#324 Silence is Golden

In the wee hours of dawn, you can be surrounded by humanity yet be pleasantly alone.

In Tabaco City in Albay, we hauled ourselves to a small fishing port that extended into the sea. Standing on the edge of that port, we found a dramatic view of Mayon volcano's northern slope, looming over a fishing community that hugged the coast. In those unholy hours of morn, there was nary a soul in sight, not a sound in the night. It almost seemed like the entire universe, including the volcano, was fast asleep. There was just the occasional waft of cold sea air, the unmistakable smell of salt everywhere, and an eerie but golden silence. Cherish the moment. Enjoy.

(Pixel-Peepers: Here's a good reason to own a tripod: when it's still too dark for the eyes to see, the camera can already capture. Today's postcard was taken with a 2 second exposure, ISO 400, f/4)

Sign-up to receive new postcards weekly by email 

Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)

#323 Storm on Biri

Your destiny meets you on the road you take to avoid it. (Sifu)

To be outdoors during a storm is scary enough, but to also be on an island surrounded by treacherous water? Having read many a traveler's account describing the wild & swirling sea around Biri island in Northern Samar, we elected to go on the calmest month of the year and hired the biggest boat money can buy. We patted ourselves on the back when we got there uneventfully. 

But on our last sunrise, a storm blew-in unexpectedly and surrounded us with exactly what we had sought to avoid: ominous clouds sending thunderous sheets of rain onto the raging sea below it. Quaking in our boots? And miss this spectacle against a fire-lit sky? Fat chance. We went to work. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: The farther you stand, the bigger the picture you can see. In one shot, a raging storm on my left and a wall of rain just below it. On my right is a silhouette of Bel-At, one of the more iconic rock formations along Biri's northern coast. Look closely and you'll see ace photographer Noli Gabilo on its summit, exactly where you'd find a photographer of this caliber.)

Sign-up to receive new postcards weekly by email 

Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)