Wednesday, March 27, 2013

HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF MANILA MARCH 2013

Since I was with my hubby and son in Manila, one of the places they really wanted to visit was the HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF MANILA Store. 

As soon as we passed by EDSA near CATS Motors, we had to stop by the Harley store! I found out that they already saw the site through the Internet.
From the Harley-Davidson of Manila website, this is what I gathered...
Harley-Davidson of Manila offers the best support to seasoned Harley-Davidson bike riders and assistance to those who are new to the Harley-Davidson brand legend.
Whether you are interested in the new H-D 2013 motorcycle range, customised bikes or premium used bikes, our dedicated team will help you to pick out the perfect motorcycle and give you all the support you need to get the most out of your riding experience.
Be part of the iconic Harley-Davidson brand and lifestyle. Come along to our local Dealership at #1008 EDSA, Greenhills, San Juan 1502 or plan your next ride with us. We also bring you the best deals through our latest promotions in dealership on a wide range of Harley Parts, Accessories and MotorClothes.
There's an entire lifestyle of open road riding and bike customisation waiting for all dedicated Harley Owners . We look forward to welcoming you into the Harley-Davidson Manila family.

We were graciously entertained by Harley of Manila's Sales Manager, Emerson Raymundo, who also happens to be a real Harley lover from way back when.
Thanks for entertaining us!

These are some photos of their showroom...




Parts and accessories are also available!
There is also a whole clothing line available in one nook with the black leather jackets, shirts, polos, pants, caps, scarves and more. (I wasn't able to get shots because I only thought of blogging this when I found out it was newly opened!) I saw even lady black leather jackets with glitters and bling-blings!

Here are the motorcycles!


Touring: Street Glide
Touring: Electra Glide

Touring: Street Glide
Soft tail 
They also had a Sportster demo bike at the back for those who want to get the feel of the Harley!

We found out that they just opened last March 2, 2013 and so I got this from the Internet!
Harley-Davidson opens Manila dealership with a loud bang
2:55 am | Wednesday, March 6th, 2013
Harley-Davidson is now in the Philippines. In the year of its 110th anniversary, the legendary American motorcycle brand has opened its first dealership in the country—only the sixth in Southeast Asia.
Conceptualized and executed by Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, “Let Freedom Roar” was the theme of the day, starting with the official opening ceremony at the dealership located along Edsa in Quezon City. Doing away with the traditional ribbon, bolt-cutters were used to cut through steel chains to signify the launch. Special guests were Harley-Davidson Asia-Pacific’s vice president and managing director Marc McAllister, and director of sales and business development Frank Albrecht, Rick Riker, chief of Security Cooperation Division of the Embassy’s Joint US Military Assistance Group; and San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez.
There are already about 800 to 1,000 existing Harley-Davidson owners in the Philippines. They belong to different age groups that have an affinity for the Harley-Davidson lifestyle.
And now, the opportunity to own a Harley-Davidson in the Philippines has become easier.
“Nothing beats the kind of freedom riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle gives you,” said Felix R. Ang, president of American Motorcycles Inc., the official distributor of Harley-Davidson in the country. “Harley-Davidson of Manila, as we are officially called, caters to the thousands of bikers and enthusiasts that have always dreamed of owning a bike that can give you serious power. Everyone knows no other bike roars the way a Harley can.”
From the showroom, a parade of 80 riders traveled to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on their bikes. Their arrival at McKinley Parkway marked the start of an event that included the  General Luna, and The Jerks, and traditional outdoor American fare. The first customer of Harley-Davidson of Manila, film and commercial director Mark Querubin, also received his 2013 Black Softail Slim as a highlight of the event.
Afterwards, Querubin was joined by McAllister, Albrecht, Ang, and Harley-Davidson of Manila’s Greg Yu, Frankie Ang, Arthur Tan, Arthur Harrow and Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez.
“Beyond the ‘roar,’ the kind of freedom Harley-Davidson represents includes the freedom of thought, adventure and self-expression,” Ang said. “And more importantly, it’s about brotherhood.”
In the Edsa showroom, a full range of Harley-Davidson models are available for purchase including the 2013 Motorcycle Units (International models) from Sportster, Dyna, Softail, Touring Models, V-Rod and CVO or Custom Vehicles Operations models, which are equipped with Screamin’ Eagle parts.
All existing units in the Philippines may also have their bikes serviced there. Harley-Davidson owners can even choose from a wide range of parts and accessories to customize their ride. More than just the bikes, longtime Harley-Davidson fans can find authentic riding gear, apparel, and merchandise at the dealership.

The Harley-Davidson bikes cost about P600,000 to P1,600,000.00 for the bikes on display.

But for those who already have Harley bikes, you can get accessories here and the the company is also willing to service existing units! I believe this is a fair deal!!!  

So why not come and visit the place!

P.S. This is not a paid advertisement. Just felt interested to share about it!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

SKY EYE AT SKY RANCH, TAGAYTAY AT NIGHT

After dinner at Mer-Ben's Bulalo, we "strolled" more than a kilometer to reach the Tagaytay Eye, which I called my "Strategic Goal". It was indeed a Goal (with a capital G) !
As we were walking the dark Tagaytay road, I was worrying that the place would be closed by the time we arrived since it was past 9 already.

We passed by the Taal Vista Hotel (I am still used to Taal Vista Lodge!)
And also the Casino Filipino in Tagaytay! Noted lots of shows there...
As we continued on, we saw this sign... so it must be close by.
Finally, when I saw the lights!!!
with Ivy!

And I guess I immediately regained all my energies... no more sweat nor pains!... this is what Photography does to me... especially, if I have a blogpost in mind!

By the way, I am sharing some data from fellow bloggers about this very new place, the Sky Ranch by SM Land which just had a soft opening of the Sky Eye (better known as Tagaytay Eye!) last March 2, 2013 and the rest of the place would be opened by May 2013!

http://www.pusangkalye.net/2013/03/sky-eye-giant-ferris-wheel-in-tagaytay.html


ABOUT SKY RANCH



Sky Ranch is a mixed-use development by SM Land under its Commercial Properties Group. It will rise within a prime 5-hectare property beside the Taal Vista Hotel along Aguinaldo Highway in Tagaytay. 
Sky Ranch is a leisure park that is envisioned to be one of the definitive Tagaytay experiences for local and foreign tourists alike. It is a complete day destination for families and groups of friends. It will offer activities such as horseback riding and a mini-amusement park for kids. A varied selection of restaurants will provide dining with prime views of the famed Taal volcano.

About the Tagaytay Eye!
http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2013/03/sky-ranch-tagaytay-eye-skyfunpark.html

The Tagaytay Eye, officially known as "Sky Eye", is the Tallest Ferris Wheel in the country at 63 meters (207 ft) with 32 gondolas, beating the MOA Eye at 55 meters (180 ft) with 36 gondolas, and the Enchanted Kingdom's Wheel of Fate at 130ft.  We are still far away from beating the tallest ferris wheels in the world: Singapore Flyer at 165 meters (541 ft), Star of Nanchang in China at 160 meters (525 ft.), and the London Eye at 120 meters (394 ft.)  But considering Tagaytay City has an elevation of 2,000 ft. above sea level, you'll be enjoying the highest point of the Sky Eye at 2,207 ft. :)

Here are some tips to have an awesome time at Sky Fun Park in Sky Ranch, Tagaytay:(Note: Sky Ranch is the complex, Sky Fun is the name of the amusement park within Sky Ranch, and Sky Eye is the name of the Ferris Wheel in Tagaytay.)

So here I am flooding you with photos and Gifs of the Sky Eye AT NIGHT!
do you notice the construction!!!

Now that the Eye is so close to us, it doesn't look as massive!
It looks like the one in the SM Mall of Asia but taller.
But, I am so easy to please, so I really still got excited when I saw the Sky Eye!

We didn't ride the Sky Eye, though...
The Sky Eye cost P150.00 /person for a ten-minute rotation.
It was almost 10 p.m. so we didn't have the luxury of time.

These days, there are already some kid rides like the Carousel, the crazy galleon (which they call the Mini Viking Ship and the Super Viking) and mini roller coasters at the Sky Fun around the Eye.

Though, it is already opened, lots of construction is ongoing in the adjacent lot. 
By May 2013, it will be officially opened and will be a place worth going to!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

APPLE STORE: NEW YORK AND BOSTON Repost Plus

This is actually my first blogpost ever... one that I thought was really most interesting, but at that time, nobody read my blog yet! So, I'd like to share the story again!

Apple (the fruit company according to Forrest Gump) has already gained a following...and somehow I am now one of them!

But not only do they have innovative and unique products, they also presents unique architecture in their main stores which definitely stands out among the rest.


I first saw "The Apple Store in New York" in the movie "Meet Dave", which I incidentally also watched during my very short stay in New York. 
I had to find the store since it seemed like a replica of the one in Boston and I found this in the Fifth Avenue of Manhattan.
Interesting to note is that this is a one-storey stand alone glass building for the entrance and one goes down the stairs or the elevator to the store itself located a floor down (at the basement).
Imagine a glass one storey entrance among all the old huge stone buildings! 
More interesting is that it opens 24/7 and 365 days a year! 
As they say, "In a city that never sleeps is a store that never stops!".

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/applefifthavenue/index.html

Apple Store
767 Fifth Avenue
New York City
NY 10153

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson 2006, glass cube reconstructed 2011
Structural glass engineered by Eckersley O'Callahan

The entrance cube to Apple's underground store on Fifth Avenue represents probably the purest form of transparent architecture. First, the cube is empty, avoiding the challenge of transparency simply revealing the clutter within, as for example at Dominique Perrault's Hôtel Industriel in Paris.
The 32-foot cube at the Apple Store is made from structural glass, with no metal framing; and its rectilinear profile blends in with the General Motors skyscraper behind it.

When first designed and built in 2006, the cube was already impressively transparent. Each wall was made up of 18 glass sheets, with discreet steel fixings. The effect was clear, but crystalline.

Only five years into its life, Apple closed the store temporarily to give it a hardware upgrade. They rebuilt the glass cube with even greater transparency and purity. In the new design (see top of this page), vast structural glass sheets run the whole way up the cube, so that each wall is now made up of only three panes. They crystalline effect has given way to an extreme minimalism – less retail and more temple.

Taking the transparency theme further, the entrance in the front of the cube leads into to a structural glass spiral staircase, winding around a cylindrical glass elevator.

The Apple Store has succeed in creating two new thriving spaces, both above ground in the new plaza around the cube, and below ground in the store itself, 24 hours a day.
Apple Store at Fifth Avenue, New York circa 2010
Activity at the Apple Store NY
On main floor is open 24/7 for all activities such as Sales and Training
Apple Store NY: down the glass steps and note the elevator in the center
Apple Store NY: down the glass steps
Apple Store NY: down the glass steps
 
Apple Store NY: as I look up from inside the elevator in the center of the stairs
Apple Store NY
When I went to Boston, we already intended to visit the Apple Store to check out some things we viewed online!

Lo and behold, among the historic buildings in Boylston Street is a three-storey glass castle where Apple fans can have the time of their life...test driving the different Mac products and you can stay there as long as the store is open. 
Store hours were:  Mon to Sat 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m and Sun: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
They dedicated a whole floor for personal training and we also did Onetoone (One to One) for a month.
We just needed to schedule online for the choices of topic and time we wanted, which matched our convenient time.
Usually, Joko would come for the 5 pm class and I would take the 6 pm class.
Apple Store, Boylston inBoston circa 2010
Apple Store, Boylston in Boston: from outside
Apple Store, Boylston in Boston First Floor
Apple Store Boston: at the third floor dedicated to personal training
Apple Store Boston: at the third floor dedicated to personal training
Apple Store Boston: from the third floor looking down to second
Apple Store Boston: at the first floor = = test drive the Mac all you can




We also witnessed how Apple fans would line up waiting for the iPad, since that was the time last May 2010 when they were just launching the iPad.
That was just the beginning and now all kinds of tablets have popped up and a new revolution has again arrived.
Up to now, people continue to line up to be the first to get the newest iPad and iPhone!

Apple has remained an icon, not only in technology but also in architecture as they continue to be known for their glass facades and glass staircases.


I do hope to see more of the Apple glass buildings in the future... one of the most interesting ones at present is in Shanghai which is the cylinder version of the cube building in New York.