Flight Delayed

I'm supposed to be in the airport now, but our flight has been delayed. Instead of departing at ten, we will now depart at one in the morning. Bummer.

On the bright side, I got to test my brother's Asus Eee. This will be our laptop in the US. It's a bit slow, and the keys are quite small. But for some reason, it's fun to use. I really can't explain it.

Vacation Time!!!

My much needed rest time has arrived!

I'm almost done with packing, what a relief. In a few hours my mom and I will be flying to California (Los Angeles to be exact), and will be visiting Las Vegas and San Francisco in the coming days.

The last time I got out of the country was in 2005 (Hong Kong), and the last time I was in the United States was in 2001. Back then it was all about malls and theme parks. That was before I ventured into photography (ironically, I bought my first digital there).

Now, we'll be exploring sites like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, and other places of interest. Of course, shopping won't be gone, as I plan to buy some stuff there.

Now for the sad part. I hate being away from home, and for sure I will miss all my loved ones here, especially Roxanne. But I guess if I don't explore (or re-explore) new places, I might regret it when I get older.

So that's about it. I will try to enjoy this two and a half week break. I will still be online though, thanks to my brother's netbook (Asus Eee).

Picnic Grove

Ruins.

Cable car.

The view of Taal.

The zip line (I don't know who these folks are).

"Wholesome" souvenirs.

I haven't been in a picnic since high school. Thanks to Roxanne and her clan for inviting me for some good old chow by the grassy lot, and an opportunity for me to take pictures. It's also one of those rare opportunities that I get to borrow my mom's Fortuner. I just love driving that car.

I didn't know that there's already a cable car and a zip line in the area. I guess it's worth a try when the place is less crowded.

More pictures here.

Maleldo 2009

Jayson along with the spectators.

Penitents.

Live crucifixion (partly covered).

Maleldo, the Kapampangan word for "Holy Week".

In San Pedro Cutud, a village in San Fernando, Pampanga, people (especially foreigners) flock here during Good Friday to witness Lenten sacrifice at its extreme. Some are whipped, while others are crucified.

Jayson and George convinced us (me and Roaxnne) to join them in witnessing this event last Friday, only to realize that we were not prepared. No, it's not the blood nor the gore, but the suffering that entails the trip. Walking under the scorching sun for more than a mile, being duped by the pedicab driver, and all the dust and people were some of the factors that caught us by surprise. It was dubbed as our "penitenshoot", taking pictures and at the same time, making a sacrifice.

I guess a return trip next year to San Pedro Cutud is improbable, but in case I (or we) do return, here are some things that I learned from this trip:

- Brings lots of hankies or small towels, Good Friday always falls on a summer, so expect lots of sweat. It's also helpful against dust in the air.

- It is dusty, really dusty. Make sure your gear (e.g. camera) is protected, and always take caution if you have nasal allergies.

- Parking is expensive, so always bring extra cash.

- In case you have to ride a pedicab, be wary of where they will drop you off. Always tell them to bring you to the crucifixion site, no excuses.

- Drinks are available at the site, but if you must bring your own, it's best to have it frozen. Believe me, it gets really hot, and a warm bottle of Gatorade is not fun to drink.

- The show usually starts past noon, so don't hurry, unless you're a photographer and you want a good vantage point.

- There are lots of people, so on the way back, be prepared to walk (around 1.5 kilometers).

I guess that's about it. Oh, and more pictures at the following links:

Mine
George's
Jayson's
Myra's

Rare, But "Well Done"

Yahoo News: One of world's rarest sharks caught and eaten.

After my recent Planet Dive experience, news like this just makes me sad.

Planet Dive

The rocky shoreline of Anilao.

Me and Roxanne.

Our diver friends.

Gelsen checking out the gear.

The best part of the day, an awesome sunset.

I am never an early bird. But even with only four hours of sleep, the magnificent view of the ocean as we approach Planet Dive in Anilao, Batangas became an indication that it was going to be a great day. That big blue body of water almost made me cry (just kidding).

Since Roxanne and I are not divers (nor are we good swimmers), we decided to just wander around before lunch time as most of our friends went to dive. Being there was just so relaxing, how I wish I'd see the ocean whenever I look out my window.

After lunch, we tried out snorkeling. It was my first time, and I never really got any good underwater shots. Unfortunately, Roxanne got injured, her knee struck some jagged rock and it caused a big wound, which we attended to immediately. With this development, I had to postpone my plans of taking introductory scuba diving lessons.

After all that commosion, the day ended well with a beautiful sunset, much better than that of Manila Bay. We all went home tired (with some injured), but fulfilled.

Anyway, before I say where the rest of the pictures are, here's a litte rollcall:

To Jayson and Myra - thanks for the ride home, and for letting me try your IR camera.
To George - thanks for lending me your Aquapack.I guess underwater photography is not that easy.
To Pris - you're the best nurse in the world. Thank you so much for treating Roxanne's injury.
To Gelsen - thank you for the ride to Planet Dive. Nice time lapse video.
To Jayson H. - nice meeting you bro.
And to Roxanne - I hope you get well soon honey. I love you so much.

And now, the photo galleries:
Mine
Jayson's
Myra's
George's
Gelsens' (with his famous time lapse video)

Cheers!!!

Xantino Has Been Christened

Another godchild added to my list.

Yesterday, Xantino was welcomed to the Christian world. He was first mentioned in this blog here, and now that he's "family", he may become a regular fixture in this site, just like Debbie. But for now, I won't post the rest of the pictures, and let his parents enjoy them privately.