Discovering Pinas

(This post is my entry to lagawan.info‘s anniversary contest)

This photo was not taken by me. It was actually taken by a friend who shared my passion for photography. This photo has become my logo for my website discoveringpinas.com. This photo is very memorable to me because it was my first time to travel alone without parents or friends. I’ve never traveled alone before and this trip became an adventure for me. I just met this old friend through a social-networking site and invited me to go to Camiguin Island for the holy week. I never had any second thoughts on what may happen on my trip or if my parents will get mad at me for this decision. I thought that I was on the right age to travel alone and do what I really want in my life and that is to visit new places and discover historical facts. I was really fascinated with the island. The stories about Mt. Hibok-Hibok and the sunken cemetery awakened my curiosity for historical facts.So I practically used most of my month’s salary for this trip which was a big deal because I was getting a real big sum of money back then. As I look back and think of what I did, I’d still use all my money for that trip. Man, Camiguin has a mystical charm on me.

That little island on the picture is called Mantigue Island, a good place to snorkel in Camiguin. One part of the island is full of sea urchins that are harvested by island-dwellers. Another part is suitable for snorkeling and diving. On the way to the island, you will see corals at the bottom of the seafloor. It’s marvelous to see those corals. There’s no water in the island. The island-dwellers have to get water, food supplies and other necessities on the main island that is Camiguin. There’s no electricity, too. The island-dwellers use a generator to provide light at night but only for a few hours. It’s typically an island life there. Camiguin Island is best visited on holy week. Good place to meditate and to enjoy the long weekend.