Dong Ho's Eskapo 2

This is a very popular (as in more hits/comments) of Philippine travel blogs I know. I don't know what Dong does for a living but I do envy his prolific travels. The good thing about his blog is that he posts with interesting and well-taken pictures, plus tips on how to get there, where to stay and what prices to expect; it's like Lonely Planet only on blog plus more.

I am just wondering what happened to his Eskapo 1? Is it really escape (eskapo), or is it really that what he wants us to think! But definitely it is an escape from whatever you are doing, even if you are travelling ...

http://dongism.blogspot.com/

Filipino Tattoos

This website, Tatak Ng Apat Na Alon (Mark of the Four Waves) I found while researching and web hopping after reading the posts by Sidney Snoeck of Sari Sari Store Blog fame; on Filipino Gang Tattoos series. Sidney took a breather from blogging but came back with this classic topic documenting various gang tattoos, one of the first ones to document in both photographs and words the nuances, symbolisms and affiliations of these gang members.

http://www.apat-na-alon-tribe.com/contact.html

If you want to learn more of what these four Filipino-Americans are doing to find their Filipino roots and identity via the art of tattoos, visit their website.

Another important website that documents island tattoo is the article in Vanishing Tattoo: Return of the Headhunters. This site also documents Philippine ancient art of tribal tattoo and has some of the best photographs I've seen.

http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/tattoos_in_Philippines.htm

Of course there is an earlier post I did on tattoos on my photo blog, On the way to blog: Tatts last 28 May 2008. This basically "documents" the modern tribal tattoo "founder" in North America; Leo Zueleta. The connection: Leo has a Pinoy heritage!

Whether you are a tattoo aficionado of sorts; whether it be modern, gang, tribal or for that extra mile (or kilometer), you wanted that authentic Filipino Tribal Tattoo, have a read of the various web sites. I believe these are the best on the net at the moment!

Waiters' Tales and Rants

As I am travelling overseas again, specifically in the US; I was searching for good places and restaurants to go to and come across this legendary blog: Waiter Rant. A New York waiter's experiences and the hot topic of tipping!

http://waiterrant.net/

Another blog, this one is a west coast waiter's tales in the famous/infamous (depending on how you look at it!) Hollywood, LA resto Spago and Poison Ivy. Nice reading and plenty of valuable advice, especially on tipping (again!) that waiters in the US always rant about.

http://hollywoodvipwaiter.blogspot.com/

I must say that US waiters, next to US actors; are a well awarded bunch of people. People always are grateful of waiters for a job well done and pat on the back with a hefty tip! I wish people here at work do that to me... sigh...

My favourite Pinoy artists

Senor Enrique (aka Eric) blogged the works of Palma Tayona via his Wish You Were Here blog. I then "discovered" Palma and his works bordering on what you might call "obsession" with malusog people; that is, obese subjects. He offered his explanation for this obsession (that is your motivation to read his blog!) in one of his entries in his blog.

I can understand that artists has this "obsession", if you can call it that; it is just that they have favourite subjects. I have the same "obsessions" (not that I am an artist! Just a wannabe...) with photographing silhouttes, tree trunks and flowers in bloom.

Also reading his blog, he "introduced" me to another Pinoy artist, krayolaeater aka Dex Fernandez.

So these two Pinoy artists are my favourites at the moment. Visit their web sites and see for yourself. You might even love their works that you may want to purchase some, I know I will!

http://visualviscera.blogspot.com/

http://krayolaeater.deviantart.com/

Sidney's Sari sari store

This expat's photo blog is one of the first blogs I started to visit. I was enamoured by his subjects' - just a series of too common scenes in the Philippines. To a foreigner's eyes not accustomed to these scenes, they are unique and a "breath of fresh air" so to speak.

With his interpretations of these everyday subjects, Pinoys have re-discovered their surroundings, their enrironments, their heritage and their culture. Thanks to Sidney and his Sarisari Store!

http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/

http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/sarisari_tattoo/
His up and coming tattoo blog.

Nut Art: Making the Coconut a Work of Art

http://www.nutart.blogspot.com/

This Pinay and her German partner runs a resort and creates coconut shells as souvenirs. Nowadays they consign these miniature work of arts to Tesoro's and Ayala Museum, that is how popular their creations are. One of the best souvenirs one can buy when travelling to and from the Philippines, not your run of the mill crappy Pinoy souvenir. It may not be cheap but I am sure it will be a collectible someday. Great site as well!

Also see Bernadette's other advocacy: Puerto Galera's Rain Forests -

http://puertogalera.rainforest.googlepages.com/main

Ala lang...

This is one of earlier blogs I've seen when I was trawling her dad's blog: Apo Jim Paredes. What got me interested in their blogs are the postings of their recent (which a couple of years ago!) experiences in moving to Australia.

As a migrant myself, I felt connected to their then new experiences and angst of being away with relatives and friends in the Philippines.

As you read their new lives in Sydney, you will feel how they have adjusted and embraced the Oz experience, free from yayas and housemaids. Nice and compelling reading, especially from a young and very talented lady: Ala.

http://www.ala-ism.pansitan.net/

Paris Daily Photo by Eric

http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/

I believe this is one of my first "Daily Photo" sites that I've been to.

Another Eric, this Parisian gives you an in depth view of what it's like to live in Paris.

If you love Paris but you haven't been fortunate to visit or live there, visit this site and you would fall in love more to this city of love and romance.

Pictures are good as well.

Eric's Wish You Were Here

http://www.senorenrique.blogspot.com/

This must be one of the most read blogs, as far as I am concerned.

Eric Isaac, a former New Yorker now gave up that life and moved back to Manila.

He has nothing but full praise and put positive spin on his posts, mostly about Manila and its inhabitants.

This one blog, as the name suggests wish you to be where Eric is at this stage of his life.

Nice photos as well.

Welcome 13 Aug 2008

This would be my diary re my blog/web/net travels.

I have this habit of jumping from one site to the other, or from one blog site to another.

I would like therefore to chronicle the blogs and sites that I love to read and made me interested in the first place.

I hope you would find them as interesting and intriguing as I've found them!