There are beautiful places in these islands that I do not particularly want to share, and have been hesitant to do so. These are serene spots you just want to preserve and protect yet at the same time you want others to feel what you went through.
“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself.”
As the full moon finds its place in the darkest skies, love will uplift despair.” – Angie Weiland- Crosby
I seek the light in every dark situation, and wait for better things to come.
– Jojie Alcantara, on life and photography
Spending time in nature is healing energy.
Boracay sunset taken just before the pandemic, December 2019
I’ve found that there is always some beauty left—in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you.
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you truly love. It will not lead you astray.” ~Rumi
Not everyone was privileged to see another sunrise like you did, so before you start complaining; remember that the breath of life, is not for sale.
“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.” Vincent Van Gogh This is my childhood beach, back in our ancestral home where we live so close to the sea, we smell of salt and ocean all day long.. © Jojie Alcantara Ferrando Whitesand Beach, San Ignacio Manay, Davao Oriental In photo swimming : Kuya Meric Yumang * * * *
“Rest but never quit. Even the sun has a sinking spell each evening. But it always rises the next morning. At sunrise, every soul is born again.”–Muhammad Ali
Known for being the City of Parks, Tagum now welcomes the Sunflower Garden as its newest addition to instagram-worthy places in the city.
Farmers in a sugar cane field in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental © Jojie Alcantara
On July 7, 2007, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and an even more famous tourist destination than when it was first shown in the movie Indiana Jones. Dating back to the first century AD, its design achievement reflects the advance civilization of the Nabataeans who perfectly carved their city in the rock mountains. The Treasury (Al Khazna) is the first stunning structure upon entering Petra. This masterpiece stands 150 feet tall and 100 feet wide. Petra is famously referred to as a “rose-red” city, but its reddish hue comes in the late afternoon. In midday, the monuments appear pinkish or yellowish depending on sunlight. ©Jojie Alcantara 2017
Halong City in Quang Ninh Province of Vietnam is a quiet but blossoming town right in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Halong Bay. Quite laid back from other touristy cities, the roads are wide and without traffic (maybe peak season is different). Apart from popular Ha Long Bay cruises, it also offers beach activities, nature treks, local food and night markets. Divided into two main areas: there is Hon Gai on the other side of the bridge where local life, culture and food can be experienced. These are Vietnamese girls in traditional dress called “ao dai”, in a backdrop of Ha Long Bay. Bai Chay is the central tourist area on the other side where Ha Long Bay is filled with luxury cruises or traditional junk boat tours. Other options are: an artificial beach, restaurants, cafes and varying structures from high end resorts to boutique hotels lined along the bay. © Jojie Alcantara This January, Vietnam was the host country of the 38th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2019. Held in Ha Long, …
I open up my heart and
I’m gonna do my part and
Make this a positively beautiful day.
What I know for sure is that every sunrise is like a new page, a chance to right ourselves and receive each day in all its glory. Each day is a wonder. ~Oprah Winfrey
“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.” ~Albert Einstein
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, Petra was named among the New7Wonders of the World in 2007 and chosen by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the “28 Places to See Before You Die”.
Wadi Rum Protected Area was declared in 2011 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its most outstanding desert landscapes, lending a surreal feel to the vast environment. If you think this is a scene from a Star Wars movie, there may be a little truth to it.
“Someday you will find the one who will watch every sunrise with you until the sunset of your life.” – Unknown
