Immeasurable excitement, deepest enthusiasm, unexplainable feeling of joy and overwhelming happiness are the feelings of proud Daddy’s-to-be. Expression is being served daily by bringing rose to his beloved wife and precious God’s gift, his little angel coming very soon. There is where, the love as I see it.

This is my entry to “Love as I see it”. A project of www.islandrose.net flowers Philippines.

Written and photographed by: FE AGONIA

Mangrove kayaking at Kingfisher Park, Coron, Palawan

Trekking at Kingfisher Park, Coron Island, Palawan

Coron Island, Palawan

Kubo sa Dagat at Coron Island, Palawan

Coron town, Palawan

Calumbuyan Island

Calumbuyan Island Seashore

Me and my sister at Calumbuyan Beach

Palawan Coral Reefs

Our Coron Island hopping tour was one of my unforgettable experienced. We’ve been through a lot of snorkeling, as it offers clear water with little current of water force and visible underwater creatures.

Here are some of the pictures taken at Coron Islands, Palawan. And yes, I think it’s more fun in the Philippines!

Kayangan Lake

Coron Islands limestone cliffs view

Kayangan Lake

Twin Lagoon at Coron Island

beautiful Kayangan Lake

its more fun in the philippines

Banol Beach, Coron Island

It was always a beautiful sunny day and it’s time to relax and enjoy myself at this terrific place called park. I took a seat on that wooden bench for a couple of times. It’s cool while you are sitting there and take some time to look at those flowers and birds feeding off things grown in the garden. Yeah, it’s really relaxing and it can even change your emotional state. When I’m in the parks or gardens, it means I’m close to nature and plants and in my own experienced they can give me a peaceful feeling. That’s why, I’m dreaming of someday i’ll be having my own beautiful garden of flowers, vegetables, herbs and other medicinal plants. I want gardening to be a daily part of my life with that wooden bench I’m happy to sit with my husband and little tykes.

Behind this portrait represents a mariners’ life. A sailor travels around the globe and meet different cultures and women. He has with him that piece of ring; searching for an accurate finger of a lady, suppose to be his lifetime partner. Fortunately, from thousand of roses, he met a single star that shines perfectly bright and brought her finally to the altar and swore each other in union for better or for worst, richer or poorer, sickness and health, till death they as part.

Love as I see it was like the stars, there were billions of them, but only one will shines bright and make your dreams come true. And that was how my father found his shooting star.

This is my entry to “Love as I see it”. A project of www.islandrose.net flowers Philippines.

Written and photographed by: MARK L. AGONIA

This is a Tockay Gecko or in Philippines we called it as “Tuko”. The second largest in the Gecko Family and with striking color spots on its body. It’s nocturnal and feed on most common insects. It is also very popular for having amazing sticky feet. They have loud vocalization sound which they use as a mating call. Some people make them as pets. But today, here in the Philippines and other Asian countries, this animal is threatened to be endangered soon because of the unlimited hunting. Government authorities say it is illegal but the hunters won’t stop due to its high enticing selling price of  foreign buyers or pet traders. They say that Chinese have tapped into the Tokay’s medicinal property specifically the Tokay’s enzyme that cures AIDS, cancer or other illnesses.

Now that Round Robin came up with another challenge: I’ve always wanted to photograph, I thought that this can be the best time to share these pictures.

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Do you want to know what will be your luck on the future? Why don’t try to have some fortune cookies more especially during New Years’ time? I have seen a lot of fortune cookies in the form of metal, plastic or other trinket, but on last quarter of the year 2010; I had received lots of fortune cookies. Yes, they are real, crunchy and yummy! When you open it, there are certain messages saying about your luck. Well, I’m personally don’t believe with it. I just enjoyed the taste of these real cookies.

Pot marigold, also known by its scientific name Calendula officinalis. When I first heard about the name Pot Marigold, I thought that they are plants that are commonly grown in pots. But the name actually came from one of their many uses in food. This edible flower was called a “pot herb” and was tossed into the stew or vegetable pot.

I also heard that when special someone gave you Marigold, it symbolizes their everlasting love to you. I love the color of the Marigold while in fact they bloom all year round.

Pot Marigold or Calendula has been used traditionally for abdominal cramps, constipation, helps regulate the menstrual cycle. Pot marigold is used as an skin healer (including mild burns as well as sunburn), antiseptic, cleanser, and detoxifier. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

I love this beautiful, exotic fuchsia flower with striking two-tone colors. Fuchsia flowers shape is quite unusual and they are really delicate. I usually see them anywhere in the garden but it’s best if they were hang in a baskets on the patio. Fuchsias are also popular garden shrubs, and once planted can live for years with a minimal amount of care.

Fuchsia is often misspelled as fuschia in English. That’s why there’s a mini fun story about it that if someone will ask you to spell Fuchsia, you will immediately say “I’d rather spell Red because it’s too short” But the truth is you are a bit confused with the correct spelling of Fuchsia.

This is the Albert Bridge. This is one of the prettiest bridges in London which spanning the Thames from Chelsea to Battersea.

Serpentine Bridge is the mark that divides between Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. It spans the Serpentine in Hyde Park at the north end of Exhibition Road. From the Serpentine Bridge you get a great view down the Serpentine east, towards the West End of London.

The Sackler Crossing Kew – Pawson’s Bridge. This bridge designed by Architect John Pawson which was set in a curve of the River Thames. The materials used are palette of granite and bronze reinforces the elemental character of the design.

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It is quite a beautiful plant with pale pink or purple hue flowers and can be grown in home gardens. The Mallow flower is also referred to as the “Cheese flower” as their flat assortment of five petals on the flower head resembles a cheese disc. Plants bloom most of the summer. The Mallow flower, in past times, has been used for medicinal purposes — due to high levels of anti-oxidants, it is sometimes used in teas or as a way to combat dry coughs. Beautiful mallow plants are prolific and produce delicate flowers covering stems that grow to approximately 3 feet.

The above pictures of red flowers symbolize intense, passionate, dynamic and dangerous! Most people knew that red flowers indicate love and passion. They are magnificent and impulsive, inviting fast action, fun times and pulse-quickening excitement. I love red flowers. Why does most people not notice them? Well, flowers have always been used to fragrance your home, in candles, incense, oils, air fresheners etc.

I love using Lavender in aromatherapy. Research has confirmed that lavender produces slight calming, soothing, and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled. I also enjoy its fragrance. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) yields an essential oil with sweet overtones, and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. In addition to that, Lavender flavors baked goods and desserts (it pairs especially well with chocolate), as well as used to make “lavender sugar”. Lavender flowers are occasionally blended with black, green, or herbal tea, adding a fresh, relaxing scent and flavor.

The above photos were taken at different parts of United Kingdom. Lavender flower is in bloom from the middle of June until the end of August. I can’t wait to visit and see some of the famous Lavender field or enjoy a fantastic day out at Norfolk Lavender.

To know more about Lavender like its history, uses and taxonomy, you may find it here at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender.

More posts here at ABC Wednesday!!! Visit them too!

This lily flower is abundant at our place and always within our front gardens and along the road. The most common variety of this lily flower at our place is the color orange and in the Philippines, we commonly called it as “Lirio”. While visually stunning and elegant, I really do not know if it is poisonous or not. But this flower is so easy to maintain. Don’t need enough water just the sun. If the yellow lily flowers are beginning to bloom, they usually attract many bees and butterflies. So, have time to relax and enjoy the beauty of flowers.

Every tough decision that we make; each milestone that we reach; walking across another stage of our life is like crossing a bridge. On one side, you have your life before that moment, and on the other, is your future. We try every day to make a difference in our lives. The bridge of life is the journey to life.

“And I have been able to give freedom and life which was acknowledged in the ecstasy of walking hand in hand across the most beautiful bridge of the world, the cables enclosing us and pulling us upward in such a dance as I have never walked and never can walk with another. “ by Hart Crane

Kniphofia uvaria is also known as Tritoma, Torch Lily or Red Hot Poker

Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-mist). It’s also sometimes called Devil-in-the-Bush.

Which of the above flowers do you really like most? Some of my friends were asking me how do I know the specific name of the flowers I captured. I told them that generally, in the garden or park, the flower or plant’s name has its own name tag, commonly in a form of Scientific Name. After that, I kept them in my mind and when I got home, I renamed the photo filename into its real name. And for other people to understand more what I’ve posted and shared, I looked the other name at wikipedia.

This is another beautiful kind of an ornamental tree. Magnolia has attractive foliage, gray bark, and fragrant, white flowers in early summer.

Grey heron is a large wonderful bird with slow and quiet flight. They usually eat fish and standing as still as a statue at water edge. If you’re interested with this kind of bird here is the Wikipedia link.

Clary Sage herb has an important benefit. It is used in aromatherapy or an excellent herb to promote natural healing. I have enclosed link from wikipedia as I thought that you might want to know all the details about clary sage.

For me, the daisy belongs to the simple flower, but beautiful and majestic. They are humble yet cheerfully attractive. Also widespread and common.

They have strong-smelling black roots, hairy stems, and basal leaves on long leafstalks. Its cone-shaped flowering heads are usually, but not always purple. This is called as Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower or Purple coneflower).

Echinacea is commonly believed to stimulate the immune system!

Do you want to see the London’s famous landmarks like Big Ben and Houses of Parliament? Not only that, but you can also enjoy other spectacular views across London. Why not try to ride at one of London’s most recognizable attractions-British Airways London Eye, aka the Millennium Wheel? I ride here once at British Airway’s London Eye and all I can say is… really amazing!!!

According to wikipedia, the London Eye is the world’s largest observation wheel, situated on the South Bank of the Thames. Reaching a height of 135m (450 ft), the British Airways London Eye will become London’s fourth tallest structure. The wheel gives passengers a totally new perspective of some of the capital’s most famous landmarks and provides a bird’s-eye view usually afforded only by helicopter or aircraft. London architects David Marks and Julia Barfield conceived and designed the London Eye to celebrate the Millennium and beyond.

This foxglove flower looks very nice and lovely, but behind the elegant looking plant lays a real danger. Every part of the Foxglove plant is poisonous, so if you have inquisitive little kids or pets who are inclined to chew, this is not an appropriate plant for the garden. Even touching foxgloves can cause rashes and headaches.

Panoramic view of swimming pool at South Fields Subdivision at Dasmariñas, Cavite and I used only my iPhone and its app named “Pano” by Debacle Software.

HDR view at Mall of Asia and I used an iPhone and its app named “Pro HDR” by eyeApps LLC only.

Fantasy World Castle at Lemery, Batangas. Standard shot of an iPhone with minor Photoshop Elements enhancements.