This would be a monumental post if I were to post my whole trip to the Philippines at once, so out of three weeks this represents the first two days or so. What to say about the first couple of days? Well, it was not the first time I’ve traveled, but it was a reminder of what an anomaly my lifestyle is, and how things go down in the rest of the world. The air was bad, the coconuts were good, the warm ocean was a dirty wonder, the animals were worse for wear (but for the prized fighting cocks of course), there were rosaries and bible verses in every vehicle but seat belts were thin on the ground. Now I’m going to fuss with putting text between the pictures.

Some beautiful, serious kids. They seemed grown up.

A man getting coconuts for us to drink and eat. Below is my first fresh coconut, and I credit it with saving my withered little life just about then.

Yes, it was so hot that kids’ hair was plastered to their foreheads with sweat. And I was trying to wear a cardigan to protect me from the sun.

Most of our transport was in the back of a pickup with lots of other hot bodies.

When we weren’t living off of coconuts and mangos, we ate at these little ‘hole in the wall’ joints. The term is more descriptive of these places then anything in North America, really. You go in, lift the lids on the pots on the counter, and point to what you want. Four of us could eat for about $2 CAN.

Ian feeling not so daisy fresh.

Since I’m vegetarian I would always be done eating first (i.e. I hardly ate) so I would take photos of my vascular foot above welcome mats among other things.

Kids just hanging out by the side of the road on Camotes Island.

This is a deep cave with a freshwater pool discovered by the Japanese in WWII and used as a hiding place. I cut my foot on a rock here and it took almost three weeks to heal.

A nice old church. What you can’t see is me gasping for clean air. I don’t know why it was so bad this night, but I was about to lose it around the time I snapped this.

Being tall is no help when traveling in the Philippines.

Halo Halo, the national dessert, done best at the otherwise lame fast-food chain ‘Chow King’

I wish I provoked this kind of reaction at home.

Tagbilaran, the city on Bohol. Busy street, bad air.

IESVS•NAZARENVS•REX•IVDÆORVM ET DOLLI PLASTICI

Warranted.

The Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Ancient mounds of coral eroded by rain and wind once no longer submerged.

Ube (purple yam) cake. I give ube an enthusiastic two thumbs up. Even from the back of my pickup.

We stopped at a very sad little zoo. See the crushed spirit of the owl below? We undid the owl cage and left the premises, but other cages were too firmly wired. This place put me in a moral dilemma, and it felt the wrong choice to do nothing. Ironically the police stopped us for lesser infractions fishing for bribes on other occasions. More on that in part two or three.

Oh yeah, and the animals were subjected every day to multiple showings of a transvestite air band performer. I rest my case.

Last night a few friends helped me prime the wedding photobooth for Carly and Steve’s big day tomorrow. I thought I’d post some beautiful shots of them before you scroll down to the headbanging jowliness. Obviously I don’t have my white seamless nailed quite yet. I’m using an Alien Bee on the front and a 580EXII shooting at the backdrop, but I need at least a couple of them, methinks. Can you imagine the batteries I’ll be chewing up? Any suggestions for cheap plugable flash heads very welcome. Thanks!

I’m glad to be back from Asia (photos forthcoming) and back to a Vancouver summer of beautiful weddings! Sally and Jason were my first couple of the Season back in early May, just before I left for the Philippines. I am sorry for the wait but glad to finally post! I absolutely adored Sally’s beaded dress with its diaphanous mesh train and her felted clutch and headpiece designed by her artist sister.

It rained quite heavily while the makeup was being applied and dresses ironed in the Sylvia Hotel, but Sally was firm that she wanted the ceremony held outside on the expansive Teahouse (Sequoia Grill) lawn if at all possible. Sally and Jason would have been happy to be married outside even under heavy rain and umbrellas, but there was no cover for guests. Luckily the skies held for the ceremony overlooking the water, and some portraits. Once, we arrived back at Watermark restaurant for the reception, however, the rain began to come down sideways. This is not a problem of course when warm food and a fireplace are near at hand!

Flowers
Wedding coordinating: Karina Aiello
Cake!
Transportation of guests from ceremony cite to reception venue
Décor

Leaving in five minutes for Hong Kong. Will be in the Philippines for a couple of weeks too. Would love to post a Tarsier video here, but I must rush. Will be checking email periodically.
Ciao.

Rachel and Blair love winter. And I believe them. I shot many warm photos of them in the snow, and cuddling in the icy draughts of a train. Despite our differing seasonal tastes, I loved their winter-themed-celebration, and Rachel, whom I met as a bride’s maid at Desirée and Jim’s wedding in 2007, looked the perfect ice-queen. The remarkable cake which depicts Rachel and their cats and Blair on his snowmobile was crafted by Luscious Creations. Their ceremony and reception was held at Whonnock Lake, which is a lovely building with vaulted ceilings and skylights, in the quiet woods near a lake. It may be in Abbotsford. The décor was provided by Bobi’s Wedding Warehouse, and Rev. Brent Sheppard officiated. We’ll start with some preparation shots, which are some of my best getting ready images ever thanks to a slow lace-up process and some strong light coming through a window!