Matabungkay beach

Last hurray for summer '06

It was mine and my family's last ditch to catch the rays of summer . Weather was 33 degrees, sun was its scorching hot during midday. And my nephews and a niece did have so much fun playing with the water, catching the waves and never came out of the sea until they felt hungry or when we were about to leave, which was when the sun was setting. And that means it was past five in the afternoon.
Now as my skin could not take the sun these days, i had to stay inside the hut. Even Carl, my 20 month old nephew looked so dark after only a few hours under the sun.

Hay summer, we cannot let you go without going to the beach, taking a dip even if it is too hot especially somewhere nearest to the city but still clean waters.

Matabungkay is a famous beach resort , about 2 and a half hour drive from Manila. It is located in the little town of Lian in Batangas province. It is a favorite summer hideaway for various reasons. One, it is not that far, so families can easily go there on weekends or when the summer heat of Manila becomes unbearable.

Second, it has nipa huts (balsa in local parlance), made from bamboo which can be towed as far away as you want. In it, you can bring all your food, your stuff. You can even grill there while you’re floating in the middle of the sea. Of course, as we had lots of kids in our entourage, we could only allow our floating bamboo hut near the shore.

I am not sure though how environmentally friendly it is to have more than a hundred floating huts near the shore. Maybe that is why my nephews could only spot tiny fishes, which refused to be captured. Hurray for these creatures of the sea.

I had fun taking shots of my favorite nephews and other people and stuff I was able to find while people and sea watching. It is during these times that I wish you are here Goofy. Not that you would have enjoyed it as I know you do not swim and you are more a mountain person than a beach bum like me.

And now I realized that beaches in the Philippines are indeed unique for it is only here that you have blasting music being played along the shore. The music ranges from songs of the 60s to the hits of today, so you either get to sing along to your favorite tune or can entice your nephew to dance with the music.

Beaches and the sea always make me feel relaxed, recharged and not a care in the world.

Well, until I realized that even going to the bathroom to take a pee or shower, one needs to pay.

But only here can you buy an ice cream on the sea. Yes, Goofy, the ice cream goes around the beach selling using a floater (tires actually).

And as we were about to leave, three kids proved me wrong as they showed me that you can catch even the tiny fishes, with only a rudimentary tool. And I could hardly contain the lump in my throat when they told that they would be eating them for dinner. Not after being game for picture taking with me. Really difficult for a development worker and an environmentalist like me to listen to this story! But what could I have done otherwise?

I visited Matabungkay Beach in Lian, Batangas with my family last 10 May 2006.

Recalling fragments of memories from visiting Canada

While I was re-reading my blogspot, I realized I did not have any entry on my trip to Canada. It is such a surprise considering that it was the longest holiday I took, almost 3 weeks, in one go. Second, I have so many good and close friends there that I remember having really a blast and a wonderful time with them. Third, I can now admit openly that I was wrong Robert and Allan. Canada is indeed very beautiful and worth visiting and going back again.

That trip was a well thought out and well planned travel. Imagine being able to visit 6 major cities and about 4 provinces of Canada, which is so huge and covered not just one timezone! My friend who went there with me now lives in Vancouver, after marrying this Canadian guy whom she met after we went there. Well, she did not meet him while we were in Canada. She met him through another friend. But maybe our trip made her realize that her lifelong partner will be coming from that vast country. No such luck or blessing for me yet! Hahahahhaha....Who knows maybe mine is on the othe side of the Atlantic. Yes, Ria, my geographic considerations is shifting from the south to somewhere up north! Surprise surprise eh!

Anyway, going back to my Canada sojourn. We entered via Vancouver, but only stayed in transit and proceeded to Toronto, that great city where you will find lots and lots of Flips living and staying. It was like in Manila, except it was a bit cold (we were in Canada during autumn, my favorite season, well, now this one is also changing)....

It was a first for me to see my close friend in high school. She looked totally the same, but with a little bit older. I guess that is how I would also look eh? And now she has a son, who is so handsome and so cute. We stayed with them at their apartment, which overlooks the river. So we had a nice view of Toronto at night. It was the start of the many reunions for me in Canada. Though she was the longest that I have not seen, but we were talking like we have just graduated from our dear Paco Catholic School.

She and her son brought us over to see the very splendid Niagara Falls. Indeed it was such a spectacular sight, from the Canada side. It took us the whole day just to be able to see it from its entirety. I love Niagara Falls! It was really a magnificent creation. And I enjoyed the rainbows. I also had fun with the ride in the boat that took us very near the falls. What a sight to behold!

Then after almost a week of stay with them, we took the bus to proceed to Ottawa. In case you do not know Ria, Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Whereas I thought it would not be a nice city to go because of it being a capital, I was suprised to see how beautiful and different it was from Toronto or from Niagara City. Indeed it was another revelation for me. But what really is imprinted in my mind about Ottawa are my two close friends, Jeanette and Chris (husband and wife), who made sure our stay would be so memorable. Imagine finding gifts on your bed upon arriving at their place? And not just for me but also for my friend, whom they have not met before. Are they not both so gorgeous? Indeed they are and so much more. They were so very good as hosts and I will always remember the picture I took of both of them on the front of their door and while I was inside the bus (on our way to our next destination-Montreal). Of course, I could hardly contain my tears and at some point, I wanted to go down again from the bus and hug them both again. Parting has always been very difficult for me, especially with friends whom you know you will not be seeing anytime soon. The other one I would remember like this is the other Jeanette friend of mine, whom I visited in Gotenborg, Sweden 7 years ago.

Montreal was another very beautiful city. It was also a chance to really make good my promise to visit Allan, a former client who became my good friend. He was so sweet all throughout our stay. Imagine being given passwords to enter their home, being introduced and being welcomed nicely by his wife and daughters. Allan has always treated me like his eldest daughter. And as I do not have my own father for more than a decade, I have always liked his 'fatherly' treatment of me. It made me feel so special and so loved. He is one person I owe so much actually. He always encouraged me and has helped me, even when I moved here to Singapore from Manila.

However, it was quite unfortunate that I did not get to see Robert. Now, Robert is the other guy in my life who was sort of like an ex-boss but who was and continues to be such a good friend. Allan told me he was somewhere in Eastern Europe at that time we were in Montreal.

Of course, we could not be in Montreal without trying their 'french fries' (they use vinegar there as a dip) and the best bagel in town! Hahahahhahahaha....I remember always being curious as to where is this bakeshop that makes and sells the bagels that Robert always asks Allan to bring over to him in Manila. Imagine a few bagels traveling such a long distance?

Allan brought us over one day (we started quite early so the weather was really so cold-minus 3 or something I think), to see and visit Quebec City. Allan's school is located there and of course, as their ex-Consultant, I had to see for myself how the school looked like. Too bad the picture I took outside of the school premises was lost somewhere in cyberspace. Maybe I need to go back again to Quebec City to take another set of pictures. What say you Allan?

After Montreal and Quebec City, we flew to Vancouver. In this city, I did not look for friends anymore as I was thinking what the heck, we are going to be there for only 3 days, might as well spend them in a hotel, just to have a feel of how it is like to be staying in a hotel in Canada.

Vancouver I soon learned had the best of weather of all the cities of Canada. It does not get too cold nor too hot, but you can have lots of rain as well. That is why most people prefer to migrate there and retire in its island, Vancouver Island. It rained only when we were leaving.

There are still many other memories of Canada that I am keeping for myself. Not for lack of recollections but more because am writing this down at 1.15 am, in retrospect, so not sure how much should I jot down here.

Maybe one day soon, I will come back and post some more. Either pics or more words to describe the whole experience. For there are others worth revisiting......One day soon..I promise....


I visited Canada (Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Vancouver) for three weeks last September 2004.