Philippines-One More Time

[ktmrider]

I will be in the Philippines 28 October-15 November. I will be based in Manilla but plan on exploring Luzon by motorcycle for at least a week and spending a week near Subic scuba diving.

This is my second trip within a year. Last October, I had planned on motorcycling, diving and exploring some of the WWII sites. Well, shortly after I arrived, there was a typhoon which dropped 50 inches of rain on Luzon in two days, I suffered from a cracked rib during a massage, and I came down with influenza. I returned to the US to get a medical checkout and did not do anything I had planned. I ended up sitting in a hotel room for two weeks.

I hope to make up for my first trips bad luck on this trip. If there is anyone who would like to meet or get together to do some shooting, let me know. I am carrying a M5 with 35/90 and lots of HP5. And a new to me Fuji X70.

 

[michaelwj]

Best of health this time!
Interesting kit (no M2!), you've bonded with the M5 I see?
Have a safe trip.

 

[kxl]

A meet up would have been great; unfortunately, we don't arrive in Manila until the night of the 14th.

 

[bucs]

I'm from Manila. Unfortunately I can't take a week off and join you up north haha. But I can recommend a few off the beaten path destinations up in the cordillera mountains.

For scuba diving I would highly recommend Anilao, Batangas instead of Subic.

Send me a PM and I can discuss these in detail

Nathan

 

[ktmrider]

OK, I will PM shortly. And since I have only used the M5 for a week in July (at Sherry's until five days ago) I decided this trip would give me a chance to bond. Was tempted to take another M body for color but I really am trying to get back to black and white.

Have ten rolls of HP5 packed and two rolls of Ektar. But I also packed a Fuji X70 (have had it for five days as well) for color if needed. I sold my M9 last week.

I spent a lot of time at Subic in the early 1980's while spending a couple years of my life as a pilot aboard a Navy amphibious carrier (USMC). I even managed to hijack a helicopter on numerous occasions for scuba diving (take me to that island and come back in three hours). Apparently, there are lots of wrecks around Subic which we were not allowed to dive while the US Navy was present.

And I still want to check out any WWII sites near Manilla and Subic (Bataan and Corregidor). New Mexico was hit with a higher proportion of casualties then other US states because the NM National Guard was activated in 1941 and sent to the Philippines.

 

[bucs]

Would advise to bring lots of bw film as it is not readily available locally. HP5 would be perfect. Weather has been erratic. Some days sunny some days a bit of rain.

corregidor would take a day maybe. There's a tour operator, sun cruises, which run ferries daily to and from the island. You just need to book in advance online.

For bataan, there's a shrine in bataan called 'dambana ng kagitingan'. Can be reached by motorcycle. It is located in Mt. Samat, Pilar, Bataan. Oh dambana ng kagitingan means shrine of valor btw.

If you wish to go further north I can recommend a few more places