This is the table outside the bar next to where we stayed at Ravenala Cottages (see sketch No. 113-3339). As we were at the end of the line of cottages and this was right next to us, we seemed to get the exclusive use of it for eating snacks, chilling reading etc….pretty much all we did on this holiday! We later discovered the bar opens only on the weekends…so we timed out trip perfectly!

Fri-9-Jan-2026

I sketched this next to the room we stayed in the Ravenala resort where there is a bar – but which was never open…not complaining though…revellers would have kept us up if it was. I sketched this after we went to see the sardine run and turtles off Panagsama Beach. To anyone living in or visiting the Philippines, I would NOT recommend it! It was too crowded (you get flippers in your face), you don’t need a guide (which we were conned into paying for), people (guides and visitors) are not following environmental ordinances, it was noisy (with people screaming “OMG I swam with the turtles”), people were trampling on coral and taking selfies with GoPro’s (getting far too close to the turtles), with divers, snorkelers and free divers colliding…everything stressing the turtles which were literally being chased around. It was a horrible experience – the environment there is being over exploited. We later had a snorkel off the beach next to Ravenala – where there is a spectacular reef and was so much more peaceful.

Wed-7-Jan-2026

This day started rainy so we waited to go out until lunch time and then took a tricycle to Lake Danao Park where we first had a hot drink (and where I sketched this), then lunch (Margherita pizza for me…I always end up eating a lot of pizza on holiday in the Philippines at it is often the only veggie option) at another restaurant. Eventually my wife encouraged us to take a paddle boat out onto the lake…and by some miracle the rain stopped. We saw some nice birds (a lovely striated heron for example) out there.

Sun-4-Jan-2026

On our first full day on Pacijan Island (one of Camotes Islands) the owner of the resort where we stayed, took us to this place where we had lunch (I had a nice veggie curry). This resort is popular because of the big overhanging rocks where (if you are brave enough) you can jump into the sea. After lunch we found a tricycle to take us into town to get some provisions from the Prince supermarket (which looked like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie with goods falling off the shelves and scattered around) and the wet market. It seems like I picked up a cold along the way and had an allergy attack in the evening after dinner (when we were finally in the room we had booked).

This sketch is the first in a sketchbook make from Potentate 200gsm watercolour pencil paper (that I bought from Quatro Arts – see Sketch No.112-3312). It is cheap but unfortunately for me it’s too much like blotting paper with the ink from my Sailor Fude pen looking fuzzy without crisp edges. The paper also seems to block my Lamy pen.

Fri-2-Jan-2026

We had a late breakfast on our first day in the Camotes Islands (when I sketched this). After-all we had got up at 3am the day before for the journey. We had to stay our first night in the neighbouring resort (Scott Camotes Beach House) because of a mix up with the bookings, so as compensation the owner picked us up from Consuelo Port, gave us a free late lunch when we arrived, and drove us to Mangodlong Rock Resort the next day (as well as paying for our rooms in the neighbouring resort).

Fri-2-Jan-2026