Bangui Windmill, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

        The windmill is one of the places to be visited during our arranged tour. The Bangui windmill is located at the northern most part of the Philippines at the municipality of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, facing the South China Sea.

The first in Asia and the only windmill in the Philippines. The turbines are spaced 326 meters apart, each 70 meters high, with 41 meters long blades, with a rotor diameter of 82 meters and a wind swept area of 5,281 sq. meter. It is so amazing traveling the highway with the giant windmills on the side you can see how majestic things could be.

It is like a graceful arc reflecting the shoreline of Bangui.

The ingenuity of man combined with the power of nature can bring light to many homes of Ilocanos and nearby provinces.
Travelling across the Philippines has always bought new and amazing things to discover and be proud of.

VIGAN

Our visit to Vigan is such an amazing trip.  It was the northernmost city established in the Philippines by the Spanish. It is one of the the towns of the province of Ilocos Sur.

At the time of our visit we are staying at Plaza del Norte hotel at the city of Laoag. From the hotel we hire a tricycle for 200 pesos which sent us to the town of Batac of where the former President Ferdinand Marcos Mausoleum was located. From that town we ride a bus to the city of Vigan, it took as almost an hour and 30 minutes to reach Vigan, it cost us a 100 pesos each. At the Plaza, we hire a calesa (a horse-drawn carriage engaged in providing transport services) that brought us to the beautiful heritage town of Vigan. The calesa tour cost 150 pesos per hour.

Its like a journey back in time, established in the 16th century. It fells like I was bought back in the time when the Spaniards used to rule the Philippines or it looks like you are bought to the old streets of Europe.

Vigan is the best-preserved examples of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. It represents a fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning.

It is so fascinating that at these present time where things change so fast, that these place was preserve to its original state. the time when Spaniards build their houses patterned from their houses in Spain.

Enchanted River: Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur Philippines

From the majestic Tinuy-an Falls. We headed to another remote place of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur the hidden treasure called the Enchanted River.

From the Hinatuan National Highway a 12 kilometer rough and very remote road has to be traversed before one can reach the Enchanted River.

When we arrived at the destination one would not think that their is something special around. But as you explore the long and pain-in-the-butt travel is all worthy.

It was around 12-noon when we arrived at the enchanted river, a loud music was being played and most of the visitors rushed their way towards the mouth of the river. It was fish feeding time. Many fish from the deep water is coming to the surface to take part of the food. The size of 1 ft- 1 1/2 ft fish are seen. It was so amazing.

After the fish feeding time we then dive into the greenish and then dark blue crystal clear water. One can swim with the fish in an 80-foot deep enchanted river. It looks like a  deep blue basin with clear and fresh water that then rushes into their beautiful sea.

Swimming at the enchanted river of Surigao del sur was indeed a very memorable experience that I will surely experience again in the future.

Tinuy-an Falls at Bislig City, Surigao del Sur

I had a rare opportunity of joining a group of teachers from Central Mindanao University heading to Surigao del sur. First on there itinerary is Tinuy-an Falls.

From the national highway of Bislig one has to travel 15 kilometers  towards the Tinuy-an Falls. Its almost a 30 minutes ride of rough and bumpy road. with wooden bridges, one of bridge is quite weak that passengers of our bus has to walk across the bridge to lessen the weight of the bus.

Tinuy-an Falls is located in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. It is the main tourist attraction in Bislig city.Tinuy-an Falls are 95 m wide and 55 meters (180 ft) high.

When we reached Tinuy-an, its almost 8:00 am. and we are greeted by the magnificent work of nature. It was all worth the travel for almost 15 hours from Musuan Bukidnon. This is one of the most extra ordinary waterfalls I've ever seen.

 It looks like a white curtain that flows in three levels and is said to be the widest waterfall in the Philippines. Its like a three layered stairs, covered with a flowing curtain. The water is so clean and crystal clear. A magnificent rainbow can be seen very morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

A wooden bridge is built so tourist can cross on the other side.
Here is a short video of the Tinuy-an falls.

Jersey Pistol Club

It was sunday morning the sun was bright but the temperature is cold. From the Durrell-ITC we headed towards Green road, St. Clement. before we started we the proper pistol shooting, Derek warmly welcome us and gave a short lecture about pistols and its advantages as well as the responsible handling of the material. The main thing that I wrote in my travellers notebook is to treat every gun as though it is loaded.

I had a great experience it was my first time to actually fire a gun. being able to fire a gun gives you a sense of confidence and courage. I dont know about others but its just the way i felt.


I have fired three types of gun unfortunately i cant remember their names.

La Rocque Harbour, St. Clement, Jersey, UK

Platte Rocque Tower replaced the guardhouse that was captured by the french invasion force of 1781 on the evening before the Battle of jersey. It was built, as were other Jersey towers, on the design of Colonel C W Pasley.

It was sunday morning 2th of February. The DESMAN 2012 participant boarded the DURRELL-ITC mini bus to La rocque harbour for a wader watching. Among the species that we bserved during that time are the following; Grey Heron, Little Egret,Spoonbill, Brent Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher,Redshank, Harring gull, Turnstone, Dunlin, and Shag.

This part of Jersey's eastern coastline is renowned for its variety of wintering shorebirds. Between the months of October and March, many thousands of Brent geese and wading birds are attracted to the area where they can be observed, either feeding or roosting in the vicinity.

My travellers notebook is of real great help in making me remember the things I need to write. I am realistic that I can have that slr canon camera to photograph the exciting moments to remember

Tagaytay, Philippines

It's one of the famous get away area from the busy life of Metro Manila. When I went to tagaytay, it was 2nd week of December 2010. The after I applied for my UK visa, my brother Gabriel sneek to Tagaytay to look for a property on sale for his real estate business. It was almost 3 hours motor ride from the tip of Bulacan (Tungko) to Tagaytay highlands.

The area was beautiful, you can see the majestic taal lake. The wind was so fresh and cool. We spent lunch time at the Tagaytay market, well its a beautiful and clean market.These photographs were I hope was taken by an slr canon camera, but are not. I havent have my travellers notebook back then.