from one paradise to another

I am showing pictures from my favorite spots from our recent travels. The Philippines wasn't our greatest venture, but I received some wonderful insights which triggered inspiration and excitement for new work to create. The rice fields above are like a quilted pattern; immensely beautiful with subtle colors. This is in the northern part of Luzon, in a small town called Sagada. Every morning at 4:30am, the church bells would ring loudly for mass. Ninety percent of Filipinos are Catholic. We met some lovely villagers one day and Ken and I had a magical moment of a ride in a jeepney (the standard mode of vehicle which is like a long wagon) with some of the elders all adorned with original headdresses and regalia from their regional tribe. Priceless.

I discovered that I love to leave a place and get onto the next destination. We bring our pack backs and go pretty light; although possessions get heavier as time passes. This is me at a bus station in Baguio, located in the northern area of Luzon. Bus rides were very rocky; lots of winding up steep inclines and dizzying sights from below. You were in deep denial most of the time or looked the other way. Both ways worked! Bus rides were L-O-N-G; sometimes close to 8 hours long.

This is an underwater shot that Ken took. I love it because is looks like an abstract surreal fabric print. We loved island hopping. You needed to rent a banka (a flat light weight motored craft with extended rudders on each side) for the day (which cost around 40 bucks) and you went from one place to another, snorkeling, looking at the wondrous shell life to soaking up the sun. It never got too immensely hot on the islands. It is the cool time in December. I never got too tired of the water, which relaxed me and soothed my soul. We picked up some beautiful shells to add to our collection. This shot was taken on Palawan Island, on the Sulu Sea.

And lastly, we spent some time in a colonial Spanish town called Vigan. Around town you would come across these wooden religious icon figures. I loved these painted reliefs and this place inspired me to work at some carvings for my next projects. I have in mind to make abstract wooden figures and adorn them with the shells, trinkets and curios that I picked up. Stay tuned.