In case some people read news about a conflict in the Philippines, ...

The affected Island is in the south of the Philippine Archipelago, far away from the capital of Manila, Bohol, Cebu and all other tourist islands and areas!

This is the only place in the Philippines where since years there is a travel advisor to avoid going there.

Coming back after our spearfishing trip to Palawan I did some spearfishing here in Cebu. And i was surprised. Some of the fish i saw and caught were even bigger than in Palawan. I focus now more and more on hunting Pelagic fishes. The last month we even had enough fish to invite friends and guests for fish parties! The new Trygon speargun really kicks ass!

Spanish Mackerel, Tuna and don't mention the small red fish, it was a casualty ;-)

One of the highlights of our Negros trip was Mambukal Mountain Resort.

Hot pools, waterfalls, wildlife, boiling mud (!), a yeary Mudpack Festival and ....

... The Slide of Life

Nearby the Mountain Resort we visited an unspoiled Waterfall

  Local kids climbing white mountain

Local Inhabitant climbing a coconut tree

The Ferry going back to Cebu wasn't really meant to transport vehicles.

Back to the Island of Cebu again

As soon as you discover that its nearly impossible to get processed food without sugar in the Philippines you realize that you are in "Sugar Country"!

And the capitol is Negros. Sugar cane all over the island.

Sugar cane harvest

Historical machine used for crushing sugar cane

Most famous Candy Producers in Negros: Bong Bong's

Church in the city of Bacolod

My first cock fight.

Going by boat to hidden caves

In the cave

Herbert Nitsch was here again. This time he brought Alex

owner of http://www.trygons.com. He produces carbon Fibre Spearguns, Camera Housings, ... and he is a very experienced spearfisher.

Just to be sure some facts again:

- Every fish we spear, we eat!

- Spearfishing has no bycatch at all!

- Spearfishing is the most highly selective fishing method of all fishing methods!

The two of them together with Chris and myself were 4 freedivers on a scuba spearfishing trip to palawan.

The trip was fun, but the amount and size of fish we go was very small. Dynamite fishing is a big thread here in the Philippines, and some of the reefs have 80% less corals than last year!

Myself Open Water Hunting

Myself and Chris with our catch of the day

Herbert

Off all divers (including the scuba divers) Herbert was the most successfull one.

3 Tuna (8-12kg), GT, ...

THX to Bing who really did a great job organising the trip!

Only one complaint: Where are the really BIG fish? ;-)

Low season: time for a small vacation to the neighboring island of NEGROS.

"Tigerlilly"

Ferry to Negros

Captain Jasmin

Queen of the rocks

Local kid with his boat

Twin Lakes

Traffic ahead

A NICE SMALL "PHOTOSTORY"

First time karting for my girlfriend.

Sad news: J.R. the streetchild we tried to help, ran away from the orphanage again.

:-(

Some amazing and very rare underwater creatures - All Pictures taken in Moalboal by a guest of our resort

Pygm Seahorse - In the middle of the picture

Ornate Ghostpipefish

Fingered Dragonet (?) - Pay close attention to the bright blue spots in the face - no photoshop

and my favourite

Spanish Dancer

BLOG Entry by my girlfriend Jasmin Roa.

----------------------------------------------------------

Last February 2008 was the first time I met Jay-R, a street child hanging all around downtown begging for coins and food. He was sleeping in the corner outside of a fast food restaurant.

Passing near him I’ve noticed that he was crying. I came close and asked him some questions but he remained quiet and continued sobbing. I handed him food, watched him eating but still no reply from him.

After 2 months I saw him on that same corner sleeping again. Beside him was an empty can for coins. Noticing he had a burn on his right foot, I was shaking him to wake him up but it took some time before he woke up.

He recognized me and he smiled to me so when I asked for his name he replied right away.

His name was Jay-R, but he couldn’t tell his age and birthday. He ran away from home and according to him he was physically abused by his alcoholic father and that was the reason which forced him to leave his family.

He had a big inflammation on his right foot, somebody burned his foot by the use of a lighter while he was asleep but he never knew those kids who fooled at him.

I called up Wolfgang that I found the boy again and that I wanted to help him. We bought him food while we’re discussing on how we could help him in the long run.

We decided to bring him to the Hospital for treatment and then to an Orphanage.

Taxi ride

He was the center of attraction in the ER.

Checking his weight

The doctor is giving him a first aid.

Afterwards we brought him to the Orpahanage (institution for the homeless children).

Jay-R after his shower and we bought him new clothes.

Jasmin and Jay-R and some of the other 29 abandoned children.

The Orphanage is run by the Cebu City Mayor’s wife. It’s huge, clean, with enough personnel to take care of the kids. They even have TV and DVD player so we bought him a Cartoons DVD. One of the Personnel told us that Jay-R was already at their place but some of the kids convinced him to go back to the street again.

We visited him 2 times already and we hope he is still there on our next visit.

Some random pictures of animals i made during the last 2 months.

you have a tough life as a dog if your owner likes paintball.

Martha - not for cock fighting. not for eating. just a pet. lucky.

only the strong survive

How to transport a goat with a motorbike.

Saltwater Crocodile - that's the one you don't wanna see while swimming in the sea (only in the southern part of the philippines)

Python

Tarsier Monkey - one of the smallest monkeys.

And this little Caterpillar was already on a recent block. But it just looks awesome.

Herbert Nitsch (World Record Freediver) was in the Philippines again.

Hunting Vacation in and around Cebu City. ;-)

And in the water he got the biggest fish of all of us again.

Giant Trevally

Spanish Makerel - and Lapu Lapu's - all Herberts catch

 Afternoon sleep - Herbert

  And - Christoph

Despite lots of work i was able to join Herbert and Christoph on some of their trips.

Erwin and Beatrix from Vienna came to spend their vacation in Club Serena, my workplace.

Erwin, Beatrix from Austria

7th of February - Chinese New Year - Kong Hei Fat Choi (=Happy New Year)

Tourist Guide Jasmin Roa showing us the Taoist Temple in Cebu City

small Beatrix floating in the big Kawasan canyon

The survivors team

last coffee before going home

thx for a nice time.

maybe we see each other again next time.

by the way: Erwin dove down to 32m (100ft) in his first freediving training.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Tuesday 22.1

NEW TIME 18:00-20:00   -   START PRESENTATION 18:30

Ra'mien Bar - Gumpendorferstrasse 9 - 1060 wien - Tel.: +431 585 47 98

MAP

P.S.: They have a very good kitchen!

After being abroad for more than a year i am in Austria visiting family and friends

from January 16 to January 30, 2008.

Like 2006 (Morocco) I will do a nice presentation with pictures and videos.

"Living and Diving in the Philippines"

Date: 22.1.2008

Time: 18:30

Start of Presentation: 19:00

Place: Vienna

Exact location to be announced within the next 4 days.

Choices so far: Cafe Drechsler, Ramien Bar, ... any other suggestions?

Hope to see you there

Wolfgang

2 Advanced Students of mine visited Palau in Micronesia, and send me this picture.

Lots of nice memories about the last year came up,...