[SkyWatch] Sunset in Anilao

These are three more stunning sunset views from our recent jaunt to Anilao that we savored for SkyWatch Friday.

Batangas, 2011

[SkyWatch] Skies over Anilao

Last weekend we drove just over two hours south from our home in Manila to take our three house guests from Canada snorkeling in Mother Nature's colorful fish bowl. 

On a small peninsula called Anilao that juts out from the mainland of the province of Batangas there is a strip of popular diving resorts. Our favorite is a small, but cozy family-run resort at the very end of the strip.

After a long wet season, the weather was perfect for us: soft, sunny, warm with a hint of a cooling breeze. I am happy to be able to share these skies for SkyWatch Friday.

The first four were captured from our banca ride to and from a spectacular snorkeling spot next to the aptly named Sombrero Island. You can see it in the distance in this first photo and up close in the second.

Batangas, 2011

The water was perfectly clear on this day and tropical fish of all shapes, sizes and colors swam peacefully among the diverse and plentiful corals. Our presence did not appear to disturb them in the slightest. (Why is it so very hard for humans, the so-called "intelligent" species, to co-exist in peace?)

Notice the faint hint of a rainbow over the hill here as we near our resort, as well as the clouds reflected in the calm surface of the sea. 

This last one with the sun going down was the serene view from our resort. I especially like the shapes formed on the water by the gentle ripples and the sun's reflection on the tiny waves lapping the shore.

I am also linking this post with James' Weekend Reflections.

Night Fishing Banca

Filipino fishermen use lights on their often brightly colored bancas (hand-made outrigger canoes) to attract the fish at night.

 Quezon, 2010

I'm linking with Blue Monday and Ruby Tuesday.

[MyWorld] Bringing in the Catch

In my [personal] world it is a rare occasion that I get up early; I am a confirmed night owl and subjected to a fair amount of [deserved] teasing about it from my friends.

But when I do get up at the crack of dawn, if it's not to catch an early plane, it's typically for something exciting. On our trip to Mindoro some months ago, I was roused from bed to go see the fishermen come in with their catches of the day. I'm so very glad I did.  Here is some of what I saw (all images can be enlarged).

Mindoro, 2010

I am linking to My World Tuesday and Ruby Tuesday.

[SkyWatch] Batangas Beach Sunset

After a predominantly gray day in Quezon province two weekends ago, we drove back towards home and stopped at Laiya Beach in the province of Batangas. The skies opened up for us. 

We checked into a small resort on what had developed into an entire strip of resorts since we last were there five years ago. Then I went for a walk along the beach with my camera just in time to catch the changing colors of the sky as the sun set.

Batangas, 2010

These are for SkyWatch Friday where skies from around the globe are linked. 

W is for Water

Quezon, 2010

Linking with the blogging communities at ABC Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday and Sepia Scenes.

Wednesday. Water. Wordless. And Plenty of Blues.

Mindoro, Philippines, 2009

For more water images, go to Watery Wednesday.

For more wordless images, go to Wordless Wednesday.

For more interpretations of blue this week, go to Midweek Blues.

And you can see even more blue if you click on the photo, and then click again for even more.

[SkyWatch] Unnerving Gray Skies

On a beautiful summer day last July we left the main coast of Palawan just north of its capital Puerto Princesa on a small banca (wood and bamboo outrigger) to go island hopping in Honda Bay. Within about 20 minutes we saw ominous gray clouds fast rolling in towards us. By then we were in the middle of the water, far from any shore, and not long after the rains bursting out of the clouds ahead of us were plain to see:

Honda Bay, Philippines, 2009

As we glided on, we got closer to the rain...

...and my friends - who are neither as adventurous nor as strong swimmers as my honey and me - were getting visibly unnerved as the water got more turbulent and the banca swayed with the waves.

So we stopped at the first island to wait out any danger in these nipa beach huts. Even with this gray sky and the intermittent downpours, the sun did occasionally peak through and I relished being in this tropical paradise:

 Starfish Island, Honda Bay, 2009

Our Pinoy friends were incredulous that we went snorkeling in the rain:

Fortunately, it did not take long before the darkest clouds moved on and before leaving the island I still walked to the end of the beach and the mangrove, with my camera, of course:

Despite a few raindrops, the ride back to the main shore was much calmer, and so were my friends.

This blog joins the meme SkyWatch Friday and by clicking on the link you'll find links to many more amazing skies from all over the planet. Clicking on my photos will give you a larger view of them.