Bangkok, Thailand

Posted on 03/21/2023 by Lenn

We only had three days to spend in Bangkok after our Phuket trip, so we planned the itinerary carefully. On the day of our flight back to BKK from Phuket, our flight was delayed for an hour because of the weather in Bangkok. So we arrived at the airport at around lunch time. By then, we were famished. We had to eat at the airport because it’s still a 30-minute train ride from there to Phaya Thai and 15-minute drive from Phaya Thai to our hotel which was located in Chinatown.

Our hotel was lovely and since it’s located in the heart of the town—just across BTS (Bangkok Transit System)—it was very Chinese-themed. The hallways and the rooms were spacious and clean. I enjoyed making visits at their deck near the swimming pool because it was overlooking the town and of course, we just had to take photos!

Continue reading →

Calm & Salty

Posted on 08/04/2022 by Lenn

Napaling, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines, 2022

I think most of you would agree that being near the ocean is just a different kind of peacefulness. Just staring and listening at the sound of the waves gives me that carefree little girl feeling that I cannot understand at times. And recently, after I’ve learned how to do freediving with my husband, every beach visit is just a level-up different kind of experience for me.

I’ve always loved to swim, but having to learn freediving gave me a different sense of longing for the ocean whenever we’re back in the city. It feels like it just keeps calling to me, even in my dreams. Growing up and having to read a lot of beach novels, I’ve always dreamt of living near the beach when I grow up and I still carry that dream with me to this day.

Sandy Tikis

Posted on 07/27/2022 by Lenn

Alona Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines, 2022

There’s just something exhilarating whenever I get to go to the beach. It’s just about the blow of the wind on my face, the smell of salt water whenever I inhale, the feel of the sand on my feet, and just looking at the waves and the horizon. It’s something I will never get tired of.

Trees of Dodona

Posted on 07/25/2022 by Lenn

Man-Made Forest, Bilar, Bohol, Philippines, 2022

The place reminded me so much of the trees of Dodona from Greek mythology. In some books written or based on Greek mythology, the trees of Dodona whispers to people who are lost in the woods because Dodona is an Oracle. In those stories, it is said that they can cause a person to lose their minds.

This forest didn’t give me the creeps the way it did when I read about it in books because they are so refreshing to look at. It’s quite a huge difference from the usual view that I see back in Manila. I hope that our government build more forests instead of selling our land to businessmen who builds malls, condominiums, and subdivisions as we already have lots of those and less public spaces for the people.

Taal Basilica

Posted on 07/23/2022 by Lenn

Taal Basilica, Taal, Batangas, Philippines, 2022

Taal Basilica was first built in 1575 near Taal Lake in present-day San Nicolas. The construction was led by Fr. Diego Espinar under the Augustinians with San Martin de Tours as their patron saint. The church has been improved for centuries since 1575, but was massively destroyed by the 200-day eruption of the Taal Volcano in 1754 which has also devastated the whole town of old Taal.

When the town moved to its current location on top of a hill that overlooks Balayan Bay, the construction of a new church was launched by Fr. Martin Aguirre. Alas, after decades of construction, another tragedy hit the town; this time, an earthquake, which destroyed the church yet again.

Four years later, another church was built at the same site and was led by Fr. Marcos Anton. Fr. Anton commissioned Architect Luciano Oliver to design and run the construction. Fast forward to 1878, the construction was finally complete. Under Fr. Agapito Aparicio, a 79 ft altar was added to the original plan. It was the largest church at the time.

It wasn’t until 1974 that it was declared as one of the country’s National Shrines. To this day, Taal Basilica remains to be the largest church in Asia.

Garcia-Hernandez Conveyor Belt

Posted on 07/21/2022 by Lenn

Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol, Philippines, 2022

On the day of our Anda tour, I was having a really bad headache because of the unpredictable weather. When we were on our way back to Panglao after completing our itinerary for the day, we passed by this mining site. This wasn’t part of our tour, but my husband asked our tour guide if we could stop by just to take a photo. And though my head feels like its tearing itself apart, I just couldn’t help but go down and take a photo of the conveyor belt myself.

This mining site is a project of the Duterte administration and according to locals, Bohol’s LGU doesn’t earn anything or have any share from this — all the money goes straight to the national government. You might not see or notice it in the photo that I took from the main road of the town, but the top of that mountain has already gone bald.The next photo shown below is a screen capture from Google Maps of what the mountain looks like from a bird’s eye view:

Reflections of Hope

Posted on 07/15/2022 by Lenn

Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, Candijay, Bohol, Philippines, 2022

One of my many dreams for the Philippines is for our farmers to be recognized and receive the proper care and salary that they deserve. Today, they are still part of what we call laylayan who are most in need; their sentiments, requests, and demands are mostly never heard and neglected. Yet a lot of people would tell them to stop complaining and just work harder. I’ve heard this being said so many times that it just irks me how privileged, entitled, and selfish most people can be. How can you say this to our farmers who spends every day of their lives planting and harvesting crops ⁠— not even taking holidays and weekends off, but still remain part of the laylayan?

Alas, it might take more years or decades even, for this dream to come into fruition. But these photos give me the kind of hope that one day, someday, maybe, our farmers will be heard and taken care of. I think that if we just take the time to stop and listen to their cries of help, the country would be more united as a nation and the people from our laylayan would never feel ignored.