We have been back in the UK now for 2 weeks and I have been going through my pictures of my time in the Philippines and the USA. My website has just been updated as well but I thought I would give you a taster and say thank you for reading!! Have a look at my website for even more photos and take a look at my Instagram.
@wilkieboom
I have told you a lot about what I have done but I wanted to tell you a bit more about the amazing diving I did while out there. The dive sites were healthy, beautiful and teeming with all types of marine life. I want to thank Andrea Crola and Carlo Red Sea from
Idive who where awesome guides and fantastic hosts!
I have also included a couple of pictures of my friend Vic Zulueta. He is a fishermen who lives near Calapan, which is the main city on the island of Mindoro. He invited me onto his boat and showed me around the mangroves where he went every morning for his daily catch. He invited me back on Easter Sunday to drink with his friends and family and join them in their celebrations with a beer and a glass of rum!
Finally, I have also added some landscape shots that I took during my time in Mindoro.
 |
| Porcupine Pufferfish |
 |
| Feather Star |
 |
| Andrea Boom!! |
 |
| Sea Star |
 |
| Nudibranch |
 |
| Lionfish |
 |
| The gorgeous reefs of Mindoro Island |
 |
| The rivers and mangroves just south of Calapan City |
 |
| Fishermen |
 |
| My friend Vic |
 |
| The local transport on Mindoro - the Tricycle |
 |
| Sunset from the golf course up at Pondarosa |
 |
| The gorgeous views of Mindoro Island |
 |
| Sunset |
As you know, I have been working a lot with the
Stairway Foundation - the charity that helps young street kids of Manila. As part of Earth Week, they performed The Lorax by Dr Seuss. I went along to their dress rehearsal and took a couple of shots. It was an emotional day when I said goodbye to them all.
I also had to say goodbye to my friends from
Zoox (who have a new website and some lovely new photos!) and
Reef World Foundation as well as a sad goodbye to our home in Aninuan. The Battenberg House.
 |
| Our home - 'The Battenberg House' |
After leaving Mindoro, Laura and I went to Dumaguete on the island of Negros to do some macro diving (muck). We stayed at
Liquid Dumaguete and did some incredible diving with incredible guides and met some incredible people!
 |
| The visibility was beautiful |
 |
| Frogfish |
 |
| Flamboyant Cuttlefish |
 |
| Anemone crab |
 |
| Bigfin Reef Squid |
 |
| Western Clown Fish (Nemo) |
 |
| Blue Ringed Octopus |
 |
| Blue ringed octopus trying to run away from me! |
 |
| Cuttlefish |
 |
| Negros Island |
 |
| On our way to Manila |
After 10 days in Dumaguete, we flew to Manila where we stayed for a couple of days. We looked around Chinatown and the markets. It was SO hot and SO busy but the city is so vibrant and next time we will stay for a little longer!
 |
| Chinatown Markets |
 |
| Bridge jumping - for money! |
 |
| Sunset at Mall of Asia |
 |
| Sure the fireworks were for us! |
The last leg of our journey saw us visit San Fransisco to catch up with our friends Michael and Jessica who we lived with in Thailand. Jessica is pregnant so I did a shoot for them on Bakers Beach with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Next stop was Las Vegas where we spent 4 spectacular days walking the 'strip' and losing money on the craps tables!
Finally, we spent time with Laura's brother who lives and works in LA. It was a fabulous end to an amazing journey. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!
 |
| Michael and Jessica on Baker Beach |
 |
| Pregnant shoot with a fantastic backdrop |
 |
| Baker Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge |
 |
| Viewpoint from Twin Peaks, San Fransisco |
 |
| Circus Circus, Las Vegas Strip |
 |
| Vegas at night! |
 |
| Venice Beach Skate Park |
 |
| Muscle beach @ Venice Beach |
 |
| Santa Monica pier - the end of the highway and the end of our trip |
Remember, I have just updated my website which has more photos and shows a lot more of what we did on our trip. xxx
I would finally like to say a HUGE thank you to Timothy and Anna Davies from
Ultimate Newquay, Paul and Ren Tildesley, John and Bernadette and Justin Julian for looking after our house while we were away! Without your help our journey would not have been possible! XXXXXX
