Singapore - Weekend Snapshot

The Singapore Flyer, drive by shot.

Dr. Jose Rizal once said  "Ang hindi lumingon sa pinaggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan." (He who does not look back at where he came from will not reach his destination.) Reason why I thought it important that my kids learn about their paternal grandfather's (and aunts) as well as their dad's second home, Singapore. It was also to somehow help me and my mom feel better about the loss of my dad. We did enjoy our trip then though I forgot to take a photo of sis in law. :D

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Outside Vivo City, biggest (or one of) shopping malls in Singapore.

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By Images of Singapore near the Sky Tower, Sentosa.

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Butterfly Park....actually where the birds are.

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Looking at cable cars.

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Merlion at Night.

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Random - Weekend Snapshot

This sky shot was taken sometime in the middle of the week. Friday and Saturday were rainy days so there wasn't much to do but stay home. Hubby played a lot that time...Guitar Hero, and a couple more games (rainbow six I think and another one I didn't bother  to ask the title of, I just don't like games with too much blood).

The kids played Mario games in their room instead...since I do not allow them to watch too much bloodshed games...I on the other hand finished some opps (yes, trying to raise some funds hehe!).  Cooking most of the time but unfortunately not able to study for the exams. I finished school and now I need to take the test on Wednesday, good thing tomorrow and tuesday are holidays.

At home, I asked dawty to try on the strappy sandals I bought her last year, they were still big then but now they fit her perfectly. You can see this same pair on my other blog's header. We're having too much debates over shoes, dresses and socks. She likes wearing socks with whatever shoes she wears and its a mismatch of course! She even wear socks while sleeping and it does irk me because its too hot, she wouldn't even listen if I tell her that it will make her feet sweaty and smelly...sturkopf (stubborn) I would say! She's starting to dislike wearing dresses too and nicey shoes like that...

Meanwhile the little boy enjoyed playing with wooden puzzles, their Oma brought when she came. He was so ecstatic about these and about the cheese that the Oma brought too. Below photo was taken at breakfast, he was munchin on nothing but cheese and was so happy about it. If asked if he likes the cheese he would enthusiastically answer, "Hmmm yummy! Käse käse  käse!" while jumping.

So how's your weekend? Hope you enjoyed it too!

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Playground Fun Sun - Weekend Snapshot

I somehow haven't noticed that I have been posting photos only of my kids for Weekend Snapshot whereas before I post photos of scenes and places around the city. A proud mama, am I not?

We can now officially wear tshirts outside, the sun has been shining upto 23°C and the wind is just right, my ideal weather so to say. The playgrounds, even basketball courts and football feilds which are abundunt in the neighborhood are filled with kids and parents alike. Even the lake (Danube) was filled with picknickers!

Might as well go picknicking and sunbathing soon! :)




Below, my 3 kiddos during our observance of the Memorial of Jesus' death last Thursday.

Enjoy the week!

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Some food and rides - Weekend Snapshot

The kids can't help goofing around...even while in the train, the passengers don't mind anyway, as a matter of fact, they were smiling at the antics of the kiddos. I think the people here are nicest to kids (mostly), - there'd be a handful of oldies who act otherwise. One of which I bitterly blogged about before...

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Big mistake for giving me free buffet food! lol. True though, we do not pay for the little boy when eating, sometimes we get discounts but most of the time he's free. That's because he was 2 years old then, too bad they didn't know that he has an appetite of an adult! ;-) We were in a running sushi restaurant and he ate with much gusto!

Enjoy the week!

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Run! - Weekend Snapshot

Fridays for the kids are always lax days, since Saturday means they can sleep longer and play more. We planned to visit the Haus des Meeres on Saturday but were stuck at home instead.

The weather was really beautiful on Saturday but Sunday was gloomy and rainy, hopefully over the week we won't be needing the heavy jackets anymore.

Enjoy the week!

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Weekend Snapshot - Duckies

“To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also.”

-Igor Stravinsky quotes

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Wonder what's the quack about... :D

Enjoy the week!

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Weekend Snapshot - Stadtpark

Strolling on a rainy day, I realized there won't be much people around...but since it was still a weekday (friday), only tourists abound at the Stadpark. Speaking of tourists, I had to wait for a group to finish their photo opp before Johann Strauß' statue there.

I managed to get one without the 'extras' but before I did, the woman in the photo below suddenly hold me by my arm and pointed to the man in front of us...I just smiled awkwardly...hoping that that photo wouldn't end up in her blog! lol. I learned from their companion (the woman doesn't speak English or German) that they are tourists from Albania.

Strauß' statue stands out from the gray arch and the sky itself...

Enjoy the coming week!

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Silver Buffalo Berry

The toughest berries around...Ideal cover and nesting site for many birds. Preferred food source of many songbirds and sharptail grouse. Good late winter food source for birds.

I miss macrography so much...I haven't done in much this winter and also not when I got a new apparat, it was easier to take shots with point and shoot camera I say. This is one of the very few shots I took with the new cam.

Here's hoping for spring and all the blossoms to come, although I know allergies would be inevitable too!

Enjoy the coming week!

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Weekend Snapshot - Rails

These were taken at the U6 train station Gumpendorferstrasse, 15th district of Vienna.

This is one of the older stations that were built in Vienna dating as far back as 1898. The structure and architecture does spell ancient but this does add to the character of this train stop.

Last year, it underwent renovation as some of the stations too, the newly painted walls unfortunately became target for shoe graffiti.

Enjoy the coming week!

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Weekend Snapshot(s) - Snow Fun

It snowed but the sun was shining so its the perfect time for snow fun! The playground opposite our building was the perfect spot to 'sled' or 'snowboard' lol.

That's little boy waiting for his stomach-turning slide down the slope.



Going up! To slide down again.

Also the best time to build a snowman!

Enjoy the coming week!

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Weekend Snapshot - Pallas Athena

The tram passed by the Austrian Parliament building so I took the chance to snap the giant statue of Pallas Athena, unknowingly with the man included.

Going further by foot, I photographed a lot of interesting people, some saw me aiming the camera and stared, others looked away. This man would top my list of being the most interesting, his expression though tells otherwise.

Enjoy the coming week!

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Weekend Snapshot - Under Construction

The Rathaus is the City Hall of Vienna which serves as the seat both of the mayor and city council. It was designed (Gothic) by Friedrich von Schmidt and built between 1872 and 1883. The structure is built on #1 Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz, the street named after the designer. The Rathaus can be found on the other side crossing from the Parliament building.

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We went there for a skate because every winter the front lawn is turned into a big iceskating rink (Wiener Eistraum/Viennese Icedream), unfortunately, we were too early as it is still being constructed.

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Weekend Snapshot - Zukunft

I am uploading the photo now and would write something later lol.

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Weekend Snapshot - Facade

This beautiful building has piqued my curiosity ever since I first noticed it. For years, I have wondered what its purpose is as it does look like a castle in front of a river, it can be seen as the tram we board home passes by.

Never judge a book by its cover, as the cliche goes...in this case, never let the appearance fool you! For this building, so grand and picturesque, was supposedly a prison turned into Austria's Ministry of National Defense Office. Currently under the command of Minister Norbert Darabos, the Armed Forces are engaged into national and international peace-keeping operations and humanitarian missions.

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I could only imagine how nice and comfortable the lives of the prisoners would be in this kind of institution. I remember during Sociology class that we once visited the Bilibid prison (Muntinlupa, Philippines) and it was a very different sight in terms of building architecture and perhaps the interior too, as well as the program and routine of internees. I believe the only 'good-looking' sight then was Robin Padilla...lol.

Have a nice and enjoyable week everyone!

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Weekend Snapshot - Spotless!

One thing I like about Vienna's cleaners is how they maintain the city's main streets and shopping district spotless. Admittedly, I am biased when comparing my 'home' to other cities I've been too...reasonably too because I've really seen how different it is...The city cleaners here (big vacuum cleaner-like machines) do their rounds on particular times of the day.

It is the same in the compound where we live every morning, we have a Hausmeister who is responsible for keeping all floors of the buildings clean...the yard, tidy and the rags free of cigarette butts. An extra effort too to clean the elevators, washing room and bicycle/stroller rooms. How clean is your city, are you satisfied?

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Weekend Snapshot - Reflections

Reflecting on this year is not so difficult, it was a chaotic one for me, despite the laughs, fond memories and new friendships I gained. Chaotic in the spiritual sense, I was too busy about so many things, I got sick most of the time, even my bigger boy has had visits at the hospital and with the little girl going to school, it has (unwillingly) took a backseat....which is not so much a good thing.

I just felt empty...I know what I had to do yet I didn't...

(P.S. Photo was taken at McDonald's when I dined out with my bigger boy, another kid left it there while he and his mom ate.)

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