By Nathan Allen

Abandoned for many decades, it is the final resting place for many early Chinese pioneers…and currently home to a lot of colorful wildlife–such as kingfishers, woodpeckers, and even a troop of curious monkeys!

Singapore’s Chinese Heritage – Lost in a Jungle

Almost forgotten by time, the dense jungle has taken over much of this historic site. For me, that’s actually a huge part of its appeal. Bukit Brown was named after the original owner, George Henry Brown. He was a British trader that lived on this land.

Brown had sailed from Calcutta in the 1840s, and after purchasing the area, he named it “Mount Pleasant”.

It was then sold to Ong Kew Ho and Huay Kuan, but eventually transferred to the government when the need for a cemetery arose. It served Singapore’s Chinese community for about 50 years, and was actually considered the largest cemetery outside of China. It closed down decades ago, but you can still visit and take a self-guided tour of these mysterious gravesites.

I absolutely loved wandering and taking pictures here…with not a (living) soul around. It’s so solemn and peaceful – a wild and scenic counterpart to Singapore’s well-manicured green spaces (of which I am also a fan).

Photographers, birders, and general nature-lovers feel quite at home here. Have a look at this giant, “rain tree“! These are the kinds of jungle scenes I dreamed of as a kid. I never imagined ferns could grow high up in a tree, but these bird nest ferns feel right at home there.

Some Bukit Brown graves are adorned with stone statues and figurines.

This is one of those times when I wish I could read Chinese…I’m so curious about who these people were, and how they were immortalized and remembered on their tombstones.

A few have actual photos on them…and this helps to paint a picture of who these early Singaporeans actually were.

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While exploring these jungle trails on my own, I began to hear rustling in the trees around me. I’m not a very superstitious person, but Bukit Brown is supposedly one of the top 10 haunted sites in Singapore. In fact, the “Asia Paranormal Investigators” are one of the groups working to preserve this historic cemetery!

As it turned out, these “ghosts” were of the long-tailed variety…

Spirit Guardians? – Long Tailed Macaques

Eventually I spotted a curious face through the jungle trees…it was a family of monkeys! There must have been 11 or 12 of them.

I approached slowly, but was still met with a bit of resistance. Most of the group slowly shuffled away, but the dominant male stood his ground and showed his teeth. I did not push my luck, but instead just sat peacefully, hoping to show them that I was no threat.

It worked. The old male kept a watchful eye on me, but he began to relax…and even start foraging for food around him. The female and baby monkeys slowly inched back into view.

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Needing to get closer, I switched cameras. With my little Canon superzoom, I continued shooting photos in the fading afternoon light. Some of these monkeys even seemed to pose for me!

They were so fascinating to observe…I can see why anthropologists like Jane Goodall & Dian Fossey studied them so intensely. Their behavior seemed to mirror a human family’s so much…it was uncanny.

The youngest members were the most curious…but the easiest to be spooked as well. This makes sense, as they would be the most vulnerable. These baby monkeys were adorable…and so expressive!

Eventually, curiosity got the better of some members. They began to climb the trees and position themselves above me, so as to get a better look. At one point I had one almost reach down  and touch the top of my head. Of course, I didn’t let things progress too far, because wild animals are, after all, wild.

Still though, these monkeys and I bonded. They were nothing like the super aggressive ones I encountered in India or the Philippines. Those monkeys have no fear of humans, and will even steal food or attack if they feel at all threatened…or are simply in a bad mood! Haha. No…this group, this group was different.

Being in an abandoned jungle cemetery gives them some access to humans, but not too much. They are not too comfortable…but not too afraid, either. I had found a sweet spot. Being allowed to join them, in the wild…in such a humbling and surreal location…was an experience I will never forget.

How To Get There

Bukit Brown is near MacRitchie Reservoir. You can take a bus and get off here. Then walk a few steps down Kheam Hock Road until you see the sign for the cemetery on the left. I think there may be a possibility of guided tours, but I’m not certain.

Tips: If you visit Bukit Brown, I hope you’ll be respectful in this solemn place. Please don’t feed the wildlife, and be sure to pack out all of your trash. Definitely don’t forget mosquito repellent if you’re going in the morning or late afternoon. Other than that…enjoy!

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share!

These Singapore Photos Were Shot During a 50-Cent Bus Ride (Ricoh GR II)

Singapore Street Photography (Ricoh GR II)

My Detailed Comparison of the Sony RX100 vs the Ricoh GR II

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*I am not connected to Canon, I bought the camera myself. However, using my Amazon links will help me keep creating content like this, so I appreciate it!

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By Nathan Allen

It was a long ride on the motorbike. I had come all the way from Bangon Falls in northern Samar, and being the start of the rainy season, it took longer than expected. Samar is huge, too. I had severely underestimated its size.

When I finally entered the municipality of Marabut, I could hardly believe my eyes. I was greeted by fascinating limestone cliffs and lush tropical trees along the coast. It felt every bit like the exotic landscapes of northern Palawan…only without all the development and crowds. I pulled into the resort just before the sun started going down.

 The staff showed me to my room, and I passed out. I was exhausted. After a good night’s rest, I awoke to some much needed morning sunshine. The resort was beautiful. I loved the rustic, cabana huts along the beach.

 Above are some of the aforementioned limestone cliffs, jutting out from the sea between the cabanas. Such beautiful scenery!

The sea and the beach definitely have a different feel than El Nido, though. The water is less turquoise, and it’s not really a white sand beach. To me it feels more like an exotic tropical lagoon. As a landscape photographer (and adventurer), I absolutely loved this lush, rugged-looking coastline.

On the way back to my room I took some photos of the swimming pool. It’s an infinity pool right up against the sea, so you have a pretty incredible view.

The pool was kept very clean, and I would later enjoy a San Miguel Pilsen here as the sun set.

Photos of my Room

 Conveniently, the rooms overlook the water, and also face the sunset.

Overall, my room was nice…you can tell that the property is kept up well. Wifi can be challenging when you get a bit off the beaten path like this, but I was able to use my Globe Tattoo (pocket wifi) on the balcony of my room.

Everything was quite clean and in perfect working order. Aircon was cool. I particularly liked the view of the pool and island landscapes from my balcony.

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Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in the Restaurant

My meals were definitely a highlight…first of all, the view while you eat could not be better!

Second of all, I was quite surprised by the freshness of the ingredients, especially considering the remote location. Decent vegetables can be hard to come by on the Philippine islands, so hats off to Caluwayan for this!

Third, they have somehow managed to keep the meal prices very reasonable, especially for this quality. I was definitely impressed. Every single meal I had seemed well thought-out and prepared. I was super happy to have a real pancake breakfast – made me feel right at home!

My compliments to the chef. Keep in mind you can also sit at “Bistro Bar” for drinks with a sea view, or check out the occasional music, dancing, and cultural performances @ the Clubhouse.

Overall Review

While the building exterior may be showing a few signs of wear, the interiors, pool, and restaurant grounds have been kept very well. I found the staff to be extremely warm and helpful. The resort somehow walks a line between charming, rustic, and upscale. In fact, it does this quite well.

For this level of service and accommodation, I think it’s well worth the price. Many other resorts of this caliber would come with a much higher price tag, and perhaps a level of pretentiousness that I don’t really care for. For me, Caluwayan is everything a rustic island getaway should be, and I do hope to come back and visit again someday.

TIP: I believe there may be a free boat tour included in the room rate, so ask about it! On a nice day, I imagine it could be beautiful to explore those rock formations out in the water:) You can also visit the resort just to swim (for a fee) or eat at the restaurant.

How To Get To Caluwayan Beach Resort

The resort is located in the barangay (neighborhood) of Caluwayan, in Marabut, Samar. It can be reached via a 45 minute van ride (or direct boat) from the city of Tacloban. Flights to Tacloban from Cebu or Manila can be quite affordable if you check out some of the Cebu Pacific promos.

You also have the option of renting your own car or motorbike…I can most confidently recommend Haven’s in Tacloban for this.

Booking a Room

You can browse more information about Caluwayan Palm Island Resort on their website HERE

Enjoy this beautiful place, and please tell the friendly staff I said hello!

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share!

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Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

The Ride of a Lifetime: Chapter 5

On the ride from Long Beach, San Vicente to stunning El Nido, I encountered some beautiful scenery.

These are my favorite kinds of days for landscape photography. I always say…no clouds = boring. Too many clouds…also = boring. I like blue skies with just the right amount of puffy, white clouds. You’ll notice this is frequently featured in my photography.

Anyhow, after a few amazing days in El Nido, I headed north into uncharted territory, at least for me. I had to take refuge from the rain under the roof of a “sari sari” store on the way, and then eventually made my way to Duli Beach, which has become a popular surfing spot in north Palawan.

A few years back there weren’t many tourists coming here at all, but now word has spread, and quite a few adventurers are renting motorbikes and exploring these beautiful northern beaches. I didn’t spend too much time at Duli actually, and I don’t even have good photos to share. Haha. The weather wasn’t great there, and I was never planning on surfing or anything.

Instead, my goal was to make it all the way to Qi Palawan on the eastern side of the island. However, on a whim, I did decide to head down an unknown dirt road nearby, hoping it would quickly lead me to a new beach to explore.

Well, the road just kept going and going…it also had some large hills and plenty of rough, muddy patches. Every now and again I would see a tiny hand painted sign saying “Tin’s Canteen, this way —>”. There was hardly anything out there, so I became intrigued by these vague signs. The rough, dirt road seemed endless. I really felt like I was in the middle of nowhere.

Diapila Bay – My First Glimpse

Eventually the road led me up to lookout point…and wow, was I glad I continued all the way up there! It was an incredible view of a colorful fishing village below. I had come so far, I knew I had to explore this place…below is a close up photo with my Canon Powershot G3x (Find it HERE in PHL or SG)

I continued down the steep, rocky dirt road. It led me through a basketball game some local teens were playing, and I noticed a small opening nearby that led to the beach.

Suddenly the view widened, and I found myself staring out at the picturesque fishing village of Diapila Beach.

To my right was the fabled “Tin’s Canteen”, and Tin herself came out to greet me. It was just a simple shack right on the beach, but then again, I suppose that’s exactly what I was hoping for. Haha. It was after lunch, and I was starving. I ordered a drink and some fresh caught fish. There wasn’t a tourist in sight.

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After chatting with Tin for a while, I learned that her family came from Cebu and Masbate, both of which I had a chance to explore previously, so along with her husband, we reminisced about the language, food, and culture of Cebuanos and Masbateños. They were very kind.

The fish portion was massive, and that explained why the price seemed a bit high at first (by Filipino standards). It turns out that for the size and quality, it was actually a great deal! It could be good for 2.

Some locals kids became interested in the photos I was taking, and they requested I take some pictures of them. The older boys got excited and started “flipping out” on the beach. Literally. Haha.  I noticed a small boat with “Tao Philippines” painted on the side. I learned that this village is so remote, it’s usually only accessed by boat. In fact, it is one of the stops on the famed Tao Philippines island hopping tour.

Fishing Boats & Storm Clouds – Photos

It’s not easy to catch these kinds of dramatic colors in the sky and on the water. I was lucky to have the storm clouds in the distance.

These were taken with my Canon Powershot G3x <-Amazon (In the PHL or SG you can find it HERE)

Riding Off Into the Sunset (Or Rainstorm, As it Turns Out)

Feeling full and completely pleased with my unexpected discovery, I said my goodbyes to this nice family, and started on my way. I noticed these boats being carved on my way back up the mountain. What a worthwhile discovery Diapila Bay was!

At the vista point near the top, I noticed some storm clouds rolling in over the sea, creating some beautiful hues in the sky and water. Great for pictures, but as you’ll see if you read about my journey from here to Qi Palawan, those storm clouds created quite a challenge for me about an hour or two later.

I continued down the road and snapped one last photo before the heavens opened up on me…

Next chapter: The Wet & Wild Ride to Qi Palawan Resort

Curious about the cost of flights to and around the Philippines?

Pt 1. <  Pt 2. <  Pt 3. <  Pt 4.  < Pt.5 > Pt 6. > Pt 7. > Pt 8.

*Motorbike for this trip supplied by www.rent-a-bike.ph.

If you notice any misinformation or something that needs correcting, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share!

Goodbye, Gopro…I Finally Review the TG-4 Underwater Camera in the Philippines

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