Merry Iggy Visits Germany

Merry Iggy accompanied Kayni on her Baltic trip. Merry Iggy and Kayni really enjoyed Germany and here are some postcards:

 Merry Iggy took a photo at the marker of the Berlin Wall. Actually, another girl got intrigued with Merry Iggy and she asked if she could take a photo of her as well.

 We strolled around the Brandenburg Gate.

We found the simple Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam very picturesque.

The Sanssouci Palace was quiet and suitable for an afternoon relaxation.

 Posing at Sanssouci Palace grounds.

 Enjoyed the Baltic breeze at the resort town of Warnemunde.

And, marveled at the Berlin Wall's history and art.

Miss Iggy at a Theatre of Happily Ever Afters

Miss Iggy went on a photowalk right in her Jersey neighborhood last month. Her subject was this eye-catching theatre building which looks like a structure from a pop-up story book! She was excited to use her brand-new Diana Mini camera for the first time, too!

Bell and Barter is a non-profit corporation dedicated to theater arts aimed at acting for children. It's been around since 1972!

Miss Iggy recognized the characters gracing the theatre's walls!

She's a fan of Peter Pan! 

Purple is the dominant color in the building...even on the pathways and stairs!

Once upon a time, Miss Iggy stumbled upon a temple of performing arts. With her new Diana Mini, she snapped away happily ever after!

Las Fallas Weekend in Valencia

Que divertido!

Fondly referred to as the place where Paella originated, Valencia is also known for its annual Las Fallas Festival. Miss Iggy partied day and night (and by the sound of mascletas (fireworks) at 2pm and 2am everyday, who wouldn't?  it's literally a whole 24 hour affair), sight seeing and going to the beach during day time and watching parades (and more fireworks) at night.

Cuidad de las artes y las ciencias, by Valencia's native son
 (and world renowed architect/ structural engineer/ sculptor) Santiago de Calatrava.

Miss Iggy inside La Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO world heritage site

The streets of Valencia were filled by revelers and these bigger than life Ninots (pictured below are the adult category Ninots. there are also smaller Ninots, or Ninot le Petit  under the children's category).  Almost all districts participate in creating these different master pieces that will (wait for it...) have to be collected, displayed in Plaza de Ayuntamiento and burnt at the end of the festival (if it will make you feel better, one ninot from each category will be spared/preserved, to be kept in the Museo de Fallas). The burning process, called La Crema finalises the entire celebration, symbolising the end of winter and a start to a new beginning.

Ninot construction almost done at L'Antigua. 

ishdatyou, lolo? :)

the Falleras, young women and children from the community they represent, were like the 'muses' of the Ninots.
I think we've solved the Princess Leia mystery.

Paella country. 

We were walking around in this area, only to find out that we've chanced upon the Annual MTV Winter Festival. Miss Iggy's baby sister Mari (yes, that small child she's carrying has a name) almost jumped for joy (see picture) upon hearing the artist lineup: Sum 41, My Chemical Romance, Orbital, Groove Armada. Yay, we super love Valencia na. :)

Feeling a bit of Fallas--er mascleta burn out, Miss Iggy thought a little sun at the beach wouldn't hurt.
Especially if it's the Mediterranean. 

Marhaba from Abu Dhabi!

Marhaba (that's Hello in Arabic) to everyone especially to the sisterhood! Miss Iggy has finally landed in the sandpit. During her first weekend, she attended a photography workshop. It was an interesting day since she learned a lot of basic techniques from the maestro, Jay Alonzo. He's one of the leading photography workshop instructors from the Philippines, who has been teaching for 14 years now. It's interesting to shoot when there's no auto controls and post-processing in your mind:

And who would have thought that on her first photography workshop, Miss Iggy will be commended for this snapshot-turned-into-artshot? :)

Next week, it'll be about food photography!

Miss Iggy at New York's Guggenheim Museum

Wander Iggy (formerly known as Singapurple Iggy) is currently in the Land of the Free and Cold Stone ice cream. Armed with a list of things to do, places to see and outlets to go to, one of her first stops is at the Solomon Guggenheim Museum (a.k.a. the Guggenheim) at Upper East side Manhattan. The Becky's brother upon seeing this picture can't help but point out the uncanny similarities of the building built in 1959,  with SM North Edsa's car park. Oh well, at least it pioneered on car park design. :)

Let's just say you wouldn't want to drop your coins from the highest level and chase it down the spiral ramp. 

Afterwards, wearing her special 'raincoat', Miss Iggy sauntered off at 5th Avenue. Special thanks for Panelomo for letting her hitch a ride. :)

Miss Iggy, being the art connoisseur that she is, can't wait to see the 'other' Guggenheims. In fact, she's booked a trip to another one in Bilbao (pictured below). Watch out for her museum-hopping in Spain's Basque Region soon.

Boracay Never Bores!

Jersey Iggy apologizes for posting her beach photos seven months late! But hey, beach fun is timeless fun! Here she is enjoying one of the many activities you can have while in Boracay, Philippines: island-hopping on a boat!

She was awestruck by this luxurious seaside resort in the paradise island of Boracay.

For the more adventurous, there's also snorkeling, parasailing, and deep sea-diving available around the island.

Back in the sandy shores, Miss Iggy saw a guy creating a sandcastle. They are made daily in front of certain business establishments with the date written on it. Tourists who wish to have a picture with these sand sculptures are expected to tip the sand artists.

Another thing Miss Iggy thoroughly enjoyed there was the Longsilog breakfast (Longganiza-Sinangag-Itlog), a combo meal of native sausage-fried rice-and fried egg goodness. This simple-looking dish was especially delish eaten right next to the sea with coconut breeze all around you. Miss Iggy savored every sausage slice with spoonfuls of rice!

Fun & Fire Trucks At The Fall Festival

Autumn spells harvest time in the United States. It's a time when fields yield the fruits of a summer's worth of sowing. It's also the time for Fall Festivals such as this one that Miss Iggy attended for the first time in the Jersey town of Denville.

This annual event was recently revived to the delight of families in the area. It had been extinct for several years.

And there were fire trucks for kids and adults alike to climb and explore! 

 

There was a farmer's market selling fall favorites. It's hardly a "harvest festival" without these!

Painted pumpkins! A pirate one even!

Crafty vendors sold interesting things like these pinecone-shaped "firestarters," presumably to use at your fireplace, not to be pyromaniacs. Or maybe to be used as regular scented candles.

Wooden lawn decor for the "ber" holidays!

This porky sign is actually for the antiques section, not for meats as one might think. 

There was even a "Berry-Go-Round" which Miss Iggy thought was berry cute! Miss Iggy loves strawberries! She hopes next year's Fall Festival will be bigger and better!

miss iggy and columns

a blurry miz iggy outside the National Museum of the Philippines- National Art Gallery.