Astanael

Tag: Philippines

  • Geckos Tiny geckos everywhereLarge ones too thereYou’re only movingWhen we’re not looking Geckos on the wallGeckos on our roofSilly geckos aloofWe really love you all /* Pencil doodle on A6 sketchbook – Porte-mine sur carnet A6 */ Des petits geckos partoutEt des énormes parfoisAccrochés sous notre toitJouent à pas bouger du tout Petits geckos sur…

  • Flying Fox We’re in bat country now. Hanging upside down in trees like plastic bags, flying foxes are sleeping in pack, chattering, waiting for the sun to go out. At nightfall, better watch out where these cute sky puppies go! Hide your bananas! And mangoes! /* Pencil doodle on A6 sketchbook – Porte-mine sur carnet…

  • Local micro-store Better buy in bulk. Better group orders in one parcel. Better buy in advance.That’s the spirit of these micro stores you find everywhere in Philippines. They sell mostly to neighbors what they need while making a few bucks. Everyone wins.It’s February. Christmas decorations are still hanging out, puzzling the chicken. It’s there since…

  • Corals My first real encounter with the coral world.I saw videos and pictures before, but I had no idea. I thought it was somewhat zoomed in view of small, occasional and limited patch of colors on the ocean floor, shot at the right time when exceptionally some critters happened to greet the camera.I was not…

  • Morning on the docks It’s morning on the docks of Coron Island.Slim boats are tied together in rows, we pass through several to reach ours, carefully stepping over crates, burning grills full of fresh fishes, paddles, ropes and safety vests.We lift the anchor and jump start the motor. Captain Sparrow leads us out of the…

  • Coco Beach And then, of course, the islands!Palawan, Siquijor, Bohol, Coron. all filled with corals, thin sand, sun, sea… Living dreamscapes.We dip our feet into the warm waters, watching underneath multicolored fishes dancing around us. We feel like we’ve just step into a postcard.A place to forget ourselves in bliss.Not too much, though: watch out…

  • Bulbul Nest The rain’s stopped. It’s warm. Time to build a nest!Like the little bulbuls that come and go, we’re actively fetching straws and bits to build a home.A home of ours, a home to grow together. A home made from the intertwined threads of our merged selves. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbul /* Pencil on A sketchbook –…

  • Sagada Deeper in the jungle, we wait under a heavy rain. Roads are flooded, covered by new ephemeral torrents. Water’s pouring like only tropical skies can.Mountains are sliding and eating the road, but we’re safe, eating a delicious  sisig with mango shake.We’re lucky, happy and peaceful. We’re listening to the rain and watching an exuberant…

  • Batad Climb up the hills, then down the terraces. Between the rice fields, the way is tortuous, yet gorgeous.It’s not because you can see your destination that it’s easy to reach. Oh, and beware of the snakes.Our legs hurts from going all the way down to the cascade, but it was worth the view.You told…

  • Banaue Their ancestors carved the mountains to grow rice. Digging terrasses, erecting walls, preparing the mud cake, plating, replanting, watering, caring to finally harvesting once a year…Herculean to make, Sisyphean to maintain.Fewer and fewer want to put this kind of pressure upon their shoulders, to sacrifice their backs for the rice. Other plants sells better,…