Bass Fishing As A Boy

When I was growing up, I really enjoyed going fishing. For a few years, I lived out in the country and we had a pond that had great fishing in it. 

One day when I was in the fifth grade, I couldn't find my cousins but I wanted to go fishing. Off I went to the pond any way. I caught some minows and set off to go fishing.

I caught 7 bass that day. My mother cocked them up tha night and I bet they were the best tasting fish I ever had. haha

Often my cousins and I caught a lot of bream out of that pound. Sometimes when the fish just wouldn't bite, we'd strip off our clothes and jump in the pond and go swimming.

That was a good period of my life. I miss those days. I wish we had never moved away from that home out in the country. I was a regular Huckle Berry Fin. Really had great times living out there with my cousin David.

Beautiful Philippine Sunsets

When the sun sets in the evening or when it rises in the morning it is beautiful in many parts of the world. The Philippines however provides for many spectacular sunsets. Bantayan island may be the best place on earth to witness beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

I've visited Bantayan Island less than 10 times and the sunsets and sunrises there are often breath taking in those few visits. I can only conclude at this point that it is a regular occurrence as I have seen so many in a few visits. True, I've been there more than most Westerners. That is made possible because I live close. I can visit and return in the same day.

However, we also have many golden sunsets similiar to those in Bantayan in my small city in the Philippines. If you'd like to see some of those, please visit this link.

Medical Treatment in Cebu City

As an expat blogger living in the Philippines, I get a lot of questions about medical treatment in the Philippines.

This week I went to Cebu City to see my doctor and I wrote about my trip on my blog.

As usual, I took a bus to the city from my home that lies on the edge of jungle in Nothern Cebu province.

Bus trips are not as hard to make as they use to be as there are many buses with air conditioning now. They bus drivers also don't race each other up and down the high way any more. 

It is a scenic trip and if you want to make it more interesting, take a bus without air conditioning. There might even be a rooster or two on board.

Dollar To Philippine Peso After The Downgrade

It has been almost two months since S and P downgraded the USA's credit rating and since the politicians tried to kill it with the debt disaster. Ironically, when S and P downgraded the dollar investors reacted by borrowing money from the US Government.

While I never would have predicted that then it served as a major learning opportunity for me. When the markets are confused as they were after the downgrade, investors turn to the dollar. Why do they do that because the dollar is stability. It is safe and is the backbone of the world economy.

The downgrade was a ploy for publicity and is unforgivable.

So what has the dollar done since then, well it has gone up. There are several reasons for that but it is in part because of the downgrade.  Read More.

Ogtong Cave Resort Review

I've read many less than stellar reviews of Ogtong Cave Resort located on Bantayan Island. I don't get it. Ogtong Cave Resort is very nice. Perhaps it is a little over priced but not excecessively so. If you want a cheaper place on Bantayan, you can certainly find that. Ogtong is probably the most expensive of all the Bantayan Island resorts.

I found it to be a nice place to stay and wrote a full review of Ogtong Cave Resort here.

You can check out my pictures of Bantayan Island on Facebook too.

This is the third resort I've stayed at on Bantayan because I usually travel on a budget. For me that means Tristan's Beach Resort. Now I do think Tristan's has better food and their service comes with a warm personal touch. The owner of Tristan's is about to retire and she will be renting out her resort to some new managers. I hope they don't change it a lot. I hope the cook is staying!

Ogtong has a nice cave but that alone isn't really worth staying at the resort for. Where Ogtong excells are the rooms and the view. It captures the sererene atompshere of what Bantayan Island is all about.

Bantayan is a place for relaxation. During most of times of the year it is quite and there are not a lot of tourist. You will often have the beach to yourself or perhaps a few locals harvesting various things from the Visyayan Sea.

 

Dollar to Philippine Peso is Trading Over 43

Despite S and P attempt to kill the dollar it continues to show signs of strength. In fact, even the downgrade by S and P caused the value of the dollar to rise. What did investors do in this uncertainty? They borrowed from the US Government, the downgrade caused investors to retreat to safety and safe is the US Dollar!

I hear people proclaiming the demise of the dollar and the doom of the USA. These people are usually selling a book or program to help you make a million dollars from the prophized doom. I call these the profits of doom!

For about a week now the dollar has been trading above 43 to the Philippines peso. Is the end of the decline of the dollar over for a while? I'm beginning to hope that it is. I'm not willing to say that it is, just hope..

To read more about my thoughts on the dollar to Philippines peso visit this link.

Live In The Philippines And Take Awesome Pictures

I love living in the Philippines. The other day it hit me that one thing I like about it is that provides for a never ending backdrop for amazing pictures.

I recently bought a used DSLR and have been learning how to use it, slowely.

I've used a SLR before, I've had one since high school but for the last several years I've been using nothing but point and shoot cameras. I've forgotten so much.

I'm looking forward to getting back into it and have been getting reaquainting myself with the golden mean and the rule of thirds. Digital editing really makes it easy to apply thirds to photographs. I've seen dramatic results after a quick review.

My pictures are already looking much better.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Since I've been living in the Philippines I've taken over 10,000 pictures. I took over 1000 just last week!

I'm trying ot et out a bit more and from behind this computer. With 1000 pictures of Bantayan Island to process though I may never get out of the door again! :)

I will, maybe today. I need to make a trip to the public market. The public market provides many oppurtunties for awesome pictures!  I'm a little bit shy, which surprised most people. I have to get over that so I can get the best pictures out there.

I wrote a full story about the things I like to photograph in the Philippines. I'd really like to see you're pictures too. Tell me where they are so I can go see them. :)