we love nature

Recent increases in food prices and biofuel, are they related?

2008-07-09T23:26:00.000-07:00

I have written 3 posts in the past regarding the promotion of biofuels, specifically ethanol, as an alternative to fossil fuel, here...
1. Ethanol, for or against the environment?
2. Farm ethanol plants, part 1.
3. Farm ethanol plants, part 2.

I am aware how governments in developing countries are promoting the production of ethanol for cash, disregarding impacts on food supply. I am doubtful of the soundness of this particular strategy for economic development, specially since it is being done in the name of the environment, compared to changing our lifestyles like reducing fuel consumption.

ed out that a World Bank expert has made a "secret" report (covered in UK's The Guardian) stating that biofuels have jacked up food prices by a whooping 75%. I quote "Rising food prices have pushed 100m people worldwide below the poverty line, estimates the World Bank, and have sparked riots from Bangladesh to Egypt." While a dozen million are concerned with finding fuel for their cars, another hundred million are pummeling each other for a piece of bread. :(

I wonder how many months and dollars were needed to get that report together when common sense says that if we use our limited food resources for something else, a shortage will naturally occur.

Sadly, the report was not published and will probably stay that way. It IS the World Bank after all, funded by the world's biggest economic powers. There is hope though, as the U.K. is having second thoughts on their previous stance on the use of biofuels.

Like I said before, there is nothing wrong with using biofuels as an alternative but we should first consider where it will come from. Knee-jerk reactions and stop-gap measures often creates more problem than they were intended to solve.

Do you think that biofuels, as we know it today (usually coming from food crops or planted on farmlands), should remain in the list of alternative fuels?

4 wheel carbon fiber bike

2008-07-06T22:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's not really a bike but its pedigree came from them. TheX-Bow is the first attempt by KTM to make a perfromance car. KTM is a company specializing in lean, mean, 2-wheeled machines and mountain and road bikes. Now they've branched out into cars.

The X-bow is by no means a sipper nor cheap but it's made for performance from hi-tech and lightweight materials like carbon fiber and powered by Audi's TFSI, which has been praised by critics for its good "balance between technology, performance, economy and environmental acceptability." All-in-all not a bad little package and a cool alternative for gas-guzzling sports cars.

Original image at UnCrate.

Cheap gas-powered motor scooters to beat high gas prices.

2008-07-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

There has been a surge lately for searches on motor scooters. Not surprising since entry level models can squeeze 80 miles from a gallon of gas. Don't let the "cheap" tag turn us off too. Low-cost motor scooters have smaller engines than the high-priced one, which means they are real sippers.

Consider a 50cc classic that typically retails under US$1,000.00. That engine has enough power to move a very large adult (300 pounds) at a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour and can run 90-100 miles per gallon.

For those who simply needs double that speed, 250cc models can move 400 pounds at 80 miles per hour. Of course, there's a corresponding drop in mileage to 60mpg. If we do a bit of mathematics that's a 200% increase in max speed in exchange for a 33% drop in mileage.

For individuals traveling short distances (at least within a 15 mile range), cheaper motor scooters are the better options.

Safety-concious riders may also want to check out Piaggio's (Vespa makers) 3-wheel MP3 250. Specs: 244cc, Max Speed of 77mph, and mileage of 54mpg. Price? A little over US$7,000.00.

Original image at Piaggio USA.

The "lost" tribe of the Amazon isn't lost afterall.

2008-06-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

The past weeks, there was an excited buzz about an uncontacted tribe somewhere near the Brazilian and Peruvian border. Turned out it was a hoax as reported here and here.

The tribe's existence has been noted, but not confirmed, since 1910. Experts from the Brazilian Indian Protection Agency have estimated and delineated the tribe's grounds and established a protection system without laying eyes on a single indigenous soul. In essence, they did remained UNCONTACTED until that very moment they were photographed.

José Carlos Meirelles, the photographer, admitted that he planned to take the pictures and conducted a 3 day fly-over of their known range in order to prove that there are still tribes living within the bowels of the Amazon largely untouched by civilization.

Fact, he was happy they came out in war paint because that means they are living happy and healthy and willing to defend their territory. We just hope that big business, those that are intent on exploiting the Amazon at least, doesn't turn this hoax into a big issue.

All is well that ends well but does the end justify the means?

Affordable mountain bikes for combatting gas price hike

2008-06-23T23:23:00.000-07:00

Bikes are a practical means of transportation over short distances. Very useful in an urban environment, especially in beating traffic. I prefer mountain bikes since they have better maneuverability and grip.

People used to taking cars for a 3 mile hop are now looking at bikes as a viable alternative. The thing with our mountain bikes are they often take weeks to assemble since we build them from parts.

I thought what if we need an affordable and sturdy bike that must be delivered to us within the week and rides out of the box (or almost)? I surfed Amazon to see if they have something that's more than a toy. Well, I'm a bit surprised as they have models I would use on a trail at great deals.

Sample items...

Dual Suspension Mountain Bike

Dual suspensions or full suspensions have shock absorbers at front and back. Although we don't favor them for trails (we are cross country bikers), the rear shock absorber do help dampen jarring of the tailbone. They're comfortable for regular biking on and off road. Amazon has this sturdy looking GMC Topkick . It even has disc brakes. All for less than $250.00.

Front Suspension Hardtail Mountain Bike

This Schwinn Mountain Bike is more our style. Classic lines and light weight. Aluminum frame, RST fork, and Shimano components at around $200.00. Sweet!

Road Bikes

Those who stay on paved roads and wants more kick may want a road bike. The top rated GMC Denali is currently priced at below $200.00. They also have a version for women.

Cute Bike

Can't help but notice this kid's bike :D. A good training bike for toddlers.

Ain't she cute???

With a bit of customization, these bikes can provide hours of fun and exercise and save gas too. We'd change the seat post, seat, handle bars, and brake pads on the mountain bikes. Maybe swap out the suspension forks for sturdier ones for trail work. The road bike looks fine but we'd change the brake pads to be sure.

Help Save Serena

2008-06-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

Who is Serena? She's a sweet little angel, a bright ligth that's in danger of being dimmed by Neuroblastoma. Her father messaged me to help spread the word about their effort to continue her treatment in the U.S. and save her. Read her full story here.

They are trying to raise USD250,000.00. If anybody wants to help send Serena to the U.S. for treatment, her ChipIn page is here.

Electric motor bikes for easier pedaling.

2008-06-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

Plug and ride. That's what electric power assisted bicycles are. One major disadvantage: most of them can only run 10-15 miles before the batteries are drained. With a little pedaling, the range can be extended and speeds of 25mph attained without breaking a sweat.

This company make several models with clean lines. They look like regular bikes...

This one looks like a scooter with pedals...

There are also kits that can instantly convert standard bikes into electric-assisted ones, like this hub motor conversion. Simply swap a standard wheel with it...

For do-it-yourself folks, there is a real electric-powered bike waiting to be built. Erik Peltzer has designed and installed a motor on his bike that makes it zip uphill. He's sharing everything he knows at his site and wants to get some folks together to build an open-source plan for an electric bike, complete with diagrams and schematics, so technically-challenged people like me could follow the instructions and build our own.

Here's a photo of his electric bike...

I know, it looks something out of Mad Max, except that people in that movie were fighting over fuel and this bike's gonna save us from that fight.

Would you consider making one? It looks like a nice project and I have an unused steel hardtail I can convert to electric if I have a plan to follow.

Gas powered bicycles for beating the high cost of fuel.

2008-06-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

How does 150 miles to the gallon sound? With the skyrocketing cost of fuel and no end in sight, it is one sweet deal. Gas powered or assisted bicycles can squeeze that much mileage from a gallon of gas and they've come a long way from the old lawn-mower-engine-plus-old-bike contraction.

There are bicycle engine kits we can install on a standard steel bike...

Or ready to run units...

The 80cc 3.5 HP engine on the one pictured above drives the bike at a top speed of 40mph. Gee, they ought to install a speed-limiter too.

They also don't have to look like our grandpops' contraptions, here are a few neat-looking samples...

Bikes above the usual.

2008-05-26T18:27:00.001-07:00

In the previous post Biking at 25mph, we were talking about a wind-assisted bike tunnel. Since it is an unusual concept, perhaps it may need unusual bikes? Presenting 3 bikes that might just fit the bill...

1. The recumbent or recliner bike.

Recumbents have been around since the 1930's and can go fast on flats. They have held world speed records. Recumbent bikes allow riders to be in a comfortable reclining position. The low center of gravity also makes them more stable. For greater safety, trikes are also available. Since only a few manufacturers makes them, they are generally more expensive than traditional bikes.

2. The Velomobile

The Velomobile is essentially a 3-wheeled enclosed recumbent. The canopy and casing further reduces drag. The bike is mainly found in Europe, where some models are even electric-assisted. Looking like a banana on wheels is not required. :D

3. Trikes

Trikes are not just for tots. Check out this company's trike offerings. You can even carry more than groceries in them.

Biking at 25 miles per hour???

2008-05-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

Speeding at 25 miles per hour on 2 wheels under our own power is pretty impressive and we're not even talking about regular athletes. I bike for fun and to work so I'm always on the look out for interesting bike stuff in the web.

I came across this site (looks old but has a PR of 4) selling an idea of a bike tunnel where air flow helps the riders along, claiming to boost efficiency by 90%. Looks kinda crazy but if they can harness renewable or solar energy to move the air, I say there's some promise to it. Although I'm not sure how they planned to keep a crowd of bikers moving at 25 mph from hitting each other. Takes a lot of skill at that speed.

TransGlide 2000

Creative way to re-use an old keyboard.

2008-05-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Wondering what to do with the assortment of keyboards piling up under your desk? Why not a seedling starter? Certainly creative...

Cool? :D Found this while surfing.

Find eco-aware reuse groups near you.

2008-05-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

What is a reuse group? It's a network where members can get rid of unwanted stuff and get one or two for free loosely based on the concept that one man's garbage is another's treasure. A web-based re-use network was popularized by FreeCycle, an online flea market where we can get useful stuff for free. Other well known re-use groups are FreeSharing and the ReUseIt network.

Yahoo has made it easier for us to find a local re-use group. Check out their world map here where groups are plotted. If there's none near where you live, why not start one? Either sign up your group with FreeCycle or create an online community where interested parties can join and contact other members.

There's no need to buy a domain or hosting for a quality bulletin board system, simply sign up and make one with the Invision Power Board Free. IPB is one of the 2 most popular commercial bulletin board scripts and is fairly easy to maintain and administer.

Reusing stuff is an attractive option in light of the gloomy economy and friendly to our environment too.

Green Yahoo: a search engine for the eco-minded.

2008-04-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's been lurking behind the facade of the regular Yahoo and if it's not been for some misadventure I'll never have stumbled into it. I'm talking about the Green Yahoo. Not, it's not another search engine claiming to be green by changing colors nor using it will be necessarily more earth friendly. I believe it consumes as much power as the regular Yahoo.

What it does is bring together in one place web pages that have something to do with the environment, nature, and ecology so eco-minded netizens looking for eco-friendly sites won't search far and wide for them.

It has sections on keeping a green home, global warming, living green, calculating our impact, making a plan, and, of course, a gift guide.

Check it out here if you haven't yet.

EntreCard contest winner.

2008-04-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

This refers to our post on the biggest EntreCard contest ever. The deadline was April 15, 2008 and a winner was announced last April 21st. The grand prize winner (34,000 EC) is Administrative Arts ( http://entrecard.com/user_details/8051).

WeLoveNature has sponsored the Environment category who's winner is MommyMe ( http://entrecard.com/user_details/7847/). Prize was 248 EC. :D

We hope everybody had fun with the contest.

Calculating carbon footprint on Earth Day.

2008-04-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

Finally, Earth Day is here. We have different ways of celebrating it, all geared towards raising awareness to the plight of this lonely home of ours. We are going on a clean-up drive. For those who opt to surf the web, now is the perfect time to calculate our carbon footprint.

What is a carbon footprint? Wikipedia says it is the "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide." In other words, it represents the portion of the total greenhouse gas emission each of us is responsible for.

The friendliest carbon footprint calculator is the one by EarthDay.net. Click here to take the quiz. The results are eye-opening.

I thought I was already living within acceptable limits. Man, was I wrong!My total carbon footprint is 7.1. The earth is only able to provide 1.8 biologically productive hectares per person. So if everybody lives like I do, says the quiz, we need 3.9 planets. Looks like I have a lot of readjusting to do.

What's your score? :D

A humorous take on the rise in oil prices

2008-04-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

Since our post on ethanol as a biofuel and what was the cause of the war in Iraq are still fresh, we thought of sharing these humorous offshoots on the rise in oil prices that was passed to our gmail inbox. Enjoy!

The last looks like a feasible eco-friendly alternative to gas mowers, sheep for pets.

Get ready for trekking and camping!

2008-04-02T04:55:00.000-07:00

Summer is around the corner and some of us is considering taking some time off from regular routine like blogging. :D We're planning to take the kids beach camping this April. For those who seek greater challenges (although I doubt if there is a greater challenge than keeping teens, and 8 year-old, and a 2 year old happy and out of trouble during camping), I dug up a few timeless posts on the subject.

Make sure we are physically prepared with this free exercise program for hikers. Four weeks are all it takes to get us from desk jockeys to super hikers. While we are busy getting fit to trek, let's check if we have the essentials with this light camping gear and equipment article. Oftentimes, the barest minimum will produce maximum enjoyment.

For specific gears that may come in handy but we sometimes forget, let's tie a string around our fingers with strings and stuff for hikers, best camping knives for backpackers, and homemade alcohol stoves. Little things make a big difference.

Finally, when we are ready for the big day, let's ruminate on the 3 basic rules for campers and trekkers: Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, and kill nothing but time.

Happy camping and trekking!

Get ready for the best green cars.

2008-03-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Getting a hundred to a gallon, that's the goal of the latest competition sponsored by the Xprize foundation and progressive insurance. The Xprize foundation is better known in celebrating and promoting space flight like its Xprize cup and the Lunar Lander Challenge.

It's latest challenge is more earth-bound, to get competitors to create production-ready green cars that can will squeeze 100 miles from a gallon of petrol, or better. With a prize of USD10 million, we're expecting to see efficient and feasible technologies from small professional teams who will buck traditional concepts on auto-building.

What was the cause of the war in Iraq?

2008-03-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

After nearly 5 years (it began on March 20, 3003), people are still unsure of the real cause of the war in Iraq. An official rationale for the war has been released, but critics claimed the U.S. government or the Bush administration, in particular, has misrepresented evidences for getting the nod from Congress and the United Nations.

I just stumbled into an article by the Washington Post entitled "A Crude Case of War?" claiming that the war was fought for oil and the major western oil companies largely benefited from it. However, the U.S. has a very limited success in rebuilding and controlling the Iraqi oil infrastructure in spite of huge sum, material, and manpower thrown into the war.

Here's a quote from that post on Alan Greenspan...

In his recent memoir, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said: "I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: The Iraq war is largely about oil."

How much exactly is the cost of the Iraq war for the U.S.? There's no total and final sum yet because the war is still on but here is a site that shows a real time estimate of the current cost of the Iraq war (click here). At the moment the counter is at $500 billion. That's for the U.S. alone and it does not include the lives lost. Other groups came up with a "conservative" estimate of $3 trillion.

Critics, think-thanks, and what-have-yous quipped that if the U.S. is indeed after the oil, it already has "invested" more than it could ever hope to gain from the war. The report caught my eye because of the money involved.

What if the $500 billion was instead used to fund research on and development of alternative fuels or more efficient vehicles? Would we already be enjoying the fruits of that exercise in the 5 years the second gulf war has been raging on? Do young people still need to pay red blood for black gold, ever?

The mother of all EntreCard blog contests

2008-03-16T01:17:00.000-07:00

We love nature has recently joined a blog network called EntreCard. It's a social network combined with traffic generation. The thing is, SenseToSave has initiated what is probably the largest EntreCard contest ever (click here to read about it). It starts now, March 15, 2008, and lasts until April 15, 2008.

The grand prize is 34,000 EC credits. What do we need to do? We have copy-pasted the details of the contest below:

The contest will be held March 15 - April 15.
Only new users that sign up with Entrecard during this promotional period will be eligible.
Comment and mention your Entrecard username at any of the hosting blogs on their contest post to receive a contest entry. You can comment one time on each hosting blog to receive one entry each comment.
A 1st place prize of 34,000 credits will be given randomly to a new user.
Smaller 2nd place prizes will be given within each Entrecard niche category.

We love nature has volunteered to host the Environment Category. Here's what everybody needs to do:
1. Sign-up with EntreCard from March 15 to April 15.
2. If your blog has anything to with nature and the environment, make a comment in this post to get counted (we're also DoFollow so that's a bonus link back as well).

There are only 33 blogs in the Environment category so let's rally behind nature guys!

That's it and enjoy the free traffic from EntreCard.

Farm ethanol plants (part 2).

2008-03-16T00:50:00.000-07:00

This post is a continuation of Farm ethanol plants part 1 found her e. The most common farm crops used for ethanol production are corn, sugarcane, sweet potato, and cellulose sources like switchgrass. We have covered corn in the previous post and let's go on to the last three.

2. Sugarcane

Total worldwide production of sugarcane nearly reached 1.4 billion tons as of last count, in approximately 200 countries. Like corn, most of the sugar produced already have their intended uses, which is not as biofuel. Except in Brazil, whose successful 29-year biofuel program is largely based on ethanol.

We face similar predicaments to using corn when we use sugarcane for ethanol production. In the Philippines the governor of a major sugarcane province has urged farmers to produce ethanol (click here for the article). Right now, Filipinos can barely afford sugar due to its soaring price and the government is importing the sweet stuff. Is this scene common in other developing countries?

3. Sweet Potatoes

We have a previous article expounding on the use of sweet potato for ethanol production (click here). We think it's the better alternative than corn or sugarcane.

4. Cellulose

Another alternative for ethanol production are the bodies or stalks of plants and grasses. Since they're made of carbohydrates, alcohol can be made by fermenting them. They are not essentially farm crops by themselves but rather farm wastes and wild grasses than can be put to good use. One of them is switchgrass which is common to the prairie areas of the U.S.

Other "waste" biomass that have high cellulose content include corn stalks and sugarcane bagasse.

There's nothing wrong with ethanol in itself as a biofuel. We just have to make sure that we won't be creating more social and environmental problems if we promote it's use.

Farm ethanol plants (part 1).

2008-03-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ethanol is most familiar to us as the bottled source of a temporary state of well-being we encounter in a can of beer or a glass of wine. Woefully, ethanol has been summoned from this elevated existence to serve more mundane tasks like powering vehicles. However, there are questions if it is more practical to keep ethanol as a fountain of joy for mankind or as an alternative source of fuel for our rides.

Ethanol is a product of fermenting sugars with yeast -- although it can also be produced from petrochemicals through the acid-catalyzed hydration of ethylene, whatever that means. Sugar can be found in most fruit and root plants and the ethanol industry has turned their attention on cash crops as a renewable source of ethanol.

The most common farm plants being used or eyed for ethanol production includes corn, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, and cellulose sources like switchgrass:

1. Corn

Corn (Zea mays) or maize is one of the oldest food crops domesticate by man, said to have started 7,500 to 12,000 years ago. We say started because we aren’t finished with it yet. Even though it’s one capricious plant (cold intolerant, highly dependent on top soil moisture, and a nutrient hog, the modern varieties at least), corn cultivation has spread throughout the world from Mexico, with the U.S. leading the way with almost half of the total harvest per annum.

Corn is a major staple in South America and Africa. It is a major livestock feed in The US and Canada. All corn being produced now has their intended uses. So if we think ethanol from corn, we either have to (1) reduce the volume of grain available for traditional uses, (2) grow more corn in presently cultivated areas, or (3) open new areas for corn cultivation.

If we go with choice No. 1. Are the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia willing to reduce reliance on corn for feeding livestock and other uses? Because if they’re not, the only other major sources of the grain are South America, Africa, and South-east Asia where it is a major part of the diet and it is too easy to entice countries from these continents to sell their corn to the detriment of the local population.

Least we think running our cars the “eco-friendly” way has nothing to do with world hunger, the poor in Haiti are already eating mud cookies. Corn is a major crop for that country, occupying nearly 47% of all arable lands.

If we go with choice No. 2. We definitely tried to get more harvest from our corn crops using the same area of land. But the new varieties we’ve produced are also nutrient-intensive whose requirements can’t be met through organic ways. Yep, chemical fertilizers galore, which kills the soil. Ask any farmer who had extensively used chemical fertilizers to support their crops, especially corn.

If we go with choice No. 3. We shudder at the thought of where will those expansion areas be. The easiest choices will be the remaining forests in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

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Global Warming: a chilling forecast

2007-06-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

This article has a chilling forecast if global warming continues unabated: many of the world's existing climate zones will be completely replaced by new ones never before seen by 2100 as the heat continues to creep towards the poles. The article didn't mention it but could this mean desertification along the tropics and the warmer temperate regions? That surely would be disastrous for the world's biodiversity.

The report mentioned the Amazon rainforest, Africa, Indonesia, and the Philippine archipelago. These four regions is home to a large part of the world's species of flora and fauna. All of them are surrounded by seas, except for the Amazon, and there would be no way for the various species to keep up with tolerable climates. Even the Amazon is threatened by isolation as the isthmus of Panama is bisected by a wide canal.

Fortunately, we can, as individuals, help to avert the situation. How? By growing trees, shrubs, or anything that consumes Carbon Dioxide, the major greenhouse gas. If we leave things to the politicians, that forecast could become the truth.

Celebrating the Environment Month

2007-05-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

Once a year comes a special day for each and every one of us. We and our loved ones rejoice and celebrate the day we came into the world. It's only appropriate that we fête mother nature in turn and, fittingly, for a whole month too. Our turn is on June, this coming month.

We already have lined-up several activities to the tune of "Beating the Heat" that will promote awareness on Global Warming and Climate Change. We are also going to plant, and grow, trees, lots of them. For once, nature herself was very cooperative since it has started raining after a three-month heat wave that broke earlier records in average daily temperature.

Different countries celebrate the Environment Month at different times and in different ways. This differences only underscores the diversity in nature that we want to preserve. It does not matter how we do it. We can dance, sing, or blog about it. The important thing is we observe this special time for nature and enjoy it's beauty.

We cannot separate nature and fun. It's impossible not to be enchanted by a butterfly struggling out of its cocoon, the shifting red and orange shades of a sunset, or the rapid beats of a hummingbird's wings as it hovers over a flower, dipping its beak into the nectar well to take a sip. Even death is temporary, for new shoots sprouts in the stead of burnt stumps.

We can even honor nature every day. How? Remember and do the 3 Rs: Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle. Reduce our output of wastes (do we really need a new computer or another gadget?). Re-use what we and our family already have (I used to wear hand-me-down clothes and shoes from my father until I outgrew them). Recycle our stuff (old newspaper can become paper mache decor), segregate recyclable materials and donate them, and promote recycling (If I ever go to fastfood joints, I prefer those that don't use styrofoam boxes to pack their food).

Best camping knife for backpackers.

2007-05-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

Knives do not deserve their evil reputation. Any dyed-in-the-wool backpacker should have one of these essential tools. Knives for practical purposes generally falls under two categories: folders and fixed blades.

A folder, or folding knife, have mechanisms that allows the blade to be folded and stored in the handle. That ubiquitous Swiss army knife and its many variants can be classified as folders but a backpacker should opt for a more substantial package. Devotees of folders cite their compactness as an advantage in backpacking, contending that they are up to any task that can be encountered in the wild.

A fixed blade is a more traditional one-piece implement. They are further classified as full tang, hidden or "rat-tail" tang, and stub tang. A full tang knife has the blade extending well into the general shape of the handle. Hidden or "rat-tail" tangs has a pointed appendage extending from the blade that is inserted into the handle. As for stub tangs, KEEP AWAY FROM THEM. They are not worth your money.

My backpacking knife is a full tang with an 8-inch blade that looks like a cross between a leaf-shaped barong (a large Filipino knife beloved of Maguindanao and Tausug warriors) and a Kukri or Khukuri (heavy, curved Nepalese knife used as both tool and weapon). It's made of ATS-34 (a type of stainless steel from Hitachi) and is large and heavy enough to do most camping tasks required of it. I bought it five years ago for only $6.00.

Obviously, I prefer a fixed blade for my backpacking needs. I'm a KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) type of guy, a bit paranoid too and a subscriber of Murphy's Law, and I believe that the more mechanical parts there are in a tool or instrument, the greater are the chances of it breaking down. I hate equipment that lets me down when I need it the most. Fortunately, the myriad of choices available will ensure that you will find the right knife for your needs and to your liking.

There was a time when one of my trekking companions, who did not believed in carrying knives, borrowed mine. His action simply reinforced my thinking that your beliefs does not matter, if you are a backpacker, go get a sturdy knife. You'll find it to be a most useful friend in need.

Homemade alcohol stoves.

2007-05-02T02:14:00.000-07:00

We are already familiar with the light and portable alcohol stoves that are extremely useful in trekking and camping. There are even numerous online tutorials on how to make one from aluminum soda cans and other readily available materials. However, both commercial and home-made varieties suffers from one failing, the steady crown of blue flame the stoves produce guzzles alcohol like a drunkard.

My buddy came up with this really simple alcohol stove idea and I modified it a bit to serve my purpose. It's nothing more than a can (or two in my case), a cotton ball, and a squirt of alcohol. I made mine with the following:

Milk Can. I took a large milk can and bored holes all over it with an electric drill. A large nailed can be used to punch holes too.The milk can serves as a wind break and support to the small pot or tin can you'll cook the food in.
Aluminun Vienna Sausage Can. I took one of those obiquitous small cans (lift-top) and flattened the sharp edges. A halved soda can will work too. This serves as the stove.
Cotton Balls. If you clean your face every night, you already know what are those. This serves as the wick.
Alcohol. We usually use industrial alcohol that is 90-99% pure as fuel.

First, place the aluminum Vienna sausage can inside the large milk can and plant them in a stable surface. Then, pop a cotton ball into the aluminum can as close to the center as possible and squirt some alcohol into the can until the ball is covered halfway. Finally, drop a match to light the wick and place the pot or tin cup on top to start cooking. Squirt more alcohol as needed (be sure to remove the pot or tin cup first).

We have used this simple alcohol stove to boil water for 6-10 minutes at elevations of approximately 1,000 meters above sea level. As we know, water's boiling point increases as we go higher. It takes longer to boil water in the mountains than in the beach. The whole shebang is extremely light, potable, and skimps on alcohol. I hope you'll find it useful.

Day of Shame

2007-04-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

I'm at a loss for words on the passing of Julia Campbell. Never knew her personally but I've met and worked with other foreigners who left comfortable lives in their respective countries for one of hardship and service in the Philippine boondocks. I felt shame after the news flashed yesterday that her body was found 10 days after it went missing beside a dike in Banaue covered with soil and grass. Shame...

Ethanol fuels from sweet potato

2007-04-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

The current biofuel craze may have environmental repercussions we are unaware of. Presently, the primary source of ethanol are corn and sugarcane. Increased commercial production of the fuel alternative can have the following impacts:

Poisoning of the soil, water tables, and streams due to increased use of chemical fertilizers;
Reducing food production due to conversion of fertile and prime farmlands to ethanol production; and
Encroaching on and clearing of remaining tropical rainforests for sugarcane plantations.

Fortunately, a crawling vine may provide a solution to the ethanol fuel dilemma, sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) or yam. This lowly plant's ethanol-relevant feature are its large, starchy, and sweet roots. At least a fourth of each tuber is composed of carbohydrate, mostly starch and some glucose. They convert easily to alcohol.

The following characteristics make sweet potato almost perfect for ethanol production:

It can be grown in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions and in any terrain (That's almost everywhere);
The plant can be grown in a variety of soil except for heavy clay-types where the roots doesn't have much chance of development;
It does not require much fertilizer and little maintenance. They don't need additional fertilizers in fertile soil since the plant will produce mostly greens;
Sweet potato has a short maturity period of 3.5 to 4 months; and
The tubers can be stored for 3 months after a seven-day cure in any open space (try that with sugarcane).

EDIT
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Here's an interesting article about the harmful effect of Ethanol fuel on the environment.

Ethanol danger to environment.

2007-04-16T02:21:00.000-07:00

Like most bloggers, I love receiving constructive comments on my posts. Aside from the obvious reasons, they sometimes steer the direction of our thoughts. Take this comment on my previous post entitled "Strings and Stuff for Hikers," the guy must be selling something (the comment is in German, I think, and I've no idea how he found my blog). The only thing I could decipher is the word "Hallo" and a visit to the included link came up with a website on fuel, including a page on Biodiesel and Ethanol.

I was thinking about the extensive promotion of the use of ethanol the past months and it's impact on the environment. Due to political (what with most of the world's oil needs served by countries like Iran and Libya) and Environmental (Greenhouse gases) pressures, governments are actively promoting the use of ethanol fuel for cars, led by no less than the U.S. The use of ethanol as a fuel for daily use was a Brazilian initiative for years and they are way ahead of everybody else in related practical research and development.

This is a fact recognized by the U.S. in an agreement for further ethanol fuel development signed with the Brazilian government. This is good because (1) Brazil finally got the recognition it deserved for being a pioneer in this field (Okay, they didn't invent ethanol as a fuel but they were the first to use it on a grand scale) and (2) it showed everybody else that ethanol can indeed be a practical, renewable, and environment-friendly alternative to fossil fuel.

What concerns me is the worldwide thirst for fuel that will provide impetus for a monumental production of ethanol. There is even a website dedicated to this: www.ethanol.org. The most common sources of commercial ethanol is corn and sugarcane. Both of these crops needs productive farmlands. Brazil uses sugarcane for ethanol production.

Commercial sugarcane cultivation requires level or sloping land that are accessible to machineries. The sweet grass also needs application of chemical fertilizers for long-term sustainability and efficient production of ethanol. If Brazil will strive to keep it's place as the world leader in ethanol production in view of an increase in worldwide consumption, there is only one way to it's going to get enough farmland for the purpose. Yes, move into the Amazon Rainforest.

Now, we will not tackle here how important the Amazon is to the world ecosystem as there are already more than enough sites committed to that topic. Suffice it to say that at the moment that carbon sink is continually threatened by poachers and the encroachment of farms and ranches. Could proliferation of ethanol use worsen it's present condition? Sometimes, the most obvious answer is not the best one.

Strings and Stuff for Hikers

2007-04-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure how it came to be but Holy Week reminds me of Guy de Maupassant’s The Piece of String. It can be due to the injustice suffered by the main character in the hands of the community or the gloomy and bitter end of the story. Notwithstanding the cause of this recollection, nebulous images of sufferings and string again trifled with my memory the past Lenten season.

Those memories triggered another, which is the implication of strings and similar stuff to the lives of backpackers, trekkers, and climbers. I emphasized in a previous post their rightful place in a light-backpackers kit. They are useful in diverse situation, from shimming-up a steep incline with your backpack in tow to drying your wet things.

There are three kinds of strings or ropes you’ll find in my pack:

Rappelling Ropes

If you’ve seen movies on mountain climbing or SWAT teams, then you are familiar with rappelling ropes. They are light, water-repellent, and strong. They also come in different colors, from basic black to flaming orange. Mine is yellow. Bright colors are easier to see under the shade of thick forest canopies. You’ll need about 10-20 meters of the stuff.

Nylon Straps

Nylon straps don’t have much tensile strength but the wider surface area provides a better grip. It’s best for tying-down things. When I use straps to tie boots and other things to my pack, I’m fairly confident that they will stay in place. Take 2-4 of these straps that are 2.5 meters in length each.

Boot laces

Nylon bootlaces can be used for any job that requires tying. Need a spear in a hurry (for what purpose, only you can imagine)? Done! You only need your knife, a sapling, and a bootlace. The howling wind threatens to bowl over your dome tent? Stabilize it with both laces tied to grasses, brushes, and outcrops nearby. The uses of bootlaces are only limited by the imagination so bring along as many as you dare.

Don’t forget to bring these essentials on your next trip. Tie a string around your finger to be sure.

Free exercise program for hikers: number 5.

2007-04-04T03:33:00.000-07:00

FROM DESK JOCKEY TO SUPER HIKER

IN 4 WEEKS

By Steve George

WEEK 5

That's it. You're ready to go. But wait, here's some additional tips.

Morning After Relief:

Neck: Look left as far as you can, then turn just a little bit farther - until you feel a stretch, not pain. Turn to the right and repeat.

Straight-leg raise: Lie down on your back with your right knee bent and right foot flat on the ground. Straighten your left leg and raise it. Lift as far as you can then lift just a little bit more. Lower and switch legs.

Shoulders/chest/back: Reach back, arms extended, as far as you can. Feel the stretch across your chest and the contraction in your shoulder blades. Now bring your arms forward and wrap then around your chest, like giving yourself a hug.

Back and hips: Sit on the ground, cross-legged, hands flat on the ground to steady yourself. Contract your abdominals and bend forward. As you bend, let your back round a little and keep going down. Turn slightly to the left, so your chest is positioned directly over your left leg. Hold that stretch for 6-10 seconds, then rotate to the right side.

Rub it out: A little self-massage will make you feel better.

Another thing, keep at it even after your trip. Devise a year-round plan.

Free exercise program for hikers: number 4.

2007-03-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

FROM DESK JOCKEY TO SUPER HIKER

IN 4 WEEKS

By Steve George

WEEK 4

Goal: Now’s the time to put the finishing touches on your increasingly fit physique. You’ll increase the time and intensity of your aerobic work-out. Weight training will intensify, too.

Day 22: 45 to 50 minutes of aerobic exercise at 75 to 85 percent of maximum heart rate, or as long as you can. Don’t beat yourself up if you drop to 70%. You’re still in the training zone.

Day 23: Ten-minute warm-up, then start lifting: 2 to 3 sets of 10 reps of a weight that leaves you tired after each set. Rest about 1 minute between sets. If you’re still feeling sore from last week’s strength training, stick with 2 sets of 8 reps.

Day 24: Walk 45 minutes to an hour with a full pack. Swing those trekking poles for maximum aerobic benefit.

Day 25: Rest.

Day 26: Same as Day 23.

Day 27: Same as Day 22.

Day 28: Same as Day 23

Click here for part 5.

Free exercise program for hikers: number 3.

2007-03-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

FROM DESK JOCKEY TO SUPER HIKER

IN 4 WEEKS

By Steve George

WEEK 3

Goal: You’ve spent 2 weeks toning muscle, now you’re ready to build some. That means performing fewer sets and reps while using heavier weights. On aerobic days, you’ll be adding 5 to 10 minutes to your workout, which you’ll be doing at 75 to 80 percent of maximum heart rate.

Day 15: Aerobic workout for 40 to 50 minutes at 75% to 80% of maximum heart rate.

Day 16: Warm up for 10 to 15 minutes with a jog or brisk walk around the block. Then start weight training – 2 sets of 8 to 10 reps of a heavy weight – enough that you should feel significant fatigue after each set. Rest 1 to 2 minutes between each set.

Day 17: Same as Day 15.

Day 18: 30 to 45 minutes packwalk with trekking poles. Load the pack with 3/4s to all of the weight you’d typically carry on a trip.

Day 19: Same as Day 16.

Day 20: Same as Day 15.

Day 21: Rest

Click here for part 4.

Free exercise program for hikers: number 2.

2007-03-14T04:45:00.000-07:00

FROM DESK JOCKEY TO SUPER HIKER

IN 4 WEEKS

By Steve George

WEEK 2

Goal: Continue to boost your cardiovascular power by adding 10 minutes to your aerobic exercise. Your activity should keep you at 50 to 75 percent of Maximum heart rate, edging into the middle of that training zone. You’ll also be adding more sets and reps to strength training.

Day 8: 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise, then strength training 2 to 3 sets of each exercise using moderate weight – something you can lift for 8 to 12 reps before fatiguing. Rest 30 seconds between sets.

Day 9: 30 minutes of packwalking with the pack filled between a third and half of the weight you’d typically carry on a trip. Start walking with ski or trekking poles—this makes your arms and legs swing, increasing cardiovascular workload and improving aerobic power.

Day 10: Same as day 8.

Day 11: Same as day 9, only load your pack with half the load you’d carry on the trail.

Day 12: Same as day 8

Day 13: Rest day.

Day 14: Same as day 8.

Suggested strength training routines to add:

Shoulder shrug roll “backpacker’s special” – clench your shoulder muscles and rotate them toward your back at the highest point of the shrug to counter hunching.
one-arm dumbbell row.
Stiff-legged Dumbbell Deadlift.
Standing side bends.
Crunches.
Push-ups.
Kickbacks.
Alternating curls.
Squats.
Leg extensions.
Leg extension “Backpacker’s special”- As you extend your left leg, rotate it slightly to the outside. If your foot was the sweephand on a clock, it would be pointing at 11 o’ clock. Do the same with right, with foot pointing at 1 o’ clock.

Click here for part 3.

Free exercise program for hikers: number 1.

2007-03-12T03:01:00.000-07:00

A comment (many thanks to whoever posted it) in my previous post prompted me to riffle through my dust-covered boxes and search for a moth-eaten copy of an article in a 1997 issue of Backpacker entitled From Desk Jockey to Super Hiker in 4 weeks. It was a hand-me-down from my sister and I thought summer being less than a month away, it could be useful to some of you readers. I also plan to use it to get back into hiking-shape since I’ve been sidelined by an operation for a year now.

The article is written by a certain Steve George and I’m going to post in here in 5 installments. So here goes…

FROM DESK JOCKEY TO SUPER HIKER

IN 4 WEEKS

By Steve George

WEEK 1

Goal: Get your heart and lungs back up to hiking speed. You’ll also start basic strength training.

Day 1: 20 to 30minutes of aerobic work – cycling, running, swimming, etc. Do stretches before and after your routine.

Day 2: 20 – 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. This will also serve as a warm-up to your strength training, which will start today. Suggested weight training routines: Shoulder Shrugs and Alternating Front Lateral Raises. Do your usual stretches.

Day 3: Start a “pack-walking” schedule. Put on your boots and empty pack and take a 20-minute to 30-minute walk.

Day 4: Same as Day 2.

Day 5: Same as Day 3. This time, add about one-quarter of the weight you’d typically carry.

Day 6: Same as day 2.

Day 7: Rest.

Click here for part 2.

Light camping gear and equipment.

2007-03-04T00:31:00.000-08:00

You can usually spot a trekking or camping newbie a mile away since all you see is a gargantuan pack on two legs. Going trekking and camping is not only about having fun in nature but also about the satisfaction of living with the barest of necessities and surviving. Besides, anybody loaded down with a huge pack will be cursing every step instead of enjoying the sights and sound.

So if you are considering communing with nature for a week or so, leave the TV set and refrigerator behind and buckle-up with the following essentials:

1. Light shoes

You’ll be doing a lot of walking and will consider a good pair of hiking boots your new best friend. Invest in a proven brand, the lighter, the better. Heavier boots offer better protection but there will be nothing to protect if you can’t take a step with them.

2. Light pack.

A light, well-fitting pack will be your second new best friend. Remember that any fancy rigs like springs and other stuff will make a pack heavier and add to your burden. Go for sturdy brands. You don’t want anything snapping or tearing while you are halfway up a rock face.

3. Light tent

Consider one-man or two-man pup tents. You’ll need them only during the night anyway. Bring along a thin plastic sheet to throw over and tuck under the tent to make it waterproof. A few sacks would be handy for your shoes and other things you can’t get inside the tent.

4. Light sleeping bag

Don’t even consider a bag that would take up half of the space in your pack. For summer trips, an earth pad and a light sheet are even better.

5. Light Accessories

Go for ones made of plastic and/or light alloy materials. Your camping stove could be just an aluminum soda can and a squirt of alcohol. Use LED flashlights and pack a length of climbing rope and some nylon boot laces.

6. Light food.

If you can’t live without meat products even for just a week then try to limit it to two cans. Get some beef or turkey jerky instead. Our favorites include oatmeal (top on our list), instant or no-cook noodles, powdered juice, milk/cocoa powder, biscuits, and dried fruits/nuts. A few chlorine tablets, aspirin, and anti-diarrheal drugs might be needed.

Our main goal in trekking and camping is to enjoy nature and have fun. We can’t do both if we are bent over and staring at our shoes all day long and hitting the sack like a dead log at night. Plan to go light.

3 Basic Rules for Trekkers and Campers

2007-02-19T02:57:00.000-08:00

I once brought my new nephew along on a 3-day trekking and camping trip in the hope of instilling in him an appreciation for nature. Before we set-out on our trip, I drilled into him the three (3) basic rules any hiker, trekker, and camper worth his salt should know. I would like to share them with you.

1. LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS.

Pack out what we pack in. That includes plastic wrappers and aluminum cans. Go for biodegradable packaging materials whenever possible and bury them deep. Please, let us shoot some pictures to show we’ve been there and share them via the net, not leave some marks scratched on rock faces or gouged into trees.

2. TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES.

Taking pictures is half the fun of venturing into natural areas. Don’t take anything from the forest or wilderness as souvenirs. If every person takes a chip off that shiny blue rock or uproot a beautiful ground orchid, soon there will be no rock or orchids left.

3. KILL NOTHING BUT TIME.

With our normally hectic lifestyles, we go trekking or camping to relax and commune with our inner selves. We are welcome to kill time but let us respect the denizens of the forest. When we come back the next year, they will still be there and grace us with their soul-soothing presence.

I stumbled upon these principles way back in college and doesn’t know who originally thought it up. Whoever the author is, the person is right in making only three so we can remember them easily. Happy trekking and camping!

Mangrove forest restoration and romance.

2007-02-14T21:57:00.000-08:00

We seldom think of mangroves as romantic places. They are muddy, stinky, debris-filled, and full of strange plants whose weird roots are ready to snag any unwary wader's foot. Yet, Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Puerto Princesa's staunch ally of nature has managed to do the inconceivable by staging a mass marriage in one of Palawan's numerous endangered mangrove areas.

It is fitting for love to be consecrated in such unusual environs. Mangroves serve many purposes, foremost among them as home and breeding ground to crustaceans and fishes. It is where the mature ones lay their eggs and where the hatchings seek protection until they are ready to face a brave new world.

The couples were asked to plant some mangrove species before the ceremony and most were more than happy to comply. Most were unaware of the intangible benefits we get from mangroves but all knew that the seedlings they planted were symbolic of their love. They will grow, multiply into a forest, and serve as a sanctuary for other living things. It just goes to show that love conquers all.

Global warming, fact or fiction?

2007-02-09T20:33:00.000-08:00

Back when I took our licensure examination, there was an essay question about logging, which was a big issue during those days. We were asked to side with or against it. Being fresh out of college and filled with idealism and belief in my chosen profession, I molded my answer around the idea of conservation and sustainability through proper management and utilization. That is a mouthful for Silviculture.

Naturally, my companions were aghast when I told them my choice. Being pro-environment and anti-logging was the rage in those days. Most considered my act as traitorous and misguided. What they could not fathom was that my love for nature goes deeper than books, examinations, friends, and fads. I certainly would feel comfortable living in the Stone Age but that is not an option for most of the earth’s population.

In a similar light, global warming and greenhouse gases were a hot topic ten to fifteen years ago, incriminating highly industrialized countries. The recent convention on global warming has brought the subject again to the limelight, with countries on the fast-tract to development like China as the new culprits. People talk of halting global warming at all cost for the survival of mankind. However, like with total log ban, I have my doubts. Let us ruminate on the following thoughts:

1. Global warming as part of evolution.

We often think in terms of man as the center of the universe and forget that we are only a minuscule part of it. If the human species is a result of evolution, what makes us think that we have stopped evolving? The same is true with our home. The earth has gone more of phases than we can remember. There a possibility that global warming and its aftermath is part of a larger design.

2. Humans adapt to their environment

We can find humans in almost every corner of the earth, from blazing deserts to frozen tundras. We are that tough and resilient. Our activities that produces the most greenhouse gases, industrialization and production, fuels researches and advances in technology. Somehow, mankind will find ways to adapt and survive a changing world. To put it another way, what if we still evolve despite all efforts to contain Global Warming and sacrificing technological development as a consequence? Do we face an uncertain future with canoes and paddles?

3. Green plants needs greenhouse gases

The biggest component of green house grasses is Carbon Dioxide. We learned in our high school science class that green plants needs CO2 to produce food. In short: lots of raw materials + warmer climate = bountiful harvests.

4. Waterworld is just a movie.

Some scientist guesses that global warming will causes oceans to rise by meters. Others contend it will do so only by centimeters. Considering both opinions, I don’t think that we will ever see a waterworld happening to this planet. Sure, a few low-lying island can disappear but, like I said before, maybe it’s just part of another phase in our evolution and we can quickly adapt to it.

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Note:

This blog has been moved from pebbleworm.wordpress.com. I will keep the old one until March 2007, after which it will be deleted, including comments.

Okay, fire away! :)

A worm's resolution...

2007-02-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

Adieu 2006! Welcome 2007! We’ve got a full year ahead of us. I’m wondering if I’ll still be up to my neck in the same rotten mess or maybe plow through a new heap of decomposing dregs discarded by humanity. Whew! What’s with the gloomy outlook? For one, we still got a number of fingers blown off in welcoming the New Year. Good news was there were a lesser number of cases compared to last year, bad news was most of them were kids.

Good news is we are going to have a chance to ditch our environmentally-handicapped leaders this coming May election. Bad news is who we are going to replace them with? If we review the performance of our leaders for the past six years, most of them will have a red tick beside the line that says “environmental responsibility.” For most of them, the environmental flag is something you wave when people line up to cast their ballots. It’s no surprise that being “environmental” has become the in-thing to do with political wannabes in the past year.

Most of them conveniently disregard the reality that caring for nature and the environment is not a one-shot affair. It requires long term commitment and years of hard work. They overlook the fact that the fruits of our present efforts will be harvested by future generations, not the present crop of voters. So what is it this time? Out with the old worms and in with the new ones?

I have resolved that we have to turn a new leaf for 2007, so to speak. I will definitely exercise my power for a more environment-friendly future in politics. That is, if they’ll allow me to vote since I was not able to beat the deadline for registration. Well, new leaf or not, a worm’s always a worm…

A worm's fishy story

2007-02-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

And then there was that time a HUGE fish got away. Alright, I am getting ahead of my story. A distant uncle of mine was insisting that he once hooked a great moray eel twice my height (I’m 5 feet 10 inches tall) and around eight finger-breadths in diameter. The clincher was, it got away. Well, we all know how fishermen sometimes are. Even I have been guilty of an overly active imagination when it comes to fishing. Since we will be staying with his family for two days, I decided to run down his story.

“Kid,” I called to my nephew after my uncle has strayed far enough, “will you take me fishing for moray eel?” The 12 year old rascal flashed me a toothy grin along with a chirpy nod. So off we went. It was midmorning by then with the blazing sun at 10 o’clock. The kid handed me a paddle and motioned for me to follow him. It’s been like a quarter of a century since I last used a paddle so I spent the rest of the morning refreshing my skills. By midafternoon, I was red as a lobster from the waist up.

After a practice run of a mile up and down the coast, the kid was finally satisfied I won’t turn around in circles or capsize the frail little craft they call an outrigger canoe. Very well, I can already paddle and we can go catch a mighty eel. “We’ve got to find some nightcrawlers first,” quipped the kid. Gee, the sun was still out and what in heaven’s name are we going to do with worms?

Okay, in order to catch an eel, we need fishes for bait and we need the worms to catch the fishes, sixteen in all. A bit confusing but that’s the way it goes. Why sixteen? Because there are sixteen large wicked-looking hooks attached to a length of fishing line. It’s not a fishing line really but a small diameter nylon rope and the hooks were attached to it with thin wires.

We marched to a little creek after digging-up half a can of worms, the kid up front and my precious 7-year-old trailing behind me. Now, I’ve got to stick a tiny hook into one of the slimy, wriggly creatures. After three passes and a near prick, I was finally able to bait my line. I threw my line, holding on to one end of course, into the creek and slowly reeled it in. Then snap! I felt the teeny tug and gave my line a deft pull. A shiny silver fish four finger-breadths in length was yanked out of the water, flew through the air, and flopped to the ground, with my daughter squealing all the way. I got the hang of it pretty easily and soon we have the requisite number of fishes for bait.

We quickly marched back to the house where the kid expertly impaled the fishes on the hooks strung along the fishing line for moray eels. The sun was already low and tinting the horizon a ruddy red when we set out on the frail craft. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sea but only when I’m out of it. We were venturing into the deep and my imagination started working overtime. First I peered down through a greenish haze into a sandy bottom, and then the water turned a deep blue-green, finally, nothing but the dark blue deep. I swore strange creatures lurked beneath our little canoe. I didn’t want to look foolish to a 12-year-old kid so I just stared ahead and kept paddling until he motioned for me to stop.

Seemed like that we have reached THE spot. Why that spot was different from all the other spots in that vast expanse of water was beyond my comprehension. Like a meek puppy, I just sat nervously gripping the side of the canoe, fearful that my slightest movement would tip us over into the waiting jaws of any monstrosity loitering underneath. The kid reeled out the line while I held my breath and silently called on all saints to keep us steady. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, the kid threw out the floater — a large piece of Styrofoam, settled himself in the prow, and nodded for me to turn our craft around and start paddling for shore. I was often accused of being a laggard but not this time.

I tried to remember everything I’ve read about focusing chi and I imagined every ounce of mystical energy in my body going down my two hands and into the paddle. My concentration was total on making swift but graceful strokes and soon the water turned from dark blue, blue-green, and, finally, sandy bottom. We reached the shore just as darkness blanketed everything and the first stars timidly blinked high up. It was a long night of anticipation and apprehension. There was also that nagging thought on what if the tide or waves carried the floater away, taking along the fishing line?

The following morning, we were up just as the sun was about to great a new day with his dazzling smile. Everybody was caught up in the excitement of a huge catch. Even our little tot was already up and clambering about the sand. We lost no time in dragging the canoe out into the water. Again, there was greenish sandy bottom, blue-green waters, and the dark blue deep. The kid caught the floater and reeled in the line.

The first hook appeared with the bait intact, then the second and the third. Farther down the line, the baits showed marks of being grabbed and eaten but every empty hook we brought in waned our excitement. Finally, the final hook was in view with no moray eel in tow. However, the bait was stripped from this one with the wire loosely wound in a circle. The kid remarked that something must have fought hard to free itself from the hook. It must indeed be an immense slimy eel, I imagined.

This time I slowly paddled back to shore, disappointed that we didn’t caught even a teeny eel to brag about. That feeling was overshowed by the relief that we didn’t have to deal with the monster that got away. At least, I’ve got a story to tell.

A worm's nature...

2007-02-09T03:49:00.000-08:00

All things are artificial for nature is the art of God.

The words were printed across the front of my friend’s black shirt, discreet white letters arcing over a small tree. Unexpectedly, it kind of hit me in the face for it summarized my philosophies in life. When I was younger, I headed off to the bushes to look for spiders when other kids were comfortably cocooned in front of their TV sets, I float down a nearby river in my makeshift raft when other kids headed for air-conditioned malls, I go fly a kite in a stiff breeze under a stifling sun while other kids were content to play their little video games in the shade.

Nature was all about beauty and simplicity, about finding and relishing life’s simple pleasures, about freedom from modern complexities and entanglements. Alas, nobody could remain a child forever. I left my raft, my spiders, and my kites behind. I was enmeshed in the pettiness and insecurities of the real world, world where I vied and toiled for a teeny-weeny space under the sun.

Fortunately, I was still free to dream and sometimes, when lady fortune bestowed one of her dazzling smiles, these dreams became true. Every now and then, I was able to indulge in nature’s bounty. Like the time I stared in awe at the deep blackness of a great chamber hollowed out of a small hill by water over millennias. Or when I was standing on the rim of a volcano, wondering at the force that hurled rocks the size of small buildings into the air to land where they now rest. Or when I was gazing at a majestic Philippine eaglet in its natural habitat. Ah, only a few could be so lucky.

Eventually, I perceived that even mundane affairs could reflect nature’s grandeur. A sunset, a child’s smile, fresh fish simply grilled, a loved one’s caress, I have savored such pleasures everyday and there is nothing spurious about them. I only have to open my heart and free my mind for nature is inside me.