Monday, March 5, 2012

Weekend at Melaka - Part 7: The River

The Melaka River is a navigable body of water that exits unto the Strait of Malacca, which is between the Malaysian Peninsula and Indonesia's Sumatra. The river is clean and, unlike Manila's Pasig River, does not stink. We were unable to take the river ferry tour that started and ended from the terminal near the Casa Del Rio and beside the Maritime Museum but judging from the many tourists taking the tour and the reviews online, it is something that we should try on our next trip to Melaka.

River ferries for tourists
Calm waters in the early morning
Posing at the bridge to central Melaka with part of Christ Church in the background (red building)

The view from the bridge
Houses and commercial establishments along the river
Side street between rows of houses - a peek at a typical neighborhood in a heritage city that is so alive

A confusion of signposts and other installations?
Promenade along a row of bars and restaurants on the east bank of the river
The promenade has two levels - one along the buildings (left), and another lower and probably used by people using it as a dock for river transport. There are plants to provide accent and there are lamps to provide ample illumination at night.
More houses along the west bank of the river. I assume the property prices along this row is quite high given the value of the land is influenced by the good environment and its proximity to the heritage attractions of Melaka.
Posing along the promenade of the river
Take 2 along the promenade
The Clairvoyant also got a souvenir shot along the promenade
With the bridge in the background, we noted the dock for small boats (perhaps bancas?)
My turn
Where passengers of small craft probably used to board and alight from their version of bancas...
This tree beside the bridge had a curious form
Old buildings housing an inn and a few bars/restaurants

Old buildings along the river and near the bridge
The Casa del Rio from across the river - the hotel is an old warehouse that was renovated and remodeled into perhaps the best hotel in the city
Walking along the east bank promenade that is also currently being developed, the sun was up and bright that morning so the shades were essential. Yes, that's a giant waterwheel in the background.
It felt uncomfortable for me to wear my sunglasses so I decided against using them for the photo ops
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Sunday, March 4, 2012

Intro to Summer: "Beaching" in Bohol - 2

A few more photos from our 2009 trip to Bohol will show just how beautiful our natural resources are. We are already looking forward to our next trip to Bohol during the break.

Pristine environment in Panglao Island
Early mornings are perfect for taking a dip in the sea.
How clear is the water? Clear enough to see the marine life like this starfish...
The beaches are child-friendly due to the very gradual changes in the depth of the water that makes it possible for one to venture far from the shore without worries of sudden plunges.
Notice there are no waves in the morning? The calm waters are perfect for swimming, snorkeling or just floating around.
The Clairvoyant enjoying the waters off Panglao.
Relaxed breakfast at Bohol Beach Club
Cabanas at the resort
The Bohol Beach Club has nice pools but who needs them with the beach just a stone's throw away?
That's me hiding in the shade of the cabana.
Picture perfect? The best time for photo ops is usually the early mornings when there are few people walking around. Too bad, as they could not take advantage of the low tides and morning sun.
Trellis above the paths to the beachfront rooms.
The one-storey buildings along the beachfront are the choice accommodations aside from the suites with a great view of the sea.
Clairvoyant posing under the trellis and the orchids in front of our room.
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Saturday, March 3, 2012

Intro to Summer: "Beaching" in Bohol - 1

We interrupt the series on Melaka to feature the beaches of Bohol in central Philippines. I was listening to the radio this morning and the DJs were proclaiming the start of summer. And I firmly believe that beaches are definitely more fun in the Philippines! Following are photos from our 2008 trip to Bohol where we stayed at the Bohol Beach Club, perhaps one of the oldest resorts on the island of Panglao, which is connected to the main island via a bridge and causeway.

Who can resist such tempting hammocks along the beach?
Footprints in the sand?
Early morning tides bring sea weed to the beach
The powdery white sands of Panglao rival Boracay's (perhaps the most popular island in the Philippines)
Be sure to bring your goggles if you want to explore further away from the beach
It's the perfect place for an escape from the urban jungle
Leave your worries behind and take a dip in the pristine waters off Panglao Island
Alona Beach in the late afternoon can be quite busy as several resorts and inns share the stretch. Rates are quite inexpensive, translating to a lot of visitors who would probably prefer to shell out more for their dives.
Boats anchored off Alona Beach
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