Sunset from Above

“There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.”
  Jo Walton

Time taken 5:33PM

Time taken 5:40PM

Time taken 5:41PM

  Just like the sunset that I'm so lucky to watch while on board an aircraft from Metro Manila to Cagayan de Oro City on January 27, 2013.

SkyWatch Friday

Aerial View Taal Volcano Island

Taal Volcano is considered as one of the smallest and famous volcano in the world the highest peak stands about 1,312 feet and is geographically located at Batangas in the island of Luzon, Philippines. It is also one of the active volcanoes in the world that is why Taal Volcano was named one of the Decade Volcanoes by scientist.

The photos below with (watermarks) were taken while on board Cebu Pacific flight from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila on January 24, 2013.

The Taal Volcano Island

 The photo above actually shows the Taal Volcano Island which was formed by massive eruptions in the past. The tiny speck in the right most of the picture is actually the remnant of the old crater, it is the most photographed part of the volcano island, as shown in most postcards. 

photo not mine

Photo by storm-crypt

The water surrounding the volcano island is called the Taal Lake it is believe to be the crater of the prehistoric volcano.

The Taal Volcano Island

 Another lake can be found in the main caldera of Taal Volcano Island and it is called the Crater Lake.

The Crater Lake

The photo above is said to be the original mouth of Taal Volcano, not what the post cards are usually showing.

Can you see that small stone in the middle of the Crater Lake, it is actually a small island inside the lake (Crater Lake), within the island (Taal Volcano Island), within the lake (Taal Lake).

This is the view, a picturesque of Taal Volcano Island from an aircraft window.

Next time, when you fly to Manila from the south (Visayas or Mindanao) make sure to choose the seat near the window (seat A) and mesmerize the the beauty of nature only seen in the Philippines.

Water World Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

sources: 
http://tourism-philippines.com/taal-volcano/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taal_Volcano
http://www.ehow.com/about_4586201_what-smallest-volcano-world.html

Wing + Sunset

Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, 

and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal.
~Elbert Hubbard~

Blue Monday

Monday Mellow Yellows

Young Papaya Fruit

The papaya saga continues...

Here's the small fruit that I'm taking about in my previous post. The second papaya tree that we had had finally given us fruits. I can't assume these little ones will grow bigger, but I hope it will.

Macro Monday

Watery Papaya Leaf

The papaya fever is not over yet. If you have read about my previous post about the three (3) papaya trees that we have in our front yard, well I have good news. This morning I saw little fruits sprouting from the 2nd papaya tree that we have. Yep! I think our 2nd papaya plant may not only be a female tree after all but a hermaphrodite. Although I'm not that sure yet, we have to observe the little babies that she has right now if it will grow into sweet over-sized fruits that we're expecting her to, then we can conclude that she really is a hermaphrodite. No pictures yet, I was in a hurry this morning. I'll take pictures this afternoon as soon as I arrive home. Meanwhile here's one of her beautiful leaves, feeling refreshed after the rain.

Water World Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday

The Papaya Trees

The first papaya tree we have planted in our front yard few months back is continuously flowering but had never given us any fruit until now.

our first papaya tree

Accordingly, papaya trees can either be a male, a female or a bisexual. Bisexual or hermaphrodite that have both ovary and stamen and are self-fertile. They can produce fruits without the need of a male plant.
 

On the other hand, the female papaya ovary flower must receive pollen from a male or hermaphrodite papaya plant either carried by wind or insect. When pollination took place the ovary of female flower will swell up and will become fruit. When no pollination had occur the small fruit will then be aborted from the plant.

flower from the 1st papaya

I believe the first papaya tree we had is a female plant because it has large single bloom flower with short stalks which is the characteristics of a female papaya. Male papayas has long thin stalks with slender flowers just like the picture below.

photo from internet

Now the problem is where are we going to find a male papaya tree or a hermaphrodite, so that pollination may take place?
 

flower from the 2nd papaya

The second plant we had is also a female because it has the same flower as the first one.

our second papaya plant

I don't know if the 3rd plant which is still around 2 feet tall will be a male or a hermaphrodite.

our third plant

I hope it will be hermaphrodite so that we can finally have the fruits that we are waiting for so long to harvest.  

Today's Flower

Macro Monday

Monday Mellow Yellows

Girly Date at Starbucks LKK

When was the last time I've been to Starbucks? Oh crap I can't remember because that was a long long time ago.  I thought Starbucks will be one of my frequent destination after moving in Cagayan de Oro City but it turned out the other way around. We moved in in April last year and it was only last week that I have set my feet on SB Lim Ket Kai's doorsteps again.

Thanks to my friend Nice for the treat, if it's not for her I would have forgotten that SB existed in LLK area. lol.

So here's what we had on a Rainy Thursday night of January 10, 2013. 

 

 

A cup of hot cappuccino for me while Nice had a frappuccino. And that original glaze donut was an experimental order and we regretted it because it was too dry and tasteless, way too far compared to the original glaze donut of Krispy Kreme.

a share for Food Trip Friday

And by the way I bought a new SB Mug also, another addition to my collection. 

 

Power Transmission Towers

Soaring high across the vast land of Bukidnon, in Central Mindanao are the newly erected towers of the sole power transmission company in the country.

This overhead electric transmission line will soon carry a 230kv Extra High Voltage power across Mindanao.

SkyWatch Friday

Raining Outside

Based on Pag-asa's forecast there is no Tropical Cyclone within the Philippine Area of Responsibility. but as of this writing the rain is heavily pouring outside. 

Anything without cover are all wet just like these leaves.

Water World Wednesday

Hair Dryer + Electric Cork Opener

I received two gifts this Christmas coming from my two closest friends, though we don’t see each other often. I'm so glad they remembered me. winks*

 

Nice gave me a hair dryer and kojic soap,

while Jefer got me an electric cork opener. 

 

 

 

Receiving gifts unexpectedly is such a wonderful feeling. 

Thanks so much. Mwah!

Here's a macro shot of the cork opener for Macro Monday.

By the way the hair dyer is gray and blue perfect for Blue Monday.

Red Rose + Croton Plant

I bought these flowers yesterday from a flower peddler outside the church after attending an early morning mass.

I thought of taking close-up shots of the roses. I did a lot of experiments, looking for a pretty background. Later on I settled with this picture.

A red rose against the yellow and green leaves of croton plants.The color combination is quite pretty right?

Later in the afternoon, these flowers were brought to our angel's resting place.   

Today's Flower

 Monday Mellow Yellows

Ruby Tuesday 2

Clouds Covered Mountains

These are the scenes that we saw while traversing the highway of Bukidnon Province early morning on New Year's Day.

 The mountains were all covered with clouds, just like icing covered cakes. 

 I wonder how the cloud forest in the area looks like, all covered with mosses and the like. I really wish to see them and explore the area.

 

It's amazing to see these beauty of nature still existed in our country after all the destructions done by people who don't realize the importance of these mountains in our lives, in our environment in our children's future.

SkyWatch Friday

First Phone Shot

This was the first photo taken from my smartphone. I was trying the camera features before buying the unit.
After scrutinizing I brought home with me the Samsung Galaxy S2 White.

 Samsung Galaxy S3 was also released that time but my budget was only up to the lower model.

Joining Signs, Signs for the first time.

Watery Vinca Flowers

This is an overdue post, supposedly posted after Christmas but because of the holiday hangover and last minute rush I wasn't able to. Anyway, it's better late that never. 

I'm sharing to you these water drenched vinca flowers in our frontyard, taken on early morning of Christmas Day. Yep! It rained that time because of the Low Pressure Area cruising in the southern part on Mindanao, Philippines. 

Flowers, leaves are beautiful sights especially when they are watery because of the rain.

My 2013 first share for Water World Wednesday hosted by Ate Kim and Wednesday Whites by Raya.

Dainty Asters

Asters are perennial plants also known as starworts or Michaelmas daisies. The aster is derived from Greek word that means star. They are dainty flowers that continuously give brilliance in every garden.

Accordingly it is very easy to grow, I think I might try planting them on our front yard. :)

I've seen these little pretties at Kibawe, Bukidnon, we went there last month for a random drug testing required by the company that I worked for .

I couldn't ignore these flowers smiling at me so I took a snap using my mobile phone.  I should have brought my DSLR with me, I would have a nice focus then, but unfortunately I left it at home. 

Today's Flower

Macro Monday

Monday Mellow Yellows

Prawns and Ham for Christmas

Christmas 2012 is a wonderful day for me, my husband and our 2-year old son because we're able to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ together as one family.

Aside from the spaghetti, pork chop and mango float these two dishes were the stars of our noche buena table.

Prawns

My favorite prawn cooked with butter, sprite and a little seasonings.

 And the star of noche buena Purefoods Fiesta Ham, that our company had given us from Christmas aside from the gift baskets. 

I don't have an oven, so I simply re-cooked this ham with pineapple juice and pineapple chunks.

We had a very simple feast for Christmas. And I should congratulate myself too for personally preparing them, which I seldom do. lol..

Happy Food Trip Friday!

Food Trip Fridays shares will posted here from now on.. :)

Looking Up the New Year's Sky

Our year ended sadly because my father-in-law was hospitalized two days before the new year, and is still in the hospital right now. My husband has to stay at the hospital with his father, while my 2 year old son and I had to check-in in a local inn/apartelle with my sister-in-law and his 2 year old son also. We have no "media noche" this time but still Ate Aida and I waited for the year 2012 to end and Welcome 2013 by looking up the sky and appreciating the fireworks released by the people of Malaybalay Bukidnon.

While watching those different colors bursting in the sky were hoping and praying for the fast recovery of our patient. And at the same time wishing, hoping and praying also that 2013 will be a better year for all of us.

Happy New Year Everyone!

SkyWatch Friday