Capture Nature: Revisiting Don Salvador Benedicto's Sceneries and Fresh Air

If you're in Bacolod and you want to escape the hustle and bustle of city, the town of DSB or Don Salvador Benedicto is just an hour-drive. This provincial hill station is the summer capital of Negros Occidental with scenic winding roads, "hanging cafes", green mountain ranges, Instagrammable parks,  fresh air, resorts with dreamy clouds, cliff-side restaurants ,camp sites, Airbnb-listed villas, and other nature's bounties to behold like the Malatan-og Falls (Google map below), Pinewood forests (Google map below), choco hills and more.

"Buwis Buhay" Jump Shot at the Pinewood forest road

The fast development in DSB, may it be tourism spots and infrastructures, signifies that many people are interested to discover and rediscover its topographic and natural beauty. These days, you can find a stretch of modern glass houses, American-style cottages and camping resorts that either may collide or jibe with its environment. Before it was just a highway adorned with different forest trees, houses made of nipa or wood, and farmlands.

Camping and swimming with Mt. Kanlaon as a backdrop at Manggapuri Villas (Puri means Sanctuary)

 Somehow the trend of searching a relaxing highland respite attracts more people to explore Negros' beloved "Little Baguio". This trend opened an opportunity to many to invest in DSB's titled and, sadly, some untitled lands to be developed as a farm, themed resort or a private rest house in the future.
Lots of properties with picturesque views like Manggapuri Villas are now available for rent (though you need reservations for you to stay overnight or use them for events like wedding).

Meanwhile, if you have limited stay in Negros particularly Bacolod city and wanted to visit DSB for a day trip only,  you can check these hotels: 

Bacolod Hotels to Stay:
1. Go Hotels Bacolod  (a hotel just beside Robinsons Bacolod)
2. L Fisher Hotel Bacolod (Hotel along Lacson St.)
3. East View Hotel Bacolod (The nearest of all hotels from DSB and also near the Negros Government Center)
4. Planta Centro Hotel and Residences (Located at the South Area of Bacolod near Gaisano City) 

5. Business Inn, Bacolod (City Center, along Lacson and nearest to SM)

But if you wanted to experience sleeping over just near the border of DSB and wake up feeling the coolness and seeing the greatness of the Negros mountains, You may check this hotel:

1. La Vista Highlands (adjacent city across DSB's border- San Carlos but within the vicinity of DSB). Activities and tourism sites near La Vista is Negros Chocolate Hills and Mayana Peak sightseeing.

Cloudy and Dreamy skies over Golden fields

From Bacolod, DSB is accessible by car and bus via Murcia and turn left to drive via the Eco-Tourism Highway which connects DSB with San Carlos and Calatrava. You may call a local rent-a-car with a driver that will take you interesting spots of DSB. One of the most popular to-go-for-spots for photosessions is the DSB Lion's Park where a fierce-looking brown lion statue greets visitors along a curvy road. Donated and installed by the Lion's Club, it's almost similar to Baguio's gigantic lion's head statue but this one is smaller in size and it comes with a firm body built like Simba from the Lion King.

DSB Lion's Park

      Drone Photography POV at DSB Lion's Park

Beside the lion is a view deck structure with a observatory roof and below it a room with glass window below. A lot of visitors stop by here to take their selfies with the breathtaking view of forest mountains, rolling clouds and rice terraces. Below the park is the Padre Pio's Garden where one can go to meditate. Nowadays, the Lion's Park has fruit stands beside it. And after this, next stop would be the picturesque Pinewood forest where you may find a lot of fruit vendors too these days.

 Inside DSB's Pinewood forest

     Perspective view of the Pinewood Forest Road

An Instagrammable spot in DSB, the Pinewood Road and its forest is a sight to behold. The forest is now open to public and it has that generic I Love (put the city or town name here) signage. One can go inside for a picnic, prenup photoshoot, or just to relax with friends after traveling the zigzag roads. Years before, when the pinewood forest was still closed, most people do the so-called "buwis buhay" photoshoots in the middle of the road.  The pine trees by the road side serve as a perspective natural frame for photographers.
If you are a drone flyer, the place will give you great angles of the woods where you can fly through.

I'm glad the private property sign was taken away and now the public has the freedom to relish the evergreens that we usually see in movies shot in the European mountains.

However, with this new development, I'm looking forward for visitors to be responsible enough to take care of this place--by avoiding leaving trash in the vicinity, by not writing graffitis on trees and rocks or by not cutting pine tree parts as souvenirs. A DSB's tourism pride ever since, I'm wishing the Pinewood Forest is here to stay clean and green.

Malantan-og Falls seen via the View Deck

Drone Photo POV of the view deck at Malantan-og Falls area

Before the cliff-side resorts, hanging cafes and restos became known to the public, the Malatan-og falls was the primary destination magnet that attract tourists to come to Don Salvador. This magnificent falls, though in miniscule mode when you observe it from the view deck, still spells a serene magic specially when clouds amd mist roll over it. However, if you come closer to it, you will feel its magnificent power and coolness, literally. I flew a drone one time with the aim of reaching the falls from the view but alas I had a signal lost issue plus I was strong winds blew my DJI Mavic Air that I decide to just come back again in the future for another safer flight.

Mountain View Resort Bar and Restaurant overlooking one of the mountain ranges.

              Tourists pose at the deer statue of Mountain View Resort Bar and Restaurant at DSB

We ate at the Mountain View Resort resto, I can see they are still expanding their area with some landscaping. People are free to roam the vicinity even they don't have plans to eat there. This resto is easy to find. Once you see a family of statue brown painted bears and deer at the entrance and exit, respectively, then you found it.

Meanwhile, at Jomax Peak, I saw many people going to and fro that day. I thought one can only enter with reservations.  But I saw a Walk-in sign at the gate so I guess many got to experience the relaxing and photography-friendly site of Jomax Peak that day.
Other sites to visit or stay in DSB, Vacation Villa at KM55 (listed in Airbnb), Rapha Valley (Km 48 Brgy. Kumaliskis), Balokom Spring Resort, the hanging cafes like Doc J's and Terraza Cafe,  Bunga Highland Pitstop Mountain Resort, and more. 

 Panorama view of Mountain View Resort Bar and Restaurant 

Don Salvador Benedicto's Rice Terraces

All these new developments  made me wonder what more will appear in DSB in the near future even specially social media nowadays promotes a place, like DSB, in a lightning fast real time mode. Don Salvador Benedicto exactly offer its charms via the bloggers and social media users. Just by its features it tells travelers that DSB is  not only a relaxing place to explore but an Instagrammable spot to capture nature.

More soon about DSB's food, activities and spots!


Pinewood Forest in DSB (Location):



Malatan-og Viewing Deck in DSB (Location):

 

SHUTTERTRAVELER SUGGESTED GEAR 
You May Check this Video Stabilizer for your travels and video productions:
Zhiyun Smooth 4 3-Axis Gimbal from Amazon

Flying Camera Drones: Rewriting the History of Flight part 1

Drones. Drones. Drones are everywhere.

Oh well, It's not those deadly military spy drones that I'm talking about but those intelligent flying machines that you can fit in your own pocket. These tiny drones did change the game play of cinematography and, well, the history of flight per se. 

Getting ready to fly the DJI Spark at the Sagay Marine Reserve (Carbin Reef)

What I will feature are some of my behind the scenes drone photos and videos I posted in YouTube but I will talk more about how the history of flight impacted our lives and give some tips with drone piloting specially those with DJI tech. I'm not an expert but I will share to you some experiences I've had while flying two kinds of DJI drones. You name it there's the DJI Spark (my first drone) and DJi Mavic Air (my second unit)  and now, I'm just salivating over two new models: there's the DJI Mavic 2 Pro with the Hasselblad camera and Mavic 2 Zoom.

Watch some of my Drone YouTube videos 
shot using a DJI Spark:

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to my Youtube channel @ www.youtube.com/georgepontinojr

DRONE OVER MANAPLA BALULAN BEACH
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PHILIPPINES

Getting ready to fly the DJI Mavic Air drone at Don Salvador Benedicto town

(An hour away from Bacolod, the capital city of  Negros Occidental )

1. Icarus and his infamous "Human Error" and today's drone crashes

Being a lover of cinematography and film, it's hard not to fall in love with these aerial tools that helped bring movie magic to the masses.

Eversince man was in awe with the mystery of flying, no one can stop his flirting with ways of how to fly. And of course, because of this, the history of flight is so very rich. Records of Italian polymath Da Vinci's renaissance drawings of early weird flying machines are proof to this.

There's even the Greek myth of Icarus who disobeyed his father's warnings when he flew too high close to the sun, ignoring his father's instructions along the way. His father Daedalus, the designer of the labyrinth, is the craftsman to the artificial wings made of wax which worn and flown closer to the sun will melt and if too low the sea's dampness will clog their wings. The two wanted to escape the island of Crete. Alas, Icarus foolishness and arrogance caused his crash.

REALITY CHECK and TIPS:

This could happen also if you fly a drone without testing it using beginner mode. It would be foolish to fly a DJI  Mavic Air without much experience as "human error" can cost you property damage or injury to the public. Though most drone devices nowadays have already been researched well and built to be safer, stable or can fly on its own sensing obstacles, still you need to learn the basic tricks of controlling it. First, check out your firmware if it works or if you experience disconnections. Check out and learn UMI and Compass calibrations. Tame the wind. Practice in an empty field with or without wind.  Study how your drone reacts with different environments. Sometimes, you will not know if you'll encounter an abrupt windy situation, a signal interference or a battery problem. Flying over lots of people could be cinematic but is dangerous and dreadful specially without propeller guards. As drones tend to camouflage themselves with the surroundings, just try to fly away from trees, buildings and crowd if you want your flight time a safer one. Sometimes, it's hard to find your drone on air unless you have somebody to help you guide where it flew. To earn more experience while you are building up your confidence as a pilot, a vast field is the best place to fly. So, be safe guys.       

Buy a Mavic Air Drone Combo at Amazon

2. The Ancient Chinese and DJI, a Chinese brand, likes to conquer the skies 

Meanwhile, an English proverbs (and my flatmate in Saudi Arabia) say: Necessity is a mother of all inventions. Truly, we have those paper planes, kites, sky lanterns (early hot air balloons) and even rockets invented in ancient China--products of imaginative Chinese minds who wanted to conquer the air for a reason. Chinese usage of unmanned airborne balloons to send signals is a military practice that predates the modern passenger hot air balloons. Oh, by the way, DJI, the popular drone maker's roots is Chinese. No wonder. :) However, nature itself is an obvious inspiration to all of these innovations and discoveries. The impressive wing movements of birds, bees and dragonflies may put man's flying machines to shame but after all, these creatures are the source of man's romance to take flight.

REALITY CHECK and TIPS:

After many errors from earlier drones, DJI's R&D department did listen to consumers. Well, drones are impressive inventions but not without serious failures. It's technology. Prone to bugs. What the heck is Main Controller Data Error and Barometer Error? Thanks to today's technology, one can wait for firmware upgrades, download and update phone controls to avoid crashes and other connection issues.  There's the DJI forum too to discuss the issues with the support and engineers. One can get a ticket for additional warranty or ship back his drone if the problem points to manufacturing error.  With series of investigations like checking the last flight path or crash area via a recorded GPS location, DJI can replace it with new one if the error points to their side. This damaged craft  will be refurbished and be sold again at a lower price. Replacement takes time and it's a hassle specially the waiting part of the investigation and contacting DJI support for updates but it's better than crying some wasted tears over spilled milk.

DRONE OVER EDGE OF THE WORLD 

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

To be Continued.

Singapore's Ace Architectures Part 1

Singapore is known for being a smallest country in Southeast Asia but inside of it is touristic city with full of architectural surprises. For nature lovers and the Indiana Jones kind of travelers, SG isn't not on their primary bucket-list for sure. 

For urban explorers and abstract architecture photographers, it's one of the to-go destinations. It's a green city where sustainable architecture is utilized and it is where magnificent man-made structural wonders are seemingly intertwined with inspirations taken from nature. 

Here are some architectural wonders to visit and photograph:

The Marina Bay Sands hotel is a gorgeous structure to behold. It is an integrated resort fronting the Marina Bay. The three building foundations are said to be inspired by deck of cards while atop a cruise-ship looking structure that has an infinity pool, open saunas and observatory where you can see or photography the Gardens by the Bay bird’s eye view. 

Marina Bay Sands 

One Fullerton

This is SG's luxury hotel and lifestyle destination. In its surrounding, you can find the Helix Bridge and ArtScience Museum that add a sci-fi feel to the Marina Bay area. By its infinity pool you can have a great panoramic view and photography of The One Fullerton Square where the famous Merlion is located. You will also see different skylines of SG that comprises of skycrapers built by different multinational companies. 


Check these Singapore hotels for your relaxing SG tour and stay:
Via Booking.com
1. Hotel 81 Princess - A 13-minute walk from Mountbatten metro station, this straightforward hotel is 7 km from the botanical attractions of Gardens By the Bay and 6 km from the lively Chinatown district. 
2. five/6 Splendour Hotel Set in a colorful building in a residential area, this unfussy hotel is a 10-minute walk from Kallang MRT Station, 4 km from Marina Bay and 5 km from the lively Clarke Quay.  
3. RedDoorz near Marine Parade Central - This understated hotel near eateries on a low-key neighborhood street is 11 km from the Central Business District and 3 km from a metro station. Palawan Beach is 17 km away. 

Via Agoda.com
1. Hotel 81 Princess 
2. five/6 Splendor Hotel 
3. RedDoorz near Marine Parade Central

Helix Bridge

The Helix Bridge is a pedestrian bridge linking Marina centre with Marina South in the Marina Bay Area. It has four viewing platforms. It's unique canopies is made of  perforated steel mesh that provides shades to pedestrians. At night, the bridge is illuminated by  series of lights, giving a visual experience to tourists.

.

Marina Bay Sands and the skyline of Singapore at Marina Bay

Roof of the Esplanade building inspired by the Durian fruit

Another contemporary building that I like to shoot is the Esplanade. Popularly known as the Durian building, it is a performing arts centre located in Downtown Core near the mouth of the Singapore River. It can be seen also atop the Marina Bay Sands but you need a zoom lens to capture it closer. Named after the nearby Esplanade Park, it consists of a concert hall with a seating capacity of about 1,600 and a theatre with a that can accommodate about 2,000 for the performing arts. When the sun's orange hues come before it sets, the exterior of the sharp shades of the building glows a golden gleam.

To be continued...


MARINA BAY MAP

HK Disneyland: Capturing its Fireworks and Sleeping Beauty Castle (With Tips)

Part of the Disney culture is having a scheduled fireworks display all night. And usually, fireworks is related to the centerpiece of every Disney resort and that is, the castle. That's where long exposure* comes in when we talk about capturing Disneyland's awe-inspiring pyroclastic live show via your crystal eye. Read on... 

* Long exposure - a photography lingo that is also called time-exposure, or slow-shutter photography which involves using a long-duration shutter speed to sharply capture the stationary elements of images while blurring, smearing, or obscuring the moving elements. The photo above would be impossible to capture if not for the long exposure technique. The lines are actually fireworks light trails which seems to be web overlapping or "tails" intertwining but for the naked eye, these are flames produced by the fireworks. Thanks to long exposure It has been captured via a light-sensitive sensor while the camera's shutter  is opened for a longer time.

In Hong Kong Disneyland, they one that was built is the Sleeping Beauty castle  inspired by the late-19th century Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. Neuschwantsein is 19th-century Romanesque Revival Palace commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria who is sometimes called the Mad King Ludwig or der Märchenkönig ("the Fairy Tale King”). Disney’s version is in feminine in form with some cartoonish touch.

Search Hotels for your Hong Kong Stay:

Via Booking.com

Hong Kong Hotel Lists (click)

Via Agoda.com

Hong Kong Hotel Lists (click) 

If you want to experience a Magical Disney accommodation, check this hotel just beside HK Disneyland:

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (Via Agoda.com)

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (Via Booking.com)

However, in January 2018, in a bid to transform Sleeping Beauty castle into something more marvelous, they closed it for renovation so as not to be left behind by other Disneyland castles which are much much more taller and extravagance.  For the record, the Enchanted Storybook Castle in Shanghai Disneyland Park replaced Cinderella's Castle in any Disney park in terms of height.

With this, the nightly fireworks display was also stopped until it remerges again with the new taller castle design in an indefinite date in the year 2019. Good thing, I was able to shoot fireworks display during the 5th Anniversary of HK Disney resort in 2011. The show consists of Tinkerbell storyline complete with sprinkles of fairy dusts possible to the magical light show effects mixed with the fireworks display, a story telling tale and symphony music and sound effects.

We will see what's the new transformations be like in 2019. I'm kind of excited to revisit it once again in the future and compare my fireworks photography I shot before to the upcoming ones specially the Sleeping Beauty Castle will certainly be much more extravagant once done. 

How to find the Castle: Being the centerpiece of any Disneyland resort, the castle is not that hard to find as it stands at the heart of Disney. One is drawn to it, firsthand. But once the surrounding is full of people who are anticipating the fireworks,  it will not be easy for you to find a photography spot. And your photos will end up with unnecessary heads or images of people distracting the frame. 

If you want to take photos sans the crowd 

Here are my tips:

1. Check out the schedule of the fireworks beforehand. The brochure has them.

2. Study the area for any restrictions hours before the fireworks display. One must search for a comfortable place where nobody will take your place. The front area is one perfect spot but a guard or two will come and take control of the crowds and places. Be sure, the guard will tell some people to move backwards or adjust a little farther.

3. Find the center of the castle. Vantage point of your photography will be good. 

4. Bring a tripod so you don't have to hold your camera all the time. To avoid shaky shots and ghostly effects..

5. Don't take too much water or  any liquid before the scheduled fireworks display and light show. The thick crowd could be a hindrance for you to reach a WC (rest room) on time. It will be uncomfortable to you.

6. Answer the call of nature first earlier as the crowd will thicken.

7. Be ready for an umbrella or raincoat specially if it's a rainy season.

8. Bring snacks and tissues but don't throw it away.

9. Bring extra Batteries. 

10. Master long exposure technique for fireworks at night. Know your aperture or manual modes. Let the natural beauty of lights play on your sensor together with your skills.


Disneyland Land Map: