THOUGHTS and PHOTOGRAPHS

Sunset Collection

2006-04-03T15:15:00.000+08:00

TINGLOY, BATANGAS

MT SEMBRANO, RIZAL

NARVACAN, ILOCOS SUR

PANGIL, LAGUNA

"The setting sun, and music at the close, As the last taste of sweets, is sweetest last, Writ in remembrance more than things long past."
Author: William Shakespeare
Source: The Tragedy of King Richard the Second (Gaunt at II, i)

Buntot Palos Falls

2006-03-22T18:13:00.000+08:00

This was my second climb for this year. Buntot Palos is one of the lesser known falls in the in Laguna. It is located at Pangil, Laguna. For the local residents, it is more commonly known as the Hidden Falls.

It was my first time to do a night trek. The trail was short but was really muddy. Some parts were almost knee deep! You really have to pull hard when you get stuck. Hehehe..

Water is cold but it wasn't clear because of the rain. And food is not a problem. You will find fruit bearing trees along the trail. And when you've reached the falls site, you can catch crablets at night. Hmmmm.. yummy!

Creepy Crawler!

2006-02-20T18:10:00.000+08:00

Meet the Madagascar Fire Millipede. Well it took me sometime to search for the name of this specie.
It has a bright red and black body and yellow legs. And obviously originated in Masdagascar.. :)
It can grow up to four inches long and is considered by many to be the most attractive millipede available. This species can be bred in captivity but is not always very easy.
(Special thanks to my friend Raymond who holds up these creepy so I was able to take this shot.. hehehe..)

Trivia:
The largest millipede in the world is the African Giant Black Millipide (Graphidostreptus gigas), which reaches a length of 11 inches and a diameter of 3/4 of an inch.

ON HIGHER GROUND

2006-02-06T13:53:00.000+08:00

This was my first climb for the year. And actually this was the first mountain I've climbed. And its nice to be back! This is Mt. Sembrano located at Pililia, Rizal. A couple of hours from Shaw Blvd.
I wasn't suppose to post this one today, but I was tagged by mrug. Kya kahit gumugulong ako ngayon sa dami na closure memo na kelangan ko i-release, I still find time to do this.. :)
So here are the 10 random things about me...

1. I am a solid KAPAMILYA. Pag asa bahay ako o sa apartment, at ako ang may hawak ng remote.. wala kang ibang mapapanood kung hindi kapamilya shows, o kya MYX o kya Studio 23. Well nothing personally against sa KAPUSO. Pero kasi bata pa lng ako Channel 2 na talga kmi.. So I've grown up watching Channel 2 shows. Makipagdebate ka na lng sakin about other things.. wag lng rivalry between KAPAMILYA at KAPUSO.. hehehe..

2. I love SWEETS. I must admit, weakness ko talga ang sweets. It's hard for me to resist eating anything sweet. Kapag meal nga.. hindi ako nabubusog kapag walang desert. Syempre kelangan matamis yun.. :) Dati nga nakaka-ubos ako ng isang lyanerang leche flan.. Hmmm medyo bitin pa nga yun eh.. Pero ngaun hindi na masyado kc...

3. HIGHBLOOD ako. Nakakatakot talga pag sinumpong ako ng high blood. Feeling ko binibiyak ung likod ng ulo ko.. Worst na nangyari sakin nung Jan 1 2005. Morning pa lng naramdamn ko na na sinusumpong ako, and it end up that tha whole day wala akong kinain kung hindi sabaw.. Kc sinusuka ko din ung solid foods.. Ngaun bihira namn na ko sumpungin. hehe..

4. Most EMBARASSING MOMENT ko is nung napilit ako sumali sa isang search nung high school namin. It was named Campus Babe and Hunk. Ngaun pagnaaalala ko yun, napapaisip ako kung pano ako napilit sumali dun. Feeling ko na-hypnotize ako ng adviser namn para sumali dun.. Nakakahiya talga. Walking on the stage na mukhang kayong tanga.. Yoko na maalala yun!!!

5. Madalas na FIRST IMPRESSION sakin nung high school ako until early college ay bading. Tahimik talga kc ako nun. Pero nasaloob ang kulo.. nyahahaha.. And mostly pa babae ung nag-iisip na bading ako. Acutally ung mga naging GF ko b4 un din first impression nila sakin.. but they end up falling in love with me.. hahahahaha.. joke lng.. (pero sabi nila jokes are half ment.. hehe)

6. I am a self confessed SUPERMAN addict. Pati smallville season 1-4 pinanood ko. Kaya nga khal-el ang name ko sa blog. Can't wait to have Smallville Season 5. Ska ung superman returns. Hindi ko palalambasin yun.. hehe

7. Ang kaisa-isang FAILING GRADE ko sa buong buhay ko ay nung 3rd year college ako sa subject na ELECTROMAGNETICS. Sobrang dis-appointed ako nun. Sabi kc nila noon na magka-3 ka lng sa Mapua masaya na.. kya pinangako ko sa sarili ko na wala akong ibabagsak na subject. Ang history pa nung subject na yun ay un ung last section na in-open para samin. At kung alam ko lng na babagsak ako dun sana hindi ko na sya kinuha at nag-underload na lng ako.. :'(

8. Kung hindi ako nag-ECE malamang nag-ACCOUNTING ako. Favorite subject ko kc yun nug 4th year high school kmi. Hinid lng ako pinyagan nung time na yun kc ung sister ko nag-aacounting na rin.. so dapat daw iba na lng kunin ko.. kya I end up going to Mapua para mag-ECE. No regrets namn sa kinuha kong course. :)

9. STRANGEST EXPERIENCE ko namn ay nag SLEEPWALK daw ako nung bata ako. Naka-double deck kc kmi nun.. tapos ako yung sa taas. Sabi ng nanay ko, bumababa daw ako ng kama nun.. tapos naglakad palabas ng kwarto.. tapos umupo daw ako sa may lamesa namn na parang naghihintay ng pagkain.. Ang alam ko nung time na yun ay nananaginip ako.. un pla nagsleep walk na ko.

10. At syempre panghuli.. sa lahat ng bundok na naakyat ko.. isang beses pa lng ako tumae sa bundok. Yun ay sa Gulugod Baboy sa Batangas.. Masyado ata madami nakain ko nun.. Ang strange kc nung feeling kapag dumumi ka sa bundok.. Puro talahiban, at pagmapapaupo ka eh natutusok ung puwet mo ng damo kya magugulat ka at mapapatayo.. hehehe

And that's it! The 10 random things about me.. now I'm tagging derek, my good buddy since college.. kht gumugulong ka ngaun, take time to do this.. ok? nyahahaha

Cats

2006-01-29T13:53:00.000+08:00

I'm really not into getting cats as pet. Mas gusto ko aso.. malambing lang kasi itong pusang nakita namn sa Puerto Galera. A cat will almost never meow at another cat. Cats use this sound for their mothers and their human care-givers. I was hoping I got a good shot on this.. hehe..

Trivia:

Cats are the sleepiest of all mammals. They spend 16 hours of each day sleeping. With that in mind, a seven year old cat has only been awake for two years of its life!

Galera Adventure (Day 2)

2006-01-24T19:19:00.001+08:00

Of we wouldn't miss out snorkeling at Puerto Galera!!! This was our main activity for Day 2. Gumising pa naman ako ng 5am.. kc magprepare pa ng breakfast.. expecting we could start early para hindi masyado mainit.. But we end up leaving the resort at 9am.

Good thing it wasn't that sunny.. hehe.. Ang bait nung may ari ng bangka na na-rentahan namin.. Dinala nya kmi sa tatlong snorkeling sites.. Sobrang enjoy talga.. :) Most enjoyed ko ung photoshoot namn under water.. hirap kc ako lumubog sa tubig.. so kelangan ko talga pag-aralan.. hehe.. Pati yung pagpakain namn sa mga isda.. 3 loaves of bread ata ung naubos namn sa mga isda.. :)

Natapos kmi around 1. At excited bumalik sa resort para manood ng laban ni Pacman! Galing talga ni Manny!!! Truly, I am proud to be a Filipino.. ;)

And eto pa ung iba namin makukulit na shots from day 1.. :)

Trivia: Who invented the snorkels?

The snorkel was invented long ago by Leonardo da Vinci.Unfortunately it did not work. It had a hopelessly long tube of around 6m-8m, which meant the diver was unable to draw air down it against the ambient water pressure, and he would have been asphixiated by the build-up of his own exhaled CO2. http://www.divernet.com/gear/guide/snorkels.htm

6-8m?! Imagine that!

Galera Adventure (Day 1)

2006-01-24T19:19:00.000+08:00

Last weekend, I went to Puerto Galera with my mountaineering buddies. I almost wasn't able to come with them, but I'm glad I was able to. This was my second time here, the water is still great (though a bit itchy.. hehe) and the weather is good. We stayed at HSL Resort. They have nice ammenities with reasonable rates.

On our first day, we explored the place. We went through this small, cave-like opening which leads to boulders of rock and crystal clear water.

And of course, we will not miss out the banana boat ride! We really enjoyed the ride specially everytime the speed boat would make a quick turn and left us splashing into the water!!!
And after a day of exhausting water activities, is a relaxing moment. Though another day bids goodbye, there will always be a tomorrow we should be looking forward to.

Trivia:

In 1574 the Spanish founded Puerto Galera as one of their major trade centers in the Philippines, and soon after made it into an important base. Through the centuries, the Spanish used Puerto Galera as a safe harbor for their galleons (the Spanish name Puerto Galera means simply harbor of galleons).

Caleruega

2006-01-17T19:10:00.000+08:00

This was my first time in Caleruega. I attended the wedding ceremony of my officemate. The entire place was so beautiful, peaceful and calm.

And I admit, the place really captured my heart and attention as well. Kya eto picture dito, picture dun.. hehehe.. :)

The ceremony started late in the afternoon, so I was able to witness the sunset at Calereuega. Such a relaxing experience watching the sun sets down over the mountains of Batulao.

Trivia: Calereuga was founded by the Dominicans. Caleruega is actually a place in Spain, where St. Dominic De Guzman, founder of the Dominicans, was born.

http://www.caleruega-philippines.ph/

Sunrise from a Top

2006-01-16T18:15:00.000+08:00

sunrise from a top
Originally uploaded by khal-el.

With barely having 2hrs of sleep, we started trekking the summit of Mt Pulag at 1 o' clock in the morning of Oct 30, 2005, just to witness these magnificent sunrise. I should say this is the first I ever appreciated the beauty of sunrise.

trivia: Only at the equator does the Sun rise and set at the same time each day

Bed of Clouds

2006-01-16T12:49:00.001+08:00

My camera does not have a panoramic option, so I had to capture this photo in 4 cuts then stitch them together. Luckily I had this software, Ulead COOL 360, which made it easy for me to stitch them.. :)

trivia: Do clouds have weight?

Clouds have weight just like the rest of the atmosphere. Clouds are composed of tiny water droplets and ice crystals. The average-sized cumulus cloud has a density of approximately 0.5 gram per cubic meter and averages 1 km wide by 1 km long by 1 km tall, so you can expect the average cumulus cloud to weigh approximately 500,000 kilograms (1.1 million pounds).

2006-01-13T18:50:00.000+08:00

testing my new blog..