Notes from Tañon Strait, Day 4: Missing the Sardine Run in Moalboal; Getting Inspired in Hale Manna

Adirondack chairs on Inspiration Point, Hale Manna, Moalboal • for Oceana Philippines

Day 4 of our Oceana Philippines photo safari/expedition was devoted to swimming.  However, the closest I got to taking a dip in the sea was walking to my waist going to Harold's liveaboard since the water was shallow a long way off the shore.

By now, I have had high fever during the night, unsure if I can shoot or function efficiently the next day.   There's this really nice, huge room in Hale Manna with cool air conditioning and comfy beds but all I could do was cower under the blanket farthest from the air conditioner.  The idea of taking the next day off crossed my mind but since this is an assignment and not a vacation, it was out of the question.  To add to my misery, my trusty Nikon was, putting it mildly, feeling its age and acting wonky.  Friends would often presume photo assignments are all fun and games.  It can be fun alright but at the end of the day, you have to deliver regardless of whether you're feeling sick or uninspired, or heaven forbid,  your equipment has gone bonkers.

Notes from Tañon Strait, Day 3: Cruising the Bojo River , Visiting Aloguinsan Farmhouse and Finding Hale Manna

Trellis over path leading to The Farmhouse at Aloguinsan

Heading to our third morning on Bantayan island, I was already getting used to Anika Resort and its environs.  But as with other assignments, you have to leave and move on just when you've sort of settled in but that's work for you.  By mid-morning, we crossed over to the mainland via a ferry boat, then headed southwest to Aloguinsan, 59 km from Cebu City.   I drifted in and out of sleep on the van, recalling seeing roads after roads canopied by tall mango trees, a lot of which are just begging to be picked clean of their fruits (mango is my all-time favorite fruit).

A RIVER TOUR AND AN ELEGANT FARMHOUSE.  We were just in time for a belated lunch on the hut/cabana by the Bojo river.  Yeah, I know, most people will just automatically refer back to the more popular one being run on Bohol's Loboc river.  I personally welcome the thought of more river tours as these ecotourism endeavors help preserve the river, mangroves and natural resources of the place as well as provide livelihood to the locals who live along the river.  This one is no different though I must note that the lunch served was tastier, more substantial, than the one I tasted in the Bohol river cruise I took years ago.