I am lucky to have an Uncle who lives 10 minutes away from the shore of the scenic Taal Lake and though I never get to take the boat ride across the lake to the volcanic crater, here are the photos I took of the view...the ordinary market life, the boats, the houses with low fences and the vast wonderful sky.
The small boats unloading tilapia from the fishpens sold just a few minutes walk from the port. Occassionally, the fish vendors would walk to the edge of the lake and dip a net full of fish still struggling for its last breath.
The lake may look calm but in the middle, it can get rough...
The fishpens from a distance. The major source of water pollutant is the fish feed that simply sinks at the bottom, undissolved causing the water to be murky, affecting as well the taste of the fish.
The Lamp Post. The swirling, cottony clouds. The bright blue big sky...
I took this photo because I find this a rather unique scene in a Philippine wet market. I have never seen live tilapia sold from a makeshift fishpen, where fish vendors simply scoop them out, weigh them and clean them for you.
Tawilis. The fish Taal lake is known for. My aunt wanted me to buy a kilo to bring back to Manila. I was averse to the idea because even if it is cooked, its messy to bring fish if you were to travel one hour and half or more to Manila -- in an airconditioned bus where it will possibly smell nasty of fish!
There are a few of these old, traditional houses around the town. It amazes me how the fences are low (it means a few burglars or none at all?) Even for the modern style houses which actually resembles the old ones. What caught me is that unlike the elaborate, rather luxurious designs of Visayan houses, this is more of the miniature version, compact and space-saving.
