The river near my place was also a place where the neighborhood ‘labanderas’ would wash their clothes every weekend. There was not much talk then about how detergents would poison the rivers. Going to the river to wash was something that was done for generations. I do not see these labanderas now when I go back to the province but the bridge which used to shade this labanderas and which people used to cross from the main town to a little barrio was still there.

It was this bridge where I learned how to fish. Back then, the only fishing rod I know was the bamboo kind. You tie one end of string to the end of the bamboo, put a hook a the end of the string, skewer a little worm with the hook and you’re good to go. I only caught little ibis then but with volume this little ibis fishes were something that can actually provide a meal for a small family.

Years have passed and though I am living in a big bad city now, memories of me fishing on that river has remained fresh as if it’s only a weekend ago when I last cast my bamboo rod and felt the tugging of those little ibis fishes. So when my friend invited me to go fishing with him one Saturday night in a bar, all those fond memories came flooding back in. My friend, along with his wife has become quite enamored with fishing and every chance they get, they fish.

Now the problem with being in the big bad city is that opportunities for a good fishing experience is few and far between. I thought the only way that I could do some respectable fishing was to get out of Manila and go to the neighboring provinces where the rivers or the lakes has not gone the way of the Pasig river. I do know that Subic could be a good fishing spot having seen a few folks casting their rods there whenever I pass by the place.

After my friend’s fishing invitation, the subject has been coming up regularly overtime we and some other friends with us meet up. I even went so far as to propose to my own circle of friends that we go on a fishing trip. I didn’t have any idea yet as to where to go but it seems the idea has hit a receptive audience. I guess in their case fishing evokes of Ernest Hemingway and his Old Man and the Sea, although truth be told I don’t have any fantasies of doing battle against a huge sea monster. If I can get my hands on a little fish that would look appetizing on a grill, then I would be happy.

My first fishing trip in Manila came a few weeks after my good friend’s invite. We were supposed to go to Pulilan as recommended by another friend but as that other friend could not make it to our impromptu trip, we followed another friend’s advice and went to Lakeshore instead. Lakeshore, if you haven’t gone up North in your life, is in Mexico. The one in Pampanga, not North America.

I think it’s one of the few privileges in life when you are able to live in a subdivision, or a community, if you will, that has a fishing spot. Some subdivisions might offer a tennis court or a basketball court, but rare is a subdivision that has its own lake for fishing. Of course we’re talking about Mexico here and not Mandaluyong (though you’re very much welcome to fish in the Pasig River if you must).

We arrived at Lakeshore shortly before 5 in the afternoon. The lake, which is the subdivisions fishing spot is pretty, scenic even. And with a few tents by the lake, I am inclined to believe that it is a very popular spot for weddings. When we went there, there was in fact a wedding going on. I assumed that it was a rich couples wedding judging by the three helicopters parked beside the tent.

Unfortunately for us however, we arrived too late for our fishing plans. Lakeshore does not allow night fishing and they close at 6 pm, which made our three hour drive from Manila futile. But nevertheless, after seeing the lake, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before we make a comeback. If only we didn’t have to drive that far.

Next up! Good fishing spot in Manila, Philippines.

One model that the local government can look at is the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex that was created by Governor LJ Villafuerte. Perhaps even the good governor can serve as some sort of a consultant for this endeavor.

One thing going for Lake Mainit is it’s accessibility. It’s along the National Highway so people should not have any problem going to the area. There’s also the Airport at Butuan City so even folks from outside Mindanao can easily go there. I can already see a lot of pension houses, bars, and commercial establishments being created along the Lake Mainit water front. The commercial potential is really huge.

The only thing that scares people away from this place I guess is Schistosomiasis. Now that’s a scary thing. Here’s what I researched about this disease:

Health issue: Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is found in Lake Mainit and in the Tolosa-TabonTabon area. For those volunteers working or going to these areas the following information is important. If you have any questions you can contact the VSOP office or the VSO Medical section in London

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a disease caused by parasitic worms.

How can I get schistosomiasis?

Infection occurs when your skin comes in contact with contaminated fresh water in which certain types of snails that carry schistosomes are living.

Fresh water becomes contaminated by Schistosoma eggs when infected people urinate or defecate in the water. The eggs hatch, and if certain types of snails (here’s the link to this type of snail)are present in the water, the parasites grow and develop inside the snails. The parasite leaves the snail and enters the water where it can survive for about 48 hours. Schistosoma parasites can penetrate the skin of persons who are wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water. Within several weeks, worms grow inside the blood vessels of the body and produce eggs. Some of these eggs travel to the bladder or intestines and are passed into the urine or stool.

What are the symptoms of schistosomiasis?

Within days after becoming infected, you may develop a rash or itchy skin. Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches can begin within 1-2 months of infection. Most people have no symptoms at this early phase of infection.

Eggs travel to the liver or pass into the intestine or bladder. Rarely, eggs are found in the brain or spinal cord and can cause seizures, paralysis, or spinal cord inflammation. For people who are repeatedly infected for many years, the parasite can damage the liver, intestines, lungs, and bladder.
Symptoms of schistosomiasis are caused by the body’s reaction to the eggs produced by worms, not by the worms themselves.
What should I do if I think I have schistosomiasis?

See your health care provider. If you have traveled to areas where schistosomiasis is found and had contact with fresh water, describe in detail where and for how long you traveled. Explain that you may have been exposed to contaminated water.

How is schistosomiasis diagnosed?

Your health care provider may ask you to provide stool or urine samples to see if you have the parasite. A blood test has been developed and is available at CDC. For accurate results, you must wait 6-8 weeks after your last exposure to contaminated water before the blood sample is taken.

What is the treatment for schistosomiasis?

Safe and effective drugs are available for the treatment of schistosomiasis. You will be given pills to take for 1-2 days

Not really sure if this is still prevalent in the area, but I’ve read some past publications saying that was the case then.  I’m not sure if such is the case until now.  If it is, then that would be a really sad thing. Who would want to dip in Lake Mainit if this parasite is around.

But before I totally sound like the harbinger of doom here, let’s go back to Lake Mainit’s pictures.

I was shitting in my pants but I couldn’t really say anything as she was in the zone and nothing I said was reaching her. Fine, I got chewed up really bad when I voiced my complaint so I just sat there scared out of wits but stayed silent the whole time like the sissy little boy that I am.

Imagine zooming down those flat roads– virgin forests to your left, lush yellow green rice paddies to your right with the horizon going on and on. Man I could see myself riding a Ducati and going full throttle for hours on end. Except that I don’t have a Ducati. Oh well, one can dream.

Perhaps the coming election has a lot to do with these roads being done on time. I couldn’t really complain as everything was just marvelous. Kudos to the provincial government of Surigao Del Sur for getting this done. Or should I say kudos to the people for paying their taxes. At least we know that our taxes are working for us. Majority of those taxes may have ended up in a few people’s pockets but hey, non-politicians can’t be choosers so we just have to be thankful with what we can see and experience. Don’t agree with me? Well that’s too bad.

My pet province so far has been Surigao. And though certain parts of this province has received international attention, Siargao immediately comes to mind, the rest of the local tourist spots have been suffering in silence, relegated to playing second or third fiddle to their more marketed neighbor. Which is such a shame really considering that these places are really, really awesome and could give some of the more popular Philippines tourist spots a run for their money.
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But back to photography. I started taking pictures of my travels using a 3.5 megapixel Kodak digital camera. I thought it was the bomb back then, though now this is certainly laughable considering that that camera can’t even be re-charged! I had to buy 2 triple A batteries overtime I think about using it. Still those were the fun days. You know, taking pictures just for the sake of the moment. The pictures were taken merely for documentation purposes, you know, just to show that you were really there and not just blowing smoke.

After a visit to Singapore, I decided to go a little more high-tech (though not as high-tech as I should have) and go for the more sophisticated Sony Cybershot DSC-H7. I didn’t really care for DSLRs back then, thinking that those digital monsters are way beyond my budget. Ironically the cost of the Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 would have purchased an entry-level DSLR had I given it a little thought. But no matter, the H7 was portable, packed a mean 18x zoom and makes a nice little Sony sound.

I got disenchanted with it when I started photographing action shots. I found that I’m always left behind, courtesy of slow shutter-speed and all that. I tried photographing wakeboarding maniacs once and my photographs were left showing mist and blue skies. It just couldn’t keep up!

It took me a whole year, well almost a year, to finally land a really nice prosumer camera, the Canon EOS 7D. A really, really sweet piece of equipment but built like a tank. Everything about it is perfect. From the sound that it makes to the strength needed to hold it up for a day. It is one beautiful monster.

Now I’m seeing a marked improvement in my pictures. But really, when your baseline is the floor, there’s really no way to go but up.

Hopefully, I will be able to seamlessly integrate posts related to photography here in this decidedly travel blog. I may just have to restrain myself from putting it up as a featured post. Well, unless there’s one really cool picture associated with it.
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I planned on going to Surigao’s Sohoton Cove last December and swim with the jellyfish there but unfortunately mother nature thought it was a bad idea so she had rain visit my hometown every day forcing me to stay indoors and accumulate fat. I decided not to tempt fate and listened to the rhythm of the falling rain. hmmm.

It wasn’t really such a good holiday season for me. True I get to go home to Buenavista, Agusan Del Norte, stayed at my adopted city– Butuan City and played cashier in the SO’s store. Though truth be told, I was only pretending to do some cashiering– I was too busy with the internet to really notice the shoppers who came into the store. My holiday was short-lived though. I was able to spend Christmas with the family but I was painfully alone during the New Year which is some kind of a mortal sin if you’re Filipino. But what can I say, as a corporate slave (not for long though) I have to do the bidding of my corporate masters.
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My first real trip for the year occured a few days after new year and this was another road trip to Pampanga. I went to Alfredo’s Resort which should be one of the premier summer outing destinations for Manila based companies. Especially for those who have a large number of employees. Of course there will be a post on this one and lots of pictures too!

Another first for the year is my first overseas trip. I went to Macau to see the Venetian Hotel and did a little side-shopping in HongKong. The good thing about this trip is that instead of the usual all expense paid trip courtesy of yours truly, this time I am the recipient of one. Sweet yeah? The trip lasted for 4 gloriously painful (to the feet) days. In fact, it ain’t over yet. I’m actually at the Hong Kong International airport typing this quick update.

I love the wifi here. PCCW provides the free WIFI to passengers. Not sure if the government of Hong Kong compensates the Li family for this but I’m almost positive this service is on the Li Ka Sheng house.

I should have a more interesting account of this trip in the coming days. In the meantime, stay cool, stay mobile, and keep on travelling them Philippine Islands!

So after work last Friday, we were pumped to give her a good time, drinking, a little crash course on Filipino humor and of course, Filipino hospitality. We were determined to make her drink until the sun comes up. As nightshift folks, our drinking started at around 1:00AM and by the time it was around 7AM, after a whole lot of talk and more beer, some drunken guy asked our visitor point blank if she’d rather spend her last Saturday in the Philippines shopping or sprawled in a tropical beach. She said beach. A show of hands ensued and it was agreed that four drunken colleagues will be heading out to Zambales to take her to Anawangin. Unfortunately, one of those who raised their hands was me. I didn’t really wanna go but seeing that most folks were raising their hands, I decided what the hell, might as well go crazy for once.

We didn’t pack for anything. We just followed the road and took turns driving. We reached Subic around 12 noon and bought our swimming outfit there. We then proceeded to drive to Pundaquit where the usual bancas are rented to go to Anawangin. We parked our car in Canoe Beach Resort and arrived at Anawangin Cove around 2PM.

Without even putting on a beach towel (I had none), I crashed on the sand and started snoring right away. My colleagues were happily swimming while I passed out under the shade. I woke up an hour later and saw them drinking some more. A lot of looks were thrown our way not because of my unbelievably good looks but because our colleague from distant shores was in a string bikini and she looked absolutely like those models you only see in glossy swimsuit magazines. I couldn’t really care less as to how she looked (rrright), I was too concerned about my hangover and where I could score some aspirins to cure it.

It seemed to me that Anawangin is no longer the secret spot that it used to be. There’s a store selling stuff there now. The creek and the pine trees are still there, but there are more tents pitched unlike the last time I visited it. I’m not really crazy about its beach, but for a quick getaway, it’s still pretty much acceptable.

After three hours in Anawangin we went back to Canoe Beach Resort to retrieve our stuff and go back to Manila. By some inspired move, we decided to stop by the new Marquee Mall near the Clark Exit in NLEX so our colleague was still able to do a little shopping.

We arrived in Manila around 12midnight. The other guys still wanted to go to Fiamma and Embassy but I was literally bombed so I begged off. Not that I enjoy going to those places anyway.

Going to Anawangin in a drunken stupor was really irresponsible and stupid though fun and enjoyable in a painful way. But I guess it’s alright to do these kinds of things every once in a while if only to confirm that we are still in charge of our individual lives.
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Imagine my surprise when after getting into the cab, the yellow metered taxi driver said that the fare going to my place in Sta. Mesa would cost me P550. I asked the driver ‘Isn’t this supposed to be a metered taxi?’ I don’t know if he heard me or just pretended not to hear because he just went ahead and called his dispatcher using their on-taxi radio. He confirmed with his dispatcher that we will be paying P550. I was about to argue some more but the significant other told me to just let it be.

Now, the fare going to my place only costs about P140. Even if you double that or even triple it, I shouldn’t be paying anything more than P420. But really, that’s beside the point. If you’re gonna tell the world that you’re strictly a metered taxi and that although you cost a few pennies more than the usual taxi, then for Pete’s sake stick to the program. Be a frigging metered taxi and make sure your drivers don’t become mercenaries preying on tired passengers. We already have a lot of those! For all the good publicity that this yellow metered taxis is given, this really isn’t good for PAL heck, it’s not even good for the country’s tourism.

What’s really frustrating about this is that, it’s not just the taxi driver who’s doing the scamming, even the airport operator is in on it too. Which makes one wonder what kind of controls the owner of this PAL accredited taxi service is doing to monitor their operation, or do they even have one?

I see all those stickers on the windshield of those yellow metered taxis in PAL and I can’t help but think BS. Just another one of those despicable practices that ruin the Philippines travel experience. I really hope the management of this yellow metered taxi in PAL Centennial Airport looks into this. These guys are giving the Philippines a bad name.

By the way, if you’re gonna look into this, the yellow sticker on the windshield says 336 and the time we took that taxi was around 4:00 AM (Nov. 12, 2009) going to Sta. Mesa. And yes, I actually heard the driver talking to the guy in dispatch and them agreeing to the amount. The driver didn’t even give me a receipt.

Anyway, for those travelers looking to hire one of these yellow metered taxis, the prudent thing to do would be to insure with the dispatch that the driver will be using the taxi meter. I know you shouldn’t have to do this given that that’s what their supposed to do, but it seems you can not trust people these days to do what they’re supposed to do. So better make sure so you don’t get the kind of drama that I had.

I’m pretty sure that this is an isolated incident, but the fact that the taxi driver connived with the dispatcher, there is most assuredly a practice of this sort going on. I just hope their management looks into this ASAP.
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Featured Photo from www.liveinthephilippines.com

The Cebu Pacific Air One Peso Promo is one of my favorite promos of Cebu Pacific but this is easily filled up. I’m not sure if it’s already available now but for sure by midnight tonight, all those seats will go on sale! Go crazy, buy your ticket now.

Take note however that flights will be from June 15, 2010 until September 30, 2010. Oh, and take note, this is still exclusive of government taxes and administration fees. Nevertheless, this is bound to be really, really cheap! Hurry![ad#336]

Featured Photo courtesy of carabaopower

It's not just the beach!

With the currently unpredictable weather here in this country, I am thinking of going somewhere more sunny, somewhere beyond the 7,107 islands of the Philippines. You know, somewhere like Bondi Beach; that very popular beach in the land down under. I’d probably have to apply for an Austrailian visa, but that’s a very small thing to hurdle. Besides, it’s not like I’m gonna apply for a working visa. God knows how difficult getting one of those can be. I’ve heard a lot of heartbreaking stories about applying for those things.

In my case, a simple tourist visa will do just fine.

I’m sure that there are other beaches outside the country that are probably more sunnier or more exotic than Bondi Beach but something about this particular beach appeals to me. Maybe it’s just the things that I’ve read; like how many movies have been made in this beach, or maybe it’s just the simple fact that a few friends who are living in Sydney have offered to shoulder all my expenses when I’m there, saying that all I had to do was show up. That, I have to say, is a very tempting offer.

Cost of Going To Bondi Beach

However, I do have to pay for my transportation expenses though which means that I will have to shell out around US$1,000 (inclusive of taxes) for the round trip fare if I decide to fly via Philippine Airlines. Too bad that Cebu Pacific doesn’t have a flight to Sydney just yet. I’m sure it would be a lot more inexpensive. But I have I do have a lot of time still to come up with that money. I just have to lessen some of my expenses here and there.

Oh well, anyone can dream.
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Featured Photo courtesy of Taro Taylor

Going To Sohoton Cove

And I thought I’m through with Surigao, turns out I still have a million reasons, nay, a million jellyfishes to return to. After my Siargao adventure, I told myself that it’s time to head north, to explore the other parts of Palawan, the so-called Final Frontier. Sohoton was supposed to be one of my destinations in Surigao, but I thought it’s just another cove, another body of water. You know, like been there, done that.

I didn’t know what possessed me, it maybe the fear of missing out on something that prompted me to search for pictures of Sohoton. And boy was I glad I did.

True, Sohoton is just another cove to the uninformed, but these massive number of jellyfishes (not sure if this is the correct plural term for jellyfish, but I’m sure you get what I mean) would surely beg to disagree.

From what I’ve read, Between the months of January – September, these non-sting jellyfishes would congregate in the Sohoton cove and one could actually swim with them. I could imagine that it must feel like swimming in a bowl of jelly. But since I haven’t done it, I have to experience it firsthand.

So to Sohoton I shall go. But since I’m going there during my Christmas break, I just hope that they somehow deviate from their pattern and stay in the area until the christmas season.

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ooOoo

Photo from gadgetcrave.com

On a sidetone, I am really looking forward to Christmas. My treasurer, the significant other has declared that my christmas present under the christmas tree will contain no less than a DSLR. Oh joy! I’ll finally graduate from my trustee ol’ point-and-shoot cam to a more sophisticated one. I was supposed to buy a second hand Canon 450D DSLR but the SO wouldn’t have any of it. She wants me to have a camera that nobody has ever touched yet. Awww.

Now I’m really, really excited. Christmas can’t come fast enough. I wonder what Canon model she’ll get me? A Canon 7D perhaps? Too expensive I know, but you know what, far stranger things have happened.
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