blanca-thiSandThat: December 2007

bohol-cebu visit

photo above: chocolate hills in the background

photo above: sunrise in panglao island

My curiosity of Bohol was finally unraveled. Excited as I was, I brought along a huge traveling bag with me and the season’s ubiquitous bag ‘I am not a plastic bag’. Together with friends, we explore the famous places in the island. We left Manila via Cebu Pacific Air. It was around early afternoon when we arrived in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. We headed to purchase some groceries and then stopped for a late lunch in Payag and ordered “chicken inato”, version of "chicken inasal".

After that much needed lunch, our hyper-dependable driver/tour guide Kuya Jun drove us to Panglao Island. Panglao Island is located in the Central Visayas with its name was derived from "panggaw". The name history can be traced back since the eighteen hundreds. When Spanish explorers came in search of water, they asked the natives what the name of the island was. The natives thought they were asking for what they were doing, which at that time they were making fishing devices called "panggaw".

Upon arrival in the resort, we rested and had an early dinner at the sea shore. After which we slept early, a soporific effect of the full meal, comfy place and a laid back atmosphere of the island.

photo above: panglao island beach (best friends!)

The next day, our destination is Cebu. What instills into my mind during the sail in Oceanjet is the song of Wow Philippines. “Halika, byahe tayo nang ating Makita ang ganda ng pilipinas, ang galing ng Pilipino… Namiesta ka na ba sa Penafrancia sa Naga. Umakyat sa Antipolo, nagsayaw sa Obando?” whew, this made me hum over and over again.

We met Ate Claire in Cebu Port and then we visited Magellan’s Cross, Cebu Cathedral and Sto Nino Museum. We had our early lunch at the famous CPT Lechon. Chie had her first taste of Cebu’s Lechon, famous as one need not use flavoring or spices or sauce to enhance the taste; and ‘Puso’, local’s hanging rice. We took our chance to shop for ‘pasalubong’ in SM Cebu which is just across the street. Another stop is the Jumalon’s butterfly garden. The late Jumalon was a famous artist who creates art using butterfly wings. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting relatives and the city tour where we had the glimpse of CICC and passed the oldest street of Colon. And yes, we saw the costly lamp posts of Cebu City and its neighboring cities.

I almost lost my camera upon returning to Bohol. Thanks to Heavens that no one got my camera which I left in the waiting area for almost 15 minutes or so. I will let that camera off my sight no more.

photo above: cathedral church

photo above: tarsier, holding on

Day 3 in our vacation was spent in discovering the island of Bohol. The tour starts in meeting the Philippine Tarsier, the smallest primate in Loboc River. (This is something not unusual actually as there was already a pair of tarsier eyes in our entire travel. *Wink*) After meeting those cutest creatures, we passed the enchanting Manmade Forest and finally, saw the mounds of limestone formation, generally called Chocolate Hills or should I say Mint hills. A sight so serene and untroubled

Lunch was spent in the floating restaurant which cruise the Loboc River. We were entertained by children singing in another boat and the kids doing their own diving stunts.

We saw the largest python. Born in the year of the Snake, I have a heart to snakes that I don’t like seeing them like in a carnival. “Of course, I was just joking on that part. I just don’t find it entertaining at all.” Our next stops were the historical Blood Compact Monument, beautiful old churches like Baclayon & Loboc and lastly the ‘pasalubong’ shop where we bought several peanut kisses, kalamay and tarsier key chains.

Another sea shore dinner ended this adventure.

Tips:

1.0 Don't be stupid. Print your online ticket prior to your travel.

2.0 Panglao Island's water is salty, bring bottled water for drinking and a good shampoo & conditioner for taking a bath. Don't forget to bring baby cologne to make you feel refresh.

3.0 Wear your most comfortable clothes in the tour, remember that it will be an adventure tour and not a mall-type tour or some sort.

4.0 And most importantly, travel with your best buddies.

“Philippines” is a paradise. There are several islands waiting to be discovered. Halika, byahe tayo!

strange, eccentric

Three beautiful and witty girls that we are, the word that best describes us is weirdo. odd, strange, eccentric. We belong to a world where we have our own worlds. Autistics.

I had a recent communication with Sheryll and Mae, thanks to technology it was like yesterday when we were exchanging our usual sametime conversations. I missed their company more. When Jam left for greener pasteur (Jam is one of my best friends, more of a sister to me. I’ll came up with something about her soon) it was Sheryll and Mae who I became close with. Of course, there’s Raquel and Ms Rose. The later two being sisters-and-mothers to all of us. I find my home in the arms of what we call Purchasing Spice Girls.

Sheryll and Mae are wonderful women. It is their warmth personality that made them really special. Conversations with these two fine ladies will always be interesting, either intellectual or more human (in laymen’s term mga kung anu-anong kalokohan). We never had dull moments. A lunch time in the canteen is always spiced up with our opinions to everyone who passed by. Not in a bad way and if anything a little harsh, well, thanks to my opinions then. We were addicted to Text Twist when it even came to a point that any word we saw in anywhere, our minds were already working for words.

Beauty, brains, personality and the purest heart -- we all have in common. Ok, ok. I accept I am a little unwell.

Distance may be in between the three of us now but the friendship we built for years will remain. Miss ya girlfriends!

forgotten

it has been ages since the last time i checked my flickr account. i was surprised to what i read when i opened it. my first entry for "tell a story in 5 frames", a visual story telling won as a co-winner for november. yipee..

title: forgotten

Note from Flickr:

The November selections for best story ended in a tie between “Forgotten” and “Kiss Me Please.” As tie breaker, I found that choosing the best was difficult.Alsalam's story is full of hope and love, and has excellent character revealing photographs to support the story. “Kiss Me Please” has a strong beginning and a clear middle, but the ending, especially, could use a photograph showing the happy satisfaction on the part of the man asking for the child's kiss. Additionally, alsalam has been a strong contributor to our group with good stories and frequent comments on other's stories. Indeed, Alsalam nominated “Forgotten” as best on the month.“Forgotten,” by blanca18, captures a poignant moment that most of us have shared, the loss of a relationship. As mentioned on the thread's discussion, the story needs a final resolution, a photo showing the washed away writing in the sand. The story is well set-up and photographed.Since there is no clear cut winner, and both stories deal in different ways, with the importance of meaningful, loving relationships, I declare co-winners. Will alsalam and blanca18 both place their stories in the group pool. Congratulations!

kape talk part 2

received my 2008 Starbucks planner!

WD External Drive 160 GB

just purchased WD external drive 160GB. this is for my pictures only. with this external drive i can save upto 40,000 pictures. love it!

in preparation for our Bohol get-away this weekend.