Back for Another Visit

There is an area of town where people, much younger than myself, go to hang out, eat, see movies and shop. It feels like it could be around any inner city university. The shops are full of trendy clothes, the music flows out onto the streets and everyone’s main purpose is just to hang out with friends. For a photographer it makes for a vibrant and action-filled backdrop. If you are looking for this area just head southwest out of the main station and across Chungwa Rd.

A little graffiti to brighten up the place.

A little more color

A man collecting recyclable goods

My friend Mike brought me here a few months ago and it was time for another visit

Forkers makes a Good Burger

Life is back to normal after a very hectic couple of months. At one point I was away for 27 out of 32 days. That’s way too long to be away from home. Laura and I have have been getting around town and trying some new restaurants. A couple weeks ago Laura took me out to a place that she visited with a friend while I was in the states. Forkers is downtown among the thousands of other restaurants, but this one stands out for its great burgers. The owner has put a variety of different burgers and sides on the menu and from the small sampling we’ve had so far it’s worth a return visit.

A view out of the front window of Forkers.

This is probably what everyone wants to see, the burgers and fries with poutine sauce.

Lankayan Island Turtle Hatchery

Lankayan Island is a small part of a 100,000 acre marine sanctuary. One of the most interesting sights on the island was the turtle hatchery. Here they took care of 100’s of eggs that were laid by nesting sea turtles. We were lucky enough to see two turtles nesting during our stay. If a turtle was seen nesting it was lights out and everyone had to maintain silence so that the nesting turtle would not be scared and turn away.

A nesting hawksbill turtle at about 10PM

A batch of 114 hawksbill turtles ready for release

After finding a suitable spot for laying the eggs she would begin a several hour process of laying about 150 eggs. During that time guests were allowed to approach and take photographs and observe. After the nesting was complete and the mother returned to sea the eggs were collected and placed into a hatchery where they could be protected from predators.

…and the race is on!

Their instincts were amazing. Every single one raced for the water.

After the incubation period the babies were collected and release back into the ocean where they’d spend the rest of their lives. One of the most exciting parts of the turtle life cycle was seeing 114 (out of a batch of 140 eggs) baby turtles being released and dashing for the sea. Seeing 114 little turtles dashing toward the sea and then watching all of their little heads bobbing up and down in the waves was sight I’ll never forget.

This was quite a sight.

Lankayan Experience – Part II Under the Sulu Sea

I was a very bad husband and missed our anniversary and all I could do was come up with this message.

Lankayan sits in the southeast corner of the Sulu Sea. The waters just off the beach are probably in the upper 80’s.  Even at 65 feet below the surface the water is still 84 degrees. Visibility was sometimes poor at the surface, but often cleared up around 50 feet.

A sleeping white tipped reef shark and a blue spotted stingray. All the shark sightings were fun. We saw nurse sharks, black tipped reef sharks, white tipped reef sharks and leopard sharks.

Dives were always within 10 minutes of the island via a quick speedboat ride. The resort offered three boat dives each day and unlimited shore dives. Although it was tempting to make dives around the house reef, I was almost always too tired to make the additional dives with one exception. We made one sunset/night dive that was highlighted by the sighting of a seahorse. Night dives are fun because you often go down at dusk and then surface under a starlit sky. The brightness of the stars always seem exaggerated because your eyes have adjusted to the darkness of the water.

Some type of sea worm?

The poisonous lion fish

The star of the night dive, a lone seahorse. The story behind this seahorse is that I’ve always wanted to see one and I told everyone on the dive that if they could show me a seahorse I’d buy ice cream for everyone in the group. It was worth it.

Getting ready for another dive

Another type of seaworm?

Ghost pipefish

McGill having another good dive

One of hundreds of types of coral

A couple of clownfish hanging out at home

Bill surfacing after a night dive. It’s pretty dark out there.

I should say that I’m terrible at identifying sea life so if you notice any incorrect identification please let me know.

Lankayan Experience – Part I

You know life is going to be good when this is the walk from the boat to the island.

This looks like an island you’d see if you were given a pencil and paper and someone asked you to draw a perfect tropical island. It’s small, about 10 acres total and takes about 20 minutes to walk around, if you go slowly.

Here’s the view you’re greeted with each morning.

This little sandbar sticks out on the north end of the island.

The room we are in is at one end of the island near a white sandbar that sticks out into the perfectly clear water. If you are standing in the room and you walk 10 steps out the front door you’d be in the water. If you were standing in the room and you walked 15 steps out of the back door you’d be in the water. You may not even notice you’re in the water, because it’s about the same temperature as the air, 85 degrees.

All this tropical air and beauty makes you act a little strange.

Lankayan Island is ringed by a white sand beach made of broken coral and shells. Some of the sand is so fine that it feels like you’re walking on powdered sugar. If you wanted, you could go the entire time without ever putting on shoes or sandals, in fact it’s best if you stay barefoot. It’s just another way to enjoy this paradise. Before you enter any of the buildings there’s a small tub filled with cool water to dip your feet and rinse off the sand.

The staff is cooking up some calamari and tuna steaks.

Dinner is always better with friends.

The stay here was a treat for all five senses. You see an islanded ringed with white sand and crystal clear water, you hear the waves gently hitting the beach, you touch the powder white sand with your feet, you taste the delicious food the cooks prepare for each meal and you smell the unspoiled breeze that continuously blows in.