Monday, April 11, 2011

"Inception"...Volcano Style


Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten. We were hijacked last week and I owe you a field trip. So who’s up for playing hooky  today and visiting an active volcano? Oh, come on.  I know you’re braver than that. I spent the night over there last weekend and I survived. Shall we go? Great! That’s the spirit! Here are your lifejackets. We’re taking the boat today.



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Taal is quite the wonder. Here you’ll find a lake.

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Inside a volcano.
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In a lake.
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Inside a volcano.
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In a lake.
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My hubby took this photo from our hotel room
When I see this, I can’t help but take a deep breath of fresh air, exhale, smile and think…wow-zer, that’s a pretty big writing prompt. (I bet Christopher Nolan looked at this and thought, “Yeah…a movie about a dream within a dream within a dream. I could make that work…”)

What story does Taal tell you?

34 comments:

locke said...

Why does that view of the lake within a volcano, within a lake, etc. etc. remind me of eggs?

EQ said...

More power!

DEZMOND said...

pure gorgeousness!

Diana Hallare said...

Your post gives me nostalgia about the Philippines. I've been around the place you visited, but I've seen the volcano inside another volcano only on cable/TV. Thanks.

C.M. Villani said...

Seeing that, I feel......very small. Which is amazing because with all the technology we have today the human race keeps seeing the world as smaller and smaller place.

But really... there are still some things that came make us stare in Wonder. :D

Unknown said...

Beautiful! I am always up for a field trip to a volcano and a dream within a dream within a dream.... Nice. Have fun filming the trailer!

Kenya D. Williamson said...

Amazing! Now that I've blinked and shut my mouth (momentarily), I can say Taal tells me to pay attention to details. The beauty and power... Wow. Did I already say amazing? :)

Kate Evangelista said...

You know, I'm ashamed to say this, but I didn't know that, and I live a measly thirty minutes away from it.

Joy Page Manuel said...

Yeah, Taal has always been magical that way. I like the C.Nolan bit, lol! Anyway, I'm stopping by to tell you that I just 'shone a light' on you this Sunday---http://www.joypagemanuel.com/2011/04/hopping-and-shining-light.html
----(not that you need more lights. You're a star but what the hell! LOL!)

Unknown said...

What beauty. Now following you from Joy's Shining the Light Sunday. Amazing vaca.

Unknown said...

Wow! Great field trip! I love my visits to your site! Thanks for the beautiful pictures!

Unknown said...

I've never visited a volcano before Samantha, that was really neat! I enjoyed the boatride and everything! Thanks for an awesome experience.

Muriel said...

Very nice! You live in a part of the world that I love and miss...

Wall-to-wall books said...

Wow wow wow! Those pictures were amazing! Next time can I go on the field trip for real?

none said...

Wow! Taal looks amazing :) :) Love the last misty photo. :)

Samantha Sotto said...

Locke - I know why, but I can't tell ;-)

EQ - Thank you!

Dezmond - Glad you liked it! :D

Diana - You've been here? So cool!

Christina - My thoughts exactly! it's nice to be in awe of something. :D

Stacey - Thanks! We had fun filming the trailer within a trailer too ;-)

Kenya - Would you believe that just as I posted this blog, they raised the alert level at Taal? They're actually telling people to evacuate. YIKES.

Kate - Getting to the crater's quite an adventure. It's a loooong hike. You should try it! (But not now. Hehe)

Joy - Thanks for shining light my way, my friend!

TV's Take - Thanks for stopping by!

Kathy - Thank you! So happy you liked the pics!

Elizabeth - Glad you enjoyed the trip!

MuMuGB - Don't worry. Your vacay is just around the corner :D

Wall-to-wall - Shall I book your ticket now? ;-)

Jade - It's really a lovely place - perfect for a quick weekend getaway :D

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice said...

Absolutely stunning! My Hubby and I are turning into volcano freaks, and we would love to go on a field trip to Taal. Hope you had a wonderful trip.

Johanna said...

Beautiful photos! Thanks for passing by at Mom's Tree House. I'm your newest follower and will be back soon to visit. : )

Unknown said...

Great prompt, Sam! And a great way to showcase Taal, which is now, just minutes from Manila.

My question to you is, have you ever swam in the lake surrounding the volcano? I have. There is a very mysterious quality to it.

Wait, now my typing fingers are itching...
The prompt is working.

C.M. Villani said...

Most definitely! To stare in awe of the world around us is to see the infinite beauty in it.

Tina L. Hook said...

How very cool.

I was born in the Philippines. I need to make a trip back.

Scrollwork said...

The T-shirt made me laugh out loud!

The canoe ride across the lake and the hours-long hike (behind a horse's butt) up to the top to look down on the crater are among the most memorable experiences of our homecoming back in '98. I lost the crown from my front tooth; I was laughing so hard! It's a wonder I managed to catch it and not leave it at the bottom of the lake.

Julie Flanders said...

Wonderful photos! Loved the field trip. :)

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

What an incredible volcano! With its lake within a volcano within a lake, etc, it made me think about the multiple layers of an onion, or about the nuanced layers of personality.

Deborah Lawrenson said...

Just beautiful, Sam. What would it be like to swim in that water surrounding it - and how deep is it? (Mysteriously deep, I imagine...)

Dafeenah said...

You have the coolest field trips ever! I had never heard of Taal before. I am off now to look it up. It looks gorgeous. I was just watching a video about Versuvius. You must have been reading my mind!!


Dafeenah

Jennifer Hillier said...

That's amazing.

Makes me realize how much of the world I haven't seen.

Samantha Sotto said...

Vinobaby - Thanks! We did! Taal should be on everyone's bucket list :)

Johanna - Hi! Great to see you here! Thanks for swinging by from the treehouse.

Mieke - Wow! I hiked up to the crater but didn't go swimming. I must try that!

Christina - Amen! :D

Florida Girl - How cool is that?! Do let me know if you ever find yourself in this part of the world again.

Scrollwork - Hahaha! That would have been some offering to the volcano gods. LOL.

Julie - Yay! Glad you liked it :)

Susan - My thoughts exactly! :D

Deborah - Hmm. Good question! I have to google that :D

Dafeenah - Vesuvius is one of the settings in Before Ever After! :D

Jennifer - It's also a great place if you love food. Lots of wonderful and charming restaurants in the area :)

Anonymous said...

Did you actually go to Tagaytay AFTER they raised the alert level of Taal because of the volcanic activity? You are a brave one.

Samantha Sotto said...

Hahaha! No way! We went before the alert! :D

Anonymous said...

God does good work : D That is truly amazing!

Samantha Sotto said...

Amen, Bev! :D

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam! so is it really going to explode anytime soon? Or it's just overrated on the news?

Samantha Sotto said...

There was really an alert, but nothing happened. Thank God! :)