WOYWW: Oslob, Cebu

Here is my desk with my snorkel and mask.  We just got back from Oslob, Cebu, where we had the most amazing experience of swimming with whale sharks.  It started with a beautiful sunrise right in front of our small inn.

After a short trip by van, we reached the whale shark watching area.

From the shore, we could see a long line of small boats lined up a short distance away.  We were amazed to find out that this was where the whale shark "interaction area" was.  So close to the shore!

When we reached the interaction area, we were so excited to see the first whale shark.  We didn't realize that we would be able to swim with so many once we went into the water.

What an unforgettable experience it is to swim alongside these gentle giants.  Despite their huge size, they won't bite; they are filter feeders and they only eat plankton and small shrimps.  We were told not to touch them and I found myself having to swim away to keep from having them touch me!

We had thirty minutes (timed) of interaction, and once it was over, we were already planning to go back!  Then, we went off to do some more snorkeling and had lunch in Sumilon Island...

where locals where sunbathing, Filipino style...

Goodbye, Sumilon Island...

Next stop was Tumalog Falls where we bathed in ice cold water and had a "foot spa" care of some little fish...

For a bit of history, we also visited a wonderful old church, the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, which was built starting 1830.

Sunset in Oslob is another spectacular sight...

It has been an awesome weekend and seeing the beauty of God's creation is just amazing.  Imagine what heaven must be like!  No matter beautiful the sights on earth are, it is nothing compared to the beauty and splendor of heaven!

There are more desks to take a peek at in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday and more bible and inspirational verses in Word Art Wednesday.

WOYWW: Travel

My desk has some of the things I am packing for our trip to Oslob, where we are hoping to see some whale sharks (fishes that can grow to be as big as a bus!) 

From http://www.artdecosuites.com/

I have gone back twice to the warehouse sale with the P10 books (£0.135) and came back with more books - to read, to use for collages, to just keep.  My favorite is this 1891 book about Germany...

 with so many wonderful illustrations...

And for those of you who look forward to my prayer journal illustrations...

Sharing this in What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and Word Art Wednesday.  I hope all is well with you!  I hope to go visiting after my trip to Oslob.  Blessings!

WOYWW: Bargain Books

My desk today is filled with books I bought in a warehouse sale of Books for Less - all kinds of books for just 10 pesos each (that's 0.135 British Pounds for my UK friends).  At first I went and bought 50 books and then I went again and bought 56 more books!  These are just a few of my finds. There is also a bottle of cranberry juice which that Fat Flush Plan recommends.  Hope springs eternal!

I bought a white pigment ink Signo pen and I've been having fun using it as you can see in these illustrations in my prayer journal which I'm sharing for Word Art Wednesday.

I love the verses in the bible which have encouraged me during tough times.  Although I haven't managed to remain tranquil all the time, these words remind me to strive to grow in my faith.

Julia, who hosts What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday has the list of desks from all over the world, on show every week on Wednesdays. Lots to see, so little time!  Thank you so much for visiting!  Be blessed!

WOYWW: Singapore

I just got back from a short trip to Singapore.  And although I collect a lot less brochures when I travel now, I still came home with a few.  Even the paper bag from TWG didn't escape me.

Staying in a spic and span hotel room made us want to clean up our bedside windows which used to be piled high with books.

So I had to make room for the books...

While in Singapore, we visited the Singapore Art Museum (free on Friday nights).  Here is a piece painted right on the walls...

and some paintings by children...

Pretty good, huh?

And for Word Art Wednesday,

...some words from Pope Francis' "Evangelii Gaudium" The Joy of the Gospel:

"The primary reason for evangelizing is the love of Jesus which we have received, the experience of salvation which urges us to ever greater love of him. What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the beloved, to point him out, to make him known? If we do not feel an intense desire to share this love, we need to pray insistently that he will once more touch our hearts...The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating it with love, lingering over its pages and reading it with the heart. If we approach it in this way, its beauty will amaze and constantly excite us.

For more desks to visit, my dear blog friends, drop by Julia's and be amazed about what's on desks from around the world.  Thank you for dropping by!