Beyond Lights and Darkness

Universal Studios Singapore

2010-09-21T00:06:00.010+08:00

"The Place"

"The Characters"

"The Rides"

"The Themes"

"The Surprises"

"The Stars"

Singapore 2010

2010-09-20T23:23:00.007+08:00

Singapore 2010

Dancing in the Street

C Family in SG

My Best Gifts God Had Ever Given

2010-09-14T09:58:00.003+08:00

What about you?

Halong Bay Vietnam

2010-09-10T16:47:00.004+08:00

Halong Bay view

Thien Cung Grotto

Faces of EJ

2010-09-10T16:07:00.003+08:00

*Back Tracks*

EJ makes faces during our quick tour to Halong Bay

Cute aren't they? He just decided to make faces with the camera and ask me to take a photo of him.

Crossings

2010-04-18T14:36:00.001+08:00

Crossings, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Emptied

2010-04-18T12:00:00.000+08:00

Emptied, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Angkor Wat

2010-04-17T10:22:00.003+08:00

Angkor Wat, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

EJ

2010-04-17T10:22:00.001+08:00

EJ, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Alley West

2010-04-17T10:21:00.003+08:00

Alley West, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Bayon Temple

2010-04-17T10:21:00.001+08:00

Bayon Temple, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Kdei Temple

2010-04-17T08:39:00.001+08:00

Kdei Temple, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

A day in Angkor temples

Ta Phrom

2010-04-17T08:38:00.003+08:00

Ta Phrom, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

A day in Angkor temples

Kdei - Pillars 2

2010-04-17T08:38:00.001+08:00

Kdei - Pillars 2, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

A day in Angkor temples

Wrecked

2010-03-20T20:58:00.003+08:00

DSC_0157, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Nataya Resort

2010-03-20T20:58:00.001+08:00

DSC_0155, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Pink

2010-03-20T20:57:00.001+08:00

DSC_0205, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Purple

2010-03-20T20:56:00.001+08:00

DSC_0206, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Beeline Cambodia Technical Group

2010-03-20T20:35:00.001+08:00

Beeline Cambodia Technical Group, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Ants

2010-02-08T23:04:00.002+08:00

Fire Flower

2010-02-08T23:01:00.002+08:00

Dragonfly

2010-02-08T23:00:00.002+08:00

Yellow Orchid

2010-02-08T22:59:00.002+08:00

Purple Lotus

2010-02-08T22:54:00.002+08:00

Christmas 09

2009-12-25T22:16:00.001+08:00

Christmas 09, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Water Color

2009-12-25T22:14:00.001+08:00

Water Color, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Searchlights

2009-12-25T22:13:00.001+08:00

Searchlights, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

The Show

2009-12-25T22:08:00.001+08:00

The Show, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Christmas Blur 2

2009-12-13T20:42:00.001+08:00

Christmas Blur 2, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Cafe Monivong

2009-12-13T20:19:00.001+08:00

DSC_0097, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

Christmas Blur

2009-12-13T20:06:00.001+08:00

Christmas Blur, originally uploaded by castaneda.eric.

A Flower

2009-11-09T18:57:00.004+08:00

SDN... Mountain Peak

2009-11-09T18:55:00.001+08:00

Nature's Touch

2009-11-09T18:51:00.003+08:00

Crawl

2009-11-09T17:42:00.001+08:00

Boarding Time

2009-11-09T17:38:00.001+08:00

40th

2009-08-01T01:22:00.002+08:00

39th

2009-08-01T01:07:00.004+08:00

38th

2009-08-01T00:54:00.002+08:00

37th...

2009-03-23T00:19:00.003+08:00

ND60 / A: F4, S: 1/6, FL: 55mm

36th...

2009-03-23T00:11:00.003+08:00

ND60 / A: F9, S: 1/15, FL: 105mm

35th...

2009-03-23T00:00:00.002+08:00

ND60 / A: F11, S: 1/250, FL: 85mm

34th...

2009-03-01T23:45:00.000+08:00

33rd...

2009-03-01T23:41:00.002+08:00

32nd...

2009-03-01T23:39:00.001+08:00

31st...

2009-03-01T23:36:00.000+08:00

30th...

2009-03-01T23:34:00.002+08:00

29th...

2009-03-01T17:03:00.001+08:00

28th...

2009-03-01T16:57:00.000+08:00

27th...

2009-03-01T16:53:00.002+08:00

26th...

2009-03-01T16:45:00.004+08:00

25th...

2009-03-01T16:38:00.002+08:00

24th...

2009-03-01T16:32:00.002+08:00

23rd...

2009-03-01T16:24:00.002+08:00

22nd...

2009-03-01T01:32:00.004+08:00

21st...

2009-02-26T01:02:00.002+08:00

20th...

2009-02-26T00:45:00.002+08:00

19th...

2009-02-25T15:51:00.006+08:00

18th...

2009-02-25T15:48:00.004+08:00

Day 17... Boracay Day 3

2009-02-09T20:59:00.003+08:00

Day 16... Boracay Day 2

2009-02-08T04:03:00.002+08:00

Day 15... Boracay Day 1

2009-02-06T23:04:00.008+08:00

Day 14... Taking a Dive

2009-01-27T03:52:00.002+08:00

Day 13... In The Park

2009-01-25T23:09:00.005+08:00

Saturday... A day in School

2009-01-16T17:49:00.011+08:00

It's been a while since I am in a school probably the last one was during my board examination in UE Campus. My li'l boy is having a saturday toddler class at gymboree. At first my wife go with him, but later since saturday is my off day, I decided to give my wife a short break from my super likot son.

But of course it took my wife a lot of kumbinsi to me to accompany my son. At first I thought it will be so uncomfortable inside a class full of mommies but to my surprise, in a saturday class, there were more men than women.

So there goes the first class, then the second and so on. I started to feel the class after few visits. Seeing my son mingling with other kids, singing songs, reciting alphabets, etc., is a reward itself.
The kids were fun, they are so eager to learn things & to pop lots of bubbles hehehe. It was just a short class and it seems not enough for my poor baby but its worth it. I mean you can teach your kids a lot of things, but socializing is something they have to learn on their own.

Here are some photos taken inside the class..

After school on our way home we usually pass by the grocery store. (This is not part of the school story but I can't help not to post this picture his adorable in this pic). While we were waiting for my wife to come out of the grocery, my son just wanted to sit beside the wall of the store and there he was...

Tomorrow's another day at school and whatever it is that's waiting, I'm sure it only spells one thing... "FUN". (pix were courtesy of my camera phone *wink*)

Day 12... Into the Night

2009-01-16T07:31:00.006+08:00

Day 11

2009-01-11T01:40:00.004+08:00

When I decided to start this photogrpahy project I did expect that it won't be easy. What I didn't predict is that, taking photos not only requires a lot of time but also requires constant travel. So I guess it will now just be post when able :-)

I still plan to complete my 365 day photo project though, and here are my photos for day 11.

"Afternoon Storm"

"Good Life"

"A Series of Colors"

"Amused"

"Emtpy"

"Green"

Cars and Trains... The Real Role They Play

2009-01-06T12:30:00.022+08:00

My son has this addiction to cars & trains since he first saw them. Everytime we're in a store or grocery he always find his way towards the toy car shelf. Amazingly he knows where to find them. I guess that's just how it is when you really love something, you always find traces of their whereabouts.

"Cars"

"Mommy's Favorite Car"

"School Bus"

"Same Colors"

"Same Design"

When he sees a toy car that sits still he will say "Daddy, car not moving". When he lines up his toy cars or when he sees lines of cars over the window he will say "Daddy, there's a traffic jam". When he hears siren, he is immediately reminded of a "fire-truck or a police car". I really am surprised on how he absorbs everything so well, especially when it comes to cars & trains. Be it in a shelf in a toy store or even in a miniature of condo unit displays. He will simply say "Car inside the basement" and he refused to leave the area as if there is something that he wanted to see in detail.

"His Currently Favorite Movie & His Favorite Race Tracks"

From our apartment KL-LRT line 2 (I think) and KL Monorail are among the views we see frequently (well, apart from the road full of cars which he likes to watch as well). The kid being an addict to trains as well will immediately shout, "Chaga-Chaga" (Based from Jojo the clown I guess) followed by a "Woo-Hooo" (from one of the books we used to read to him). Once he was so obsessed with Thomas the tank engine that he even sleeps with them. Also inside a mall he will say "buy toy" and we really need to buy one just for him to leave the toy store. Smart kid he really knows how to use the word "Please...." and it really sounded so sweet when he says that.

"Thomas Train Tracks"

In the process, I realized that having him introduced to these toys made him closer to me. He usually say "Daddy...play with you" pulling any part of my body and then asking me to sit on the floor and play with him. We play together, I am the builder and he is the destroyer *grin*. I set up everything for him and he being impatient of what the outcome of what I am doing is, plays at the same time. Many times I feel so frustrated because he normally destroys whatever that I am starting to build *sigh* (bad daddy). Later I realized that he might be doing it for us to play longer, who knows... :-)

The best part of having toy cars and toy trains in the house is that we have a father and son bonding... that is "priceless" no matter how expensive those toys are. I don't care what will be his next interest as long as he tags us along in it, then its worth it.

the other side of the story is, Mommy has to clean up the mess we both made (we love you Mommy).

Day 10... Day 1 (2K9)

2009-01-01T14:58:00.000+08:00

The calendar officially turned its back on 2008, it's already 01-01-09. It rained this morning (more like a blessing from the sky) it's also my first time to see rain during the first day of the year, well at least from what I can remember. Well to start the year here is my bonding with my camera...*wink*

"Bubbles in the Air"

"Fruits"

"Cherry Blossom in KL"

"Brown 'n' Red"

Day 9... Fireworks

2009-01-01T01:21:00.000+08:00

It was a blessing in disguise that we are staying at 37th floor. Everytime there is a big occasion and fireworks are expected, we always have fair share of it without the trouble of going thru the crowd. Occasions like Chinese NY, Independence Day, Hari Raya, Deewali, etc. New Year's eve is of no difference, fireworks display are once again the main attraction of the dark sky.

2008... A Quick Recap

2008-12-31T15:49:00.000+08:00

Family...
EJ turned 2 this year. He made a lot of firsts this year, his first conversation, his alphabet, his counting to name a few. Biggest achievement for him was withdrawing from his pacifier. When we moved here in KL, it marked a new beginning... a big change. We felt how it was to live with independence, to live like a family should. Back in MV, we were living with friends so the atmosphere was entirely different "parang mga bakasyonista lang na nagtipon-tipon to spend the year..:-)". Also, this year I gave my wife a real gift, a gift that was long overdue. I should have done that a long time ago.

Career...
In January of 08 we made one big decision... Farewell Maldives, Hello Malaysia. After several years of service (3 years) to WTM, we moved to Malaysia and accepted the offer of UM thru ES. In Maldives we found a second home, but Malaysia in terms of everything, offered a different lifestyle.

In the middle of it all, I received several offers which were truly appealing. One in SEA, one in NZ and one in MEA. The offers were great, probably the best offers I'll ever receive. But in spite of those facts, we opted to stay in Malaysia for significant reasons.

Friends...
My "Barkada" remained the same..:-). I've got two new "inaanak" this year. We also bid farewell to some friends but have found new ones as well. I left behind a great group, but have found new company. Some of my friends went overseas this year, some stayed home.

Travel...
We made several trips this year - Langkawi, Penang, & Bangkok.

Money...
We are considered "MC" in Philippines' social status *grin* meaning we don't belong to rich and famous but we are not deprived either. Our biggest achievement this year in terms of money is that we made several investments... in my B-i-L's business (Star Laser), invested in MF, made some TD's and most of all we hit tiles of M's. *wink*. All of this is credited to my wife's good and proper management... *mwah*

Health...
We are so lucky that we didn't have any health issues & problems (Praise be to GOD).

Spiritual...
This year marks the year when we introduced EJ to our creator. He still cannot comprehend of course but it is actually doing very well. He says "baby Jesus" out of nowhere from time to time.
"if there's one character that can keep a family together... I will say it's FAITH "

10 things list from 2008...
1. After God, Family comes next
2. Be persistent but don't be too aggressive
3. Be patient in everything
4. Knowledge is best paired with Character but above them all is Wisdom.
5. Don't think twice, think more...:-)
6. Time is of an essence... manage time better
7. Spend today like there's no tomorrow, tomorrow's a new day to do the same... :-)
8. Success is best defined by how you feel towards your achievement not by how others see it in you
9. Best things in life are Free, make the most out of it
10. Enjoy Life...

What lies ahead in the coming year is something that no one can control. There are no guarantee of what will happen other than change. To the business world 2009 is equivalent to crisis, recession, etc., but to me 2009 is just another year that will soon be part of my history just like 2008 :-) so whatever happens in the coming year I'll make sure that my family will enjoy it.

So it's time to close 2008 and start a new page for 2009 with best wishes, good health & prosperity.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Day 8... Back in KL

2008-12-30T02:00:00.000+08:00

We are now in KL and after the trip we all felt exhausted last night. And today we didn't bother to eat lunch anymore, we just want to hit the bed and have a good sleep. Anyways here are my shots for the day...

"Petronas Towers - From a different angle "

"Bubbly Container"

"A view from Jalan Imbi"

"Blur"

Day 7... Going Back to KL

2008-12-29T15:10:00.000+08:00

Before heading to the airport, we visited some places around the corner...

"The Night Before"

"Erawan Shrine"

"Erawan Dancers"

"Central World - A view from the road"

"Water-Cave"

"Suvarnabhumi Airport"

Food, The "Thai" Way

2008-12-28T02:32:00.000+08:00

Food we tried during our short visit to Thailand...

"Fried Rice in Shrimp Paste"

"Pork Green Curry"

"The Best in Thailand - Phad Thai"

"Deep Fried Chicken Wings"

"Charcoal Grilled Pork"

"A different taste of Prawn Cake - Higher level *thumbs up*"

"Creamy Mussels"

"Grilled Salmon :) - never missed it"

Day 6... Grand Palace Tour

2008-12-28T01:47:00.000+08:00

A glimpse of the Grand Palace...

"Prelude"

"The Entrance"

"The Golden Temple"

"An Architectural Masterpiece"

"The Art of Symmetry"

"Twin Towers"

"The Pillars"

"Frontage"

"Light and Shade"

"The Golden Roof"

"The Grand Palace"

"The Neighbor"

"Clean Cut"

"Main Attraction"

The greatest thing that happened during this visit... A newly found "FRIENDSHIP"

Day 5... City Tour

2008-12-27T01:00:00.000+08:00

Still in Bangkok, it's simply fascinating...

"Prelude"

"Temple Guards"

"Orchids... What lies behind"

"A Meeting Place - Tomb of the Four Brothers"

"The Gate"

"Rays of the Sun"

"The Temple"

"Bell in the Sky"

"A Golden Rest"

"Standing Still"

"Windows"

"Monastery"

"Parliament House"

"A Good Break"

Day 4... Bangkok, Thailand

2008-12-26T18:08:00.000+08:00

Spending December in Thailand...

"The Arrival"

"While we were waiting..."

"The Lobby..."

"...and Their Arts"

"Shopping...?"

"View - by Day..."

"...and night"

"The Room"

"A portrait of Mother & Son"

"Bliss"

Day 3... Christmas in KL

2008-12-25T01:46:00.000+08:00

Celebrating Christmas in KL...

"Centerpiece"

"Painting"

"Cookies... Anyone?"

"Wine"

"A Family Portrait"

"Presents"

"Grand Finale"

Day 2... Something Special

2008-12-25T01:36:00.000+08:00

I intended to have this post a bit delayed because it was kind'a special...

"The Gift"

My eWall Project... Focus, Frame & Shoot

2008-12-22T23:31:00.000+08:00

I decided to start a project... Focus, Frame and Shoot - My eWall project. And Today marks the beginning of a new hobby.

Choices of the Day (Day 1)

"A portrait of Father & Son"

"Fitting in"

"Mommy... there's a traffic jam"

"Cloud Waves"

"Colors"

"Reflections"

Christmas In Our Home

2008-12-20T23:20:00.000+08:00

Celebrating Christmas in Malaysia...

An Evening of Performance

2008-12-20T22:58:00.000+08:00

This is what we call a "stage fright" (lol)...

Breakfast Landscape

2008-12-20T22:35:00.000+08:00

A good Saturday morning peek from room 3722...

A New Beginning

2008-12-17T11:27:00.000+08:00

My wife is an avid blogger. I was once a school paper writer back in high school but it never crossed my mind that I will be creating a journal (e-journal in this case) or a blog of my own. But with my newly bought camera, I just can't think of somewhere to keep the pictures that was and will be captured by it besides my hard drive. Nobody can tell how long my hard drive can last anyway... (I bought it cheap and I dropped it a lot of times already, hehehe "baka tuluyan na ngang masira one day"). Well anyway using an international server to back up your files is actually a huge help...*grin* aside from paying nothing (since its free) you can also make your files open for public viewing.

As for this blog, "Beyond Lights and Darkness" (I actually wrote down "worth a thousand words" but it's already taken) I am planning to focus more on photography, photography related articles, photography accessories or simply just pictures.

So here's my super first e-journal, I just hope I can maintain it (hehehe).