Merry Iggy Visits Chocolate World

Two weeks ago, Merry Iggy visited Hershey's Chocolate World (PA). Merry Iggy knows Kayni is a sweet tooth, so while Kayni ate chocolates, Merry Iggy posed for the cameras.

Enjoying the company of Kisses.

Merry Iggy looks so small beside the World's Largest Hershey Bar.

Beside World's Largest Twizzlers.

Beside the 1 LB Reese's.

Lots of kisses from the Largest Kiss.

Of course, Merry Iggy and Kayni went chocolate shopping afterwards.

Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark

Holy Week in Miss Iggy's homeland, the Philippines, would include the Catholic tradition of going to different churches for prayer, a Lenten pilgrimage usually done on Good Friday or within Holy Week. This is known as "Visita Iglesia," or Church Visit. Miss Iggy had the opportunity to visit one landmark of a cathedral in Newark, New Jersey: the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacret Heart--right in the heart of the city of Newark.

Built in 1899, this majestic monument of Catholic faith for New Jersey folk was designated as an historic landmark by the New Jersey Historical Society in December 1974. Two years later, it was recognized nationally as a National Historic Site.

Miss Iggy wishes everyone a solemn Holy Week and an Egg-citing Easter Celebration!

miss iggy at casamata hill, bangued, abra

miss iggy took in the sights of the town of bangued in abra, cordillera province, philippines from her viewing post up at casamata hill national park. casamata hill offers a panoramic view of the town and a glimpse of the abra river by the mountainside. also popular as a picnic area and a rendezvous point for lovers, casamata hill also boasts of the shrine of Mary and the Infant Jesus (Our Lady of Peace and Victory/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary) for the devout believers.

for more places to see in bangued, kindly visit this site, lovingly put up by a team of true-blue banguedenios.

Vienna Vixen Iggy walks around town

For the Miss Iggy photo walk on April 2, Vienna Vixen Iggy (a.k.a. Euro Iggy) armed herself with the Diana Mini camera and explored an area in Vienna's 2nd district.

Taking the U1 subway line, Miss Iggy got off at the Nestroyplatz
station.This station has been operating since 1979.

Not only did Miss Iggy enjoy the beautiful Spring day because of
the warm weather, but also because of the beautiful blooms and
cherry blossoms around the city!

She marveled at the beautiful old buildings in the area

Miss Iggy wasn't the only one enjoying the sunshine. She found
some bike enthusiasts testing bikes in front of a bicycle store.

Contributing to the relaxed vibe of the area are the many benches
around. Miss Iggy liked these ones at the actual Nestroyplatz.
There's a drinking fountain and a statue of Johann Nestroy facing them.

Miss Iggy and Mister Johann Nestroy, an Austrian author and comedian.

The old buildings made the street look like a period movie set!

Miss Iggy was amazed to find out that Theater Nestroyhof is more
than 100 years old.

Adding to the retro charm were closed/abandoned stores like this.

Closed laundry shop

Leopoldskirche

Bull's eye

Hipster glasses

Sandy Iggy loves Corniche

Sandy Iggy avoids the outdoors lately because of the occasional sandstorm in the UAE. That's a signos that summer is approaching. While it doesn't hurt that much like in its neighbouring countries, it is best to always be armed by sunglasses and other protection. But Sandy Iggy misses the Corniche already. Gladly, the weather cooperated and granted that one fine day for the photowalk with her sisters.

Corniche is a favorite of those who are fond of solitary and joint walks anytime of the day. At the back is one of the usual informational campaigns about the activities happening in Abu Dhabi. Surprisingly, it has no English translation. We've gotten used to seeing documentation of almost everything in Arabic with an automatic translation, side by side. (Even the subtitles in the cinemas which come in Arabic and French for English movies.)

(That interesting architecture is a restroom.)

There are not too many billboards (yet) in the emirate. They normally pertain to government project announcements and information related to the royal family. That corner as you see in the photo is reserved for the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, the first  president of the UAE. (Even non-Emiratis regard him highly because of  his selfless approach to governance in the past, even before and after the discovery of oil in the UAE.) Lately, the shift to billboard advertising seems to have started and so far being tolerated by the government.

This fountain area is actually a part of the underpass. I haven't tried going down though.

The tourists doing a whirlwind trip in Abu Dhabi frequent this side of the Corniche because it is near to the Heritage Village, Marina Mall, and Emirates Palace.

That's the skyline of downtown Abu Dhabi.

That's a distinct roofing style of the restaurants near the beach.  And ooops, Sandy Iggy had to stop. A young lady wanted to give her a flower.

Sandy Iggy posed by the Corniche Beach. The flower came in perfect timing.

On her way out, she was startled... ran... and climbed! There was a barker!

Doggie: Sorry, I scared you. I wanted to know if you're human or not.

Sandy Iggy: Have you not met a doll before?

Doggie: I had. But I got confused because you have a baby. I didn't know dolls can have babies. 

Sandy Iggy: Hahahaha! Of course, that's possible. 

After an interesting conversation, she found herself laying on the bed of... flowers. Errr, Sandy Iggy is not sure what kind of flowers are these.

There is an abundance of not so familiar flowers in the UAE. But these are not homegrown.

(That's Emirates Palace at the back where Sandy Iggy must head next. Captured, too, were those fishing and crabbing.)

The government has allocated funds for the maintenance of these plant/flower boxes. It is interesting to note that the flowers being planted change quarterly. Sandy Iggy cannot help but think of the balance in God's provisions. The well of oil and flowers don't come in one place. Life becomes more beautiful because we all need each other.

miss iggy grows a moustache, joins a picnic at the park

With classes over (yay!), Schoolgirl Iggy went with some film photography-loving friends to the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City for a potluck picnic party and a fake moustache-themed photoshoot.  She hoped that the park would be more accessible than during Miss Iggy's previous visit in June last year.  She needn't have worried because luck was on her side--the park was open, the sky was bright, the wind blew a cool breeze, and her friends were there waiting with lots of delicious treats!

 

It was also the weekend that the Miss Iggy sisterhood would be taking a photowalk and shooting in film, and so Schoolgirl Iggy was so excited to have her photos taken with Lauren's Diana Mini and Nikon F80 cameras.

 

 Schoolgirl Iggy's contribution to the feast was a big pack of biscocho--crisp and crunchy bread topped with butter and sugar.  It went well with the pasta!

Hey look who has a moustache!

They had spaghetti, sweet corn, munchkins (donut holes!), iced tea, cake, and baby potato salad.

Bon apetit!

*BURP*  Schoolgirl Iggy was so full--but the party was just starting!  It was now time to show off their makeup moustaches!

 Such fine-lookin' ladies!

 What a handsome couple!

 My, what a big mouth you have, señor!

 She had on a sequined moustache--classy!

Schoolgirl Iggy had fun watching them take funny pictures of each other.

 

 

When the moustached hilarity died down, they decided to go to the lagoon.  It was full of aquatic plants.

 

 The view was really beautiful!

Miss Iggy also posed with all kinds of film cameras!

A Yashica rangefinder (the owner was kind enough to let Miss Iggy have her own!)

A Lomography Colorsplash camera and a Gakkenflex TLR

The four-lensed Actionsampler and a personalized Red Holga

 A blue Blackbird, fly and a Lomography Horizon Kompakt, which can shoot a cool panorama

 Miss Iggy is the best!

 The photographers liked Miss Iggy so much,

they requested to have pictures taken with her.

 

 She felt like a star!

Ooooh, a Polaroid!  Miss Iggy was very curious about it, so..

  she had her Polaroid taken with her friends (that's Lauren with the glasses!).

 

"Be careful, Miss Iggy!" Lauren exclaimed when she climbed a tree to enjoy the view of the park.  She was an expert in climbing, of course!

 

 

 And this is what Miss Iggy advises everyone, in support of the Prophecies of the Analogue Future.

 

 It is always important to take a breather and appreciate nature.

 Hey!  Miss Iggy and Lauren won a postcard in the picnic's raffle!  It says:

"Expect the unexpected and the excitement of experiment."  Cool! 

 

 Schoolgirl Iggy and Diana Mini

 film cameras lined up, along with posters of the Prophecies of the Analogue Future.

 

 

 

The park is one of the best places to relax in (next to her cool mountain home, she thinks).  Schoolgirl Iggy is looking forward to her next day out with friends!