Month: March 2013

Bicycle © Jojie Alcantara

Travel light

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“Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.” ~John Muir

Daring Destinations

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When 7,107 Islands Magazine (my country consists of such number of islands) launched the latest issue with the theme of “Seven Most Daring Travel Destinations”, it was quite a brave move on the editor’s part and the team behind it.  How can you promote places most feared in my country due to travel advisories and media hype? Of the seven daring destinations, I have only been to four so far. Actually I had a pending invitation to two of those, but things had a way of preventing me from going at that time. In this particular issue, I got the cover photo and two beautiful destinations, Marawi City (article written by Gael Hilotin) and Tawi-Tawi, situated at the last frontier southernmost of the Philippines (my article and photos). Braving a destination despite the negative claims is sometimes worth it, just as long as you don’t take too much risk. View large pages here  

Iguana play with me?

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The vast Hijo Estate plantation located in Tagum City has a forest tour that opens your world to wild pigs, birds and monkeys freely roaming in the woods, while a high canopy walk will challenge your fear of heights as old giant trees still existing within the well-maintained private sanctuary engulf you with its enormity. This iguana was certainly a fascinating sight up a tree (I used a telephoto lens).

Rock Islands, Palau

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Palau’s Rock Islands Southern Lagoon covers 100,200-hectare and numbers 445 uninhabited limestone islands of volcanic origin. Many of them display unique mushroom-like shapes in turquoise lagoons surrounded by coral reefs. The site features over 385 coral species and different types of habitat and harbors the highest concentration of marine lakes anywhere, isolated bodies of seawater separated from the ocean by land barriers. The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon contains 52 marine lakes, more than at any other site in the world.  They are mostly uninhabited and are famous for their beaches, blue lagoons and the peculiar umbrella-like shapes of many of the islands themselves.

Sunny side up

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Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.  And everyone deserves a little sunshine.  ~Jeffrey Glassberg Here’s to the sunny side of life, everyone.  🙂 Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat Province © Jojie Alcantara More macro and flora images here

Sunrise in Lake Sebu

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Lake Sebu at sunrise from my cottage balcony © Jojie Alcantara 2013 For 3 days, I was blessed with evenings of full moon and glorious sunrises from my cottage by the lake in Mountain Lake Eco Resort. I was doing a photography workshop with kids as a project of Save the Children Organization in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. For years I have visited Lake Sebu and never tired of staying in this place.  It is a dream destination for photographers at a cool elevation of 1000m above sea level.  I have documented the dreamweavers, lakes and beautiful falls, witnessed festivals and have seen my child subjects grow up and mature. I have published features, created posters and brochures, and have even seen my T’boli images on sign posts and restaurant menus!  The serenity of the developing place has never ceased to amaze me until now. Its beauty simply keeps calling you to come back.  And I always do. View my photo gallery of Lake Sebu here