Lakbayin #2: Of the spokes of the sun and rays of the wheel

As the saying goes, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step", I took my first. But it was not a step, but perhaps more of a ...roll. The day was February 7, 2014.

I've been planning for the longest time to set out and go explore, even if it's just around town. It took forever to get me to do it- but somehow this time, I did. Without planning. Without hesitation.

1/125s f8 ISO100 17mm

All it took was a deliverable, and a willing heart to risk chasing the sun.

I had my bike that moment, and was about to go home when I took some time looking at the sky; it was a wonderful blend of blues and oranges. Truly picturesque... a stark contrast of God-given beauty to the man-made monstrosity of concrete and metal below. I met up a friend and handed her the final set of photos for her sister's daughter's birthday, to which I hope last them many good years of remembering. That was also a fun day worth any family's memory.

Today however, I shall make my own... at least today, for myself.

1/100s f8 ISO200 32mm

1/60s f8 ISO200 45mm

I went on, struggling against the wave of smoke and dust blowing onto my face.

Southwest of the city where I worked was a great shopping mall called Mall of Asia - a sprawling center of business and leisure on reclaimed land. To go here by bike had always been one of my dreams, and this afternoon, it just came true.


=-=-=-=-=-




I went around the place looking for something worth taking a picture of; something worthwhile remembering.









The Arena is the place's latest "attraction"; and today since there weren't too many people around, I took a second to appreciate the colossal eye overlooking the seaside. One can't help but imagine Sauron's visage over it; a looming doom over the bay... which is exactly the opposite of what it actually is: a prime entertainment center.

Moving on I pedaled to a quaint spot I've set my heart out to explore a million bus-rides I've passed through the place - a short bridge over a sea inlet separating the main "MoA isle" from the rest of the land linking Pasay City and Cavite. With the sun falling beyond the horizon, I simply lost all the words looking at the image before me.

1/60s f8 ISO400 33mm

It was simply a scene too delicate to describe too long with my poor grasp of the English language.












A scene so surreal I had to take a photo from another angle.

1/60s f8 ISO400 45mm

I looked around if there was anything else I could find, when the sun finally decided to take its leave. The longer I took my eye to the viewfinder, the less words came out of my head, and more visions poured in.

1/40s f8 ISO400 45mm

It was a quiet evening, but it's not over yet.










I rolled on to a place next that I was very curious about - mainly because of its association with the sun. The huge casino complexed called "Solaire," the newest gambling and "entertainment" place for the filthy rich. The kind of place I thought only existed in Hollywood movies, where the worldly convene for their worldly affairs. Can't judge them though, because if I had the money they have, I would probably have been lured too.

1/50s f8 ISO640 45mm

Only this time, a different lure leads me to its hollow beauty.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It was a strange concoction of the hues of the rainbow; a complement of sights against the dimming sky.






I went around to catch a closer glimpse of if its glimmer. It was a marvelous place to behold. All the lights, the playing water and the... ubuquitous 80's soundtrack flowing from speakers I cannot see. It was hilarious. But it was time to go home.

1/50s f4 ISO1600 32mm

...and faced things like this.




















And this... a wall of vehicles.

1" f5.6 ISO200 17mm

The ride home was more dangerous than I thought. A flurry of metal and rubber threw the road at me. But several meters before reaching safe haven, was a sight I've always wanted to catch: The border between the great cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, the mighty Pasig, the ancient aorta of life in the once-glamorous megalopolis.

0.3s f6.3 ISO400 17mm

And true enough, all it took to get into the sea of dreams was a change of mind and a willing heart.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
**All photos taken with Efione Eisenstrahl (Pentax K-x) and Velfala (Tamron 17-50 f2.8 XR Di-II LD)