My Summer Essentials

 

Dear

 

My summer essentials: trusty flip flops, ice cold drink, cute shades and a huge starfish!

 

Vanishing Island view, Samal Island

 

Dear

 

A lake somewhere you say? This is actually the view of the opposite island from the Vanishing, well, Island.

 

Vanishing Island, Samal Island

 

Dear

 

It’s worth mentioning that we arrived at this island in style.

We were brought here by Pieter of Samal Island Huts (where we stayed) via his toy speedboat!

 

As you noticed, the blue skies played with us. Didn’t want to show her face obviously, she just peeked through the whites and grays. Nevertheless I enjoyed my stay here. A little stroll there, a little snorkel there, and we’re off. We actually experienced the island vanishing, with the water going up slowly by the minute. How cool is that!

 

Love,

Monfort Bat Sanctuary, Samal Island

 

Dear

 

"Enter freely and of your own free will!"

― Bram Stoker, Dracula

 

I was freaked out overwhelmed.  It wasn’t exactly a sweet and fragrant visit but it was definitely memorable and I was extremely amazed. Can you tell? Never have I seen anything by this number in my entire life. Thousands, no, maybe millions of fruit bats screeching, hanging, sleeping. Wow. This guys aren’t Guinness World Record holders for nothing. They must look eerily beautiful when flying out of their bat caves. So note to self: make sure to be at the Vanishing Island next time to watch this whole river of fruit bats emerge from their hellholes. That would be one epic gothic moment.

 

Love,

Hagimit Falls and Natures Park, Samal Island

 

Dear

 

Stop dreaming about Mexico’s hidden cave pool and go to Samal! Somewhere here, a waterfall used to flow. It may not be as maintained as that cave pool, but it’s as magical.

 

Love,

Pearl Farm, Davao

 

Dear

 

So I went ahead and welcomed Summer earlier than most of you guys.  I bathed in the glorious rays of the Pearl Farm resort sun and screamed at myself "BURNNNN!" Davao is my last trip before going back to a miserable little cube called office. Believe it or not, I’m going to miss the Sun.

 

Love,

Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin, Camiguin

 

Dear

 

We finally checked in here at BBC. It's beautiful, like what their site promised. It's quiet, peaceful, and I love it. Most of all, the people are super nice.

 

I love Camiguin, the sites and view may not be that spectacular, but the weather, the serenity and most of all, the people made it beautiful.

 

White Island, Camiguin

 

Dear

 

Whenever Camiguin is mentioned, the White Island comes to mind first and foremost. Like Batanes, I have vivid dreams about this island. So imagine my excitement when the day of our White Island tour finally arrived. However, it has been raining on and off Camiguin for the past days and this day, the skies looked gloomy. But then again, White Island now or never. After 15 minutes, we finally got there. It's chilly, not exactly the perfect weather for frolicking in the white sands like I imagined since I was younger. The picture above is the rain heading towards our direction. A few minutes after scrambling to hide our cameras, the rain finally passed by us. Having nothing to shield ourselves from, we have no choice but endure the battering of wicked raindrops (with sands) and cold winds. It took a good 5 minutes or so before the rain finally left us.

 

Ok, so not exactly my dreams about this famous sandbar coming true, but heck, it has been fun/crazy memorable.

 

Giant Clam Sanctuary, Camiguin

 

Hello!

 

The next day is a trip to the Giant Clam Sanctuary. Am not a very good swimmer, you know that. So seeing the giant waves, I opted out of snorkeling. The skies caught my attention. Never have I seen the clouds as fierce as this, couldn’t take my eyes off it, can't get enough shots of it. So I just have to share it with you. Looking like the skies from a sci-fi film don’t you think?

 

Sunken Cemetery, Camiguin

 

Dear

 

Finally, Camiguin! On our first day, we toured around and visited mostly the cold springs that's surprisingly plenty on the island.  Then we decided to hold our sunset shots at that the famous Sunken Cemetery. The skies begun to color and the drama we are hoping for looked promising. Then it rained. HARD. This is the closest we ever got to having a very dramatic sunset at the Sunken Cemetery.