Calintaan Island’s Subic Beach in Matnog, Sorsogon

August 31, 2011

If there were any doubts whether the sun will appear when we boarded a bus from Legaspi to Sorsogon, they were quickly dispelled as the blue waters of the sea sparkled beneath the clear blue skies. As we approached Subic Beach on Calintaan Island, the boat ride was smooth sailing over calm waters. I kept my expectations in check by telling myself, "This is just another beach in my own beautiful country."

Blue waters of Subic beach

Weaving Through Scenic Sorsogon Countryside

August 30, 2011


The sky was a picture of a indecision when we boarded the bus from Legaspi to Sorsogon. It looks like it was unsure of dumping rain or sheltering the Earth from the blistering sun—which was keen on making an appearance that day. The weather was shaping out fine and the absence of rain made it more ideal, but there are still a few patches of dark clouds  hovering above. The same sky curtain that made our earlier attempt to see Mayon Volcano up close a futile one. As the bus revved up its engine and gather speed on the highway, the wind brushing against my face increases its tenacity. Trying to avoid a direct hit, I looked out the window and was greeted by a majestic countryside.

Sorsogon roadtrip with Bam Raguindin

Nomadic Video 1: Masskara Festival

August 29, 2011

I've been wanting to make a music video of some of my trips but haven't really sat down and edit some video clips. It doesn't help when my phone with a respectable video quality was stolen off inside the LRT last December, taking along with it countless video clips which, unfortunately wasn't transferred yet to my laptop. I had a blast putting this music video out in an hour of editing and exploring the controls of "Windows Live Movie Maker", but with the limited video clips I was happy at the result. Plus the song of the Pixies, "Where is My Mind" made it a bit better. 

Nomadic Video # 1:

Talking Sea Creatures In Kota Kinabalu

August 24, 2011

The stone fish is staring out his aquarium like a delirious sea creature high on helium when he spotted two travel bloggers, one a Chinese looking dude and the other one a semi-Chinese looking dude with a flair of Spanish blood walked inside the "Old Village Seafood Restaurant" in Kota Kinabalu.

Stone Fish: Well, what do we have here. I hope they'll be the one to free me of my misery in this small enclosed space I'm in right now, but hmm they don't seem interested in shelling out 10.00RM for a 100 grams of myself. They just taking pictures.

Zibra Shell: Roger Clemens on that Stone, those dudes, they don't look like the seafoods kind of guy. They just order them Tiger Beers, so looks like you're gonna be there for quite some time. Me? I got myself ordered by that cute family sitting over there. I saw them point me out to the waiter. 

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The Big Tian Tan Buddha Upstairs | Hong Kong

August 16, 2011

Years before the boy who goes by the name Siddharta would become known as Gautama, the Buddhist religion founder, he was always in search for his life's meaning. It was a life-long quest that would ultimately help shape a big part of our world. I was always fascinated with the Buddhist religion, it strikes me as centering on one's peace of mind and its relation to every living things around. When I found myself on a bus going to the Ngong Ping highlands to visit the Tian Tan or otherwise known as the "Giant Buddha", I recognized that 'peace of mind' has always been the slippery toad caught between my hands; right here this moment and gone the next.

Stairway to the Tian Tan Buddha Hong Kong

If You See Her at Honda Bay, Say Hello | Palawan

August 09, 2011

This was the continuation of the interrupted process that happened here. It was almost a mass of water as large as the sea have formed between us. I could feel the blank and puzzled stare at my shoulder. I too could only look at her with amazement at how things could turn around so quickly. Maybe it has always been my weakness that I always force someone to pick up a hammer and hit my head with it. The boat ride was extra torture as it travels at half the speed of ordinary boats. The whole trip though was ably made up by the ever presence of wonderful scenery across Honda Bay.

Jem Magcalas

City Mosque in Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu

August 04, 2011

Surrounded by a man-made lagoon, the City Mosque at Likas Bay in Kota Kinabalu pulls off a floating apparition when seen from a distance. As I trudge closer from where we got off the bus, I can hear chants of worships spread out on the open air, and in a place like that with the bay fronting the opposite side and the Mosque facing it against the lagoon–the chanting bemused the ears even of those undaunted passersby. At that moment, I felt solemnity, as I quickly cut the distance between myself and this architecturally-gifted place of worship of our Muslim brothers. After gorging on street foods in Kota Kinabalu, I was finally experiencing the place in a new light and perspective.

Marky Ramone Go in City Mosque Likas Bay Kota Kinabalu