DAILY PHOTO: Man Made Forest of Bohol

Taken in December of 2017 on Bohol

This stand of trees covers a couple of kilometers of roadway in thick mahogany forest. It’s noticeable in that it seems out-of-place, and because the trees are of preternaturally uniform size. Apparently, the natural growth was destroyed and they planted the mahogany trees for something new. The forest is in the area of the villages of Bilar and Loboc on Bohol Island along the drive to one of the Tarsier sanctuaries and the Chocolate Hills.

 

There were lots of these crawlers present.

DAILY PHOTO: Scenes from Manila’s Chinatown

Taken in December of 2017 in Manila

 

Manila’s Chinatown, dating to 1594, is said to be the world’s oldest Chinatown. It was a neighborhood set aside for Chinese Catholics across the Pasig River from the Intramuros (the fortified part of the city controlled by the Spaniards.) Chinese trade activity in the city pre-dated Spanish colonial rule, but the Spanish facilitated the Chinatown so they could keep an eye on immigrants. Chinatown is locally known as Binondo.

 

This is how one tells a Chinatown fire truck from those of other precincts

 

Market stall selling New Year’s themed produce

 

Fu lion

 

DAILY PHOTO: Low Tide at Panagsama Beach

Taken in December at Panagsama Beach near Moalboal

DAILY PHOTO: Stairs and Pagoda at Cebu Taoist Temple

Taken in December of 2017 in Cebu City

DAILY PHOTO: Alona Beach

Taken in December of 2017 at Alona Beach on Panglao Island

 

DAILY PHOTO: Chocolate Hills of Bohol

Taken in December of 2017 on Bohol Island

 

It wasn’t dry enough to see them in their full chocolatey brown glory, but these conical limestone hills are pretty wild nevertheless.

DAILY PHOTO: Manila Cathedral

Taken in December of 2017 in Manila

Also known as “The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.”
 

DAILY PHOTO: Saint Against the Sea

Taken in Oslob in December of 2017

 

 

OK, he wasn’t really a saint, that was alliterative poetic licence. He was a priest named Father Julian Bermejo, and he is celebrated for his role in having baluartes (watch towers) built to warn Cebuano residents of threats from both nature and pirates.

DAILY PHOTO: Siquijor Sunset

Taken in December of 2017 on Siquijor in the Philippines

DAILY PHOTO: Tarsiers

Taken on Bohol in December of 2017

Tarsiers may be the product of a five-way orgy between an owl (eyes), a bat (ears), a frog (hands), a rat (tail), and a monkey (body), but they’re still pretty cute.