Hopping Flights

As things are starting to happen at the Iloilo project I took a trip there again to see how the works were progressing. Instead of the time consuming ferry trips I took a local flight. This only takes 45 minutes instead of the whole day it takes by ferry (or two days for the return trip). The flight is in a small propeller driven plane which flies over the central mountains of Cebu where the massive hole of the copper mine in the mountains can be seen. It's because of the mine and the income it generates for Toledo that the place has managed to obtain city status.

From the aeroplane window the mine appears as a huge brown scar in the green and lush mountains. Between my office and the house where I'm staying there are half a dozen rivers and stream but right now each one of these is bone dry or at best stagnant. The rumour is that this is caused by the mining activities, which if it is true, is a sad price to pay for the mining activities.

The flight then passes over Toledo and I was able to snap a photo of the power plant with our chimney clearly visible.

Mine in the Mountains

Toldeo from the Air

However, the best part of the flight is when the plane just about flew directly over the volcano of Mt. Kanlaon and I was able to look down inside the crater. The volcano is considered to still be active and a couple of years back the some tourists were killed near the summit when the crater ejected rocks and boulders, although I read this was caused by steam from water entering the crater rather than a volcanic eruption. Looking down on the crater there was no glowing magma nor was there any smoke and ash being ejected. It all looked very benign.

Mt. Kanlaon Crater

Passing over the Iloilo the surrounding area is covered in rice paddies and is a wonderful vibrant green colour and when you look down on a flock of pure white egrets flying over the fields it is truly spectacular.

Just recently the volcano Mayon located in Luzon, which is a impressive symmetrical cone rising to 2462m, has started erupting. The forecast is that it is going to develop into a major eruption and evacuation of the immediate area has started already. Whilst it is in its preliminary stages I'm hoping to fly to the nearest airport in a couple of week's time to hopefully see and photograph what I imagine will be a awe inspiring sight.