Bohol City Landscape (Chocolate Hills)

The Chocolate Hills of Bohol Philippines is Nature's expression of beauty, mystery and romance. Chocolate Hils is one of Philippines natural monument. Bohol Philippines' Chocolate Hills is also considered as one of the eight wonder of the world and it has been declared as the country's 3rd National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Chocolate Hills are consistent in their cone shape and size and estimates show that the number of hills reaches at least 1,260 but may be as many as 1,776. The Chocolate Hills encompasse a 20 square mile (50 sq km) area creating a sea or rolling terrain of these haycock hills.

The height of the hills varies from 98 to 160 feet (30 to 50 m) with the largest hill reaching a peak of 390 feet (120 m). The Chocolate Hills are actually grass covered limestone, but during the dry season the grass dries up turning brown which is where the name is derived from. The dried up brown hills look like a sea of "chocolate kisses."

Pink Sunset

Offering you pink sunset for a change. =)

It was unintentional, but when I post-processed it, it came out this way. A scenery of such beautiful horizon.

Photography 2010 - Philippines

A collection of my Photography Images taken in the Philippines for this year 2010. I am so missing home.. Enjoy! =)

Sailing

A typical view in every small provinces in the Philippines, after a whole day of sailing, fishermen are now ready to succumb to ending the day with their family. A simple and yet complete life. I miss this!!! =)

Paraiso (Paradise)

My definition of Paraiso in the Philippines, located in Punta Cruz, Maribojoc Bohol. The calmness of the sea and the beautiful skyline adds up to its placidity that is most wanted by many people. The weather was perfect at that time and I don't mind a sun kissed skin if it is to capture a magnificent view as this. =)

Loboc Church

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. Inside the church, you can admire some remarkable naive paintings on the ceiling. A Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. The bell tower of Loboc is about 100 meters from the church.

Punta Cruz Watch Tower

In Maribojoc, some 14 km west of Tagbilaran City, a curious triangular watch tower oversees the seas South of Bohol. From its windows at the top, you can see Cebu, Siquijor, and Mindanao. The Spanish had it build in 1796 as a look-out post against pirates and Muslim marauders, who at that time where a plague to the people of Bohol.

Endless Possibilities

This is another shot of the Pacific Ocean taken from the top of the Watch Tower in Maribojoc, Bohol. Behind the leaves open to endless possibilities, it's up for you what to do with them. God has been so gracious to give us the gift of life, talent, power, love, etc. It's a life full of blessings and we ought to take a hold of it. And for all these, we thank You, Lord. :)

"Sandugo"

Taken first thing in the morning when the sky is perfect blue and the temperature was about +40. It was a good introduction to the rest of the tour we had that day in Bohol.

The Sandugo was a blood compact, performed in the island of Bohol in the Philippines, between the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565, to seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition. This is considered as the first treaty of friendship between the Spaniards and Filipinos. "Sandugo" is a Visayan word which means "one blood".

Church of San Pedro, Loboc, Bohol

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc, Bohol is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. A Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. The bell tower of Loboc is about 100 meters from the church. Attached to the building is a three storey convent, which today houses the Museo de Loboc on the third floor.

Dauis Church, Bohol

Another beautiful church in Bohol is the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis, Bohol, on the Island of Panglao. It is located not far from the bridge that connects Panglao with Bohol. The church is built in a mixture of styles, influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture.This is one of Bohol’s beautiful churches, which has retained its Spanish architecture although it has a semi-modern facade. The church is a nice three kilometer walk from Tagbilaran City.

Chocolate Hills

This is one of my few shots of the famous Chocolate Hills in Bohol. If they were real Hershey's Kisses, I'd be the happiest girl on earth :)

I See Better Days.. :)

I'm setting this sunset photo apart from the ones I posted earlier. More than tranquility, this picture offers hope for a brighter tomorrow. The bright blue sky against the raging sun before it succumbs to hide below the horizon plays a perfect ending to a tiring but meaningful day. A promise of better days to come. :)

Photo taken in Bridge II (that's what our tour guide calls it.hehe) in Bohol after a very tiring day. Glad we stopped at this place to capture this magnificent hand of God at work. :)

Seize the moment

This photo was taken by a friend of mine while I was capturing sunset photo in Bohol. I did the editing and gave it a more dramatic effect. Take note this was taken by a point and shoot camera and not in RAW. The grainy and shadow effect adds up to the depth the photo was trying to convey. Photography being a passion, you have to seize the moment.. for one might only last for a minute like this beautiful sunset.

Baclayon Church

This is the first architectural photo that I had uploaded. Taken in Bohol, it is one of the famous tourist destination for being one of the oldest church in the Philippines having been built in 1727. I love shooting old buildings, it gives me a sense of being part of their history.

Bohol Nightscape

Back to my favorite spot in Bohol shooting a nightscape. With 15 seconds exposure and ISO 100. It is a sight to behold and I don't mind going back and shooting hundred photos more. 

Sunset Skyline

Taken in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. This photo encompasses the beauty of sunset in the Philippines. The intense red and orange hues of the sky are caused by scattering of sunlight by air molecules and small particles in the Earth's atmosphere. This being vividly reflected in the body of water below it gives the ocean more depth and mystery.

Water of Paradise

Shot under the blazing sun, so far this is my favorite landscape photo. The bright blue sky and the calmness of the sea is a picturesque tale of unending freedom and tranquility in the sea of paradise, a paradigm of Life in Stillness.

Photo taken in Maribojoc, Bohol.

Serenity

What's the beauty in sunset? It's the serenity that lies in darkness.

Photo taken in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Being so frustrated with how our Cebu-Bohol trip was going, having all the tricycle and taxi drivers wanting to overcharge us. We end up spending our first afternoon in Bohol eating banana-que with coke while having our own city stroll. It wasn't too bad after all because our feet lead us to this spot where sunset is very imminent and perfect for shooting. This place then became my favorite spot in Bohol.. a.k.a "Ang lugar na binabalik-balikan." :)

Taken with a GND filter, with 25th of a second exposure, ISO 100.