I’m Back (to Real Life)!!

Has it been a month?  How time flies when you’re havin’ fun!!!  It’s been a whole month of cool (cold) weather, wildlife galore, magnificent views, quaint towns, glaciers to die for and food – a great deal of food.  Months of planning this dream trip of a lifetime had definitely come to fruition and I couldn’t ask for a better R&R!

But even before we felt the heat, this greeted us:

 homecomingchaos !

That’s homecoming-Philippine style, my friends.  Four flights sharing 2 carousels!  Ridiculous, I know, but nothing can dampen my spirits from an exhilarating experience that just went too fast.

But before anything else, allow me to soak in the beauty of this amazing world of ours.  Can’t wait to share what I saw with you, after I sort out the pixes.  Photo sorting is dirty business you know but hop on anytime and join me in my North American journey.  It was worth my while and I hope it will be worth yours too.

Posted on by Jenn 3

The Waiting Game

The-waiting-gameCredits-  Templates:  Katy Larson 365 template o3;  Papers:  Oscraps Moonlight papers ninascrap 2 and suec3.

Each day we’d set out to search for hammerheads.  They were the reason we spent 5 days in Layang Layang, off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia where hammerheads (schools of them) supposedly swim this part of the ocean from February to May.

Layang-2-resort

They were however seemingly elusive and hard to find.  Heard that the last sighting was almost 2 weeks prior to our arrival.  Have we caught the tail end of the season?  Perhaps.  Hammerhead sightings have been dwindling every year, according to our dive masters and they believe that it is because of 2 things, global warming and lack of conservation efforts.  The hammerheads like the cold and as the water temperature rises, they go deeper.  Another very serious issue is conservation; most of the sharks (hammerheads included) are targeted (read: killed) for their fins to use as ingredient for the popular Shark Fin’s soup, a delicacy that is served in many Chinese restaurants all over the world. 

shark's-fintaken at the KK airport – no wonder we can’t find ’em!!

This cruel “finning” is the cause for the declining population.  The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says 100 million sharks, skates and rays are killed every year.  The cruel finning refers to the practice of cutting off fins only and discarding the body.  When thrown back into the sea, they either bleed to death or drown as sharks need their fins to swim and they need to go forward to get oxygen.

A brief sighting was already a cause for celebration and a right to brag.  We saw a silhouette of ONE.  That didn’t count (at first); we were expecting schools in clear water, not a shadow of it.  In the end, it mattered that we at least saw ONE!  Others were completely deprived of a sighting.  4 days diving in Layang Layang is equal to 12 dives, mostly out in the blue.  Quite frustrating, if you ask me.

Layang-2nd-day-012

We waited patiently and were hopeful till the very end that maybe, just maybe our luck would change… it didn’t.  A school of Devil Rays highlights this trip with no pix to boast, I’m afraid.  So maybe, this too does not count, eh?

But basking in the nightly sunsets as glorious as these,

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sunset

watching these dolphins, tons of them, swimming along our boat’s bow,

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dolphins

and viewing these migratory birds finding refuge at a bird island sanctuary off the shores of Layang Layang… 

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these certainly made up for the trip sans the hammerheads.  Yes.. it certainly did!

This is a big part of my world, our world.  We’ve only got one, so let’s do our share in keeping it alive and healthy.  To explore more of our amazing world, hop on to That’s My World.

Posted on by Jenn 9

Photo Editing Goodness

Pssst!  Wanna make your photos spectacular?  Here’s an inside scoop:

 PhotoEd2450ad

Yes my friends… it’s free for you, yes you!!!  So remember the date, register on-line and I’ll see you there!  Exciting eh?  I couldn’t resist, had to share this even while on vacation.

I’m at the train station in Jasper waiting for my train (of course) to Vancouver… it’s late!!!  Looking forward to more thrills to come.  I hope to keep in touch from time to time.

Posted on by Jenn 1

WS #15: A Day in KK

 

logs-shangrilaborderline

Bordering along the South China Sea with the majestic Mt. Kinabalu watching over this capital city of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu (fondly called KK) is no doubt the gateway to a wealth of adventure from diving to hiking and many more in between. 

 En route to Layang Layang, Borneo’s last frontier as far as diving is concerned (as some claimed), we had one day to explore KK. 

orangutanOrang-utans from Sepilok (from a trip 2 years ago)

It was a toss between Orangutans or Shangri-la.  The group settled for a lazy afternoon at Shangri-la’s Rasa Ria Resort and we missed out on the Oragutan sighting due to a leisurey lunch.

beach-shangrila

Char-Kwey-Teaw

After lunch and a failed attempt to catch a glimpse of some orangutans feeding near the resort, we headed back to the city,

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passing by this beautiful city mosque sprawling above a man-made lagoon.

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children

With our getup, we were not allowed inside so we mingled with some happy bunch of kids hanging around the mosque.

boardwalk

 beer

 

sunset

Back in city proper, we headed to the waterfront for some happy hour while watching the sun set over the horizon capped with delicious Chicken Rice for dinner.

 chicken

No rush, no pressure… savoring the day as it unfolds is sometimes a marvelous way to enjoy a place.  

Have a nice week ahead!

Posted on by Jenn 4

Pretty in Pink!

FlamingosCredits-  Papers:  Oscraps Moonrise Paper Dtope 2, Jennilyn 3, Dyoung 3;  Embellishments:  Oscraps Moonrise Bling 3-awall;  Brush:  JSprague Stitching

The lakeshores of Lake Nakuru literally turn pink as millions of flamingos feed on its highly alkaline lake, set in a picturesque landscape of acacia woodlands and grasslands next to Nakuru town.

Nakuru

dramatic entrance

A very shallow and strongly alkaline lake, it is world known as feeding grounds of both lesser and greater flamingos and one of my favorite parks in East Africa.

flamingos

The main reason for establishing this national park was to protect its huge flocks of the lesser flamingos.  Despite being the world’s most numerous flamingos, this bird is classified as near threatened due to its lack of suitable breeding site. Depended on rainfalls, the lake keep decreasing since 1997.  The ecosystem is threatened by annual drought.

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shallow to dry lake

The second most visited park in Kenya, this small park has been dubbed “the greatest bird spectacle on earth” when thousands of flamingos landed into the lake years ago.  It has become a favorite destination for not only ornithologists but also bird and wildlife enthusiasts.  And the flamingos are definitely the reason to be in Nakuru!

flamingoes-2

Lake Nakuru National Park is situated approximately 2-hour drive away from Nairobi.  A gentle, billowing terrain with open bush and woodlands dominates it.  It is also one of the saline lake systems lying in the Great Rift Valley.

nakuru-enroute

enroute to Nakuru

Famous for its abundant birdlife…

pelicansPelicans

Lake Naukuru also has waterbucks, impalas, and hippopotamus.

waterbuck

waterbuck

Game viewing is relatively easy:  buffalos, leopard, lions, and the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe…

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cape buffalo and the flamingos as its backdrop

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not a Rothschild’s giraffe

the bushlands offers eland, steenbok, impala, while the hyrax occupies the cliffs.

hyrax

hyrax

And speaking of cliffs, the best view of the lake is from Baboon cliff.

flamingoes-from-cliff

view from the top

Lake Nakuru is also home to the Kenya Rhino Conservation Project and therefore an excellent place to see rhinos.  The woodland and forest are now home to both black and white rhino.   Following the ravages of poaching, in the late 80’s, only 2 black rhinos remained.  Creating a rhino sanctuary within the park and reintroducing a breeding herd have recognized the park internationally as an important conservation area.

white-rhinos

white rhinos

Lake Nakuru… not to be missed when in Kenya.  It was definitely one of the of the highlights of my African adventure!

Frame credit:  Oscraps Moonrise frame – awall

Posted on by Jenn 6

Negros Goodies: New Discoveries

mwtwhite

Namit-GidCredits:  Papers:  JCrowley’s beautiful evidence – solid 4, JSprague’s HAFH – Awning Stripe;  Frame:  KPertiet Storyboard Negs 1A

Namit to translate means delicious, yummy, scrumptious and all the other adjectives that you can find in your dictionary that best describes good food!  Food has always and will always be a big part of my trips (and life in general) and what better way to cap the series than to acquaint you with some of the wonderful (recently discovered) delicacies this region has to offer.  Negros is renowned for celebrating in style, their cuisine developed for this eagerness for festivities though much of their cuisine is guarded in family kitchens.  Particularly popular are their sugar based food items and delicacies but not to neglect are some of the best savory treats I’ve ever encountered.

Besides Chicken Inasal, Guapple Pie and the sinfully delicious sweets of Calea featured in my earlier posts, Negros’ pastries and confectionary are particularly popular and Piaya, Barquillos, Pinasugbo, Pastillas de Manga, and Dulce Gatas are ranked among the favorites.  Here are some of my favorites!

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Dulce Gatas:  a chewy caramel like paste made of carabao’s milk.  A different take on pastillas, a milk based pastry and can be made with just milk and sugar.

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Casa Caramel Gourmet Piayitos:  unlike the traditional flatbread stuffed with muscovado filling called Piaya.  This baby brother is a new take – smaller, crispier, slim discs that is absolutely addicting.  And it’s organic too!  I can finish the whole box and more in one sitting.

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Pastillas de Manga:  empanaditas (baby empanadas) with yummy, sweet, chewy mango filling.  Equally addicting.

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Pitaw:  veering away from the sweets that is often the trademark of the Negrenses, Pitaw is wild rice-field birds, a local delicacy cooked adobo style.  Now found in a jar to take home with you.  Best eaten re-fried to crispiness.

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The lechon… waiting to be cut open

chicken-in-lechonthe chicken…

A different kind of Lechon (roast pig):  have you ever heard of a chicken cooked inside a pig?  Seems absurd but I promise… it’s really mouthwatering.  This lechon is a specialty of Enting’s and is our last meal in Bacolod before heading to Sipalay.  Came highly recommended by no other than Chef Bruce Lim, the first thing we did when we arrived was made reservations and ordered their specialty.  Did not disappoint.  Both lechon and chicken superbly flavored although the skin could be crispier but I’m not complaining.

covered-binakolour individual bowl of soup

binakol

Chicken Binakol: Chicken soup cooked in sweet coconut juice.  Although not exactly original to Negros, this Binakol deserves a mention particularly since it was especially prepared by (Arnold, the cook of Nataasan Resort) on our last night there.  Absolutely heavenly and the best I’ve ever had.

diwal-b

from the aquarium

grilled-diwal-bto the grill… yum!

Diwal:  saving the best for last.  Also called angel wing clams, a sweet and succulent shellfish and a specialty of Negros   So much a favorite that fisher folks harvested volumes of diwal up to the ‘90s, destructing its habitat and is considered somewhat endangered.  Up until a few years ago, harvesting of these clams was totally banned to allow the remaining stocks to replenish its population.  Thank God this conservation measures gave positive effect and we are able to once more enjoy a meal or two of this fabulous shellfish.

Go have a glimpse of other worlds, visit My World here.

Enting’s
Contact No.:  +63918-221-0026
Posted on by Jenn 11

Sipalay: Jewel of the Sugar Island

mwtwhite

If you relish the sand and the sea without the noise and the socials of Boracay, Sipalay is for you.  Touted as the Jewel of the Sugar Island, Sipalay is actually Negros’ best-kept summer destination.

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The people from Western Visayas almost always speak highly of the white sand beaches of this seaside town but when a friend (not from there and a foreigner to boot) raved about it, it was time to go.  To satisfy our curiosity, what better time to explore this much talked about but (except for people from Bacolod and perhaps Dumaguete) hardly explored island?  It was a long holiday, it was at the height of summer and we were all in need of a break from the urban jungle.

After sweating it out at the foothills of Kanlaon (some even got to the top) and after stuffing ourselves with not only the goodies but also of the cultural schtuff, it was time to chill.  The drive to Sipalay took between 3-4 hours, and it builds up to a more scenic drive as the town nears.

view-from-the-road

I had no expectations really but Nataasan Resort was pretty charming.  It was the only one perched up on a cliff without any beach to boast.  To get to the beach, one must climb down these stairs

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but the view, the view makes going up and down a non issue.

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My brother’s family, on the other hand, stayed at Artistic Diving so we can use their dive facilities and where there’s a pool for the kids.

artistic

With a lot of dive resorts scattered around the island, we figured that diving must be a big thing here and it was… in a macro kind a way.  There were no pelagics but with a good dive master (to spot), there were some never seen before stuff and without a camera, you’ll just have to take my word for it.  There was one really huge cuttlefish, some seahorses, and some really strange but fascinating stuff down there.  And the corals were just amazing, sadly though we saw huge amounts of Crown Of Thorns (COTS).   😦

divers

Snorkeling, I heard was a bit disappointing for the discriminating.  Some enjoyed it though, especially the kids.  There are 2 stretches of beach, Sugar (or Langub in their native tougue) Beach, known for its sugary fine beach and Punta Ballo (where we stayed) has at least a kilometer of stretched white sandy (also fine) beach, both supposedly boasts of good snorkeling.

The 3 days that we were there got us to explore some attractions such as Tinagong Dagat, a hidden sea sprinkled with a dozen islets covered with lush vegetation.

tinagong-dagat

They said it was near Sugar Beach but the banca (boat) we took was not big enough (or so we thought and felt) to fight the swells of the ocean.  It was one scary ride and coming from some of us who had experienced a lot of scary stuff, it was scary!  I guess, it was scarier because we had 2 kids, ages 4 and 8 with us.  And so it was the longest short ride we ever had!   😯

boat-in-Tinagong-D

Quite disappointing was Campomanes Bay especially after a nice memory of it some 7 years ago when we visited from Danjugan Island.  It was noted to be an excellent spot for snorkeling and diving but again from the discriminating bunch, it was middle of the road.

The best of this piece of heaven, in my opinion, are the incredible sunsets (and the sunrise caught one early morning before our dive).

early-morning

The sunset for me made the whole Sipalay trip worthwhile.

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Many including this set of foreigners took pleasure in just enjoying the sunset.

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And during this time in Punta Ballo, the beach was brimming with activities… mostly of children playing.

children-playing

children-sandcastle

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Sunsets and children playing make for beautiful shots.

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As I said, if you are looking for a place to party, Sipalay is not for you.  It’s a remote seaside town surrounded by spectacular white sand beaches, secluded coves, scattered islets, dive reefs and waters teeming with unique marine life.  A perfect place to unwind and recharge.

For a glimpse of other spectacular worlds, click here.


Nataasan Beach Resort
Brgy. 4 Sitio Punta Ballo
Sipalay City
email:  divetludie@aol.com
http://www.nataasan.com
Artistic Diving
Punta Ballo White Beach
6113 Sipalay City
email:  info@artisticdiving.com
Cell:  0063919-409-5594
http://www.artisticdiving.com
Posted on by Jenn 20

Migration of the Wildebeest

Almost.  It was July and the start of the migration.  Perfect timing.  After all, our trip to Africa started with the idea of this “much documented” migration.  Well, no “Great Wildebeest Migration” for us BUT it was still a haven for viewing a multitude of all sorts of animals in a 5-mile radius.  And just to witness and be in an African savannah is enough to thrill us no end.

gathering

zebras and wildebeests

They were getting ready for the migration, we were told.  Zebras were queuing as if for immigration (to pass the border hee hee!)   😀

queuing-zebras

zebras in a line

and hundreds of wildebeest grazing and waiting perhaps for their turn to queue?   😀  Sometime between July and October, the famous Masai Mara National Reserve reverberates to the thumps of millions of hoofs as the Great Wildebeest Migration billows. Even if we missed this, we were thrilled nonetheless to just have a “NatGeo” moment.

wildebeests

wildebeests (waiting for their turn?)

Everything about Kenya’s finest wildlife reserve is outstanding.  The wildlife is abundant in Masai Mara and the rolling grassland makes certain that animals are always within field of vision.  After grazing in Tanzania’s northern Serengeti, as if in one accord, a large number of wildebeest and zebra enter the Masai Mara around the end of June drawn by the sweet grass brought about by the long rains of April and May.

buffalos

buffalos

steenbok

steenboks

The rolling grasslands, the diversity of the inhabitants, the acacia trees fulfilled my expectation of the African landscape depicted in Out of Africa.

sunset

savannah

It is where the word “safari” is in its truest sense. We even witnessed a cheetah take down a wildebeest.  A highlight it definitely was for the day.

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cheetahs (before the attack!)

A sad note though… scientists at the Nairobi based International Livestock Research Institute (ILPI) have found that the numbers of giraffes, hartebeests, impalas, warthogs, topis and waterbucks noticeably and persistently fell throughout the reserve between 1989 & 2003.  They blame it on the increasing human settlement around the unfenced park.

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hartebeests

running-gazelles

gazelles in action

Seeing the Big 9 was an experience unparalleled.  And what are they, you may ask?  The Big 5s are the Buffalos, Elephants, Leopards, Lions and Rhinoceroses and the Big 9 extends to the Cheetahs, Zebras, Giraffes, and Hippos.  Yes my friends, we saw them all and save for the Leopard that didn’t get photographed because it was just too fast and nimble.

elephant

elephant

lion

mama lion

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A trip to Africa is obviously not complete without experiencing a safari and is almost always the highlight of one’s trip.  It was for us and we went to not 1 but 4 great safaris in Kenya and Tanzania.  Awesome!  Stay tuned for more safari tales (hopefully soon!)   😉

Posted on by Jenn 7

Negros Heritage (Part 3)

mwtwhite

Last of 3 parts, part 1 is here and part 2 here.

 

Hofileña Ancestral House

hofilenaCredits:  Template – KL365 template 02-000001;  Papers – Khakisack Scraps Think Pink blackgraph and pink solid papers;  Elements – LivE S4S- Spring String, LivE S4S Tag Sky, Oscraps Moonrise – R1CRAC2 – dyoung

By the 1930’s, the age of dazzling plantation houses began to come to an end.  Houses became more compact and practical, built in more central locations.  The house that Manuel Hofileña (one of the original Sialy sugar baron) built in 1934 on Cinco de Noviembre Street is the first inhabited heritage house to be declared a National Historical landmark in Silay, as declared proudly by his son Ramon.

hofilena-plaque

The Hofileña house has a big art collection, mostly paintings from Filipino masters.  Precious family heirlooms such as the 200-year old Rachall piano that belonged to his great grandmother sits comfortably in the cozy living room.

hofilena-paintings

Ramon Hofileña who now owns the house is one man who knows a lot about Silay, in fact, the city owes a lot to this man.  In 1977, there was a plan to widen Rizal St. as part of the many road projects under a World Bank program.  The highway would have encroached on treasured properties. Hofileña submitted a petition to the National government to have the decision reversed.  With the help of the city tourism, he organized the homeowners to rally behind the cause, which caught the attention of the Governor who then mediated over the matter.  Suffice to say that Silay has become one city with a great deal of well-maintained ancestral houses opened to the public either as a museum or a gallery of sorts.

hofilena-in-action

Today, the Hofileña house is still functional and inhabited (by Ramon) and was the first house to be opened to the public.  By appointment, Ramon conduct tours of the house complete with tales of Silay, his lineage and the artist he so cares about.  All told with so much passion and gusto.  His enthusiasm so infectious, you leave the house with a sense of pride for the Filipino people, especially the artists that had found a place in his wall.  These are collections by Juan Luna, sketches by Dr. Jose Rizal to name a few.

To schedule a visit to the Manuel Hofileña Ancestral House, call Mon at (034) 495-4561.

To get more glimpses of our awesome world, click here.

Posted on by Jenn 7

WS# 14: Ilog Maria

Let’s take a break from Negros and head off to Silang, Cavite for now. On our way home from Tagaytay today, we passed a honeybee farm which has been on my radar screen for quite sometime now.  A friend even swears by their products and regularly orders on-line.  And me being a lover of all things natural and organic could not in the world pass this up could I?

ilog-maria-bee-farm-2

Ilog Maria is a honey farm that produces a wide range of natural and organic honey-based products from beauty essentials, candles, and insect repellants to even products for ailments in which their Virgin Honey tops the list.  Other products include Honey Cider Vinegar, Frozen Royal Jelly to even a sore throat spray. 

ilog-maria-products

Unfortunately, since Sept 2008, their Virgin Honey has not been available.  Not only is natural honey seasonal, weather started to change and is no longer predictable.  Blame it on global warming, bees are disappearing all over the world and this phenomenon has been called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).  Honey has been scarce for Ilog Maria this year.

ilog-maria-bee-farm

To know more about the farm, its products and how it is coping with the worldwide phenomenon, click here.

Posted on by Jenn 15