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Phoneography challenge: my neighborhood

So this week’s photography challenge is “My Neighborhood”. To make it even more interesting, all the photos should have been taken using a mobile phone. At present, my “neighborhood” for most of the month is Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. It’s got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. They say that the best camera is the one that you have with you, and my iPhone 4S hasn’t left my side since I bought it last year. So behold – Bacuit Bay as seen through a smartphone’s lens šŸ™‚

The view from up top (Matinloc Island). This was taken using the iPhone’s Panorama option.
[minor tweaks in levels using Photoshop CS6]

The view from up top (Matinloc Island)

Same view, different boat and focus (Matinloc Island, El Nido)
[minor tweaks in levels using Photoshop CS6]

Same view, different boat and focus (Matinloc Island, El Nido)

Miniloc Island Resort’s water cottages (Miniloc Island, El Nido)
[minor tweaks using Snapseed]

Miniloc Island Resort's water cottages (Miniloc Island, El Nido)

Breakfast for two at the Miniloc Island Resort clubhouse (Miniloc Island, El Nido)
[minor tweaks using Snapseed]

Breakfast for two at the Miniloc Island Resort clubhouse (Miniloc Island, El Nido)

Outrigger boat – the only way to travel (Bacuit Bay, El Nido)
[no editing]

Outrigger boat - the only way to travel (Bacuit Bay, El Nido)

Bacuit Bay as seen from the seat of a kayak, taken using the iPhone’s Panorama mode (Bacuit Bay, El Nido)
[no editing]

Bacuit Bay as seen from the seat of a kayak, taken using the iPhone's Panorama mode (Bacuit Bay, El Nido)

What does your neighborhood look like? šŸ™‚

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Travel theme: Sunset

Bridge over very calm water. Taken at Lio Airport, El Nido, Palawan.

I’d like to thank Ailsa for giving me an excuse to post sunset photos šŸ™‚ I didn’t want to torture myself trying to decide which of the numerous (and equally memorable) sunset photos I’ve taken over the years to post, so I went with just the newest ones instead. I took these last August 17, 2012 when I caught the last boat to Miniloc after traveling from Apulit, Taytay via boat and bus. (The Apulit trip deserves its own series of posts).

The airport bridge is so damn photogenic! It looks good from any angle. Hmm. Now I’m thinking of doing a photo post on just the bridge šŸ™‚

The sun and the water. Taken at low tide in Lio Airport, El Nido, Palawan.

Photos taken with an iPhone 4S and tweaked with Snapseed.

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Travel Challenge: Manila’s music

Here we go again with another photo challenge from Ailsa, this time for the rhythm of travel. (Dear Ailsa, keep giving out these challenges. They’re fun :D) I’m going to cheat a bit here and keep my “travels” close to home because frankly, I don’t need to go far to experience great music.

Filipinos are known the world over for our musicality. Heck, fellow Pinoys look at you weirdly if you say that you can’t sing nor dance. This expectation gets my siblings and I in trouble every Christmas during our family reunions. I have two brothers and a sister and trufax: none of us can carry a tune nor dance properly (my brother’s high score in Dance Central doesn’t count). We do a stand-up comedy routine instead. Yes, I am 27 years old and I still have to do this every year.

Anyway, enough about my crazy family. On to the photos! All four photos were taken during the launch of Taken By Cars’ albumĀ Dualist last April 25, 2011 at Amber Lounge. Listen to them. They’re awesome.

Camille Besinga, Techy Romantics

Continue reading “Travel Challenge: Manila’s music”

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Travel Challenge: the street markets of Tai O, Hong Kong

Today’s post comes courtesy of Ailsa and her weekly photo challenge. This week’s challenge? Street markets! These photos were taken during our anniversary trip to Hong Kong last October.

Tai O is a village in Lantau Island, an island that is also home to Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the Po Lin monastery.

I will never understand why people need these things to remember a trip to the beach šŸ™ Please note the triton shell that’s really NOT supposed to be there. Be a responsible tourist: don’t buy shells and starfish as souvenirs!
And these too! Who in their right mind would want a wall hanging made from pufferfish? šŸ™
The non-depressing part of our rounds through Tai O: freshly grilled oysters and prawns with cheese. Gawd they were so good but so expensive as well.