Monthly Archives: October 2015

HK Green Post Boxes

Leave a comment Posted by on October 28, 2015
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Hong Kong green post box with Royal British isignia

Even though Hong Kong is no longer under the British colonial rule, as a visitor, it is edifying to see some history miscellany in society’s practical objects such as the post box.

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Of modern type but still green

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A closer look of the letter slot

Hong Kong, Receptacle , , , ,

Bamboo Scaffolding

2 Comments Posted by on October 27, 2015

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Bamboo scaffolding is widely used in Hong Kong and that is why this attracts my attention more than the IFCs or Bank of China Tower type of buildings.

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One must be amazingly skilled in tying and connecting bamboo poles together at the right places to ensure stability for construction men and materials. How I wish bamboo scaffolders will continue to pass on this ancient skill for generations as bamboo scaffolding takes away the look of dullness of modern infrastructure construction activity happening constantly here and there.

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Hong Kong, Structure , ,

Friday Snapshot: Hazy Sunset

Leave a comment Posted by on October 23, 2015
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A hazy sunset at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Snapshot of the Day, Sunrise Sunset , ,

Typography: Auto Supply Shop

Leave a comment Posted by on October 21, 2015

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Before hand lettering became a fad and popularized over social media by ‘young creatives’, Philippine folks from the barrio to the city have been lettering for long time. Observe the folk signs all over the country. These folk letterers with no fancy implements were able craft beauty, albeit crude. Their typography are honest looking which makes it more charming.

Metro Manila, Typography , ,

Marble in Soft Drink

Leave a comment Posted by on October 20, 2015

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This is a soft drink that I often see in North Taiwan. Its look and taste appeals the young though it’s hard to open it without adult assistance. The pink contraption on the lid is what you’ll use to open the bottle by pushing down an embedded marble to make a hole. So it’s like this, while guzzling , you’re fully aware that there’s a marble moving around the liquid inside.

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Beverage, Packaging, Taiwan , , , , , ,

Corn in Circular Stack

Leave a comment Posted by on October 17, 2015
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Boiled corn arranged in a circular stack inside a giant clear plastic bag with visible 20 peso folded paper bill that serves as price tag for each corn

If a vendor sells one and the same merchandise only, day after day, it is highly likely that this vendor is sort of a subject matter expert on what he sells. For example, a boiled corn vendor is an expert on how to tell a good corn from a bad one even without removing its husk, and of course he knows how to boil it perfectly, and he has taught himself how to arrange the corn in an artful and optimal manner on his kariton.

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Not wanting to mess up his arranged corn, he gets corn from his stock underneath

Moreover it is wise to buy from specialized vendors than from a grocery store because they themselves would have carefully selected their stuff. A single bad corn is bad for a single merchandise retail business.

Arrangement, Food, Metro Manila , , , ,

Taiwan’s Water Dispenser

Leave a comment Posted by on October 16, 2015
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Drinking water dispenser at the train station

Ideally, something so essential such as potable drinking water should be accessible for free in public places like parks, museums, transportation hubs, airports, tourist sites, etc. Countries who can afford to provide free drinking water in their cities, Japan for example, typically have drinking fountains everywhere.

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Drinking water dispenser at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial

I’m surprised that in Taiwan, not only that drinking water is accessible to the public, but they spend considerably more in order to provide hot and cold water for free. Imagine how convenient that is. One can eat cup noodles practically anywhere. Same is true for any ‘just add hot water’ sort of instant food or beverages. Thus, instead of drinking fountains, Taiwan makes use of an upright water dispenser with three faucets — for hot, tepid, and cold water. This type of appliance labeled as Digital Drinking Fountain is ubiquitous in Taiwan.

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Drinking water dispenser at the hotel hallway

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Drinking water dispenser at Taipei Zoo. Hot water as needed and by request only.

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Refilling one’s water bottle instead of buying bottled water is encouraged in Taiwan

Taiwan , , , , , , , ,

Pedestrian Dude

3 Comments Posted by on October 15, 2015
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A fatter than usual, hat wearing hominid, as a pedestrian traffic light sign in Narita town, Japan.

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Can you see the outline of the hat?

Japan, Signs , , , ,

Savory Senbei

Leave a comment Posted by on October 14, 2015
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This rice cracker shop is one of the many small shops along Omotesando street in Narita town

One should never underestimate the taste of senbei (rice crackers) because when it is freshly made and still warm, the ‘yumminess’ meter goes up to about 75% more than those packed ones.

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Display case for the freshly made senbei

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Still warm

Food, Japan , , ,

Jeepney Spare Tyre

Leave a comment Posted by on October 13, 2015

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Jeepney drivers must be acrobatically inclined. Apart from the ability to drive defensively in one hand while the other hand is collecting fare, a jeepney driver can apparently go in and out with ease. One could see that the driver’s door is significantly blocked by a spare tyre. And yes, that’s the standard location for the spare.

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Driving tip: Distancia amigo, your side mirror will never be up against that spare tyre.

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Metro Manila, Pinoy Way of Life, Public Transportation , , ,

Deity Clothed in Bibs

Leave a comment Posted by on October 12, 2015
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Jizos at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Jizo is (also) a protector of children and its statues are usually carved from stone. Seeing the bibs on the Jizos presumably put on by parents gave me some sense of spirituality and connectedness to the realm of human life driven by beliefs and unaffected by science and technology.

Belief, Japan , , , , , , ,

Chicken Pedicure

6 Comments Posted by on October 11, 2015
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This lad chops off the nails from the chicken feet before selling it

A well-dressed adidas (chicken feet) is achieved by chopping off its nails one by one. And that’s what keeps this lad busy at the talipapa.

Market, Metro Manila , , ,

Temple Rain Barrel

Leave a comment Posted by on October 10, 2015
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Rain barrel at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Rain barrel of Japanese Buddhist temples is one thing that I find particularly attractive even though every section of the temple is intricate. Perhaps because something utilitarian was melded into the structure.

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Rain barrel at the right side of the temple

The simplicity of the idea to collect rainwater by means of a barrel cannot be undervalued for it’s a measure to preserve the beautiful wooden temple in case of fire. And for all other practical uses such as watering plants and cleaning, rain barrel is truly a functional beauty.

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Another rain barrel from another temple inside the complex

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Spot the two rain barrels

Fixture, Japan, Receptacle , , ,

Aling Emma

Leave a comment Posted by on October 8, 2015
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Aling Emma in her daster

For years I would buy espasol, bibingka, and most frequently the Pinatuyuan sa Gata freshwater shrimps viand from Aling Emma. Her shack of a shop is in Pagsanjan, Laguna along the main highway in the poblacion. One day the shop was gone from the old location. Then, months later I was able to locate her to this new one, still in the poblacion and not that far from the original one. It’s still a shack, which I like. I’m just truly glad that there’s still Aling Emma and her tiny food shop, my favored stop in Laguna.

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Espasol, suman, tikoy, vinegar in soft drinks plastic bottle containers, fish crackers, shing-a-ling, chicharon, etc.

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Assortment of rice cakes and the pinatuyuang hipon sa gata (inside those stypor containers at the upper left side)

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Pickled vegetables

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The gateway to Aling Emma’s shop

Food, Humans, Laguna , , , , , , , ,

Mount Fuji on the Ground

Leave a comment Posted by on October 7, 2015

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Art, Japan , , , ,

Mount Fuji Toilet Signs

2 Comments Posted by on October 5, 2015
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The phone can wait

A toilet in the mountain is like a bottomless hole, that deep I presume. What goes in is impossible to retrieve. You’ve been warned by means of a sign. Almost all toilets have no sink in order to conserve water. One needs to use the hand sanitizer (if provided by your hut) instead. No faucet showering, and no tooth brushing, even if you’ve booked a hut. Awareness have been made possible through these toilets signs, including their hope that you’ll safely climb Mount Fuji.

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Conserve water in the mountain

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Have a safe climb, says the toilet

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Unexpected freebie since everything is costly up there

Japan, Signs , , , ,

Optical Shop Signage

Leave a comment Posted by on October 2, 2015
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I see it's an optical shop.

This optical shop signage in Taguig plays with words and spelling.

Metro Manila, Signs , , ,

Pinamalhan na Salmonete

Leave a comment Posted by on October 1, 2015
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Pinamalhan na salmonete

Pinamalhan is a Hiligaynon term for stewing fish in vinegar and salt (and/or soy sauce) until all liquid evaporates, hence the dish becomes mala (dry), and that’s why it’s called pinamalhan. We normally include crushed garlic and/or sliced onions to the vinegar and fish for the stewing process. Salmonete fish is perfect for pinamalhan. Back in my growing up days in Bacolod, I recall my mother will always prepare pinamalhan na salmonete every time she can get hold of fresh salmonete from the wet market. Naturally, I get to acquire the liking for this simple breakfast viand that is totally perfect with steamed rice.

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