Off to Davao Oriental

If you're looking for "nature pure" should you travel to Davao Oriental. I did this several times - and surely not for the last time!

Suchen Sie "Natur pur"? Dann sollten Sie, wenn in Mindanao, unbedingt Davao Oriental besuchen. Ich habe es schon einige Male getan - und sicherlich nicht zum letzten Mal!

Several months ago I stopped for the first time at the "Sleeping Dinosaur Peninsula" - visible upon passing the 8km Zigzag road downtown Mati. The 57-hectare island resembles a sleeping dinosaur.

In Barangay La Union, San Isidro Mt. Hamiguitan is home to thousands of centuries-old pygmy trees. Nearby is an upland lake called Tinagong Dagat (Hidden Sea) that serves as a haven for various species of rare and exotic birds and other animals.

When in Mati, a visit of Waniban Island is a must. It's just a 15-minute boat ride from Cinco Masao Resort in Mati. This 40-hectare island is surrounded by white sandy beaches and is home of local tribes who make a living through hunting and fishing.

A closer look, please!

Do you know the African proverb: "The camel never sees its own hump, but that of its brother is always before its eyes!"

Maybe it's true, because most of us forget to see our very own self. But does it really help, if we always see "this way" - US in a mirror?

Our tendency to focus on the irritating faults of others most of the time obscures our vision of the positive aspects of others, as Karyl Yvette stresses already several years ago in "Pinoy Balita Korea". Yes, we lose sight of the good and decent qualities of others, the true essence of who and what they are, and we all see only the humps in life. Also as expats living in the Philippines... .

Shouldn't we use our own eyes clearly and effectively? So, let's start a new day with a positive look over our own whole, even being in front of our mirror, then taking a glimpse on the good things around us. Have you watched a butterfly over a flower? Wow, we have a lot here in the Philippines. Have you used your freedom of expression over loud music? I mean, not the whole day or during night time, if others want to sleep.

Yes, I must confess, many times I also forgot those simple rules - and, I forgot how to stay young, happy and healthy. It's so easy, especially while living in the Philippines.

Did I say "young"? Yes, because it's not a time of life - it's a state of mind. Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years; people grow old only by deserting their ideals. Yes, wrinkle the skin, but to surrender enthusiasm wrinkles the sou. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear - these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn growing spirit to dust.

Susconsciously we 'cook our ideas' while being passive. I met a lot of fellow expats, who are doing so. Of ocurse, Newton relaxed, when he saw the apple falling from the tree - and got the idea of gravity, Watt relaxed in the kitchen while watching the jumping steam boiler cover - and got the idea of the steam engine. We have much more good ideas during two hours of creative muse and leisure time, then waiting eight hours in an office... .

I love nature... - and you?

When I still stayed in Germany, I always dreamt of an own (wild) garden. Wild means natural. The more flowers and trees, the better. The more nature - the better.

My dream became true!

Climate Changes - A Global Problem

While writing this piece another typhoon hits the Philippines. One of many other natural disasters worldwide... .

My worries and fears that nothing would happen to preserve and project our nature have been proven to be well founded. Sure, climatic change is a global problem, but even while writing this piece, I do have again and again this disgusting smell of burning and plastic and rubber "basura" in my nose. My neighbours don't care! Bahala na! how gruesome and horrid! I would love to pray for more rain to "kill these fires". But the Philippines got rain more then enough!

The term "hothouse earth" as well as 'hothouse effect" describe the dramatic climatic changes in our daily life conditions. Here in the Philippines and everywhere in the world. The hothouse effect has its cause and origin on the way we are living. Effects and consequences of excessive consumption of so-called "fossil fuels" are one of the main reasons. Our industrial society's ecological footprint becomes too big; its ecological rucksack becomes too heavy. Remaining "ecological niches' become smaller and smaller.

The report of the "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes from March 2001 (!) showed us the startling dramatic scenario:

- The 1990s have been the warmest decade (1998 the warmest year) since 1861.

- The eternal snow and polar ice have become dramatically smaller.

- The average sea level rises and will rise up to 88cm in the year 2100 according to this report.

Now it's 2009! Heat waves, increasing tropical cyclone activities, intensified precipitations (heavy rain and landslides) are also reasons for tourism destination changes. Losses of human life, appearing epidemics, increasing of erosion - as well as infrastructure damages, especially in coastal areas are more complex extremes.

The essential and vital resource water becomes a scarce, meager and barely sufficient good.

National and international climatic policies have born fantastic rules and regulations, such as 'Emission Trading', 'Clean Development Mechanism' or the 'United Nation Environment Programmer" as well as the 'World Environment and Development Organization'. So far so good. Where are the deeds?

We sing our praises as the most stable and secure form of human knowledge, but we leave the practice to others without envy. Fixed in their views worldwide, politicians accept oppression from company monopolies and allow deforestation and burnt patches. Fishing with dynamite, pale corals, sick animals, melting icebergs and the ozone hole... .

Climatic changes are a global problem. But every one of us should start cleaning up his own compound first without burning poisonous garbage while only a short distance away our little children are playing!