Gas Head Goes West - Live

From the album Secret Samadi by Philadelphia Band 'Live'

Continuing my stay in San Fernando, today's venture would include hopefully finding some accessible woodland/forest and then taking it as it comes. Heading towards a promising looking wooded area I came across

this lovely family who put me right as to direction, along with the family next door who invited me to the 'Cock Fighting'.

In total, they had 25 'champion' Fighting Cocks in their garden, most resting on T shaped perches, but this was the Cockerel Cassius Clay of them all!

On my way I had to pass the Coconut Man laboriously chiseling away at the copra making the nuts ready to sell, mainly for the 'milk'.

The directions thus far had been sound, but coming across yet another family, living on the edge of both wood and mountainside (as they described it) I was privy to the best way and best birds to see.

Finding the path would have been difficult, but with 'local knowledge' at my disposal I was soon in there and

encountering the Bamboo Cutters. They didn't seem to be disturbing the birds, in fact in their vicinity the bird song was loudest and most varied but where the hell were they? What initially looked like a fairly small hill very soon developed into a mountain of mountainous proportions as the heat and humidity set in.

However, a small flock of noisy

ASIAN GLOSSY STARLINGS

past though and although seen many times before it was at least a bird in the book.

It's difficult to know if this Mango Tree is cultivated or wild,

but the next bird up was certainly wild, a

YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL

with some birds displaying.

Then came the prize I was hoping for, and the lady back down the hill had predicted,

RED JUNGLEFOWL

which she had told me would be best found at the top of the hill. Fortunately, I didn't have to go that far and additionally the lady told me her neighbour occasionally gives her family one to eat, and that their feet are much smaller than domestic fowl.

Any park is worth a look, so an optimistic search followed.

The Gravediggers however were far more cynical about their lot, asked if they liked it here the reply was "the name is shite", why do you think that I enquires, "because there is NO forest and there is NO lake" - point taken!

A few more Shrike and a look at the memorials

and views and just for good measure 4 BLUE-THROATED BEE-EATERS flew directly overhead and identified mainly by their distinctive chestnut crowns. Unfortunately they didn't stay very long.

Later, these White-eyes were found and thought to be 'YELLOWISH'

but yet to be confirmed.

More Monuments and Blooms, but I was now in need of a drink, a sugar hit and a snack, with the only place available being a petrol station.

where firstly I thought, "this should pish-off all the 'Gas Heads' back home". Prices here are for a litre and I managed 68 peso for my GB £ at the Airport, that shouldn't take long to get your gander up!

Unfortunately the gas Station shop was closed but there were tables and chairs outside - pheew - plus a cold water dispenser. Several people tried to access the shop, but then the cashier came over, ask me what I wanted, opened the shop, served me and went back to her post.

Thank You Very Much.

Last Train to San Fernando - Johnny Duncan & the Bluegrass Boys

Just as we go to post, country number 168 joins the readership by way of the intriguing, landlocked and remote Kingdom of Bhutan. A couple of years ago my Rig mate Dave Penney visited this wonderful place and returned with much praise for all he found, Since then it has been high priority on my list of places to visit, so who knows maybe some day soon. A warm welcome to the Blog awaits, and we hope you will pass on the link to your countrymen.

It was considered an early start would be advantageous with the first bus leaving Sagada at 05:00, but there was still something of a mountain to climb. The bag was already packed but it was still a 4a.m. alarm to make sure there was time to climbed the steep hill from hotel to bus station. I had checked this move thoroughly but by 10 past the hour the bus was still not in sight and 2 passers-by were now telling me the first would be 06:00 Needn't have worried as it did arrive, albeit a little late, and cracked the journey to Baguio in the prescribed 6 hours. On the strength of that it was thought best to carry on to my final destination, the small town of San Fernando without delay. For those following on the map, this is a small 'sea-side' town about 100 miles north of Baguio.

Having arrived there, with plenty of advice to progress my journey, I jumped straight into

a Motor Cycle Taxi to the recommended resort,

fitted the bill perfectly, a 60's throw-back to the days of the Beach Bums and Hippies - talk about 'fitting in'! However, given the lateness of the hour it was time to get the Blog posted, already being a day or two behind. No Internet Access at Peter's so a wander up the road to

where both Internet and dinner were available.

A little more luxurious than my 'garden shed' but then so was the price.

It was 'band night' and there were a serious number of people arriving to listen to a competent group but not my genre, Jazz Fusion, so after completing my labours it was off to bed.

This morning was a case of coffee then spending a little time finding my feet including a walk along the beach, first looking south

then the vista to the north.

A dead coal reef wasn't very inspiring,

while the sight of 2 Dakota Aircraft parked in someones back garden really makes you wonder just how they ended up there?

Around the point was no more inspiring making me feel the South China Sea may be devoid of bird life.

Leaving things to the surfies, I wandered the main road where so much vegetation would surely attract something of interest?

A typical back-yard, complete with Pigs, Dogs and Chickens.

There had been an over-far view of a Kingfisher as I left the resort, so it was appropriate that the first bird to be identified today was the same species.

Not only that but a 'Lifer' as well, a quite splendid

WHITE-COLLARED KINGFISHER

Wandering a little off the beaten track good numbers of Butterflies started to appear, and it's always of great interest to encounter a 'Blue' one with a 'Long-tail'.

Having said that, the next to be entered in the notebook was of even more interest. This 'Blue' was without a doubt the smallest Butterfly I have ever seen, to describe it as being the size of a 'Garden Pea' might make it sound a little larger than life.

While I sure this plant was not a Sun Dew it certainly had the appearance of one

while there were even more to see further into the wooded area.

The best I could do with this would be juvenile BLUE ROCK THRUSH, but hadn't expected to see one in a tree.

The Shrikes here, both Brown and Long-tailed, are so numerous it is difficult to resist the temptation of at least one shot,

and we finish with a small section of the 'thousands' of Ants here.