tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21321669390960804822024-03-13T06:36:20.031+08:00a wee ilittle bits of me.laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.comBlogger463125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-79280885422911186702020-03-26T22:28:00.001+08:002020-03-26T22:30:02.444+08:00something.amid the chaos that is the CoViD-19 pandemic, a new blog. a digital journal of sorts. full of photos taken with my PaperShoot / Paper Shoot camera.<br />
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i call it <a href="https://papershootsnaps.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>PaperShoot Snaps</b></a>.<br />
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oh hey world. how are you doing? i know it sucks right now, but we'll get through this.<br />
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stay safe everyone.<br />
<br />laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-49614428988223890312018-09-19T08:15:00.001+08:002018-09-19T08:15:46.130+08:00September 2018Just thought I'd drop by for a quick update.<br />
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I've moved back to Manila!<br />
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But I still have to haul my stuff back from Baguio. They're currently still in the house I rented - fortunately it doesn't seem that the owner is interested in renting it out again anytime soon.<br />
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Family matters and health concerns will keep me in the capital, but I'm hoping I'll be able to visit the highlands often to see friends or to simply take in the cool breeze.<br />
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I'm thinking of retiring this decade-old blog and starting a new one.<br />
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Yesterday I was fixing some of my stuff and I found an old notebook I used for my 'morning pages' a while back. Reading it made me remember what I really want to write about, create, and do. A new blog will definitely be a good motivation to get things going.<br />
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To all of you who still check out the stuff I've written here, thank you for the love. Here's to new beginnings! :)laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-68929149491413050302017-08-03T07:50:00.002+08:002017-08-03T07:50:25.984+08:00just checking inif you follow me on social media, you may have learned i've moved into a new place. same city, different hill.<br />
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it's a lot different from where i stayed previously--a condo unit in a tourist area--and presents its own set of challenges (neighbors whose domestic noise--shouting kids and angry mom included--reach my ears much too often) and joys (other neighbors' cats that now have the run of the house, nearby sources of "real" food, a 24/7 jeepney line).<br />
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i've also changed jobs--i'm writing, researching, and editing around 83 percent of the time for work, and the remaining work-related hours are spent learning more about...everything. it's all good.<br />
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in june i attended a series of trainings for waldorf school educators. i was--still am--intent on volunteering in balay sofia, the first and so far only waldorf-style school in baguio. i haven't stepped foot in the school in nearly two months now. i'm working on my schedule so i can volunteer in the mornings. the ideal plan is to go for a walk/run or practice yoga (activities i've been missing terribly!), go to balay sofia, rest a bit at home/do errands/work on a project, then do my regular work.<br />
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the current rainy weather has made it hard for me to fully explore my new surroundings, but i will surely get to doing that in the coming weeks. my "<a href="http://lauriewalks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">walkdays with laurie</a>" project hasn't been updated in months!<br />
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free time is spent napping/sleeping (haha yes), sketching, tidying up the house/making small home improvements, going out with friends (haha yes), thinking of projects to do (i have a few long-term project ideas in mind), and cooking! thanks to the house being equipped with an induction cooktop, i'm enjoying spending time in the kitchen (and stir-frying everything). i think i like my cooking. :P<br />
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that's about the gist of things. i'm an awful blogger now but i do plan on writing here a bit more often (if not regularly), not only for myself but for those of you who think my stuff here is worth reading. i've had other blogs before this and other blogs after this, but i guess this one really sticks. i realize this blog is close to 11 years old now--thank you for keeping it on your reading list!<br />
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here's a look back at my first post on this blog: <a href="http://laurenvillarama.blogspot.com/2007/01/sunog-sa-araw.html" target="_blank">sunog sa araw</a>, written after coming from a community immersion in nueva ecija. i'll be going with a friend's group to visit another community soon, this time somewhere here in benguet, and i'm really looking forward to that. i'm already planning which camera to use and which sketchbook to bring.<br />
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i'll be sure to tell you how it goes!<br />
<br />laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-58919025789479443272016-11-20T12:12:00.005+08:002016-11-20T12:23:52.330+08:00Coffee Harvest Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Friends and family know how much I love coffee, and now I have a deeper appreciation for it and for the farmers who grow the coffee plants and process the fruit. I learned that it's hard, time-consuming work and I will never look at a cup of brewed coffee the same way again.<br />
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Yesterday, I joined the Coffee Harvest Tour in the community of Sayatan in Tublay, Benguet. Sayatan is a project site of the Cordillera Green Network, a Baguio-based environmental NGO. Since 2001, the organization has been working to help transform communities in the Cordillera into models of sustainable resource management.<br />
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Let's back up a little bit--how did I get to join the tour? Well, I was helping a friend look for a place to stay in, and Tala came to mind. I go to Cafe Yagam every now and then when I have friends over and see people coming and going from Tala, the guest house just below. I got curious about it but never pursued looking into it, until now.<br />
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I checked <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tala.baguio/" target="_blank">Tala's Facebook page</a> and learned of its connection with the Cordillera Green Network, and also learned that the org conducts educational tours as part of its advocacy. Coming up was a Coffee Harvest Tour, and I signed up. <br />
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Aside from showing us how a cup of coffee is produced, the tour also gave participants that much-needed break from city life, and for the foreign students, the chance to practice their English. :)<br />
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The group met up at 7:30 (everyone was so punctual!) at Tala, where organizer Kanami gave a short orientation and where we introduced ourselves. It's a very 'international' group comprising Filipino, Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean and Vietnamese coffee lovers. When we were all set, we climbed aboard CGN's jeepney and off we went.<br />
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When we arrived at Sayatan, we were introduced to the "coffee queens," the ladies who manage the community organization. They told us about the CGN's advocacy as well as coffee's journey from farm to table. They also showed the proper way to harvest coffee cherries to make sure the plant bears fruit again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orientation and introduction at Tala.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick stopover to buy snacks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bread, bread and more bread</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toploading ftw</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ate Lily explaining the process of how a cup of coffee is made</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pick just the fruit--avoid taking the stem along with it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before harvesting: hot coffee!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet sweet dog</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee plant</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like Christmas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just pick the ripe cherries (the red/red-orange ones)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cold climate makes Benguet conducive to growing arabica coffee</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out guava</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JdUboGvP2IY/WDEPsnQI8oI/AAAAAAAAnQA/EAVMcqBGhXgz9VASpAojs7CJlSzqHIOZACLcB/s1600/P_20161119_112344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JdUboGvP2IY/WDEPsnQI8oI/AAAAAAAAnQA/EAVMcqBGhXgz9VASpAojs7CJlSzqHIOZACLcB/s640/P_20161119_112344.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking coffee cherries...until the ants came (the fruit is sweet)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee seedlings at the nursery ready for planting! The community sells these for Php 7.50 each.<br />
It takes around three years for the plants to bear fruit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the old nursery (they're preparing a net to cover the seedlings)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slSFk-dulBk/WDEP4DOLuXI/AAAAAAAAnQM/dva5aqsqGVYlk9V0YS4a2LYricAmZ0s4gCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_114236_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slSFk-dulBk/WDEP4DOLuXI/AAAAAAAAnQM/dva5aqsqGVYlk9V0YS4a2LYricAmZ0s4gCLcB/s640/P_20161119_114236_1.jpg" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9HEk19xZSPE/WDEP2r8EmKI/AAAAAAAAnQE/YCEofYi9ursYH62J0hForP3cIrw69q6-ACLcB/s1600/P_20161119_114307_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9HEk19xZSPE/WDEP2r8EmKI/AAAAAAAAnQE/YCEofYi9ursYH62J0hForP3cIrw69q6-ACLcB/s640/P_20161119_114307_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why did the chicken (and her kids) cross the road?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUHIAdOMSvg/WDEQAZwbD_I/AAAAAAAAnQQ/0peOR0Ox7JIrxSisxOBLjzh22uF7ZYukQCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_114324_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUHIAdOMSvg/WDEQAZwbD_I/AAAAAAAAnQQ/0peOR0Ox7JIrxSisxOBLjzh22uF7ZYukQCLcB/s640/P_20161119_114324_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To say hello to the grazing cow, of course!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nGIZG5rRrt0/WDEQAwNxonI/AAAAAAAAnQU/ZKOnJWvDqUkiH-UY5lXhyxIXzpkNykaTACLcB/s1600/P_20161119_114852_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nGIZG5rRrt0/WDEQAwNxonI/AAAAAAAAnQU/ZKOnJWvDqUkiH-UY5lXhyxIXzpkNykaTACLcB/s640/P_20161119_114852_1.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Johnny making sure our meal's cooking well</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq5ovuAdH5E/WDEQGBfUDTI/AAAAAAAAnQY/onXqr5Gb8XkbmkVkHZRfXtwvSzy8zjnsgCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_115156_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq5ovuAdH5E/WDEQGBfUDTI/AAAAAAAAnQY/onXqr5Gb8XkbmkVkHZRfXtwvSzy8zjnsgCLcB/s640/P_20161119_115156_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinikpikan!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XNq3OMYCZnQ/WDEkMZ8bGmI/AAAAAAAAnSw/wv0-uVGfZaguHp94BVglZOnNbRNLqXF1gCLcB/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XNq3OMYCZnQ/WDEkMZ8bGmI/AAAAAAAAnSw/wv0-uVGfZaguHp94BVglZOnNbRNLqXF1gCLcB/s640/01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
After lunch it was time to try pulping (where the fruit pulp is separated from the bean) and hulling, where the remaining mucilage is removed from the seed. After pulping, the beans undergo wet fermentation for 24 hours, washed and then dried before hulling.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JUOPmL044k/WDEQLZGZtqI/AAAAAAAAnQg/0zpbqlbmcawdJlrbazXaYsCDv2ysnywvgCEw/s1600/P_20161119_125855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JUOPmL044k/WDEQLZGZtqI/AAAAAAAAnQg/0zpbqlbmcawdJlrbazXaYsCDv2ysnywvgCEw/s640/P_20161119_125855.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9TKbYMuX5Y/WDEQqzT-xdI/AAAAAAAAnRA/6kGvmXaNi2gNHUCylZsopHxDCFZC6U7HACLcB/s1600/P_20161119_134901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9TKbYMuX5Y/WDEQqzT-xdI/AAAAAAAAnRA/6kGvmXaNi2gNHUCylZsopHxDCFZC6U7HACLcB/s640/P_20161119_134901.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forgot to take a photo of the (manual) pulping machine, but here's the output: the pulp at left and the seed or bean at the right. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sAoDaFr54xc/WDEQKZwawTI/AAAAAAAAnQc/0RsVcSijW_wzj5_9hZi6Z88tQmt6Vf4wgCEw/s1600/P_20161119_125527_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sAoDaFr54xc/WDEQKZwawTI/AAAAAAAAnQc/0RsVcSijW_wzj5_9hZi6Z88tQmt6Vf4wgCEw/s640/P_20161119_125527_1.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beans are first pounded to remove the mucilage or hull from the bean</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vOc2FABtc8/WDEQO2R09nI/AAAAAAAAnQk/tOBgV7yQCGweyuGmFQtTRQQDJCMlt-84wCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_131132_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vOc2FABtc8/WDEQO2R09nI/AAAAAAAAnQk/tOBgV7yQCGweyuGmFQtTRQQDJCMlt-84wCLcB/s640/P_20161119_131132_1.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Separating the hull from the bean</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3GHgKoHVvEY/WDEQVloHGaI/AAAAAAAAnQw/nm7vOSuclG0clmulslaYr7ZxhVGO3vWZQCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_131144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3GHgKoHVvEY/WDEQVloHGaI/AAAAAAAAnQw/nm7vOSuclG0clmulslaYr7ZxhVGO3vWZQCLcB/s640/P_20161119_131144.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LMqC6-hRWs8/WDEQToUP0JI/AAAAAAAAnQo/aRpIqzxsKM4_4k07sdekW4xg0FWTrQ1iwCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_131153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LMqC6-hRWs8/WDEQToUP0JI/AAAAAAAAnQo/aRpIqzxsKM4_4k07sdekW4xg0FWTrQ1iwCLcB/s640/P_20161119_131153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkF3I0hcGnk/WDEQiGCVVxI/AAAAAAAAnQ4/wOYZ1gvkY0ISwj-g401Xt9NMPdqqI9_WwCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_131221_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pkF3I0hcGnk/WDEQiGCVVxI/AAAAAAAAnQ4/wOYZ1gvkY0ISwj-g401Xt9NMPdqqI9_WwCLcB/s640/P_20161119_131221_001.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Separating the dried hull from the beans is challenging at first, but once you've mastered the movement, it's beautiful to watch.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lliWmISvfN8/WDEQfL0fQYI/AAAAAAAAnQ0/uFnvcyAEuUAivEh8D03uS-h13-9fHrBAwCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_131156_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lliWmISvfN8/WDEQfL0fQYI/AAAAAAAAnQ0/uFnvcyAEuUAivEh8D03uS-h13-9fHrBAwCLcB/s640/P_20161119_131156_001.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-upWd-HT1t8s/WDEQjHrK1zI/AAAAAAAAnQ8/fxK0191V_w8MUU61DcQGy3DAh4tAkGvGwCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_132003_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-upWd-HT1t8s/WDEQjHrK1zI/AAAAAAAAnQ8/fxK0191V_w8MUU61DcQGy3DAh4tAkGvGwCLcB/s640/P_20161119_132003_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More hulling</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nD54JHlXw3k/WDEQvSjmVII/AAAAAAAAnRE/zpmGrKRr1IESUCL7d2jWjkdhhaEBtP1rwCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_141359_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nD54JHlXw3k/WDEQvSjmVII/AAAAAAAAnRE/zpmGrKRr1IESUCL7d2jWjkdhhaEBtP1rwCLcB/s640/P_20161119_141359_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After sorting the beans, these are roasted for an hour. While there's a roasting machine that can get it done in 20 minutes,it's in another town and for the purpose of the tour, a kawali can do the job just fine. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CYHeJdCT6D0/WDEQ37GEfdI/AAAAAAAAnRM/HzTibYZRZtE7Od2SnlDyzQgK6KxcbB8uQCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_145424_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CYHeJdCT6D0/WDEQ37GEfdI/AAAAAAAAnRM/HzTibYZRZtE7Od2SnlDyzQgK6KxcbB8uQCLcB/s640/P_20161119_145424_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost done! Heavenly smells all around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8P3kqMc-u5k/WDEQ834vp_I/AAAAAAAAnRU/Hd7hoOOihwcNnqk-IWDucuWNo0CKrp_BACLcB/s1600/P_20161119_150141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8P3kqMc-u5k/WDEQ834vp_I/AAAAAAAAnRU/Hd7hoOOihwcNnqk-IWDucuWNo0CKrp_BACLcB/s640/P_20161119_150141.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbBhMOJHq9w/WDEQ7IE7DlI/AAAAAAAAnRQ/U57Jyg29yY8kmbRrnfEZamSbt3eHc20RgCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_150154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbBhMOJHq9w/WDEQ7IE7DlI/AAAAAAAAnRQ/U57Jyg29yY8kmbRrnfEZamSbt3eHc20RgCLcB/s640/P_20161119_150154.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to be ground up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbM92hnPu04/WDERDGui8dI/AAAAAAAAnRg/eL3969X9kHUgv6xT2qYNz5-7GRiPOy5LwCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_151435_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbM92hnPu04/WDERDGui8dI/AAAAAAAAnRg/eL3969X9kHUgv6xT2qYNz5-7GRiPOy5LwCLcB/s640/P_20161119_151435_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These beans will be grounded, ready for brewing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xzipi8ZXNno/WDERBlMLClI/AAAAAAAAnRc/F3Q5ygRAuaY3w5TVuru5fOHe5ZvUaHqfgCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_151632_BF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xzipi8ZXNno/WDERBlMLClI/AAAAAAAAnRc/F3Q5ygRAuaY3w5TVuru5fOHe5ZvUaHqfgCLcB/s640/P_20161119_151632_BF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with "Sweet Dog" (we don't know his real name)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzBfjZwl4Fs/WDERHOkJHDI/AAAAAAAAnRk/njwP5WzqNJ4HqZJoaN9dnh4Ey4q2pbnBgCLcB/s1600/P_20161119_152610_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzBfjZwl4Fs/WDERHOkJHDI/AAAAAAAAnRk/njwP5WzqNJ4HqZJoaN9dnh4Ey4q2pbnBgCLcB/s640/P_20161119_152610_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And done! (Don't you just love these cups)</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had a great time learning about coffee and meeting new folks. Thanks to Tala - Kanami and Sevy - and the CGN as well as the community of Sayatan and the women farmers who showed us about how coffee makes its way into our cups.<br />
<br />
Fact: To make 450 grams of roasted coffee beans, you'll need around 4,000 cherries. A cup is usually brewed from 10 grams of coffee, so you'll need around 90 cherries for just this one cup.<br />
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And that, my friends, is why you should savor each and every sip.<br />
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<br />laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-26072865560672831322016-08-22T19:31:00.001+08:002016-08-22T19:38:11.973+08:00Speed Ball Training with Siri (Mongki as coach)Who needs expensive kitty toys when you have a plastic cup, some string and puffy balls lying around?<br />
<br />
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V9VQwlLMT3Q/V7rinnsZ-WI/AAAAAAAAm0Q/pR7mngiZ9gk/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.gif' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V9VQwlLMT3Q/V7rinnsZ-WI/AAAAAAAAm0Q/pR7mngiZ9gk/s350/%25255BUNSET%25255D.gif' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a>laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-9091444391746839212016-07-09T21:22:00.000+08:002016-07-09T21:22:10.580+08:00scaredsome work-related adjustments are opening up opportunities for me to write again, and i'm scared as sh*t.<br />
<br />
as the few readers of this blog can surely see, i haven't posted anything in months. i meant to, it's not for lack of topics, but perhaps a lack of will. and confidence.<br />
<br />
the kind of work that i do (i currently copy-edit stories for an online publication) requires me to be strict when it comes to factual accuracy and as much as possible, be perfect in all things grammar. i'm no grammar nazi. i make mistakes myself, and i think i've learned to just ignore the errors i see in other people's work, especially if writing isn't really part of their profession (i quietly judge them sometimes though, but usually just the ones who say they're reading this book and that, or watching this show and that, because hey if you're really an avid reader/viewer, you should have picked up proper english by now - snooty me).<br />
<br />
i envy them sometimes - how they are able to come up with words to express themselves, tell the interwebz about their life without minding whether a particular piece conforms to ap style.<br />
<br />
i've grown more conscious about word use, but in return i've lost confidence in my own writing style. i've come to believe that the way i write has not really improved. my working vocabulary is still the same, i haven't really incorporated new descriptive words. things are still pretty simple in this corner of the blogosphere.<br />
<br />
i'm afraid to let loose, afraid i don't really have anything interesting to say.<br />
<br />
i've been looking at writing prompts online to somehow get me started with writing again, but i find myself uninterested. or i begin to think, that's a long story, and i don't have the <strike>time</strike> patience to sit and write that down.<br />
<br />
in january, a friend and i went for a day hike up mt. ulap, which is just around 40 minutes away from the city. he pitched the idea of a collaborative project about our little adventure: he would take photos, and i could write about the experience. it's july and i haven't really written a word. i have some phrases written down on a few sheets of paper - my impressions of the place, the things that interested me the most. but i couldn't do the colorful captions, the ones you usually read in travel sites describing a place.<br />
<br />
that's nothing new for me, really. i've always struggled with the "show, don't tell" part of writing a narrative. i don't think i have the right verbal creativity needed for travel blog-worthy descriptions. or perhaps this is just me coming up with excuses. i've always wanted to write about the things i've done, the places i've visited, the stuff i've learned. but when i see all these other people already writing about the same stuff, i lose heart.<br />
<br />
now i realize i'm forgetting the whole point.<br />
<br />
writing, like sketching, is an activity that lots of other people may be doing, but you all come up with different outputs. one's experience is different from another's. there may be similarities (in subject and location), but the way you tell it - the way you express yourself through lines and words - is unique to you. your own perspective, and your own way of showing who you are.<br />
<br />
i should really listen to myself more often.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
but that's when you're writing for yourself.<br />
<br />
i'm scared about writing for something else. will i be able to pitch good story ideas? will i be able to pull a story off without sounding like a self-absorbed b*tch?<br />
<br />
i guess i'll never really know unless i try (again).<br />
<br />
wish me luck (and discipline)!<br />
<br />laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-37288799485805906952015-11-26T20:59:00.001+08:002015-11-26T20:59:33.969+08:00what ifsthis afternoon, in anticipation of amazon's "the man in the high castle", i downloaded the e-book version of the philip k. dick novel the tv series is based on. i wasn't much of a pkd fan growing up (i think i tried reading one of his books once but stopped after the first few pages - now i think i might have been too young to appreciate it), so i had no idea about it, until i worked on an article about the tv adaptation this morning.<br />
<br />
i haven't started reading the book, but from what i've absorbed online, the alternate history presented in the novel goes a bit like this: ww2 lasted until 1947, and germany and japan won the war. it's a great what if, and i find myself interested to know the answer.<br />
<br />
it led me to <strike>think about</strike> imagine more what-if scenarios, nothing that historic though, just everyday stuff, the kinds of stuff i've thought about ever since i was a kid daydreaming the day away. it's how i entertain myself and keep myself amused, i guess.<br />
<br />
here's one.<br />
<br />
i ordered <strike>a burger</strike> two burgers from the nearby burger shop before it closed. as i waited outside for my burgers to cook, i saw a neighbor's cherry-red chevrolet impala heading up the street, homeward. that car's pretty famous around these parts, very recognizable.<br />
<br />
so. what if.<br />
<br />
what if i asked the owner/driver if i could take a photo of the car, and he would say of course, and i would introduce myself as a neighbor. and because i was genuinely interested in the car, he would invite me to have a look inside.<br />
<br />
(a friend and i have already poked our noses inside once when the car was parked out on the street and we were passing by and the windows were down and no one was around.)<br />
<br />
then he would do more - he would get out from the driver's side and invite me to get behind the wheel to drive the car the rest of the way home. and then i would say i haven't driven a car in ten years, to which he would say it's only for a few meters. and then i would agree, and somehow not crash the car. and then i would be able to say i drove an impala.<br />
<br />
in that what-if scenario, the owner's name is fred and he is in his mid-40s.<br />
<br />
seems far-fetched, yes, i don't think anyone would trust me and be all nice just like that, just like that. this what-if tale makes me sound like a naive chit, but then again, i'm sure there are nice folks like the guy in the scenario. you read about them all the time - about the niceness of strangers and such. could be dangerous to think of as true all the time irl, but sometimes you get the feeling that something or someone is good, or at least won't do you harm. it's sad when the world thinks the default is that people are inherently evil and being good comes as a surprise. anyway, i digress -<br />
<br />
but i guess that's how my brain works sometimes.<br />
<br />
i think about these what ifs during quiet moments, and it's good creative exercise for the brain that uses the logical side most of the time. thinking of these what ifs may give some people either hope or a reason to be depressed, but most of the time i just have a fuzzy feeling about it being a story.<br />
<br />
it may be why i'm drawn to fiction, why i can relate with amelie and her unfounded fears about the reason why nino hadn't shown up yet, why i think there's more to a story than what's written on a page or acted out in a scene. it may be why i like to be quiet and simply watch people sometimes. i don't think i fantasize too much - i'm still pretty sane (haha yeah) and know when the stuff in my mind really happened and when they're just the products of a very active (and creative, if i may say so) imagination.<br />
<br />
what if i hadn't gone out this afternoon? i wouldn't have seen the impala, i wouldn't have come up with that scenario. i would probably have thought of something else.<br />
<br />
i missed this kind of writing, the not-thinking-too-much kind. should do this more often to loosen up before/during/after copy editing. doesn't make much sense as i should be strict with following rules, but if it works for me, it works for me.laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-17589778763077033262015-11-24T21:49:00.002+08:002015-11-24T21:49:16.225+08:00something shorthmm. i did say i would try to write again. if i could post mundane stuff to my social network accounts, why not here?<div>
or, if i could refrain from posting mundane stuff, why not post something with more value here?</div>
<div>
has everything become too blah to post about? certainly not.</div>
<div>
are there things i would rather keep to myself? yes.</div>
<div>
i don't even keep a physical journal anymore.</div>
<div>
funny, because i've been telling other people to write.</div>
<div>
to say i am frustrated (or annoyed?) with myself is an understatement.</div>
<div>
--</div>
<div>
met new friends, hung out with old ones, had my family over</div>
<div>
complained about slow internet</div>
<div>
--</div>
<div>
the good news, my sis brought me three of my film cameras</div>
<div>
the bad news, i have no idea where to have films developed here</div>
<div>
--</div>
<div>
where to travel to next year? </div>
laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-51715849025049578832015-10-13T11:59:00.001+08:002015-10-13T11:59:44.078+08:00bffs in heaven<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XZ0P_7jiDkA/VhyBrcB9JHI/AAAAAAAAjwk/sRAH_nw7fwA/s2560/1444708778713.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XZ0P_7jiDkA/VhyBrcB9JHI/AAAAAAAAjwk/sRAH_nw7fwA/s350/1444708778713.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
my heart breaks over losing two of our beloved dogs a week apart. i had to stop working for a really good cry.<br/>
<br/>
will always love and miss you both, Holly and Frankie. have fun playing in the clouds and eating everything you desire. maybe someday we'll all play together again.</div>laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-37885508134918617982015-08-29T08:41:00.000+08:002015-08-29T09:07:37.037+08:00Five Days InI have settled on a routine. Well, sort of.<br />
<br />
Upon waking up (at around 5-6, to give myself enough time to prepare for work), I put water in the electric kettle (Made in China, but it's holding up really well)<br />
<br />
Open the windows. Shiver<br />
<br />
Depending on my mood (or level of laziness), I make coffee: instant 3-in-1 (Nescafe classic), mix-mix (I got matching jars for coffee, cream, and sugar), or brewed (I have to go to the market to get more grounds; what I have with me now is an already-opened pack of Monk's Brew I took from the kitchen when I went "shopping" (as my mom calls it, haha) at home<br />
<br />
When it's not coffee, it's tea, and I am ever thrilled to use a glass teapot my bff Susa bought for me. I brought my whole stash: hojicha green tea from Japan, rhododendron tea from Nepal, fruit tea from China (but bought from LoyalTea), Ceylon tea from er, the UK (but was a gift to my mom), Charbrew's blueberry tea, CBTL's cherry blossom tea, and yes, even some herbal dietary tea for those erm, bloated days<br />
<br />
I think of what to have for breakfast: cereals (what to do with leftover milk? I have no fridge--oh yeah, powdered milk), oatmeal, bread and cheese, omelette (thank goodness for oven toasters with a 'grill' at the top, and for another bff Dash who gave me the means to get it as a housewarming gift<br />
<br />
I check my mobile everything, turn on my laptop, panic at the thought of making a mistake (sometimes yeah), and repeat to myself, "you're learning, you're learning"<br />
<br />
Look out the window and determine weather. Have breakfast. Wash the dishes, brush teef<br />
<br />
Work, get nervous about talking to Australian colleagues (I'm a better writer than a speaker), resume work, stare out window at birds<br />
<br />
Wash the itty bitty things you cannot, or would rather not, have another person wash. Pray they dry within 2 days<br />
<br />
Take a bath, pray the towel dries the next day<br />
<br />
By midmorning, or noon, or a little after that, head out to a nearby <i>carinderia</i> (tourist price!) to buy my lunch and dinner. Choose from among the ten or so viands, ask for a half order and a cup of rice that costs an absurd Php15 for a total of Php50<br />
<br />
Buy other stuff from the minimart a few meters away. Stuff like cheese and mayonnaise sachets, because I have no fridge<br />
<br />
Upon getting back to my home|office, put half of the rice and viand in separate containers, and put the rest on a plate. Eat my lunch. Wash the dishes<br />
<br />
Stretch and relax a bit, check my social networks<br />
<br />
If work permits, run errands (buy something I need from the big store, pay bills) or walk around, because I'm here<br />
<br />
Go back to work<br />
<br />
Have a snack. And tea<br />
<br />
Make a list of the stuff I need to do the following day<br />
<br />
Reheat the food I bought earlier, maybe do something different with it (like add mayonnaise, or team it up with instant mushroom soup). Eat my dinner. Wash the dishes (I really like washing the dishes)<br />
<br />
Read, study for work, do stuff for Urban Sketchers Philippines<br />
<br />
Have hojicha or fruit tea. Brush teef, wash face, apply moisturizer<br />
<br />
Close the windows<br />
<br />
Prepare for bed: socks, sweater, fluffy blanket, bonnet (because cold hair). If necessary, set alarm (my body clock wakes me up at 6am no matter what time I went to bed; the alarm is only necessary when I need to wake up earlier)<br />
<br />
Say a prayer of thanks<br />
<br />
And look forward to a nice dream.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tM_WKulGvSg/VeEEUjoASHI/AAAAAAAAjGE/-KH1_VPnGAA/s1600/P_20150812_121550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tM_WKulGvSg/VeEEUjoASHI/AAAAAAAAjGE/-KH1_VPnGAA/s400/P_20150812_121550.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've fixed things up a bit since I fully moved in, but here you go--my little space. <br />
(I love everything about it, especially the natural light!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmzZh8iibBQ/VeEEVaFe1UI/AAAAAAAAjGM/qZ2b6kFU1T4/s1600/P_20150829_085734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmzZh8iibBQ/VeEEVaFe1UI/AAAAAAAAjGM/qZ2b6kFU1T4/s400/P_20150829_085734.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunny mornings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1bzhzc3QxNk/VeEEUpBkGfI/AAAAAAAAjGI/JmGaLvOfPHQ/s1600/P_20150825_180502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1bzhzc3QxNk/VeEEUpBkGfI/AAAAAAAAjGI/JmGaLvOfPHQ/s400/P_20150825_180502.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and misty afternoons. This is the view when I look out my window to the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Things I have yet to do, things I am looking forward to doing this weekend:<br />
<ul>
<li>Explore my neighborhood, establish possible running/jogging/walking routes</li>
<li>Sketch</li>
<li>Do some cardio</li>
<li>Go to market for fruit and coffee</li>
<li>Sunday siesta after church</li>
<li>Write for myself</li>
</ul>
Change is good, yes?laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-14843763769463871552015-08-05T11:44:00.001+08:002015-08-05T11:44:19.974+08:00Trip Sketches: Sta. Ana, Cagayan A very late post about spending ten days in beautiful Sta. Ana in Cagayan at the northernmost tip of the Philippines.<br />
<br />
I had been feeling restless and troubled close to the end of summer this year. I felt I needed a change of scenery, and so I was glad a friend invited me over to spend a couple of weeks at his family's vacation resort in faraway Sta. Ana, Cagayan. I needed a break, and figured since my job lets me work anywhere, I grabbed the opportunity. I spent ten days staring out to sea, playing with my friend's dogs, working on learning modules, walking and jogging by the beach (and picking up trash along the way), eating lots of fresh fish and veggies, swimming in an infinity pool, taking photos of ridiculously magnificent sunsets, and of course, sketching.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxCSG7J_hNc/VYA2A9ONUUI/AAAAAAAAe7k/gV0AMMgqf6k/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxCSG7J_hNc/VYA2A9ONUUI/AAAAAAAAe7k/gV0AMMgqf6k/s640/01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I sat across this boy's family in the bus during the trip up north. We got stuck in traffic near the border of Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela, and, with my laptop, phone, tablet, and powerbank batteries all close to drained, I sketched instead. After getting off the bus in Tuguegarao, I took a van for the three-hour trip to Sta. Ana. Because of that traffic, I was on the road for 21 hours!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzWgknLq7po/VYA2BwHZKMI/AAAAAAAAe7w/NwoCZsjmmF8/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzWgknLq7po/VYA2BwHZKMI/AAAAAAAAe7w/NwoCZsjmmF8/s640/02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On my first morning there, I sat on the sea wall and observed the fishermen coming home. I found out that they fished mostly for 'espada' or beltfish.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kqHZdaLVNe8/VYA2BEVMmkI/AAAAAAAAe7o/8cGea1bpBLc/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kqHZdaLVNe8/VYA2BEVMmkI/AAAAAAAAe7o/8cGea1bpBLc/s640/03.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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The view of the sea. In between writing tasks I simply zone out look at the bright blue water.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MjHLKC9iJ8Y/VYA2HSK7o1I/AAAAAAAAe8U/adHmJdIQNwI/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MjHLKC9iJ8Y/VYA2HSK7o1I/AAAAAAAAe8U/adHmJdIQNwI/s640/04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The resort has two pools: an infinity pool and a kiddie pool. Guests were coming in the day I drew this, so the staff were busy preparing umbrellas and chairs for lounging in.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6Z9TtNl3Tc/VYA2Dk5JRaI/AAAAAAAAe78/gXbJluecaRY/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6Z9TtNl3Tc/VYA2Dk5JRaI/AAAAAAAAe78/gXbJluecaRY/s640/05.jpg" width="446" /></a></div>
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I tried to draw the usual mode of transport while waiting for mass. It's actually a motorcycle fitted with a body with two wheels behind it. It can fit around 6-8 passengers (I think).</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONclIYmZ00U/VYA2FK2DvYI/AAAAAAAAe8E/13UNUIUqIBo/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONclIYmZ00U/VYA2FK2DvYI/AAAAAAAAe8E/13UNUIUqIBo/s640/06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The church where I attended mass. I had a blast trying to figure out perspective with this one.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eSX1YwXtIF0/VYA2GznQoWI/AAAAAAAAe8M/j14ZTcrtRh0/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eSX1YwXtIF0/VYA2GznQoWI/AAAAAAAAe8M/j14ZTcrtRh0/s640/07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The pool pump house and one of the boys cleaning the pool. I'm really trying hard to practice drawing people ;)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjIJ_8hr1zg/VYA2K4AOxbI/AAAAAAAAe8k/orndBNU1tgo/s1600/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjIJ_8hr1zg/VYA2K4AOxbI/AAAAAAAAe8k/orndBNU1tgo/s640/08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the beach cottages in the resort. It's fun just staying there and taking the breeze in. On the right, the resort's water tank and a few random sketches and brush marks.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-JnuGpLeN8/VYA2JRWMajI/AAAAAAAAe8c/zuNsiBd9LFI/s1600/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-JnuGpLeN8/VYA2JRWMajI/AAAAAAAAe8c/zuNsiBd9LFI/s640/09.jpg" width="446" /></a></div>
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We would sometimes see large vessels traveling across the water. My friend has a telescope, so one day he took it out and we observed the coming and going of boats and barges.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWxaV8XRalY/VYA2MK4ad-I/AAAAAAAAe8s/u0bAlHUugTo/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QWxaV8XRalY/VYA2MK4ad-I/AAAAAAAAe8s/u0bAlHUugTo/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One day I borrowed his telescope and took a look at the fishing community again. I've never sketched using a telescope before, and I had fun!</div>
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For these sketches, I used pencils, colored pencils, a brush pen, and watercolors. I drew on a Derwent sketchbook that's not really meant to be used for wet media, but I don't mind. ;) There are days when I feel my sketching's awful, and there are days when I feel good about them. Oh well--practice makes better! </div>
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That trip up north jump-started big changes, of which I'll tell you about in another post. ;) I'm really glad for the support of family, friends, and colleagues who understand my need to "go" and refresh, so thank you--you know who you are.</div>
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laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-56794007370062919492015-07-06T13:07:00.002+08:002015-07-06T13:19:23.572+08:00Baguio WIP: What I've been up to<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello. Today marks the second week I've been in Baguio for a research project. The weather has been especially chilly and wet due to Tropical Storm Egay. I'm currently taking a break from sorting out my papers and drawings, thinking about the things I still need to do.<br />
<br />
Part of my output for the research project is a tourist map of the community of Bahong, dubbed "The Rose Capital of the Philippines". Bahong is in La Trinidad, around seven kilometers from Baguio City. Most, if not all of the roses sold in bulk in Dangwa in Manila come from Bahong.<br />
<br />
It's my first time making a tourist map, and though I'm pretty excited about it, I'm also quite nervous it wouldn't turn out the way I'd envisioned. I'm doing almost everything manually, especially the spot illustrations. I'm taking some inspiration from <a href="http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/" target="_blank">They Draw & Travel</a>.<br />
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I'm in a cloud!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AK01ApFxl1I/VZnkpA_QSyI/AAAAAAAAgmg/zr1HfOcpZb8/s1600/mapofsagada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AK01ApFxl1I/VZnkpA_QSyI/AAAAAAAAgmg/zr1HfOcpZb8/s640/mapofsagada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is a tourist map of Sagada, which has become one of the most popular destinations in Northern Philippines. When done, my map will look a bit like this, but not really. I'm planning to make two versions, a black and white one and another one in color. The map will be given to the community so they can use it for their tourism project/s.</div>
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A view of the flower gardens of Bahong. At the foreground, in the open fields are roses. Grown in the greenhouses at the background are chrysanthemums and Malaysian mums.</div>
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Women sorting (according to size), cleaning, and packaging white anthurium flowers. Each bloom is carefully encased in a small plastic sleeve.</div>
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A garden of pink roses. Most of the blooms have already been cut that morning.</div>
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"So this is what pitimini flowers look like!" / "So that's what this flower is called!"</div>
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Some initial sketches for the spot illustrations. I've never drawn so many flowers and plants in my life. I need to draw more.</div>
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A portion of the stuff I've acquired in the last week. May I direct your attention to my 'new' pen holder? I'm out of sunflower brittle, but I promised myself I'd buy more when I'm done with this project. ;)</div>
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I came here with only my 'usual' on-location sketching tools: some ink pens, a few colored pencils, a few pieces of cream-colored watercolor paper, and a tiny watercolor set. As I was thinking of how to go about the map, I realized I was severely lacking in materials. I panicked and looked for other stuff that I can use,<i> just in case</i>: colored pencils (with free crayons haha), oil pastels, more watercolors, and acrylics. Plus lots of paper, heehee. </div>
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The box of acrylic paints I think is a steal at Php 150--it has six 25-ml bottles of basic colors, a mini palette, six small bamboo sticks, and a thin brush. Baguio has a lot of mom&pop school and office supply stores, but these usually have only student-grade stuff (which is really good enough for me). I might not be able to use the oil pastels as I earlier thought, but we'll see.</div>
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To be honest, I never thought I'd join a research project as an "artist", haha. Anyway, I hope to finish the tourist map this week so I can move on to my other tasks. Wish me luck! :)</div>
laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-18384517316321515432015-06-16T19:02:00.000+08:002015-06-16T19:02:10.076+08:00trying out the new Limelight sketchbookI love trying out new stuff for sketching, so when I was presented with the opportunity to try out a new sketchbook, I gladly said yes. The Limelight Sketch Book from Star 360 Philippines in A5 size has rounded corners, 100 leaves, and I think 80gsm of smooth, cream-colored plain paper. The one here is the black version with a green elastic strap to keep it closed. There's another version, a grey one with an orange strap.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pTgy6w-ZfqI/VX_tfGISySI/AAAAAAAAeyk/rv5qnOjS1GE/s1600/P_20150612_064842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pTgy6w-ZfqI/VX_tfGISySI/AAAAAAAAeyk/rv5qnOjS1GE/s400/P_20150612_064842.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GS-zhJR9tU0/VX_tg2iKIRI/AAAAAAAAeys/ga3S_KarkpM/s1600/P_20150616_163330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GS-zhJR9tU0/VX_tg2iKIRI/AAAAAAAAeys/ga3S_KarkpM/s400/P_20150616_163330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Front, without the label</div>
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Back, with the sticker.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpB4lWZMwTE/VX_ts3LV0_I/AAAAAAAAezI/XAcqPcMlZuM/s1600/P_20150616_163459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpB4lWZMwTE/VX_ts3LV0_I/AAAAAAAAezI/XAcqPcMlZuM/s400/P_20150616_163459.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The sticker peels off easily and leaves no residue. :)</div>
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A closer look at the elastic strap. It's got good tension.</div>
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It has an expandable inner pocket! I put Urban Sketchers leaflets in pockets just in case someone comes along and asks about what I'm up to (or, what on earth are you doing under the scorching heat?).</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOaIg5eGkpo/VX_t1vJusPI/AAAAAAAAezw/AWJ8Zg0mFqc/s1600/P_20150616_163259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOaIg5eGkpo/VX_t1vJusPI/AAAAAAAAezw/AWJ8Zg0mFqc/s400/P_20150616_163259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Inside, creamy paper. I wasn't able to take a photo of the binding but the sketchbook lays down flat, which is good for me, because it makes sketches easier to scan. The Limelight Sketch Book also has a ribbon marker.</div>
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Whenever I have my hands on new paper, my usual concern is "Will this hold watercolor?" because ink & wash remains to be my favorite 'technique'. When I saw and felt the paper of the Limelight Sketchbook, I got a bit sad, because I immediately knew it's not for watercolor. Light washes/touches of watercolor yes you can apply, but you can't "play" with wet media on this paper. So if you're into heavy washes, best manage your expectations considering this sketchbook's limitations. I do hope Limelight comes up with a sketchbook with thicker, watercolor-friendly paper soon--especially now that so many are getting into arts and crafts. ;)<br />
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Anyway, I still wanted to try out how the paper holds ink so I'll know which ones I can use with the sketchbook, and how, so I <strike>took out the big guns</strike> got my pens and set to work. Here are the results.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3MSzFAwddQ/VX_tyE2tAyI/AAAAAAAAezc/_PcIG_HaTc4/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3MSzFAwddQ/VX_tyE2tAyI/AAAAAAAAezc/_PcIG_HaTc4/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5cPY86wTshk/VX_tzOEVIOI/AAAAAAAAezk/JcLD1eDkOtY/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5cPY86wTshk/VX_tzOEVIOI/AAAAAAAAezk/JcLD1eDkOtY/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The thin paper is no match for markers, but holds other ink types well, even fountain pen ink (with no visible feathering).</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cZmK81xgog/VX_t1nJGYdI/AAAAAAAAezs/jqFeF8pXG98/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cZmK81xgog/VX_t1nJGYdI/AAAAAAAAezs/jqFeF8pXG98/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, so I did try watercolors (Sakura Mat). Just a light wash, but the paper (as expected) crumpled/wrinkled depending on the volume of water. Still, the paper is fab with dry media.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKC3fKBifaI/VX_t13m8FvI/AAAAAAAAez0/Ct_60ATGJto/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKC3fKBifaI/VX_t13m8FvI/AAAAAAAAez0/Ct_60ATGJto/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My calligraphy sucks; I just don't have the discipline for it, which is why I'm sticking to sketching (haha). I tried out China ink (the one with the elephant) and Ideal drawing ink with a Hunt 56 nib. It's probably my lack of fine writing skills, but the feathering and bleed-through on this page say nope, that's too much ink for this paper.</div>
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At the bottom I quickly sketched my trusty electric fan using my Kuretake ZIG Brush Pen No. 22 and a waterbrush filled with diluted Hero ink (to make grey) to see how that combo works.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chIwP-xYnw0/VX_t3CfrqoI/AAAAAAAAe0E/J_8u07Ka1iQ/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chIwP-xYnw0/VX_t3CfrqoI/AAAAAAAAe0E/J_8u07Ka1iQ/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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See, I told you I used too much drawing ink.</div>
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The electric fan sketch was okay, with minimal wrinkling on the grey-washed portions.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I've taken the sketchbook with me last week to Plaza Lawton and the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine in Manila, where <a href="http://urbansketchers-philippines.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Urban Sketchers Philippines</a> had an Independence Day sketchwalk. I drew some of the sketchers who participated that day. My initial drawing was done on location using a pencil; I added watercolors at home.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2XJcVxKEGY/VX_t5UTFRkI/AAAAAAAAe0M/nUde-OtIlm8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2XJcVxKEGY/VX_t5UTFRkI/AAAAAAAAe0M/nUde-OtIlm8/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You really can't 'play' with the watercolors with this paper--as soon as you lay the brush down, the color gets absorbed instantly, and you can't dab and swirl. I made a few shadow errors I couldn't correct anymore--oh well. Using watercolors is a bit tricky with this sketchbook, so keep this in mind and you're good to go! (Or use colored pencils instead.)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPT0QEjoHvk/VX_t7NlrBTI/AAAAAAAAe0U/SnX9ql61LXA/s1600/P_20150616_163403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPT0QEjoHvk/VX_t7NlrBTI/AAAAAAAAe0U/SnX9ql61LXA/s640/P_20150616_163403.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wrinkling behind where watercolors have been applied.</div>
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Overall, the Limelight Sketch Book is definitely something I'll use again for location sketching and practice drawing. It's really good, lightweight, and has paper that can work with a lot of materials. Plus, that expandable inner pocket is really handy. Personally I would skip using pages back-to-back considering the materials I work with and the (light) weight of Limelight's paper, but for pencil and other light/dry media work, the pages can be used one after the other without a hitch.<br />
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Hmm, I wonder if they'll come up with watercolor-friendly sketchbooks soon? :)laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-66888520550257701362015-05-29T21:48:00.001+08:002015-05-29T21:48:25.417+08:00something's brewing<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pM7WsxSylrk/VWhuIWeGvTI/AAAAAAAAdfo/MQHDly2GmzA/s2560/1432906641342.gif' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pM7WsxSylrk/VWhuIWeGvTI/AAAAAAAAdfo/MQHDly2GmzA/s350/1432906641342.gif' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
wind's picking up.</div>laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-63572284155913870722015-04-23T20:41:00.001+08:002015-04-23T20:41:37.162+08:00Water for elephant<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mH4qcrpCcZs/VTjod1P2-2I/AAAAAAAAau4/QrOMld75oM0/s2560/1429792549737.gif' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mH4qcrpCcZs/VTjod1P2-2I/AAAAAAAAau4/QrOMld75oM0/s350/1429792549737.gif' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
A shower for Maali on a hot summer day.</div>laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-81495845050240382982015-04-14T17:51:00.001+08:002015-04-14T17:51:08.420+08:00They have a maid!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tw6J_iUp9Mc/VSzhDn5bfZI/AAAAAAAAZ80/PHhgeCfZm6I/s2560/1429004468469.gif' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tw6J_iUp9Mc/VSzhDn5bfZI/AAAAAAAAZ80/PHhgeCfZm6I/s350/1429004468469.gif' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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The awesomely talented and fun cast of Dalanghita Productions' 'Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady' rejoicing "We have a maid!!!" during last night's press launch. Details soon on artbuzzph.com! :)</div>laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-11385910757188667372015-04-06T08:07:00.001+08:002015-04-06T08:07:45.821+08:00Frankie eating turnips<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Hf9qZYp1df4/VSHOStHkMPI/AAAAAAAAZ74/0iQD3PcnXTg/s2560/1428278791530.gif' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Hf9qZYp1df4/VSHOStHkMPI/AAAAAAAAZ74/0iQD3PcnXTg/s350/1428278791530.gif' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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Frankie loves chewing and eating in general, and here he is with some singkamas.</div>laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-88890533368974406142015-03-01T17:11:00.001+08:002015-03-01T17:32:18.207+08:00Mom vs Lechon<a href='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h18HeeHhXOk/VPLX1d7qWUI/AAAAAAAAZ38/cYG9ai_AePs/s2560/1425201019011.gif' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h18HeeHhXOk/VPLX1d7qWUI/AAAAAAAAZ38/cYG9ai_AePs/s350/1425201019011.gif' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br />
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Relatives came over to celebrate the birthday of one of the grandmas living with us. An uncle and aunt brought lechon.<br />
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NaXztem2mhk/VPLcmUauyJI/AAAAAAAAZ4M/O7iJbaJ9U0M/s2560/1425202171685.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NaXztem2mhk/VPLcmUauyJI/AAAAAAAAZ4M/O7iJbaJ9U0M/s350/1425202171685.gif" border="0" /></a>laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-30684796930568472432015-02-17T08:36:00.001+08:002015-02-21T09:03:25.524+08:00big things, little thingsI'll be terribly busy in the coming days (weeks, months?) and I just thought I'd drop by and say <i>Hello, blog. I neglected you again.</i> What has happened and is happening in my life since I last posted here:<br />
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I started a new blog where I share news and announcements about art-related events. Most of them are press releases (so far), but I'm still building my network, so baby steps, baby steps. I named it <a href="http://www.artbuzzph.com/"><b>ARTBUZZ PH</b></a>, because the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack was running in my head when I was brainstorming.</div>
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Last January, Urban Sketchers Philippines had an exhibit called <b><a href="http://urbansketchers-philippines.blogspot.com/2015/01/urban-sketchers-philippines-new-year.html">"Rough Notations"</a></b> at Conspiracy Garden Cafe in Visayas Ave. The 31st was the last day of the show, so after our sketchwalk in QC Circle we headed over to Conspi to take down the works, have dinner, and sketch some more.</div>
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Our poster (center) was made by <a href="http://igetrinidad.blogspot.com/">Ige Trinidad</a>. The two framed works on either side are<a href="http://walkwithman.blogspot.com/"> Manuel Jiongco</a>'s, and the art cards below are works by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/cesartchitecture/">Cesar Ramirez Jr</a>.</div>
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Happy bunch! We're missing a few members who weren't able to make it that day.</div>
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My new year's resolution is to draw more people, so I've been practicing and trying to develop my own style. This is Carlo Martinez. I think I'm getting there, haha.</div>
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And this is Ige, who was sketching.</div>
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On Valentine's Day, I drew portraits! Imagine how nervous I was. We were invited by Ayala Museum in partnership with Avida Land to do portraits of their guests for their Art to Heart event. I regret that I wasn't able to take photos of the portraits I did--I was feeling embarrassed/shy I guess--but I think the 15-minute sketches turned out well. Not bad, really, now that I think about it. It was fun. I think I was able to do at least 20 faces that day!<br />
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Work-wise, things are getting busy. I'm trying to do as much work as I can between my grandmother's weekly dialysis sessions, helping organize the Philippine Urban Sketchers community, coordinating with various groups, attending events and writing for ARTBUZZ, keeping myself informed about what's happening around the world, and learning new things for work. QT is spent sketching, watching <i>Elementary</i>, reading, cuddling with cats and dogs, and of course, sleeping. I don't get to photograph things as much as before, which is meh, but the high cost (and hassle) of film developing and scanning here is downright frustrating.<br />
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I'm currently trying to get rid of a cold. Green tea+calamansi+honey, lots of tissue, paracetamol, and 1000mg of ascorbic acid. Damn virus crept up on me.<br />
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I'll really try to post more often, but first I have to re-learn to feel a sense of wonder in the mundane. Let's just see how it goes.</div>
laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-81235159009724994902014-11-10T09:48:00.000+08:002014-11-10T09:48:17.023+08:00ink and water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been using my pens more for sketching than writing, and I have quite a few go-to sketching tools that I seriously feel lost without. I lean towards using pens with permanent, waterproof ink because I like putting watercolor washes over <a href="http://laurenvillarama.blogspot.com/p/sketches.html">my sketches</a>. </div>
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Last Saturday I bought a bottle of Noodler's X-feather ink, something that's said to look great on any kind of paper. Feathering is a common problem when using fountain pens on paper, and this ink claims to be unaffected by that. It's also anti-forgery, but my signature isn't all that valuable, but okay. Now, X-feather is not at all waterproof, but I think it has its merits, sketching-wise.</div>
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After laying down some lines, you can get a waterbrush and put some shadows or grey tones over the sketch. I do this with my non-permanent ink brushpens, like the Akashiya:</div>
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and the Paintastics black brush pen, which turns purple when wet:</div>
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My other fountain pen inks are too light or too "watery" for sketching purposes, so I found this Noodler's ink really nice. It's good for times when I don't have time to put watercolors, or have no desire to bring colored pencils but still want to use my fountain pens and put some form of "color" in. And because I have a full bottle, I won't be using "I might use up all of my precious permanent ink" as an excuse for not practicing my line work with my fountain pens. </div>
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(My friend Ige lets me have some of his Noodler's Black waterproof ink, but I don't want to use up his stash and besides, I've been looking for ink that dilutes to grey this nicely.)</div>
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a shoe, a water tumbler, and my pen organizer. quick sketches!</div>
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The ink+water combo works best on watercolor paper, but can also be done on plain paper--just expect some bleed-through!</div>
laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-31216944033099943072014-11-05T19:39:00.001+08:002014-11-05T19:39:12.730+08:00Baguio, for a wee whileThe annual conference of the Anthropological Association of the Philippines brought me to Baguio this year. The conference starts on a Thursday but I was there starting Wednesday to help in the preparations. The last time I was in Baguio was March last year, when my trip buddies and I stopped over for a meal on our way to Sagada. I remember it was 3am and it was freezing. The last time before that was in 2009, for a training seminar.<br />
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I was supposed to go home on the Sunday after the conference, but felt compelled to stay another day. I found out there was going to be an art event that weekend and I wanted to check it out, plus I felt I just needed more time to myself, to re-explore, to sketch, and simply to spend a leisurely time on my own.<br />
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I walked a lot, took photos, sketched. I discovered new places and rediscovered old ones. I explored the market, walked to the bus terminal from the SLU guesthouse where I was staying and came back another way, stayed for a good while in Mt. Cloud bookshop, and walked some more.<br />
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On Saturday I was able to meet a couple of Baguio artists. We sketched and I encouraged them to be active in our Urban Sketchers group. I spent most of Sunday with a Baguio-based colleague who went with me to the art event, took me to the new art space along Assumption Road called Ili-likha (one of Kidlat Tahimik's projects), and also introduced me to perhaps the oldest bar along Session Road, Rumours. While walking to Cafe by the Ruins we saw a couple of German Shepherds, one of which was carrying a basket in its mouth, and in the basket was the cutest little Shih Tzu--or I think it was a Shih Tzu--trotting along their owner, perhaps on their way to Burnham Park for some treats from tourists. I wanted to stay longer, but had things to do back in Manila.<br />
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Brooms soon.</div>
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Passionfruit on the left, Spanish tomatoes on the right</div>
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I was told that the Buddhist temple in Baguio welcomes visitors--you just have to knock on the door. It's on my to-do list.</div>
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Kawayan de Guia's work for 'Markets of Resistance'</div>
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Artworks for barter. The concept was, instead of paying for an artwork with cash, you barter with items that the artist needs, such as food (rice, beans, coffee, etc.) and art materials (canvas, paint, textiles). I wanted the green tile on the far left and left my number, but the artist hasn't contacted me about what he wants to barter with. I was, however, contacted by someone else who also wanted one of the artist's tiles. :/</div>
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My colleague Hector (we were classmates in grad school) looking at artworks in one of the stalls.</div>
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I sketched and sketched. I'd like to believe I'm getting better at location sketching. :)</div>
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While waiting for my bus to call for boarding</div>
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The view from my seat, while waiting for the bus to leave the terminal. I really like how I did the water tank.</div>
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The scenes along the highway don't change much, so even if the bus was moving I was able to do some quick sketches.</div>
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A 15-minute stopover--the last one--let me do a quick sketch of a hut that sold <i>pasalubong</i>. I had to finish coloring in the bus.</div>
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One of the participants of the conference, during break time. We had rice cakes.</div>
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We stayed in the Saint Louis University guest house. </div>
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After checking out the stalls for 'Markets of Resistance', we made our way to Cafe by the Ruins for a light snack...</div>
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...and ginger tea with honey.</div>
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That night we headed to VOCAS and hung out the balcony...</div>
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...before heading to Ili-likha for vegetarian paella. I was able to cuddle this sweet cat.</div>
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Then suddenly it was Monday and I had to go home. Oh well, I thought, there's always a next time.</div>
<br />laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-10747936549234148272014-07-02T09:34:00.002+08:002014-07-02T09:41:10.285+08:00Siem Reap sketchesLast month, my mom, my sisters and I went to Siem Reap in Cambodia for some good ol' touristy stuff and girl bonding. We explored the Angkor Thom temple complex, took shelter in one of Ta Prohm's stupas when it rained, had our fill of buffet food, road a boat to a floating village, and saw Cambodian artisans hard at work.<br />
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We have more than 500 photos of the trip but I won't be putting them here (boo), as they're really very...touristy, and I've exhausted all my touristy energy when I uploaded them all on Facebook. <br />
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My film photos are taking such a long time to have processed now, for two reasons: one, I don't get to use up a roll as quickly as before; and two, ever since Digiprint has started closing its branches, I'm left with few choices. Go to Hidalgo to have it processed and scanned to CD, wait 1-3 hours (since I'm already there anyway, might as well wait), and pay a lot for one roll; go to TeamManila to have it processed and scanned by Digiprint, wait up to two weeks (!!!) for the CD and negatives, and pay around Php 500 for 4 rolls; or nothing. (Note: I used to pay *only* Php 250 for 5 rolls in Digiprint, and the CD would be delivered to me in 3 days' time.) Those are the two best choices I have at the moment. The last remaining Digiprint in the metro (that I'm aware of, at least), the one in Shang, is closed due to 'mall renovations'.<br />
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Really, you'd think that with the trend of 'going analogue' the hipster lifestyle has popularized, 'inexpensive' film labs would actually pop up here and there. But no. And right now there's nothing I can do about it.<br />
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Film photography frustrations aside, I decided to just make this post all about the sketches I made in Siem Reap. For a change. I wasn't able to sketch as much as I would like (it's really hard to sketch while walking around, getting herded by the guide around ancient temples), but I'm happy with what I was able to make. So without further blah, the sketches!<br />
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One of the concerns we had about our trip was "Would we be able to attend mass on Sunday?" Our flight was scheduled on Saturday night, and we didn't even know if there are Catholic churches around where we're going. Luckily for us, the NAIA Terminal 3 airport has an anticipated mass every Saturday at 5pm, thanks to the Our Lady of the Airways parish. We used to hear mass there before, when we had to pick up my mom from the airport.</div>
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After mass we went to have dinner in one of the airport's restaurants. Our budget flight offered nothing for free, so heavy meal it is. This guy was alone and looked like a regular brooder.</div>
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I get bored most when the plane is just sitting on the runway waiting for its go signal to start running--er, flying. Thanks to sketching, I had something to occupy myself with. And once I started, I couldn't stop.</div>
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I think it was a full moon when we left, and the night sky was beautiful with clouds and the moon shining over and through them. This was drawn shortly after takeoff; we turned around to our proper course and I didn't see the moon anymore.</div>
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I attempted to draw my mom while she slept during our flight. That's not really how her nose looks like--I blame turbulence.</div>
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Bayon Temple. I almost tripped on one of the stones while sketchwalking (literally) so I decided to keep my notebook for a while. "A while" turned into "the rest of the day."</div>
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The following day, I went down for breakfast early. There was a pool by the dining area, and it wasn't every day that I got to take my sweet time having 'breakfast by the pool', so there.</div>
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We would get to swim on our last day there. The pool allows swimming only after 10am, but since we would be leaving earlier, we asked the management if we could take a dip as early as 7am. They agreed! Thank you, Royal Angkor Hotel!</div>
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Monday morning was spent in a boat. We were heading to the Tonle Sap Lake to see the floating village. Muddy waters, but we could see people fishing with their nets. I was seated behind my sister. I really like the way I was able to draw the lifejacket, haha.</div>
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I do not know how to 'properly' draw water.</div>
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Along the side of the river are water level indicators. The area floods during rainy season, and our guide told us that when the water reaches a certain level, the residents evacuate but return to their houses (and their livelihood) when the flood subsides. "Like in the Philippines!" we chorus.</div>
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Back on dry land, lunch.</div>
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After lunch, we went to the Cultural Village, their version of the Nayong Pilipino. The village featured different kinds of performances, from dances to a wedding ceremony. The group that performed that day was amazing--they changed costumes so quickly, moved from theater to theater like the wind, and were tireless in their dances. </div>
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At the Khmer wedding show, a group of musicians.</div>
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This particular performer is what we call "makulit"--he connects to the audience really well, and is very funny. We were able to have a photo with him and some of the other male performers. </div>
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The 'house' over at the Chinese village. With bamboos, of course.</div>
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The most entertaining performance happened here, at the Kroeung Village. It was about choosing a husband. The cast was full of endearing and funny characters. And I suck at drawing people (moving ones at that), so house. And tree.</div>
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Never leave Cambodia without sketching a lotus, even if it's just the one on your breakfast table.</div>
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The sketch that I am proudest of is this one, the view from our hotel room. Proudest because I usually get bored drawing details (all those lines!) but I did my best, and there you go!</div>
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At the airport, preying on sleeping passengers.</div>
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To pass the time my sister read on her iPad; I sketched.</div>
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I was seated at the left aisle seat two rows behind. He was the only one I could comfortably see. For this sketch, I used the <a href="http://www.akashiya-fude.co.jp/en/050_product/koto.php" target="_blank">Akashiya Brush Pen Koto</a> that we bought at the mall. Nice gray when wet!</div>
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It was a short, but sweet trip. I keep saying this, and I do mean it: I plan to go back, maybe for a week. I can still work while there anyway. I'd like to go on a bike ride around town, to the temples, have a picnic under one of the trees, have tea in one of the local tea shops, have a taste of 'authentic' Cambodian food (no more buffets, please), learn a few more useful phrases, buy more brush pens, and make more sketches.</div>
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Gotta save up for next year, then.</div>
<br />laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-90386214372862292662014-06-09T06:28:00.001+08:002014-06-09T06:56:55.714+08:00sketching toolsI've been dabbling in sketching for the past four or so years now, accumulating all sorts of materials such as notebooks, pens, and watercolors. I had been trying to "discover" my own style and believe me when I say I've tried a lot. Like my handwriting, I don't think I will ever stick to just one style, and I realized that I just draw in the way and with the materials that strike my fancy at the moment.<br />
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Lately though, I've been feeling more comfortable with brush pens and watercolors: I make outlines with the brush and fill it in with various hues. Sometimes I use the waterbased paint brush, make outlines, and wet the outlines with the aquabrush. For figure drawing practice I sometimes use colored pencils because I don't have to worry about running out of ink. I have a lot to learn, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'm starting to like my drawings now, hahaha.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawn with a waterbased color brushpen (Paintastics black),<br />
washed with water to 'spread' some of the ink.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0WoZcGnFl0/U5Ol9BtKmLI/AAAAAAAAVpU/Llnw8yq4H6s/s1600/salcedo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0WoZcGnFl0/U5Ol9BtKmLI/AAAAAAAAVpU/Llnw8yq4H6s/s1600/salcedo3.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawn using a brush pen with permanent ink and Dong-A watercolors. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brush pen and watercolors</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My newly-customized go-to sketchkit for a trip. Unipin .3, black Paintastics brush pen, Chinese brush pen, Pentel aquabrush, Schneider Creactive calligraphy pen with 1.1 nib, and Faber-Castell watercolor pencils. The notebook is from Papemelroti; I've added watercolor paper to the brown craft paper. Not in photo: the Dong-A watercolor set.</td></tr>
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laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-18399875003340690882014-06-06T06:57:00.000+08:002014-06-06T10:55:23.452+08:00memories of first gradeMy niece is starting first grade in a few days, and I can't help but remember how I was back then.<br />
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My dad bought me a jacket from the nearby market. It was "reversible"--the first time I encountered that word, I believe--and it was light blue "outside", and checkered/plaid pink "inside". It was for the rainy days, he said.<br />
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It was a rainy day, a gloomy day when I got pulled out of class to be with a group of older students holding a couple of cartolinas (white? blue?) with some names written on them. "Just follow them and do what they do," said my adviser Sister Dolores, an elderly nun who had taught us the Litany by heart and had given each of us rosaries (I chose a beige-colored one, and it's still with me).<br />
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So I did, even though I didn't know what was happening. An older student "coached" me on what to say. Say for what, I wondered. I didn't ask; I didn't know these students and I was terribly shy.<br />
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Off we went to the next classroom. I think it was a fourth-grade class. Some of the older kids went in, and before I knew it, I was being pushed into the room in front of the whole class.<br />
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I just stood there.<br />
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"Say your name," the older kids whispered.<br />
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I couldn't. Some of the students smiled at me.<br />
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"I'mLaurenReginaSVillaramafromGradeOneCarmel." I couldn't say what I had to say next. I stuttered.<br />
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[Stuttering is something I do best when nervous, and sometimes even when I'm not. I stutter when handing my fare for a jeepney or shuttle ride. I stutter when asking drivers to stop. I stutter when asked to read in Filipino, where there are a lot of sentences starting in P, B, M, T, K, and A. I stutter when I'm telling a story and my brain works faster than my mouth. I stutter when calling my brother.]<br />
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Probably considering me a failure, they let the other students in one by one, who confidently did their spiels. It was something called a "campaign" and they wanted the other students to "vote" for them. I was to be their Grade One Representative, which I didn't understand.<br />
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They let me go back to my classroom. I don't remember much about what happened next, except that I was wearing my jacket and it was raining.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Grade One Class of Sister Dolores, 1991-1992. I'm the one with the pink(!) fluffy(!) headband, untamed bangs, and visible scapular. That's Sister Dolor</span><span style="font-size: small;">es in the green blouse; our school principal Sister Fidelis is the one at the left. (Our school was run by Carmelite Sisters, and everyone gets scapulars during the Feast of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rosary given by Sister Dolores.</span></td></tr>
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laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132166939096080482.post-11732704428303004422014-03-11T20:35:00.000+08:002014-03-11T20:35:42.779+08:0030th<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Thank you for all the love! :)</span></div>
laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02164149082450572561noreply@blogger.com0