Snorkeling and The White Beach of Initao, Misamis Oriental

Last summer, me and my office mates went to travel and to see the beautiful beach of Initao Misamis Oriental, particularly the "Hapitanan", "Stop Over Place" in English. We choose Initao because one of our office mate, John's mother's hometown. We arrive at the beautiful place where it has a white sand, but not as white as those in Boracay, but still, it's white. The beach has some horses so could have a chance for some horse back riding. But the best part on the beach, is snorkeling! The beach has a healthy coral reefs, a wonderful place for snorkeling! We find our sunblocks and ready our way! It's my first time snorkeling so I was so excited.










The sun is up, as we swim our way, it is nice to snorkel when the sun is up so that the underwater will so clear and not dark. I got the chance to see what was under the sea. I was like, I was on a different world. Seeing those schools of fishes, large and tiny, with those different colors. I also got the chance to see Nemo in person! haha! I also found a black clown fish and and eel. It's another unforgettable experience because I only see this thing on movies like the Little Mermaid and other underwater movies.






Then our first swim was over and it is time for lunch! Eating time! We have to have our energy back for our second swim. Again the second time was also exciting. We went a little father from the shore and saw bigger fish. Unfortunately, the rain is coming and it made underwater dim. So we set off to shore. And spent the remaining time on the water and on the float. We even play splashing water! Haha!

The Window Made by the Sea, Azure Window

In Maltese, "Tieqa Żerqa", the Azure Window is perhaps the most spectacular landmark in the Maltese archipelago. It is a 50 meter high rock in the Dwejra Point cliffs. It shows a table-like rock over the sea, its is one of the most photographed vistas of the Maltese Islands. The rock is particularly spectacular during winter when waves crash high inside the arch. The sea has worn a hole through a narrow headland forming "the window" as the call it. Though now, the arch is in dangerous condition because large pieces of rock keep falling from the arch of the Azure window, sad to say, it is estimated that the arch will disappear in a few years.



Hope the government there will find ways to preserve it, so that the next generations can see this remarkable formation created by the sea. See this landmark now or else it will be gone in time.

The Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of South Africa. As one of the great capes of the South Atlantic Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope has been of special significance to sailors for many years and is widely referred to as "The Cape".

The term "Cape of Good Hope" was also used to indicate the early Cape Colony in the vicinity of the Cape Peninsula.


What's interesting about the Cape of Good Hope is its Flora and Fauna. The Cape ranges from rocky mountain tops to beaches and open sea, it is home to at least 250 species of birds. Examples of these are Ostrich, Bush birds, sunbirds and sugarbirds searching nectars from flowering plants. Lizards, snakes, tortoises and other small insect also inhabited the area. Zebras, eland, small mammals like rock hyrax, striped mouse, water mongoose, Cape clawless otter and white deer and baboons are also here.

The Cape is also an integral part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, th smallest yet richest of the world's six floral kindoms. This comprises of 1100 species of indigenous plants, which some are endemic. Coastal fynbos on alkaline sands and inland fynbos on acid soils, the two types of "Fine Bush" can be found here. The Cape of Good Hope is nominated to the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

White-Headed Mountain - Perpetually White Mountain

Koreans called it Baekdu-san, meaning "white-headed mountain". The Chinese named it Changbai Shan and in Manchu, Golmin Šanggiyan Alin, which means "perpetually white mountain". Baekdu Mountain is a volcanic mountain on the border between China and North Korea. It is the highest mountain of the Changbai mountain range to the north and Baekdudaegan mountain range to the south.


Located within the caldera atop the mountain is a large crater lake called Heaven Lake. Baekdu mountain is a stratovolcano about 5km wide and 850m deep. The lake has a circumference of 12 to 14 kilometres, with an average depth of 213 m and maximum depth of 384 m. From mid-October to mid-June, the lake is typically covered with ice. Its highest peak is called Janggan Peak, covered with snow about eight months of the year. Its slop is relatively gentle until about 1,800 metres.


The weather on the mountain can be very erratic. The annual average temperature at the peak is about -8.3 degrees Celsius. During summer, temperatures of about 18 degrees Celsius can be reached, and during winter temperatures can drop to -48 degrees Celsius. Average temperature is -24 degrees Celsius in January, 10 degrees Celsius in July, remaining below freezing for eight months of the year. Average wind speed is 11.7 meters per second, reaching an average of 17.6 m/s in December. Relative humidity averages 74%. In recent decades, there has been significant climate warming on the mountain. Summer snow cover on the peak has reduced dramatically during that time.

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Baekdu Mountain