Tuesday, September 30, 2008

White Beach, Boracay

White Beach is Boracay's premier beach. It comprises of a whole three and a half kilometers of fine, white coral sand, in places up to 100 meters wide. This is where all the major actions and fun happens. Various sports and recreational activities (to be featured in another post soon) also abound such as windsurfing, beach volleyball, para-sailing, jet-skiing, wading, Frisbee throwing as well as local games such as harang-taga.

This beach is also famous for its laid-back vibe that includes sunbathing on a sparkling white sand, or relaxing, often having an open air massage, under the cooling shelter of the bordering palm trees. And of course, full relaxation can be achieved by having a cold drink or fruit shakes which are readily available on the many bars and stands along the landside of this main beach.

Here are few shots I have taken on probably the Philippines' best beach:



3.5 km of Pure Bliss

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Strolling Along Boracay Rock

Boracay certainly has some of the world's best beaches. But if you want to see something different on your stay there, you could wander around one of the island's scenic attractions - the Boracay Rock and Little Boracay Rock.

Located just off the east coast of the island and directly opposite white beach, these rocks boast of fascinating natural formations some of which were completely undercut by the sea and the top overhangs the recessed base. Between Boracay Rock and Little Boracay Rocks, shells, corals and starfish abound, making it favorite wandering spot for the local residents and tourists alike.

Here are some shots I have taken around the area:



In Between Boracay Rock and Little Boracay Rock

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Puka Beach, Boracay

Puka Beach is the second longest beach in Boracay and it covers half of the island's northern tip. The sand here is more silica and a little more grainy. The mild, gentle waves lapping the beach provide a pleasant background noise common to islands fringed with coral reefs.

The beach itself is 800 meters long and named after Puka Shells. These are small shells and tiny, white coral pieces prized for making bracelets and necklaces. Many experts regard these shells as one of the world's finest.
Here are some of my shots taken at Puka Beach - an intoxicating mix of sun, sand and nonsobriety:


Drift Woods Planted on the Beach

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Boracay - I'm Yours

I'm back on what promises to be a very long series about Boracay. I was supposed to have a four-day trip but the allure of the place albeit the incoming storm made me extend my stay for another couple of days.

So to start this series, let me share a couple of videos I made on probably the best island cum beach in the Philippines.


The first video mostly contains footage and shots of the Island's Sail Boats as it present itself to the music of Enya's Oronico Flow. Shots were taken in the 3 km White Beach and the adjacent Diniwid Beach at its rightmost end. Hope you enjoy this video:



Saturday, September 13, 2008

WOW Philippines

"We love our country!
We are proud to be Filipinos!
Let us all promote Philippine Tourism."

This slogan is prominent in every Department of Tourism and Philippine Tourism Authority sites on the web and all over the country. Who wouldn't love the tourist attractions of the Philippines? Considered as the "Pearl of the Orient", the more than Seven Thousand Islands of my country offers diverse thrills and activities - from the islands to the mountains to the festivals, that both an adventurous and a laid-back tourist will definitely love.

So as my contribution in promoting tourism in my country, I am sharing these seven photos I have taken in my previous trips and another photo loaned to me by a friend. You can check the links of the first seven photos in my sidebar.


MACTAN ISLAND - Lapu-Lapu, the King of Mactan, fought Ferdinand Magellan and his forces in this island. In the battle, Magellan was killed and the remaining Spaniard retreated to their ships. Now Mactan is a famous scuba-diving and beach site. It is also the site of the Mactan International Airport and Mactan Export Processing Zone.


BANAUE RICE TERRACES - For over 2,000 years, the people of Batad in Ifugao built, one stone at a time, what is now known as Banaue Rice Terraces. The still productive rice terraces rise from the valley floor up to 3,000 feet, a feat of engineering so substantial that some call them the eight wonder of the world. It is the only man-made wonder which was literally sculpted from the earth. It has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.



PANGLAO ISLAND - This island lies just opposite Tagbiliran city, and is accessible via two bridges. It has two municipalities, Dauis in the north and Panglao in the south. The island has a number of wonderful white beaches. No wonder Panglao is host to most of Bohol's hotels and resorts. Most of these are concentrated around Alona Beach, a very nice stretch of white sand at the southeastern end of the island.


CHOCOLATE HILLS - The 1,268 eerie Chocolate Hills of Bohol rise 20 to 50 meters high and dominate the landscape of Carmen, Batuan and sagbayan towns for miles around. In summer, the grass that cover the hills dry out and turn Chocolate brown, hence the name. There is no generally accepted scientific explanation about the hill formations. the hills are the home of the famous and indigenous Tarsier, an endangered species.



HUNDRED ISLANDS - This group od islands and islets is a foremost attraction in Pangasinan Province. They look like giant turtles, scattered off the coast of Lucap in the town of Alaminos. Now developed, they lie ensconed in the 1,844-hectare nature and recreational park called the Hundred Islands National Park. The jump-off point is Lucap. From the wharf, it is just a short 20-minute boat ride to the islands.



VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR - Past and present collide in Vigan. Impressive Spanish colonial architecture still stands as monuments to that era of Philippine history, even as town moves quickly and quietly into modernization. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, growing interest in the town's Spanish-era buildings has brought about the development of tourist amenities in the poblacion, while also protecting the integrity of the old town center and its historic structures.



PALAWAN SUBTERRANEAN RIVER - The Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park contains one of the real highlights of Palawan: The world-famous Subterranean River. A journey into the darkness of this riverine cave is a truly unique experience. The limestone cave that the river passes through is thought to be the longest navigable river-traversed tunnel in the world.



BORACAY ISLAND - The world-famous island of Boracay is located in Akalan province 345 south of Manila. It's seven kilometers long and one kilometer wide at its narrowest point with a palm fringed 4-km long powder-fine white sand beach. Boracay is the perfect getaway, with all the elements of a tropical paradise - crystal blue waters, powder white sand, liberal doses of tropical palms and flowering plants, and a healthy marine life underneath the seas.

The last photo is just a loan from a friend. You have to wait a little longer (maybe a couple of weeks) for my personal take on the place because next week. I will be spending my whole week in Boracay as a birthday gift to myself.

(All Photos taken by Lawstude except the last one. Most of information on the texts are obtained from WOW Philippines and Lonely Planet.)

Monday, September 08, 2008

The Gift

Today is my favorite day - it's my birthday. So allow me to share to you eight of my most favorite shots to date. Some of these have already been featured in this blog while others were just lurking in my archives. Let me just tell you that these are personal choices and far from what maybe considered as my better works. I have included a brief description of each photos and why I consider them among my favorites.

"The Boatman and His Wife" - This shot was taken in Lake Sebu in South Cotabato while I was cruising the lake early in the morning. I like this shot because it tells a story of the daily lives of people in the area using boat as their means of transportation hopping from island to island in this town that thrives in water.


"Hanging House" - This shot was taken on a road trip to Batad, Ifugao. I like this shot because that house has hazards written all over it. An earth shake could either have stones in the mountain slide on it or it could just fall in the cliff where it stands. But surprisingly, it has stood the test of time.


"Peaceful Night, Scary Night" - This shot was taken in the evening at Salagdoong Beach in Siquijor. I like this shot because even though it was dark and I was using only a point-and-shoot camera, the shot came out beautifully. I have been using this image in my desktop for quite sometime and most people who saw it could not believe that I was the one who took that shot.


"Windmills By The Bay" - This shot was taken on a rainy noon in Bangui Bay, Ilocos Norte. I like this pic because the weather that time had a gloomy effect on the picture. The outcome seems like it was taken in some foreign land.


"Bangkok Highway" - This shot was taken while I was on top of Baiyoke Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. I like this shot because of the lights on the road network that seems to say that the night is alive in Bangkok.


"Gumamela Sa Hardin ni Lola" - This shot was taken in a well full of hibiscus flowers in Eden Nature Park, Davao City. I like this shot not only because of the colors but more so on the memories that hibiscus bring. Who would ever forget the childhood days when we use these flowers as an ingredient in making mixtures for blowing bubbles in the air.


"Walk in the Clouds" - This shot was taken on-board Cebu Pacific Flight bound for Cebu. I like this shot because it was taken 33 Thousand Feet Above the grounds and that I secretly took this shot unknowing if it is prohibited to do so or not.


"A Hut by the Sea" - This shot was taken in the Sand Bar of Bais City , Negros Oriental. I like this shot because the sight just amazed me. Imagine a hut in the middle of the sea that can only be reached by boat. Plus, the view of the place is just fantastic with different hues of water below.


And as promised, I have a gift for you. I have made several postcards of the above images and they are ready to be given to you. Just give me your name and address in the comment section or e-mail them to me at oman_serapio@yahoo.com and I will send them by snail mail to you wherever you maybe. This is my way of thanking everyone of you for taking time to visit, read and comment on this humble blog. May everyone have a great week ahead.

Friday, September 05, 2008

A River Runs Through It

According to Oscar Wilde, a cynic is "a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing", which is a refreshing antidote to the feel-good, be calm, de-stress and motivational trends that have crept into our society in recent years.

Believe it or not, I have a day job working both as a lawyer and an accountant. Two stressful jobs that if not for my traveling and photography, GOD knows I might already be crazy (read: talking to myself and feeling low). So as a tribute to cynics all over the world, I am posting this collection of photos I have taken in a little quiet place I have recently discovered and added some quotations from famous cynics who will give you enough reasons not to do anything.


SOOTHE
If you live long enough, you'll see that every victory turns into a defeat. - Simone de Beavoir


PLACID
It is better to have loafed and lost than never to have loafed at all. - James Thurber


COARSE
I am interested in leisure in the way a poor man is interested in money. I can't get enough of it. - Prince Philip


SOLACE
There is one piece of advice, in a life of study, which I think no one will object to; and that is, every now and then to be completely idle, - to do nothing at all. - Sydney Smith


LIMPID
Life is one long process of getting tired. - Samuel Butler


STILLNESS
Life ain't all beers and skittles, and more's the pity; but what's the odds, so long as you're happy. - George du Maurier


WITHSTAND
Time you can enjoy wasting is never a wasted time. - Anonymous


FLUX
There is only the difference of a letter between the beginning and the end of life - creation and cremation. - Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree



PERSONAL NOTE:

GOOD LUCK to all BAR Examinees who will take the 2008 BAR Exams this four Sundays of September. To my friends, classmates and barkada, I will pray that GOD give all of you strength, wisdom and guidance to hurdle this endeavour.

My next post will be on my birthday (09.08.08) and I will have a GIFT to all my readers. Happy Weekened Everyone!!!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

LAGAL[OG] - My Blogger’s Choice

The Awards Night for the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards will be held on September 21, 2008 at One Esplanade, Roxas Blvd, Manila. One of the awards to be given out is the Blogger's Choice Award. This one is special because the winner will be determined by votes coming from fellow Filipino bloggers.

But unlike other polls conducted by poll sites such as pollhost, blogpolls and others, the tabulation shall be done manually with each voter entitled only to one vote. Plus, you have to write a post on why such blogger voted the nominee. And lastly, you have to submit the URL of the post to the Philippine Blog Awards Committee. So here it goes:


My vote for Blogger's Choice Award goes to LAGAL[OG].



Oggie Ramos' blog showcases his bold disposition and love for photography mixed with his love for GOD and nature. His blog boasts a collection of hundreds of amazing and beautiful pictures he has taken in the Philippines and South East Asia.

Although I do not know him personally, I e-mailed him once about a trip that I am planning to do and he responded with very helpful tips on things to do and the must-visit places on the area. Simply a talented and humble guy with an amazing and exceptional blog.

Let us vote for LAGAL[OG] and support the event.

For the other nominees in the Blogger's Choice Award Category as well as the mechanics of the voting, please go here.

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Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Science City of Muñoz

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is the only City in the Philippines that has a school subject attached to it. In fact, it is the first and only Science City of the country. The City is expected to contribute widely on the fast growth and development not only of the region but the nation through the technologies developed by the research and development centers based within its territorial jurisdiction.

Monday, September 01, 2008

The Rocker and the Roller

It's .....BERRRRRR time - my favorite seasons of the year and it all starts with my favorite month - SEPTEMBER. Why do I like September? 'Coz this is my and my sister's birthmonth.

So for this, post let me introduce you to my sister - a masscom graduate from the State University, Peyups, and is currently an english instructor in a University. She also sings in a band.


My sister and Me! SAY CHIZZZZZZ!


HEYYYY Gimme' my Camera Back or I will sing in your BAND!!!



And here is my sister and her band doing a rendition of Suntok Sa Buwan in one of her performances during a School Festivity.




Happy Birthday Sis and Advance Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

PERSONAL NOTE:

If you enjoyed this post, do not forget to VOTE for me in the PINOY WORLD BLOG OF THE WEEK contest! Please check on LAWSTUDE and click VOTE at the poll located in my sidebar. Thank You all very much.