Day: March 14, 2009

PhotoHunt: Four

photohunter7iq1ph-4x4b

Credits:  Frame – Akiloune kit so natural cadre

Taking a 4X4 off-road jeep makes trekking Mt. Pinatubo a walk in the park.  What used to be a whole day trek requiring overnight camping in 1999 (when we first trekked this beautiful landscape) is now down to 1 hour of 4X4 ride and about 45 minutes hike to the crater lake.  A far cry eh?

ph-4x4

This was taken 5 years ago when the service of 4X4s already existed but still required a grueling 2 hour trek to the crater and hours of rutty ride to the jump-off.  The experience however made the journey exceptionally memorable.

In June 1991, after more than 4 centuries of slumber, this volcano erupted so violently (coupled with an unfortunate tropical storm) that its ashes covered almost the entire island of Luzon and permanently changed the landscape of Pampanga, Tarlac and Olongapo.  Hundreds of millions of dollars in prime properties and infrastructure was likewise ruined.

pinatubo-crater

The crater lake as it looked in 2004.

 Source: http://park.org/Philippines/pinatubo/ and
 http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/pinatubo.htm

This week’s Photo Hunt theme is Four.  To join the fun or enjoy more entries, please click here.

Posted on by Jenn 11

African Groove

african-grooveCredits:  Papers – JSprague 07, MCO Beautiful Journey 02;  Embellishments – JHE Twilled Phrases blank, Leona Apron Strings2 pldlabel, MCO Topper;  Overlays – KPertiet Sanded overlay, MCO Boho Flourishes;  Paper Mask – MCO Scalloped Paper Mask;  Alpha – JSprague Dauphin Alpha

This was taken in Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve in Fort Portal.  It is also home to orphans of AIDS victims.  Part orphanage, part guesthouse, the money earned from the guesthouse (and various donors) helps sustain the orphanage.  Most of the time, a show is prepared for guests.  Performing with gusto, we watched, entertained by their zeal.  They showed pride as they performed in front of a handful of delighted foreigners.  These children definitely have the groove!

red-colobus

Red Colobus among the many wildlife found at the forest.

lake-nkuruba

Lake Nkuruba was our jump-off point to an up close encounter with the chimpanzees.  Uganda is home to gorillas (in Rwenzori Forest) and chimps (in Kibale Forest).  Unable, however, to see the gorillas due to time, budget constraints and the government’s policy on permits, we went on the chimpanzee trek.

chimps

fort-portal

A small town with one main road, we found our way to this western town of Uganda the hard way.  In fact the highlight of our African adventure was this journey to Fort Portal and Lake Nkuruba.  It’s a story all its own so stay tuned.   😀

Posted on by Jenn 0