4 March 2013
Arrive home
I arrived back in Auckland having missed two-plus months of summer. The best part of the year is nearly gone. But I had an awesome time abroad. I can’t have it all!
3 March 2013
Picking up a bargain
I toyed with the idea of replacing my phone. I have a Sony Ericsson Android which was getting badly scratched on the screen; it does everything but in slow motion as it has a slow single-core processor. I felt no urgency in replacing it though; I like its more compact form compared to most smartphones. But on […]
2 March 2013
Bye bye Philippines!
Above: Mt Mayon from Legazpi. Today I leave Philippines after more than two weeks. Because the hotel breakfast was stodgy and unappealing, I went to the supermarket and bought some mini-muffins, mangoes and milk. It was a much better choice. After lunch, I flew to Manila with a self-connect to Hong Kong where I met […]
1 March 2013
Moving on to Legazpi
Above: Mt Mayon from the Embarcadero waterfront. Following the successful sightings of the whaleshark, I was happy to leave Donsol. After a wash, I took a tricycle, van and another tricycle to the Ellis Ecotel in Legaspi for my last night in the Philippines. It was intended to be a change in scenery, located next to […]
1 March 2013
Whalesharks, Take Three!
I had been of two minds as to whether to do the whale-sharks for a third time in Donsol today. On one hand, chances of a sighting are pretty slim. But on the other hand, I do have the time and it isn’t very much money for something that I could possibly never do again. […]
28 February 2013
Whalesharks, Take Two!
Above: Mt Mayon faintly seen from the sea in the early morning before the clouds gather. Today I had my second attempt at Donsol for the whale-sharks. Our group comprised of John and Yvon from Netherlands, plus David and Jane from Singapore. We found a French man to make up the maximum party of six. […]
27 February 2013
Manta Dives
Above: Manta on a poster. That’s the closest we got to any manta. I did a day’s diving with Bicol Dive Centre at Donsol, hoping to see mantas at Manta Bowl. Three Dives The dives were led by local dive masters who have better knowledge of the area. We did three dives as follows: One […]
27 February 2013
In search of mantas
Above: Manta on a poster. That’s the closest we got to any manta. I had a day off from travel activities yesterday. I heard this theory that with rainfall, plankton sinks down and whale-sharks don’t surface. With the recent heavy rain I didn’t expect the plankton to have risen yet. So, just as well I […]
25 February 2013
Whale-sharks and gorgeous cocks
Swim with whale-sharks, not! I set the alarm for 0600 and forced some pancakes down before walking to the whale-shark (known locally as butanding) centre as it opened at 0700. It had rained heavily last night. The weather didn’t look promising. The Dutch couple I had met on the plane got together with me and […]
24 February 2013
To my rendezvous with whalesharks and mantas (hopefully)
Above: Rolling hills as we approach Legazpi; the perfect cone of Mt Mayon was shrouded in cloud and wasn’t worth the shot. I walked to the ATM after breakfast. There were still people sleeping on the streets. In the taxi to the airport, street kids (about 10 years old) peered into the vehicle; I put […]