My Love For Ghost Adventures

It all started when my husband got hospitalized mid of last year. At home, we don't watch t.v as much. But we do have our favorite shows. Aside from watching news and documentaries, we stick with specific channels that air our shows. Other than that, the rest what cable t.v can give is history. At the hospital, my husband discovered a t.v show/ documentary on haunted places in America. We really didn't know anything about the show, it's history and how it started. Everyday, it was shown on AXN Beyond around 1 o'clock in the afternoon. For the first 3 days, we looked forward to an afternoon as we enjoy our lunch while watching Ghost Adventures.

After discovering Ghost Adventures, I went online and researched on this documentary. Ghost Adventures is made up of 3 individuals, namely:

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Zak Bagans- the lead investigator and host

Nick Groff - co-investigator and cameraman

Aaron Goodwin- equipment technician/ cameraman

They investigate locations that are reported to be haunted, hoping to find and document actual paranormal activities. It all started with Zak's life- changing experience with a lady ghost in Michigan. For every episode, a short story is told to give viewers the moving factor for every investigation made.

"My name is Zak Bagans. I never believed in ghosts until I came face to face with one. So I set out on a quest to capture what I once saw onto video. With no big camera crews following us around, I am joined only by my fellow investigator Nick Groff and our equipment tech Aaron Goodwin. The three of us will travel to some of the most highly active paranormal locations, where we will spend an entire night, being locked down from dusk until dawn. Raw; extreme; these are our Ghost Adventures."

On our third day in the hospital, they started airing re-runs of Ghost Adventures. We thought that they might have shown all the episodes and now, they're preparing for the new ones. So I went online again and searched for more episodes. Gladly, Ghost Adventures had over 3 Seasons and Season 4 was about to be shown in just a few weeks. To make the long story short, knowing that we have 3 seasons to feed our eyes and boggle our minds with, made it more exciting. Ghost Adventures became a nightly routine on Youtube. Our hospital stay became more pleasant, my husband got out of his bed. 

We were able to finish all 3 seasons via Youtube. Then last September, Season 4 started. Since it's the latest season, it's expected that it's going to be shown here in the Philippines maybe after a year or maybe not at all. Again, we relied on Youtube. 

Since then, Saturday night, has been our Ghost Adventures night. Believe it or not, Ghost Adventures replaced World of Warcraft Saturday.

Why we love Ghost Adventures:

The fact that these guys doesn't have "the gift" which they call the "sixth sense", made us love this show. We are basically watching 3 average individuals. Like us,  there are times when we just want to go ghost hunting, find answers by unveiling history itself and document it at the same time.  I grew up in an old house known to be haunted in our community. My grandparents owns this house, and there were sightings all the time. Even up to now. Well, that's why we know it's real because we would, or I would probably react exactly like how these guys from Ghost Adventures are taking the sudden sounds they hear, shadows and cold shivers. 

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A regular Joe would probably be in shock for a few seconds after seeing something, then after, that's the time he'll be able to put things together. Some would rather run away from whatever entity awaits them at the end of the hall. The approach is very realistic. They get results without mixing too much science and religion and that makes Ghost Adventures believable. The natural movement throughout the investigation makes it real.

It would be an honor and quite a memory to be able to meet and greet Zak, Nick and Aaron and to experience a lock down with them is going to be the highlight. But... It would truly be an unforgettable experience if you guys visit Asia. Please do, pretty please, please...

More on Ghost Adventures at: travelchannel.com

Where Did Coco Come From?

We bought Coco from Match Maker Pet Shop Pet Village, Tiendesitas. The Pet Village at Tiendesitas is one of the most trusted. In terms of breed, papers, and simply getting advises from expert breeders, pet owners and veterinarians. Coco's package came with the Vaccination Record and certificate Certified Pedigree,  Registration Certificate from the Asian Kennel Club Union of the Philippines Inc. Today, we visited his official Veterinarian. Well, the clinic is near our place and we've been reading good reviews about this pet clinic.

Here are some facts on Beagles:
*A Beagle is a small to medium sized dog. 

*Beagles are intelligent, and are popular as pets because of their size, even temper, and lack of inherited health problems. 

*The Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Described in several breed standards as "merry", they are amiable and generally neither aggressive nor timid.-source-

Our Beagle came from the two- color variety, white and chocolate. His name Coco was derived from  Cocoa, because of his color similar of the Cocoa Powder. Coco is the perfect dog for the family. It brought so much positive energy around the house. Of course, I take care of his toilet needs too. But we're at the process of potty- training using doggie training pads. He has his small cage (inside the house), he has his own pillow and toys.  I know it's like taking care of a little child, but it's still different. That what makes Beagles lovable, they don't pull too much pressure from their masters.

Coco is a 4 month old male Beagle pup. It's best to get a puppy than a fully- grown dog. This way, you will be able to train it well, the pet will not have a hard time adjusting to his new home and owner. His activities everyday is compose of eating, sleeping and playing.

In terms of being playful, he's one sneaky little angel.  We love it everytime he runs away with our stuff, and he loves it, when we run after him. We like to cuddle with him while watching television too. It's all fun with Coco. We bring him anywhere. Of course places where pets are allowed. Here in the Philippines, we already have several malls that allow pets. Eastwood Mall, The Mall of Asia, Greenhills, Tiendesitas, High Street Fort Bonifacio. A walk in the park is a healthy way of taking care of a pup too.

Having a pet requires great responsibility  and training. Based on our experience and considering that Coco as our first, we relied so much on the instructions of the breeder. FYI: some breeders also look at clients if they're capable on taking care of pets. It is very, very important to gauge one's self for this task because these are living things we're talking about. On a lighter side, Coco's Veterinarian was gracious to provide us with more information and practical ways when it comes to health and maintenance. Will post about it soon...

Meet Coco

Here's the most adorable surprise my husband has ever given me and our little boy.

One Sunday, my husband told me to go early to my parent's place and he'll just follow for our Sunday Family dinner. I didn't know that he went to buy this adorable Beagle. It's took us 3 years to decide which pet to have. For a time, we wanted a Black Labrador, but we thought of the maintenance and we might not cope with the needs of a big dog. Our second choice was a Pug. Last December, we almost had one. But with further research made, a pug needs so much pampering and attention and we want a low maintenance pet. And just beside the pug we almost bought, was a Beagle.

Everyone, meet Coco.

 Consider Coco as family. More Coco entries on this blog. Have a great weekend everyone!

The Trophy Around My Neck

We all have this urge to upgrade our gadgets right? I mean, one day I dreamed of having it, then the next  thing I want is an upgrade, since the newer ones offer a more advance feature. In my case, I wanted an upgrade because I believe that I've maximized my camera's use, and I now "need" to go beyond that. It took me 2 years to put my Canon EOS to a good use. Make that 3 years this 2011. I started with studying the manual, taking online lessons not only on photography, but also on how to maximize my camera's features. I own a Canon EOS 1000d. It is a good entry level camera and at the same time, it is not too heavy for the pocket. It's small, light and it gives quality images, especially if you go beyond AF.

I wanted a dslr because I got bored with my digital camera. I want  to have better looking photographs. Sharper images, brighter pictures, lesser disappointments on a poorly lighted venue. And the beauty of slrs is the capability of  it to change lenses, which aids on capturing remarkable images. I do have my favorites when it comes to lenses. One is my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 which is perfect for my love of portraiture, and I also love Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD lens (cheaper) which is the close equivalent of the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM lens. Just the other night, I was talking to my husband about the thought that I wanted an upgrade for my camera. Of course, my first dslr should stay. I'm not going to sell it. Then he told me, "yeah I think you need to move forward"... but then again "do you really need it right now?" It was the right question to ask.

Here's the hard part for me.

1. Some say, that my Canon EOS is good for a hobbyist like me, it's the lenses that I need to invest on. 

2. Some say, to study photography first then buy the right camera. 

3. Some say, upgrade the camera first, then study advance photography in order to maximize it right there and then.

I'm a stay at home mom, my only career is to take care of my family, I want to study photography but I don't have the time. Yes, it is a big investment. Do I need an upgrade? I believe so. A good point was made in one of my photography readings and I like to share it with you. The message was something like this: one must always put in mind that a dslr is not a trophy you hang around your neck for display. There's a very good reason why you got that trophy.  Make the most out of it. 

Let me put it this way, 2 years ago, all I wanted was a better camera "an upgrade".  It was just "a trophy",  a dream fulfilled. Until... I started enjoying and embracing what this gadget can do. Sure, a digital camera is enough once you have an eye for photography. But the truth behind everything, a dslr can really give amazing pictures whether you have the "eye for photography" or not. That's why everybody wants to have one. It pushed me to be creative. It brought out the best in me, quite a discovery I must say. It made my imagination more colorful and made my brain work harder. For me, these are the reasons, or lets say purposes why this trophy "was given" to me...

Let me cut it here... because throughout the time I'm making this post, I've reached a decision. 

I'm sticking with #1: My Canon EOS is good for a hobbyist like me, it's the lenses that I need to invest on. But for now, I think I have the lenses that I need. Will research further for the next one. I know that even an upgrade is going to be worth it. It's just a matter of time.


Case closed. I knew it! sharing a blog about it will help me. Hay... the wonderful things blogging can do...

A Cool and Sunny Afternoon at the Cliff House Tagaytay

It was the place to spend time with family... Our Cliff House stay was one of our relaxing trips in Tagaytay. As much as possible, if given the time, we always go on a quick break and head for Tagaytay City.

Tagaytay is one of the nearest destinations in Manila that gives an instant relaxing vibe. Third day of our new year, we decided to spend our cool and sunny afternoon at The Cliff House.

At the Cliff House, I found 3 of the most loved gifts of nature...

bush of hydrangreas

This is a common plant that everyone in the family loves.

Fresh Herbs

 I found a garden of Rosemary

 A view of the peaceful 

Taal Volcano...

The sun's out, the breeze was very cool, there weren't much people around... The smell of Christmas was still in the air, we enjoyed good food at Café Breton and dessert with Mochiko. I took advantage of the silence that embraced our Monday afternoon and released whatever was inside my mind. For me, days spent as peaceful as this is a blossoming opportunity to examine one's self again.
This experience was indeed a sign that it is going to be a fantastic year for everyone.

* The Cliff House is located along General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway Tagaytay City.

TRON On IMAX

TRON was the perfect movie to watch on IMAX. The Walt Disney Castle that's always shown before a movie was made digital to match the artistic world of TRON. It is indeed the spectacular 3-D movie of the year. TRON left me breathless.

TRON is a sci-fi film that goes around the story of Sam Flynn son of the missing virtual world designer. 20 years went by and a message from an old pager was sent to his father's friend. Through this message, Sam went back to his father's old arcade and discovered a secret room that has a system ready to be launched. Sam tried to access the computer and without any clue, activated the very same machine that brought his dfather into the world of TRON. The story concentrated inside The Grid which Sam's father has created and improved with the help of Clu and Tron (which are 2 important characters).

Kevin Flynn: The Grid. A digital frontier. I tried to picture clusters of information as they moved through the computer. What did they look like? Ships, motorcycles? Were the circuits like freeways? I kept dreaming of a world I thought I'd never see. And then, one day...

As for me and my family, we had a blast watching the flick on IMAX. It's best to watch these kinds of movies on IMAX. It's an action packed movie which was digitally perfected. And of course we had free popcorn. We really waited for my husband's birthday to make our TRON experience extra special.