A Day in Badiangan in Ajuy, Iloilo

Mountains meet the sea and the clouds

    26th December was declared as an additional special non-working holiday and Ajuy Municipality decided to visit a remote baranggay, located in a mountainous area of the municipality. 

 My SO works there so he invited me to come. I was also in my Christmas break vacation, so why not. Four of us, the two other ladies from his department were at the back of the pickup. BTW, props to the driver for his driving skills, the way he navigated the slippery slopes and narrow roads at the edge of the mountain. 

One of the reason I went with them was to take photos. The photo above gave little to no justice to the wonderful view. In my defense, I took most of the photos at the back of a twerking truck.   

There's a hidden river down there.

Some sides of the mountains were cleared up for corn plantations.

Lush mountain

Beyond is the sea. It was too bright and I couldn't focus the camera well, but the sea was crystal blue against the verdant forest.

All geared up. Just another normal sunny day in the Philippines.

No, take that photo.

The Mayor chilling with his peeps. Never expected he stayed in the entire event. 

The mayor saying something, maybe funny. I wasn't able to take photos of children doing "Mano" to him. He was nice and spoke gently.

Mountain Doggo (Picture cos doggo )

Mountain doggo (Picture cos doggo )

Handsome doggo (Picture cos doggo) 

One tree apart, say the buffaloes

This is where the truck twerks

Rolling green knolls

The valleys

So many slippahs!

Kiddo be like, "Look at my slippahs!"

Where's Waldo

Where's Waldo Part 2

 

 

 

Lantern Festival or Loy Krathong, Thailand

 

My 20 baht Krathong

I was taking photos of people lighting their Krathongs when I noticed Beebee, my student, with her grandma.

Beebee, her grandma, and I. She made her own Krathong.

That one expensive Krathong.

Lighted Krathongs floating down the river. It is said that when it doesn't sink, your wish will come true.

Lovers would come, pray, make a wish, and float a Krathong together.

Krathongs for sale.

A boy lighting his edible Krathong. Good for the environment.

A Day in a Town in Thailand: Wan Ok Phansa

Wan Ok Phansa literally means day of going of "Vassa." Vassa is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists. Wan Ok Pahnsa is the last day of the observance of the Thai-Lao observance of Vassa.

There are different ceremonies observed around Thailand. But here in a small town in Klaeng, Rayong, they celebrated it by a procession of Thai dancers, girls and boys wearing traditional costumes, and people lining up by the streets to watch the show and give offerings to the monks.

 

A novice monk receiving offers from people.

Street dancing ladies. They looked hot and tired yet they still danced until the very end

of the procession.

 

Literally a money tree.

 

Boys in Thai costume, holding pans to receive offers for the temple.

 

A girl receiving offers for the temple.

 

This boy did the heavy lifting of playing the music. He's playing a

traditional music using a Thai musical instrument.

 

People paying respect (some are kneeling and doing the wai) while some 

offered moneys and flowers.

 

A girl receiving offers for the temple.

 

A tattooed novice monk.

 

Grandmas ready their rice offerings.

 

Picture because doggo.

 

A little girl giving her best under the intense heat.

 

Tired participants

Girls being girls.