Through Foreign Eyes

Lakaw is a journey is a step is a move. I love to travel around the world and this is my travel and travel gadget site. Welcome and Enjoy!

Let the sunshine in

0 comments | Sunday, March 04, 2007

Suddenly I saw hills in Brookings.

A day after the two-day snow storm, there was sunshine over Brookings, South Dakota. What a wonderful day to see piles of snow radiating as the rays hit the slope at zenith. It was still cold, around negative six. But the sun was enough to make me smile, as the evergreens swayed their snow-covered branches to reach out for the beams. [photos after the jump]

I went out to see people with their cars stuck in the snow. Snow mobiles (I do not know the name, a vehicle that scrapes and hauls the snow from the highways and sidewalks), quite a number of them, were going back and forth to ensure pathways and roads were safe for pedestrians and drivers.

Going out of my building, I saw these - bicycles buried in thick snow. I wonder if these are stainless ones that could survive a condition like this, especially if the snow begins to melt.

I went for a hundred meter circle walk and the scenes were just amazing. There were kids playing with snow balls. Adults were shoveling snow accumulated on their front doors. I specifically loved the roofs all white.

But this photo is gorgeous.

I took a photo near the police station. I was the only one outside and for sure the police officers were peeping through their windows and wondering what the hell I was doing.

This is a photo of the restaurant near my place.

The gasoline station and a heap of snow. I could even ski on this little hill here.

What about this? This is a spot light outside Taco John's that was left lighted the night before. The result: a nice-looking hole.

I ended up eating at Taco John's after my short trip. I ordered a different menu. This time I tried their burritos. It was much better than the previous one I had. After a few minutes I saw a colleague, Vincent, from Kenya.

I went home with a soda in my hand and a batch of photos to post for this blog :-)

Labels: Snow

posted by talk

at 3/04/2007 12:03:00 AM Permalink

| 0 comments

Only a Filipino loves a snow storm

0 comments | Thursday, March 01, 2007

A blizzard warning later this afternoon, weather reports say. Classes are suspended but work for staff continues, the University announcement says. [there are photos after the jump]

I am not afraid of a snow storm. Our tropical storms, extra-super-doper bagyo in Pinas, are much stronger and deadly. What can a snowfall do to a Filipino who has survived earthquakes in Mindanao (yes when I was young), super typhoon Rufing and El Nino in Cebu, and tsunami in Indonesia? The last one, by the way, I just made it up.

So I went out of the building and brave the snow storm. The real purpose is not only to test myself if I could manage to walk with the strong wind and the snow hitting my face at the same time, but to take pictures around the snow-covered Brookings city. The verdict: no challenge at all.

It is cold. Temperature is way below zero. Wind is blowing from north then south then changes in a direction you just cannot tell. But wading through the snow piles and surviving the turbulence was a piece of cake. I walked, ran, and allowed myself to be buried in the snow. That easy. See how a Filipino wanderer could withstand a stormy weather in the USA. Thanks to the experience I had in the Philippines :-)

There are more pictures here. Visit my Flickr album.

Labels: Snow

posted by talk

at 3/01/2007 07:55:00 PM Permalink

| 0 comments

Partying on a weekend

0 comments | Sunday, February 25, 2007

Last Friday evening was the thawing party for the Department of Geography and the GIS Center of Excellence. It was the first time that the two departments gathered together for a night of drinking and pure fun. I had more than enough drink that night. Thank God, I had friends with me going home. Otherwise, I'd be wandering in the cold, snowy night.

We played billiards and there was a time that luck was so kind to me that every shot was just so perfect that I couldn't believe myself that I shot it. It was like I was a pro-billiard player about to defeat Efren Bata Reyes (the great Filipino poll master). It was an awesome play of perfection and precision.

By the way, the bar was not the typical bar in town. It was privately owned. If I am not mistaken, it was a club for adult men. You must be a member of the club to enter it. The owner of the bar is the grandpa of one of the organizers from the Geography department. So, it was rent-free.

There was this sunglasses that was displayed on the bar. It was kinda old-looking and probably it was displayed for visitors to appreciate it, but not touch it. However, it never escaped our curiosity and quick hands. It moved from one face to the other. It landed on me. It felt cool.

If you want to see more photos from the party, it's here.

The last two days, the snow has been falling unceasingly. A snow storm warning is still raised as of this writing, even. While others hate it, I love it so so much. Although the roads are all covered and pathways are so difficult to traverse, I love the white scenes everywhere I look - the evergreens, houses, gardens - they all look the same. What about this bicycle? Isn't it great to maybe hide it in a pile of snow? HAHAHA.

Labels: Party, Snow

posted by talk

at 2/25/2007 09:14:00 PM Permalink

| 0 comments

Calm after the Storm

0 comments | Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Trapped in the library. That was what happened to me last weekend while doing my usual research rounds for the writing class. Not that I cannot go out of the building. It was just that the snow fall was quite heavy. While spending idle time, I busied myself by taking pictures inside the library and few shots of the snow.

Remember the post I did few days ago? You must read the previous story first before you could understand the whole thing. Here is the only note that was posted that time. Nothing was said about whom to call to when locked out. Nothing.

The day after I sent the email to the concerned officials, the note was changed. Now it has all the information necessary if ever the situation happens again. Just today, the director of the International Office called me on the phone and expressed her sympathy and sorry for what had happened. She knew that there was negligence on the side of the residential management. She was very comforting and I like her. I thanked her for the concern and the advice.

Labels: Snow

posted by talk

at 2/20/2007 10:06:00 PM Permalink

| 0 comments

Larson Ice Skating Center

1 comments | Sunday, January 21, 2007

You don't have to say it. I admit that I am beginning to be addicted to skating. Not because I am good at it. It's all because of the fun I derived from it. You see, I've been at the Larson Ice Skating rink for only 4 times. Those 4 times were learning experiences. I find it very fulfilling to see myself improving on the ice.

It wasn't good at the beginning, believe me. The moment you put your feet on the frozen ice, you feel like you're gonna slide up to the other end, and you could only wish the ice were rough. But that cannot happen, you know that.

So you'd just be contented on the sides and just wait for your guts to rise beyond your head for you to brave the center of the rink, which are dominated by professional skaters. One more thing: once you are in the middle, pray that nobody bumps on you. Otherwise, it can be very painful.

Expect also that you'd fall -- one, two or maybe many times, on your tries to balance. Part of the learning process ladies and gentlemen.

Today, I have improved a lot. I also noticed that I can skate better if I sing while I skate. There is truth to that. Really.

I prepared a video, of course.

More pictures from the snowy Brookings:

Labels: Blogging, Brooking Fun, Brookings Photos, Snow

posted by talk

at 1/21/2007 08:08:00 PM Permalink

| 1 comments

The snow blinds me

0 comments | Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Thought of the day: There could only be one snowy day.

See. It snowed last night. Not that much accumulation though, but it snowed last night in Brookings. That is what's important. I posted yesterday that today could be a 'white' day. Indeed it was!

I would have liked to take pictures in the middle of the field - me, running around or throwing snow balls on trees or forming castles on the 'whites'. But I was alone. A friend just said no when I threw that little request of a short picture-taking. You know, he'd be the photographer and I would be the happy bee hopping and smiling for the shots.

I went out myself and took photos. Here they are:

Labels: Brookings Photos, Snow, Winter Season

posted by talk

at 1/09/2007 11:28:00 PM Permalink

| 0 comments

Brookings is cool! Take it literally.

0 comments | Monday, January 08, 2007

Thought of the day: Brookings is a lonely town. Believe me!

It is 10:40PM. As of this writing, a snow storm is devastating the good view outside. Finally, the forecast was right. This morning it was announced on radio that there would be chances of snow in the evening. That the temperature will drop to very low. That the wind would blow quite strong. Well, most of those are happening right at this moment.

I managed to take pictures. Few were taken outside while the rest were from my office window. I didn't intend to cover my camera with snow and eventually damage it, so I decided to just quickly take couple of shots.

Stairs