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AIRASIA INFLIGHT MAGAZINE NOV 2016 ISSUE 112 POCKET ME NOT. READ ME ONLINE! www.travel3sixty.com Urban Art, Chiang Mai SOULFUL STREETS t360 Nov2016_061016_A_tsy.indd A 13/10/2016 2:39 PM T360_Nov_VPlus 2016-09-26T16:55:40+08:00 CONTENTS CHECK-IN NOVEMBER 2016 88 Navigator 78 88 98 108 118 122 THE FRENCH CLEVER SOULFUL MOULDED COCKPIT IN THE CONNECTION CATCH STREETS IN FIRE CHALLENGES PRESENCE Pondicherry, Harvest from Chiang Mai, Camiguin, Pilot's India the Sea Thailand Philippines Perspective OF BEAUTY Travel Log t360 Nov2016_101016_A_tsy.indd 1 13/10/2016 10:52 AM WANDERLUST // PHILIPPINES www.travel3sixty.com MOULDED INThrough destruction FIRE and rebirth, the tiny Filipino island of Camiguin carries its fi ery history with pride, as its spectacular volcanic activities have shaped the landscape, infl uenced the weather and changed destinies over the centuries. WORDS: SHARON CROWTHER PHOTOGRAPHY: JACOB MAENTZ 108 NOV 2016 t360 Nov2016_061016_B_tsy.indd 108 13/10/2016 10:41 AM WANDERLUST // PHILIPPINES www.travel3sixty.com Camiguin’s circumferential road is 64 kilometres long and winds along the island’s spectacular coastline. MOULDED INThrough destruction FIRE and rebirth, the tiny Filipino island of Camiguin carries its fi ery history with pride, as its spectacular volcanic activities have shaped the landscape, infl uenced the weather and changed destinies over the centuries. WORDS: SHARON CROWTHER PHOTOGRAPHY: JACOB MAENTZ IMAGE: GETTY IMAGE: 108 NOV 2016 t360 Nov2016_061016_B_tsy.indd 108 13/10/2016 10:41 AM t360 Nov2016_061016_B_tsy.indd 109 13/10/2016 4:27 PM LAVA IN THE VEINS “This isn't an easy Camiguin is a quiet isle and home to 70,000 entirely submerged by lava that spewed from place to make an emergency landing,” says pi- locals who work predominantly as fi shermen Mount Vulcan, situated in Camiguin’s north. The lot and founder of Camiguin Aviation, Captain and farmers, but with more volcanoes per town’s sunken cemetery, which is marked by a Sean Clarke, before our fl ight, “but not impos- square kilometre than any other island in the white cross protruding 20 metres from the wa- sible.” He is referring to Camiguin's steep volca- world, this ‘Island Born of Fire’ – as it is popu- ter, is now a well-known dive spot. Today, only nic contours, which fi rst attracted the aerobatic larly called – is also a veritable topographical Mount Hibok-Hibok in the neighbouring barrio pilot to the island, but Captain Clarke admits wonder and a geological powerhouse. From as of Mambajao remains an active volcano, and the rugged landscape is also one of the biggest far back as the locals can recall, the island's some of the oldest residents on the island still challenges of fl ying here. seven volcanoes have shaped its silhouette, remember its last eruptions in 1948 and 1951. The second smallest island province in the altered its coastline and infused the history of Despite Camiguin's scorching history, the Philippines, just 23 kilometres long and 14 kilo- its people with tales of terrifying tremors and island's volcanic magnetism seems hard to re- metres wide, Camiguin is located in the Bohol devastating eruptions. sist. Its population has never waned, with loyal Sea, 10 kilometres off the northern coast of Min- In 1871, the west coast barrio of Catarman, locals always returning to its shores after being danao, the second largest island in the country. along with the town of Old Catarman, was temporarily relocated to Mindanao for shelter and medical care following eruptions. And lately, newcomers have also fallen in love with the charms of Camiguin, bringing new business and tourism to the island, which is now home to the only advanced fl ight manoeu- vre camp in the Philippines, Camiguin Aviation. FLYING BY INSTINCT “The island has this incredible micro-climate,” says Captain Clarke, a Canadian geophysicist turned aerobatic pi- lot, who has set up home on the island with his wife and young family. Interestingly, it is his geophysics background that provides him the valuable insight he has on volcanoes and weather systems. “Hot air rises up from the base of the volcanoes and turns into clouds. Pockets of rain form here and there, but the weather can change so quickly. The volcanoes t360 Nov2016_061016_B_tsy.indd 110 13/10/2016 10:41 AM CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT make their own weather and we always fl y on viewing its sea level sights from the air. The sea, A 20-metre high white their terms.” which was inky blue from the ground, is now cross, one of the island’s most photographed sites, Established in 2007, Camiguin Aviation was a vibrant aquamarine, and the canopy of lush marks the location of Old originally a facility offering pilots exposure to jungle framing the shoreline becomes a kalei- Catarman’s sunken cemetery where snorkellers now enjoy aerobatic fl ight manoeuvres, and they recently doscope of green. It’s Camiguin in technicolour! exploring the headstones branched into adventure flights for tourists. On Mantigue Island, a tiny tropical oasis submerged beneath the Bohol Sea. Captain Clarke explains some of the physics just a few minutes’ boat trip from Camiguin's Captain Clarke, who moved to behind aerobatic fl ight while we prepare for east coast, parasols pop with colour and day- Camiguin from Canada with takeoff. “An aeroplane is just like a paper plane: trippers turn their faces skywards and wave to his family almost a decade ago, enjoys taking tourists on if you let it go, it will fl y,” he says. “Aerobatics is us. “Let's wave back,” says Captain Clarke, and aerobatic fl ights high above all about knowing when to give up control in tilts the plane's wings from side to side! As we the volcanic island he loves so much. order to gain control. It's an exercise in trust head inland, Captain Clarke's canary yellow Camiguin Aviation also and feeling. It's about learning to let go. When plane spirals upwards, not unlike the crested provides pilots and tourists comfortable accommodation you start to fl y by feel, that's when you become serpent eagles found in Camiguin and other in the aircraft hangar. a good pilot.” parts of Asia, which ride thermals of warm Camiguin is one of the few places in the air up the volcanic slopes. The eagles use the world where those who are able to hold their air thermals to gain a better perspective from nerves can experience a heart-stopping aero- which to hunt prey, and following their lead batic fl ight over volcanoes. If it isn’t for the fact gives us a spectacular bird’s eye view of the that Captain Clarke has been fl ying planes for island's volcanoes. more than 20 years, I might be nervous. Before After gaining some height, Captain Clarke every fl ight, he provides his passengers three asks how I'd feel about a Cuban Eight. For a sec- key items: a parachute, a life vest and a sick ond, I think he might be offering me a cocktail. bag. “You won't need the parachute or the life He isn't, but as the aerobatics begin, I am both vest,” he quips. “You might need the sick bag, shaken and stirred! but let's hope not!” As we accelerate into the manoeuvre, which involves making the fi gure eight in the sky, the WHERE ONLY EAGLES DARE On our horizon flips, and with it, my world literally fl ight, we begin by skirting the island's coastline, turns upside down. Volcanoes and sea appear LAVA IN THE VEINS “This isn't an easy Camiguin is a quiet isle and home to 70,000 entirely submerged by lava that spewed from place to make an emergency landing,” says pi- locals who work predominantly as fi shermen Mount Vulcan, situated in Camiguin’s north. The lot and founder of Camiguin Aviation, Captain and farmers, but with more volcanoes per town’s sunken cemetery, which is marked by a Sean Clarke, before our fl ight, “but not impos- square kilometre than any other island in the white cross protruding 20 metres from the wa- sible.” He is referring to Camiguin's steep volca- world, this ‘Island Born of Fire’ – as it is popu- ter, is now a well-known dive spot. Today, only nic contours, which fi rst attracted the aerobatic larly called – is also a veritable topographical Mount Hibok-Hibok in the neighbouring barrio pilot to the island, but Captain Clarke admits wonder and a geological powerhouse. From as of Mambajao remains an active volcano, and the rugged landscape is also one of the biggest far back as the locals can recall, the island's some of the oldest residents on the island still challenges of fl ying here. seven volcanoes have shaped its silhouette, remember its last eruptions in 1948 and 1951. The second smallest island province in the altered its coastline and infused the history of Despite Camiguin's scorching history, the Philippines, just 23 kilometres long and 14 kilo- its people with tales of terrifying tremors and island's volcanic magnetism seems hard to re- metres wide, Camiguin is located in the Bohol devastating eruptions. sist. Its population has never waned, with loyal Sea, 10 kilometres off the northern coast of Min- In 1871, the west coast barrio of Catarman, locals always returning to its shores after being danao, the second largest island in the country. along with the town of Old Catarman, was temporarily relocated to Mindanao for shelter and medical care following eruptions. And lately, newcomers have also fallen in love with the charms of Camiguin, bringing new business and tourism to the island, which is now home to the only advanced fl ight manoeu- vre camp in the Philippines, Camiguin Aviation.