07 June 2005

Chinatown


Oh wow. I had been very busy these past few days that I wasn't able to update Star Wars week! Aaargh. Anyways, I plan to watch Episode III for the third time this week. Hey, this may probably be the last time I'll ever see "Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away" on the big screen so I'll make the most of it!

***

A few weeks back, my friend and I went to Baclaran to look for Sony Ericsson P800 LCD screen. My office-issued phone did a double flip and triple sumersault last month, ending in a devastating cracked screen. The irony of it is that I have dropped the phone on cement a couple of times with minor scratches. But this time, it landed on the office carpet, and it cracked! So off to the Baclaran we went in search of parts. I have visited some shops in Makati but they were charging me 7,500 pesos! We found a couple there, and they were selling the screen at 5,500 pesos. Way cheaper but still out of budget. I have to save for it. In the meantime, the P800 is spending its days resting at home.

We dropped by Chinatown, a place which I rarely go to. I was instantly transported to another place. It's in Manila but it's not. Street and shop signs displayed Chinese characters. And the people looked different (obviously). We stopped by Maxim's and I felt like I was in a movie set. The patrons were Chinese. I was anticipating that any moment now, somebody would fly off into the ceiling and throw knives or do martial arts stances with an enemy, like in Jet Lee movies. The food tasted oddly different too, though Chinese cuisine is part of my food chart. It somehow tasted "more" authentic, having it here.

And then there were Feng shui shops selling good luck charms. With all the good luck ever present, they must be experiencing brisk sales everyday!

On going back home, we passed by the magnificent Quiapo Church, where the Black Nazarene awaits its yearly procession.


12 comments:

  1. Thanks Alan! I stopped right in front of the church and took a quick shot. I was aware of the possible outcome in flashing gadgets in that area. Ah, the hazards of being a blogger! :-)

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  2. so did you get your screen replaced?

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  3. Hi Flisha. Not yet. It's 2,000 pesos lesser there but I don't have that extra money available. I have to earn it. Can you help me? Perhaps a cheaper p800 screen? :-)

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  4. Trivia : Do you know that on year 2001, early january, me and my wife was in China Town Manila buying our wedding ring. And undoubtly, I still wore it today.

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  5. hi watson, is this china town binondo? nway, wat stuff did they sell in the fengshui shop? did you see stuff like the one in the movie? natakot ako dun eh. dowana look thru those tiny mirrors no more!!! heehee

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  6. Been meaning to ask, what camera do you use?

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  7. uy I remember Quiapo... I used to call it Quiopa when I was a kid.

    Then during my college years, dyan ako tambay kasi mura dyan ang film malapit sa church. I think it is in arroceros something...

    As in mura dun... Php 80 for a KodakColorPro-Professional film ASA400 36shots.

    I lab it...

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  8. to answer cherry's question..Sir Nick is using a Nokia 6630! YABANG!!! it has a 1.3 megapixel camera! that's why sir nick is so yabang when we go out kasi he's making kuha pretty clear pictures outside while i'm still using this stupid 3650.

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  9. oi chu, wag ka nga mag-inarte jan! ako nga walang camera phone ko eh! jologzzzz

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  10. Tanggers! Oh yeah. There were lots of stores selling jewelry. I believe it's also a popular place for buying your gold and silver, aside from chinese food :-). Tagal nyo na pala ni misis!


    Hi dessagirl. Ano nga ba tawag dun? Bagwa? Di namin nilapitan yung store. Across the street lang kami. Ang belief ko kasi, you cannot buy swerte. It should be given to you. So somebody else has to buy their trinkets then offer it as a gift or something. 'La lang :-)

    Hi Cherry! Chu answered the question. Nokia 6630, which I was so happy the office issued me because of its 1.3Megapixel camera (good enough for photos here). And then just a month later, there's the 3230 with games and radio but with a 1.3megapixel camera, then there's the 6680 with flash! Aaarrggghhh....

    I guess there's a lot you can buy here Follen, for as long as you're the treasure hunter type. Plus being careful will help a long way.

    Chu and Dessagirl! Kakainggit kayo! Magkakaroon kayo ng phones na malamang mas maraming features kesa itong 6630! Waaaaahhhh!

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  11. I was just making my random rounds to other blogs when I saw this link appear in my "recent referrers" list. Lo and behold! I thought I was a big Star Wars fan, but this guy's collection dwarfs out even a toy shop's inventory! Check out his post about his collection here.

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  12. takot ako sa quiapo kasi muntik na kong manakawan dyan... buti na lang yung friend ko nakita nya at tinawag nya ko at napalingon ako sa likod, yung snatcher gumilid lang na parang walang kaalam-alam

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