[Cagayan de Oro, Philippines] ~ Checking out the Ordinary

January 24, 2017 teng correa Leave a comment

Seeing the city less in the eyes of a tourist – 11.30.15

My third day for this Camiguin trip was mainly for travel but since I managed to leave the island earlier, I squeezed in some time to explore the city of Cagayan de Oro (locally also called CDO). It was extra hours filled with experiencing as much of the place less as a tourist that I ended up doing random things in random places- like beer in a carinderia before a bus terminal, visit to a slightly leaning water tank which housed a city museum and discovery of interestingly named or themed stalls, movie cafes and store selling chili.

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Camiguin, Philippines

Come again, Camiguin?

January 24, 2017 teng correa 1 Comment

Experiencing the most known of Camiguin in a day – 11.29.15

There’s a Filipino slang word called “lagari” which means hopping from one place to another. And if there’s a word to best describe my second day in Camiguin, that would have to be it – as that day I hopped to touristy places as early as sunrise in a SANDBAR to a COLD SPRINGS RESORT to more iconic landmarks such as the CHURCH RUINS and SUNKEN CEMETERY. Only pause was at sunset back at CAVES DIVE RESORT until off again to another spring, this time opposite of cold at ARDENT HOT SPRINGS RESORT.

It was a day of countless witnessed selfies, jump and wacky shots and Higher Being-knows-how-many people I have shared bodily fluids with but it was a day I had to ensure be packed and if only for that, those are all worth it.

For who knows when I will come again to Camiguin, right? (Okay, enough with the ‘joke’).

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Asia, Camiguin, Philippines, SE Asia

[Camiguin, Philippines] ~ 1,322 Steps around Mantigue Island

January 23, 2017 teng correa 2 Comments

Where there is no getting lost in walking – 11.28.15

This trip over the long weekend kicked off with straight-from-airport visit to an island called MANTIGUE so small like Potipot I walked and counted my steps around it – 1,322 in total at pace from 1:19 in the afternoon until about 2 (and okay, I got lazy recording the actual end time). Seabed was grassy (some area even had sea urchins!) but amazingly clear that I still did wade. It was a brief day trip but managed to squeeze in about an hour of snorkeling from a spot not so far from shore, not without a guide, of course.

I wish I had more than a day – a night at least to camp there (which sadly is not allowed) but okay, still quite a day to remember.

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Asia, Brunei, Malaysia

Plan B : Plan Brunei

January 20, 2017 teng correa Leave a comment

This day I found a happy workaround in a misadventure – 11.19.15

Previous day’s visit to Penang’s beaches ended on a rather gloomy note as on my way back to Georgetown, I got a text message from the airline informing me that my flight back to Manila has been cancelled due to APEC .

As I needed to be back on that day in time for an event at work, I had to think of an alternative – one that gave me a window to briefly explore another country.

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Asia, Malaysia, Penang

[Malaysia] ~ Off to Penang’s Beaches

January 17, 2017 teng correa 1 Comment

The day I went somewhere a little bit off-town (and off-character) -11.17.15

I am into walking but not trekking but for this day trip knew that I had to survive one for about two hours on my way to a place in Penang called MONKEY BEACH. As the name suggests, I was expecting more monkeys on the beach but to my surprise was ‘ambushed’ by two on my way there. Nothing special water- and sand-wise but seclusion was perfect that it got me teary-eyed (I am sad to say though that upon reading more recent reviews, the place is not as secluded always and when crowded, can get dirty.)

When it started to drizzle on my way back from the LIGHTHOUSE (called MUKA HEAD) nearby, I took a boat ride back and stopped over BATU FERRINGHI for beer, bite and people- and yes, horse-watching.

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Asia, Malaysia, Penang

[Penang, Malaysia] ~ Some things to do when there’s nothing planned

January 11, 2017 teng correa 1 Comment

A destinationless afternoon and some random discoveries – 11.16.15

After Camera Museum, rest of my afternoon was free that I just walked, stopping in shops that seemed to sell interesting stuff, grabbing some beer, discovering more street art and discreetly and briefly immersing oneself in a quiet afternoon of locals from the jetty villages.

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Asia, Malaysia, Penang

[Penang, Malaysia] ~ Photos from a Camera Museum

January 11, 2017 teng correa 1 Comment

All those cameras captured by its ‘great grandbaby’ the smartphone – 11.16.15

After morning was spent walking around to discover steel rod installations and murals around town, I had some more relaxed early afternoon at a museum on the same street as my hostel – one I learned about on that same day.

PENANG’S CAMERA MUSEUM is a recently opened two-storey venue for exhibition of vintage cameras. Compared to most museums, its specificity in its collection makes one’s visit more intimate and not as intimidating. This worked as an advantage on my end as unlike previous visits to museums so overwhelming that I almost always end up hungry or with some headache (and I rarely get one!), this was palatable.

What greets you

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My experience with cameras is limited to digital one when I was in college followed by an attempt to play more with an DSLR a few years back until there were smartphones and action cameras. My visit to the museum is then more of the visual pleasure and an awe at the basics.

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Malaysia, Penang

[Penang, Malaysia] ~ Where Dirty Walls are Neat

January 3, 2017 teng correa 2 Comments

For it was a fine morning discovering expressions on the everyday – 11.15.16

While presence of steel rod sculptures within George Town came as a surprise, I knew about its most popular street murals prior to the trip. However, I didn’t expect such to be as many that discoveries happen of known (and unknown) ones happen randomly. Reliving that morning walk from more than a year later, I still could feel the amusement yet know with some tinge of sadness at the thought that in more years, these pieces could fade (or even disappear). Well, there’s sadness and that itch to go back.

What follows is a series of photos as my attempt at a virtual ‘walk-through’ with details on location and some personal notes (despite – of course – how one beauty of works like these is that ‘they’ are meant to speak to different people differently).

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Malaysia, Penang

[Penang, Malaysia] ~ History in Iron Caricatures around George Town

January 3, 2017 teng correa 2 Comments

My interest in the island of Penang was mainly due to convenience given its relative accessibility from Kuala Lumpur. It turned out to be one of my favorite places as such a charming town of contradictions – its center both sleepy and vibrant, its streets reminiscent of both old and modern. While recognized as one of UNESCO World Heritage sites, to me it was simply a place friendly for walking – with each turn filled with surprises from iron sculptures retelling the place’ story to hand paints that make use of the raw structures in place. Combine walking and glimpses of the ordinary equal my dose of happy.

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Asia, Malaysia

[Malaysia]~ A Day in KL (Quiet and Otherwise)

December 29, 2016 teng correa

A morning of quiet and after noon, one of chaos – 11.15.15

After spending a night dining in the dark and diner-seeing in KL, following day was spent visiting TITIWANGSA PARK where a scene from a favorite local film was shot. Unfortunately unable to find such but after minutes of sweat was able to find a decent spot with a view of the Petronas, KL/Menara Tower and Istana Budaya (which to me is version of Sydney’s Opera House). Prior to 4PM trip to Penang were failed visits to some city landmarks that were either under construction or closed due to some event before that who-cares-about-this-heavy-backpack windowshopping at PETALING STREET.
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