kim under the sun

Coron, Palawan: Malcapuya Island

2012-02-26T01:22:00.000+08:00

Our beach adventures began the day after we arrived in Coron. There were too many islands and beaches to see but we only had a few days to explore. The excitement was building up like the air in an exploding balloon but our happiness was shooting up to the sky like one that has just gotten off the string.

Malacapuya Island

Yes you could say that it is your typical white sand beach with a wide stretch of sand bar. Gladly, it isn't just a white sand beach. Malcapuya is an island with it's own secrets. Thanks to our guides and the owner of the room we rented in Coron for giving us the chance to enjoy this island.

Sand bar on the beach front of Malcapuya Island.

On the right side of the beach front is a rocky shore but beyond those rocks is the clearest beach I've seen. There are no inhabitants on this island except for the guy who takes care of it. So clearly it is devoid of human waste or garbage. Of course, there is a toilet for your biological needs but even its architecture is nature-inspired and right outside the bathroom door is a wonderful balcony where you can unfold one of the chairs, sit on it and enjoy the view of the sea and the white sand beach.

Rocky shore on one side of Malcapuya Island.

My girl friends and I basked under the sun but we didn't mind the blistering heat. Our cameras clicked so many times that we forgot to mind about not having the perfect shot because everything seemed perfect.

Lunch was served on one of the cottages and there were actually just two on the beach front. A humble fish from the sea was served along with some grey prawns. There was only me, my friends and our tour guides on the tiny white spot on the planet. Across our cottage is a long stretch of sand bar where a colony of clams survive a few meters from the bank. I could hardly ask for more.

Cottage on Malcapuya's beach front.

Our guide Ruth asked if we wanted to see more from the top of the island, we agreed without hesitation. To my surprise, there was more than beauty that my eyes can see. My friends took turns on the hammock on the gazebo while I sat on the edge on the wall just so I can stare at the blue horizon. There were no inhibitions but sanity kept me from jumping off the cliff.

Overlooking Malcapuya's beach front.

A view from top of Malcapuya Island.

The blogger and her friends on the gazebo.

The blogger on the edge, literally.

View from Malcapuya Island's gazebo.

It has been more than a hour past lunch so our guides instructed us to go swim over the clam colony before the tide gets high. This time, I brought only my disposable camera and my happiness with me, nothing else. I walked only a few inches from the sand bar into the water and my toes could no longer touch the ground. I submerged into the water and there I was just swimming with the fishes and carefully not touching the clams with my feet or else they will snap!

For a day, Malcapuya felt like my own private island with just my best friends. It felt like a dream but it wasn't. The experience leaves me feeling like one of the luckiest people in the world.

Related Posts:
Coron, Palawan: Captured - A video compilation of my 2012 Coron Vacation
Coron, Palawan: 750 Steps and More to Heaven - Climb to Mt. Tapias

Coron, Palawan: 750 Steps and More to Heaven

2012-02-11T16:31:00.001+08:00

My Coron adventure certainly did not start with sunbathing on the beach. We arrived in the small town late in the afternoon after a delayed flight. The first part of the itinerary was to see the sun set from the top of Mt. Tapias which is the highest point in town. So quickly we devoured the pizza served for afternoon snack and headed to the base of the hill with a motorized pedicab. The driver didn't join the climb. Instead, he patiently waited along with other pedicab drivers waiting for tourists to descend from the top.

Overlooking Coron Bay

With my dry bag and heavy camera gear, I was still unprepared. I should have shed off more weight and come with more water than just the 500-ml bottle I bought from the kid who greeted us on our way up. 750 steps to the top is not an easy task for a person who's daily job is either sitting in front of a computer or experimenting in the lab. I was already out of breath after the first set of steps and the kids who were hanging out after school walked up and down the hill as if it were just their living room.

There was a lot of drama in between. That includes me almost giving up getting to the top. The sun was setting fast but I heard there were 350 steps more. I wanted to sulk. But I saw my friends and other people with their happy smiles as if their knees never hurt and so I kept climbing.

750 Steps to the Peak of Mt. Tapias

I glanced at the sun and thought that it never looked that good in months. I had been staying too long in the office and not seeing the sun set. I gasp and took a deep breath. "This is it," I heard someone shout. I hurried up to where everyone is and turned around. I saw the sun peaking through the clouds and descending slowly. I took a thousand shots, sat down and was satisfied.

Sunset from Mt. Tapias

And so I thought that was all of it. My knees wobbled like that of a ball-jointed doll by the time we were back on the pedicab. Little did I know that the dark and bumpy ride led to a low-lit place where people relax and enjoy in a hot spring. I dipped myself in the hot pool and realized, this is heaven.

Crucifix atop Mt. Tapias

Coron, Palawan: Captured - A video compilation of my 2012 Coron Vacation.

Coron, Palawan: Malcapuya Island

Coron, Palawan: Captured

2012-02-06T23:10:00.000+08:00

My recent vacation to Coron in Palawan, Philippines still lingers in the mind. It took me a PC memory upgrade and a lot of patience to wrap up the video. The extra weight I had to bear due to my heavy camera was worth it. Unfortunately, I forgot to film the lobsters I had for dinner! I also was unable to capture some places that were only accessible with a waterproof camera. There is a lot of room for improvement in this video but all in all, the fun was captured.

The island-beaches and lakes included in the video are listed below.

Malcapuya Island

Banana White Sand Beach

Siete Picados

Twin Lagoon

Atuwayan Beach

Barracuda Lake

Kayangan Lake

I have a thousand things to say about Coron. For now, I have just one word: AMAZING!

Coron, Palawan: 750 Steps and More to Heaven - Climb to Mt. Tapias

Coron, Palawan: Malcapuya Island

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where it is greener

2012-01-19T14:12:00.000+08:00

Two years ago, I thought of leaving my home for a place where they say the grass is greener. I checked again and realized even the moss is greener where I'm from. The rain may not fall as much as I wanted it too but there sure is a lot of life sprawling from the ground.

Surreal

2012-01-15T18:58:00.000+08:00

The way my favorite tracks carry me into a dreamlike state is the way the people from my country feels about the image I see everyday on my home from work. Sounds odd, but true. Clear blue skies, green grass, lush trees, tidy pavements and tall buildings all in one place somehow never fit into my expectation of a developed country. But here I am now living right in the midst of a place that seem to have been perfectly engineered. There are countless things that citizens in this country can be grateful for. I am unsure how long I will be staying here but I share that gratitude. Not everything is perfect, I know. Sometimes I prefer to see the not-so-beautiful side just to keep myself grounded.

"Normal"

2012-01-15T01:40:00.000+08:00

The little brat has gone home and there is nobody to chase or play with anymore. The halls are boring again and so my brain has nothing much to do but think. There has been a lot in my mind lately. This vacation that is coming is keeping me preoccupied. My boss expects me to do the impossible before I leave. I tried to finish a few things at work today but couldn't get it done. My head was aching as if a screw got stuck somewhere in the skull. I wasn't too sure if it was because the AC was off or the heat from the oven. I had to bake a few boards. But my job isn't all that. I'm trying to hold on but the water is just not filling up to the brim because of too much pressure. I guess I just need a long break from what I seems to be "normal" as of now.

a black and white thought

2012-01-12T01:03:00.000+08:00

The place feels boring but not really because the place is. Boredom usually only comes when you feel alone. I guess then that there is more humanity in the clothes flying across our kitchen window than there is within the walls of my flat. Sad reality indeed.

Waiting, anxiously

2012-01-11T01:20:00.000+08:00

The Fruit Experiment

2012-01-10T00:49:00.000+08:00

In very mundane days, the subject of my affection can be as boring as the fruits on the dining table. I guess a different light makes some things more interesting than they usually are. Or am I the only one seeing it?

Some things are better left undisturbed

2012-01-04T00:27:00.000+08:00

It's a Beautiful Day

2012-01-01T02:49:00.000+08:00

I watched and filmed the fireworks in the neighborhood last night and was going to make a music video with U2's song and post it today. But then I was too tired and fell asleep at around 3 AM, which is normally breaking my New Year's tradition. At this time, I had to make an exception.

New Year's eve usually goes by with too much partying and not much meditation. Now, I'm seriously considering a few resolutions. I don't have a list but I have a few in my mind right now. One is to let go of my inhibitions. Another is to refrain from things that bring out the worst in me. Last, is to rethink about my choices.

It won't be long and another year will go by. I want to forget the feeling of uneasiness every time the sun goes down on a weekend. Work sometimes does make you feel like a horse, but it is not an excuse to ~~be able to do~~ not do what I love to do.

This new year, I hope for life to be better, as I always hoped. It will never be perfect, but at least learn to look more at things that make me say, it's a beautiful day.

If you can't sleep, count your blessings

2011-12-30T00:10:00.000+08:00

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings"

- from Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)

So this is Christmas, what have I done?

2011-12-25T23:57:00.000+08:00

I asked the same question last year. This time, my answer is not much. There are a lot of things in my list still undone. As a tradition, Christmas never goes by without spending it with good food. Spending it with family and friends is a plus.

I had a good time. Hope you had too.

Have you wrapped your gifts?

2011-12-24T16:06:00.000+08:00

There are a few hours left before Christmas but the spirit has not quite settled in. Nonetheless, I managed to wrap the gifts in a rush. The theme for this year is recycled paper. There is no reason to buy lavish packaging or ribbons. After all, it's the thought that really counts.

Have yourself a merry Christmas. I know not everyone will have a happy one but feel blessed to have gone through another year. It's not yet the new year but in a few days it will be. Continue to be inspired with whatever is worth looking up to and do not fret if you are still dazed about life's complications. Just live and be grateful.

I have no right to complain

2011-12-19T01:48:00.001+08:00

This weekend was mostly rain so there is not much to do but stay indoors. Sad news from my country reaches me a little too late. Flood has flushed away a lot of people and the number of deceased is rising. My experience this weekend has officially become immaterial. But, tragedies do happen every day. It only becomes more painful if it affects someone close to the heart. What have they done to deserve it? Today, the poor becomes poorer. There is barely anything left of that spirit they've reserved for Christmas. I wish I can find them a some light but I could not even see that star at the tip of that glittering tree until today. I have not been looking up so much. I have to.

Another Ray of Light

2011-12-11T02:04:00.001+08:00

She lays peacefully just like the rest of our loved ones who have left for that unworldly place. She was only an acquaintance since I met her on just a few occasions. But her happiness was so contagious that the thought of her is like a ray of light that peaks through my room in its darkest. The last time I saw her, she was in a state which defies my definition of death. She was asleep as if in a dream where she had finally found serenity. She did.

Ironically, there is a glint of hope even when there seems to be none. Those who remain are reminded that life is too fragile to be taken for granted. As heard from many wise men, live life with meaning.

A Prayer

2011-12-06T23:33:00.000+08:00

Hold her tight and whisper in her ear
She's sleeping but she will hear
So never give up
Continue to believe
That amidst the deep slumber is a soul
Which clings to that one beating heart....

The Question

2011-12-05T23:16:00.001+08:00

The doctor always has an answer. Brain aneurysm, suffocation, auto-immune disease. Name it, science will always have an explanation. Even the sci-fi television series I watch is fascinating enough to explain all the causes of death. But in real life, there's not always an answer. Even the believer continues to question things that have been left to faith. What happens when the soul leaves a beating heart? And what happens after the heart stops beating? But the question I ask when young and hopeful people go through these is, "Why did he or she have to leave too soon?"

The Amateur

2011-12-03T15:53:00.001+08:00

She wakes up at around 6:30 AM in the morning or occasionally after about two snoozes on the alarm later. She gets a quick bath and goes combs her hair on her way down in the lift just to save time. As soon as she reaches her office cubicle, she reads through some email and scans for anything that requires her immediate attention. Thirty minutes later, she enters the lab. Her transformation into a lab rat commences and she is barely seen sitting her cubicle for the rest of the day.

She resumes her human form usually after 6 PM to catch the bus to the train station. The bus captain would be very much disgusted if he finds a rat aboard his ship. An hour later, she reaches home and crawls into her bed in 15 minutes from the the moment she dropped her bag on the floor tile. She lays like a snake and switches on the laptop. She notices the Facebook page as one of her most frequently visited sites but ignores it. Random live streams of other human being's is usually not very interesting to her. Instead, she browses through Flickr's Explore pages and builds up her happiness. Her roommate watches videos of wannabee professional singers but she prefers to just listen and not engage. She fears of shaking the notes in a song.

On some nights, she decides to dance as if she was in a disco club. Sweat rolls down her body but not as smoothly since there is bulge in the midsection which was quite difficult to get rid of. She gets tired and her head starts to ache. The bed becomes seemingly more attractive than the music through her ear and so curls up in a warm blanket and shut the eyes.

Her weekend mornings usually starts with a feeling of being unattached, like a light feather in midair.

Last night's Harry Potter movie made her like Severus more than any other character. Acquaintance with food was too short and just enough to stop the stomach from complaining. Water fell from the sky like a bomb and the rest of her day seemed ruined. She revisited a blog which she found too interesting to ignore. Reading it made her feel like an amateur in most things she does. She decided to visit her own blog to write, hoping to become a better amateur. She wonders if the tenses in the paragraphs are correct but decides to publish it anyway.

Look Closer

2011-11-29T01:05:00.000+08:00

Some things seem very ordinary. If you want to appreciate them, look closer.

Pancakes

2011-11-27T15:04:00.001+08:00

Few weeks ago, I could not take my mind off a trip to somewhere north with my loved ones just so I could spend time with them and have another stamp in my passport. My map of the world has become a bit dusty and I was starting to feel this urge to move. A friend once told me that he travels to have the illusion of movement. However, I realized I don't have to fool myself. I just have to enjoy life in whatever form it appears before me. Right now, I'm enjoying the simple pleasures of chatting with my mom over coffee or having late breakfast with my roommate.

Life is giving me pancakes, so pancakes I shall have.

The Vineyards

2011-11-13T19:30:00.000+08:00

Most days, I wake up to work. Occasionally, I wake with a few hours left into the evening. But sometimes, I wake up with an excitement that is hard to measure in just words. For days, I've been reminiscing about that exciting day which happened more than two years ago. To me, it is one of the sweet memories that inspire me to continue exploring.

It was a bright and sunny morning in Vallejo, California but the breeze planted a kiss on cheek that was as cold as the air in my fridge. I went into my cousin's back porch which was overlooking a golf course. The scene looked like a photo out of glossy magazine.

Breakfast was quick since we had to travel north to Napa Valley where the vineyards are. I wasn't going to Italy, but I was hoping it would be something like it.

The first stop was at Sterling Vineyards. I was lucky to be around with my oldest cousin who planned out the tour herself. The tour began with a ride on the aerial tram. I felt so excited since it was my first. The vehicle was shaking but I moved around like a hamster who just got out of a cage. My cousin was thrilled that I didn't have fear of heights. The ride was very short and quick though.

It was winter and like any other plants in this region, it would have to shed its leaves to survive. So the vineyards were mostly brown patches where there was no grass. Nonetheless, the view was still breathtaking. Wine tasting came free with our tickets and so I tasted my first white wine. I remember it was sweet and I realized I still prefer red. There were a lot other choices in the menu but my cousin was the designated driver and I'm not so fond of wine so we decided to skip the rest.

We explored the architecture of the building and thought them to be a lot different from where I'm from. I don't have a very good eye for design but I appreciate the modern and classical feel the it had.

We continued driving until we reached the Culinary Institute of America. We did a quick tour inside. We were hoping to witness some cooking classes were ongoing but they weren't starting anytime soon. Our bellies were growling but time was also ticking so fast so we quickly took some photos and headed to the next stop.

The determination to explore was so high that we decided to have a quick stop at another winery along the roadside. The wine shop looked too interesting to pass up. As usual, we just took some photos and skipped wine shopping.

Finally, we reached V Sattui Winery. Cheese tasting was free and so we grabbed the opportunity. There were too many kinds and I opted to try a few. I couldn't even remember the name of the cheese I ate. I guess I was too hungry that I just wanted something down my throat.

I ordered a turkey and cheese panini which is basically just a sandwich by definition. The sandwich was so good that it puts me into a dreamlike state every time I recall it. But judging by the condition that I was so hungry that time, I couldn't be so sure now. The picnic area was right beside the breezy vineyards and there was no better way to spend a late lunch. It was actually very late that I had considered the meal to be my dinner as well.

The sky was starting to dim and so we had to drive back home. We stopped by the roadside for the final time just to get one closer look of the vineyards. As I played around with the camera, a flying V went past us. I raised my camera to the sky and pressed the shutter button quickly. It was the perfect way to end the day.

Location: Napa Valley, California, USA
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feels like ice, but not really

2011-11-02T21:04:00.000+08:00

The pain feel likes the heart was frozen in ice and crushed a thousand times. However, the pain doesn't melt too quickly. When our loved ones leave us for that better place unknown to us, I want to remind myself that it is not the end:

"Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a 1,000 winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sun on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled light
I am the soft star that shines at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there; I did not die."
- Anonymous

I have forgotten

2011-10-23T14:40:00.000+08:00

Today, I have forgotten about that sad morning 20 years ago and only thought about it when I spoke to my mom. It wasn't the kind of morning a little girl would want to wake up to. But this morning, I woke up from a very long dream which is something I rarely have these days. I rode on the back of a motorized tricycle with only my hand and my feet gripping the bars and I almost fell off. I arrived at this remote village with homes made of palm and went inside a small church where I tried to light up a candle. The fire resisted to burn the wick so I just left.

I am unsure what that unlit candle meant. I hope that there is still light in whatever part of this life it is trying to remind me of. Change has been the only constant thing and by that I meant in both good and bad ways. But mostly, the change lies in the perception of life and knowing more about those things that I thought would remain uncertain to me. The faith is never shaken though but the question lies in how other people are able to survive while believing otherwise. It is a curious case and for now I choose to leave it as it is.

My faith tells me that my Dad is somewhere in that world where there is no more pain or hunger or fear. I am happy for him and glad that the memory of that fateful day remains clear but only a hint of the gripping sadness comes with it. Those 20 years have not been perfect but so far it's a good life. I hope his 34 years was too.

Memories of Bantayan Island

2011-10-08T15:23:00.000+08:00

It's been pouring outside for days and nothing is like the white sand beaches in my memory. I want to to lie on the sand, run on the shore as fast as I can and just get roasted under the sun. Wish I could pack up by bags right now, hop on a bus and ride a ferry to my favorite island. For now, I have to thank my brain and my hard drive too for keeping my Bantayan memories vivid.

Location: Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines

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