After more than a 30 year ‘phase’ of being a nocturnal being I’ve just accepted the fact that I’m most comfortable with the evening. It’s what I always gravitate to consistently, without effort. How you day-walkers wake up at the crack of dawn is beyond me. The rising of the sun is my signal it’s definitely bed-time.
Upon arriving here in the Philippines I actually held out some hope that perhaps the 15 hour time difference would mean I’d be a day-walker too. Perhaps I was just living on the wrong side of the planet all this time. But.. no. Apparently my brain has got one eye on the sun and is looking for the night. Well, I tried.
But, I do get around in the day and have plenty of photos to prove it. Just not many (or any) photos of me in the morning. Afternoon, I can do afternoons. But sunrise.. it’s like the entire planet is in reverse.
So I finally decided to start taking more photos lately at night during my walks. I had different cameras with me at various times so the results were kinda hit and miss. I’ll try to add in on the comments area of each pic to give you an idea of where I was or why I chose that particular location to photograph. Most of these were shot either on Mactan or Cebu. I’m looking forward to some night photography at the beach once I get to Bohol. Enjoy..
Henry V. www.lifebeyondthesea.com
I got lost one night, taking a walk after visiting Kristine in the hospital. I wasn’t sure where I was, but I’d seen it before while riding a taxi. Eventually I found a main road and got a taxi. — Lapu Lapu, Mactan; about 9pm
I’d seen this along the road from the taxi window several times and one night I got lost and passed by it so, got some photos. Strikes me funny for some reason.
One habit you pick up quick walking around here is to LOOK where you are stepping. Rocks, water, broken concrete and.. holes.
After a long day in Cebu.. finally back to my local stomping grounds in Basak Lapu Lapu, in front of Grand Mall.
Just walking around about midnight, checking out alleys that catch my interest.
A wide shot of the corner at the Lapu Lapu Marketplace, Mactan around 8pm.
One of my favorite things is to go for a walk around twilight at the local cemetery. It’s very large and the only area nearby with real, paved roads for taking a casual walk.
Out at the local cemetery, a nice place to view the sunset and get in a nice walk.
The sunset from the Mactan cemetery.
A wide-shot from the cemetery of the sunset from Mactan.
A photo from the cemetery of the sunset from Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
I took this photo from the 2nd story balcony of the Grand Mall, in Mactan.
This is where I’d often sit at night and just watch the two cat-houses across the street. This is the ‘Shellane’ at the end of the driveway. It’s also where I first met Kristine one night by chance.
As I was setting up the tripod for this photo of the cat-houses near my driveway, one of the ‘working girls’ (a ladyboy) came out to warn me. Too late, manager came over told me I can’t take photos of the building. When he walked away, I took my photo. That’s him on the right-side of the taxi.
Wow. SO many nights after wandering around all night, this is the sight I’d see as I made my way home down the driveway. Getting here meant I’d survived another night of adventuring.
This is the courtyard where I live. At night it’s quite serene.. other than the roosters and barking dogs every so often.
This is also near my driveway, in Mactan.
I took this photo around 4am. It was still raining on and off so I was able to get a few photos. I like the textures and lighting.
I took this photo around 4am. It was still raining on and off so I was able to get a few photos. I like the textures and lighting.
I took this photo around 3am one evening/morning.. went out into the rain and just waited for periods when it would stop. Even at this hour, people and kids out on the street. Nightwalkers, like me.
I took this photo around 3am one evening/morning.. went out into the rain and just waited for periods when it would stop. Even at this hour, people and kids out on the street. Nightwalkers, like me.
I took this photo around 3am one evening/morning.. went out into the rain and just waited for periods when it would stop. Even at this hour, people and kids out on the street. Nightwalkers, like me.
I took this photo around 3am one evening/morning.. went out into the rain and just waited for periods when it would stop. Even at this hour, people and kids out on the street. Nightwalkers, like me.
I have a fascination with alleys and dark places. I took this photo around 3:30am in Mactan.
I took this photo around 3am one evening/morning.. went out into the rain and just waited for periods when it would stop. Even at this hour, people and kids out on the street.
Burger Junction (BJ’s).. super-cheap burgers, 2 for 50cents. Kinda like a Castle Burger but bigger.. and no onions. Open 24 hours, I can always get a burger-fix either here or at their competitor ‘Angels’s Burgers’. — Mactan
A couple kids out to help their Mom run a food stand.. at 3am in the morning. They wanted their photo taken. Got them some fresh bread for their time.
A couple kids out to help their Mom run a food stand.. at 3am in the morning. They wanted their photo taken. Got them some fresh bread for their time.
A couple kids out to help their Mom run a food stand.. at 3am in the morning. They wanted their photo taken. Got them some fresh bread for their time.
Somewhere around 1:30am, on Mactan.. moon was full so I decided to take some shots one night.
Somewhere around 1:30am, on Mactan.. moon was full so I decided to take some shots one night.
The shade tree just outside my porch. — Mactan
An evening just wandering around at the Ayala Mall in Cebu, around Christmas-time.
At the Lapu Lapu Marketplace for some dinner around 8pm. This was my first time trying ‘porridge’.. really good stuff! I ended up talking to a few people while there, very friendly.
Wandering around my first visit to Fuente Circle in Cebu, the night before Sinulog.
Saw this.. have no idea what product or purpose it serves. Someone seemed concerned enough to print up a decal for it though.
Roaming around a crowd at night near Mango Square around midnight.
A few Promo Girls I ran into the night before Sinulog
In front of one of the few legal casinos in Cebu, at Fuente Circle, around 2am.
I used to be a night person, but after I retired I converted to a day person. It’s hard to get things done at night. It easier in the daytime, more crowded, but easier.
I’m usually ‘up’ around 11am and can do my daywalker interactions after that point. But since much of what I do is online, night works best for me.. as a single guy. Now.. if I had someone waiting for me in the bedroom, now that would motivate me to make it an early night. 🙂
In one of your diary posts, you said you didn’t understand how people could be “early to bed, early to rise.” Well, let me tell you Henry…there are only two breakthrough events in life that lead to that lifestyle….over 50, and marriage. You have one down and one to go! Bawahahaha 😀
I’ll see if anything changes after next week.. ha! As for getting married, no immediate plans for that anytime soon. 🙂
Henry,
Love your writing style. Pay close attention to your “spyder sense” and don’t walk into an alley at night, never to return. Mike
I’m as cautious as can be. Been near some places I could have just disappeared, both here and the US. But been a bit more careful since getting here. 🙂
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After more than a 30 year ‘phase’ of being a nocturnal being I’ve just accepted the fact that I’m most comfortable with the evening. It’s what I always gravitate to consistently, without effort. How you day-walkers wake up at the crack of dawn is beyond me. The rising of the sun is my signal it’s definitely bed-time. 
I used to be a night person, but after I retired I converted to a day person. It’s hard to get things done at night. It easier in the daytime, more crowded, but easier.
I’m usually ‘up’ around 11am and can do my daywalker interactions after that point. But since much of what I do is online, night works best for me.. as a single guy. Now.. if I had someone waiting for me in the bedroom, now that would motivate me to make it an early night. 🙂
In one of your diary posts, you said you didn’t understand how people could be “early to bed, early to rise.” Well, let me tell you Henry…there are only two breakthrough events in life that lead to that lifestyle….over 50, and marriage. You have one down and one to go! Bawahahaha 😀
I’ll see if anything changes after next week.. ha! As for getting married, no immediate plans for that anytime soon. 🙂
Henry,
Love your writing style. Pay close attention to your “spyder sense” and don’t walk into an alley at night, never to return. Mike
I’m as cautious as can be. Been near some places I could have just disappeared, both here and the US. But been a bit more careful since getting here. 🙂