An Isla Boheme Adventure

How do you begin to describe an amazing adventure?

Do we start by saying that it almost didn't happen...

& at the very last minute things worked out!

So we went on a classic Isla Boheme road trip
(our sweet ride around Legazpi City)

Indulged ourselves in a flavorful food trip

(super yummy Bicolano delicacies: homemade cheese & mango ice cream + tuna bicol express & laing!)

Plenty of laugh trip :)

Some truly magical moments...

(swimming with the gentle giants - the awesome whale sharks + playing with the fireflies)

& Love...

Lots & lots of love :)


There are so many wonderful things that can be said about this experience
& so we summed it up in a few precious words...

Till our next adventure!

Love Peace & Good Vibes,
Isla Boheme

*Doodles & illustrations by :Denise

Funtivity: Frank 151 Shoot

To politely interrupt the supposed back to back posts of our Legaspi-Donsol trip, I just wanted to post about something we've been so excited to share with you: The Frank 151 shoot.

nicole getting her portrait taken

Frank 151 is a free pocket-sized quarterly publication based in New York. Every chapter of the Frank Book is helmed by a special Guest Curator and focuses on a unique editorial theme. For example, their issue about Jamaica was curated by the Marley brothers while their issue about the Love Revolution was headed by Lenny Kravitz. In short, it's a pretty kickass publication. So imagine our excitement when our good friend Dane told us that Frank 151 was doing an issue of the Philippines and was featuring our beloved island!

Some of us at Isla Boheme along with other lovely island girls were lucky to be part of the shoot, to represent the island and show the world what it's like to live in paradise. Although we were nervous at first about "posing and stuff" the team was great. They made sure that we were ourselves and that the shoot was as natural as it should be. In the end, it was a fun couple of days which also reminded us how we are surrounded by so much beauty and equally beautiful people.

Below are some shots from behind the scenes. The issue about the Philippines comes out in June. If you are in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, Johannesburg, London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, or Copenhagen, then you might spot a copy. :)

The team that brought Frank to the island: Erica, Sarah and Dane

main cast: nisha, dane and nicole

plus mariel

and me!

bacs gets her portrait too

while the professional shows us how it's done

nicole and I get to show a classic island activity

and bring the crew to an awesome hidden location

I get to show the hair accessory I made :)

woah, what's going on here?!! you'll just have to grab a copy and find out. ;P

photos 1-5, 7-10 taken by dane.

dance, dance in the whaleshark's trance

For the first time ever, Isla Boheme left our beloved island for an adventure in another. The destination: Donsol, Sorsogon. The adventure: swimming with the world's biggest fish - the awesome whaleshark.

The morning after we arrived in Donsol, we hopped on a little boat much like this one and held our breaths for the giants waiting for us under the sea.

We were instructed to be ready with our flippers, snorkels and masks, and sit on the side of the boat while waiting for the whaleshark or "butanding" spotter to give us our cue. We were so tense and antsy, we sang to pass the time and settle our nerves.

The next thing we heard was "JUMP!" and we did.

There are no words to describe what it feels

to be in the presence of this gentle giant.
To watch as he moved so gracefully, to be in his stream,
and join in his underwater dance.

Awestruck, we followed him where he went. We wanted to be as close as possible.

As a result, the guide had to pull me away for getting too close.
It's too funny, I had to post it.

This is Jof once again reprimanding me for being too close to "Speedy" the name we gave this particular Butanding.

The experience was so magical, so exhilarating, that after our first close encounter, I surfaced to let out one loud and heartfelt shout of gratitude. Universe, that was amazing.

'Til our next adventure.

P.S. Bicol is a beautiful place. Watch out for more posts of this trip, especially the fireflies river tour. ;)

Most photos were taken by Dennis, a WWF (world wildlife fund) volunteer, we were very blessed to have him accompany us on our second day. Salamat!