Shoots on my List

We have recently concluded our second photo shoot and all I can say is that it was so amazing. It was like spring time in summer. That was the idea. A "Fashion Glamor Photo Shoot" that is.

As the winter here in Queensland slowly approaches, summer clothes have been slashed half prices and out comes the blazers and jackets. It may probably the best time to shop for summer clothes here in OZ now because of massive discounts. LOL

Photos by: Niko Bulaun

Make Up by: Kelly Grech

Wardrobe by: Joy Thurling and Kelly Grech

Kelly did an amazing job of strutting the concept. A natural! It was a well spent afternoon thanks to my amazing and ever so helpful set of photographer friends. We couldn't have done it well without each other's company and ideas. Kelly is also making it in the film industry in Sydney and I'm happy to have been part of her portfolio building. Watch out for her soon in the movie world. We are preparing for a "High Fashion Shoot" that is being conceptualized at the moment, so watch out for that in my coming blogs too.

The Blazers were heartily sponsored by Mrs. Joy Thurling, Hair and Make-up Artis and an Entrepreneur who has been styling people in her Salon here in Mackay, participated without hesitation by lending a couple of her blazers on display from her RTW Store. A big big thank you for saving me from the hassel of a wardrobe breakdown.

Thinking that I would have a hard time making and organizing photo shoots here, it seems as though that everything is falling into place. The first concept shoot that I organized wasn't that bad. Due to a series of unfortunate events, say 2 cyclones that hit northern Queensland all in just one week, my first shoot had to be rescheduled because it was facing up against the biggest cyclone that ever hit Australia. In the end, my first concept shoot was up on track a week after the horrifying weather. 4 Photographers, make-up artist Arvin "Posh" Litan, and 2 amazing models namely Rhiannan Bezzina and Frances Tanti.

Photos and concept by: Niko Bulaun

Hair and MUA: Karen Woods and Arvin "Posh" Litan

Models: Frances Tanti and Rhiannan Bezzina

Big Bang in Jan

Well, it's been more than a month now since arriving here down under. My oh my! I totally am having fun and having the time of my life. Someone said to me, "It's just being out and about...", and I'm glad I took his advice.

I started walking/running around the first week of January and it became part of my daily routine since then. I just  thought of doing something for a start and to keep me off from slacking around which can lead to a total sad phase of gaining unwanted weight again. LOL Since then, I never felt better. Having to wake up around 530AM everyday feels like a renewal of the soul.

I never thought that I can jump on a trampoline ever again... till 3 weeks ago. LOL The tramp that was setup at the backyard of my sister's house says it can hold up to 150KG, and I'm 99KG considering that I lost nearly 10KG's for the past couple of months. Feels like a kid again when I'm on the trampoline. It's a great fitness exercise too.

And for the major major events...

I googled "Mackay Photography Club" a couple of weeks ago and got a good hit on it. I was looking for a gang of photography enthusiasts here, where I am staying, so that I can meet up and join in. Fortunately, calling the numbers that were in the website that lead me, I got the right club. Coincidently enough, they were having their first meeting on that day when I called them. I just had to get involved. It's a great exposure for me having to be part of such great photography enthusiasts which by the way who are very very very good in photography.

January 29, 2011, I had my first swimming lesson... and it was oh so great! I never tried having swimming lessons when I was kid and I reckon that it was not too late for me to go through with it at my age. Pat Wright, very well known coach in Queensland who might have coached Geoff Huegill(I'm not really sure about this), trained me for my introductory swim and I felt honored about it. My wing muscles were burning from all the swim that I did. Holy! I might have done 300m but it was all gooooood. Tuesday's the next swim for me. And oh, first swim lesson was for free. Sweet!

Did I tell you that I had swam "the Great Barrier Reef"? Oh yeah! Words could not express the feeling of swimming in such wondrous body of water only found in part of the world. You can look into the album I posted in my Facebook account, which you'll have to add me first. I wouldn't mind adding blog friends, it would be an honor having you as my friends in Facebook :)

I recently got myself into boxing again, the gym right next to the hotel we were staying in Airlie Beach. I couldn't resist trying. Man oh man, 7months with out training is very tiring! An hour in the gym gave me a hard time! But I did good. Now, back in town, I managed to find a boxing club which training occurs every Mondays to Thursdays. The trainer was obnoxious though. He said that I could last 30min of the 1hour and 30min of training because of my physical attribute. Well mister, I maybe Fat but I'm not a slack. My body was built for athleticism but due to the past years of slacking, I gained weight. Everyone might have gone through that stage though. Well, I'm taking it as a challenge. Let's just see what I can do :)

I have recently organized my first Photo shoot and it's on. It's set on Tuesday, 1st of February. I don't really know how to organize such an event. I just observed how my friend Carmen Smith does it. I wrote about her Photo shoot not long ago. Looking for models was the toughest part. One time, while I was in the mall, I saw this girl who was working in this clothes shop. Her beauty and likeness to fit in my concept struck me. And I just had to ask her. She was keen about it at first but after a week, she declined... sad :( That was randomly epic of me to invite someone who I don't know to model for my shoot. Fortunately, I found a couple of fine looking ladies who fits my concept as well. When I was declined by the girl in the clothes store, it felt like being turned by a girl who you're wooing. Sh*t! LOL I'm not gonna give any hints about the concept that I'm making. You'll just have to see yourself when I'm done with it and make it as one of my blog entries for the future :)

And oh yeah, Since Australian Open Started, I got to watch the OZ open every day for the whole day. It's like watching NBA in America which I haven't really tried yet cause I never been to America yet. LOL

I have yet to try:

• Lawn Bowling
• Tennis
• Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef
• Cycling
• and making more lots of friends here in Mackay :)
• Sydney Trip 
• Gold Coast Trip with overnights

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I just wanted to writing instead of posting pictures for a change. Hope you all have a good read on this :)

Mile High

"Travel the world freely!" - someone who is anonymously insane, because traveling is expensive

Are you a jet-setter? If you are, get ready to take on the world! - How I wish I could just take my bags and leave in an instant, and fly somewhere in the world.

I'm actually just bumming the whole afternoon and thought of posts that might interest you. I came to realize a very interesting topic when someone told me that I should keep writing and traveling. I love to travel. I've made this point back in my older post. If you haven't read it, I suggest you click on this link: Child's Dream Gone Flying.

I want to share to you the places I've been to. First, let me share with you the places I've been to in the Philippines.

Baguio City with my ESA friends.















San Juan, La Union.
Surf Spot of Northern Luzon.
Surfing with my ESA friends.

Upper Left picture - My high school friends are on the way to Marbel

Me Standing Outside a very old Church - Church of Santo Nino, Cebu City.



Middle Left Picture - In our high school buddie's house in Marbel

Lower Left Picture - My cousin's mountain restaurant in General Santo's city.








I love the highlands.

Tagaytay City with my buddies.












Mountain Haven Resort
Eden, Toril, Davao City











Camp Sabros Zipline
Kapatagan, Digos City

                






   I Love the Big City, Manila!


















I've been to as up far as La Union in Northern Luzon and way down to Zamboangga in West Mindanao. I've been to cities like Bohol, Ilo-Ilo, Albay, Cagayan de Oro, and so much more. I don't have pictures of them though.

Let me share with you the International travelling I made, but this is all from my trip to Australia.

Upper Pictures:

This is where I stayed most often during my visit. Mackay.



Lower half pictures:

This is in Melbourne. South east part of Australia. The coldest place to be in OZ.

Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands
2hour drive from Mackay










Townsville, Austraila






The Gold Coast
a.k.a. Sin City, the party capital etc
This is where you party in OZ

Brisbane City, Queensland
Australia


The most comfortable place to live, personally for me.
It's climate is as nearly the same in Davao's.
I love this City.
I love everything about Brisbane.



I'll try Kite surfing one day. Afraid to be stung by the stingers in OZ.
Its how Steve Erwin died. Tragic death.




Brisbane High rise.






Stuffed Koala. Never had a chance to hold them, even kangaroos.

Back when I was in OZ, I haven't tried visiting Sydney, Alice Springs(Big Rock trademark) and the West Australia such as Perth and Adelaide. I'll definitely try to go there when I come back. Just a few months more of waiting. I'll try to hit Sydney first because the Rotaract Conference will he held there this November. I hope I make it in time.

One thing...

Whether your at the airport waiting...





or when you are driving somewhere...







Don't forget to try to eat things you haven't ate before.

I love to eat. I make sure I do that on my trip.

Eat



Live

&


Laugh



My next stops are:

Hong Kong -I've been there when I was kid
Singapore
Malaysia
Macau
Beijing
China
and the rest of Europe

I'll deal with the U.S. cities later...