The Bible of catalogues for museum design. The drawing on yellow tracing is just an option I contributed to a pool of design schemes for a facade in the province.

I have been working for five months already.  I started working in my classmate’s mother’s firm not too long after my application stint with ASYA. The  factors in my decision making were

1. Transportation / Location – The firm’s located in Pasong Tamo, a very convenient location.  It’s a 15 minute speed-walk and a jeep ride to Greenbelt, where I get picked up by my parents. Or two jeep rides if I’m lazy.
2. Size of the firm – Small enough so that I don’t end up as another cog in the system.  Small enough so I get to see a project from conceptualization to construction.
3. Work hours – NO WORK ON SATURDAYS!
4. My boss’ program – My boss said that it was her personal goal to teach her apprentices how to start up and run a firm properly.  She said she had a hard time setting up her own firm and wished to impart the knowledge that she learned during this period so that her apprentices don’t repeat these mistakes.

To date,  I am part of a team working on a museum which will be located in a new high-rise building in Rockwell.  The team is basically involved with the space planning of the exhibit areas and the conservation center–which I find more interesting.  In addition, there are the sub-jobs of space planning: coordinating with the team designing the building and the Museum group, product research, and more research.  I knew early on that I lacked training to be a professional 3D renderer; so I am fortunate that I landed a space planning project instead.  The output is much harder to produce, not as pretty as making presentation drawings on 3Ds Max, but just as fulfilling.

My desk during a 10 minute break

The novelty of finally generating my own spending capacity that exceeds what I had with my college allowance has long worn off.  Interestingly, it made me more stingy.  I have no complaints about my current set-up; so content that it has become a sort of happy monotony.  Ugh!  College life allowed me more impulsive moments.

I think it’s high time I got a decent smartphone.  I was aspiring for a Blackberry at first but I realized I prioritized a large screen over anything else.  My most ambitious choice would be the Samsung Galaxy S II.

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2.   Learn the basics of Parkour

I almost accomplished this one.  I was supposed to attend a basic workshop this coming October with my two siblings.  But the training schedule would not permit us to do so.  In addition, my parents suggested that one of my siblings get physically fit first before the three of us could train together.

My wanting to learn this for AGES is probably an offshoot of my climbing over objects and on trees as a child.

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3.   Diversify my sources of income

I don’t want to rely purely on direct income.  Interesting enough, I thought I’d spend my very first paycheck on material wants.  But after looking at the the check, I suddenly got stingy.  At my level, the most that I could do is open a time deposit account.

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4.   Pass the Architecture Board Exam

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5.   Become a proficient marksman

This is Guo Wenjun, an Olympic shooter from Beijing.  I don’t want to reach that level but I want to be able to defend myself should there be a zombie apocalypse.  Haha!

Back then, in college, it was easier to share and interact with people that I saw on a near-daily basis.  The other avenues where I could share to a wider audience were this blog, my Flickr page and Facebook.  At the university, I shared my work with my peers and professors by printing out hard copies and exhibiting them.

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Now I bet you are wondering why anyone would settle for a low-end smartphone. Reader, you probably guessed right.  I am a self-confessed technophobe.

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While most of my friends had already upgraded to phone/laptop software organizers to plan ahead, I was still stuck in the 19th century using good old-fashioned paper.

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I survived college with a “system” of Post-It notes on my door and two Starbucks planners in which I used both during the toughest school year–THESIS YEAR.

I also had friends who I constantly–an UNDERSTATEMENT–asked to remind me about impending deadlines.

What I failed to consider was that a simple phone model does not necessarily equate to an efficient method of sharing oneself with the world.   My trusty Nokia has served me well in college and even until now.  However, I am about to enter the workforce in a few weeks time.  As an architect-apprentice, I need a mobile device that will allow me to send more data, especially pictures and videos, to more contacts.  (The 5 MP camera of the Blackberry Bold 9780 is perfect for the job.)

my DSLR → copy/paste to LAPTOP → attach to EMAIL  → send to FRIEND

my DSLR → copy/paste to LAPTOP → upload to IMAGESHACK  → send to BLOG

—-Imagine how much waiting time I could reduce if I did everything with the Blackberry!—-

photo from BLACKBERRY → connect to WiFi → send to CLIENT

I could have tweeted a photo of my first breakfast in France.  The cafe had free WiFi, but my phone couldn’t connect!  :(

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The solution to a technophobe’s woes: The BlackBerry Bold 9780.  With it I could gain convenient, meaningful, substantial communication with the people who matter.

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I have got to hand it to BlackBerry Messenger for including nifty indicators that tell whether your message has been read or not.  That means no more excuses for messages getting “swallowed up” by the network.

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BlackBerry Groups would allow me to set up forums with other BlackBerry Messenger contacts.  It’s very much like carrying a message board wherever I go.  I can share pictures, calendars, task lists, and voice notes without the inconvenience of carrying a laptop to view them all.

I could get things done so much faster with the help of BlackBerry Messenger.  No need to bring around a heavy laptop and worry about Internet connection!  If there is one thing I never did enjoy with my current gadget set-up is that I have to relegate all group discussions to a chat program like Yahoo Messenger or Skype.  Why? It’s because my phone doesn’t have BlackBerry’s Group features.  With BlackBerry Messenger,   it will be very convenient for me to be able to communicate with friends and future clients alike while on the go.

Now that’s simplifying life, having less gadgets to carry!

Look at my contacts lists for Yahoo Messenger and Skype.  They’re practically empty!  No one stays at home on Friday and Saturday nights.  So what is the point of sticking to the static laptop cum DSL connection to communicate with people when they’re not online?

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I’m still stuck in the Stone Age of smart phones and Internet mail. :(

It’s high time that I’ve graduated to a Blackberry Bold 9780.  I am a technophobe and I badly need to be cured!

[This is an entry for the WIN a Brand New BlackBerry Bold 9780! from Unbox.ph.  Thank you to Research In Motion and Virtusio Public Relations for making this contest possible!]

Me :: I would like to present my thesis, which is a Technical Vocational School–

Boss :: *Motions for me to stop, turns to his assistant (1 of 4 assistants in the room)* Tawagan mo nga yung expert natin na pumunta dito sa conference room. Si… si… yung galing UK.  (Call our expert to come down to the conference room. The one from the UK.)

Assistant # 1 :: *rushes out of conference room*

Assistant # 2 :: *rushes out of conference room, makes a phone call at the reception*

Assistant # 1 :: *comes back in* Sir, nagbreak po siya. (Sir, he’s on break.)

Boss :: *pause* Sige. *Turns back and motions for me to continue*

Me :: *inward sigh of relief*

That rattled me for a moment.  Anyway, HR emailed me later that night the job offer to join the firm.  I decided not to accept since commuting there would also be especially difficult.  Maybe I would eventually adapt to a hard routine.  I can’t help but wonder how it would be like to work for the Boss.  Personally, I was impressed when I saw the office set-up.  The operations–well, at least those visible to me that time–were running like a well-oiled machine.

We gave up trying to go up to the Eiffel Tower.  The lines were too long.

(Photocredit: Dad)

And we were also unfortunate enough to Versailles on a holiday.  It was Ascension Thursday.  Every nation and the French decided to spend the day there.

(Photocredit: Dad)

(Photocredit: Dad)

For all its grandiosity and pretentious pomp, the architect left out one essential room in Versailles–BATHROOMS.  According to our tour guide, Versailles’ inhabitants just came and relieved their bladders wherever they pleased.  It slightly tarnished my first impressions of the Palace.  It is a work of art, really.  One just has to overlook its unhygenic provisions.  Hmmm….

I met up with two college school mates for a bar-hopping tour in the red light district of Paris.  Whatever happened to us–well nothing really–I’ll leave you to speculate.  Haha!

(Photocredit: Dad)

Being the tomboy that I am, the Musée de l’Armée (the military weapons museum) was one of my favorite museums.  And the second favorite was…

(Photocredit: Dad)

…CHANEL!  Welcome to 31 Rue Cambon.

The Palais Garnier or the Garnier Opera House.  This is the very opera house that inspired Phantom of the Opera.  According to the guide, the chandelier never fell.  One of the mechanisms malfunctioned, causing it to rock back and forth.  Naturally, it scared off the opera patrons.  Gaston Leroux, the writer of Phantom of the Opera, sensationalized the incident in the musical.

It is worth noting that the Architect Garnier, who was not part of the elite, had an in-depth understanding of the vanity French high society.  He constructed a lobby with a large double grand staircase where the wealthy patrons could ascend slowly up to see and be scene.  Not unlike what happens on the Hollywood red carpet.  In those days, the best seats in the house were those located in the lowest boxes on both the right and left side of the stage.  The most expensive ones were nearest to the stage though they offered a poor vantage point to whatever was on stage.  Again, the objective of the patrons was simply to be seen by everyone else.

Side note: In those days, and even until now, ballet is not considered as sophisticated and intellectually stimulating as the opera.  So if you want to truly considered part of the upper crust of Paris, watch the opera.

And I don’t know how to conclude my Euro-trip account properly.  I still think my family and I could have used one more day in London.  Paris was a wonderful adventure.  Like London, a lot of our first impressions were proven wrong.  We thought we’d be “lost in translation”.  But a lot of Parisians know how to speak English, albeit in simple phrases.  Our different accents made it a challenge to understand one another, but we got along just fine.  I did have to learn some words/phrases for ordering food like poulet (chicken), végétarienne (vegetarian), “Je suis allergique aux fruits de mer.” (I am allergic to seafood).  In my sister’s case it was “Je suis allergique aux cacauet”. (I am allergic to peanuts).

Would I come back here?  Definitely.  I have yet to experience a more mature side of Europe if I’m touring with people closer to my age and not family.  And when I leave, I will get a Chanel bag for souvenir.  Haha!

This is how the city looks from Notre Dame’s towers.  I believe this is the city where I have climbed more than 4 high points just to see top views in all angles.

We were nearly late for the Sunday service because we got lost.  Some of the streets have their signs hung on the corners in tiny signs.  In addition, there was the language barrier.  We couldn’t ask anyone to give us detailed directions to the cathedral.  Fortunately, we made it in time and got relatively good seats.

I do not consider myself a devout Catholic but the hearing mass there was, well…hair-raising.  It was eerie and awe-inspiring to feel the sound of the organ, the choir and congregation singing in unison envelope me.

The bustling activity in the plaza outside Notre Dame.  Here I got my first taste of French ice cream; my brother had a savory ham and cheese crepe; I nearly got swindled by a gypsy.

This is the interior of La Sainte-Chapelle, which was commissioned by St. Louis.   

Note the Rayonnant Gothic style, which is characterized by its towering elements and large windows that suggest an airy, seemingly weightless feel.  Visiting all these churches gave me a crick in the neck.

Outside the Palais de Justice.  This palace stands on the site of St. Louis’ (aka. King Louis IX) former castle.

It would be redundant, borderline ridiculous to say that Paris is a beautiful city.  It’d take around a five minute walk from our hotel to see this at 10:30 PM, just a little after sunset.  After nearly a week’s stay in London, I still got disoriented because of the time difference.  In my “world” the sun sets at 6:00 PM.  Anyway…

After a breakfast of croissants, brioche and orange juice (Let’s see if French women really don’t get fat!) we set off to explore the city.  This is our first view of the Eiffel Tower.  The gang in the lower left hand side are street performers.  Hip-hop dancers, break dancers or crumpers?  We encountered a lot of them in Paris.

This was at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine.  It is reportedly the largest architecture museum in the world but with a biased slant since the content concerns only France.  (This was the first museum of the Paris stay.)  It houses casts of various architectural elements from buildings all around France.  Rather than have tourists go to far flung areas to examine these things, the museum brings them down to a more accessible height for study.

This is a replica of one of the Notre Dame churches.  Check out the scale.

Like London, we took a bus cruise around the city.  We also took a river cruise down the Seine.  I didn’t feel the “romance” as the boat was crammed with tourists.  (No, really. Sometimes I do wonder how Parisians cope with millions of tourists as part of everyday life.)  Maybe I would’ve if I took the night cruise with the obligatory wine and cheese.

Parisians hanging out on the banks of the Seine.

This is the entrance of the Natural History Museum.  We got free entrance, as with most of the museums, thanks to our London Pass.  The exhibits here were targeted for a younger audience.  I got bored actually because it was elementary biology.  I did learn a thing or two on modern museum interiors.

The museum was first opened to the public in 1881.  But the collections first started when Sir Hans Sloane (physician and collector of natural curiosities) donated his collection in 1753.  (Source: Natural History Museum UK)

I forgot to mention that my favorite parts of the collection were the dinosaur and whale skeleton exhibit.

These two bridges here connect the exhibits, giving the interior layout a maze-like feel.

This is “the Cocoon” in the Darwin Centre designed by  C F Møller Architects.  I wasn’t able to go inside though, so check out more pictures of it here, Darwin Centre Architectural Highlights.  We had another stop to visit.

(Photocredit: Rox)  Us outside the Natural History Museum

Windsor Castle, which is the oldest and largest working castle in the world.  The royal family are usually here on weekends.  Yes, their weekend house.

Another changing of the guards ceremony.

We finally got to enter Westminster Abbey.  We took an audio-guided tour (they use iPOD touch units for these!).  When the tour ended, my parents went to the souvenir shop outside.  I and my siblings were stranded at the abbey entrance because of a spring shower (shower my arse!).  Ever since the third day in London, my sister has wrapped her head like a burka because she is sensitive to the cold.   When we were wearing only 2 layers, she was wearing 4!

We had our last breakfast in London at Garfunkel’s diner.  See how hungry we were.  It was a mad dash of hands to grab the menu.  For our previous breakfasts we had been eating at Pret-A-Manger.  It’s supposed to be a fast food chain, but one that sells healthier options compared to the McDonald’s Fare.  (Edit: Even McDonald’s serves salads there.)  The fast food chains here give a damn more about public health. :(

My brother had this, a sausage, grilled mushrooms, hashbrowns, bacon, grilled tomatoes, fried egg.   No rice since it’s European fare.  But it was comfort food to us.

Raffy, my other brother, had pancakes, bacon and sausage.

We ate at 2 pizza establishments after our Buckingham Palace visit.  Our waiter sensed that we were not sure of our orders.  He advised us, “My rule of thumb is one pizza to one person.”  Good thing we did not follow him; the pizzas were thin-crust dishes but the toppings were very generous.

The supermarket at Harrod’s Department store.

Check out their Brazilian papaya, a breed that’s very similar to the Philippines’ own.  It costs £16.50 which is equivalent to Php 1,170.56!

All in all, I could have used an extra day or two in London.  I enjoyed exploring the city even though the experience barely scratched the surface of  London culture.  The city is accustomed to tourists from all over the world, and the local population is ethnically diverse.  But what really took the cake for my family and I was that their customer service was impeccable.  We observed that a lot of their commercial and eating establishments have few workers (compared to the establishments back home), but workers who work fast and efficiently.  My dad always had this impression that the English were cold.  Mine was that they were formally polite.   We were proven wrong.  A lot of the people we encountered were courteous and warm.  Even though I’ve crossed London off my bucket list for travel, I think this city warrants another (and extended) visit.  Hopefully in the not-so-distant future.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, the largest Anglican Church equivalent to the St. Peter’s Basilica of the Roman Catholics.  We weren’t allowed to take pictures here.  I found out as the trip progressed that photographing was generally forbidden inside places of worship.

This is the fifth building of the cathedral which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1669 and officially completed in 1711.  The first three cathedrals existed before the year 1000 A.D. and were burned down.  The fourth cathedral was constructed after the fire in 1087 that destroyed the third cathedral.  The ceiling and roof were made of wood which led to its eventual decay.  The construction of the fifth version experienced a lot of interruptions during the Civil War.

The style is a mix between Gothic and Baroque styles.  The Baroque is evident in the dome (and inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica) and the arched ceilings.  The Gothic is present in the spires as seen in the photo above.  The design received mixed reactions from the public.  If I remember my Art Studies correctly, the architecture in mainland Europe developed closely alongside each other.  Proximity made it easier for architects and craftsmen to travel around mainland Europe–France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Flanders–and see which architectural styles were in fashion.  Britain, located away from the mainland, caught on the trends at a later time and was (generally) considered not part of the cool group.

A view of the St. Paul Memorial from the Golden Gallery, the topmost area on the dome that is accessible to the public.

Of course my family just had to climb to the top of St. Paul’s.  The ascent was a grueling 530 steps through a narrow spiral staircase.  The first gallery that breaks those 530 steps is the Whispering Gallery.  The Whispering Gallery is the part of domed structures where the vaulting just about starts to curve inwards.  Try whispering facing the walls of the Whispering Gallery.  The sound is audible on the opposite side due to the vast curve of the dome.  I tried eavesdropping on someone on the other side, and no surprises, it works!

Here is a dragon marker also designed by Charles Bell Birch marking Temple Bar, the boundary marking Westminster and the westernmost area of London.  This area is particularly known for its taverns, quaint coffeshops, and last but not least, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street–Sweeney Todd!

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

(Photocredit: Dad)

(Photocredit: Raffy)

We visited Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards.  The place was crammed with tourists.  The ceremony was different that day because they were welcoming President Obama and his entourage in the Palace.

Birds at the Buckingham Palace Gardens.  The waterfowl here are all tame and SPOILED.  They waddle over to passers-by and look at them expectantly for bread.  I wanted to hug this particular pelican, just for kicks. Haha!

(Photocredit: Dad)

Westminster Abbey.  We reserved a day for this but unfortunately, the abbey was closed because President Obama was visiting.  Naturally, we decided to stay to catch a glimpse of him.  I couldn’t because everyone around me was just too tall.  Dad was able to get a video of him exiting the church.  By the way, his appearance there disrupted our whole itinerary for London!

(Photocredit: Dad)

I got disoriented upon touchdown in London.  We arrived at the hotel at around 9:30 PM.  The sun was still UP, and I forgot that, “Oh, right. We’re way up in the Northern hemisphere.”  We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kensington, an affluent and densely populated neighborhood.

Excuse our amusement and narcissicism, as it is one of the few occasions that I wear more than one layer of clothing when going outside.

A little reminder of home.  There were quite a number of taxis with tourism advertisements for tropical locations.

We spent the first day trying to get our bearings.  This is a charming old hotel whose name escapes me.

The easiest way to get to know the city is by taking a bus tour.  We took the Hop-On, Hop-Off tour.  It’s a bus tour that lasts for 2 days.  The bus alights at the designated stops, and the tourists can opt to disembark and explore the sights near those stops. I got a bad cold from exposing myself to the cold city air.  I wish I could have stuffed my nose with something.

I would have wanted to experience biking around London.

This is the central courtyard of the British National Museum.  It features mainly human history and culture.

These are a part of the collection of the Elgin Marbles, bits and pieces of of marble sculptures that were from the Parthenon and the Greek acropolis.

Frankly, I was amazed by how much the British Empire carted away from its colonies.  The museum covered everything from antiquities, Britain’s own pre-historic culture, ancient currencies and medals, weaponry, scrolls and other ancient documents.

Highlight of this museum, the mummies!  The British Museum holds the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts second to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.