harry just below this post...

"It's official: Spider-Man 3 will be taking over New York City for one full week of movie marketing, before premiering -- as we expected -- at the Tribeca Film Festival. "Spider-Man Week in NYC" will run from April 30 through May 6, and will feature all kinds of different Spidey-related activities. From -- I kid you not -- Spider-Man inspired raps at the Apollo Theater in Harlem (I wonder how many of those raps will include a number of different definitions for the word 'Mary Jane') to Spidey Chats at the Central Park and Bronx Zoos -- The Big Apple will turn, well, webbed later this month.

The actual Spider-Man 3 premiere will most likely take place mid-week and, according to reports, will take place in Queens -- home to Peter Parker. Now, I could be wrong (and correct me if I am), but isn't Peter Parker from Forest Hills? Or did they just shoot scenes in Forest Hills? Either way, I live in Forest Hills -- and so it would be a real fun treat to be able to catch the flick in Spidey's hometown, and not have to spend two hours on a train commuting back home. If you're not able to catch the premiere in Queens, apparently there will be several different screenings taking place throughout the city. Some other stuff taking place that week: You've got a street festival and cast appearance at Rockefeller Center on April 30, original Spidey comic books will be on display at the New York Public Library, and there will be some Green Goblin mask-making at the Children's Museum of Manhattan, as well as lots more. So put in for time off now folks, cause Spidey is coming to town." -Erik Davis wrote in his blog.

We live in Queens, too and we're expecting it to be shown at Kaufmann Astoria.

Check out the Spider-Man Week in NYC website for upcoming events around the town.

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy New Year To All

2006-12-30T14:23:00.000-05:00

Photo taken at Bellagio Conservatory in Las Vegas. A carnation filled baby bear.

Grand Canyon, AZ

2006-12-03T14:38:00.005-05:00

A bus picked us up at the back of Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas at around 6:00am then proceeded to their deployment station. We were segregated from West Rim tour and paid our tour package. After that, we had a light breakfast. A photo stop at Hoover Dam. Comfort stop in Kingsman Arizona. Then proceeded National Geographic Visitor Center to watch the Grand Canyon IMAX movie before proceeding to the South Rim.

A bus tour takes 14 hours (of which you'll spend 2 - 3 hours at your destination). We arrived back in Las Vegas at around 9:00pm.

The breathtaking beauty of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is like nothing else you will ever experience.

How the Canyon Came to be the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is probably the world’s most spectacular example of the power of erosion. Scientists estimate Grand Canyon began forming 6 million years ago with the downward cutting (erosion) of the Colorado River, which flows through the Canyon. The work is by no means finished. The powerful forces of the river, rain, snow, heat, frost and wind are still sculpting the fantastic shapes of precipitous bluffs and towering buttes.

Hoover Dam

2006-12-03T14:03:00.000-05:00

A National Historic Landmark, Hoover Dam is the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere, standing at more than 725 feet above the Colorado River. When completed in 1936, it was both the world's largest electric-power generating station and the world's largest concrete structure.

The dam is named after America's 31st president, Herbert Hoover, who played a large role in bringing the nearby states into agreement about water allocations, settling a 25-year controversy. The dam has been called Boulder Canyon Dam as well as Boulder Dam, but Hoover Dam was reinstated as the official name by Congress in 1947.

The view from the dam also offers a breathtaking look at Lake Mead, the country's largest man-made reservoir. Although water levels have been low recently, Lake Mead can store up to 9.2 trillion gallons of water, equal to two years of the river's annual flow.

Valley Of Fire

2006-12-03T13:36:00.003-05:00

Valley of Fire State Park is located in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Seeing some great sandstone formations, we felt that we're on another planet.

Las Vegas, NV

2006-12-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

Known as the "Entertainment Capital of the World".

The Las Vegas Strip is where all the hotels and casinos are found. Leisurely strolling the strip was well worth the effort with its amazing sights. At the Venetian, we experienced a little bit of Italy with a ride through the Grand Canal in an authentic venetian gondola. The gondolier were serenading making the experience more romantic. Inside the Bellagio Hotel, at the Gallery of Fine Arts, we stopped by to see the current exhibits. Outside there is a light and sound show, coupled with the fountain display. Just across the hotel, the view of the Eiffel Tower replica is amazing. Took a shot with one Elvis impersonator. Click here to view our photos.

Hollywood

2006-12-03T10:12:00.001-05:00

Our trip back to LA. The famous Hollywood Boulevard and its Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Kodak Theatre, known as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards.

Beverly Hills, CA

2006-12-03T09:53:00.002-05:00

It is in Beverly Hills, not Hollywood, where many stars actually live, dine and shop. It was in Rodeo Drive that we took more photos. The famed shopping street is known throughout the world as the epicenter of luxury fashion.

Rodeo Drive is probably the wealthiest and most famous shopping district in the world. It is here that the rich & famous do their shopping, and where tourists window-shop while trying to spot movie stars on the fabled street.

Fact: Rodeo Drive is home to the single most expensive store in the world: Bijan (at 420 Rodeo Drive). You must make an appointment in advance just to shop at Bijan (which was named after its Iranian owner).

From seeing-stars.com: Did you ever wonder what store Julia Roberts was snubbed in, in "Pretty Woman"? Well, it was a woman's clothing store named Boulmiche, located just a few steps west of Rodeo, at 9501 Santa Monica Blvd.

Thanksgiving 2006

2006-11-24T15:26:00.001-05:00

A happy Thanksgiving Day celebration with Nanay, Mac, Tito Min & Tita Rose. After a few hours, we proceeded to Jun & Marie's place.

Mark Bautista & Sarah Geronimo

2006-11-20T15:01:00.001-05:00

After their successful concerts here last year, Mark Bautista & Sarah Geronimo came back for another concert in Atlantic City, New Jersey together with Kris Lawrence and Jerome Marquez. Here are our photos with them when they visited Perlas ng Silangan Restaurant in Roosevelt Avenue. Also, here is a short video shot of Mark inside a hotel room just after their concert in Atlantic City.

Washington, D.C.

2006-11-06T13:37:00.001-05:00

Photos of our return trip to Washington, D.C.

National Zoo

2006-11-06T11:09:00.003-05:00

The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is a zoo located in Washington, D.C.

Princeton, NJ

2006-08-13T14:00:00.002-04:00

Princeton University, one of the 8-member Ivy League schools.

Philadelphia, PA

2006-08-13T13:46:00.004-04:00

A trip to Philadelphia. The birthplace of America.

The steps have become a popular tourist attraction for "Rocky" fans, with visitors imitating the boxer's run to the top and raising their fists in the air.

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest universities in America and, as a member of the Ivy League, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in all the world.

Statue of Benjamin Franklin, UPenn's founder, in front of the College Hall.

Jon Bon Jovi

2006-07-19T07:15:00.001-04:00

Last night, we've watched BON JOVI's long-awaited return to GIANTS STADIUM, under a sweltering sun as New Jersey suffered through a heatwave. Well, leave it to BON JOVI to bring the rain and break the horrible heat...

Allentown, PA

2006-07-01T14:03:00.003-04:00

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Hershey, PA

2006-07-01T14:02:00.002-04:00

A trip to Chocolate World and Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Katrina

2006-06-21T20:10:00.001-04:00

Katrina visited New York.

USS Intrepid

2006-05-30T11:48:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday, we took time out to celebrate the Memorial Day weekend, and what a better place to celebrate it than on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid, a living memorial to the sailors and Marines who served on her. Intrepid saw combat during World War II and the Vietnam War.

Each year, in honor of the men and women who serve in the United States military and their families, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum participates in and co-hosts New York City’s Annual Fleet Week celebration.

Inside the ship, we gathered interesting info. The carrier won fame in the Pacific in World War II when it fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf (Philippines), known as the world's largest sea battle.

USS Intrepid embarked on her second career as a sea-air-space museum in New York City in 1982. On her flight deck are more than 30 aircraft representing all of the U.S. armed services as well as British, French and Soviet jet fighters. This collection features an A-12 Blackbird flown by the CIA throughout the Cold War. USS Intrepid is a National Historic Landmark.

David Blaine

2006-05-09T13:13:00.004-04:00

We went to Lincoln Center last May 7 to witness David Blaine's latest stunt where he did a one-week residency in a water-filled sphere and then try to hold his breath for 9 minutes under water. He managed to hold his breath underwater for only 7 minutes 8 seconds.

Blaine has gained world-wide fame by creating marathon, death-defying stunts. In 1999, he buried himself alive in a see-through coffin for seven days. A year later in Times Square, he was frozen in a block of ice for 63 hours. And, in 2002, he perched himself 90 feet above the ground for 36 hours.

Tita Heidi & Heike

2006-03-27T13:21:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday, March 25, we toured Tita Heidi & Heike to Lower Manhattan. From Wall Street to Ground Zero to the Statue of Liberty. Tita Heidi came directly from Germany while Heike came from Virginia.

Winter 2006

2006-02-12T18:33:00.000-05:00

After the snow storm, we started shoveling the snow that piled up on our car. Click on the image to see more...

Heike & friends

2006-01-02T17:58:00.001-05:00

The giant christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center. Heike and her german friends toured to New York from Virginia last December 30, 2005. We also walked them to the bright lights of Times Square. Click on the photo to see the album.

Orlando, FL

2005-09-29T14:05:00.001-04:00

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Magic Kingdom

Epcot & MGM Studios

Cape Canaveral, FL

2005-09-29T14:04:00.000-04:00

We traveled to Cape Canaveral in Florida to visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center and took a guided tours to its facility and launchpads.

Tampa, FL

2005-09-29T10:44:00.000-04:00

Tampa, Florida

Maying

2005-08-13T18:08:00.001-04:00

At Times Square with Maying when her cruise ship docked at New York harbor. Click on the image to view more photos...

Niagara Falls & Buffalo, NY

2005-07-03T13:35:00.000-04:00

Photos of our trip to Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara river on the border between United States and Canada.

Anaheim, CA

2004-09-19T13:17:00.001-04:00

Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, California

Los Angeles, CA

2004-09-19T13:13:00.000-04:00

Universal Studios and Hollywood in Los Angeles, California

Long Beach, CA

2004-09-19T13:12:00.000-04:00

Photos of Grand Canyon viewed from the plane, Long Beach Airport, Norwalk home, Queen Mary...

New Haven, CT

2004-08-21T13:08:00.000-04:00

A tour of Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut. We also went to Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville to watch Neil Sedaka performed live.

Cambridge, MA

2004-07-04T19:57:00.000-04:00

Photos of our trip at Harvard University Campus and MIT Campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Boston, MA

2004-07-04T18:23:00.001-04:00

Providence, RI

2004-07-04T18:15:00.000-04:00

Tour of Providence in Rhode Island

Bruce Springsteen

2003-10-03T19:54:00.001-04:00

Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band wrapped it up in Shea Stadium - where The Beatles, The Clash and The Who all performed historic shows. The show began at 8:40 p.m., on a chilly night with the hint of rain and it ended a 14-month global tour that has reconfirmed his status as America's greatest living rock artist.

Team USA

2003-08-18T17:41:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, we watched the exhibition game between Team USA and Puerto Rico at the MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. The game, originally scheduled for Friday night, was postponed for two days due to Thursday's blackout in the northeastern United States and Canada.

The result of the game? Duncan leads Team USA in rout of Puerto Rico. It was the only tuneup for the Americans before beginning play Wednesday night at the Olympic qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Blackout 2003

2003-08-16T11:14:00.001-04:00

We survived the Blackout of 2003.

On Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, New York City was paralyzed shortly after 4 p.m. by a power outage from points unknown.

From New Jersey all the way to Toronto, trains stopped, computers crashed, planes were grounded, air conditioners cut off and thousands of homes and businesses were plunged into darkness by the largest power outage in the nation's history.

Hundreds of thousands of subway passengers were trapped in pitch-black, sweltering tunnels by the blackout - forced to clamber across tracks and through trapdoors to safety and daylight.

Alex was driving home from Con Edison Westchester, unaware of what was happening and was surprised when he arrived at Queens and the traffic lights were off. I was home since I have a Thursday day-off. We were very lucky enough not to experience the very tiring ordeal that friends and many New Yorkers have gone through.

NO BUSES...NO SUBWAY...NO CELLPHONE SIGNAL...STORES CLOSED...

Washington, D.C.

2003-07-04T12:17:00.001-04:00

Attractions in Washington D.C.

click this link old page

Blizzard 2003

2003-02-19T11:02:00.001-05:00

The worst blizzard in seven years shut down much of the Northeast on Presidents Day with blinding, windblown snow that piled up as much as 4 feet deep.

Newsday reports; "There really is no such thing as a 'perfect storm' but this is definitely historic," said John Koch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton. "Fifteen or 20 years from now, people are going to say 'I remember the Presidents Day storm of 2003,' and everyone will know what they're talking about."

Chicago, Illinois

2001-01-20T18:39:00.001-05:00

Our visit to Chicago, The Windy City

Chicago is located in the northern part of the mid-western United States about 800 miles due west of New York City and over 2000 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. It is usually considered the third great metropolis in the USA along with its East Coast and West Coast sister cities of New York and LA. The city is situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, one of those five great inland seas known as the Great Lakes.

Chicago, the birthplace of the modern skyscraper is still a trendsetter in urban architecture and is a must for people interested in 20th century urban architecture.