Two Bridges in Dumaguete

The sky was already dimming by the time we reached the Banica River flowing through Dumaguete just over a week ago, December 28, so the light was not ideal for photography. Nonetheless, I thought these images of two of the four bridges spanning the river were an interesting entry for Sunday Bridges.

Perhaps you've read or heard about the devastating floods caused by tropical Sendong’s (Washi) fury in the southern parts of the Philippines earlier in December. Dumaguete was one of the towns affected. The mayor has applied for funding for the construction of four new bridges across this river to replace the spillways that had overflowed and were partly damaged when the typhoon caused the river to overflow.

It amazes me how calm the scene looks now, just a couple of weeks after the storm.

Dumaguete, 2011

Portrait of a Tricycle Driver

"God Bless Our Trip" are the words knitted into the interior window decor.

For some context, this is his tricycle that four of us climbed into.

Dumaguete, 2011

Linking with Weekend Reflections.

Y is for Year

We are a few days into 2012 and this post is a brief peek into how Filipinos celebrate the arrival of the New Year. Two words might suffice, really: deafening and dangerous.

Firecrackers, fireworks and other noisemakers are key to bringing the new year in with a bang. For days before the midnight transition from old year to new and for a day or two after still, the eardrum bursting sounds of snap, crackle, pop, whizz, fizz and BANG! permeate the air, along with lung-busting (and airplane diverting) smoke.

A traditional belief I suspect was adopted from the Chinese holds that the cacophony drives off evil spirits, thereby ensuring a bountiful and blessed new year.

Despite legally banning the larger explosives and annual attempts to forewarn the public of the dangers of fireworks through information campaigns, each year many hundreds of casualties and a few deaths are reported throughout the nation. Many would like to see a total ban on all fireworks, but there is still a massive resistance again such a move.

My photos were taken last week in Dumaguete, where vendors in makeshift stalls along the street saw a brisk business for their fiery wares.

Dumaguete, 2011

I am linking to ABC Wednesday where the letter is Y and to Signs, Signs.

Strolling Along the Sea in Negros Oriental

Last week my honey and I joined a group of good friends for a few days of fun and laughter at a resort on the tip of Negros Oriental, about an hour's drive from the university town of Dumaguete.

Join me here for a little stroll along the beautiful sea. The boardwalk is concrete and has seen better days, but the camera did not mind that.

Negros Oriental, 2011

I am linking this post with the blogging communities at Sunday Bridges, Scenic Sunday, Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday.

HaPpY hApPy NeW yEaR!!