Boracay

When a friend asked me if I wanted to go to Boracay Island again, I immediately said yes. It’s been a decade since I first visited the island. The weather wasn’t perfect during our visit, it rained a lot and flooded streets welcomed us. But it did not spoil our quick escapade. Or there were no other options but to enjoy our stay.

photo by Julie

hums of splashing waves 

drown the sounds of the city 

temporary bliss

—
the waves of summer
crash and brush off a kingdom 
golden sandcastles 

/totomai

Bantayan

While waiting for the results of my job applications, I and a friend decided to explore Bantayan Island in Cebu to relax, and of course, to shoot. From my hometown, I had to travel by plane for 45 mins, by car (from the Mactan airport to Hagnaya port) for 3 hrs, and by ferry to the island for an hour. 

photo by Russel

lost in a blue world 

the waves of summer found me

a pearl for mother   

/totomai 

Macaque

It is rainy season right now in the Philippines but it still feels like summer. I kind of miss the Japan weather and made me remember one of the the last trips I had - a date with the Japanese macaque or popularly known as snow monkeys.

Mud

The Mudpack Festival in Negros Island Region is not as popular as the MassKara Festival but it has its own following. Now on its 21st year, locals and visitors still flock to Mambukal Resort every 3rd week of June for a 3-day celebration.

Lakawon

My first post since returning back to the Philippines. For the past two weeks, I busied myself eating my favorite food, visiting the gym every morning, and waiting for the results of my job applications. Current temperature in our province, Negros Occidental, ranges from 32 - 36 deg C, and coming from a comparably colder weather, I needed some splash to refresh. Luckily for me, the gym I worked-out at schedules a summer get-away at Lakawon Island Resorts and Spa.

crystal blue waters

did it come down from the sky?

a wishing starfish

/totomai

Mata

The time has finally come to leave Japan. I always thought that I will stay here forever but sometimes fate pulls some unexpected tricks along the way. I will be flying back to the Philippines carrying the memories of Japan, a place where I worked and lived for ten years.

Chiba-koen

I have mentioned before in one of my posts that Chiba-koen is my favorite hanami (flower viewing) spot in Japan. Not much have been written about this park since most locals and tourists prefer Tokyo area during spring, but I and my friends usually visit this place every year.

pink cherry blossoms 

falling faster than my hair 

i am growing old 

~ totomai 

Fireflies

I bought the book, Kamikaze: A Japanese Pilot's Own Spectacular Story of the Famous Suicide Squadron, in 2013 but did not have the time to read it until recently. The book opened with an explanation from one of the authors, Gordon T. Allred, after he was informed that the story of Yasuo Kuwahara may be a fabricated one. He maintained that he still believes Kuwahara, and let the readers decide afterwards.