Take me back, Philippines
I haven't used an alarm clock to wake up for ages, as my circadian rhythm has been regular. Or, it's probably just that glimmer or streak of sunshine that come in below the curtains that signal it's morning and time to get up. Well, not this morning. It's like a dark autumn morning with the rain chucking down, and I'm looking out my window Philippines dreaming.
Take me back to the Philippines, would you?
From my Philippines photo album, here are some images that I never got around to sharing.
My typical morning view consisted of boats, fishermen, divers, snorkelers, and people hunting for sea urchins.
Photos are taken from my balcony during the afternoon hours when the sun was out in all her glory. I love looking across the bay at the mountains.
A popular low tide activity was people hunting for sea urchins along the shore.
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I often went for a walk along the seafront in the White Beach area, where it was secluded and I spent many afternoons looking out at the waves.
I miss the thrill of flying high in the gyrocopter and having a completely different perspective of the area.
A gyrocopter ride was a good once-in-a-lifetime experience when our pilot friend Yohann offered tours around Cebu.
Panagsama Beach
The main hub for divers, and this is right along the seafront where my husband operated a dive shop.
I sometimes checked the weather forecast and tide times and made plans to travel via boat to the dive centre, to pop in to see hubby.
This all depended on whether the sea conditions were calm, as I'm not a water person and avoid being on boats during rough seas. My favourite section was when dolphins swam ride next to the boat to show off and play.
... and I'd return home on my trike, which I had left overnight at the Dive Centre... Of course, I didn't ride home in my bikini, but my trike was often in the way at the small dive centre, so I had to move it before getting dressed... Everyone loved my trike and they always toot my horn as they walked by.
My trike was the best investment during my time in the Philippines, as I was able to avoid haggling with tricycle drivers who charge foreigners an arm and a leg.
Street scenes Puerto Princesa, Palawan 2017
I was dodging in between traffic to capture these street photos.
Street scene Cebu City
Street scenes Moaboal, Cebu
My very first photos were taken with my Olympus Camera.
I'm so happy that I have these beautiful memories to look bad at, and these photos made me think of the wise saying by Katie Thurmes -
"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."
Still, would you just take me back to the Philippines, now?
All Images are mine. I hope that you've enjoyed viewing them, just as much as I am appreciating the positive feelings from looking back at them:)
Shoot! You made me miss Moalboal so bad now! It's been a long time since I visited this paradise, probably not as long as you but still. 😁
The white sand, the underwater corals and creatures, freediving with @ybanezkim26, the lively ambiance of the place,
seeing hotties once in awhile, and hours of nonstop chitchat with @discoveringarni. Perhaps we could meet in person in Moalboal too in the distant future. 😍I love the view you got of the place from the gyrocopter. I might be seeing this in photo but definitely gives you a different perspective of the place.
Out of curiosity, how long did you lived in Moalboal?
Hey, I spent 7 years in Moalboal.😁
I miss walking along the seafront and afternoon coffees and wine with @discoveringarni. Those were some fun times. 😍
Yes, you never know... Maybe one day I'll make it back,and we could meet up. Going back to Moalboal would be like returning home. I miss the laughter I had with the market vendors and people in the town of Moalboal:)))
7 years! Wow! that shows Moalboal is already home to you. Bet, you've also learned some Cebuano dialect then.
I started learning the language when I just arrived. I had my neighbours teach me all the curse words 😆
Most people in Moalboal spoke English though. They just never understood me when I said things like Carcar without rolling my "Rs" and saying CARrrr CarRRR or when I called my husband Cameron (Camron)... I needed to Ca-Mé-rrrun 😆
Hi @millycf1976 , my reply is 3 months late sorry. Sometimes I imagine you driving fast with your trike on Tongo Road.
Hehe! Life is strange. I rode that trike daily for so many years, and then an abrupt halt. I do miss it though:)))
Hello Claire, sorry just replying now after a very loooong time like a hermit crawling out of a cave. Moalboal is steadily changing and it's nice to see the colorful vibe return after the typhoon and everything that struck us in the last 2 years.
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I've been seeing a lot of vlogs on YouTube from the Philippines recently, and even from behind this screen I'm falling in love with it. The people are so friendly and are always rocking a smile. The street food scene too, they have so much to offer and the pricing is so affordable. I just wanna get lost in a street food bonanza haha.
Ah, man! It would be great if you get the chance to visit there someday. It really is a cheap and affordable place to travel and live at a comfortable level without the millionaire status.:)
I'd love to visit so many countries, especially in my neighboring Asian region, that's where I'll start. To experience some place new whenever I can, that's the dream.
But for now, it's just a dream, and a matter of time I guess.
Yes, just a matter of time, indeed.
I like that the Philippines has the most budget accommodation you can find, and if you want to eat street food, there are stalls everywhere. It's safe for single female travellers too, and that for me gives it an advantage of travelling to places with a similar vibe (such as the Caribbean).
If I do "make it", then one day I even plan on moving to a neighboring Asian country, at least for a few years.
Blue waters, a lot of green, good people, good food, and a simple enough lifestyle. I believe countries like the Philippines, Indo, Vietnam can give me that experience.
I guess we'll find out when it's time.
💯%. It would be great if you could fit in at least two countries when you do.
The more the merrier I'd say. 🔥🖤
💯
😏
I hope you get back. The Philippines is a destination I really want to visit. Actually it tops my wishes. So when you say take me back to the Philippines now, know I'm thinking just take me there !LOL
Seeing so much of this beautiful country through articles and meeting so many interesting people from there it bumps it to the top of my list 😁
I love the street views you gave to us. All the different types of transportation is neat to see. I imagine being out on the sea is spectacular. Oh how I would love seeing the dolphins play. Take care and have great rest of your day.
Oh, I do hope that you get across to South East Asia one day.
For me, it was so similar to Jamaica in terms of geography and culture, that it felt like home. Cycling through villages took me back to my childhood, as people along the streets greeted me. The only difference was that I rode my tricycle at any hour of the night, and my only fear or concern was being chased by savage dogs.
I was grateful for the safety that I felt walking under the moonlight along the beach or just sitting in a hammock listening to crashing waves, palms swaying and the moon so close that I felt like I could touch it 🙏
Wishing you a lovely day too:)))
Oh no I know that feeling. I lived in the countryside and remember riding my bike around the dirt paved country block. I was chased once by Doberman Pinscher I never peddled so fast 😳 luckily there was a hill going down near the residence.
Hehe, being chased by barking dogs was a huge problem in the Philippines. They might never get close enough to bite you, but the possibility of getting rabies is scary and one you'd rather avoid. Many motorists fell off their motorbikes because of dogs too. You were lucky to escape that Doberman Pinscher, as they are pretty fast 🤗
If not for the hill he would have caught me. I use to tell my son the whole story when he was younger. He would ask many times for me to tell it, haha. It seemed like all dogs in the country chased cars and other traffic, ours did as well.
Hehe! I bet your son thought the story was hilarious.
Dogs do the same in Jamaica too, so I was never a dog person. It's only now that I'm back in the UK that I see how adorable and loving dogs can be. Dogs are always running to greet me, and in the back of my mind, I still have the idea that dogs only attack.
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This made me laugh.
Thank you 😆
Hello, Milly
I never go to Philipina and you take me there into dreaming.
So beautiful place from your balcony area
At the end, we just have memories but at leats that's made us be grateful from everything you have.
Greetings
Ah, I hope that you'll get to visit the Philippines one day. It's closer to you, so chances are that you'll get there before me:)))
But I still can't believe why the airplane ticket so expensive from Indonesia to Philipina.
But to Singapore and Malaysia cheaper than to Philipina
Ah, I believe that. Maybe no direct flight or the direction is just a little longer.
I went to Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan from the Philippines, and I had plans to go to Indonesia, but Covid came and changed things.
Wow! Indeed, it is more fun in the Philippines, dear Milly. I always remember those precious days you mentioned you were in Moalboal with your husband. Now I know, you were having a great living for the past years.
I enjoy watching the people getting some Sea Urchins, I am pretty sure that is “Tuyom” in Cebuano. I wonder how they get these Urchins because they may sting if you touch them. Or maybe their kinds were not venomous? heheh.
And yes, aside from Cebu, Palawan is one of my favorite destinations too. It is quiet expensive there but I know every traveler really loves Palawan.
I just hope you will visit Philippines soon. I love seeing you in that bike, or is that tricycle? hehe. You are so gorgeous and you look like a model there. Best regards.
Good lord! I was scratching my brain for that catch line, and I was gonna ask my husband, but he's sleeping.
Indeed! It's more fun there 😁
Ah, no I don't think those sea urchins are poisonous because families are always hunting for them.
Palawan was a nice escape and I enjoyed the flight over Ilo-Ilo (not sure of the spelling). It was so green and lush, like a real tropical paradise.
Thanks for your lovely compliments 😊
Looks like a lovely place. I see why you miss it. The sun would be nice I'm sure.
The gyrocopter ride would be fun
You are right about all of that 😆
Glad to know you had a great time here in the Philippines. I hope you can come back someday and feel the warm atmosphere again. 😄🌞
You had a lovely home here. I haven't been to Moalboal but I know the feeling to wake up to a beautiful and calm sea view.
One thing about tricycles here is that, they look different from one place to another and you can actually identify a place by how the tricycle looks. 😄
Great photos and they represent the nostalgic feeling. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hello there!
Yes, nothing beats waking up and having breakfast with a sea view.
You are right! I recognised all my Palawan photos by the tricycle styles. They were all different in Dumaguete too. That's a funny little detail that we liked. Also, in Dumaguete, they had a fixed price around the town which saved a lot of hassle.
Thanks for your lovely comment and have a great weekend too:)))
Such beautiful pictures and seeing them makes no wonder why you want to go back there.
It's funny if I think back a few years ago I never had the wish to visit the Philippines but in my recent years of blogging, I have made some good Filipino friends and have read so much about their customs and the beautiful places there that I would love to visit one day.
So I hope you are back there anytime and maybe I can go visit hehe;)
Have a lovely day, Milly 🌱
Hey @coquicoin 😁
I think you would enjoy the Philippines. You'd probably find the culture similar to yours, and it's great that you have some Filipino friends already.
Yes, I'm missing my morning views overlooking the bay, compared to waking up to what looks like an Autumn morning in July.
Thanks for your lovely message and have a lovely day 🌻
I hope you get back someday. I'd love to visit, honestly, especially now. Your pictures are stunning. What a place. It looks so peaceful. Here's to hoping the photos aren't the only return ticket in your future to this wonderful place, my dear friend ;)
That first camera just feels different when you've got neat subjects to shoot like that, don't it? :)
Thanks, I really hope to live in the tropics again :)
How are you dear friend @millycf1976 good morning
What a beautiful way to desert without the invasion of the noise of an awakened person, only with the caresses of the sun when entering through the window
What a beautiful view, I would love to have a sea view from my window
Nice photos, I appreciate you sharing.
have a beautiful evening
I'm happy that you appreciate the photos. These photos gave me hope today!
Wishing you a lovely day too:)))
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Indeed, the Philippines has a lot of beautiful places worth a visit and a stay.
Thank you for your compliments about my country.
Sea urchins are delicious especially when paired with hot rice.
Come back soon.☺️☺️
the photos are great. I hope, you can enjoy this place again.
Thanks, I hope so too:)
Awesome places! I hope we can meet when you get back here.
Hehe! Yeah, that would be awesome 🤞
Looks amazing. I'd love to go, not least because I love the phillipino people here on HIVE that I've got to know!
YOu could almost pass some of these off as being from Jamaica..
💯% The Philippines and Jamaica has way more similar than I ever would have imagined. It's unbelievable!
It would be awesful if you do get to visit:)))