Hong Kong in Lomo

  I happened to sneak a little r&r in Hong Kong last July 28-30, 2012. The reason? Arsenal FC were in town for their Asia Tour of 2012.

I took a lot of photos during my trip in HK both on my mobile phone and camera. I used an app (or application) Man with A Camera that gives a lomo (lomography) effect on the photos I took.

Arrived 30 minutes past 12 in the morning on the 28th.

Rode this double decker to TST.Bus A21.It's got wifi! Wee!

I spent 2 hours or so wondering in the promenade! It was a surreal feeling that I was actually in HK!

The famous Hong Kong Skyline

After months of reminding me to redeem my tickets via my e-mail (They even gave a call before I left.), I was able to get my match tickets from the ticketing machine by swiping the credit card that I used for the transaction.

Oh look! Freebies! Arsenal is spoiling us to rot! Thank you!

Four hundred Arsenal fans were invited exclusively by the club itself.

At the Fans Party. We were able to meet Kyle Bartley (now with Swansea), Carl Jenkinson, Johan Djourou and Vito Mannone. Filipino Arsenal fans were positioned up front!

HK's elderly residents perform group exercises in parks. They repeatedly tap certain parts of the body accompanied by music.

Cheap thrill: Ferry ride to HK island

I was addicted to the McCafe hazelnut latte

Wasabi flavored dip? You bet! I got hooked on it. I don't mind if I have to pay HK$1 for me to dip my fries!

Finally, I was able to watch Arsenal at play LIVE and in the FLESH!

We petted this fat kitty. She lives near Chow Yun Fat's neighborhood.

I survived my HK lamierda. Thanks to this octopus card! ^_^

Olivier was my companion while waiting for my flight home.

Corgi!

After 5 years or so in practice, we finally have a corgi patient!!!!!!!!

All hail the corgis!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Et Tu RvP

I'm emotionally in a fragile state right now. After knowing that the captain that steered the Arsenal ship from the brink of relegation to Champions League football last season, has joined the most bitter of all rivals, Manchester United.

After loosing key players in each and every summer, I was hoping Arsenal's summer would be somehow be peaceful and stable. After all, snagging both Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud of less than half a price of a Fernando Torres is actually good business. Unfortunately, we were dead wrong. A week after the purchase of Giroud, Robin van Persie dropped the bomb, he is not going to sign a contract extension.

Sighting that the club did not match his ambition was beyond belief! Arsenal made a gamble on signing this trouble maker from Feyenoord for a meager £2.7 million. He was accused of rape and was imprisoned for 6 weeks. He had a string of bad injuries that plagued his Arsenal career. Through it all Arsenal was there. I began to question his ambition? Trophies? Now with Podolski and Giroud on board, plus 1 or 2 more signings, Arsenal can win trophies! Money? The club can only offer a maximum of £130,00/week.

 The BBC reported that RvP wanted to stay. But Arsene Wenger had a plan B, and he was not part of it. The club had no choice but to sell him while he was still under contract with Arsenal. And there were three suitors for RvP's services: Juventus, Manchester City, and Manchester United.

I first thought Manchester United would be a farfetch destination for him, but I was wrong. If Graham Hunter is to believe, RvP was already in talks with Manchester United 7 months ago! He told Cesc Fabregas that he'll be staying for another year, and see if he can win trophies with the club. Unfortunately, Arsenal only managed to cling on third place in the league, and bowed out (but with a fight) on cup games.

It was a perfect betrayal to Gooners, similar to the unsuspecting Julius Caesar at the Ides of March. When the captaincy was entrusted by Wenger, he acted as if he was indeed the captain of Arsenal. He led the team by scoring the goals, gave pre-game pep talk, he organized parties off the pitch. But he was and is a linchpin. Just like the wankers who left for money before him like Ashley Cole, Emanuel Adebayor, and Samir Nasri. "Et tu, Brutus!" was the last word Caesar said to Marcus Junius Brutus. Like Caesar, we Gooners were appalled by such treachery, "Et tu, RvP!", we exclaimed.

For £24 million, he has sold his soul to the Devil, and forever tarnished his Arsenal legacy not just as the club's 8th all-time leading goal scorer, but also as the leader of the club with most come-from-behind wins in a season. Gone were my memories of your early Arsenal career, Robin! That equalizer vs. Southhampton. That Volley at the Valley vs Charlton. Your brace vs. Blackburn in the semis of the FA Cup. For volunteering to take Edu's penalty in the final vs. your new team!

Like a jilted lover, I wish you nothing but misery in your new team! Arsenal will be a better team without you! Victoria Concordia Crescit. Victory through harmony on to the new club football season.

Pets Bill of Rights

*I am currently retrieving some photos and blogs from my Multiply account. As you may all have known by now, Multiply will no longer hold it's social networking, blogging and sharing features by Dec. 1, 2012. So I am posting some random and what I think my memorable blogs from that site.

Blogged on Jun 2, 2008

1. We have the right to full members of your family. We thrive on social interaction, praise and love.

2. We have the right to stimulation. We need new games, new toys, new experiences, and new smells to be happy.

3. We have the right to regular exercise. Without it, we could become hyper, sluggish...or fat.

4. We have the right to have fun. We enjoy acting like clowns now and then; don't expect us to be predictable all the time.

5. We have the right to quality health care. Please stay good friends with our vet.

6. We have the right to a good diet. Like some people, we don't know what's best for us. We depend on you.

7. We have the right not to be rejected because of your expectations that we be great show dogs or show cats, watchdogs, hunters, or baby-sitters.

8. We have the right to receive proper training. Otherwise, our good relationship could be marred by confusion and strife-and we could become dangerous to ourselves and others.

9. We have the right to guidance and correction based on understanding and compassion, rather than abuse.

10. We have the right to live with dignity...and to die with dignity when the time comes.

~Author Unknown~

Arsenal 2012-2013

I can't wait for next weekend!

The English Premier League will commence on Aug. 18, with Arsenal hosting
Sunderland at the Ashburton Grove.

March toward the quadruple! Come on you Gunners!

Ironman 70.3 Philippines

1.9 km Swim. 90 km Bike. 21.1 km Run.