it's Christmas!

  Me and my friends went to SM for a little get together. Notepad is leaving for Australia.. Hay, I miss her already. We passed by SM City's Christmas Trees at the North Wing and that's when I realized that it's really Christmas. The time of the year when I get to receive my 13th month, year end bonus, free grocery and maybe 4-5K worth of Gift Certs!! Wooot wooott!..

 The time of the year when friends and family get together and celebrate Christ's birthday together. I love putting up decorations on our Christmas tree and lights every where, cooking a few hours before the clock strikes 12:00AM and singing Christmas carols.
 
 The Christmas Tress at the mall were so big, but what got my attention was the angles on the Christmas Trees and a few hanging around and above the trees. Thanks to my zoom lens! And thanks to google picasa!! :D

Here are a few scraps I have taken, Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy! :)

Night Shots

I invited Ronald to go to the New Mandaue-Lapu-Lapu Bridge Park (Lapu-Lapu side of the bridge) last Saturday night to take pictures of the old bridge. I like the LLP side better since there is a barangay outpost and it looks like they have really took care of the place. I have not been to the Mandaue side for, I think 5-6 years now.

We then went to South Reclamation Area Post where you can see the Crown Regency Hotel and half of the Reclamation. We were only able to get a few pictures since we already got there around 7:35 PM and at exactly 8:00 PM SRP police came by and said that we need to leave.

Here are a few scraps I have taken, I really hope  you guys like it, cheers!

 

 a lonesome man

When we arrived at the location, this guy on the pic

was sitting there alone, I figured he would get up and walk

back to this friends sitting at the back.. But all he did was stare

down, watching the still water..

After almost 30 mins, we did stand up..

But he continued staring out in to the water.

I figured, this man must have been having his moments right now

and decided to capture the moment.

 

 Mactan Bridge

 South Reclamation Area

Cebu Hidden Paradise Mountain Resort

The hidden resort is approximately a 1 and a half-hour-ride from Cebu to San Fernando.. And should be 5-6 kilometers ride from the main road the resort. Nice place to hang-out with friends, cheap and the place is very accommodating. It is very close to nature, it is indeed a hidden paradise at the peak of a mountain. Cant' wait to go back and enjoy relaxing.

Some of the activities that you can do while your at the resort is trekking, zip line, fishing on the man made lagoon.. They also have videoke and billiards so definitely you will enjoy your stay.

*photos are from my multiply account jlee19.multiply.com

*taken almost 2 years ago using my phone

man made lagoon

the 1st pool

2nd pool
too bad I was not able to get a picture of the 3rd pool

their cute garden

*Standard rooms (2 persons)

Php 1,500.00/overnight

air conditioned

a shower and a CR

FREE breakfast for two 

*de luxe room (2 persons) 

Php 2,500.00 

tv

hot and cold shower

air conditioned

FREE breakfast for two

  

*dormitory room (10 persons)

Php3,500.00 

air conditioned

shower

CR

5 bunk beds

*mini-dormitory room (4 persons) 

Php 1,500.00 

air conditioned

shower

CR

2 bunk beds

*family native room (6 persons)

Php 1,400.00 

non-airconditioned

fan

CR

*native rowhouse (2 persons) 

Php 600.00 

non-airconditioned

fan

CR

  



View Larger Map

Dakong Bato Beach and Leisure Resort

Loving All Of It..

  Having your own DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) Camera doesn't necessarily mean that you are a photographer I just love taking pictures of the sunrise, the horizon, the mountains, the ocean, the waterfalls, the flowers, greenery.. Actually I love taking pictures of anything worth remembering..
  I have been using DSLR for 8 months now and I am still learning. Using a DSLR is not like any normal point and shoot camera, there are settings that you have to get to know first before you start shooting. And before you could even start to get the hang of it, you start looking and dreaming for another kind of lens that you think that would be able to really get the shots you want. Uhuh! I've been to all that situation, I never seem to get enough out of it. The thing is, I really don't have a budget for it so I will have to make the most of what I have so far.
  Here are a some of the scraps I have taken while visiting places. Some may be under exposed or to too exposed, or out of focused. I honestly don't care, I am still an amateur. I like it just the way I see it. Enjoy!

Danao's night view from the sea

Aguinid Falls @ Samboan, Cebu

This was taken at the Baguio botanical garden

taken at a lake in Don Carlos, Bukidnon

taken somewhere near arvinoids house

Baguio Botanical Garden

Baguio's Botanical Garden

  It was so relaxing while seeing the view of colorful flowers and nice greenery.The Garden is located just 1 kilometer from Session Road, along Leonard Wood Road between Teachers Camp and Wright Park.You can ride a cab to get there or ride a Jeepney for about P 8.00 from Harrison Rd across Burnham Park.
 There are also native Igorots that you let you take pictures with them for P20.00 per picture/person.

nice cement sculpture

Baguio Botanical Garden renamed - 'Centennial Park'

They have really nice painting here..

Too bad we are not allowed to take pictures inside.

very nice Gallery

Here are some of the flowers

Camiguin's White Island

  Camiguin's C-Shaped White Island Sand Bar is our 2nd day's 3rd destination. It is also known as Medano Island and is located 1 km off shore. It is a 5 to 10 minute boat ride from Yumbing, Mambajao.

  To get there, you can rent boats for about P450.00 to P500.00 per boat for 5-7 pax. It'sbe best to go there early in the morning and before sunset since there is no tress or any shade to hide from the sun. Foreign tourists usually visit the place to snorkel and dive. From the white sand, you'll see a great view of the Mt Hibok-hibok.

nice background

Mantigue Island

  Our last destination - on our 3rd / last  day in Camiguin is Mantigue Island. It is a very small island. My cousin said that the Island is also known as Magsaysay Island and is about 2 hectares. 

  To reach this place you can rent a boat for P450.00 - 500.00 good for 6 pax or if you have kids with you, they will allow 6-7 pax. It is a 15-20 min boat ride from Brgy San Roque, Mahinog to the Island.


   Visiting the island is a releaver for STRESS for me. A getaway from the City. It's not like any other beach or white islands where a lot of people really go. It's worth the visit if you want to just sit back, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.


  My cousins told me that before, when they go to this Island, they don't have to pay anything, they can even stay over night and rent a cottage, but right now, there is already an entrance fee of P20.00 per head. And you can only stay for 4 hours, if you stay more than that, you will be charged for another fee per hour. And the island is only open until 5:00 PM. I am not sure though if you can stay overnight, but I don't think they will allow it.


 Before, they can swim anywhere but now, you have to make sure that you are on the swimming area or else you have to pay the penalties.  This is really a big change for the locals. Since it is now a bit expensive, some locals won't be able to just visit the place anymore.  Hope they will change the rules a bit.



All these changes happened when they made Mantigue Island a fish sanctuary or a marine reserve and a tourist destination. Some of the families living there were even asked to move out so that they can make the Island a tourist hot spot.






*coordinates from google earth: N 9° 10' 35'' E 124° 49' 32''  9.17639 / 124.82556 - GeoNameId : 1703766

View of Mantigue from  Mahinog - Camiguin

P450.00 from Mahinog to Mantigue (back and forth)

need to follow the rules..

if not, you pay the penalty!!

volleyball!!

shells for your eyes only..

Katibawasan Falls

Camiguin's Katibawasan Falls

    We visited the falls on our 2nd day in Camiguin. Once again, I asked my cousin  if we can borrow  her motorcycle (salamat at pumayag nman si ate.. hehe). Started the trip to Mambajao around 10:00AM and arrived to our first destination - KATIBAWASAN FALLS. 

   This  falls is about 250 feet high. The entrance fee is P 15.00 per person for adult and P 6.00 for children. As usual, the water was so cold, considering that it is summer.

  It is a nice place to hang out. I am a bit amazed as to how high this falls is. I had to exert a bit of an effort to shot the whole falls from directly below it. Haha.. Started shooting using my zoom lens (I don't have wide angle lens.. huhuhu) but couldn't get the whole falls. Changed it back to the 18-55 lens and finally got what I wanted (please scroll down below to see the pic).

This is once of the 2 falls you can see below the big one... 

hahaha :D

Sto. Nino Cold Spring - Camiguin

  First destination on day 1 -The Sto. Niño Cold Spring. It is about 4 km towards the northern-upper part of Catarman, Camiguin. Urgghh.. The water is too cold for me.. hahah!..

  This is a nice family destination on a summer getaway.

The entrance fee is P40.00 per head.

Their cottage ranges from P50 to P100.

There are also small sari-sari stores in the area where you can buy food.

 
 You can also stay over night if you want, they have very affordable rates.

Camiguin

  Went to Camiguin last Friday and spent 4 days there. We took the Super Shuttle Ferry, departure time is at 8:00 PM every Friday night from Pier 8 (back of Jollibee North Reclamation Area) and arrives in Balbagon, Mambajao at 7:00 AM.

 got this picture around 6:00 AM from the shuttle ferry going to Camiguin

I used the zoom lens, that's why I wasn't able to get a picture of the whole Island..

Boohoo! wide angle lens dapat kase..



























here is the Cebu-Camiguin-Camiguin-Cebu rates
also, super shuttle ferry departs from Cebu's Pier 8 every Friday night at 8:00 PM,
and departs Camiguin's Balbagon Pier every Sunday night at 8:0 0PM

Got this from Balbagon Pier

here is Camiguin's Transportation Rates

We have used this Camiguin's Road Map to know where we are going.
This really helped us a lot.