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About Me

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This blog is an amateur photographer's attempt to show how beautiful the world really is. He is drawn to the colors of nature like a moth to a candle light. What are showcased here are nature's grand display of colors at sunrise and sunset, beautiful beaches and off-the-beaten track locations in his beloved Philippines, waterfalls and some of nature's great sculptures, architectural gems, and other views from around SE Asia that he was fortunate to see at one point.

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February 5, 2012

mt romelo: buruwisan and lansones falls revisited


Buruwisan Falls

Revisited the Mt. Romelo last weekend for its waterfalls (Buruwisan, Lansones, and Batya-batya). This trek yielded both pleasant and unpleasant surprises.

The trail was not very muddy, in a Romelo kind of way. When trekkers say the trail is muddy, it means knee-deep mud. This time it was more manageable, but it does not mean you'll reach the campsite squeaky clean - nobody does in Mt. Romelo.

We started the trek just after sunrise and reach the campsite after close to two hours. The campsite changed a bit since the last time I was there - more cottages now and the stores are well stocked. I took a mental note not to haul up mineral water next time, there's plenty being sold up there.

The best time to shoot Buruwisan is early in the morning when the rest are still preparing breakfast or while other are still trekking up. After putting down our gear, I accompanied a fellow photog (first timer in Romelo) down to Buruwisan.

Fern Gully
view heading down to Buruwisan falls

As we approached the falls via a steep trail, the scene opened up like it was the first time I saw it. After countless treks here, Buruwisan still manages to enthrall me. I setup my tripod and took a few shots.

Although it had been raining the previous days, Buruwisan's water volume was surprisingly small. I've seen Buruwisan after a storm (or was it during a storm) and it was raging. This time its more tamed. The falls looked like a column of falling sugar when shot using a longer shutter speed.

Yellow Leaves
yellow leaves

All around the area are yellow leaves from the large balete trees. It was a surreal look, like autumn in a tropical settings. I figured the leaves are new, I mean they just fell, judging from their bright yellow colors.

Buruwisan is such a popular campsite you can't really shoot the place without getting crowded after some time. People came soon enough (Buruwisan's catch basin is a popular swimming spot) so we decided to head back to camp. I decided not to pitch a tent anymore and just one of the cottages (300/night rental).

Canopy
downstream from Buruwisan

After a hearty lunch we went down again, this time we headed to Lansones falls located downstream from Buruwisan. A group of campers pitched their tent at the edge of the catch basin - not a good idea in my opinion. They will be swept like twigs in case there is a flash flood.

Lansones Downstream
mini-cascades near Lansones

Lansones does not share the same "water line" as Buruwisan. Its smaller but equally photogenic as Buruwisan. The mini cascades you'll see if you follow the stream up to Lansones are worth the photographer's time.

Lansones Falls

Lansones Falls
Lansones Falls

While Buruwisan can sometimes give you these nasty water-sprays if you shoot it up close, Lansones is very tame to shoot. I guess its because its in a much tighter place thus there's not much wind.

Lansones Falls

Its best to shoot in the late afternoon to have a bit of light as it faces the west. Situated under a small gorge covered with a canopy of trees, it tends to be dark there.

We went to Batya-batya the next day but I did not bother to bring my camera anymore. I know the place would be crowded. Of the three waterfalls there, I think Batya-batya is the least photogenic.

And the unpleasant surprise of the trip? Its the hard evidence of authorized use of my photos my the Mayor's office in Siniloan. Some moron reasoned that since they can easily download the photo from the Internet, its already public domain. I guess these idiots have no idea what copyright infringement is.

Unauthorized use of my photos by SIniloan Mayor's office
unauthorized use
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Lantaw
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5 comments:

Luna Miranda said...

your photos are amazing as always. this looks like paradise...kulang na lang diwata.:p

Unknown said...

Amazing photos...

Too bad for the Mayor, I saw those banner when we went there, sayo pla yun...

greatdwight said...

I guess, i make sure i put my watermark to all my pics from here on. copyright infringement i rampant now adays.

juanderfulpinoy.com said...

Naku po , minsan kahit may watermark may nagnanakaw pa din . Idol na talaga kita . Galing galing.

juanderfulpinoy.com said...

Nsa bucket list ko na to.

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