tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265712402024-03-15T21:52:40.455+08:00The DJ who's not a DeeJayMy self-exposure to the world (and wherever internet is available)JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.comBlogger943125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-85058980595779006822024-02-02T00:15:00.002+08:002024-02-02T00:15:49.889+08:00I Spent Over 4,000 Dollars On Online Property - Was It Worth It?<p>Domain Dreams: My 20+ Year Journey Investing in Digital Property</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX7V5tKcGABHeObCZKANajF939COt9vlYIKvMRUONcfbMcnNhfD7h8spJL9fa5UKiZUygvkCJReLcsm6T3lcd5IKU5NCngmGf_f1bggWj0wpbwgyR27l8ma4VLBmxApHRr9VhZevBYEf59BtQYGG9FptWRe2HFvQAJoMv4b-yoq2Qp36VJbGw/s899/godaddy%20domains%202003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="899" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX7V5tKcGABHeObCZKANajF939COt9vlYIKvMRUONcfbMcnNhfD7h8spJL9fa5UKiZUygvkCJReLcsm6T3lcd5IKU5NCngmGf_f1bggWj0wpbwgyR27l8ma4VLBmxApHRr9VhZevBYEf59BtQYGG9FptWRe2HFvQAJoMv4b-yoq2Qp36VJbGw/w640-h538/godaddy%20domains%202003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Back in 2001, the internet was a wild west, and domain names were like gold nuggets. I, starry-eyed and optimistic, dove in headfirst, and at one time owned over 20 domain names. Two decades later, the landscape has changed dramatically, and my digital property portfolio is a mixed bag. I computed a total of over USD $4,000. for all my domain purchases since I started buying, So, was it worth it? Let's explore the world of investing in digital property, with a dose of real-life experience thrown in.</p><p>The Allure of Digital Real Estate:</p><p>In the early days, domains felt like prime real estate in the virtual world. They offered branding potential, website-building possibilities, and even a touch of speculative thrill. I envisioned catchy names becoming valuable assets, generating income through rentals or sales.</p><p>The Reality Check:</p><p>Fast forward to today, and the picture is less rosy. Some of my domains remained unused, victims of changing trends or niche markets that never materialized. Others have seen modest value appreciation, but nothing life-changing. The initial excitement has given way to a more pragmatic understanding of the market.</p><p>Lessons Learned:</p><p>Do your research: Don't just buy domains based on whims or trends. Research the keywords, market demand, and potential uses. Remember, a domain is only valuable if you're gonna use it or someone wants it.</p><p>Focus on quality, not quantity: It's better to have a few high-potential domains than a graveyard of irrelevant ones. Invest in names that are brandable, memorable, and relevant to a specific niche.</p><p>Be patient: Building value in a domain takes time and effort. Don't expect overnight riches. Think of it as a long-term investment, not a get-rich-quick scheme.</p><p>Explore alternative uses: Don't limit yourself to selling or renting. Consider using your domains for building websites, creating content, or even developing online businesses.</p><p>Is it Worth It?</p><p>Investing in digital property can be rewarding, but it's not for everyone. It requires careful research, a long-term perspective, and a willingness to adapt. If you're passionate about the online world and have a knack for spotting valuable names, it could be a worthwhile venture. However, remember, it's not a guaranteed path to riches.</p><p>My Final Thoughts:</p><p>The domains that were the most valuable to me were the ones I actively used to build websites because they added branding, value, and searchability on the net. I still buy domains with initial concepts and ideas in mind but don't always follow through on these projects. Sometimes, I do the research and deliberation after buying. It's always a risk but a calculated one if you know how to valuate your domains and your website.</p><p>My journey with domain investing has been a learning experience. While I haven't struck gold, I've gained valuable knowledge and a deeper understanding of the digital landscape. If you're considering investing in digital property, approach it with caution, do your research, and be prepared for the long haul. Remember, the most valuable asset you have is your time and expertise. Use them wisely to navigate the ever-evolving world of online real estate.</p><p>Do you have any experience with investing in digital property? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!</p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-31749223824165168272023-11-17T12:53:00.008+08:002023-11-18T13:11:05.450+08:00Uploading Thoughts To Net<p style="color: #252525;">I've been having a lot of thoughts, insights, opinions, and realizations and haven't been diligently adding them to my blog. I've been a bit preoccupied with a lot of stuff left and right, but I do think it's a missed opportunity if I don't get to share my thoughts with the world.</p><p style="color: #252525;">It may be something I have just learned but known to the public or an opinion that could be a subject for discussion and insights.</p><p style="color: #252525;">Using YouTube as my preferred search engine has also sparked my curiosity in multiple directions.</p><p style="color: #252525;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_-hcJx75cyKo83jqH6sMG6HWkcYNq-DZ1naLYlvK7EfFmhHcEZTYjrF_v7ucZfCT0ZK-vKjcFYvBksTrf3uDo9uUAVNzQcO04BVuAx_GnDSKUfGz1lXNX_iGI4REn_UMoC4EE7rhrGiHLKRQ7DpNEtORWCeobvedxEGoSj6CDa0YsOEXvsw9/s3264/PXL_20231029_060128031.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_-hcJx75cyKo83jqH6sMG6HWkcYNq-DZ1naLYlvK7EfFmhHcEZTYjrF_v7ucZfCT0ZK-vKjcFYvBksTrf3uDo9uUAVNzQcO04BVuAx_GnDSKUfGz1lXNX_iGI4REn_UMoC4EE7rhrGiHLKRQ7DpNEtORWCeobvedxEGoSj6CDa0YsOEXvsw9/w400-h225/PXL_20231029_060128031.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So what's my thought for the day? That's my thought. And I will think about it more by writing about it.<p></p><p style="color: #252525;">I hope you join me and my interests. Maybe some of them are yours too!</p><p>
</p><p style="color: #252525;">Writing mode: on.<br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-82804511630556569792023-09-27T18:25:00.006+08:002023-09-27T18:31:38.074+08:00Celebrating World Tourism Day with Wendy, the Travel WriterThe theme for this year's World Tourism Day is "Tourism and Green Investments," emphasizing the need for greater and better-targeted investments for people, planet, and prosperity.<br /><br />In celebration of World Tourism Day, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to catch up with my travel blogger friends and revisit their blogs. <span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqKIKpVkaWWO1NeGjQff3drj1lEEYWfnPfu0UvMEtYPG-5_P0sp563SoSm-8xKk9ZhN7rjuW38UtZdf-8h3uYg2kRDFINTDxKLQm4HXmPU-3IIHqRjB1UiM_Pl4TUhFDBMyI39RNWWZSZ4n2sXStmOAWu-0Mmw4aMB5HDb1YqyTUh3pjKqwsP/s3276/384495555_1389408595317760_7474936668418761221_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3276" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqKIKpVkaWWO1NeGjQff3drj1lEEYWfnPfu0UvMEtYPG-5_P0sp563SoSm-8xKk9ZhN7rjuW38UtZdf-8h3uYg2kRDFINTDxKLQm4HXmPU-3IIHqRjB1UiM_Pl4TUhFDBMyI39RNWWZSZ4n2sXStmOAWu-0Mmw4aMB5HDb1YqyTUh3pjKqwsP/w640-h400/384495555_1389408595317760_7474936668418761221_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wendy from <a href="http://whywendywrites.com">whywendywrites.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></span>I reconnected with my former colleague, Wendy Ng, who is passionate about travel and tourism. We worked as part of a Public Affairs team, but I was pleasantly surprised when I learned then that she is also a travel writer who has been writing about travel since 2013. <br /><br />Wendy believes that knowing more allows us to travel better, so she writes to provide useful information to travelers and to promote appreciation and understanding of the places they visit, as well as the local communities and their stories.<br /><br />Wendy's publications and guides have also appeared in a variety of media, including Tripadvisor, Klook, Skyscanner, Tripzilla, and others I personally use for reviews and suggestions. She has also worked with the Taiwan Tourism Administration Singapore, the Japan National Tourism Organization, and the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau, and she has published various travel guides for Japan and Taiwan. <br /><br />Knowing Wendy's vast travel experience, I asked her what advice she could give to other travelers like me, and what her message is for World Tourism Day.<div><br /></div><div>Here are a few tips from Wendy:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Immerse in slow travel by spending more time exploring places rather than only visiting well-known tourist locations.</li><li>Travel in a way that minimizes our impact on the environment and local communities. When we take vacations, we don’t stop caring about the planet.</li><li>Explore places using other modes of transportation like trains and buses. Even walking or riding a bike adds to your fascination and appreciation for the areas you explore.</li></ul>Insightful tips and I will try to include them in my next travel. And what message does Wendy have for us travelers this World Tourism Day?<br /><br />“On World Tourism Day, I encourage everyone to think about how they can be responsible travelers. We all have a role to play in protecting the environment and supporting the local communities we visit so that future generations can experience the beautiful places that the planet has to offer. Our travels may be short, but we can still make a big difference ”<br /><br />For more tips, see her newly renovated website <a href="http://whywendywrites.com">whywendywrites.com</a> packed with travel advice and guides.<br /><br />Thanks Wendy! </div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-43291766393295601422023-07-27T19:57:00.003+08:002023-07-27T19:58:48.211+08:00Remembering Having COVID Exactly One Year Ago<p>I can't say I'm celebrating an anniversary as it's not something I'd like to celebrate. But it's been just about a year since I experienced COVID-19 and acknowledging it is an understatement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxxMbz9pI7EEpalgugQYnRYEfgItegsXsBr_h2ZNJpHfzLAPsPXeI0bBBdEMBmCQQCnJ5VE7lRnTZJEMa2PGFn5EsN3o0Nl-a9MfQHDk4mPHpO9vzqYMDWOdTMbAo1COHiCwexbc6h7V6vrs2Ny-GIr2ntRtjMmoff1fyjq-mYKfl3_RHsfRR/s2095/COVID%20test%20positive%202022%20july%2023%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="2095" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxxMbz9pI7EEpalgugQYnRYEfgItegsXsBr_h2ZNJpHfzLAPsPXeI0bBBdEMBmCQQCnJ5VE7lRnTZJEMa2PGFn5EsN3o0Nl-a9MfQHDk4mPHpO9vzqYMDWOdTMbAo1COHiCwexbc6h7V6vrs2Ny-GIr2ntRtjMmoff1fyjq-mYKfl3_RHsfRR/w400-h223/COVID%20test%20positive%202022%20july%2023%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Having experienced COVID at a time when the pandemic wasn't able to assure you of getting well or having nothing to worry about is something that I will remember for my lifetime. </p><p>(Read my personal accounts of having COVID in 2022 <a href="https://www.jaydj.net/2022/07/scare-of-my-life-testing-positive-for.html">here</a>)</p><p>Health and wellness monitoring didn't stop after getting well from COVID. The side effect I experienced was having asthma which is something I never had in the past. I guess now I know what it feels like and have learned how to control or avoid it. </p><p>Fast forward to today in a world where a lot of health protocols have been suspended and are optional. It's good to look toward a new normal that doesn't involve fear of acquiring it. But I am well aware that the battle for complete eradication of the virus is not yet totally won. Staying safe is still something me and my family observe with additional precautions. It is my hope that the people who we interact and engage with face to face are also responsible for their respective health and wellness.</p><p>I think COVID-19 has managed to make everyone be more aware of their health and take extra measures to ensure they don't have the virus. On the other hand, there are some who think they are invincible, and immune, and have let their guard down just because fewer people are getting it. I pray for all of my loved ones to be safe from sickness and for doctors and scientists to continue discovering ways to eradicate this virus.</p><p>In the meantime, stay safe everyone, and don't keep your guard down.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-14896189146839100482023-07-13T15:42:00.002+08:002023-07-13T15:42:41.873+08:00What to Do When You Have Too Many Picture Frames<p>We've been decluttering since we merged all our stuff from 3 different places. You'll find out that duplicates of things per household will pile up and take up space. We've covered a lot of ground, especially with clothes and books. We're now on to decors and the one thing that we found we have a lot of are picture frames.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwrn98ElVW05eb81gfVpvAvMznMOCK6kPbDr_RpZqe7fF5ADFe5RXzLcDmnJoOY3clrYkJVSDu2MsVl1iWtGcMByhHCXufEmREW-RGmnQ7kR95wATNWLA2M2qhYS11aCRdaGklvkwQm_oK816SEp1u_Ixt5mroQl8tU0R-ckFOOWSbpOn6AYR/s4032/PXL_20230713_064516368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwrn98ElVW05eb81gfVpvAvMznMOCK6kPbDr_RpZqe7fF5ADFe5RXzLcDmnJoOY3clrYkJVSDu2MsVl1iWtGcMByhHCXufEmREW-RGmnQ7kR95wATNWLA2M2qhYS11aCRdaGklvkwQm_oK816SEp1u_Ixt5mroQl8tU0R-ckFOOWSbpOn6AYR/w400-h225/PXL_20230713_064516368.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Picture frames are a great way to display your memories and artwork, but they can also take up a lot of space. Dealing with too many picture frames can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some of these tips to declutter your frames and create a more stylish and organized home.<br /><br />1. Reduce the size of your frames. If you have a lot of bulky photo frames, you can resize them, add a mat, or use a floating frame to make them smaller. This will give your frames a more modern and streamlined appearance while also saving you room.</p><p>2. Clear out your picture frames. Examine your photo frames carefully and select the ones you truly adore. Remove any frames that no longer provide you delight or that do not match your décor. This will allow you to eliminate clutter in your home and make displaying your favorite images easier.</p><p>3. Display your frames in a creative way. If you don't want to get rid of any of your picture frames, you can creatively display them. You might use them to make a gallery wall, display them on a bookshelf, or even decorate a coffee table. Mix and match and try out several looks and locations.</p><div>I have a couple of certificates, awards, and achievements that were presented to me as picture frames. I don't intend to display any, so I decided to remove them from frames and look for a nice big photo album where I can have them well organized. </div><div><br /></div><div>One last tip. Before you remove your photos or discard your frames, take a photo of them so you could look back at how they once looked in your home. Taking a memory of a memory, I call it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy picture unframing!</div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-50060622636691145202023-07-05T15:53:00.002+08:002023-07-05T16:00:04.857+08:005 Creative Ways To Produce Fascinating Toy Photography<div><div>My Instagram account <a href="https://www.instagram.com/transformersad/" target="_blank">@transformersAD</a>, which is dedicated to toy photography, especially Transformers, has reached a new milestone of 1,500 followers!</div><div><br /></div><div>I began this account on January 1, 2022, intending to publish everyday images of my passion, toy photography. It's Day 550, and I've shared 677 posts so far, sharing multiple times on some days. </div><div><br /></div></div><div>Finding innovative ways to share images of toys online has been a lot of fun. In most cases, I force myself to think out of the box and challenge my imagination. After much experimentation, I've settled on a handful of tried-and-true methods that I often employ. Sharing some of my favorites:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. The fight scene.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1YPuRv8nxppcLVDDfAmZVVu_SCdjSXu7Rbvy2Fw-hDKuj1nHi5XygPtyaVM48OAVBufWzBA4uA6e7CjmBK0-5jXiMpOSU4elcCFoJ44KdRMnjlp7Wkc4sqJKF4OxI_Y0gUNmwCVfnVJVFIsf9wcpZ-Vjb8PpqZl_SRP7wUQDbm9Mp-7Hw219/s1080/IMG_20220528_201145_451.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1080" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1YPuRv8nxppcLVDDfAmZVVu_SCdjSXu7Rbvy2Fw-hDKuj1nHi5XygPtyaVM48OAVBufWzBA4uA6e7CjmBK0-5jXiMpOSU4elcCFoJ44KdRMnjlp7Wkc4sqJKF4OxI_Y0gUNmwCVfnVJVFIsf9wcpZ-Vjb8PpqZl_SRP7wUQDbm9Mp-7Hw219/w640-h456/IMG_20220528_201145_451.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The fight sequence, in which two or more robots engage in combat, always leaves viewers wondering who will emerge victorious. The robots can also strike a position worthy of a fight, whether that be a sprint, a jump, a kick, or a punch. One in midair or being flung by the other are two of my favorite examples. You can create a slow-motion video reel by simply dropping one robot onto another.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. The silhouette.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs_WwPh8l81C2sF3QEmLeLaxcWF2X20OWQQL_2gmZLk-dDERCB548FGAo7jnD9yHlvHzziEriDgfLTQTYzX-ux5-IFQM1_rywEGDbwp1ZBFCqM1NxksaHBzlcRmXv0EJXR5hS-LMCj2xXUYqWe46W7jwTeCJjtRK4G7rQuwEwoAMv-QCqZNHV/s940/Megatron%20wireframe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs_WwPh8l81C2sF3QEmLeLaxcWF2X20OWQQL_2gmZLk-dDERCB548FGAo7jnD9yHlvHzziEriDgfLTQTYzX-ux5-IFQM1_rywEGDbwp1ZBFCqM1NxksaHBzlcRmXv0EJXR5hS-LMCj2xXUYqWe46W7jwTeCJjtRK4G7rQuwEwoAMv-QCqZNHV/w640-h536/Megatron%20wireframe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Seeing an outline of Transformers in the dark will leave viewers guessing which one it is because each Transformer has its own distinct personality, features, and appearance. Some of them are simple to recognize, while others combine several Transformers into one and make it difficult to tell them apart. It's entertaining to speculate either way.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. The chase scene.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLugUf35B3vlIeCV3cPYOR5XhDUgwZsASQJeQHGw-a7Igb6bGZbTnX4XShcVJxHrFQWyveC9kI0wMKU43npMyqL6deuxJ21ib0azLUusjD7PJuXPN3F6NkzycPdBHh4LPEADhXNdaDtnWlW42IVjapLfVj1dKoPxtBJiKEojpTTy9oMBKr6v-/s4080/IMG_20230103_210856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLugUf35B3vlIeCV3cPYOR5XhDUgwZsASQJeQHGw-a7Igb6bGZbTnX4XShcVJxHrFQWyveC9kI0wMKU43npMyqL6deuxJ21ib0azLUusjD7PJuXPN3F6NkzycPdBHh4LPEADhXNdaDtnWlW42IVjapLfVj1dKoPxtBJiKEojpTTy9oMBKr6v-/w640-h482/IMG_20230103_210856.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Continuing on the action sequences, one chasing another will show speed, agility, cunningness, and determination to not get caught. All those can be represented in a photo. When in vehicle mode, I usually will place multiple cars with each car barely touching the ground to depict a high-speed chase. The challenge is giving each car the illusion that they're driving really fast.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. The upward shot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cSJieeCW7vX0MmFCIOWrn-cV_Jr92B3duyeyMcDWuvR75_BobjKQUVq7Rp4INxoRICKv8WuTxD6hNAx3L3LwqZrbNn9QfVKkrMG43vkdOAiKBkWr5ZgWPFzC3qBLRHsDb0fA2bxg9djN-NU9vfSUvWceQIeUz4VTKLp0Ms0sndgX4YbZYByn/s2835/IMG_20230612_144828_038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cSJieeCW7vX0MmFCIOWrn-cV_Jr92B3duyeyMcDWuvR75_BobjKQUVq7Rp4INxoRICKv8WuTxD6hNAx3L3LwqZrbNn9QfVKkrMG43vkdOAiKBkWr5ZgWPFzC3qBLRHsDb0fA2bxg9djN-NU9vfSUvWceQIeUz4VTKLp0Ms0sndgX4YbZYByn/w512-h640/IMG_20230612_144828_038.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div>These Transformers are substantially taller than humans, so they should look enormous next to us. Taking a low-angle photo with the camera pointed up at the robot is the simplest approach to illustrate this idea. Because of this, they look enormous. One difficulty is that their enormous bodies often completely conceal their heads. It might even work, albeit it might make it harder to see their head in the picture.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. The outdoor scene.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1FJ_20RoMLFBuQauq9SbEuSLe8DVCmdr2QhTYNrx0dOQQ_WncpXoE7Y600rTPa4Hs-tS5_ygtTrM2__U4o_0mti88GxPNFVPDtu3Po7dndN158QtQlSDJ0_3TOOnL8J0NI597RtpNpJd7IfN1U9foi9hSMS38s03EmOzaBRDjRoUhE8cY_k_/s1080/IMG_20230624_161203_253.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1FJ_20RoMLFBuQauq9SbEuSLe8DVCmdr2QhTYNrx0dOQQ_WncpXoE7Y600rTPa4Hs-tS5_ygtTrM2__U4o_0mti88GxPNFVPDtu3Po7dndN158QtQlSDJ0_3TOOnL8J0NI597RtpNpJd7IfN1U9foi9hSMS38s03EmOzaBRDjRoUhE8cY_k_/w640-h360/IMG_20230624_161203_253.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When staging toy photography indoors, you'll need plenty of room to set up your own backdrop, props, lighting, and toys. Enjoyable, though time-consuming. When you're outdoors, you don't need to set these up. You should look for a spot that will do as a backdrop for your playthings. The seaside and a rooftop are two of my favorite backdrops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_62NusXd7G-CihoNB0Lt0Yuvs6TRggSZuhrRT56iC4au4J-2l5koTRWVmYqxCw-zBpaS4mACkCyCH_BlxqptKCkengldR9UWiYnze7tq8OnTJKqI24Mo7Wixlny0eBe9Yg52Fl6C2wQrph9Q3b-BShQYICt-_-VRQZ49FneWf7S0JjNQ1JuT-/s1920/Screenshot%20Capture%20-%202023-07-05%20-%2015-49-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1920" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_62NusXd7G-CihoNB0Lt0Yuvs6TRggSZuhrRT56iC4au4J-2l5koTRWVmYqxCw-zBpaS4mACkCyCH_BlxqptKCkengldR9UWiYnze7tq8OnTJKqI24Mo7Wixlny0eBe9Yg52Fl6C2wQrph9Q3b-BShQYICt-_-VRQZ49FneWf7S0JjNQ1JuT-/w400-h206/Screenshot%20Capture%20-%202023-07-05%20-%2015-49-51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The last piece of advice I have is to take many pictures. Don't settle for just one, no matter how much you loved your last photo. Take pictures while striking a variety of positions and playing with a wide range of angles. They're useful for future reference and can inspire new takes on familiar scenes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Try these out and let me know how it went.</div><div>Happy photography!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-68939302304087025362023-06-30T09:43:00.001+08:002023-06-30T09:43:08.365+08:00I Started a New YouTube Channel - And It's About Cats!<p>Yes! It's called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYgTvHhLsA9NhzYLWMsGksQ" target="_blank">Grey The Tabby Cat</a>! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@greythetabbycat" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1536" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaEhRPBqw8uJ_D6LFNKbUNbDMfZMZKviIcd2N-r2jU3eGEj3V0wapgUOdau0FZj112uJ_G5BEA-dhsmhT5iOk1Y9FO10oLoKK1dKroaDGfIyFQCSfPJI629awOG8L28ZrPp74ux7h402t4zCHXcaDxWx_iWPXXrv5iGQC2deAT7KGXbIRfxx5/w640-h381/grey%20the%20cat%20YT%20channel%20screenshot%2020230630.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="color: #252525;">Backstory: For the past two years, I've been keenly studying and following YouTube strategies and have learned a lot about strategies, content creation, and managing a channel. I thought it would be a great time to put all my knowledge to good use and prove those theories, strategies, and tips right.</p><p style="color: #252525;">My <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@jaydj">main YouTube channel</a>, though, is really a personal one that I created way back in 2007. Since I wasn't actively recording video clips then, I was limited to the random video clips I took from my phone or of some place I visited if I brought my digicam with me. A few years later, I did a purge, removing videos that I found irrelevant or not in line with my channel. What was left were mainly music videos of me playing the piano or organ. As much as I enjoy playing music, I knew that recording music videos and posting regularly would take up a lot of time, not to mention the time I needed to practice and rehearse each song.</p><p style="color: #252525;">My channel is still there with all my music performances, but it's more for sharing with friends, and sometimes a few people like the music they hear. And I'm thankful for that. However, posting anything other than music may be counterproductive to its growth.</p><p style="color: #252525;">I created a test channel to learn more without disrupting my main channel. It helped me a lot to experience firsthand how to maximize its use, and I really learned a lot. So I was ready to create a new themed channel and apply all that I had learned. But what other topic should I consider?</p><p style="color: #252525;">I was always fascinated by how many cat videos were on YouTube, but I never thought of creating videos myself. After all, we didn't have a cat.</p><p style="color: #252525;">BUT WAIT!!!</p><p style="color: #252525;">We do have cats that visit us every day. They're feral cats that live in the neighborhood and visit most of the homes on our block, including ours. When we first moved in, we noticed a certain gray cat would roam around, seeming eager to meet the new owners. As a family, we found ourselves talking about the cat over meals, and so I figured that sharing this and our experience with a feral cat would be a nice niche for a YouTube channel. And so Grey The Tabby Cat's YouTube channel was born.</p><p style="color: #252525;">I'm happy to say that to date, there have been 13 episodes. I post once a week (every Friday night or Saturday morning) and upload a few YouTube shorts during the rest of the week.</p><p>
</p><p style="color: #252525;">Ready to binge-watch Grey and learn more about him and his life?</p><p>Here's an episode run-down:</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b0b65e38-7fff-2509-15c6-a433d63b8a7f"></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkdQ-8qMdBI">Intro to Grey / Trailer</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Zc0er7AiU&t=2s">Where Is Grey’s Sweet Spot?</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMLw3UqOL1U&t=30s">Uncovering The Secrets of the Garden of Grey</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj9MnpTO-ZY">Grey’s Night Out (From Dusk Till Dawn)</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOV7bWOjt-Y">How Grey Got His Name (It’s Not What You Think)</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2LucL0huHE&t=25s">Grey The Scavenger or Explorer?</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFlH9JxSeoo&t=2s">Did Food Lead Grey Here?</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czVg5zckn2M&t=1s">The Tale of Grey’s Tail</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lav6LRXHQw&t=15s">The Grey Heart (Not As Gray As You Think)</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6udz89VV82s">The Grey Montage / Grey The Model</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OstPRTadjRU&t=9s">5 Interesting Facts About Grey You Didn’t Know</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGHj-DG0oNY">Look out Grey: There’s a New Tabby In Town</a></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mzL0t9x2Eo&t=10s">Could This Young Tabby Be Grey’s Daughter?</a></span></p></li></ol><p>Do say "hello" to Grey the cat in the video comments!</p><p>Hope you subscribe and like the videos. </p><p>MEOW!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkwBiWLWv801fyN-PYQOlOWdEP_4kZXkCB2l78k2HaXq0d7h8hu07gOkc3Jb1qQMa1IGS8nQj9e_o-KsV5mNJOnPTFiQ_W190GZ2QyrcSl6vkTaEr85LpMsTiFkQfaeMpmhNpJvxyXetemObaEtaD0bwD3b_Njzur8hgRLdBMDY8WpdOLPFng/s1458/Grey%20the%20cat%20screenshot%20intro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1458" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkwBiWLWv801fyN-PYQOlOWdEP_4kZXkCB2l78k2HaXq0d7h8hu07gOkc3Jb1qQMa1IGS8nQj9e_o-KsV5mNJOnPTFiQ_W190GZ2QyrcSl6vkTaEr85LpMsTiFkQfaeMpmhNpJvxyXetemObaEtaD0bwD3b_Njzur8hgRLdBMDY8WpdOLPFng/w640-h360/Grey%20the%20cat%20screenshot%20intro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-404670919805873952022-09-30T18:53:00.003+08:002022-09-30T18:57:37.697+08:00How Toy Photography Enhances Joy For Toy Collectors<div class="separator">As a kid, I always loved playing with toys. I never grew out of my love for toys, and now as an adult, I enjoy collecting them. But what I really enjoy is taking photographs of my toys.</div><br />Toy photography has become a popular hobby among toy collectors. It's a way to show off your collection, and it's also a lot of fun. Taking photos of your toys can be a great way to enhance your joy as a collector.<br /><br /><b><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelFrHEtwiOcghE56OlJ4BlUSol5VX7bswi6wrcO06aWEDDkOY7cOVaCjrdavHhdUzvxi7Yy9Fity792AWHykxhHiLGMIU78IjnXS01wFJHRKvXPKexrR4v-Y3xuJdE7jetCdFdlXuhUcz02XWzTgqkf8UixCBiGlqwKboAFUGfZ_2kq-KIA/s1080/IMG_20220601_190223_144.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelFrHEtwiOcghE56OlJ4BlUSol5VX7bswi6wrcO06aWEDDkOY7cOVaCjrdavHhdUzvxi7Yy9Fity792AWHykxhHiLGMIU78IjnXS01wFJHRKvXPKexrR4v-Y3xuJdE7jetCdFdlXuhUcz02XWzTgqkf8UixCBiGlqwKboAFUGfZ_2kq-KIA/w400-h301/IMG_20220601_190223_144.webp" width="400" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div>Taking Photos of Toys For Fun</b><br /><br />Toy photography has been around since the early days of film photography, with early enthusiasts using their toys to create scenes and stories. Today, toy photography has evolved into a popular art form, with enthusiasts using creative techniques to capture images of their toys.<br /><br />Toy photography can be a fun and creative way to enhance your enjoyment of your toy collection. It can also be a great way to meet other like-minded people and share your passion for toys. <div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnivMUnWyKV_8Vf63jdeQ05rWhXEdtiTihtHHZD0Fbhb4hgX3r4KYDKrIMpEBcf1xIunH-rwrALtxSxHkixuwQVCPI0h5Vr73G179N8DW-4lh_IjpVSb0jp3Cdl_2lSPzI-8m9IIj5Tq7o3p5TLz2DGer9AMbDpL65bSESS6GYYrbbpSZ5w/s4080/IMG_20220709_215537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnivMUnWyKV_8Vf63jdeQ05rWhXEdtiTihtHHZD0Fbhb4hgX3r4KYDKrIMpEBcf1xIunH-rwrALtxSxHkixuwQVCPI0h5Vr73G179N8DW-4lh_IjpVSb0jp3Cdl_2lSPzI-8m9IIj5Tq7o3p5TLz2DGer9AMbDpL65bSESS6GYYrbbpSZ5w/w400-h301/IMG_20220709_215537.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Transformers, More Than Meets The Eye</b><br /><br />If you were a child of the 80s, then you probably grew up watching the original Transformers cartoon. The show was about a group of robots from space who could transform into vehicles, and they fought each other in an intergalactic war. The Autobots were the good guys, and the Decepticons were the bad guys. The show was hugely popular, and it spawned a huge merchandising empire.<br /><br />Transformers are one of the most popular subjects for toy photographers. This is likely due to the popularity of the original cartoon, as well as the fact that there are now multiple Transformers movies. Whatever the reason, there are some stunning examples of Transformers toy photography out there.<br /><br />If you are a Transformers fan, or if you just appreciate beautiful toy photography, there are several groups on Facebook and accounts on Instagram that share a lot of photos from fellow toy collectors. You might just be inspired to start taking pictures of your own collection!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz-Yh06cA9Axre2dB7tsmuYJbp0yX-p3Rnw_C2U5QoXIM9qEjGqUFaasKOFC7utBQMbupoPl3ucmaf4YoP3_tJLkyfzGNUY2Fxbppb0FhRy9C1cXNo3OErcNn8b0fhFWj1c2BXd_0k_2RyMPn7yUTFvgiir3as2d-BGR-4oFBBnPzf3wP-g/s4080/IMG_20220502_223355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz-Yh06cA9Axre2dB7tsmuYJbp0yX-p3Rnw_C2U5QoXIM9qEjGqUFaasKOFC7utBQMbupoPl3ucmaf4YoP3_tJLkyfzGNUY2Fxbppb0FhRy9C1cXNo3OErcNn8b0fhFWj1c2BXd_0k_2RyMPn7yUTFvgiir3as2d-BGR-4oFBBnPzf3wP-g/w400-h301/IMG_20220502_223355.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /><b>Quick Tips On Toy Photography</b><br /><br />Toy collectors know the joy that comes with opening a new box of toys. But the fun doesn't stop there. Toy photography can take that joy to the next level by giving collectors a way to show off their prized possessions and share their hobbies with others.<br /><br />With a few tips, anyone can create great toy photos. The first step is to find the right location. A plain background will make the toy stand out, so look for a spot that has good lighting and no distractions. If you're photographing outdoor toys, try to find a spot with some greenery or other natural elements.<br /><br />Next, it's time to set up your scene. Think about how you want the toy to be posed and what kind of mood you want to create. A diorama or other creative setting can add interest to your photos and help tell a story about the toy. Once everything is in place, it's time to snap some shots!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAz3X0wzP0wZFEfz4OsYgqd4TvtNz0Yyp9xWT0yc3Sdv0J1s0daol9tZyPK5v7YiWBuk8qsefsfZ4Gfx_6Ac4-MPavwkqgtgsJYzfFUh2aLws14UE-pZQPQMsz3igReEjmy30fe2jDoJ1lIxViMyaewiNMgWBcXtTVGLP9gnOZ4lNuWi1Wg/s4032/PXL_20220415_120355748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAz3X0wzP0wZFEfz4OsYgqd4TvtNz0Yyp9xWT0yc3Sdv0J1s0daol9tZyPK5v7YiWBuk8qsefsfZ4Gfx_6Ac4-MPavwkqgtgsJYzfFUh2aLws14UE-pZQPQMsz3igReEjmy30fe2jDoJ1lIxViMyaewiNMgWBcXtTVGLP9gnOZ4lNuWi1Wg/w360-h640/PXL_20220415_120355748.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br />Remember, there is no right or wrong way to take toy photos. Just have fun. You can check out my toy photography on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/transformersad">https://www.instagram.com/transformersad</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-74012333965368075542022-08-21T22:38:00.007+08:002022-08-21T22:50:57.835+08:00I Wore This Every Day For The Last Three YearsIn 2020, the pandemic forced most of us to stay home in lieu of lockdowns and avoid public places. The new norm forced a lot of daily dynamics to change, including clothes.<br /><br />Fast forward to 2022. Most of my clothes have either been in boxes or on hangers for the longest time. And the clothes that are in heavy rotation are my home clothes. Some of them are getting worn out. But I just realized what I wore every day during the pandemic: my slippers.<br /><br />And after over 3 years of using my slippers at home, even before the pandemic began, they finally gave out last month. My most comfy pair of slippers has made its last step.<br /><br />It took me a while to find a replacement of the same brand or a similar design, but I finally found one. It’s not as soft as my old pair and it needs some training because the strap keeps on twisting. In time, it will know my steps as much as Google knows my location.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP7k_PW6Lbx6OqMzLBBx7NmBIb6GF4OIegpG3DVNNVN0XtMOR0-cjF1ZqIlLgmf1GzUK_EPfAcpO3P__Ly5b9kTKUim4LnRyv2q3iIDo6DS-s2fPxVneURK8uAD-2Cv8qnoNaRBkKwVZewgRPKhhPzVtaN5GIKy5gVQNGi5oaFzP1B1q0rw/s2553/PXL_20220820_092721658~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2553" data-original-width="2259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEP7k_PW6Lbx6OqMzLBBx7NmBIb6GF4OIegpG3DVNNVN0XtMOR0-cjF1ZqIlLgmf1GzUK_EPfAcpO3P__Ly5b9kTKUim4LnRyv2q3iIDo6DS-s2fPxVneURK8uAD-2Cv8qnoNaRBkKwVZewgRPKhhPzVtaN5GIKy5gVQNGi5oaFzP1B1q0rw/s320/PXL_20220820_092721658~2.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>It is also comforting to know that my new pair of slippers can endure the toughest mountain trails, the steepest climbs, and the most extreme conditions. But the reality is that it won't leave home for its entire lifespan. So much for adventure. But I will wear you every day with love.<br /><br />Walk onwards.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Note: I actually bought thee pairs cause it was on sale.)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-20022648073813166192022-08-02T19:18:00.004+08:002022-08-02T19:22:01.749+08:00The Essentials for Self-Isolation<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">You run the risk of infecting others with a viral infection whether you have COVID or not. So, the best way to stop it from spreading is to isolate yourself.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d4c77026-7fff-dc8f-a2e9-bdbeb245503d"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isolating in a bedroom for a few days is bearable if you have your bare necessities. For longer periods of isolation, you may find yourself wishing you had more things in your room. You're essentially making your bedroom into a smaller version of your living space, so for the upcoming few days, your room will serve as your primary residence.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In situations where you must immediately isolate yourself, it is best to identify a room in your home and arrange items there in advance so that you don't have to worry about them and can reduce contact with your family.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To minimize risks, you should have a one-way policy. Whatever goes inside the room stays inside the room. That’s why it’s essential that you have items readily available.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Based on my experience, here are some items you’ll find handy if you have them readily available.</span></p><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plates and utensils. - You don’t need your entire kitchen in your room, but having your own fork, spoon, and knife, plus a plate and cup will come in handy during your meals. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cleaning solutions. - You’ll need dishwashing soap and a sponge to wash your eating utensils. If you have a bathroom, you'll also need it to keep your bathroom sanitized.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUR704txpq_52cmWfBYRSyKuX635O1z7zPIGboYVBrBuv8mGluKAfYQmgRKDH_VxzemClNgIG_blrHarYp60JclSJKk9DAJfX2r2SWojHMvPIlWBoCteRYfpZO7baRv1AM-8A1zHQOSgCIf65Yo8GHKXmg4HxCxWueJ96yt_dpCo8vbZtEg/s4032/PXL_20220724_145334490.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUR704txpq_52cmWfBYRSyKuX635O1z7zPIGboYVBrBuv8mGluKAfYQmgRKDH_VxzemClNgIG_blrHarYp60JclSJKk9DAJfX2r2SWojHMvPIlWBoCteRYfpZO7baRv1AM-8A1zHQOSgCIf65Yo8GHKXmg4HxCxWueJ96yt_dpCo8vbZtEg/s320/PXL_20220724_145334490.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hygienic materials. - Have a bottle of alcohol and some anti-bacterial wipes on hand. Sprays would also be handy in disinfecting your general area. You’ll also need a supply of masks for those instances when you need to open your door to receive something. And keep several boxes of tissue in the room. These are heavily used items when sick and you'll need more of them so stock up.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Medical gadgets and health boosters. - Have a thermometer to check your temperature, a blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure and pulse, and an oximeter to measure your blood oxygen levels and heart rate. For health supplements, keep a bottle of vitamins and other immune boosters handy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGw_Rw77-GzHhDfDl1Y8vjzBuLJUCY7LOeG0QG2sdbmY-WXWHkeGTcoJsdy8i9CpHhYLkViFJQeSRpjGFHgLrD1D5qfJdMLfUxOyM-PFQQ9Z3qpogHqxodCsLrxrK3kbyTB5IOlAASWEbrv1u-B3CeaIul5szLub501Lko2iDkgXayqqF2Q/s4032/PXL_20220802_104620544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGw_Rw77-GzHhDfDl1Y8vjzBuLJUCY7LOeG0QG2sdbmY-WXWHkeGTcoJsdy8i9CpHhYLkViFJQeSRpjGFHgLrD1D5qfJdMLfUxOyM-PFQQ9Z3qpogHqxodCsLrxrK3kbyTB5IOlAASWEbrv1u-B3CeaIul5szLub501Lko2iDkgXayqqF2Q/w400-h225/PXL_20220802_104620544.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clothes. - You’ll be alone, but you’ll still need to change clothes, especially since your general area may be contaminated with germs from your infection. Prepare luggage in advance with clothes. Pack as if you’re going on a vacation because you’ll be checked into your own room for a while.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cooking gadgets. - This may be optional, but it does come in handy, especially if you want a hot meal or hot drink. Having a kettle allows you to make tea or sterilize your utensils. If you have a small toaster, you can use it to toast bread or heat up food. If you have space (and an extra budget), you can also have a microwave to heat up leftover food for a hot meal.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Extra food. - Snacking foods like crackers or tea bags is easy to store and has a longer shelf life. They come in handy when you find yourself inside a room feeling hungry. If you have a mini-refrigerator, that could also be handy but it’s not a necessity.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trashcan. - Not all rooms have a trashcan by default so better to have one handy. This also includes trash bags and possibly gloves in case you need to manage and compact your trash. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing materials. - Have a notebook and pen ready to log your vital stats. I found it useful in writing down the dates and times I should be taking my medicine. When you’re sick, you’ll have more than the usual number of tablets to take and it may be confusing. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A webcam. - This helps your family monitor you remotely for any reason at all. Some webcams, like ours, have a two-way speaker, which allows you to talk and converse. It also gives your family peace of mind when they see you’re doing ok.</span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other things can help you cope with isolation, but you can prepare these beforehand so you won't have to worry about it and can focus on getting well.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope this helps. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take care.</span></p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwty49xKMcMTei1LAA-c0SsLrSB7eXxuPtEsG4OEjEcw_DfWmUtONNb54BgHh6lC5gRgTjoF8ZEAeBF9zQfeh7hwYas2kzJjUtMAQLeXs5ZxpCvyJglDiXjvkRF3mX0mWwvyRX_swfRTsfidaXcGHuM5IEl0QZ1Bpz5gIUaOXPv_dvC-UiaA/s4032/PXL_20220723_002136294.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwty49xKMcMTei1LAA-c0SsLrSB7eXxuPtEsG4OEjEcw_DfWmUtONNb54BgHh6lC5gRgTjoF8ZEAeBF9zQfeh7hwYas2kzJjUtMAQLeXs5ZxpCvyJglDiXjvkRF3mX0mWwvyRX_swfRTsfidaXcGHuM5IEl0QZ1Bpz5gIUaOXPv_dvC-UiaA/w400-h225/PXL_20220723_002136294.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-11166436548575375882022-07-27T22:45:00.000+08:002022-07-27T22:45:30.607+08:005 YouTube Travel Vloggers That Do The Traveling For You<p>One of the types of videos I like watching on YouTube is those of travel bloggers. Even before the pandemic, I would watch to see places I haven't visited or discover their experience in a place I may have visited in the past. Traveling also requires time, money, and effort. So these travel vloggers sharing their experiences are a great way to enjoy these destinations from the comfort of your own home.</p><p>There are a ton of travel vloggers and the types I like are the ones that don't treat their adventure like they're part of an "Amazing Race." The relaxed type of sharing is what I prefer. After all, I watch to relax and enjoy, not get stressed. Here are five travel vloggers I regularly watch and follow. </p><p><br /></p><div>1. One Pack Wanderers</div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/OnePackWanderers">https://www.youtube.com/c/OnePackWanderers</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tEvTQZYeU30" width="320" youtube-src-id="tEvTQZYeU30"></iframe></div><br /><div><br />I wasn't able to follow Tia & Cheveyo when they started traveling last year after quitting their jobs. What I like about their vlogs are their adventures, walking tours, and discoveries. I also like their laid-back style of storytelling and sharing. The travel vlogs I've watched so far are them touring Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, and South Korea. Check them out!<br /><br /><br /><br />2. Beer for Breakfast<div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BeerForBreakfast/">https://www.youtube.com/c/BeerForBreakfast/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C3jbc7zJcvQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="C3jbc7zJcvQ"></iframe></div><div><br />I've been following the British & Lithuanian couple of Micha & Justina for a few years now. I think I first discovered them when I stumbled upon their travel vlogs touring Siargao in the Philippines. From there, I got interested in their travel experiences and have been a regular viewer. The digital nomad couple has been to several countries in Asia and almost got stuck in India during the start of the pandemic. They've been in London for a bit during the lockdowns but have resumed traveling. They usually will feature non-touristy destinations which makes it exciting when they discover rare gems of a place. Their recent trips include Turkey, Nepal, Mexico, and the U.S.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>3. Tom and Meljean<br /><a href="#">https://www.youtube.com/c/TomandMeljean</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WT9tQ13DyS0" width="320" youtube-src-id="WT9tQ13DyS0"></iframe></div></div><div>Tom is from the UK and Meljean is from the Philippines. They're based in Cebu, Philippines, and are currently traveling to multiple destinations. So far they have been to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. They seem to find nice and affordable accommodation wherever they go.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Mergim Vlogs<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mergim1234567/">https://www.youtube.com/user/mergim1234567/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0FZb6UpKMRY" width="320" youtube-src-id="0FZb6UpKMRY"></iframe></div><div><p>Since the Philippines opened up its doors to foreigners after a period of lockdown, there has been a surge of travel bloggers visiting the Philippines. Mergim is a travel vlogger based in Thailand. I first discovered Mergim when he was contemplating on visiting the Philippines as well. He eventually decided to visit and he has been enjoying the many travel destination around the country since then. Mergim loves to interact with people (and animals) and this is what makes his vlog interesting. You can also see his genuine interest in learning more about all the places he visits as he sometimes shares a few historical facts about what he learned. He's been touring Manila and Tagaytay with his girlfriend Maya. Lately, he has been visiting different parts of Cebu.</p><p><br /></p>5. Xiao Qiang Walker<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR-vG0QG3PgCRriQviP7x5w">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR-vG0QG3PgCRriQviP7x5w</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z57BWNQX45c" width="320" youtube-src-id="z57BWNQX45c"></iframe></div><br />Among the five, this is a pretty unique travel vlogger. He walks around malls, streets, and popular places within Singapore with his 4K camera and records video. No commentary, no storytelling, just plain first-person video perspective while he walks through these places. I did something similar when I used to live in Singapore as I was mapping the area as a Local Guides contributor for Google Maps. I find joy in watching his walking videos and looking at the surroundings. It's actually through one of his videos that I found out that a lot of stores in my favorite mall in Singapore were gone. If you've lived in Singapore, you may be familiar with the place. If not, explore them through his videos.</div><div><p><br /></p><p>Happy virtual traveling!</p><p><br /></p></div></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-76823912404847156762022-07-25T17:40:00.001+08:002022-07-25T17:40:51.499+08:00Scare of My Life: Testing Positive for COVID<p>Since the start of the pandemic, chances are that testing positive for COVID is probably among the top fears on anybody's list. My family and I have actively made efforts to protect ourselves from the virus and take strict measures to ensure our health and safety.</p><p>Adhering to health guidelines, knowing how to safeguard yourself, and monitoring developments are things we've done to minimize any risks. There are just so many uncontrollable factors and situations that make the possibility of getting infected high.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHQBMvFaQ1QlRALk0J6S0LnD5QxHW7kqw_R_z9-4e5TJciVPYr-Ki_XyCE6-R6KgtG93TfZ6EcPOZ-gxJdtGV7j93kNlZ38egQJCfN7scL7aCuAtjTTes7LAlw_DquAWyAAOvud_r7PhQHnKtT6LN18S4Ab5_4EzUcYfH359attsLlKlm7Q/s2048/COVID%20test%20positive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1953" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHQBMvFaQ1QlRALk0J6S0LnD5QxHW7kqw_R_z9-4e5TJciVPYr-Ki_XyCE6-R6KgtG93TfZ6EcPOZ-gxJdtGV7j93kNlZ38egQJCfN7scL7aCuAtjTTes7LAlw_DquAWyAAOvud_r7PhQHnKtT6LN18S4Ab5_4EzUcYfH359attsLlKlm7Q/s320/COVID%20test%20positive.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>When you get it, a sense of panic will immediately sink in. As for me, I felt like a thousand thoughts and emotions rushed into my mind the moment I discovered I tested positive for COVID. <p></p><p>When you've accepted the fact and regained logic, your strategy suddenly shifts from defensive to offensive. Defending yourself from catching the virus ends when you're infected and you shift to offensive to combat the virus. It's not like other illnesses where you take your meds, rest, and wait till you get better. COVID attacks your body from different aspects and you'll find yourself battling coughs, colds, sore throat, and fever at the minimum while taking the right combination of medicines and constantly monitoring your body for any irregularities.</p><p>I'm on Day 5 of self-isolation and Day 3 since I tested positive for COVID. I am past the initial shock of discovering I tested positive and actively thinking of everything I can do to help myself recover. I was also shocked when I learned that our son also tested positive one day after me. I have to be emotionally strong so I can support my son and though I've only been infected one day ahead, I can use that experience to provide insight, guide him, and still help even while isolated and recovering.</p><p><br /></p><p>But for now, I need to rest my body and let it heal.</p><p>More on my experiences in the next blog post.</p><p><br /></p><p>Reflection:</p><p>Handling COVID is no walk in the park. Reflection and prayer help to clear your mind of negative thoughts and focus on a positive outlook. What is assuring is that even though I am in isolation, I am not alone.</p><div>Prayer:</div><p></p><blockquote>Even in isolation, I know You are with me. Please give us the power to heal and cast away our uncertainties as we face this infection. </blockquote><p></p><p><br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-90463111812254179942022-04-10T23:50:00.001+08:002022-04-10T23:50:38.807+08:00Marched During This Merry Month<p>March had more days than February but it still felt short. It's probably the feeling when many things are happening in life. In my planner, I've basically split my daily list into two, offline and online tasks.</p><p>The offline tasks are pretty much standard and deal with house chores like doing laundry, folding clothes, throwing the trash, sweeping the lawn, and trimming the trees. Other offline tasks include helping out my mother-in-law. </p><p>As for online tasks, most of it is managing utilities and online accounts. One thing I miss though is receiving more emails. It somehow provides an easier sense of what you need to know or do in one consolidated.</p><p>So in no particular order, here are some things that happened during the month:</p><p>1. I discovered that the nearby park regularly sells fruits and veggies twice a week. I get to buy apples, oranges, pomelo, bananas, melon, watermelons, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber. Now it's more convenient to buy healthy food. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSU5Kyb3mu2CT8Jhq2RL0crTpxTHKIn-2gQUIWGg2Hv9WU7vD5snf92cQzZw5Q57FukSx1bICNJrTjugwcUHYCXhGCBpSd_bgEoFGak033xHi8UDJcP6Y692dQC7tdCrULLOZkG3M444UXH_qb7AGCPaavn1eiPoXdU40JTyXn7t91TyF7Kw/s4080/IMG_20220406_161830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSU5Kyb3mu2CT8Jhq2RL0crTpxTHKIn-2gQUIWGg2Hv9WU7vD5snf92cQzZw5Q57FukSx1bICNJrTjugwcUHYCXhGCBpSd_bgEoFGak033xHi8UDJcP6Y692dQC7tdCrULLOZkG3M444UXH_qb7AGCPaavn1eiPoXdU40JTyXn7t91TyF7Kw/s320/IMG_20220406_161830.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>2. I revived a 12-year-old desktop that belonged to Aileen. This was a challenge I was excited about as it's been a while since I've been able to tinker with computers. Unearthing decade old apps also felt like bringing back a time machine. I was successfully able to upgrade this desktop from Windows 7 to 10. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XWrv49s8VD5VLT2jfpIvl92GTjeUg0YupRf_zOAxZEknXKNdsAgb4FbPMjOnLG_n77_BB5S9hxNvfy7P8wxKsbyrH9nXE3zo1fyw1Tp0Suth0XZXB6hi-Q9AXPbGt96uPFWV0UB-Whjy_UgfQTA3ndHWPoNyYNxW8n5Ifkbm0eaw7qDw_g/s4032/PXL_20220328_022126429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XWrv49s8VD5VLT2jfpIvl92GTjeUg0YupRf_zOAxZEknXKNdsAgb4FbPMjOnLG_n77_BB5S9hxNvfy7P8wxKsbyrH9nXE3zo1fyw1Tp0Suth0XZXB6hi-Q9AXPbGt96uPFWV0UB-Whjy_UgfQTA3ndHWPoNyYNxW8n5Ifkbm0eaw7qDw_g/s320/PXL_20220328_022126429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>3. I gave an online training workshop on social media for Peace Corps Philippines. The last time I conducted training was around 5 months ago and it was just for one hour. This time, I had to prepare a workshop that would last for 8 hours spanning three days. It challenged my skills both in social media and presenting. I'm happy to say that I got good feedback from the participants and glad to know the tips and takeaways were handy for them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dqEkHTziRM1IWwK641TOh3AoKdKfAYLnbNc0kxdapjPUgNdLLnTaNV88i1KtNXbah-d9utIZP5PEkuWj78wGzBQ-R5dOpdC6NDLBiktDNeFnb52h6SUFz4AgZ9jqRtiue9v1Js1jVUE3MjQWEimdm5BPYxCzxUnNQK1g0QtNTcsAaeq7Mw/s4032/PXL_20220307_014603185.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dqEkHTziRM1IWwK641TOh3AoKdKfAYLnbNc0kxdapjPUgNdLLnTaNV88i1KtNXbah-d9utIZP5PEkuWj78wGzBQ-R5dOpdC6NDLBiktDNeFnb52h6SUFz4AgZ9jqRtiue9v1Js1jVUE3MjQWEimdm5BPYxCzxUnNQK1g0QtNTcsAaeq7Mw/s320/PXL_20220307_014603185.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>4. My toy photography-themed Instagram account has taken off to a very good start. It's also a great testing ground for me to try out the social media strategies I learned. Check it out at <a href="https://instagram.com/transformersAD">https://instagram.com/transformersAD</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjMBneBJSvnJW9QcAD8jk0FimgRQ3efI2mQ53TyyOTOze7_tNg40EZMK8lx1WnEsWf7DAv5r-2y4XTI4P_zxiYboUsjkfGuCIiL9DQSFjw53psli_TkZwKPkIgohE7yIK5CFl2WyRolIB0sc-KvEC5NuR0oAu5NsMNTCFKgWfnOB7cISkyA/s4080/IMG_20220325_215943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjMBneBJSvnJW9QcAD8jk0FimgRQ3efI2mQ53TyyOTOze7_tNg40EZMK8lx1WnEsWf7DAv5r-2y4XTI4P_zxiYboUsjkfGuCIiL9DQSFjw53psli_TkZwKPkIgohE7yIK5CFl2WyRolIB0sc-KvEC5NuR0oAu5NsMNTCFKgWfnOB7cISkyA/s320/IMG_20220325_215943.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p>5. I won a few freebies just by posting on Instagram. One was a voucher for Philippine Presko coffee, and the other was for a Korean kimchi sauce called bibimbud. Nice to have these unexpected surprises pop up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxDFcHpl3mWqAAbD41sHPI6dVf-ZQQ3saVhdRll4T8uuy6kQPJM68Qw9RcKm2KvYODziEwPaZdBfsm_73Avtu1JLwCyZX8IoXCFkimozb887p3s1pb9ulnTgbjK7uTAspbAP35qkr_sNb0Dpjw5j-Kfkbdqp-Y0VbmyUk8cHfNAYXLY6FQA/s1968/1648269055705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxDFcHpl3mWqAAbD41sHPI6dVf-ZQQ3saVhdRll4T8uuy6kQPJM68Qw9RcKm2KvYODziEwPaZdBfsm_73Avtu1JLwCyZX8IoXCFkimozb887p3s1pb9ulnTgbjK7uTAspbAP35qkr_sNb0Dpjw5j-Kfkbdqp-Y0VbmyUk8cHfNAYXLY6FQA/s320/1648269055705.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><p>Even if I've been professionally using social media and providing content, strategy, analytics, and management, I'm back to studying online, striving to learn more about everything on social media.</p><p>So that's March. Warmed up and ready to sprint.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmJ0hjWLY1_A9IA1SX3zAsYjyiTSzIomb0Cjvj45Lot0lczSaQwrrSeG2iMW7r2ACidI-uBDYHGWmUx6d4Q9taVdmSUntWvudoJMCEVwxvIJvf6oZY_WoZ3raCm1ewQj0Weml_dVkGuqxjJ-tEJowroQlcEWcf8XWmOladd1GrcgUA-eTAg/s3264/PXL_20220320_090305729.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmJ0hjWLY1_A9IA1SX3zAsYjyiTSzIomb0Cjvj45Lot0lczSaQwrrSeG2iMW7r2ACidI-uBDYHGWmUx6d4Q9taVdmSUntWvudoJMCEVwxvIJvf6oZY_WoZ3raCm1ewQj0Weml_dVkGuqxjJ-tEJowroQlcEWcf8XWmOladd1GrcgUA-eTAg/s320/PXL_20220320_090305729.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-78981877184145889942022-03-05T17:53:00.001+08:002022-03-05T17:53:52.462+08:00February 2022 Roundup: Short and Busy<p>To sum it up: it was short!</p><p>Technically. all Februaries are shorter, even during a leap year. But I guess I felt that with a lot going on, I wished there were a few more extra days to February so I wouldn't feel I needed more time.</p><p>First off was that I was able to secure some legal documents like a certificate for a new residence. Changing addresses though also requires updating a lot of info associated with your address so I'm doing that little by little.</p><p></p>I also terminated our cable TV subscription. We heavily use YouTube and Netflix, plus we're also subscribed to other streaming services like HBO, Hulu, and TFC (The Filipino Channel). The only thing I think I'm gonna miss on Cable TV is the aquarium channel.<p></p><p>I've also been assembling different furniture and storage items. Assembling a desktop computer from scratch excites me. I don't have the same enthusiasm for furniture, especially if the instructions are in Chinese. The peak of my excitement is when I'm done assembling it. I'm proud to have assembled two metal racks, a rotating bookshelf, two bedside tables, and a few small tables. Did I mention that I have a backlog of more things to assemble? <br /></p><p>Workwise, I'm happy that I will have the opportunity to teach an organization the ins and outs of social media. I'm excited to share the years of experience I've gained and I sincerely want to help them by being an effective instructor. I also realized I haven't been using Zoom in a while and I'll need to practice hosting along with switching windows, slides, and engaging. </p><p>Healthwise, I'm more actively and aggressively monitoring my food intake. Taking in less sugar, avoiding non-healthy foods, and doing household chores as my exercise. I hope to get healthier each day.</p><p>And finally, I got to visit mom. As February's pandemic cases decreased, it gave me a chance to visit mom at the cemetery. Unfortunately, it was raining while I was there and it took me 10 minutes to look for mom's tombstone. I actually thought mom was hiding from me for not having visited her for over two years. I was so happy to finally find mom and we have a long moment. I had a lot to say. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDJ0XE3V1l9Bb7c8L7s9PPJduIKr21c4n6dA07khWkT8vsed3IJETdlgX14L9UbI1ux3n2sm16LfRLch4zKlaaDjS2mkGwKYZaEN_eZ2UBgZMvcP0exPUlUK2566HeHBBudThnXNEe43UO93BhbG_60g8_x_lKuSmO9wEDTGp5gxb7mqVnrw=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDJ0XE3V1l9Bb7c8L7s9PPJduIKr21c4n6dA07khWkT8vsed3IJETdlgX14L9UbI1ux3n2sm16LfRLch4zKlaaDjS2mkGwKYZaEN_eZ2UBgZMvcP0exPUlUK2566HeHBBudThnXNEe43UO93BhbG_60g8_x_lKuSmO9wEDTGp5gxb7mqVnrw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it for February!</div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-86379975953557837852022-02-01T17:16:00.002+08:002022-02-01T18:24:49.302+08:00The First 31 Days of 2022 So FarThe first few days of 2022 mainly set the mood for the rest of the month and it wasn't as I and many others expected. People who tested positive for COVID-19 skyrocketed to the thousands daily in the Philippines. It was apparent when it also appeared on my social media timelines of friends and acquaintances sharing their unfortunate health status and hoping to recover. It makes the scare personal given people you know are a part of the growing number of cases.<div><br /></div><div>So the month was mainly a lockdown for us for our own safety. My family stayed at home for the entire month and I only left home for a few essential errands, including getting a booster shot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our city government had a scheduled vaccination day reserved for our village and since I completed my vaccinations over 6 months ago, I was due for my booster shot. Thanks to their drive-thru vaccination site, it lessened my anxiety of having to fall in line with several others for a vaccination. Even if I was alone inside the car, I was double-masked, wore a face shield, and even wore my "keep your distance" statement shirt. The process was smooth and I got my booster shot in less than an hour. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgdqyamx_VbV_el9iFggn2FeTZ9F5HviJdoXW9iRRX0zVnE643z9h7MXHVwObg3L9zg8rKig6NAaO2VWM0519FJ6dkKH53vNS3nTVi6IUW13YMzH5pP0DjsIMfPVmcgY8iUW6125SFcC1QHVnWlGY4KmzJW72qG24XWtrFJpwxzEwyd_6mrA=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgdqyamx_VbV_el9iFggn2FeTZ9F5HviJdoXW9iRRX0zVnE643z9h7MXHVwObg3L9zg8rKig6NAaO2VWM0519FJ6dkKH53vNS3nTVi6IUW13YMzH5pP0DjsIMfPVmcgY8iUW6125SFcC1QHVnWlGY4KmzJW72qG24XWtrFJpwxzEwyd_6mrA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I was hoping for minimal side effects and heard stories from my friends about their experience after getting the booster. For me, I experienced a sore arm and felt tired the whole day. The next day, I had a slight fever accompanied by fatigue and just rested in bed the whole day. When the fever subsided, I just needed to wait out a prolonged headache which was at that point annoying cause it prevented me from doing anything cause even looking at my phone caused me a headache. It was Day 4 when I felt normal once again and immediately resumed my backlog of house chores.</div><div><br /></div><div>This month, I also had to postpone some tasks and plans, including visiting my father-in-law at the cemetery and my mom for her 4th death anniversary. Hopefully, I'll get to resume some tasks and be able to visit them too.</div><div><br /></div><div>While at home though, I kept myself busy being a social media consultant and content creator for a client. All I can say is I'm learning a lot about Qatar and its culture.</div><div><br /></div><div>As part of my self-enrichment plans, I took an online course on personal branding for Instagram and </div><div>enrolled in a few more courses to enhance digital marketing strategies. Some of the topics served as a refresher and some served as valuable insights for an ever-changing social media landscape. I was excited to put some of the strategies into execution and thus, I finally created an Instagram account for my toy photography. Follow <a href="https://instagram.com/transformersAD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">transformersAD</a> on Instagram to see more of my work.</div><div><br /></div><div>
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<br /></div><div>On the hobby side, I haven't been able to set up photoshoots for my toys but it's a good thing I have thousands of photos from my archive. Hoping I'll be able to work on this more and create stunning phoTOYgraphy in the months to come.</div><div><br /></div><div>February 1 marks the Lunar New Year and it's the year of the tiger. I was born in the year of the tiger but I choose not to wait for any opportunities, luck, or success but plan to chase them like a tiger.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-80250147165474273642021-11-10T23:05:00.001+08:002021-11-10T23:05:01.623+08:00Things To Bring When You Quarantine In a HotelThe dynamics of serving quarantine in a hotel are completely different experiences from staying in a hotel for a vacation. From spending our first few days in quarantine, my wife and I prepared a few things we thought would make our quarantine stay more comfortable. One thing I learned that may be useful when the country you are transiting to requires a mandatory stay at a hotel for a few days is bearing this in mind:<div><br /></div><div><b>"You are your own housekeeping."</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In the pre-pandemic days, you either would sync your time leaving the hotel during the time housekeeping would drop by. And when you return, your room is neat with the bedsheets nicely folded, the snack bar is fully stocked with snacks and drinks, and toiletries in small sample-sized containers are nicely displayed beside the sink. And in case you weren't leaving the hotel just yet, you could simply call housekeeping to tidy up your room.</div><div><br /></div><div>During quarantine though, no one is allowed to enter your room. So guess who does this for you? No one else but you. So these items can make your quarantine stay a better one.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Snacks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_168rI2mfLQ/YYva4bjnXjI/AAAAAAAHMCQ/JvR9uQtgrAko4FnLPtWkx_C4mJZNatwzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s3875/IMG_20170820_164822%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2961" data-original-width="3875" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_168rI2mfLQ/YYva4bjnXjI/AAAAAAAHMCQ/JvR9uQtgrAko4FnLPtWkx_C4mJZNatwzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20170820_164822%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We had the luxury of choosing our meals from the hotel menu. Other hotels though have a set menu leaving you with not much of a choice on food selections. And even if you do get to select from a menu, you may have tried everything on the menu after a few days. Bringing snacks offers a bit more variety with your food choices. </div><div><br /></div><div>Don't rely on the usual snack bar that's stocked during a regular hotel stay. Our refrigerator and snack counter was empty. I think it has to do something with disinfecting everything in the room between guests and preventing any consumable items left in the room.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Sponge and soap</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sn0JyFu1YE/YYvXlWSaFpI/AAAAAAAHMCI/YM7EJ3bZLJkJhpNovIwVzGrtS930uqG3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/PXL_20211109_044342136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sn0JyFu1YE/YYvXlWSaFpI/AAAAAAAHMCI/YM7EJ3bZLJkJhpNovIwVzGrtS930uqG3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PXL_20211109_044342136.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dishwashing utensils aren't the usual items you'll find in a hotel because that's the job of housekeeping, except during quarantine. There are a limited number of cups and silverware available. Even if plastic forks and spoons are provided per meal, it's nice to use actual silverware. And if you do, you'll need to wash them for the next meal.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Your devices (preferably with streaming subscriptions)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbQWkoFrjoM/YYvbs64iX-I/AAAAAAAHMCY/nNt9k8uD2ikJv-__lnk0wOEmzdizrItBACLcBGAsYHQ/s3550/PXL_20211109_045406445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2240" data-original-width="3550" height="202" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbQWkoFrjoM/YYvbs64iX-I/AAAAAAAHMCY/nNt9k8uD2ikJv-__lnk0wOEmzdizrItBACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PXL_20211109_045406445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>If your hotel provides cable TV, then that's great. But why be constrained with the limited choices when you can have more. Your Netflix, Hulu, Disney, or any other streaming platform subscription will especially come in handy for entertainment. </div><div><br /></div><div>4. Your creativity</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3trxsUPM-E/YYvdlgy5S3I/AAAAAAAHMC4/1L1icsl7Vm0FuPGbsj3tOPR-RhbecGzFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2673/PXL_20211108_163215687%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2673" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3trxsUPM-E/YYvdlgy5S3I/AAAAAAAHMC4/1L1icsl7Vm0FuPGbsj3tOPR-RhbecGzFACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PXL_20211108_163215687%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't think of quarantine as prison or punishment. We actually treated it as a staycation and welcomed the time to rest and relax after the stressful preparation for travel. Take this time to recharge and rejuvenate. This doesn't necessarily translate to eat, sleep, and repeat. There are things you could do during the day to keep your mind active while still taking this mandatory break. I did some exercises and was surprised to total over 6,000 steps in a day while walking inside our hotel room. Some photography also put my creativity to the test. The bottom line is don't feel sad during quarantine.</div><div><br /></div><div>We just finished our hotel quarantine after getting our negative swab results and as much as we were happy to go home, we didn't regret staying at the hotel serving quarantine. Good luck with quarantine if you're required to go through one and have a pleasant experience.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-44267681512746966292021-11-01T12:04:00.004+08:002021-11-01T12:24:22.050+08:00The Hairy Experience<p>Caution: Vanity post. (I have one every few years)</p><p>During the first few months of the pandemic, most of the world was in a state of lockdown or some sort of directive to stay home. On my social media feeds, I saw friends either cutting their own hair or having someone cut their hair in hopes that it could possibly resemble a decent haircut. Some have succeeded. More have failed and are just relieved they don't need to go out and be seen.</p><p>I, on the other hand, took this opportunity to grow my hair long... a.k.a. pandemic hair.</p><p>The last time I sported long hair was way back in college. I only had a few photos as proof, and I can't quite remember how I looked. I do remember making the mistake of going to a beauty salon for a hair relaxing treatment (cause I had wavy hair.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKGYz14rYs4/YX9m90_t6NI/AAAAAAAHJfU/mP5_QB_EzhQmpYraoz4RZelm69WFzKr9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PhotoGrid_Plus_1635739236208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="2048" height="247" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKGYz14rYs4/YX9m90_t6NI/AAAAAAAHJfU/mP5_QB_EzhQmpYraoz4RZelm69WFzKr9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PhotoGrid_Plus_1635739236208.jpg" width="320"></a></div><p></p><p>This time around, I had different reasons for letting my hair grow for the past one and a half years, and I wanted to share why.<br></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRZaxhcDqvs/YX9iY7zYb0I/AAAAAAAHJeU/dMsZcBmvA5E5LkMIpX_mQA7_1VUjDo3GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1912/PXL_20210817_063647207-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="1912" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRZaxhcDqvs/YX9iY7zYb0I/AAAAAAAHJeU/dMsZcBmvA5E5LkMIpX_mQA7_1VUjDo3GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PXL_20210817_063647207-COLLAGE.jpg" width="320"></a></div>1. To see how wavy my hair really is. My hair was straight when I was a kid and started becoming wavy when I turned 9 years old. Every time my hair grew an inch or two longer, it would go haywire. One of the ways to prevent my hair grow in different directions was to maintain short hair. So what did I recently discover? I discovered that my hair would curl naturally when long. <p></p><p>2. Reminds me of my mom. I probably inherited my mom's wavy hair. Having wavy hair reminds me of how mom would always say I also had curly locks, and it runs in the family.</p><p>3. Staying at home. Staying at home and working from home meant that I didn't have to meet people in person. Meetings were virtual, and I could easily tie my hair to hide it and make it neat. This also meant that getting a haircut last year was close to impossible, which was totally fine with me.</p><p>4. Trying out different hairstyles. There aren't that many you could try out when your hair is short. So far I got to try the ponytail, the full-bodied teased up hairdo (which actually is my fancy term for the look when I just woke up) and spiked hair (with a ton of supergel.) Spikes don't work on curly hair and any possible pointed hair strands turn into a doodle (or scribble) like form after a few minutes. </p><p>5. Thinning hair. When your hair is getting thinner, you'd want enough hair, hopefully to compensate for the balding areas. Having long wavy hair helps in covering thinning spots and gives the illusion that I still have a decent amount of hair... but not for long. </p><p>6. Last chance. You can't grow long hair if you don't have any hair, to begin with. And looking back at the last decade, my thinning hair is not going to grow as much as hair as it used to. </p><p>7. Pandemic. I had an ideal plan to get a haircut when the pandemic ends. But we all now know that the virus is here to stay for the long run. So scratch that plan.</p><p>Overall, it was both fun and challenging for my scalp to support more than it's used to.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-60715218694004429702021-10-17T13:30:00.000+08:002021-10-17T13:30:56.670+08:00Back to Blogging Soon<p>To all who's visited my previous blog posts despite not having updated for a few months, thank you, especially to those from Indonesia which my blog had a surge of visitors from last September.</p><p>I'm on my last week being a content creator for an employer. I'll soon be shifting my content creation efforts back to my blog and other online platforms. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gw_JoE0__OE/YWuygEQRjgI/AAAAAAAHGQs/9fycOxP_svELGJpq6ObUqNSZEFcfJvplQCLcBGAsYHQ/s3651/PXL_20211011_045328085%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1987" data-original-width="3651" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gw_JoE0__OE/YWuygEQRjgI/AAAAAAAHGQs/9fycOxP_svELGJpq6ObUqNSZEFcfJvplQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h217/PXL_20211011_045328085%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Opening doors soon leading to new realms.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Looking forward to reconnecting with everyone here and on social media.</p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-75143632026345930042021-04-09T19:00:00.001+08:002021-04-09T19:00:00.242+08:00Song Review: "O Sige Lang" by Adjeng Buenaventura <p>It's been a while since I've written about Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Even if I haven't been in direct contact with the Philippine music industry in the last decade, I've been following OPM hits and listen to Filipino songs whenever I can.</p><p>That's why it was a joy to learn that my good friend Adjeng Buenaventura is releasing her first solo single. I fondly remember Adjeng as part of the bands <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Yh7RYWa1DqX88MFzTlXEe?autoplay=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sipol</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KrOV56XfwU5as0cNfimX3?si=ZBhil5SsROaXMw62b6tXCA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wink</a>, which I still listen to till today thanks to Spotify. I clearly remember <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5QHkLv8Wck" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adjeng</a> having a soothing and distinct clarity in her voice which didn't need to hit the highest of notes (birit) to demonstrate power. It's definitely welcoming to know she's back in the music scene.</p><p>Listening to Adjeng's single "O Sige Lang" for the first time gave me the vibe of an 80's feel-good pop song. The upbeat tempo and catchy chorus strike you immediately before you realize that it's a song with a hopeful outlook on love expressed in the form of a dance. </p><p>What's noticeable is that the lyrics are purely in Tagalog. It's not common to hear lyrics like "nasasabik sa udyok ng ating galaw at tiyempo" and "nais ko sana ang tanging kasayaw mo" but the poetic lines fit the melody. </p><div>The catchy chorus can get you easily singing "O sige lang" while stomping your feet to the beat. And if the cover art could come to life, I could visualize this song fit an anime soundtrack with the camera constantly panning around a teen couple dancing and having the time of their lives. </div><div><br /></div><div>From a technical aspect, the musical arrangement has the potential of being a favorite among songs in a songwriting competition. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, Adjeng's melodic voice, paired with a catchy feel-good melody and light-hearted story makes this song a nice addition to your OPM playlist.</div><p>Follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Adjeng-116349770491786" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adjeng on her official Facebook page</a> for updates.</p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4QxGk4A1RI/YGiBrtpUxCI/AAAAAAAGRxc/FI3PZupDXKQWoTQtF9rTpf5A9ZLRP-xqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s3000/O%2BSige%2BLang_3000x3000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4QxGk4A1RI/YGiBrtpUxCI/AAAAAAAGRxc/FI3PZupDXKQWoTQtF9rTpf5A9ZLRP-xqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/O%2BSige%2BLang_3000x3000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;">Lyrics:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Di mapakali</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Di matahimik</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nabibingi sa tibok ng puso kong ito</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bawat sandali at bawat pintig</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nasasabik sa udyok ng ating galaw at tiyempo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kung alam ko lang na pwedeng</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Maging masaya ng ganito</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Eh di sana matagal nang binuksan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ang pinto nitong pusong nananalangin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O Sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tara na’t sumayaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sana huwag nang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Matapos ang kanta</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sige lang, sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Puso ko’y humihiyaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Huwag ka naman sanang mawawala</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Di man magaling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O mahusay ang giling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kaya natin sabayan ang isa’t isa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kahit natatawa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O may halong hiya</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Di babalik sa upuan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Dahil kasayaw kita</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Darating para sa akin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ang nararapat na katapat ko</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nais ko sana ang tanging kasayaw mo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">habambuhay walang iba kundi ako</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tara na’t sumayaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sana huwag nang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Matapos ang kanta</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sige lang, sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Puso ko’y humihiyaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Huwag ka naman sanang mawawala</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wala nang pakialam sa tingin ng iba</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Basta lang makasayaw at makasama ka</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tara na’t sumayaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sana huwag nang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Matapos ang kanta</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sige lang, sige lang,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Puso ko’y humihiyaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Huwag ka naman sanang mawawala</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O Sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tara na’t sumayaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sana huwag nang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Matapos ang kanta</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sige lang, sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Puso ko’y humihiyaw</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Huwag ka naman sanang mawawala</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O sige lang,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O sige lang</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">O Sige lang</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-56391311284474118872021-04-03T19:40:00.001+08:002021-04-03T19:41:07.061+08:00Celebrating Mass Virtually In The Philippines<div>The pandemic has made it challenging to hear Sunday mass but thanks to technology, virtual masses are available online. For those who live outside the country, including Overseas Filipino Workers, this is a perfect chance to hear mass online and revisit their previous parishes when they used to live in the Philippines.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a list of virtual Philippine Catholic masses in selected areas in the Philippines.<br /><br />Marikina City: <a href="https://t.co/C4EuQYll97?amp=1">http://marikinalife.com/2021/03/virtual-sunday-masses-in-marikina-city.html…</a> <div>Paranaque City: <a href="https://t.co/NYJjlQdHVA?amp=1">http://paranaquelife.blogspot.com/2021/03/catholic-churches-in-paranaque-and.html</a></div><div><div>Manila (Manila Cathedral): <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themanilacathedral">https://www.facebook.com/themanilacathedral</a></div><div>Laguna: <a href="https://virtual.reality.travel/visita-iglesia-laguna/">https://virtual.reality.travel/visita-iglesia-laguna/</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--kq08Ew_P4A/YGhPGTvAzDI/AAAAAAAGRvc/j2h6-6nuekwB8uHBy1ueTOUK_P-UhYVeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Screenshot%2BCapture%2B-%2B2021-03-07%2B-%2B23-10-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1920" height="198" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--kq08Ew_P4A/YGhPGTvAzDI/AAAAAAAGRvc/j2h6-6nuekwB8uHBy1ueTOUK_P-UhYVeQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h198/Screenshot%2BCapture%2B-%2B2021-03-07%2B-%2B23-10-53.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">(virtual mass at St. Paul of the Cross, Marikina City via Facebook)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-55268955724454009902021-01-27T00:22:00.002+08:002021-01-27T00:23:04.956+08:00If I Could, I Would<p>Have you ever had the feeling that you want to help someone so much but can't? Not because you don't want to, but because you don't have the capacity to do so. These are my sentiments and maybe yours too when your capabilities aren't the right ones to help the ones you love. </p><p>But if I had these powers, I only have one answer for my beloved wife. </p><blockquote>If I could walk those steps so you won't need to break, I would.<br />If I could digest what you can't eat so you can taste, I would.<br />If I could shed your tears so you won't need to weep, I would.<br />If I could offer my arm so your veins won't bruise, I would. </blockquote><blockquote>If I could share your pain so you'll feel less of it, I would.<br />If I could free you from your sadness and anxiety, I would.<br />If I could do all this for you in an instant, I would.<br /><br />I would simply because I would do anything for you. I would.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rk1lPRsY91c/YBBBhZF_6DI/AAAAAAAF8qk/q3Nmt-Tl8t8Si_cboJU2tQi2CatrdcAdACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/if%2Bi%2Bcould%2Bi%2Bwould.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rk1lPRsY91c/YBBBhZF_6DI/AAAAAAAF8qk/q3Nmt-Tl8t8Si_cboJU2tQi2CatrdcAdACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/if%2Bi%2Bcould%2Bi%2Bwould.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p> </p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-55388353294982021702021-01-02T18:02:00.004+08:002021-01-02T18:31:54.156+08:00Making My 2020 Stand Out <p>The entire 2020 is now a memory that will not be forgotten both historically and personally. The year predominantly placed the pandemic in the spotlight and made other news revolve around that. As everyone was forced to a lifestyle adjustment, we each had our own way of adapting to the new normal.</p><p>I have my own set of small achievements, memorable moments, and new things I tried for 2020. This is not a list of ground-breaking achievements or goals reached. It's just ten things I want to remember my involvement and efforts for 2020. In no particular order...</p><p><br /></p><p><b>1. Work from home (for months).</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hayvEhsjt54/X_AU4dBFCZI/AAAAAAAF0IE/xLJ61eExJN4RM0kHmMWUx2AYJizQk70IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4224/IMG_20200708_204758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3136" data-original-width="4224" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hayvEhsjt54/X_AU4dBFCZI/AAAAAAAF0IE/xLJ61eExJN4RM0kHmMWUx2AYJizQk70IwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h297/IMG_20200708_204758.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our extra bedroom served as my office away from the office.</div><p>The last time I worked from home was over a decade ago when I was a freelance digital consultant for social media and web. The dynamics of working at home then and now were a whole lot different. First off, working from home a decade ago didn't prohibit you from working at a cafe, or going out. It just meant that I wasn't working in an office environment. The big difference here was working from home while incorporating a corporate structure into the workflow. That meant getting used to virtual meetings, accessing everything from the cloud, executing entire projects online, and focusing on work despite the more convenient and cozier environment. What can I say? I survived.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2. Reached <span face="Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">Level 8 on Local Guides. </span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5vjbk1bRqN0/X_AkxCOlPCI/AAAAAAAF0Js/rJnVunAYKKgmPU_LjbT2ArL9OU9MZ53-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s568/google%2Blocal%2Bguides%2Blevel%2Bup%2B7%2Bto%2B8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="568" height="383" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5vjbk1bRqN0/X_AkxCOlPCI/AAAAAAAF0Js/rJnVunAYKKgmPU_LjbT2ArL9OU9MZ53-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h383/google%2Blocal%2Bguides%2Blevel%2Bup%2B7%2Bto%2B8.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face="Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">In February 2020, I finally reached Level 8 on Local Guides. </span><span face="Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">A level 8 status on Local Guides means you've earned at least 15,000 points by contributing to Google Maps. It was a long way to Level 8 but I made it. The next level is </span><span face="Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">making a heroic impact to get to Level 9 with the added challenge of travel restrictions. The journey continues.</span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b>3. Took toy photography to a new level.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBnRaO4HMY8/X_AZQ4QbMgI/AAAAAAAF0Ik/CW68SwDrbMkvairRfcLkaSu9W0QvwzomgCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/PXL_20201213_152348383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBnRaO4HMY8/X_AZQ4QbMgI/AAAAAAAF0Ik/CW68SwDrbMkvairRfcLkaSu9W0QvwzomgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/PXL_20201213_152348383.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Since I was staying at home, I took the opportunity to enhance my toy photography skills. I took hundreds of photos using tripods, lightboxes, lens add-ons, light sources, and camera tricks to come up with toy photo. I made up for my lack of drawing skills by using different apps to transform my photos into toy art. I printed my favorite works to resemble trading cards. Want to see more? I post on Twitter at <a href="https://www.twitter.com/transformersad">https://www.twitter.com/transformersad</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>4. Wore shorts (with a coat and tie) to work.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j03B_T5lXg0/X_Ab5uw--xI/AAAAAAAF0I4/Vg4eFafO068O9glWvibpTMOXBdbmCPSNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1758/IMG-20200623-WA0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j03B_T5lXg0/X_Ab5uw--xI/AAAAAAAF0I4/Vg4eFafO068O9glWvibpTMOXBdbmCPSNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-20200623-WA0005.jpg" /></a></div><p>I wanted to dress up for my birthday which fell on a work day. So what did I do? I wore a coat and tie to work. Work just happened to be from home so my outfit led to a mixture of the two. Hence, this attire.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>5. Started a new educational social media project.</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjKbBuu1cjo/X_AfWhG215I/AAAAAAAF0JI/vQIt__RQveUDHoLAZo8EeQcGiyySnnxSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s755/anongsalita2021.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="755" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjKbBuu1cjo/X_AfWhG215I/AAAAAAAF0JI/vQIt__RQveUDHoLAZo8EeQcGiyySnnxSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h305/anongsalita2021.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learn a Tagalog word every hour and its English translation.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If I didn't already have enough social media accounts, I created another one. After some research on the theme, content, scripts, and automation, I created the twitter account <a href="https://twitter.com/anongsalita" target="_blank">@anongsalita</a>, which is a Tagalog phrase for "what word." Inspired by the Twitter account <a href="https://twitter.com/everyword" target="_blank">@everyword</a> that tweeted every word in the English language, @anongsalita tweets a Tagalog word alphabetically every hour. I've enhanced the tweets since it started in January. It now includes an English translation and randomly displays photos of the word or a visual representation of the word. It became educational for me when there were words that even I didn't know what it meant. Since there are over 20,000 Tagalog words in the dictionary, this will take quite a while. What's the word of the hour? Check it out at <a href="https://twitter.com/anongsalita" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/anongsalita </a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>6. Went on intermittent fasting for half of the year.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsZvOaGhG6s/X_AjXaohpYI/AAAAAAAF0Jc/HN0LzkMSjdk5eqdDEhXPy_gsh43SKkXUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s4224/IMG_20200103_094352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="3136" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsZvOaGhG6s/X_AjXaohpYI/AAAAAAAF0Jc/HN0LzkMSjdk5eqdDEhXPy_gsh43SKkXUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20200103_094352.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Water, lemon water, tea, and more water, filled my tummy this year.</div><p>Staying at home slightly took a toll on my weight. Not being able to go out and exercise didn't help either. So I did some research and decided to try intermittent fasting, which in the simplest sense means to fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8 hour period. For me, the biggest change meant not having breakfast. How did I do? Here's a glimpse of how it started (<a href="https://www.jaydj.net/2020/08/i-didnt-eat-for-800-hours-day-50-of.html" target="_blank">I Didn't Eat For 800 Hours And Survived</a>.) I took a holiday break which started two weeks earlier to <a href="http://aileenapolo.blogspot.com/2020/12/embracing-oddball-ness.html" target="_blank">care for Aileen</a> but I'll resume as soon as the extended holiday season is over.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>7. Google map contributions reached over 38 million views.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrdZzadVE1Q/X_A5LkX2qEI/AAAAAAAF0PU/YimP4QlZbWElcP5Si7Rxsj48xTMtPmIvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/1609578763088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1080" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrdZzadVE1Q/X_A5LkX2qEI/AAAAAAAF0PU/YimP4QlZbWElcP5Si7Rxsj48xTMtPmIvgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h224/1609578763088.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>In January 2020, my combined photo contributions to Google maps reached over 20 million views. Just before 2020 ended, my photos got an additional 13.9 million views. Overall, all my contributions to Google maps reached over 38 million views. I was hoping it would reach 40 million by the stroke of midnight on New Years Day but even if it didn't reach that milestone, I'm equally as overwhelmed with the number of views. Thanks to my Local Guides summit batchmates for the continuous inspiration to help and reach out to the public through the wonderful service Google maps provides. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>8. Learned how to perform a song live through livelooping and record it.</b></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gjvjb7q2WAg" width="560"></iframe><p>I had the gear. I had the equipment. I had the musical skill. I just needed to figure out how to put them all together in a nicely wrapped video. I had several tests and practice sessions and chose the best setup and strategy to pull everything off live on my own. Livelooping is basically a music technique where one person plays one instrument/music track at a time and when the melody loops, adds another instrument and more until a full beat and melody is achieved good enough to pass for a live performance. I did run into several technical challenges like using up all the space on my laptop but in the end, I'm pleased.</p><p> </p><p><b>9. Attained new gaming victories and leadership.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Htm6dSW-Dc8/X_A_Q6nzEXI/AAAAAAAF0Tk/ryjE2364XbwHSRBbvACUpFNign3sCybCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/Screenshot_20210102-173519.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="1080" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Htm6dSW-Dc8/X_A_Q6nzEXI/AAAAAAAF0Tk/ryjE2364XbwHSRBbvACUpFNign3sCybCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h175/Screenshot_20210102-173519.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>I was way behind my gameplay status in Final Fantasy XV (A New Empire) at the start of the year. I've been playing this game since 2017, and met good virtual friends along the way. They even supported me when I had my knee surgery. I stayed because I consider them my onling gaming family. Since I missed the gameplay, I rebooted and created a new account, and founded a new guild called "Kobra Cai" (inspired from the Netflix series "Cobra Kai" and yes, the spelling was intentional.) As the new guild was slowly growing, a sudden turn of events from my old gaming family suddenly appointed me as the new leader. So now, I lead two guilds. I didn't see that coming. </p><div>My other victory came in the form of reaching the final level of Pokemon after four years of playing. It took a lot of strategy, effort, and walking to attain that and like winning the Oscars, I wrote my acceptance speech <a href="https://www.jaydj.net/2020/08/it-took-me-exactly-four-years-to-get-to.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Pokemon Go trainers around the world, including <a href="http://aileenapolo.blogspot.com/2020/12/finally-reached-level-40.html" target="_blank">Sweetie Aileen</a> would relate how fulfilling it is to achieve something every other player would want to attain. </div><p><br /></p><p><b>10. Sported long (uncontrollable) wavy hair.</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exDAM0x3gpk/X_BCbxxBr-I/AAAAAAAF0WM/SA6Ya7AV1S0N_DCeovXuA9HEKwbGtVxFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2046/IMG_20201218_105226-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exDAM0x3gpk/X_BCbxxBr-I/AAAAAAAF0WM/SA6Ya7AV1S0N_DCeovXuA9HEKwbGtVxFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_20201218_105226-COLLAGE.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the neatest it is before it goes haywire.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was the perfect time to grow my wavy hair way longer than my usual. With the lockdown/quarantine months in play and most people were cutting their own hair or leaving the fate of their looks to someone else, I surely knew I wasn't gonna go down that route. My son had a headstart by growing his hair late last year, and I figured that this may be the last time I would be able to grow my hair long while I still have hair to grow. After nine months of letting my hair run wild, it did just that. My mom would totally understand the unruliness of my locks defying gravity as hers did too. You should've seen this mom. </p><p><br /></p><p>Overall, 2020 has been a standout year for different reasons. I also learned some hygenic and health skills such as wearing masks for extended periods of time, consciously distancing myself from someone who forgets how long one meter away from me is, and to pinpoint the exact location of a cough and head away from that direction immediately. </p><p>2021 is here and I'm ready to face a new set of tasks, skills, and challenges. Let's make this year stand out for the right reasons.</p><p>Happy New Year! </p><p><br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-63779360291191851862020-10-12T22:15:00.004+08:002020-10-12T22:51:25.904+08:00Becoming a Brand Ambassador For A Watch: Time To Decline<p><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last time I've been asked to be a brand ambassador or endorser for a product was many years ago. I totally understand because I haven't been actively blogging. I did receive some a couple of paid Instagram assignments in the last few years but turned them down. Most of them were about fashion and lifestyle, and after looking at the product, it's something I felt that I couldn't endorse or represent because it just didn't fit my personality. </span></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I was surprised when I received an e-mail inviting me to become an Instagram brand ambassador for a watch. I was flattered of course, but after I set that quick fuzzy feeling in, it was time to investigate.</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnww_MbAhm8/X4RczyuefHI/AAAAAAAFdV4/BK2tLzV6MUYYqfCMYnA1t82rnly49BLDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s849/myblissbody.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="849" height="420" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnww_MbAhm8/X4RczyuefHI/AAAAAAAFdV4/BK2tLzV6MUYYqfCMYnA1t82rnly49BLDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h420/myblissbody.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><Decided not to respond to this e-mail><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I didn't respond immediately. I spent the day working on my hobbies since I had the day off. In the evening, I returned to the e-mail and was going to respond saying thanks for them visiting my Instagram account and considering me but would politely decline their offer.</p><p>I remember blogging about a <a href="https://www.jaydj.net/2007/02/4-days3-night-stay-at-crown-regency.html" target="_blank">scam involving free hotel accommodations</a> way back in 2007 which gained over 200 comments from others who received the same offer.</p><p>I did find the e-mail suspicious, especially the part asking me to pay for shipping for something I didn't ask for in the beginning.</p><p>So I searched the net for similar invitations and <a href="https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/blissleggings.com?rid=32" target="_blank">found a bunch of results</a> from other victims receiving a similar e-mail. The e-mail structure is pretty much the same with the sender's name varying in certain e-mails. Some people continued their investigation checking if the person works for that company. Not only were those names not associated with the company, but even their title seems nonexistent.</p><p>It's not worth mentioning the company as I prefer not to give them more publicity even if it's a negative one. You can just refer to the image.</p><p>If there's anything good I got out of this is that it was flattering to think of the offer to become a brand ambassador for anything, but this "time," it's time to decline and move on.</p><p>That's it. Time's up!</p><p>Do follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaydjnet/" target="_blank">Instagram at jaydjnet</a>.</p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-70592056239733808652020-08-10T23:06:00.000+08:002020-08-16T23:07:28.229+08:00It Took Me Exactly Four Years To Get To Pokemon Go's Last Level<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">A few weeks before the virtual Pokemon Go Fest, I noticed that on August 4, 2020, I would have been playing Pokemon Go for exactly four years. I've played games for a year or two before losing interest but then the way the game has evolved has made it interesting for me and thousands of others to continue playing.</span></p><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I haven't reached the last level yet, Level 40 and I figured that this would be the perfect time to reach the last level.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAOl21GVfUo/XzlKk10KAMI/AAAAAAAFVUs/fE_-z0qKhSM9T4r0s8LDbyqQiIcBvxigACPcBGAsYHg/s2340/Screenshot_2020-07-21-00-41-55-577_com.nianticlabs.pokemongo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAOl21GVfUo/XzlKk10KAMI/AAAAAAAFVUs/fE_-z0qKhSM9T4r0s8LDbyqQiIcBvxigACPcBGAsYHg/s640/Screenshot_2020-07-21-00-41-55-577_com.nianticlabs.pokemongo.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I had no regrets buying an e-pass for Pokemon Go Fest. (I actually bought my pass an hour before the event started.) Thanks to the virtual event, I was able to gain a lot of XP points. As much as it helped, I still lacked a few hundred thousand XP to boost me to the last level. I had a few days left and did some calculations, there were three ways I had to gain the remaining XP points: catch 300 Pokemons, gain 10 great friends or acquire 1 best friend status. Catching 300 Pokemon when I was very low on Pokeballs didn't seem to a feasible option and I couldn't possibly gain 10 great friends in such s short span of time.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">On the day of my 4th anniversary, I was still short of XP points and I was about to give up when I noticed that I only needed 180K XP points to get to Level 40. I suddenly realized that the only instant way to gain this much is to have one of my Pokemon friends become a best friend. And that friendship level will only be unlocked if you've been friends with that person for at least 90 days and have been trading gifts with each other regularly. Once unlocked, you gain 100 XP points. Use a lucky egg and it doubles your XP. Instant 200 XP points! With an instant light of hope, I instantly scrolled through my Pokemon's friend list to see if anyone qualifies,</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I found a few but I knew they wouldn't qualify as we haven't been friends for at least 90 days. I needed someone I knew I have been Pokemon friends with for a while. Almost losing all hope, I finally spotted a long time blogger friend who's on my list, DON! Don is an avid Pokemon Go player who our family as known for years as a fellow blogger. In fact, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">we've met with a couple of times to trade pokemons and talk about the game. Don and I were a gift away from becoming best friends and I immediately sent him a message to tell him that he is my one and only hope in advancing to Level 40.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">Don happily agreed and after sending a virtual gift, we became best friends and just like that, I gained 200K XP points which increased my status Level 40! Thank you Don!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdQmEV_fvGY/XzlI3qJgbvI/AAAAAAAFVUM/TuQ_DwN1F-s4HoN_pFYaxzlaCMzN-ivYQCPcBGAsYHg/s2340/Screenshot_2020-08-04-11-21-55-754_com.nianticlabs.pokemongo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdQmEV_fvGY/XzlI3qJgbvI/AAAAAAAFVUM/TuQ_DwN1F-s4HoN_pFYaxzlaCMzN-ivYQCPcBGAsYHg/w295-h640/Screenshot_2020-08-04-11-21-55-754_com.nianticlabs.pokemongo.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">So on my 4th year anniversary playing Pokémon Go, after catching over 30,000 Pokémon, visiting more than 30,000 pokestops, walking over 3,000kms, and gaining 100+ friends from all over the world, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I finally reached Level 40!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGeZfcpd8cI/XzlJqqAjFGI/AAAAAAAFVUg/5lwBYSvEIvExC-OvMiqMpkpZ22oD2XqEgCPcBGAsYHg/s2340/Screenshot_2020-08-04-11-22-00-472_com.nianticlabs.pokemongo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="513" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGeZfcpd8cI/XzlJqqAjFGI/AAAAAAAFVUg/5lwBYSvEIvExC-OvMiqMpkpZ22oD2XqEgCPcBGAsYHg/w236-h513/Screenshot_2020-08-04-11-22-00-472_com.nianticlabs.pokemongo.jpg" width="236" /></a></div></span></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">Pokemon Go has not only been a game for me. It's been a way of family bonding when we would all go out and catch Pokemon. It was a way of bonding between my son who knew a ton of knowledge of Pokemon Go, which became our go-to for any questions on Pokemon from evolutions, generations, strengths, battle strategies, and anything and everything about the game. It</span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"> led me to gain over a hundred of friends from all over the world. It was a nice and exciting topic to share with friends online who also played the game. It's been a way to discover new places. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">It was a way of collecting Pokemons from all over the world associated with memorable places we've visited. It was a way to walk and exercise more when you didn't feel like exercising. Overall, it was a whole lot more than just another game. It's been a friendly companion for the past four years.</span></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">Thank you Niantic.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="641" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GHdHSEkg9PA/XzlI3vnMq2I/AAAAAAAFVUM/F0y8H7YmqFAPSBwNTL8v27B34OzJV0qygCPcBGAsYHg/w295-h641/Screenshot_2020-08-04-11-22-28-377_com.nianticlabs.pokemongo.jpg" width="295" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26571240.post-62437536323654589742020-08-09T22:40:00.004+08:002020-08-09T23:24:39.142+08:00I Didn't Eat For 800 Hours And Survived (Day 50 of Intermittent Fasting)<p>It's been 50 days since I started intermittent fasting. How was it? It was stepping into unchartered territory and eventually conquering a fear.</p><p>I basically spent the first two weeks getting used to my "new normal" of skipping breakfast and having lunch exactly 16 hours after fasting from the previous night. So that translated to starting my fast around 8:30pm and taking my next meal the next day around 12:30pm. My main concern at first was breaking away from the typical mindset instilled in me all my life that breakfast is an important meal of the day and will give you the energy to last the day. I do enjoy having breakfast but I'd rather skip breakfast than lunch or dinner.</p><p>What eased me into the 16 hour fast was having green tea in the evening and 500ml lemon water replacing breakfast. I must admit that the most difficult hours are the last few hours ending the fast especially around 11:00am when I could hear my tummy growl every few minutes. I really didn't feel any starvation or craving during fasting. Being busy with work also helped me forget I was fasting. </p><p>What was effective for me was thinking that the last few hours of my fast were the crucial hours where my reserved energy stored in fats was being burned. And just before fasting, I think of it as starting a timer. Make a mistake by snacking or eating afterwards and you'll have to reset the clock and start over again. The later you fast, the later you'll get to eat after the 16 hour fast. Most of it is just a mindset and putting things in a certain perspective that makes sense to you. That's what worked for me.</p><p>In addition to the 16 hour fast, I also became conscious in selecting foods to eat. I dropped any fried foods from my intake and cut down on sugar where I could. I also increased my water intake to 3 - 4 liters of water a day. </p><p>After a month into intermittent fasting, I lost 5 pounds. I know it's not a lot but it's a bonus for me as I decided to undergo intermittent fasting mainly for the health benefits. Losing weight is just a bonus. It's the lifestyle change I"ve accepted that would serve as a long term investment on my overall health. </p><p>I didn't do much exercise during this period as I wanted to see first what intermittent fasting alone could achieve. Now that I'm comfortable with this regimen, I'm gonna add more exercise and continue intermittent fasting. In 2015, I challenged myself to remove rice from my diet completely for a year and I actually extended it to 400 days. I'm determined to take on this more difficult challenge and hope to transform myself into a healthier me.</p><p>50 days done. On to the next 50. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBFgca7T2rM/XzAKSYAs61I/AAAAAAAFVAM/7Lqj-5WCrFk4SRElXhSSJ7uJZ271AO8rACLcBGAsYHQ/s3098/IMG_20200722_131323%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2792" data-original-width="3098" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBFgca7T2rM/XzAKSYAs61I/AAAAAAAFVAM/7Lqj-5WCrFk4SRElXhSSJ7uJZ271AO8rACLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h462/IMG_20200722_131323%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>JayDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00885561994032320274noreply@blogger.com0