Live Life and Love

Beautiful Orchids

By livelifeandlove on May 23, 2014

Orchids are beautiful but they are not fragrant flowers, which unlike other flowers like roses and gardenias have a delightful fragrance. Problems around when it comes to growing of orchids, I don’t know why our orchids lose leaves in darker spots, I really thought they can easily adopt to cooler environment.So much more to know that it lacks sunshine but, over powering sunshine is not good also. I can still remember the good kind of orchids we had before; Cattleyas and Miltonias, it’s probably the most spectacular with the striking colors of bright yellow and dark pink combination.However, the most loved around is the Jungle spots and Rangers”AOK”, I love the raffles on petal edges,it has full shape and beauty. I think, it’s ideal for bridal centerpiece.

The most glamorous when it comes to petal shapes, the” Odontoglossums,” Other species we had before are ”Lyoth Rotonda,” it was so beautiful like the Lyoth Fantastique but these kind tend to be very expensive. If ever to collect again, I make sure to install a greenhouse to filter the sun and insects. Must probably be the most suitable ones.

Leave a comment

BIRDS IN THE GARDEN

By livelifeandlove on May 22, 2014

Gray Wagtail

How wonderful to see and welcome my morning visitors in the garden.It gives me the right energy in the morning. Love that charming movement and the beautiful sound of songbirds around.

Commonly seen birds in the garden are the Woodpeckers,Tree sparrows, Humming bird and the Gray wagtail. Tree sparrows has Grey brown upper parts with white cheeks underparts. Other familiar species are present although some are beneath the roof too.I don’t know their names, it appears to be like House Martin. For now, I can’t remember any clues of identity to some that was seen before.

My garden visitor

Soon, I will care to place a good tree as nesting site and shelter for the birds as well as a big container for bird’s bath. The old chico tree has dried up, still looking for a good replacement. Some sparrows prefer to feed on the ground, the scrap of foods intended for the dogs are welcomed by most birds around. Lots of birds will adore my surrounding because it is a feeding ground for them, the presence of wild red berries that produces a sweet juicy fruit usually attracts the birds to come indoors. The fruit berries not only for the birds, they are safe for children to eat.

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects

ORCHIDS-RELIABLE,LOVABLE

By livelifeandlove on May 21, 2014

Dendrobium Hybrids

Some flowering plants are reliable during hot days that makes my daily activities in the garden l going on ; the watering 2x a day, weeds removing, cutting, re-potting, shading, and cultivating. Although, the soil is still rough and rugged, hot days seems to give more problems to our plants.The more dry it gets,the more attention needed.It’s already middle of May and the transitional period is fast approaching. The end of May would already be rainy season. I can just imagine 3 months of ground wet and I just hope there would be no tropical depressions, I just hate another ”Ondoys and Yolandas” to come.

Some orchids are available during hot days.

Just 2 weeks of waiting and soon, green grasses will quickly spread again to invade all spaces in the backyard. Soon, there would be another set of flowering plants to fit the season.

Leave a comment

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects

ORCHIDS-LASTING COLORS

By livelifeandlove on May 19, 2014

Dendrobium Hybrids

Big tree beside the greenhouse is partly shading the orchids. Definitely,it makes the surrounding cooler. Usually having a greenhouse, orchids will receive less light but at the same time, the most sun exposure. It really depends on how the greenhouse is constructed facing the direction needed to protect the orchids. (Click on images to view larger)

Dendrobium Hybrids, common type of orchids available during hot days. Light levels clearly shows certain amount of sunlight. That can make a different kind of exposure at different time of the day. Other varieties of orchids are sensitive to the direct rays of the sun that’s why, a good foundation is needed to protect the orchids.

Yesterday, I visited the Garden Orchids along White Plains. I observed the greenhouse, insulation was added like; polythene and plastic sheeting. Other orchid gardens in my friends backyard, they prefer the glass sheeting which is more expensive but it looks neat and durable. To some, they want polythene tunnels.

4 Comments

My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

GARDEN TIGER MOTH

By livelifeandlove on May 14, 2014

Garden tiger moth, (Arctia Caja) the kind of moth that is chiefly active at dusk but it is commonly found around. It is a large moth with a yellow brown forewings lined with white horizontal lines.

The underwings colour is scarlet with heavily spotted black. The polka dots pattern seems to be very unique. The flat head is covered with hairs. You can see the external features clearly if you click on to view larger.

The tips of the forewings are hairy and at the center of each wings, there’s a white spot.

I didn’t noticed any last night but when I woke up, I was surprised to see these kind of insect hanging on the window curtain. Certainly, attracted to the bright lights, moth usually comes when they see bright light.

Leave a comment

Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | Technology/ Learning Tips | Travel and Adventure

Puzzle Mansion Museum Tagaytay-World’s Largest Collection Of Jig-saw Puzzles

By livelifeandlove on May 13, 2014

It was a formal setting, the Puzzle Museum appropriately surrounded by different Jigsaw puzzles, every corner and cubicles displaying all the wonderful, interesting, and educational jigsaw puzzles collected by Gina Gil Lacuna, the present Guinness world record holder for the largest collection of Jigsaw puzzles.

It was 29 of November,2012 when She was recognized as the present world record holder listed in the Guinness book of Records. Originally, the museum was just a summer house for the Lacuna’s but when she got the tittle, it was dramatically converted into a Puzzle Museum.

The museum attracts residential, business people and tourists visiting Tagaytay. Only an hour drive from Manila, the way going to Puzzle Museum led up more curves and turns upward and downward. Overview, you can spot some farm animals, mountain ranges and pineapple field is a sight to behold.

It was a big mansion, the ground floor is a great Puzzle Museum housing all thousands of different kinds with assorted sizes and shapes. Every piece of puzzle is individually numbered with complete details. You can see the complete details on the left corner of the jigsaw puzzle itself. The second floor is a Puzzle store with other assorted items for sale.

During my 3 days vacation in Tagaytay, I’ve made myself busy hiking and touring around the area. Walking and biking around can helped me lose more pounds. How cool is that? But, it was my intention to visit the Puzzle Museum and to meet the Guinness world record holder itself. I’m lucky that we have met personally and with just a quick interview raising few questions, sharing views, experience and a pose for few shots.

Gina Gil Lacuna, shares the pride of being famous, making a good name bringing pride to our own country. Opening the museum for public viewing and for the world to see was a great achievement and life’s work. History marked given to our country.

Gina’s good taste and effort collecting great number of appreciated puzzles with interesting and detailed facts.There are many kinds of Jigsaw puzzles; cardboard, wood and 3 D, three dimension, it was a picture puzzle that has a depth. Some jigsaw puzzles taken from her trip abroad.

Meeting Gina Gil Lacuna

The Puzzle Museum

Puzzle Mansion offers a bed and breakfast place to enjoy and relax.

The entrance of the museum will welcome you the World’s Largest Jigsaw Puzzle

Guinness world records certificate of Gina

Seeing the Jigsaw Puzzles

All puzzles displayed expresses unique images, some ancient and contemporary ones, religious articles, the universe, gorgeous landscape, vintage rides, geography, kid’s favorite, architectural digest, music, famous people, insects, water and land animals and wildlife. Every puzzle provides an interesting piece that history again seems alive. I realized that a Jigsaw puzzle pictures can make it as a good photo frame and portraits.

I remember my own Jigsaw puzzle, I have a beautiful jigsaw puzzle that I’ve been keeping for a long time. It was a huge jigsaw puzzle with the beautiful landscape of ”Spring flowers” in London.It was given to me by a former housemaid who’s presently working in the Middle East. I was told, She bought it during her annual vacation in Vienna. ( free travel expense by her employer)

The St. Basil’s Cathedral, Architectural character is a beautiful piece. 176 pieces, Dimension: 42CM x35CMx60CM, Completion Time: 34 hours, Maker/Origin: Cubic Fun China.(Details attached)

Jigsaw Puzzle- Brain Train

You can find some educational puzzles in Gina’s museum that you can give to your child. A puzzle fit for a child? the basis depends on his/her age and the number of pieces with the completion to finish it. It’s good to give what would fit to her own age, young age has a little patience for a large puzzle.

For me, The jigsaw puzzle is just like a story solving problem and your ability to finish it as fast as you can. The trial and error while assembling will give you more patience if you are really determined to finish it. It helps your child to improve decision making skills. Somehow, as you get closer to solve it, the climax is the most exciting part. The best part is the communication to connect your memory directing your hand to work for it.

The Farm animals and wildlife

With too many jigsaw puzzles, I love these pieces. I can specify my favorite puzzles. For more than an hour viewing everything, I took time to appreciate each puzzle.Expressing my fascination for insects, animals and wildlife. I’ve photographed some of them to document the place and for my own experience. I’m an animal lover. The way how it is photographed, the angles to emphasize my subjects, it expresses my own personality. My choices and my personal picks just shows my passion for the animals

The Sedona Gallop

The Overseer

The Cow Parade

Wake up Call

The Kittens Delight

The Wetland Wonders

Parrot in Paradise

The Fantasy and the Waterfall butterflies.

Simply, It’s the world of butterflies here. I took 3 photos of different kinds. I guess, they’re my favorites! Butterflies was back to life.

Fantasy Butterfly

Butterfly Waterfall

Not surprisingly, the best butterfly puzzles I’ve ever seen, the different vibrant colors are expressed in wonderful ways.

Wooden Dinosaur Jigsaw puzzle

Elegant piece

The Brilliance, simple but sophisticated.

Run Aground

The museum is indeed a memorable one. Those puzzles are the unfogettable ones. All Jigsaw puzzles available in the museum for public viewing with an entrance fee of P100- only, It’s worth and good to experience by yourself.

Leave a comment

My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

THE SKY RANCH

By livelifeandlove on May 7, 2014

The ”Sky Ranch’‘ is the newest amusement park in Tagaytay. One favorite ride of mine aside from Zip Line is the Sky Eye. Let me show you the display of night colours in the sky. Night ride on the sky is very relaxing, slowly as it evolves,once you’re up, you can see the colors of the starlight and the beautiful aerial view of Taal.

Viewing the Sky Eye and other rides

You’ll see how the light changes its color while rotating, and definitely, it’s a night photography.

(Click on images to view larger)

The Sky Eye

The sky fun Carousel

The Super Viking

Leave a comment

Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

SUMMER VACATION, TAGAYTAY, 2014

By livelifeandlove on May 5, 2014

Me and my family visited Tagaytay last week. Tagaytay, one of the coolest place in the Philippines, well known for its beautiful scenery, quiet spots and all geographical wonders of nature. Everything interesting is here. It’s not our first time to visit Tagaytay, We had visited these place a countless times already.So far,the 4 days Holy week vacation gave me ample time to cover some places and people around.

I’ve made myself very busy and active touring around the green community of Taal. All things to feature such as; Beautiful landscape surrounding Taal lake, the Taal volcano, one of the world’s smallest volcano, the Puzzle Museum, the Tagaytay Highlands, the Culinary feast of mushrooms and salad vegetables, the beautiful garden flowers, the Sunflower farm, the Pineapple plantation, the Coconut plantation, the scene of the night in Sky Ranch as the newest Amusement Park, Fruit and Pasalubong stalls, Souvenir shops to name a few .

Exploring around gave me a better mood to relax, more time to do fitness routine. I love Tagaytay because it’s just an hour drive away from home and lots of activities you can do here; Cycling, jogging, walking, and hiking usually done early in the morning to reduce my stress or even by just watching the low clouds, sunrise and sunset while in the balcony. You can also enjoy Kayacking, horse riding and picnic areas is also good.

What could possibly cooler than to see the Puzzle Museum, a home for the World’s largest collection of Jigsaw puzzles listed in the Guinness book of records, and more so, to meet the present ”Guinness World Record Holder,Gina Gil-Lacuna. All interesting things I’d love to cover especially people and places, making it more exciting to have fun and bond with my family, that’s super excitement for me. To explore the nature side as well,you’ll realize how beautiful they are!

I have so much activities and more to say about it. I couldn’t possibly place in one article alone, so this is just my first version as my journey continues. With too many places to visit, people to meet and interview, 4 days is not really enough although, itineraries was readily planned in advanced, yet, so little time. I need to get back all those I’ve missed and compensated soon.

Note: Click on images to view larger

Just sit down, relax and click, I will tour you around for awhile! The first day of adventure starts. See what happens when nature takes over…

Lake Taal, total picture of calm, peaceful and cool. All wildflowers around swinging gracefully in an open air.

Taal volcano, one of the world’s smallest volcano.

So far, this is the latest photo.

Farmers in Tagaytay have to adopt where farming are practiced on slopes, Others areas inhabited by trees has transformed into commercial establishments; big hotels, golf courses, amusement parks and restaurants. Other lands abandoned has turned wisely into coconut, jackfruit and pineapple plantation. To my surprised, it was a fast growth and development. Perhaps, people always in search of better ways to improve way of life. Pieces of thoughts, they want fast growth and good profit. Some lands converted to a new development. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice one in order to bring up a new one.

Biking around the community.

Me with the famous,Gina Gil Lacuna, the present ”Guinness book of record holder for the largest collection of Jigsaw puzzles.

Puzzle Museum

Some collections of Gina.

Lots of fruits around; Jackfruit is good if you can take the smell of it. More fruits like bananas,mangosteen, mangoes, avocado, pineappled and many more..

The Sunflower farm, one of the best garden feature to highlight here. Nature’s side, It was wild and lovely in full golden yellow color. The ”Sunflower farm has been the source of attraction just like the pineapple field.

Beautiful garden flowers. It is a mass full of blooms. All flowers burst into blooms.

Full bloom under the sun.

The intensity of summer heat was not even the problem here. I can take it as well.

Lovely Gumamela

Coconut Plantation

Pineapple Plantation

My night photography. Here’s sharing you the fun of riding the ”Sky Eye, the Zip Line definitely not available at night.

The Sky Ranch Amusement Park keeps me going. Possibly, I’ve forgotten my age, LOL! I think it was called,”Sky Ranch because the ranch is just beside the amusement park. Check the horses nearby.

The color wheel while rotating, the light color changes as it brings vivid colors to brighten the dark sky.

Night ride on the sky is very relaxing, slowly as it evolves,once you’re up, you can see the colors of the starlight and the beautiful aerial view of Taal.

The color wheel of the Sky Eye is amazing! It was glittering, sparkling that filled the night sky with vivid colors.

Other Rides

It was difficult to leave the park. It was an amusement park you need to see and experience before morning comes!

For foods, It’s Josephine’s Seafood Restaurant, the ambience so relaxing.

For lunch, It’s our favorite,Oyster Rockefeller, One of the best served in the restaurant.

Crispy Pata was crispy and delicious.

As the result, it was a wonderful vacation for all of us. It was a a broad hide-away to escape the city traffic and home worries. My journey continues next post…

2 Comments

Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Filipino Figure Skater, Michael Christian Martinez

By livelifeandlove on April 28, 2014

After meeting the Guinness Book of Record Holder, Gina Gil Lacuna, Here’s another famous, Michael Christian Martinez, a young figure skater and the first Filipino to qualify for the Sochi Winter Olympics. The pride of the Philippines is only 17 and the youngest skater who competed during that time.

Following the event lately, the Philippines hosted ISU WORLD DEVELOPMENT TROPHY 2014 at SM Megamall Skating Rink last April 21-26 participated by 11 countries. I was there during the last day of the event. I even met some skaters from other countries during the Junior skating free style. I really thought, it was already late when I arrived. I’m glad, was able to catch up 30 minutes before Michael will skate. The last day was the awarding of winners and the highlight of the event, a night exhibition of Michael.

It was my first time to see Michael skating live at SM Skating rink. Wearing a full black outfit, looks handsome and in perfect form. It was very entertaining to see all his graceful movements on ice with the loud music of,’’A Time for us.’’ I did video while photographing at the same time. (Video footage to be published soon) Only 17 of age, tall and slim, he was the most admired skater that night. He won the hearts of the crowd especially the teenagers around.

Holding my camera at one corner of the rink, I did horizontal and vertical shots, it’s really hard to catch the center of interest in order to get a good view. The corner was not an easy spot, the thick glass of the skating rink is blocking my view. However, catching Michael’s fast movement on ice is the center of my interests.

Michael Christian Martinez (Filipino athlete in the Winter Olympics) performing live at MEGAMALL Skating Rink. Here are some of Michael’s skating movement, exciting moves on display. It’s hard to catch up the Axel speed.

2 Comments

Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

SUNFLOWER FARM

By livelifeandlove on April 23, 2014

After my 3 days vacation in Tagaytay, one of the best features that I will highlight here is the Sunflower field. It’s not that hard to find this common kind because it is wild form. As you know, sunflowers can withstand the dry conditions of the soil. I’ve noticed that sunflower grow and spread faster especially if the space is not limited.

With the rich soil and temperate climate of Tagaytay, all the subdivision vacant plots was loaded with these flowers and some growing salad vegetables. Exploring the farm under full bright sun makes me feel exhausted, the heat of the sun was so intense that makes my skin bit darker. However, the sky clouds seemingly low and blue in color, thought it would make a beautiful background to produce lovely shots.

Gardening was much improved over the years, the presence of different species of flowering plants and wild forms have flourished. If you follow the routes going to the tropical forest, you’ll discover unique varieties with wide range and colors.

Sunflower produces wide golden-yellow blooms which is abundant throughout summer. From the name itself, of course, sunflower is a summer flower that loves the sun. Attractive as it looks, big lovely splash of golden-yellow petals makes the best decorative background in the farm. For me, every garden must have the wild side, the attendance of wild sunflowers must be present for the garden to look brilliantly natural.

Would love to take home some, I want a sunflower garden of my own. I’ve collected some dried sunflowers so I can get seeds from it. Sunflowers can be raised from seeds. I’ll bring it home and scatter those seeds in the garden.

Here are some of the photos I took during the first day of my vacation there. Lets get started!

(Click on images to view larger)

Nature’s view, it was wild and lovely in full golden yellow.

Wild blooms, rows of yellow wild and free.

You can see here, the clear view, beside the field is a summer house.

Sky viewing with the sunflowers. I feel like cutting these flowers, it would probably looks lovely over my left ear.

Here’s catching higher view, the sunflower plant is taller than me.

I’ve seen sunflowers around so many instances but, closer distance makes the difference.

I have to raise my camera in order to include the sky background.

Wide spread, my individual photo of sunflower.

How I wish to pick up some for my vases but, I didn’t bring any gardening tools, the stem was so hard.

I’ve seen giant sunflowers so many other instances but closer distance makes a big difference, you can touch it and see closer to the pollinating insects nearby.

I’m glad ,all shots came up to be beautiful, the clear blue sky make candid shots to bring out the beauty of the sunflowers.I hope you’ll like it. More garden flowers of Tagaytay next, my journey continues next posts.

6 Comments

Sagada Adventure Travel Guide 2025

19 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Taiwan

Buddha’s Head embedded by Tree Roots

Creative Ways to Serve Fresh Fruit Salad – Useful Tips

Beautiful Orchids

BIRDS IN THE GARDEN

ORCHIDS-RELIABLE,LOVABLE

ORCHIDS-LASTING COLORS

GARDEN TIGER MOTH

Puzzle Mansion Museum Tagaytay-World’s Largest Collection Of Jig-saw Puzzles

THE SKY RANCH

SUMMER VACATION, TAGAYTAY, 2014

Filipino Figure Skater, Michael Christian Martinez

SUNFLOWER FARM