The Philippine Jeepney

Here's another card for a private swap that will travel to Poland tomorrow.

Jeepneys are the most affordable means of public transportation here in the metro (national capital region -- Manila). Undoubtedly, this is true for other busy places in the country. Is it because of its flamboyance? Check. Because it allows you to travel at a low cost? Check.

This is my transportation from my apartment to work. The minimum fare is PhP8.00. When I first came here in Manila back in May 2003, it used to be PhP4.00. Despite the increase, I still prefer  riding a jeepney to riding a train. It's too crowded in the train and you have to stand from the origin station all the way to your destination. I am able to sit in the jeepney, travel time though is almost doubled. Hmm, I guess I love being stuck in traffic! Haha.

I am proud of the Philippine jeepney -- a product of the Filipino ingenuity; born out of Pinoy natural resourcefulness and creativity. The first jeepneys in the archipelago were transformed leftover military trucks of the Americans after World War II. Uncle Wiki describes this as an 'obiquitous' symbol of Filipino culture.

~maria

Vigan Heritage Village

This card of the Vigan Heritage Village will travel to Poland tomorrow :)

Vigan, Ilocos Sur is a UNESCO heritage site. It's a well-preserved example of European trading town in South East Asia. The place is a fusion of Asian building design and European colonial architecture and planning. The houses is of the traditional Filipino dwelling design, the nipa hut. A more detailed description of the place can be found here.

My first time in Vigan was February 2006. I enjoyed a dinner by candlelight for the Valentine's Day with my friends from the Philippine Normal University's Department of Science & Technology - Scholar's Association.  We there for an educational field trip. 

This card also shows a traditional type of transportation, the kalesa. It's a horse-drawn carriage that can usually fit 2 passengers plus the driver. I remember paying P20 when we were there for a kalesa ride from our hotel to the city circle. 

I am itching to visit Vigan again. I hope that the place is still as serene and tranquil as I remember it, when I actually have the chance to experience it again.

~maria

Sunset in Boracay

This postcard of one of the best beaches in the world, Boracay, will be travelling to Hong Kong tomorrow for a private swap :) 

It's 28-32 deg Celsius right now here in Manila. The summer days are here! For sure Boracay is starting to get noisy and busy with foreign and local tourists. I have never been there and I wonder when would be my chance to experience Boracay's fine white sand for real...

~maria

Childhood & absolute happiness.

Here's a card I received in July of last year from Moscow, Russia:

Tanya, the sender wrote:

"Here I send you a very special flower to me. My grandmother used to plant narcissuses, and we had these flowers every spring at home. It reminds me of childhood and absolute happiness."

Childhood and absolute happiness -- the nostalgia for chasing butterflies and playing with red and orange ladybugs in my great grandmother's garden, filled with the scent of her favorite flower, marigold.

I wish someone captured a photo of me back then...In my effort to frame the memories, I did the collage below. And realized, "Ugh! that's the narcissist in me!" :p

Kudos to google.com for the photo of the marigold and the marigold petals with the ladybug.

I'm linking up with Beth @ The Best Hearts Are Crunchy for more postcards on a Friday! Have a great weekend everyone.

~ maria

A light for you.

None of us is stranger to moments of low self-esteem and feeling disheartened. During these times, to whom do you run to? What helps you pick up your spirit and see the other side of life?

Together with prayers, here are 'foods for thought' that motivate me when I'm down:

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living the results 

of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's

opinion drown out your own inner voice. And most important,

have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

They somehow already know what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary.

-Steve Jobs

Be who you are and say and say what you feel

because those who mind, won't matter 

and those who matter don't mind.

-Dr. Seuss

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see

the whole staircase, just take the first step.

-Martin Luther King

It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love

that is put into them that matters.

-Mother Teresa

We've all heard that we have to learn from our mistakes,

but I think it's more important to learn from our successes.

If you learn only from your mistakes, you are inclined to learn only errors.

-Norman Vincent Peale

When the going gets tough, I guess it's not being weak if you seek the wisdom of others (aside from keeping your faith intact) to boost your spirit!

I'm sharing this post with Michelle for her Thought Provoking Thursday theme. It was awesome to read what other thought provoking posts other bloggers have written up. Check out Michelle's page by clicking the red chair below. :)

ps. The text on the postcard above says, 'A light for you.' -- written in German, and was the inspiration for this post. I received it in August 2011 from postcrossing.com

~ maria