Archive for January, 2008

Deciding on the Reception

January 29th, 2008

Since we started listing possible guests in the wedding, the list is growing exponentially. It somehow stabilized by now but still increasing albeit on a slower pace. We are thinking of scratching MSGCC since their package only accommodates 100 people. Any excess of 100 is counted on a per head basis. It will blow off our budget!

We have another place to look out for and a catering service that we want to get. Problem is trimming the list down to 150 (we currently have 179). The package for the catering is either for 100, 150 or 200 people. 179 guests is a bit odd. We’ll either trim it down or bump it up to 200.

Photographer. Done.

January 27th, 2008

I just have to pay Chito Vecina his 10k reservation fee when I return to the Philippines this first week of February.

His work is great and exudes glow and warmness. Not to mention the candidness and “unstiffiness” we are looking for.

Pylon Lookout

January 25th, 2008

When I was in Sydney, Pen brought me to the Pylon Lookout. It is that tower beside the majestic Harbour Bridge where you could get a good vantage view of the Opera House and Circular Quay.

You could see the Opera House from a bird’s eye view perspective. There are ferries and speedboats passing by which added to the lake’s activities.
Pylon Lookout

The Harbour Bridge behind us. That is where we traversed it when we did the climb.
Pylon Lookout

Pen taking pictures of the Harbour Bridge.
Pylon Lookout

Pen holding the big camera while I take a picture of us
Pylon Lookout

View from the top. Below us is the freeway and railroads for the trains.
Pylon Lookout

Aussie Open 2008

January 25th, 2008

First Roddick. Then Nadal. Now, Federer. Their candles blown out in the year’s first grandslam.

While in lament for the losses of my favorite stars, here’s a high-speed camera compilation shown in Channel 7 for the sports event, featuring these stars and more.

Thanks to dotsgraphic for the share.

Hunting for a good photographer

January 24th, 2008

The only thing that I would like to have in my wedding is a good photographer.
Now that Mimi & Karl and redmango are not available anymore, choosing from the rest is pretty much hard.
Apparently, 1 year of advance booking is not enough to avail their services.

It just saddens me not to get them.

Proposal received from MSGCC

January 24th, 2008

MSGCC stands for Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.
They cover flowers, food, cake, music/light systems, and some other extras.
So what’s left for us to do is to agree and pay 50%.
Thinking caps on.

Reception venue.

January 23rd, 2008

The Manila Southwoods has yet to send their proposal, but it looks like we have this place down for the 27th. No confirmation yet, but things are looking good.

One remarkable detail is to have Dassy (dont know her married last name) a former classmate from San Agustin, working for the club! Hope she can help us finalise things and to sort of tweak some details as well… Hope hope hope!

Violins for walking down that aisle

January 23rd, 2008

Contemplating whether to avail services of string band Muzette Ensemble for church. Their services are quite inexpensive.

Dinner and Dancing

January 23rd, 2008

Jill is a Laguna-based band, currently an option for band music during our reception.

Perth, Australia

January 23rd, 2008

Since I came in and out from Perth going to Sydney, it follows that I have a Perth-stamp in my passport. No proof that I was in Sydney. :(

Perth International Airport

Perth International Airport is nice but not that nice compared to Sydney’s. Singapore still tops the list and NAIA is waaaay below. Even our Centennial Airport is worse than Perth’s Domestic Airport and Singapore’s Budget Terminal.

Perth International Airport

Anyway, when I was in Perth, I thought I had 2 hours to kill for my flight. So I went around and took some photos. Little did I know that Perth is on daylight saving time! So when checked in I was thinking I still have about 1 and a half hour wait inside. In reality, half hour na lang pala, lilipad na yung plane ko!

Buti lang talaga at na-bore na kong mag-kukuha ng pictures at nag-check in na ako. Kung hindi, maiiwan ako ng plane.

I flew with Qantas. The Aussie airline.
Qantas

It was an enjoyable experience. Nakaka-bore lang talaga ang long flights. Food was good and I drank so many drinks (juices mostly) kaya wiwi ako ng wiwi. The flight from SG-Perth and Perth-SG has a personal entertainment system. You can choose your own channel to watch. Yung sa Perth-Syd and Syd-Perth, isang projector lang sa middle aisle, eh nasa likuran pa ko nakaupo kaya medyo hassle manood.

Qantas
I rode an Airbus 320 and Boeing 767. Yung A320 ay 2-4-2 yung seat arrangement,yung sa B767 ay 2-3-2 yung seat arrangement. Or is it the other way around? I can’t remember properly.

I also had an Amazing Race Experience during my first flight to Perth. My Singapore-Perth leg was delayed for almost 3hours! My Perth-Sydney leg on the other hand was on time. So I had to run from check-in counter in Perth to the plane’s door! I was even told to give my luggage directly to the conveyor belt otherwise it will be left behind.

Thoughts aside

The travel lodge is specifically designed for the travelers who want to get shelter for a while. The reservation of hotels is charged variedly according to the standard of different locations and hotels. The cheap flights are managed by the different travel agencies who have direct contacts with the different airlines. The car rental services are offered in the discounted rates by the different car rental service providers. The luxurious cruises are available in the discounted rates for the vacationers who want to enjoy cruise trips.

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