My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Travel and Adventure

Viewing the Sunset Through an Airplane Window

By on July 31, 2019

Whenever I travel, I prefer the window seat because it gives me the best viewing spot, it’s the best corner that offers a variety of views to savor from beautiful landscapes to a field of greenery, towering mountains and cliff, sunrise and sunset scene and other water forms to name a few..

The best seat that I can enjoy is the window seat, this is the best space to enjoy the constant changing views above and if given a chance, aside from others land forms, you’ll get to witness the sunrise or sunset too, this might be the reasons why most passengers would rather sit in the window seat than the aisle. The small space provides a bit of privacy for relaxing and entertaining without even bothering seatmates, it is a better pick especially if your flight is short. My flight time from Taipei to Manila is just 2 hours, my flight departure from Taoyuan International Airport around 5 PM.  With a flight mode adjustment, I was able to take few pictures done with permission , I was only given 3 minutes to shoot the sky clouds above and luckily, the good timing to shoot the beautiful sunset.

The green sky at night. Green flashes, yellow and orange combination lasted only for a second.

Magnificent Sunset from the Plane Window

Viewing the beauty of the world from a higher altitude, it’s my dream to produce beautiful aerial photography shots. This is a hand held photos with some degree of accuracy but to few, it may be very confusing, certain locations causing just as an approximate details like somewhere around.

Fly with me to experience the changing colors of twilight. This is really interesting, you’ll witness here from the start of sunset till darkness, the beauty from beyond twilight hours..

Sunset from an airplane window, taken on my flight journey from Taipei to Manila.

It was already the start of sunset time, I took this shot one hour after departure.

Blanket of clouds getting thicker and bolder . Sunset colors; the light blue-green flashes with yellow and orange lights about to merge together. Colors of the sunset result from a phenomenon called scattering.

The transition of colors is about to form…

Flying above the flat clouds

Reddish-orange color is about to appear. Reddening of the sun at sunset time.

Shifting sunset colors into a new dimension.

Scattering of light blue colors with yellow sun rays.

Taken halfway between Taipei and Manila. Getting dark slowly. This is a very colorful sunset perhaps the long wavelengths of light that provides variety of colors.

Watching and photographing the passing of time, the romantic colors and the soft glowing of lights is an inspiration to connect with nature.

The sun is about sink below the horizon, leaving mostly blue, yellow, red and orange light remaining. The light is still visible for awhile and complete darkness took place after this last picture.Taking a few minutes to appreciate the skyline, it was a peaceful time for me to see how the day ends on board.

This is a rare opportunity to capture the sunset from an airplane window. I was lucky enough given the chance to experience once in a lifetime activity.

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Gardening/Greenery/Garden Insects | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Rainforest Butterfly House

By on July 26, 2019

Butterflies are one of the most visually stunning and scientifically fascinating insect that can be found on earth, they receive the widespread admiration they deserve. Today, I’m confident that I’ll be able to capture something interesting and I’d be delighted to share the narrative on how I managed to do in here the wonderful world of butterflies.

Considered by many as the most beautiful habitat, Rainforest Butterfly House displayed several species of living butterflies from a garden enclosure. You are free to wander around in this area to admire and engage with different kinds of butterflies. You will also see here all the nectar flowers which is a butterfly favorite but the most interesting part is that you will witness the release of the newly hatched butterfly on their first flight. Butterfly house offers an educational tour with a guide to supply adequate information about butterflies.

This is not my first time to visit this location in fact my last visit here was in October of 2018, a month in which the temperatures are mild and the amount of sunshine and cloud cover in the sky is definitely good in comparison to this year. I’m enjoying a half-day of shooting here.

Rainforest Butterfly House

Butterfly garden is an enclosed butterfly habitat, it is a place that caters to the feeding and housing needs of butterflies at every stage of their lives. It is also a place for guests to watch the insects and engage in educational activities with them.

Butterflies are winged insects that have antennae that are knobbed and wings that are rainbow-colored. When at rest, butterflies hold their wings in an upright position. The most effective pollinators are butterflies, dragonflies and bees.

Components that make up a butterfly

A graphic depicting the anatomy of a butterfly including important parts presented here. Students and researchers alike will view this as of basic importance. I just snapped these photos, you may have noticed that it is a picture that captures the natural clarity of a butterfly as it pollinates a flower.

Feeding the Paper Kite Butterflies

My sister snapped this photo as I strolled around the beautiful behind-the-scenes moments.

Taking in every little bit of time I get to spend with my most beloved pollinator. My spirit is alive by the process of documenting my interactions with the various pollinators that flit around the numerous flowers. I couldn’t wait to get some pictures of them.

Caterpillar Habitat
Monarch and Paper Kite Caterpillars

Raising eggs, caterpillars and butterflies. You can clearly see the life cycle of a butterfly here. (Butterfly photos below)

Newly hatched paper kite butterfly

As the butterflies emerge from their cocoons, I get to witness butterflies maiden flight outside.

Butterfly feeder

What sort of food do butterflies consume? In addition to the nectar of the flowers which is more nutritious for them however, kite butterflies have a preference for sweet fruits such as ripe mangoes, bananas, watermelons to name a few. You’ll find all of the butterflies favorite fruits right here.

At home, we also have our own backyard garden which is frequented in the morning by honeybees, dragonflies, and butterflies but when it rains, we do not have a weatherproof enclosure for the butterflies, it is just a free and natural habitat.

Paper Kite Butterfly

These dazzling insects have a certain endearing quality perhaps, it’s their rainbow of colors or the fact that they serve a useful purpose by pollinating flowers either way, I can’t take my eyes off of them.

Feeding time

Complex and drawn-out process of courtship.

Butterfly mating

Wonderful World of Butterflies

During my recent visit, I was able to capture these beautiful photographs of butterflies. Only three distinct species of butterflies were able to be photographed at this location: a lime butterfly, a golden birdwing butterfly, and a paper kite butterfly. Other species were not present during the time of my visit.

I hope my readers will enjoy viewing these photos and it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way. When I set-up to write about these lovely pollinators to feature here, I just wanted to share a few things. I have already received praises from students and fellow bloggers who love butterflies. Photographing butterflies is a very satisfying hobby and I’m having fun with it. Let’s get started. Happy viewing!

Lime Butterfly

Paper Kite Butterfly

Golden Birdwing Butterfly

Lime Butterfly Gallery

Note: To view images in a larger size, click on them.

Lime Butterfly
Lime Butterfly
Lime Butterfly

The monarch butterfly prefers to feed on sweet fruits such as mangoes, watermelons etc. However, in my garden, in addition to nectar from flowers, monarch butterflies hang from lime trees which bear citrus fruits.

Paper Kite Butterfly Gallery

Note: Click on images to view larger

Paper Kite Butterfly
Paper Kite Butterfly
Paper Kite Butterfly
Paper Kite Butterfly

Golden Birdwing Butterfly Gallery

Note: Click on images to view larger

Golden Birdwing Butterfly
Golden Birdwing Butterfly
Golden Birdwing Butterfly
Golden Birdwing Butterfly
Golden Birdwing Butterfly

Golden Birdwing Butterfly
Golden Birdwing Butterfly

Golden Birdwing Butterfly
Golden Birdwing Butterfly
Golden Birdwing Butterfly

If you are an insect lover like me, you should invite butterflies and bees to your own garden, make your own garden an educational ground and a lovely place to enjoy all the agents of pollination.

The Rainforest Butterfly House is an ideal location for conducting research on butterflies and taking photographs of them. Let us work together to ensure the survival of butterflies by preserving and protecting their habitats.

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Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

30th Sambali Festival 2019

By on July 8, 2019

Every town or city has its annual event, either a religious, cultural, thanksgiving or a celebration of bountiful harvests. Whatever the reason, it serves the purpose of bringing town’s identity to honor our patron saint, heritage of culture and traditions. It is also a reason to get out of our daily and stressful routines to spend some time with friends and family and a hospitable practice to welcome, bond and to unite with relatives and townmates living in a foreign country.

Just like any other festival, Sambali celebrates with a series of performances and beauty pageant. Every year, our town conducts its own beauty pageant as popular inclusions.

Sambali Festival is a religious and cultural revival to commemorate Christianity of the Itawis region. It is a weeklong festival that reflects the daily life, culture, religion and history of Piat. This festival plays a prominent role in Piat’s culture and tourism.

 During the festival, Piat has many fun-filled activities to engage with, including the Entrance of our Lady of Piat, Floral offering, Dance number, Little Miss Piat and Miss Piat Sambali competition, Farmer’s day, Colorful street dancing, Street parade and Marian procession to name a few….

My townmates especially those living and working overseas, I know, it could be very lonely sometimes if you missed to attend this special day but this blog of mine will feature some of the joyful moods of the people and cheerful Sambali activities during the fiesta. You can catch up and I will reach out to you hoping you’ll experience the same mood while reading my blog.

Thousands of people attended the festival although, not yet known how many attendees in total. The good news, there’s no traffic congestion prevailed, there’s a smooth flow of traffic for this year 2019. Thanks to the construction of the new bypass route! The bypass is a priority project completed before the town fiesta, it’s an alternate route to divert traffic. My special thanks to Eng. James Garcia.

The mayor who vows to continue more development projects, Atty. Carmelo Villacete and wife Beatriz  poses for a photograph in front of bypass, a newly developed project. The two, combining their efforts and inspiring everyone to work together for a better Piat.

It’s a bright future for the people of Piat and I’m here to share your vision. Congratulations for reaching this far! With all the changes and thriving achievements, may you continue your traditions of dedicated leadership and cultural enrichment.

Photos taken during the ”30th Sambali Festival 2019”

Note: (This is not the full coverage of the Sambali Festival, it’s just a half of it )

Part of the festival is the Farmer’s Day” it’s a farm bountiful harvests show featuring exhibits and parading of local agricultural crops.

Our beloved Mayor, Atty. Carmelo Villacete carrying an oversized jackfruit, the mayor of Piat who introduced modern technical in farming and fruit planting. With the help of our mayor, agriculture will surely rise and crop yields will soon increase.

What a festive feeling!

This is a unique kind of float, ”The Kuliglig Float” ( improvised vehicle) featuring Piat’s farm agricultural products.

Presentation of Little Miss Piat and Miss Piat Sambali candidates

Coronation Night Little Miss Piat 2019

Little Miss Piat 2019 Pia Joy Sagalon

Back to Little Miss Piat 2018

Little Miss Piat 2018 Sara Sammoury

My gorgeous niece, Sara Sammoury bags the title ”Little Miss Piat” last year.

Another niece of mine, Miss Piat Sambali 2019 Daphne Louise Aquino

2019 Miss Piat Pagayaya Piatrice Marie Dela Cruz

Miss Piat Sambali Candidates brought out best designs on a variety of formal evening gowns.

Sambali Street Dancing

One fun activity to be enjoyed with is the highly anticipated  ” Sambali Street Dancing” this is for the students and other participants to showcase their talents. Students dressed in colorful and spectacular costumes performing  choreographed tribal dance.   

Dancing takes part on the street as an exhibition space for the performers to illustrate the Sambali war dance.

A traditional style entertainment scene. The street of Piat crammed with people followed by big crowds in colorful costumes beaming with so much Itawis spirit.

The most blessed part is the Marian procession, the feast day of ”Our Lady of Piat” it was an evening procession and despite the rain, many devotees flocked to the streets of Piat. Experiencing weather disturbance, rain didn’t stop but it was a peaceful walk with prayers.

Marian procession is a religious expression of Christian faith handed down by generations. Here in Piat, crowd gathered each time it is paraded through the streets of Piat during Sambali festival held annually on June 23-July 2.

Organizers of this event, devotees, the people of Piat and commuters earlier feared weather disturbance, the approaching brunt of moonsoon season might trigger and disrupt the week long activities especially the fluvial procession but it was just a fair and slight one prevailed. Rain or shine, the festival will go on.

The welcoming and entertaining Sambali festival is a huge success, Bravo! Once again, I  would like to express my sincerest thanks to our beloved mayor, Atty. Carmelo Villacete and wife, Beatriz Villacete, Vice-Mayor Leonel Guzman and to everyone who participated in this year’s 30th Sambali Festival. Congratulations! My best wishes to a more successful activities in the future. Special thanks Eng. James Garcia and Mr. Benedict Sto. Tomas Big thank you for all your hard work and perseverance. Well-done!

Note: Want to be featured on my blog? Don’t hesitate. Submit your photos, I will consider any pictures related to this event 30th Sambali Festival 2019. I will add your pics here. Pls. pm me messenger or pm Elvie Baculi (FB) for more details.

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