May 1,2010 Saturday
I woke up as usual at 7 am, ate breakfast, took a quick shower and prepared some things I usually take with me when going to the beach like sunblock lotion, my rash guard, etc. Then went to the city to meet my nephew and niece and ate lunch early at Shakey's Pizza.
Our dive instructor arrived earlier than us at the dive resort where we agreed to meet. Whew, scorching hot at 1:25 p.m. As the dive assistants were preparing the gears, we the dive students were also busy struggling to wear the wet suits and fins. My fins on the other hand were one size larger than the fins (full type) I used two Saturdays ago. Luckily I was wearing my beach shoes so I wore the full type fins with my beach shoes and it work pretty well.
While we were already a few meters away from the dock where we started, and the depth was almost 30 feet deep I started to feel my throat dry due to the oxygen. I wanted to swallow saliva but since I was underwater that would be impossible. So, I signal the assistant dive master that I would like to surface and immediately inflated my buoyancy control device not realizing the danger I would possibly encounter like sudden change of pressure or speeding motor boats, jet ski or any other passing ocean vessel.
The assistant dive master took me ashore when he realized I was almost carried by the current farther away from the site where we started the dive. I thank the Lord that He gave me an angel to keep me from harms way in the form of a human being like the dive assistant. I also thank our dive instructor, Jensen Hoffman for always being patient with us if we forget the skills he has been teaching us.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Fun Sights in Bohol
Have you ever been to Bohol? You will miss 1 half of your life if you keep on postponing your scheduled vacation in going to this wonderful island. You like white beaches, don't you? If you are fond of swimming, snorkeling or going for a dive to witness live dolphins and whales then you might consider going to Bohol with your family on your next vacation.
The last time we were there, we saw school of dolphins following the motor boat when we crossed the channel on our way to Balicasag Island. The sea surrounding this small island is also a marine sanctuary like Sumilon Island in Cebu. It was my first day to learn how to use the snorkel, I enjoyed very much the colorful scenes I saw underwater even if I was only seeing the various types of fishes, corals and urchins from above the water ( I was snorkeling, remember).
I can't swim very well but with life vest on, I was not afraid to jump from the boat and made a very big splash.
The day before we crossed to Balicasag Island, we went briefly to Chocolate Hills, I bet you have heard of these clusters of brown colored hills. Viewing from one of the top of the hills, a sea of clustered brown hills will meet your eyes. I would say this is really a Godly wonder because it is not made by the hands of men. But in order to view the clusters, the local government has to develop a hill and made it the viewing site for tourists and locals, complete with a restaurant and souvenir shops.
Thursday, April 15 is the deadline for filing Annual Income Tax. I have just come from SM City to run an urgent errand before going to the office of BIR, I have already paid our annual income tax 4 days before deadline using the EFPS. But I still need to submit the 1702 form printed directly from the computer and submit the copy to the BIR office. It was scorching hot when I walked towards the office, must be 34 degrees C. And when I was on my way up, a woman came down the steps grumbling and saying to herself, "how can we pay our taxes if there are no lights, why can't they prepare for something like this ...blah, blah, blah". So, there is brownout and that means there are still many taxpayers waiting for their turn to be served. Lucky for me, I don't wait for deadlines to pay our dues. I hate having to wait in a queue and hearing people grumble and complaining for all the delays.
So instead of waiting, I went to Gaisano, a department store nearby to send fax to Robina corp in Cagayan de Oro. But I was pissed off because the fax did not go through because the office where I sent the fax copy ran out of thermal paper. And then when I called back to notify the clerk, the woman on the other end just told me simply to call back 1 hour after. Does she not realize that long distance call is expensive? So, I just told myself to calm down or else I may cause a scene if I freak out. I don't want to call anybody's attention and make a scene.
On the other hand, I am excited for Saturday is near and it is my first day to learn diving, just the basic though. It might only be theories, lectures and orientation on how to use the scuba gears such as oxygen and mask. I hope we will not encounter sharks, or any harmful sea creatures when we will be in the open sea.
The last time we were there, we saw school of dolphins following the motor boat when we crossed the channel on our way to Balicasag Island. The sea surrounding this small island is also a marine sanctuary like Sumilon Island in Cebu. It was my first day to learn how to use the snorkel, I enjoyed very much the colorful scenes I saw underwater even if I was only seeing the various types of fishes, corals and urchins from above the water ( I was snorkeling, remember).
I can't swim very well but with life vest on, I was not afraid to jump from the boat and made a very big splash.
The day before we crossed to Balicasag Island, we went briefly to Chocolate Hills, I bet you have heard of these clusters of brown colored hills. Viewing from one of the top of the hills, a sea of clustered brown hills will meet your eyes. I would say this is really a Godly wonder because it is not made by the hands of men. But in order to view the clusters, the local government has to develop a hill and made it the viewing site for tourists and locals, complete with a restaurant and souvenir shops.
Thursday, April 15 is the deadline for filing Annual Income Tax. I have just come from SM City to run an urgent errand before going to the office of BIR, I have already paid our annual income tax 4 days before deadline using the EFPS. But I still need to submit the 1702 form printed directly from the computer and submit the copy to the BIR office. It was scorching hot when I walked towards the office, must be 34 degrees C. And when I was on my way up, a woman came down the steps grumbling and saying to herself, "how can we pay our taxes if there are no lights, why can't they prepare for something like this ...blah, blah, blah". So, there is brownout and that means there are still many taxpayers waiting for their turn to be served. Lucky for me, I don't wait for deadlines to pay our dues. I hate having to wait in a queue and hearing people grumble and complaining for all the delays.
So instead of waiting, I went to Gaisano, a department store nearby to send fax to Robina corp in Cagayan de Oro. But I was pissed off because the fax did not go through because the office where I sent the fax copy ran out of thermal paper. And then when I called back to notify the clerk, the woman on the other end just told me simply to call back 1 hour after. Does she not realize that long distance call is expensive? So, I just told myself to calm down or else I may cause a scene if I freak out. I don't want to call anybody's attention and make a scene.
On the other hand, I am excited for Saturday is near and it is my first day to learn diving, just the basic though. It might only be theories, lectures and orientation on how to use the scuba gears such as oxygen and mask. I hope we will not encounter sharks, or any harmful sea creatures when we will be in the open sea.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Cebu: Queen City of the South
Cebu, the well known "Queen City of the South" is in the center of the Philippine archipelago. It is surrounded by bigger islands, to the west is Negros, Leyte and Bohol to the west.
Mactan, a small island northwest of the main island is the tourist capital of Cebu. There are several 4 and 5 stars hotel surrounding the island because of white beaches, and also famous for dive sites. There is also a smaller island called Olango. It has also become a marine and bird sanctuary. So, I don't wonder why many foreign tourists choose to spend their vacations here in these island resorts.
Just recently, me and my family spent our easter weekend in the southern part of Cebu. We rented rooms for an overnight stay in Divemaster Resort. And early the next morning, we crossed a channel in a pump boat and went to Sumilon Island, once there we enjoyed snorkeling and saw colorful fishes and corals.
We had pizza for lunch in a Filipino style castle in Argao, Cebu which is built with stones and rocks.
Mactan, a small island northwest of the main island is the tourist capital of Cebu. There are several 4 and 5 stars hotel surrounding the island because of white beaches, and also famous for dive sites. There is also a smaller island called Olango. It has also become a marine and bird sanctuary. So, I don't wonder why many foreign tourists choose to spend their vacations here in these island resorts.
Just recently, me and my family spent our easter weekend in the southern part of Cebu. We rented rooms for an overnight stay in Divemaster Resort. And early the next morning, we crossed a channel in a pump boat and went to Sumilon Island, once there we enjoyed snorkeling and saw colorful fishes and corals.
We had pizza for lunch in a Filipino style castle in Argao, Cebu which is built with stones and rocks.
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