Life Under the Sea is Also Either Up or Down

"Jellyfishies" are the coolest under water creatures I know. They're like spirits of the sea.
More of the pictures I've taken of them later...

India in Bora

These pictures were taken still at Tirta. The owner's collection of Indian relics and what-nots surrounded by warm ambient lighting will definitely remind you of India.

InTEAresting

I had this at Vieux Chalet and it was interesting not because they grow it from their garden, but because of how it was served. I haven't had tea served out of a bag. It was a little crazy, especially when I feel the bits touch my lip. It's kinda like having a mojito and avoiding the mint that gets in the way.

FYI, the tea was chamomile (not sure if I spelled it correctly but I'm too lazy to google it).

Angels at St. Thomas

This is a photo taken during the christening of my newest ina-anak, Jake. I don't like the yellow much but there...

Gloomy Sunday Morning

I like this photo even if it looks boring . I was randomly playing with my cam and I remember feeling a little bored after eating sardines for breakfast at a resort. And yes, our resort serves sardines for breakfast but with a twist. It was not bad at all... maybe because I love sardines.

Anyway, it was gloomy that morning as it was the Sunday after Ondoy, and the island was not unscathed by its wrath. The sun was hiding from the gray clouds and the wind was blowing hard. But of course, no typhoon would stop me from taking pictures.

The picture is a little abstract but guess what it is. ;)

Green Is Life

The Dragonfly

Where is the dragonfly?

Field of Weeds

Morning Rain

Here's a picture I took on the bus ride to Bicol. We were running very late on our schedule, thanks to the heavy traffic caused by the roads being developed. In a way it's good since the bus being late led us to have the perfect beach bon fire.

Back to the Resort

On our way back to the resort, after the long wait at one of the islands, with RGH feeling the wind. Twinkle and I wanted his spot but the roof won't be able to handle all 3 of us, and so we settled to feeling the wind at the head of the boat. Thanks to Twinkle who took the shot.

The Mourning Papu

Here's a picture of our Papu, our family's saint, dressed to fit the occasion to mourn the death of Christ. It was a Good Friday then and he's all ready for the night.

Papu had been with the family for quite a long while now and I would always hear of strange but totally amazing things about him. It was said, and I notice this too, that there are times when you look into his eyes and you'll know if he's sad or happy. I swear! It gives me the goose bumps but I know this first hand.

The time I took the picture, I felt he was sad and I understand entirely why. Weeks after, Cho Herrar, my lola's brother, passed away.

There have also been stories that Papu would at times wink at my Titas and Titos, and my cousins. Very playful Papu I should say.

It's been very nice to see Papu that time after years of haven't been visiting the province. Next year, I'll try to visit again. I hope to see him dressed up for the Wednesday procession. That's his most handsomest and the one I always miss. :)

Traffic Guy

Here's another picture I took while on the road to Pangasinan. This traffic enforcer was standing still and the traffic was slow (the most natural thing to do, for me, was to take the picture). I never knew what he was supposed to do. Well, he kept his spot and was just observing. Maybe he's waiting for something to happen. I was hoping I could go out and ask if I can take his spot to take photos.

En Route To Pangasinan

Took a picture of this road sign near the the toll gate along the NLEX on the way to Pangasinan with the "Happy Shiny People."

Daet Dried Fish Market

The rows of tiled counter tops are meant for fresh fish, I think. Daet still is majorly, an agricultural community. At least the area that surround it are. Most still live by fishing, with it being near the sea, it's not surprising that they also make a living out of selling dried fish.

Right at the back of the rows, in the picture, are where they sell dried seafood. They sell my favorite daing na pusit. That's the only one I like. The rest are just all the same to me.

20-Peso Ticket

We went to Mercedes, it's a town about 10 minutes away from our province, Basud, and 5 minutes away from the town proper of Daet. In there is a port or wharf (I don't know the difference) where fishermen market their day's catch. People go there to bid for fish at the time when they're sold wihtout the mark-up. And yes, it's a bidding process you have to go through when you're there.

They only sell using a type of silent auction. We call it "Bulungan," which directly translates to whispering. Buyers will have to whisper their bid to the auctioneer and, of course, the highest bidder wins.

Though we would go there on a Good Friday, this time we went on a Black Saturday and we came late in the morning, little near noon, and so all the biddings have been done and the churn of people mumbling has been replaced by fishermen hoping to sell their late catch. I missed the sun rising from the dark sea into the purple and orange sky. The feel of the cool morning breeze has turned into the scorching of the mighty sun.

Nonetheless, it was good going back to the place. The unpleasant stink helped me reminisce what I had missed (ironically, it was the unpleasant that reminded me of the pleasant memories). But going back to the photo, it's a picture of the ticket we paid as entrance to the port. Twenty for cars and five, I think, for tricycles. A small price to pay when you can buy at really cheap prices. We went home with shark, crabs, and different types of fishes we don't know the names of all for a little over 500 (mind you, we bought a lot). The bad part is that they all stank at the back of the car.

Remedios Street

Nothing interesting here. It was just another day when; in the heat of the sun, the pressing boredom and the tiring wait for time to pass by; I tried to make myself productive.

I was itching to climb the surf board that day and ride the waves. And so, while I wait for Mommy and Uncle Noel to finish catching up with their Cousin, Tita Evelyn, I wandered her street in search of something to shoot at.

I just love how I can beautifully see the clouds right behind the wires that seem to jut out of their places randomly without purpose.

Cousin Raymond and His Family

Here is a picture of Kuya Raymond (a cousin of mine from my mother's side) and his family. He is my Mama's (grandmother) nephew so we're still second cousins, right? It's funny how I was never aware of a cousin of mine staying in our Province. Well, I'm not too sure if he's staying there permanently or if he was just visiting the time we had met. It's even funnier how we are "Magka-tokayo" and that I still forgot. I am never the social one anyway. I'd usually shy away from people and even from close relatives that it's not surprising how meeting Kuya Raymond was a surprise. I forget the names of his kids and wife (that's how bad I am) but I'll try to memorize my Family Tree and take down notes next time.

Cho Tinong's Bicycle

I found it interesting to take a picture of our late Cho Tinong's bike stocked at the second floor of our house in Bicol. The creeping light from the windows made it dramatic. The picture may be a little grainy coz my cam got busted that week (and it still is, I don't have money to buy new lenses or to fix it) but it did the task. I like how old and dark the pictures feels.