GH2 in Boracay, Philippines

[mqavila]

I finally got my hands on my long-awaited GH2 last week! Was lucky enough to be able to order it from Adorama.com and my cousin brought it home to Manila last week. Lucky enough, my family had a planned trip to Boracay that weekend. For your info, Boracay is touted as one of the best beaches in the Philippines. In any event, i just used the "idiot-proof" fully automatic mode of the GH2 (iA mode), especially since I came from a P&S and hadn't had a chance to read the thick manual.

Anyhow, here are some pictures that I took on my trip to and in Boracay, using the GH2 with the 14-42mm kit lens:


In the plane, en route to Iloilo City:

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Taken at a roadside restaurant on our roadtrip from Iloilo City to Caticlan, Aklan (where we were to take a short boat ride to the beach paradise):

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Taken at Caticlan Port while waiting for our turn to take a short "banca" ride to Boracay:

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Astoria Boracay - the hotel/resort during our stay in Boracay:

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The hotel frontage taken at night - handheld, no flash:

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Random shots taken in Boracay:

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And, what made the trip all worthwhile - the glow of my daughter's face:

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TFL!

 

[Plimsol]

nice pictures, like your country and hope to visit it in future.

Grtz from cold and rainy Belgium.

 

[PENpal]

I miss Boracay. Salamat!

 

[Iconindustries]

Nice picture story you got here mate. I enjoy the ones of the boats. I've never seen those pontoon arms in such profusion before.

 

[mqavila]

Thanks guys. Boracay is an extremely popular vacation destination here in the Philippines. And my children absolutely love it.

Iconindustries: yup, this type of boat is quite common in the more "picturesque" beaches here. It adds to the total ambiance.

 

[bilzmale]

An interesting set. I too would like to visit some day.

I assume your GH2 is not set for PAL video being a US model (NTSC). I got caught that way with my GH1 but was able to 'hack' it to add PAL. Some software (like Sony Vegas) will also convert NTSC<>PAL.

 

[mqavila]

An interesting set. I too would like to visit some day.

I assume your GH2 is not set for PAL video being a US model (NTSC). I got caught that way with my GH1 but was able to 'hack' it to add PAL. Some software (like Sony Vegas) will also convert NTSC<>PAL.

Yup, mine is the US model. Is there any real difference between the NTSC and PAL models?

 

[bilzmale]

I made 2 assumptions:- (1) you reside in the Phillipines; and (2) The Phillipines uses PAL for TV and video like most of Asia and Australia.

If both are correct your NTSC videos will not show on a PAL TV. If you live in the US there is no problem.

 

[mqavila]

I made 2 assumptions:- (1) you reside in the Phillipines; and (2) The Phillipines uses PAL for TV and video like most of Asia and Australia.

If both are correct your NTSC videos will not show on a PAL TV. If you live in the US there is no problem.

In that case, I really won't have any problems. The Philippines uses the NTSC format. Thanks for the concern though!

 

[bilzmale]

Enjoy. You now have one of the best cameras available.

 

[turbodieselvw]

I hear they have some fantastic diving spots in Boracay. I would like to do some diving out there some day.

 

[jalex]

Congrats on the new camera and the fun vacation. Loved the happy look on your daughter's face!

 

[mqavila]

Enjoy. You now have one of the best cameras available.

I fully agree. This, in my personal opinion, is really one of the best cameras available in the market today. AND, it's very compact compared to all the DSLRs I saw being lugged around by others around the beach.

Jalex: yup, the happiness in my children's faces was priceless!

 

[atom]

I was in Boracay for Christmas last year. Watch out for those buffets! I spent 3 days in my hotel sick as a dog.

 

[mqavila]

I was in Boracay for Christmas last year. Watch out for those buffets! I spent 3 days in my hotel sick as a dog.

Really? Luckily, I haven't encountered any bad food while there. Admittedly, there are tons of restaurants there that offer buffet lunches & dinners. But, I usually just eat at the more established restos there.

Anyhow, a couple more pics from our trip:

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[Alanroseman]

In any event, i just used the "idiot-proof" fully automatic mode of the GH2 (iA mode), especially since I came from a P&S and hadn't had a chance to read the thick manual.

Anyhow, here are some pictures that I took on my trip to and in Boracay, using the GH2 with the 14-42mm kit lens:

You're off to a fine start! Keep shooting...

 

[mqavila]

You're off to a fine start! Keep shooting...

Thank you for the kind words!

 

[Kingsfan]

nice shots kaibigan

 

[oldskoolboarder]

Still one of my favorite beaches. First went in 1999 when it was still kind of empty. More crowded in 2009 but still great when we were at the 2 Season, IIRC.

Nice pix.

 

[mqavila]

nice shots kaibigan

Thanks! Are you Pinoy too?