Banca/Blue Monday

The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.  The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore. ~ Dale Carnegie

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Hoping for some free lunch.
Mauban pier, Quezon

"Give a man fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." ~ Lao Tzu

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Photo-Hunt: pink

I met this fat bunny rabbit at the pier in Mauban. He's obviously well-loved---the owner brings this furry friend to the pier to catch the early morning sunshine. Check out the pink ears!:P

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Gone fishing - Watery Wednesday

I'll be out of town tomorrow 'till Sunday---I'll do my best to visit your blog. Going to Cebu, but not for pleasure...well, maybe just a little (but don't tell my boss!). So I leave you with these watery photos---just imagine me on a boat, paddling from islet to islet, the sun kisses my face, warm breezes cool my skin, a glass of mojito and a gorgeous masseur waiting for me on the next islet.

Yeah, right! Wake up, Luna! Fasten your seat belt and put your face mask on!:P

Photos taken between Mauban and Cagbalete Island

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Mauban pier (part 2) - Watery Wednesday

More watery scenes at Mauban pier taken on Maundy Thursday. Townsfolk were enjoying the early morning sunshine and fresh air at the pier.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

~ Mark Twain

Posted for Watery Wednesday

Sky-Watch, Friday: a tropical storm in summer

Dark clouds over Mauban as our outrigger boat left the pier. Scud clouds loomed across the horizon as we approached Cagbalete Island. There was no storm forecast but as unpredictable as our weather has become, I was not surprised to see thunderstorms in the middle of summer.

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Cagbalete Island - Weekend Snapshot

Cagbalete Island. I was longing for some peace and quiet for the Holy Week holiday when I saw photos of this island in Dong's blog. Perfect, I thought. Not the usual Holy Week destination, and less than 4-hour drive from Manila. I found Villa Cleofas' website, called Ed, one of the owners, and booked a tent for a 2 nights/3 days stay. I slept in a tent in Malapascua Island a few years ago and wanted to experience it again---the back to basics sort of vacation.

This is what the shore of Villa Cleofas in Cagbalete Island looked like when we arrived around 10 am on Maundy Thursday. It was low tide so our boat was not able to dock by the beach. The water was waist-deep where the boat captain dropped the anchor and we didn't want to get wet, so we had to transfer to a flat boat that was pulled by 3 macho guys until we reached the shallow waters. We walked about a half kilometer to the beach.

sand ripples at low tide

Like my friend S who hadn't seen this kind of low tide before, a backpacker later told me that he was thinking of a tsunami when he saw the wide waterless sea. Good thing, he didn't panic.

the flat boat that carried us ashore

This is the beach early in the morning---the best time to swim, and explore our side of the island.

early morning high tide

late afternoon after our siesta

looking for treasures and enjoying solitude

pine trees growing along the beach

stranded drift wood

a lazy morning by the hammock

More photos of Cagbalete Island on my next posts...

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Sky-Watch, Friday: sunrise in Mauban

Sunrise in Mauban on Maundy Thursday. Heavy clouds loomed at the horizon. I prayed for clear skies to grace our one hour boat ride to Cagbalete Island, and voila!

here it is...

"They change their climate, not their soul, who rush across the sea."
~ Horace

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Mauban pier (Watery Wednesday)

a fisherman at the pier

An early morning scene at the Mauban pier on my way to Cagbalete Island on Maundy Thursday. A coastal town about 150 kilometers from Manila, Mauban is a gateway to Cagbalete Island---my Holy Week destination.

the outrigger boat that brought us to the island

More photos of Cagbalete Island in my next posts.

Posted for Watery Wednesday