Chopsticks

Project365 Frame 031 Jan 31, 2013 1100 hrs

I'm not going to write about how to use a chopstick. There are a lot of tutorials that you can find online complete with video demonstrations. All I can say is that practice makes you a pro in no time.

I learned how to use the chopstick back in the Philippines long time ago. I had a Chinese lady friend from Hong Kong that came to visit and when we went to a Chinese restaurant she forced me to use the chopsticks. Since I had no idea how to use it, she showed me how and soon enough I was able to eat our food. I practiced a lot since then starting with bigger chunks of food until I practiced on picking up peanuts and peas. From then on, I always see to it that I would ask for a chopstick whenever I eat in a Chinese, Japanese or Korean restaurants. I find it more efficient to eat noodles with a chopstick than using a fork. I have some sets of chopsticks at home to use whenever we eat some noodles like pancit. Believe it or not I often use chopsticks while eating potato chips specially if its cheese flavored since it would be messy if you use your fingers.

The featured photo for today was taken on my last visit to Panda Express.

Table for 4

Project365 Frame 030 Jan 30, 2013 1130 hrs

During my last morning visit to my favorite cafe, I happen to notice a vacant table for four persons in the corner. Sunlight from outside get through the glass panel creating a dramatic shadow play on the table and chairs. When I got this picture, I didn't know how to enhance the light and shadow play. I used some filtering app to darken it a little bit and tweaked the colors a little bit to make it look like an old photo.

Smiley on the Run

Project366 Frame 029 Jam 29, 2013 1100 hrs

When I arrived at the parking lot of Las Vegas Athletic Club, I saw this happy face perched on the tip of a car's radio antenna. I remember some years back that I had one like this coming from Disneyland in one of my visits there. I think I have to look for it and put it on my car's antenna too.

Monday Morning

Project365 Frame 028 Jan 28, 2013 1030 hrs


I started my week very early. Braving a very cold & windy morning, I woke up 6am to go to a diagnostics lab for my routine blood works as required by my doctor. I went there around 7am & I was one of the first 5 clients to have our blood drawn up. By 9am I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my driver's license. It did not take me that long to complete everything including my eye tests and taking my photograph. When I get out of the DMV building, it was already warm & sunny but the breeze is still cold.

I took a picture of a tree outside the parking lot. It is a proof that even if its sunny in Las Vegas, its still the height of winter season.

Morning Light

Project365 Frame 027 Jan 27, 2013 0800 hrs


The sun is up this morning. Even if it is still chilly due to the cloud cover but it was not forecasted to rain today. It will be a lot warmer although it is still way below the standard of Vegas hotness. Getting off from work this morning & glancing to the freeway entrance, the day looks promising.

Orange Macro

Project365 Frame 026 Jan 26, 2013 0956 hrs

When I went to Sweet Tomatoes restaurant the other day for lunch, I noticed their wall decor of a macro photograph of a sliced orange. It was so delectable to see how the fruit looked so juicy. I told my friend who was with me that I would like to do something like that but using my iPhone camera. In this picture I used my macro camera lens that I got from online.

Gym Time

Project366 Frame 025 Jan 25, 2013 1400 hrs

I've been going to the gym and I guess its fast becoming my second home. I've been trying to regularly go to the gym but sometimes I miss some days. I think its just a matter if getting used to it. Even if you missed sone days, its easier to go back. The picture featured today are some exercise balls on the rack which are a common sight I guess in every gym not just in my gym.

Fortune Cookie

Project365 Frame 024 Jan 24, 2013 1337 hrs

Do you believe in fortune cookies? These are Chinese cookies with some quotations written on a small piece of paper placed inside. You have to crack the cookie open to be able to read whats on the paper. Almost every Chinese restaurants are serving these cookies as desserts. I guess all of you knew what I was talking about. Anyway during my last visit to Panda Express Restaurant, I got a fortune cookie. When I opened it, I laughed on what I read on the piece of paper. I took a picture and posted it here. Why I laughed about it? Sometimes I thought what was written on it is quite true for me. I sometimes over indulged.

Lantern

Project365 Frame 023 Jan 23, 2013 1244hrs


When I went to Panda Restaurant for dinner last night, I saw this cluster of Chinese lanterns that serves like a centerpiece lighting inside the room. Its actually two rows of lanterns and I just cropped the whole picture to show only one row. Used some filter apps and my fast becoming favorite ColorSplash and the result is this.

Lighting Fixture

Project365 Frame 022 Jan 22, 2013 1600hrs


During my last visit to my favorite breakfast restaurant, Panera Bread, I happen to notice their lighting fixtures inside the room. Actually they have 3 kinds or styles of lighting fixtures depending on where you happen to sit. In my area, this is kind of fixture they have.

Check out the featured photo for today. I used again the ColorSplash app to isolate the color of the lamps against the backdrop of black & white.

Light Trail

Project365 Frame 021 2100hrs


Im always fascinated by great pictures that captures light movements usually in night photography. It requires a slow shutter speed on your camera to capture the blur but you also need to mount the camera on a tripod to prevent unnecessary movements.

I have tried this before using my DSLR camera but this time since Im just using my iPhone, I have to rely to an iPhone app that is capable of slowing down the shutter speed. Im using SlowShutter & I think it can do the job well, I just need to practice more.

Mailbox 2

Project365 Frame 020 Jan 20, 2013 0956hrs

With my fascination of mailboxes, I saw this one across my friend's house. I think this is made of metal and painted black. I love its intricate design.

Breakfast

Project364 Frame 019 Jan 19, 2013 0900hrs


I always love to eat breakfast on at least two (2) favorite restaurants. My favorite of all is Panera Bread. I love their panini sandwiches of different varieties. I also love their baked egg souffles just like the one in our featured photo for today. This one I got this morning is a spinach & bacon souffle. I simply got crazy about it. How about you? Have you gone to Panera Bread? What's your favorite?

Year of the Snake

Project365 Frame 018 Jan 18, 2013 1140hrs


Come February 10th, the whole Chinese world will celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake. Dropping by the Conservatory inside the Bellagio Resort & Casino, their displays are now in tune for this Chinese celebration complete with a money tree that brings good fortune as well as a huge snake (actually some kind of a cobra).

According to Wikipedia.com the online Encyclopedia, people born on the Year of the Snake are intuitive, introspective, refined and collected. They are attractive people who take crises with ease and do not become flustered easily. They are graceful people, exciting and dark at the same time. Contemplative and private, the Snake is not outwardly emotional. She/He can appear cunning and reticent and works very modestly in the business environment. The Snake will plot and scheme to make certain things turn out exactly as they want them to. They are not great communicators and can become quite possessive when they set their minds on achieving the interest of a partner. So there you are, do you think you are compatible to a snake?

Horse Sculpture

Project365 Frame 017 Jan 17, 2013 1234hrs


Right after the Christmas season, Bellagio Resort & Casino's Conservatory is gearing up for the coming Chinese New Year. Please take note that 2013 is the Year of the Snake. Expect a giant snake will be on display inside the Conservatory.

I dropped by the Conservatory last week and the displays in there were not yet fully completed. I saw a technician or whoever he was, working on a computer adjusting the lighting system and the flow of water on the fountain which was part of the display. Nevertheless, people were pouring in to see the displays and took some pictures. I too took some pictures that I would feature in this blog very soon.

At the hotel's lobby, I couldn't help to notice that a massive metal/crystal horse sculpture is again on display on the same spot. Maybe this is the management's good luck charm or whatever but so far the same horse sculpture is always on display every Chinese New Year. It is a beautiful sculpture, just look at the featured photo.

This year's Chinese New Year will be celebrated this coming February 10.

Orleans

Project365 Frame 016 Jan 16, 2013 1100hrs


I've been wondering that someday I could attend a real Mar-dis Gras festival. A celebration of carnival and merrymaking a day before Lent. This is celebrated in some cities like Paris, Rio de Janeiro & New Orleans. The nearest city that can probably go is New Orleans. Well someday I can go to these cities and personally experience a real mar-dis gras. For the meantime I can always go to Rio Hotel & Casino here in Las Vegas to get a glimpse of their Carnival in the Sky show. I can also go to The Orleans Resort & Casino because of the facade motif of New Orleans.

The featured picture for today is just part of the Orleans facade that is very imposing.

Hustle Bustle

Project365 Frame 015 Jan 15, 2013 2300hrs


I always wanted to capture all the hustle bustle inside the casino floor. One evening I happened to drop by one of the casinos in town to use their restroom for "relief". On my way out I remembered that I had new downloaded app where I can adjust the shutter speed of my iPhone camera. This means that with slow shutter speed I could depict movements of my subjects. Actually it was my first time to use the app SlowShutter so I guess this is not the best shot I got. With more practice & adjustments, I could probably improve my composition. For the meantime, just check out the featured photo for today.

Icicles

Project365 Frame 014 Jan 14, 2013 1100hrs


Due to sub-zero temperatures in the past few days, all surface water found in puddles and in those accumulated in gutters were frozen. I think it was raining or snowing a little bit last night since I saw ice accumulation in roof gutters and when they drip down, they form some icicles. During the day though towards noon time, the sun was up and the icicles began to melt. Good thing I was still able to catch a few of them so I got my iPhone ready to take a shot.

Freeze

Project365 Frame 013 Jan 13, 2013 2330hrs


Its been very cold in Las Vegas for a couple of days now. We're having hard freeze temperatures specially in the evenings up to early mornings. Its sub-zero temperatures meaning below the freezing point. Because we're having dry cold air, no precipitations whatsoever so we are not having snow in the valley but only in the high elevations. But this is still dangerous if you're out there without proper insulation clothing. This is most risky to plants and other sensitive vegetations as well.

This morning it was around -3 degC or 27 degF and that was already like 8:00 in the morning. I cant even touch my car's steering wheel without my gloves. I just had my voice returned (although can't hit the high notes yet) and its specially not good when my throat or neck is exposed to this harsh temperature. Fortunately I have my protective gear, aside from my standard jacket, intact in my car like my scarf, gloves, and my beanie.

Talking about my beanie or this skull cap, I took a macro picture of its fiber material and got this amazing landscape-like result with my phone camera. I decided to feature it here.

Mail Box

Project365 Frame 012 Jan 12, 2013 1000hrs


Every time I embarked on a road trip, I always wanted to take a picture of mail boxes along the road in the countryside. I actually never get a chance. The pictures that I took were so hurriedly taken that they were not worth saving. Usually in the countryside, several mail boxes were located along the road and grouped together. Next road trip though I'll see to it that I would stop and take my time for these mail boxes.

When I went to my friend's house, I noticed that they have the old fashioned mail box. Armed with my iPhone camera, I snapped pictures away. And yes, you guessed it I used the color flash app on my iPhone for today's featured photo.

Leafless

Project365 Frame 011 Jan 11, 2013 1100hrs


During Fall, some trees shed their leaves and as the weather temperature goes down towards Winter season, more trees can be seen with no leaves at all just like in our featured picture for today. I took this picture just in our neighborhood because in our yard our trees are of the pine variety so they would not shed their leaves during this season. The branches look lifeless specially against the backdrop of the blue sky. Come Spring time new leaves would sprout out from these branches and the tree will look as if it had awaken from a long sleep or hibernation. I will take another picture when the tree will be full of fresh green leaves once again and try to take it at the same angle as this one for comparison.

Outdoor Lighting

Project365 Frame 010 Jan 10, 2013 1140hrs


I recently discovered a new photo app called Color Flash and it was cool. This is just like in the Photoshop where you can isolate any part or detail of the picture to retain its original color while the rest can be changed to show cool effects. This particular app actually turns your picture into a black & white and you have all the artistic freedom to choose which part of the picture you want to retain the original color. I had mentioned or posted this in my Facebook and I had a good example image in there showing the result after using the app.

The picture I featured for today has a washed out white background not to mention the white paint for the whole assembly of the lamp. So I decided to use the Color Flash application installed in my iPhone to give this boring picture a little kick. Since there is no other hint of color in the whole picture, I retained the speck of color being reflected in the glass casing where the light bulb is located. It was not lighted yet since it was daytime when I took the picture but I guess the tiny speck of color reflected in the glass looks cool enough. I hope you like the picture, too.

Iron Man Encounter

Project365 Frame 009 Jan 9, 2013 1311hrs


Got this picture from a restaurant that I went for lunch yesterday. This is part of their wall paneling in the interior and I thought this might make people wonder what it is if I only focus on one thing. So which part of Iron Man is this? Your guess is as good as mine.

Good Lunch

Project365 Frame 008 Jan 8, 2013 1100hrs


Its my day off today so I guess I deserved a lunch out with some friends in one of our favorite dining places. Chipotle Mexican Grill is one Mexican restaurant where my authentic Mexican friends liked to go. The first time I went to Chipotle, I tried their burrito and it was a huge serving. Eating it was difficult and messy. Fortunately I discovered their burrito bowl. The same savory ingredients without the tortilla wrapping. Who needs the tortilla when they have the tasty wild or brown rice to go with chicken, pork or beef steak. Its basically just like the Asian rice toppings that I used to have in Chinese restaurants back in the Philippines. Now I'm hungry again...and this time Chinese food???

Strength Resistance

Project365 Frame 007 Jan 7, 2013 0800hrs


After two (2) long weeks of absence from my gym workouts, I was back this morning. Braving the cold morning, I bundled up and went to the gym. I decided to slow down a bit with the weight lifting so I concentrated more on the upper body and performed only two (2) sets per exercise routine. Fortunately there was a zumba class so I was able to attend that class too for the cardio part of my routine. Everything was fine, I literally survived the whole two & a half hours I spent in the gym. My body has to adjust back to its usual activity level, that's why I slowed down a little bit so as to prevent soreness on my muscles later on.

Heaven's Gate

Project365 Frame 006 Jan 6, 2013 0800hrs

Is this the door to heaven? No, but this might help. This is the main entrance door of Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church where we always go to hear mass every Sunday.

Fruit Basket

Project365 Frame 005 Jan 5, 2013 1000hrs


Last Jan 1st, my mom bought lots of fruits for our dining table as part of a tradition we Filipinos believe to bring prosperity to the household. I've been eating some of it specially the grapes because these are always my favorite. The fruits in picture above is what remains in our fruit basket. We used to have a huge papaya and some avocados which by the way is considered a fruit in the Philippines, but I ate them all already.

I remember that I did some pictures of fruits as part of a photographic series. I hope to continue it again and feature some of them in this blog as part of my Project365.

Traffic Lights

Project365 Frame 004 Jan 4, 2013 0800hrs


Driving home from work this morning I was thinking what picture to take to be posted in my blog as part of Project 365. As I was exiting from the freeway towards my street, the traffic lights turned red then I realized that for most drivers traffic lights is one street feature that we take for granted. Take note the term I used, we might took it for granted but we never ignored it. Can you just imagine what will happen if there are no traffic lights? Traffic light system is one important street feature we cant afford to ignore.

Breakfast at IHOP

Project365 Frame 003 Jan 3, 2013 0830hrs


I survived my first day of work for the year with ease. After checking out, I called a friend and invited him for a breakfast. Its been awhile since my last visit to IHOP which is one of my favorite place to go for breakfast. Upon settling down on our table, I noticed something new. They have this new set of syrup jars with colored covers and the name of the variety or flavor printed on each. IHOP is very well known for their pancakes and they always go with syrup smeared on top of the stack. What was good about these new syrup containers was you can easily read the flavor or variety in each jar. They have 4 kinds of syrup varieties namely; butter pecan, blueberry, strawberry and the old fashioned syrup. As I can remember, the old syrup containers they had were uniformly colored black with the flavors engraved on it which was not easily readable. This time around the flavor names can be read easily over their colored background.

Sun Chill

Project365 Frame 002 Jan 2, 2013 0845hrs


Waking up on this second day of the year. It's sunny, blue skies with no cloud cover at all but its freezing cold. The temperature at this hour is 34degF or 1degC. The rest of the week is expected to be sunny.

Its back to work day for me. Im feeling much better so back to the normal grind of living.

2013 - Simple Welcome, Big Hopes

Project365 Frame 001 Jan 1, 2013 0010hrs


I'm currently recovering from bad colds and cough last week so I decided to change my new year celebration plans this year. Initially, I was planning to meet the new year on the Strip as this would be my first time to do it. But because I didn't want to risk my health with the freezing temperatures and to be in a huge crowd of revelers, I decided to stay home and meet 2013 with my parents instead.

We just had a simple barbecue of baby back ribs and chicken, some vegetable soup, and an apple caramel pie for dessert and a bottle of faux champagne. If I was not coughing I could have used the real one. We had the dessert and the faux champagne in time for the clock to strike midnight.

It was just a simple way of welcoming the new year but I have high and big goals in line. I just hope and pray that I can attain a part if not all of them with God's blessing.

Happy New Year everyone. May 2013 bring all of our dreams a reality.