Unexpected destination/Watery World Wednesday

Expect nothing.

Live frugally on surprise.

~ Alice Walker

Linking to Watery World Wednesday

Journey/Watery World Wednesday

The best journeys in life are those that answer questions you never thought to ask.  ~ Rich Ridgeway

Linking to Watery World Wednesday

Island life/OWT and WWW

One of the 80 plus islands in the Calamian Islands, northen Palawan.

“It is true that I miss intelligent companionship, but there are so few with whom I can share the things that mean so much to me that I have learned to contain myself. It is enough that I am surrounded with beauty...”
― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild 

Tangab or fish trap is a type of fishing done during calm seas, weak winds, and no-storm season. Fishermen work from dusk till dawn--they drop the tangab net at low tide and haul the nets up at high tide to harvest the catch. 

Linking to Our World Tuesday
 Water World Wednesday

Enchanting nature/Water World-Wednesday

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods;

There is rapture in the lonely shore;

There is society where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar,

I love not man the less, but Nature more...

~ Lord Byron

Linking to Water World-Wednesday

Serene/Watery World Wednesday

Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past.  Rather, it is a spirit that bears things---with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.  ~ President Corazon Aquino

Linking to Watery World Wednesday

Adventure/Blue Monday

An outrigger approaching the shores of Coron Island as we were leaving for another island adventure.

The core of man's spirit comes from new experiences. ~ Into the Wild

Linking to Sally's Blue Monday

Calamianes: At day's end/Water World Wednesday

Going back to Busuanga Island after a day of island hopping and snorkeling.  We were tired but happy, and looking forward to another exciting day. 

Linking to Kim's  Water World - Wednesday

and NF Waters

Follow your Bliss/Water World Wednesday

 This is your LIFE.
Do what you love and do it often.
If you don't like something, change it.
If you don't like your job, quit.
If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV.
If you are looking for the love of your life, STOP;
they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you LOVE.
Stop over-analyzing, all emotions are beautiful.
When you eat, appreciate every last bite.
LIFE is SIMPLE.
Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people, we are united in our difference.
Ask the next person you see what their passion is,
and share your inspiring dream with them.
Travel often;
getting lost will help you find yourself.
Some opportunities only come only once, seize them.
Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them,
so go out and start creating.
LIFE is SHORT.
Live your dream and share your passion.

  

Linking to Water World Wednesday

Culion Church/OWT

Purisima Concepcion de Nuestra Senora

One of the sites in Culion Island that was hard to miss is the Purisima Concepcion de Nuestra Senora (Immaculate Conception Church). The church was an imposing structure, one of the oldest buildings in the island.   Its dramatic steps were seen from the gate of the leprosarium. 

A group of Augustinian priests arrived on this remote island in 1622 and established a parish thereafter.  The island was a constant target of harassment and raids by Muslims pirates that around 1740, the superior of the Augustinian Recollects decided to construct a watchtower and fort as a defense measure against the Moro Raiders.  Within the fort, this church of about 25 meters long and 10 meters wide made of hewn coral rock was built.

 

The interior of the church had been renovated since, I'm sure, as the arches reminded me of Silliman University Hall (built in early 1900's).  And I couldn't help but admire the design of the nave and the light coming in.  As this church sits by the sea, the breezes were cool and salty.  It was was closed when we visited because they were preparing for an important religious event the next day.  But the ladies in the parish office were kind enough to let us explore the church.

Looking towards the main entrance of the church, I noticed the gallery for the choir and a stoup standing infront of the door. The yellow tiles are beautiful.

 

Beside the main entrance was the tomb of a Jesuit priest, Fr. Javier Olazabal, who came to Culion Island in 1971 and died on the island in 1988 at age 79.

 

The Immaculate Conception Church viewed from the walls of the old fort beside the watchtower.

 

 Culion Island can be reached by outrigger from Coron town in Busuanga Island; or by a passenger ship that docks here once a week from Manila.  

Culion Island, Calamian Group of Islands, northern Palawan

 

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Drive-by in Calamianes/Watery Wednesday

Drive-by shots of limestone mountains and islands in Calamianes while were in an outrigger boat. Most of the islands are uninhibited, some are privately-owned.

Calamian Group of Islands, northern Palawan

Linking to Watery Wednesday

Calamianes: Green rolling hills

These are not flood-washed mountains.  Some of the  islands in the Calamianes are rich in a certain mineral that makes them ideal for grazing.  In Busuanga Island alone, more than 10,000 hectares are used as grazing by the Yulo King's Ranch. The coastline is protected by mangrove forests.  I also captured a small fishing village at the tip of the island.

I am sorry I have not been very active in leaving comments on your posts. I moved to a bigger apartment a few weeks ago, and my internet connection is still not stable.

Thank you for your visits and wishing you a hopeful and prosperous 2012!

Linking to Watery Wednesday

Calamianes: Pearl Farm [Watery Wednesday]

Somewhere between the islands of Busuanga and Culion, I noticed this floating hut near the shores of a deserted island.  I wondered why someone would like to stay in a floating hut in the middle of nowhere.  Then I saw lots and lots of floating black balls, so I asked our boatman about it.  He told us the area is a pearl farm.  The huts are for security personnel and they are armed with automatic weapons!

I have not seen a pearl farm before.  I knew about pearl farms in Mindanao but didn't know there are pearl farms in Palawan.  Turned out, pearl farming in the region began in the early 1900's.  The clean waters of Palawan have attracted investors to engage in pearl farming, particularly in the island municipalities.  A total of more than 44,000 hectares are under lease for pearl farming, and the lease period is generally 25 years.

Pearls are cultured by transplanting a tiny piece of mantle tissue of an oyster shell into the shell of a young oyster.  This graft forms a pearl sac and precipitate calcium carbonate into this pocket.  Over time, this grows into a pearl.  It takes 2-5 years for a pearl to mature. Source

The world's largest pearl, the 9.45-inch Pearl of Lao Tzu, was found by a diver in Palawan in 1934 and is now valued at US$42 million. Source

Get virtually wet @ Watery Wednesday

Coron Island: Mangroves

I have posted about mangrove forests before.  I find mangrove trees beautiful, the roots sculptural.  The Philippines has around 47 "true mangrove" out of 54 species around the world.  Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that have adapted to living in salt and brackish water conditions. Mangroves are extraordinary rich habitats that serve as life support system to fish, shrimps and other marine life, birds, reptiles, and some species of mammals (monkeys, rats, etc.).  They also protect the coastline from onslaught of storms and wave surges. 

Coron Island has a healthy mangrove forests---it's one of the remaining old growth forests in the country.  The province of Palawan where Coron Island is located has the longest coastline with the largest remaining stand of mangrove forest (40,000 hectares approximately).  Source

The most dominant mangrove trees here are the Rhizophora species locally known as "Bacauan".  

Get virtually wet at Watery Wednesday

Calamianes: Cagbatan Island

Cagbatan Island in the Calamianes, also known as Coron Youth Club (CYC)---is a tiny uninhabited island ideal for swimming, snorkeling and camping.  Diving beginners also train here.

The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision. ~ William Arthur Ward

Linking to Watery Wednesday

Emerald sky [Watery Wednesday]

My soul is full of longing

For the secret of the sea,

And the heart of the great ocean

Sends a thrilling pulse through me.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

One of the many islands we passed by on our way to Culion Island.

This post is linked to Watery Wednesday