JAYtography: An Online Travelogue

9 hours by land. 2 hours by water. And a storm signal. This is not for the faint-hearted.

I was never a fan of long boat rides especially on small vessels that can accommdate a maximum of 10-15 people. I hate big waves! And then there's the cliche... there’s always a first time for everything. True! Guess what? I just experienced the most extreme, nerve-racking, heart-pumping boat ride of my life! Glad I survived!

We have been planning this Calaguas Island trip for quite a while only to find out that PAGASA (Philippines’ institution for monitoring weather, typhoon warnings, etc) raised a storm signal that same day. What?!? You know the feeling when you’re all set for something and then it suddenly gets cancelled. I guess we all felt the same so we decided to brave the storm and push though with our Calaguas escapade!

It was a loooooooong 9-hour travel by land from Manila to Paracale, Camarines Norte. Paracale is where the port to Calaguas island is. When we reached the port, we found out that the local coast guard temporarily suspended boat travels going to the island because of the bad weather. We insisted! Never say never! We didn’t care how bad the weather was, we just wanted to get our asses off to paradise. After a few minutes of negotiations, the coast guard finally said yes! We were so happy, not knowing we signed up for the most thrilling boat ride of our lives!

The first few minutes of the ride was just okay. The waves were big but our strong desires to get to the island were bigger and stronger. Twenty minutes later, the port was already out of sight, and the waves started to get fiercer. It was wild. We thought of backing out. I started to feel my nerves. Wild, tragic scenarios started playing in my mind. For Christ's sake, I don't wanna die of drowning ugh!! FYI, I can’t swim, so yeah, a lot of crazy Titanic-ish moments paralyzed my sanity. This heart-stopping cruise went on for about 2 hours. Finally, a small island popped out in the horizon. The view was surreal. The boatman said we’re only a few [big] waves away to reaching the island. It was a relief! We're alive!!

And in that particular point in time, the island was ours. It was literally just us. Well, I guess we're the only brave souls who said yes to the challenge of the sphinx haha! The rest was history in paradise. ;)

By the way, we made a short music video featuring the beautiful Calaguas Island.

Credit: Marvin Cabutaje

Check out some of our photos. Feel free to get in touch with me if you want a copy of our itinerary and expenses. Ot tweet me @enjayneer. :)

Detailed Itinerary:

March 22 (Saturday)
10:00pm Assembly Net Cube (Dinner/Buy Stuff etc.)
11:00pm ETD from Net Cube to Daet (Pwede naman na umalis kung set na lahat)

March 23 (Sunday)
7:00am ETA in Daet
8:00am Breakfast (Kung saan abutan ng gutom)
9:00am ETD Daet Market to Paracale (Bili sa market na mga possible na lulutuin - share share na lang sa expense)
9:30am ETA in Paracale
10:00am ETD Paracale to Calaguas Island (1.5-2 hours boat ride)
12:00am ETA Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Island (Rest/Photoshoot/Swimming)
1:00pm Lunch (Pwede kaya magpaluto?)
2:00pm Lots of chill time (Pakasawa sa pictures/photoshoot/paitiman/swimming/games etc./island hopping?)
07:00pm Dinner (Tayo tayo na magluto?)
08:00pm Socials (Inom/Night Swimming/Chill)
11:00pm Lights Out

March 24 (Monday)
5:00am Wakeup call
6:00am Climb the Tinago Hills (Sunrise watching)
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Chill ulet (swim/Pictures)
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Chill time (Ligo ulet/Picture/Prepare)
4:00pm ETD Calaguas to Paracale
10:00pm ETD Daet to Manila

March 25 (Tuesday)
7:00am ETA Manila

ESTIMATED BUDGET

Transportation:
Van-Rent (good for 10-12 pax) : P8,000 (for 2 days)
Gas and Toll (estimate): P5,000
Boat (good for 7-10 pax) P5,000 - (good for 7-15 pax) 6,000

Transpo / 10 (Confirmed peeps) = P1,800 per pax
Food (estimated); P500 per pax

Budget for the whole trip:
For 10 pax: P1,800 + P500 = P2,300 per pax

floating market, cai rang, can tho, vietnam, travel, asia, backpacking

Cai Rang Floating Market, Can Tho, Vietnam

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam is Cai Rang floating market located in Can Tho, the fourth largest city in Vietnam, and the largest city in the Mekong Delta. It is actually one of the busiest floating markets in Vietnam because of its strategic location, making it the center of commercial activity, thus providing more opportunity for the locals. This is the perfect floating market to go to if you wanna see the hustle and bustle of locals on boats selling fruits, vegetables, rice, and all kinds of food you can think of.

The view of the floating market is beautiful, especially in the morning where vendors start flocking in on boats carrying colorful fruits, vegetables, and many different kinds of goods. From afar you can already tell what the boat is selling because each boat has a pole and at the tip of it is the specific stuff it sells.

Like this boat, you will see on the stick hanging are cabbage, squash, dragon fruit, etc... which is basically what it sells. :)

Surprisingly, even though hundreds of boats flock here each day, you will notice that there is peace and order. I've never seen a boat jam or any instance of collision, or even rage or tension from vendors. Love it!

And boy, dragon fruits are super cheap here!

Can you believe this? A floating gas station! Haha!

This guys is having a nice and hot pho breakfast in the middle of the river! Cool!

This is me before hopping in at our boat for the floating market tour.

You also get the opportunity to interact with these vendors! I hopped into one boat that sells pineapples. The boatman offered me one actually, and it tasted so sweet! :)

All kinds of goods are here, even refreshments!

In the photo will see some of the tourists in the same tour group with us.

And some more tourists.. :)

Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand, Reclining Buddha, Phra Nakhon district, Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan, birthplace of traditional Thai massage, Asia, culture

Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, including the famous and one of the largest single Buddha structures in the world, the Reclining Buddha, 43 meters (160 feet) long and 15 meters high.

The sacredness of the place is religiously maintained. You need to take off your shoes as you enter the templr. But don't worry, in case you were not informed, robes are provided for those wearing sleeveless tops or short skirts.

The reclining golden buddha is jaw dropping. I've never seen a buddha as big as this. The soles of the Buddha's feet alone are whopping 3 meters high and almost 5 meters long, and are embedded with mother of pearls.

Wat Pho temple is just a few walks away from The Grand Palace.

The temple, considered as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, is home to one of the earliest Thai massage schools. And I was able to experience the massage - an authentic Thai massage for the win!

The reclining Buddha is so huge, it makes it so hard to get a nice angle to photograph it.

Around the walls of the temple are beautifully preserved hand paintings depicting the rich Thai culture and tradition.

Along the giant buddha image you will find 108 bronze bowls where people donate coins because it is believed to bring good fortune, and also to help the monks maintain the temple.

The intrinsic design of each temple here is just unbelievable. Very detailed!

It was love at first sight yet again! I don't mind trekking for hours on a rocky terrain to get a sight of paradise! I will never get tired. Not at this age! :)

We left Manila at around 3am via a public bus in Cubao. By 6am we're already in Tarlac. From Tarlac bus terminal, we had to travel by tricycle (Philippine tuktuk) for another 1.5 hours more to the local tourism office where we had to pay the fees. From there we start the 4x4 ride to the crater lake, which takes approximately 1-2 hours.

The 4x4 jeep can only accommodate us up to a certain point because as you get near the crater, the rocks and boulders get huge, and the only way to go about these is by trekking. It was around 8am when we started walking - it's still cold, the sun has just started showing up, so walking was not much of a hassle. Actually, you'd enjoy taking selfies and groupies because of the majestic views of the skies and huge rock walls in your background.

By 10am, we're already at this camp with nipa huts where you can rest and refresh for a while, have snacks, or take a short nap. It would take about 20 minutes more to get to the world-renowned volcano crater. The excitement intensifies!!

20 minutes later...

My jaw droppped, LITERALLY when I saw the view...

Another love at first sight moment! I finally got to see THE majestic Mount Pinatubo crater lake, in the flesh! It was surreal and heart-stopping.

After a lot of picture taking and sight-seeing, we cooked our lunch, ate, a few more photo shoots, and started our descent. We stayed at the crater for about 2 hours. That's more than enough to appreciate the beauty of what was once a fierce peak.

By 5pm, we're back at the tourism office. And if you're wondering if there are rest rooms around, yes, there are locals offering rest rooms/shower rooms for a fee.

At the end of the day, everything was all worth it.

Traveling is therapeutic. It teaches you the basic values of life - patience, courage, value for relationship/friendship, love for the environment; that as you travel and explore the four corners of our earth, you get to appreciate life, even the smallest things. Something you will never pick up if you keep locking yourself at your comfort zone.

Just go ahead. You will never know what could be on the other side. :)

Detailed Itinerary:

02:00 AM - Meeting time at Victory Lines, Edsa, Cubao
03:00 AM - Boarding of Passengers and departure for Tarlac
04:30 AM - ETA at Capas, Tarlac; breakfast at McDonald's
06:00 AM - Arrival at Barangay Hall/Tourism Office, Registration
06:30 AM - Depart for Mt.Pinatubo, ride 4×4 vehicle to jump off point
07:30 AM - Start of 2hrs-3hrs trek
10:30 AM - Arrive at Mt.Pinatubo; lunch
01:30 PM - Trek down
02:00 PM - ETA at jump off point, ride 4×4 vehicle back to Barangay Hall/Tourism Office
04:00 PM - ETA at Barangay Hall/Tourism Office; wash up
05:30 PM - ETA to Capas Junction; early dinner
06:00 PM - ETD for Cubao (chance passenger)
08:00 PM - ETA Edsa, Cubao

What to Bring:
- Water, Drinks
- Snacks
- Valid I.D
- Extra clothes and towels
- First aid kit
- Bring own food (pwede naman magluto)
- Be dustproof, waterproof and sunproof.

Estimated Budget:
P201 - Bus to Tarlac
P300 - Food
P80 - good for 4pax; Tricycle to Tourism Office
P1,525 - 12,200ph 4X4 Jeep; good for 8
P201 - Bus to Manila
---------------------------------------
P2,307 per pax

So we've just finished another #WonderfulMindanao trip! This time, we went out exploring a couple more hidden Philippine gems around Surigao del Sur.

Surigao del Sur is a province in the Philippines located along the northeastern coast of Mindanao facing the Pacific Ocean. It is home to the famous Enchanted River (Hinatuan River)—a river so mysterious, no one knows how deep it is, Tinuy-an Falls—tagged as the "Little Niagara of the Philippines", and Britania Group of Islands—a group of islets that boasts powdery white sand and beautiful sand bars.

If you plan on doing the same trip, which I strongly suggest you do, you may check out our detailed itinerary at the end of this post.

Britania Group of Islands

I have never imagined white sands, peaceful beaches, and a relaxing swim under the sun when I said yes to this trip. Who would have thought Surigao del Sur has this piece of paradise, most people only think they'll find in Boracay or Palawan?

Britania Group of Islands in San Agustin boasts of 24 beautiful islets scattered all throughout the island complex as if some nature fairy landscaped it. And yes, these islands are surrounded by creamy white sands!

Enchanted River

Located at the town of Hinatuan is a majestic river that attracts tourists from all over, not only because of its breath-taking beauty that will leave you speechless, but also of some unexplained mysteries. Aside from the fact that no diver has ever reached the bottom of the Enchanted River, nobody has ever caught a fish in this river even though the schools of huge and fat fish you see swimming around look calm and gentle. Enchanted indeed!

Tinuy-an Falls

Another popular tourist destination in Surigao del Sur lies at the town of Bislig. Tinuy-an Falls, known as the "Niagara Falls" of the Philippines, is a 4-level white water curtain about 55 meters high. It holds the record as the widest waterfalls in the Philippines.

More photos here. Or follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates. :)

Detailed Itinerary:

Surigao Trip: November 8 – November 11, 2014

November 8: Saturday (Manila – Butuan) – NAIA Terminal 3

Departure: 12:00 PM Arrival: 1:30 PM

November 11: Tuesday (Butuan – Manila) – Bancasi Airport

Departure: 3:30 PM Arrival: 4:55 PM

Day 0 - November 8

Manila – Butuan – 12:00 PM

ETA Butuan Bancasi Airport – 1:30 PM

ETD Van to San Agustin (McArthur’s Place) – 2:30 PM

ETA McArthurs Place – 6:30 PM

Dinner

Free time

Lights Out

Day 1 - November 9

Breakfast - Free

Britania Group of Islands Tour Whole Day

Lunch

Dinner

Free time

Lights Out

Day 2 - November 10

Breakfast - Free

Enchanted River & Tinuy-an Falls

International Doll Museum

Lunch - Ocean View Park Restaurant

ETA – McArthurs Place - 8:30 PM

Dinner

Day 3 - November 11

Breakfast - Free

Back to Manila

ESTIMATED BUDGET FOR 8 PAX: Exclusive of Lunch, Dinner, & Entrance Fees etc.

P15,000 – Van Rental to all Tours

P2,000 – 1st night accommodation with breakfast

P1,500 – Boat rental with tour

P2,000 – 2nd night accommodation with breakfast

P2,000 – 3rd night accommodation with breakfast

Total: P22,500 / 8 = P2,812.50 per pax

A monument/park in Chau Doc with a basa fish statue.

The basa fish is a species of catfish native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Indochina. They are often labeled in the international market as basa fish or Vietnamese river cobbler.

These fish are important food fish in the Mekong Delta. The local economy of Vietnam mostly rely on the culture of basa fish for export, aside from tourism. The province of An Giang, specifically Chau Doc, is one of the busiest trading center since it is bordering Cambodia.

How the typical houses look like in Vietnam's floating village.

One of the popular tours when in Chau Doc is a visit to its floating town where most household have basa fish farms. We spent around an hour visiting the floating houses and our tour guide showed us how the locals culture basa fish.

As you can see, the fish nurseries are usually placed inside their homes. The basa fish are always super hungry! Our guide threw in a bucket of fish pellets and the fish went crazy! In a matter of seconds, the pellets were gone. Haha! You better check out the video below and see for yourself!

Well here's a bit of revelation. Aside from fish pellets, basa fish are also fed with this mud-like mix of dead fish remnants and bones, dried and ground into a dung-like dough. We'll it's what keeps them fatso, they say. :D

The machine that grinds dead fish to achieve that pudding-like form

Here's the fish food! Good thing you can't smell the photos :))

Here are some more photos taken around the floating village.

2014 was the most adventurous year of my life yet. It's the year that opened me to new experiences, new friendships, and most especially, new learnings. The people I've met, the things I've tried for the first time, the places I've been to... This is the life I have always imagined, but at the same time, I still long for more. And I wanna keep doing this for the rest of my life, or as long as I'm able to. :D

A few words for everyone... Remember to always keep exploring and stepping out of your comfort zone. You'll realize one day that by having the heart to do the things you didn't imagine doing, you learn more and you get to appreciate the simple things in life. Start young, and now is that time!

Life isn't just about earning money or getting all the material things you kept longing for -- it's about you seeing as many places as you can, meeting and making friends of different beliefs and culture, keeping strong relationships with the people around you, and most of all, understanding that learning is an endless process, and that it is one of the essentials in life that makes life the life we all should live.

You better start living the in the now, while you still have enough time. One day, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching.

Cheers to a great life! Dream big!

With Regine, Bubles, and Darby at Kawasan Falls, Badian Cebu

This blog entry was inspired by David, a solo backpacker I met in the bus while I'm on my way to Pampanga today. I asked him where he's going and said he just want a "night" in Angeles. And my reaction: "Oh, the red light district!" and we both laughed! He also told me he's headed up north to see the Banaue Rice Terraces. He's actually on a "no-destination, just-go-wherever" travel around the Philippines. Cool!!

We'll, in case you're wondering what David and I's encounter had to do with this blog post.. I told him to check out my blog and go through some posts about my local travels as he might get ideas on where to go next or at least find helpful tips while roaming around the country. Then I realized, "Shit! I still have a lot of pending posts from my recent travels!" So, to provide him with more travel ideas and more destination choices, I started blogging as soon as I reached home! :D

TO DAVID:Hey buddy! Happy travel! Shoot me an SMS or a tweet, or an Instagram comment (@enjayneer) if you need anything- tips, Tagalog translations, whatever haha! Who knows we might bump into each other again in the future. :)

Okay, let's go back to the real essence of this post:
MY UNFORGETTABLE TRIP TO BADIAN CEBU! Just to give you a brief backgound, I am in this group called Let's Do It! Philippines. It's an NGO that advocates for a zero waste planet. I was one of the 100 regional leaders chosen. And I represent Pampanga. Thanks to Darby, by the way, for inviting me to join!

Let's Do It! Philippines sponsored a 2-day boot camp in Badian Cebu. We stayed in paradise errr in Terra Manna, a resort in Badian that offers tents, huts, and camping as accommodation. Guess what? It was actually a fun experience, not to mention the cool people I made friends with!

With my cool team mates during the boot camp: Clement, Reynand, and Darby

In the morning, we do meditation! This is life! Haha

On our first day, we stayed in Sugbutel, a dorm-type inn in Cebu City. For about 300 pesos, you get a small capsule enough to fit yourself in and your backpack. There's a common shower and toilet area too. Not bad.

While in Cebu City, of course, we visited (I'll never get tired of seeing these places) Sto. Nino de Cebu Church, Magellan's Cross, tried CnT Lechon for the first time, and strolled around the Osmeña area.

Magellan's cross, who is still under construction due to the 2013 earthquake

The beautiful retablo altar of Sto. Niño Church de Cebu

By afternoon, it's time to leave for Badian. We took the bus at Cebu South Station at around 3PM, and by dinner time, we're already at Terra Manna. Badian is roughly about 3-4 hours by land from Cebu City.

Sunset-watching by the shore area at Terra Manna Resort

On our last day in Badian, we went to Kawasan Falls. A stunning waterfall that boasts of clear blue waters as if you're in a swimming pool! For about 300 pesos, you can ride the raft and they'll take you inside the outer mouth of the cave where the waterfall falls. It was such a nice experience to wrap up this Cebu trip.

The beautiful crystal clear river leading to Kawasan Falls

With Clement while picking up the trash on our trek to Kawasan Falls

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Check out this short video/trailer about our recent trip to the Philippine province of Surigao del Sur. You may also check out my blog post, including a detailed itinerary here.

Extreme selfie at the Lioness' Head!!!

Here's another one of those "do one thing everyday that scares you" moments of my life! And I have no regrets!! Well, we just did a "buwis-buhay" [life-risking] rock scrambling in Norzagaray, Bulacan. Rock scrambling, by the way is a term for an activity of ascending rocky faces and ridges that lies somewhere between hiking and rock climbing.

We started scrambling at around before lunch time and the sun was scorching hot!! I suggest you start it super early in the morning so when you reach the peak, the sun's heat is still not as hardcore as it is during noon time.

Check out this view!

My new travel buddy: Vibram Five Fingers

Lunch right after our climb to the Lioness Head and Rhino rock formation

Close Encounter with a Lioness and a Rhino

Our first destination was the Lioness Head and Rhino Rock Formation in Bigte, Norzagaray. Climbing the lioness' head rock formation was the most challenging climb of this trip! Seriously! One wrong step and you'll fall down the rocky and deadly cliff! Good thing we hired a tour guide to guide us which rock is steady enough to step on. Not to scare you, but there are some rocks that just fall off when you step on them.

The Rhino's peak was not as hard to climb as the lioness but the rocks are sharp so you need to wear protection for your hands. Make sure your shoes can also withstand hardcore climbing.

Rhino Rock Formation

Of course, selfie on top of the lion's head!

Can you spot the lion's head? :)

Stalagmite and Stalactite Hunting at Pinagrealan Cave

This cave is a subterranean network of caverns extending more than a kilometer deep. The Katipunero Revolutionaries during the war against Spain used it as a camp in 1896 and again during the Filipino-American War in 1898 as hideout of General Emilio Aguinaldo (the First President of the Philippines). It was also used as a sanctuary by the Japanese Imperial Army when the Philippines was liberated by American Forces. [wiki]

These sparking rocks are made of crystallized water droplets formed through the years.

And here we are after a surviving an hour of spelunking, braving the darkness, hearing bats all over, slipping through trying to fit inside tiny holes, and swimming through icy cold water inside. REWARDING!

Detailed Itinerary:

07:00 AM – Meet up at SM Fairview
07:30 AM – Ride jeep going to Bigte, Norzagaray (Php 26.00)
08:15 AM – Tricycle ride to jump-off (Php 10.00 each)
09:00 AM – Start trek
10:00 AM – Start ascend to Lioness Back
11:00 AM – ETA Lioness Back
12:30 PM – Start descend
01:00 PM – Start ascend to Rhino
01:30 PM – ETA Rhino
02:00 PM – Start descend
02:10 PM – Back to main road
02:30 PM – Lunch at a resort near Pinagrealan
03:30 PM – Wait for our turn to Pinagrealan Cave
04:30 PM – Pinagrealan Cave tour
05:30 PM – Back to the resort for shower
06:30 PM – Depart for Manila
09:00 PM – Back in Ayala

What to Bring:
- Gloves
- Water, Drinks
- Sunblock / sun shade
- Snacks
- Extra clothes and towel
- First aid kit

Estimated Budget – Php 300.00 per pax

tinipak river, mount daraitan, sierra madre, underground river, spelunking, daraitan, tanay, rizal, #visitph2015, #visitphilippines2015, #itsmorefuninthephilippines, mountaineering, pinoy mountaineer

Stunning huge marble boulders of Tinipak River

View at 700+m above sea level, Mount Daraitan summit

If you're up for an overnight camp/hike adventure not too far away from Manila, Tanay Rizal is it! When I say adventure, I mean camping up the mountains, preparing and cooking meals outdoors, swimming through a natural jacuzzi inside an underground cave, crossing through raging river waters.... Oh, did I just spark up your imagination? :P

Somewhere in the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges is a hidden paradise with a laid-back, barrio vibe–a village called Daraitan. Carabaos and horses dominate the one-way streets, roosters on choral alarm as the dawn breaks, drinking water freshly fetched from deep wells or fresh springs, and all that simple life we all crave for every once in a while to break free from the hustle and bustle of the wild and sickening city.

Daraitan boasts of tourists' favorite activites such as mountain ridges to conquer, a river so beautiful it features large rock formations as if you're in the lost world, and a stunning cave where one can take a cold dip in mother nature's very own jacuzzi pool.

Climbing from rock to rock is a bit of a challenge, actually! :P

Mount Daraitan

The trail is challenging as it is mostly a steep assault, but the view from the top is magical. You get a feel of that "I'm the king of the world!" moment, if you know what I mean.

As a newbie mountaineer, this, by far is the most challenging climb I've done. As a reference, the trail is far difficult than Mount Manabu in Batangas. My personal difficulty level rating of Manabu is 2/10, and Daraitan is 4/10. Pretty much an easy one for the pros though.

It takes about 4-5 hours to reach the campsite which is about 20 minutes more worth of assault trek to the summit. We camped overnight and just before the dawn breaks, we started trekking to the summit.

We cooked longganisa and adobo! :D

My camp buddies!

And voila, the view from the top!

Tinipak River and Underground Cave

After the exhausting summit climb comes a refreshing reward that will take your breath away. Tinipak river features raging waters, majestic rock formations, and a cave so beautiful it has its own natural jacuzzi pool inside.

It's like you're in the pre-historic era with all these perfectly sculpted white marble and limestone boulders all over the river.

Tinipak river, by the way is awarded as the cleanest inland body of water in Region IV, so imagine how crystal clear the water is.

Tinipak Underground River's natural swimming pool jacuzzi.

If Tanay Rizal is in your bucket list, which I expect it is, a detailed itinerary of our trip is included below.

Follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates!

Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 1
08:00 Meet up at McDonald's along EDSA Shaw near Teleperformance
09:00 Take jeepney from EDSA-Shaw to Tanay, Rizal
10:30 ETA Tanay, Rizal. Take jeep to Sampaloc, Tanay
10:15 ETA Sampaloc, Tanay. Take tricycle to Brgy. Daraitan
11:00 Arrival at Daraitan River. Cross with raft and take trike to barangay hall
11:30 ETA Barangay Hall; Register and secure guides.
12:00 Lunch

12:30 Start trek up Mt. Daraitan
17:00 ETA campsite. Set up camp.
20:00 Dinner / socials

DAY 2

06:00 Sunrise viewing at the limestone formations
07:00 Breakfast / Break camp
08:00 Start descent to Tinipak River
11:00 Arrival at Tinipak River. Lunch / Sidetrips
15:30 Proceed to Brgy. Daritan via riverside trail
16:15 Back at Barangay Hall; tidy up
17:30 Head back to Tanay, Rizal via tricycle
18:30 Back in Tanay Rizal. Take jeepney back to Shaw
20:00 Back in Manila

Estimated Budget:

Php 7,000 Jeep from shaw to daraitan back and forth (20 pax)
Php 2,500 Guide fee for 10 pax (overnight): P1,250 x 2

Total Damage: Php 9,500 / 20 = Php 475 each

Ungab Rock Formation, Mongpong Island

Maniwaya Island

Checked another Philippines province, yeah! Marinduque is an island in the Luzon island group of the Philippines, east of Mindoro, south of Quezon and north of Romblon. The province is home to the Moriones Festival held during Holy Week. It is dubbed as the "Heart" of the Philippines because one, it's shaped like a heart and two, it's located at the heart/center of the Philippines.

Our destinations: Maniwaya and Mongpong Islands

It was a roughly 3-hour bus ride from Manila to Lucena. From Lucena you need to take a roro to Balanacan port which takes around 2-3 hours as well. From the port, another 45-minute boat ride to Maniwaya Island. See detailed itinerary below.

What to see in Marinduque:

1. Palad Sandbar

Palad Sandbar, located two miles away from the northeast coast of Maniwaya Island, boasts of crystal clear water and ivory white sand and is only visible at low tides.

"Palad" means palm of the hand in Filipino. The circularly shaped sandbar looks like a palm of the hand.

2. Powdery-white sand + serene and peaceful beach

If you're looking for a nice beach to just relax and unwind without the noisy crowd and all that jazz, Maniwaya Island is the perfect beach getaway. Unlike any other tourist-y beaches in the Philippines, not too many people flock here (except on Holy Week, Moriones Festival - Marinduque's star festival).

Mongpong Island on the other hand, is perfect for the more adventurous or those who wish to be away from the rapid-paced life in the city but want a bit of adrenaline pump.

3. Sumptuous seafood!

Balakwit was the star of our meal during our stay in Maniwaya. Balakwit, also known as conches, is a type of edible seashells found along the shores of Marinduque. The locals consider it as one of their staple food and can be cooked into different kinds of delicious dishes.

4. Ungab Rock Formation

Mongpong Island is famous for its beautiful overarching bridge rock formation called Ungab which towers about 100 feet above the water.

From Maniwaya, the Ungab rock formation in Mongpong Island is definitely another site worth visiting.

5. The hospitality of the people

We stayed at Villa Atilana Resort–a guesthouse that features nipa hut accommodations at an affordable package. The accommodation package does not include meals, but they can cook for you at an added cost.

One of the many things I enjoyed at Villa Atilana is the warm welcome of the staff, including the owner, Atilana. Tita Atilana was hands on during our stay, as if we were just staying in a relative's house. A lot of chit-chats during our free time and she even gave us Korean Ampalaya (Bitter Gourd) seedlings. Filipino hospitality for the win!!

Follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates! :)

Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 1

21:00 Meet-up JAC Liner Buendia

22:00 JAC liner bound to Lucena (Only 10pm and 12am trips)

DAY 2

03:00 ETA Lucena (Dalahican Port). Buy tickets to Cawit Port, Marinduque

04:00 ETD to Marinduque (Balanacan Por)

07:00 ETA Cawit or Balanacan Port. Take jeep or Van to Sta Cruz

07:30:00 ETA to Sta Cruz town proper (Palengke) Breakfast, Hire a trike to Buyabod Port

08:00 Rent boat to Maniwaya Island.

09:30 ETA Maniwaya Island and Early lunch

11:00 Island hopping (Polo Island, Ungab Rock Formation, Palad Sandbar, and swimming onwards.)

DAY 3

06:00 Wake up. Breakfast. Swim-photo ops-swim

11:00 Break Camp/Clean-up

13:00 ETD to Buyabod Port

14:00 ETA Buyabod Port. Buy tickets to Lucena Port

18:00 ETA Manila

Estimated Budget:

Php 230.00 Jac Liner bus, Buendia - Lucena-Dalahican Port

Php 30.00 Terminal Fee Dalahican Port

Php 270.00 Roro to Balanacan Port

Php 20.00 Terminal Fee Balanacan Port

Php 100.00 Jeep form Balanacan Port to Sta Cruz

Php 80.00 Van Sta. Cruz to Balanacan Port

Php 270.00 RoRo to Balanacan Port

Php 240.00 Bus Lucena to Edsa (Ortigas)

Php 230/head = Php 4,000 chartered boat (includes island hopping) / 18 pax

Php 473/ head - Villa Atilana accommodation for 18 pax

Total Damage = Php 2,313/head

Baler, Aurora, Sabang Beach, Costa Pacifica, Ditumabo Mother Falls, Surfing, Beaches, Travel and Leisure, Travel Itinerary, Philippines, Diguisit Beach Rock Formation, Baler Surf Grill, Millennium Tree of Asia, Hanging Bridge, Rock Scrambling, Pinoy Mountaineers

Diguisit Rock Formation, Baler

Before I visited Baler, the first thing that comes to my mind, always, is surfing.. just that.. and oh, non-whitesand beach! But now that I have come to see this what-is-known-to-many as a surfing paradise, I realized, geez, there's more to it than surfing!

So shut off the idea that Baler is only for surfing because guess what? It has a majestic waterfall, a breathtaking rock formation that oversees the ocean, a hanging bridge, a tree so huge you can even come inside it and breathe through its history, a mansion of a former Philippine first lady, and a museum that will take you down memory lane.

Here are the beautiful sceneries Baler etched in my memories..

1. Millennium Tree of Asia

Baler's "Millennium Tree" is claimed to be the largest Balete tree (strangler fig) in Asia at 200 ft tall and 49 ft in diameter. It is estimated to be about 600+ years old. You can actually fit inside its core at the base! Amazing!

2. Baler Hanging Bridge

One of our stops on our first day before heading on to our hotel is this hanging bridge in Barangay Zabali. It's a nice Baler kickoff to take a few groupies or selfies. A "fresh" refreshment also awaits you at the end of the bridge courtesy of the fresh coconut juice being sold for just 15 pesos.

3. Doña Aurora's Mansion and Museo de Baler

Baler is the birthplace and hometown of Philippines' second president, Manuel L. Quezon. In fact, the province of Aurora was named after her wife, Maria Aurora. Museo de Baler has bits and pieces of the province' deep history, as well as works of art from well-known Filipino artists.

A few walks from Museo de Baler is Doña Aurora's Mansion. Though it has gone through several restorations and renovations, stepping inside the mansion feels surreal. You get a feel on how simple life is back then, even for the rich and famous.

Dinning area of the mansion

4. Of course, SURFING!

Surf haven as what this small town is known for and what most tourists come to see. Baler was once tagged by Google as one of the best beach destinations in the Philippines, and by Yahoo as one of the top surf spots in the country. And it surely is! A paradise for surfing enthusiasts!

Our tour package included a free 1 hour surfing lesson, so yeah, surf board's up! :)

5. Ditumabo Mother Falls

Our reward after subjecting ourselves to almost one hour of muddy and slippery trek! You will literally forget how tired you are when you get a sight of the majestic waterfall.

Yes, I slipped! :)))

Now I know why they call it the "mother falls". Enchanting!

Warning: the water is freezing cold! Haha!

6. Diguisit Beach and Rock Formation

Our last destination on our second day in Baler, probably the most challenging one, well, if you dare to climb the rock formation. Otherwise, it's gonna be a relaxing chill time at the beach while you watch the waves and the beautiful rock boulders all over.

But I chose to push my limits, so yeah, I climbed the rocks!! :D It's quite risky since you don't get to wear any harness or safety gear. Climb at your own risk!

Warning: Be extra careful in choosing which rock to step on because one wrong move, and the raging waves + killer rocks are waiting to cradle you!

I have provided a detailed tour itinerary below for everyone! :)

Follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates!

Detailed Itinerary
Driver's Name (includes accommdation and tour): Ses Cabral - 09175940238

Goodvibes Transient House PHP 2,500/PERSON
• Available room set up: dorm type rooms (3,4,8 and 12pax/room)
Inclusions:
• Accommodation (3 days and 2 nights)
• Roundtrip Van Transfers (QC-Baler-QC)
• Tour Guide (Mother Falls only)
• Driver; Professional Fee, Food and Accommodation
• Fuel and Toll Fees
• Full tour around Baler

DAY 1
0000 Market Market, Taguig Assembly Time
0100 ETD
0330 Mega Shell Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija Stopover / CR break / Snacks
0600 Pantabangan Lake Sunrise
0800 Millennium Tree of Asia
0900 Sabang Beach Breakfast
1000 Sabang Beach
1200 Museo de Baler
1230 Baler Church
1245 Dona Aurora mansion
1300 Hanging Bridge
1330 Lunch
1400 Hotel check in + rest
1630 Surfing
1900 Sabang Beach Dinner
2030 Back in the hotel

DAY 2
0700 Wakeup call. Pack up for Mother Falls
0830 Breakfast
0930 Mother Falls hike
1200 Lunch
1345 Hotel - freshen up
1445 Diguisit Beach
2030 Hotel - chill night + videoke nearby

DAY 3
0700 Wakeup call
0715 Sabang Beach – Breakfast and free time for surfing
1100 Check out
1145 am Lunch
1230 Souvenir shop for pasalubong
1600 Cabanatuan City stopover
2100 ETA Trinoma

Mt Manabu, Mount Manabu, Peak, Batangas, Itinerary, Expenses, Mountain Climbing, Minor Climb, Philippines, Activity, Nature Trip, Near Manila, Budget, 2D1N, 2 days 1 night, overnight

Manabu Peak, at 2400 feet above sea level

Thinking of doing a minor climb/trek but you're too glued in Manila that you don't want to stray far much from it? Well, Batangas, just a stone's throw away from Manila, is the perfect place for you. Aside from beaches, Batangas is home to a lot of mountain ridges of all sizes, perfect not just for professional mountaineers, but also for beginners or nature-trippers who are not into hard-core climbing.

One of the easiest mountain summits to conquer is Mount Manabu located in Brgy. Sta. Cruz in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The peak is at 2400 feet above sea level and the trail difficulty is at 2/9 - a minor climb specification, very easy even for beginners.

Although we experienced an overnight rain shower during our climb and it's quite a hassle if your gears are not rain proof, the experience we had, nevertheless, was still topnotch!

TIP: Be sure to bring a waterproof mat/tent base so your stuff won't get drenched in water in case it rains. That's exactly what happened to me and my tent-mates. Our tent didn't have a waterproof base that's why the rain water was absorbed inside and voila, all our stuff (including us) were soaking wet.

Also, in case you're wondering, there is cellular signal (3G c/o Globe), even at the summit! You can share your camping experience in real-time! :)

What great things to expect in Mount Manabu:

1. Beautiful Sunrise

Don't underestimate Manabu. Yes, the summit is not that high, but watch out as the dawn breaks. The view of the sunrise as it hits the lush green scenery is to die for! It's not everyday that you feel a certain kind of bliss as you get a sight of the peeking ball of fire.

2. Free Civet Coffee

There's free authentic civet coffee in the mountains courtesy of Mang Pirying and Mang Tino in one of the camper's stations (station 5). Alamid or Civet coffee is among the world's most expensive coffee. What's so special about it? The civet cats feed on coffee berries and the coffee beans collected from their poop are used to make this expensive coffee. Civets' special instincts allow them to eat only the best berries containing the best beans. Aside from that, the civet's digestive enzymes also improve the flavor of the beans. Interesting!

Group photo with Mang Tino (2nd from left, wearing blue overhaul)

3. White Stone Cross

A huge white cross will greet you as you get to the peak. There's this certain feel of accomplishment and redemption when you reach the summit.

A breathtaking 360 degree view of Batangas and nearby provinces also awaits!

4. Priceless Camping Experience

Camping up the mountains is always one of the best ways to meet interesting people. We've met campers from different groups. Different professions, different interests, different goals, different stories, but somehow, up that summit, we were as one - it's like family. The experience of meeting strangers as you travel is inexplicable.

Mark Twain has always been right about traveling and getting along with people. Indeed, the best way to find out whether you like people or hate them is to travel with them.

Early morning breakfast

Time to pack up!

More photos..

At the base camp before hitting the trails.

Back in the base camp to tidy up before heading back to Manila.

Detailed Itinerary: 2D/1N

DAY 1 (Saturday)

0700 Meet up from Buendia LRT Board Batangas City-bound bus
0800 ETA Tambo Exit; Ride Jeepney to Lipa
0820 ETA Lipa; Ride jeep to Fiesta Mall
0830 ETA Fiesta Mall; Buy stuffs ; Early lunch
0900 Ride Trike to Brgy Sulok
0930 ETA 'Sulok', Brgy. Sta. Cruz
1000 Start trek
1100 Arrived at fork, take left path to Grotto
1200 ETA Campsite. Pitch tents
1300 Summit
1400 Siesta
1900 Dinner
2000 Socials

DAY 2 (Sunday)

0600 Wakeup
0700 Breakfast
0900 Break Camp
0930 Summit
1000 Start descent
1045 Grotto
1120 Back at jump-off. Proceed back to Lipa.
1200 ETA; Lipa, lunch.
1330 Take bus to Manila
1600 ETA Manila

EXPENSES:
Bus: Buendia to Lipa - PhP 124
Tricycle: Lipa to Sta. Cruz - PhP 200/tricycle
Environmental Fee - Php 20
Guide Fee PhP 500
Tricycle: Sta. Cruz to Lipa - PhP 50/person
Meal - PhP 100
Bus: Lipa to Buendia - Php 124
Miscellaneous: water, trail food, etc. - Php 200
TOTAL: approx Php 800 per pax

MOUNTAINEER'S CHECKLIST
CAMPING + CLOTHING:
Backpack / raincover
Tent / groundsheet / earthpad / Pegs
Tarp*
Sleeping bag*
Hiking shoes / plus optional slippers/sandals
Trekking pants/light pants
Thermal/cotton/wool undershirt
Long sleeved trekking shirt
Sweater
Windbreaker/Jacket
Poncho / raincoat
Extra shirts
Gloves/bonnet/thick socks
Bush hat / cap
Trekking pole*

DRINKING + EATING + COOKING:
2-3L water or liquids / hydration pack or water carriers
Trail food: could be energy bars, nuts, dried fruits
Trail Water: 1- 2L
Rice / precooked/uncooked meat
Noodles / instant coffee / canned goods
Oil / garlic / pepper
Portable stove and fuel / butane
COoking/eating utensils
Spoon/fork/knife/can opener
Lighter /matches
Garbage bags/Ziplocks

TOILETRIES:
Towel /tissue paper
Soap/ Shampoo
Toothbrush / toothpaste
Alcohol

GADGETS:
Flashlight / headlamps
Camera / binoculars
Cellphone / Two-way radios
GPS / altimeter watches
Compass / Topographic maps
Extra batteries / memory

PROTECTION + EMERGENCY + UTILITIES:
Whistle
Lighter /matches
Insect repellent / Sunscreen or sunblock (>SPF 30)
First aid kit / Personal medications
Utility rope*
Multi-purpose cord / twine
Duct tape
Swiss knife
ID with emergency phone numbers and blood type / HMO Card

Windmills of Bangui, Ilocos Norte

Ilocos is approximately 400km away from Manila, or to give you a more imaginable data, it's about 8-9 hours travel by land. Ilocos is divided into Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur provinces. Well, enough of the wiki facts! Let me tell you about my personal experience! :D

Ilocos is marked by an incredibly rich cultural heritage. It is where the old meets the new. Aside from the cultural experience, Ilocos is also home to some of the most breath-taking sceneries in the North - perfect for nature-lovers and adrenaline junkies. And delicious food, by the way!!

Let me go through these items one by one.

1. Ilocos Norte Welcome Arch

One of the tourist-popular sites you will first encounter the moment you enter Ilocos is the Ilocos Norte Welcome Arch. You can ask your driver to park at the side of the street for a quick photo op with the famous Ilocos landmark.

2. Bantay Bell Tower

Bantay Church is a well-known pilgrimage among Catholics because it houses the miraculous image of Apo Caridad (Our Lady of Charity), the oldest Marian icon in the region. Going up the church' bell tower was fulfilling and relaxing.

One of the bells up the tower. These bells are huge!!

Beautiful view of Vigan as the dawn breaks

3. Paoay Church

One of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, The Church of St. Augustine, more popularly known as Paoay Church is one of the star destinations in Ilocos.

Let me tell you one interesting fact about the church: Did you know that the bell tower of Paoay Church is made from corals? Look closely at the pictures for you to find out!

4. The Malacañang of the North

The Malacañang of the North used to be the official residence of President Ferdinand Marcos during his term, and now serves as a public museum. Nice place to drop by if you are into colonial mansions as this one is well-preserved and regularly maintained.

5. Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

The mausoleum houses the remains of the late Ferdinand Marcos. The Marcoses memorabilia can be found inside the museum.

6. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period. A winding road from the highway to the hilltop will take you to the lighthouse. It has a nice view of the ocean and cliffs off the coast.

7. Paoay Sand Dunes

This is one of my favorite activities! For only 500 pesos per head for a group of 5, you get to experience an extreme 4x4 ride in the sand dunes. You also can also try sand boarding if you feel like sliding down the sandy terrain.

WARNING: Be sure to hold tight because the 4x4 ride can scare the hell out of you especially on sloping areas of the dunes! It's like a crazy roller coaster ride! FUN!

8. Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Nature's beauty at its finest. The white rocks of Kapurpurawan in Burgos, Ilocos Norte were sculpted through time by the forces of the wind, rain water, and ocean waves. "Puraw" in Ilocano means "white".

The rocks are whitest during April to May. Definitely worth the long walk under the scorching heat of the sun.

See my Instagram video of the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation.

9. Kabigan Falls

Kabigan Falls is found deep in the forest of Ilocos Norte. It takes about 30 minutes of trek to get you to this 120-feet high waterfall. It's breathtaking!

10. Giant Windmills of Bangui

There are over a hundred of these giant windmills in Ilocos. Each stands 70+ meters high and each blade measures 41 meters long. The windmills are a source of sustainable energy that provides 40% of Ilocos Norte's electricity.

Jumpshot!! :D

11. Pagudpud Beach

After a tiring road trip around Ilocos, a relaxing dip through the crystal blue waters and fine sand of Pagudpud beach would be a superb idea! Here you can do zip-lining, banana boat ride, surfing, or a chill sunbathing by the beach.

12. Calle Crisologo

Vigan, one of the New7Wonder cities of the world is a city rich in centuries-old history. A walk though Vigan's Calle Crisologo is absolutely recommended if you wish to take a trip down memory lane and revisit the Philippine-Spanish colonial time.

TIP: you might want to wake up early and visit Calle Crisologo just after sunrise because it gets too crowded during lunch time 'til evening.

13. Ilocano Food

Empanada, Pinakbet Pizza, Poqui-poqui, and Dinakdakan are some of the must-try food in Ilocos. My personal favorite is Dinakdakan!

For Pinakbet Pizza, I suggest you try it at Herencia Cafe in front of Paoay Church simply because of the stunning view of the UNESCO church while you eat. Adds more drama. :)

For authentic Ilocano food, I highly recommend:
- Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant | must-try: dinakdakan, poqui poqui, and tamarind Juice
- La Preciosa Fine Dining | must-try: bagnet, and carrot cake - super delicious!!

Follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates! :)

Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 0
2000 Assembly Time (KFC SHOPWISE ARANETA CENTER, CUBAO)
2100 ETD Manila to Laoag

DAY 1

0530 ETA Laoag
0600 Laoag City Tour
- Bantay Bell Tower
- Paoay Sand Dunes
- Malacanang of the North
- Paoay Church
- Marcos Museum and Mausoleum

1200 Lunch
1300 Continuation of tour
1600 Hotel check-in

DAY 2
0700 Breakfast
0800 Northern-Pagudpud Tour
- Burgos Lighthouse
- Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
- Bangui Windmills

1200 Lunch
1300 Continuation of tour
- Kabigan Falls (30 minutes hike)
- Patapat Viaduct
- Pagudpud Beach

1700 Back to hotel
DAY3
0700 Breakfast
0800 Vigan City Tour: Calle Crisologo, Baluarte ni Singsong, shopping
1200 Lunch
1300 ETD Manila
2200 ETA Manila

HanumanAlaya Boutique Residence blends the best of Khmer hospitality and Cambodian design, in harmony with international levels of service and sophistication.

My very first hotel experience, and my favorite in Siem Reap so far! This, probably is the best hotel I have stayed in Cambodia, ever. The hotel, restaurant, art gallery, and pool are so beautiful and relaxing.

Hotel entrance

What I like about HanumanAlaya Boutique Residence is its friendly and helpful staff. The boutique hotel also serve great food at the Reahoo Restaurant, and they have this little pool with a relaxing oasis feel.

The hotel is in a handy spot, very close to everything - perfect if you are planning on exploring the temples of Angkor, and it's just a short tuk tuk ride from the center - where you can spend the night partying at Pub Street and enjoy the food and cheap draught beer.

By the way, you can ask the reception to book you an Angkor Temple tour - hassle free because they will just pick you up at the hotel, lunch and tuk tuk ride/english speaking guide included.

The rooms and bathrooms are amazing. Their bedrooms are large, well-appointed and comfortable.

Look at that vintage-looking telephone in our room!

They even have a little art gallery with hundreds of these beautiful art pieces and creations that will let you breathe Khmer culture and tradition. The artworks and the architecture of the boutique in general were extremely interesting, which added interest with every turn.

I would definitely recommend HanumanAlaya Boutique Residence! The level of care and attention make the whole stay so much better than any other huge and expensive hotels around Siem Reap. And I don't need to try the others! I'd stay here again, and again. :)

HanumanAlaya Angkor's Boutique Residence
Website & Online booking: http://hanumanalaya.com
Address: 5 Krom 2 | Phoum Treang, Siem Reap PO2321, Cambodia
Phone: +855 (0) 63 760 582 | +855 (0) 63 760 581

The hotel lobby looks like a typical house entrance

There's artwork everywhere! The place is inspiring and empowering!

booking confirmation, Iloilo, Province, 4 days 3 nights, 4d3n, Ilonggo, SEAFDEC, turtle sanctuary, reasearch institute, scallops, capital, cheap, affordable, accommodation, hideaway resort, raymen beach

Beautiful sunset in Gigantes Island

The Iloilo province has tons of breathtaking natural wonders that are worth seeing; not to mention its many cultural and historical landmarks that make the province a cut from the rest.

And just off Iloilo's coast is the island province of Guimaras, once part of Iloilo but now an independent province. Also a Philippine gem, waiting to be discovered.

Detailed itinerary at the end of this post.

Gigantes Island, Carles, Western Visayas, VisitPH2015, travel itinerary, booking confirmation, Iloilo, Province, 4 days 3 nights, 4d3n

Estancia Port, our gateway to Gigantes Islands

Gigantes Island, Carles, Western Visayas, Cabugao, Tangke, Gamay, VisitPH2015, travel itinerary, booking confirmation, Iloilo, Province, 4 days 3 nights, 4d3n

Shoreline of Islas de Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo

Enjoying the bumpy boat ride to Gigantes Islands

GIGANTES ISLANDS

A lot of beautiful beaches and serene islands can be found scattered across the province of Iloilo.

One of the most popular islands is Islas de Gigantes (Gigantes Islands) in Carles which is home to the picturesque Cabugao Gamay Island and Sandbar.

turtle sanctuary, reasearch institute, scallops, capital, cheap, affordable, accommodation, hideaway resort,

Playing with the GoPro while in a sandbar in Gigantes

Super cheap and fresh seafood also await you in Gigantes. I found out that Gigantes is tagged as the scallops capital of the Philippines. The island is known for its odd-shaped Wasay-wasay shell and a whole lot more edible ocean breed.

TIP: Seafood prices here are much more affordable than in the city proper, so while you are here, just pig-out and feast on as if there's no tomorrow! :D

Gigantes Island, Carles, Western Visayas, VisitPH2015, Cabugao, Tangke, Gamay, travel itinerary, booking confirmation, Iloilo, Province, 4 days 3 nights, 4d3n, Ilonggo, SEAFDEC, turtle sanctuary, reasearch institute, scallops

See those rocks we're stepping on? They're not rocks actually, but scallop shells

While you're in the island, the best way to go around and explore the community is through a habal habal (motorbike). For a cheap amount (P20 - 30), you can have a personal motorbike driver who can take you anywhere you want in the island.

Gigantes Island, Carles, Western Visayas, VisitPH2015, travel itinerary, booking confirmation, Iloilo, Province, 4 days 3 nights, 4d3n, Ilonggo, SEAFDEC, turtle sanctuary, reasearch institute, scallops

Riding the habal-habal like a pro! :D

Entrance to the lighthouse

A scenic view of the beach and the coastline

GUIMARAS ISLAND

From Iloilo City, all it takes is a 15-20 minute boat ride to get you to Guimaras Island - known for producing the sweetest mangoes in the Philippines. Guimaras has a lot of worth-seeing spots and activities such as crowdless & serene white sand beaches, trekking sites, and marine life santuaries.

Guimaras, gigantes, seafdec, mango, sweet, raymen beach, island hopping, seafdec, marine, santuary, research, iloilo, 4d3n, 4 days 3 nights, itinerary

Raymen Beach Resort

We visited a monastery in Guimaras where a souvenir shop maintained by the monks is located.

Guimaras Island is home to a marine research and breeding site. The Igang Marine Station (IMS) of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department studies and breeds various commercially significant aquatic species such as tiger prawns and milkfish.

Fish feeding time!

Geez look at those ginormous milkfishes!

Of course, a stay in Guimaras Island will not be complete without a visit to the famous Pitstop Restaurant serving mango-infused dishes and delicacies. I personally tried their mango pizza and mango spaghetti. They also have mango Bulalo, mango ketchup, and more!

Mango Pizza

Mango Spaghetti

Entrance of Pitstop Restaurant

ILOILO CITY

Iloilo City is one of Philippines' tourist-favorite destinations because of its sumptuous signature cuisine, festive traditions & nightlife, shopping districts and historical sites. It is known to many because of its yearly Dinagyang Festival, a religious and cultural festival held every 4th weekend of January where people in unique and colorful costumes perform street dances.

Food is absolutely one of Iloilo City’s famous facet. Be sure not to miss out on fresh seafood and Iloilo’s signature dishes, especially La Paz Batchoy.

VisitPH2015, travel itinerary, booking confirmation, Iloilo, Province, 4 days 3 nights, 4d3n, Ilonggo, la paz batchoy, netongs, original batchoy, food

The ever famous Netong's La Paz Batchoy, where it all started.

Follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates! :)

Detailed Itinerary:

CONTACTS:
Gigantes Tour/Boat/Hideaway Resort - Kuya Tawi: 0939-258-3756
Guimaras Boat (Ortiz Port to Jordan Wharf and vice versa) - Kuya Hercules: 0948-601-4240
Raymen Beach Resort, Guimaras - 0918-520-7271 or 0927-560-5107
Highway 21 Hotel, Iloilo City - 0917-722-4321

DAY 1 (GIGANTES)
0400 Iloilo airport arrival

COMMUTE OPTION 1: Shuttle outside airport to Jaro Plaza, look for Andoks at the opposite side of the cathedral, then ride Leganes jeep going to Tagbak)

COMMUTE OPTION 2: Taxi to Tagbak terminal (approx. P400 –P500)

0500 ETA Tagbak terminal
0800 ETA Estancia Port
0900 Start Island tour going to Isla de Gigantes (approx 2.5 hours boat ride to island) + lunch + hotel check-in (Hideaway Resort)

Gigantes all in expenses (island hopping, lunch, breakfast, boat transfers) – P1,900/head (10pax)
Day 1 expenses: P1900/pax (all-in tour, accom, lunch) + MT*

*MT = Meal and transportation

DAY 2 (GIGANTES to ILOILO CITY)
0700 Breakfast at Hideaway Resort
0800 Island hopping continuation
1100 Lunch
1200 ETD Hideaway Resort
1400 ETA Estancia port
1700 ETA Iloilo. Check-in at Highway 21 or Sarabia Charter Pension house.
1800 Dinner at Asian Spoon (Atria Park) or Tatoy's Manokan (Villa Beach)
2000 Back to hotel

Day 2 expenses: P280/pax (accomm) + MT
Highway 21 rates:
http://www.ann2.net/hotels/highway21/
Sarabia Charter Pension rates:
http://www.stayiniloilo.com/pension.php?stay=42&accommodation=Sarabia-Charter-Pension-House

DAY 3 (GUIMARAS)
0700 Breakfast
0800 Ortiz Port (Hotel to Ortiz: Ride jeep Villa Sta Cruz/Baybay route – P7 fare)
0830 ETA Guimaras Island + Check-in at Raymen Hotel
0900 onwards: Island hopping, wind mills etc.
Overnight at Raymen

Day 3 expenses: P340 (accomm) + P95 + P20 (950 island hopping + 200 tip) = P455/pax + MT
Raymen room rates:
http://www.raymenresort.com/lowseason_rates.php
Room for 8pax without breakfast = P2,800 (300 additional per extra pax / 200 extra bed)

DAY 4 (GUIMARAS TO ILOILO CITY)
0800 Breakfast
0900 Back in Iloilo City
1000 ETA Ortiz Port
1000 onwards - FREE to roam around Iloilo with the following suggested destinations:

Ride tricycle going to Iloilo City Hall

Visit Plaza Libertad and Calle Real (walking distance)

Ride Jaro CPU jeepney going to Lapaz Market. Coffee at Madge and Batchoy at Netong's. From Calle Real going to Lapaz Market you will pass by Capitol and Iloilo Museum.

From Lapaz Market ride Jaro CPU jeep going to Jaro Plaza. Visit Jaro Cathedral and Biscocho House for the pasalubong.

From Jaro Plaza ride Leganes Jeep going to Sm City so you can leave your bags at the dept. store baggage counter.

Lunch at Jo's Inato (chicken inasal) or Ponsyon (seafood) at Plazuela de Iloilo. It's right beside SM City.

Dessert at Maridel's also at Plazuela de Iloilo. Or Desserts In The Sky (approx. 500m away).

From Plazuela you can walk going to Atria Park then Smallville until you reach River Esplanade. If you don't want to walk, you can ride Leganes or Mandurriao jeep to River Esplanade (just tell the driver). Travel time is less than 5 mins. via jeep from Plazuela going to Esplanade.

You can walk from Esplanade going to Molo Church. The park is 2.5km long.

Last stop is Molo Church. Also try Joanns Fishball near Andoks.

From Molo Church you can ride a taxi going to SM City. It's around 80 to 100 pesos.

Get bags at SM. Proceed to terminal at SM as there are van services there going to the airport. Fare is 75 pesos.

1500 ETD SM Iloilo
1600 ETA Iloilo airport
1855 ETD for Manila
2000 ETA NAIA

Deep-fried crickets, maggots, insects, and more exotic food!

Night markets are always my favorite! They always have the unusual, the weirdest, the best, the most interesting, and beyond traditional goodies. Plus that strange nostalgic feeling I get as if I travel to a different time, a different world.

A popular night market in Phuket is located along Chao Fa West Road just outside Phuket Town, known as Chao Fa weekend market or Talad Tai Rot to locals. From local and exotic food to souvenir items, accessories, antiques, wardrobes , CDs, DVDs - it's like everything is in here!

I enjoyed the food section the most! Food is literally everywhere! It's a gastronomic fiesta! Best place to sample authentic Thai food.

Tourists and locals flock here so expect it to be super crowded especially around dinner time. Best to go early during opening or late night before it closes to avoid the crowd.

The Chao Fa Weekend Market is open Saturdays and Sundays from 4:00PM to 10:00PM.

TIP: The Chao Fa weekend market is the best place to shop for souvenirs because it's way cheaper here compared to shops in Patong. A similar figurine item that costs 300 Baht in Patong, you can haggle in Chao Fa Night Market for about 100 - 150 Baht!

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The breathtaking view of Sambawan Island in Biliran

It was a short 3 days and 2 nights vacation in the provinces of Leyte and Biliran but it's one of the best trips I've had this year. I was able to experience 2 of the most beautiful islands and a majestic waterfall in this region in a short but well-planned vacation, thanks to my friends who stitched everything altogether and made sure no fun part was missed.

Don't worry, you'll find at the end of this post our itinerary, including a budget breakdown so you too can maximize your stay if you plan on visiting these islands soon.

Okay, let me get through one by one the highlights of this trip.

KALANGGAMAN ISLAND

Probably one of the best sandbars I've been to, Kalanggaman Island in Leyte features a long stretch of beautiful sandbar with a majestic view where the sky and the white sand beach meet.

The fun part of my stay was the overnight camp. Although we've experienced a not-so friendly weather during the night, the bonding as one group -- take turns in preparing meals, stories over alcohol, group games -- all of these made up our memorable stay in the island.

Shout out to our squad, y'all! Check them out on Facebook, they have a group called Heliopaths. :)

Me, being one with nature at the famous sandbar of Kalanggaman Island.

The beautiful sunset on the rocky side of the island.

Getting there: From Tacloban City, land travel takes about 3 hours going to Palompon, Leyte. And about an hour boat ride from Polompon to this beautiful island. Remember that the island is uninhabitated so don't expect hotels, restaurants or even electricity. It's all camping in here.

Don't worry, the island offers basic facilities such as bathroom and toilet, tents and cottages for rent and a couple of mini sari sari stores where you can buy alcoholic drinks, soda, chips, toiletries, etc. There are tourism police on duty 24/7, by the way!

SAMBAWAN ISLAND

Roughly about 6 hours from Kalanggaman Island is another chunk of paradise with a million dollar view. Sambawan Island in Biliran boasts of its mountainous coastline with an easy trail going up the view deck.

On the other side of the island you will see a gentle giant - a dormant volcano called Mount Maripipi.

How can you not fall in love with this view?

ULAN ULAN FALLS

On our last day, we did a side trip to Biliran's Ulan Ulan Falls. It has quite a challenging trail going to the waterfall but who gives a shit when at the end of this all is a rewarding cold dip and a jaw-dropping view of Biliran's Ulan Ulan Falls?

Follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates! :)

Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 0
1800 Arrival in Tacloban from Manila
1900 Check in Welcome Home Pensione

DAY 1
0500 Check out
0800 ETA Palompon Leyte - buy supplies, etc
0900 Palompon Eco Tourism Offic for registration
1000 ETA Kalanggaman Island
1100 onwards - Enjoy the beautiful Kalanggaman Island

DAY 2
1000 Kalanggaman to Palompon
1100 Early lunch at Palompon Market
1700 ETA Naval Port (Buffer time while waiting for the boat)
2000 ETD Naval Port to Sambawan Island
2100 ETA Sambawan Island
2130 Set up tent, socials, etc.

DAY 3
0600 Start trek to Sambawan view deck
0900 Prepare to leave island
1300 ETD Palompon to Tacloban Airport
1600 ETA Tacloban Airport

BUDGET BREAKDOWN PER HEAD (19 pax Total)

Day 0
Welcome Home Pensione (P6,650 for 19 pax) = P350/head
Grocery - P514/head
Day 1 Total = P864/head

Day 2
Boat (P3,500)- P185/head
Bus (Palompon to Tacloban) - P150/head
Bus (Tacloban to Palompon) - P150/head
Day 2 Total = P485/head

Day 3
Coaster (P12,000)- P632/head
Entrance Fee - P100/head
Boat (P3,000) - 158/head
Guide Fee (P300 for a group of 19) - P16/head
Day 3 Total = P905/head

TOTAL BUDGET: P2,254 (Excluding airfare and Manila transport)

Getting ready for a cold dip! | Tangadan Falls

Been seeing a lot of posts recently on Instagram and Facebook of this extremely photogenic waterfalls. I actually first saw it on Luke Landrigan's Instagram Stories where he did a heart-stopping jump on this super high waterfalls. I later on found out that this gem is located in the town of San Gabriel, province of La Union.

I quickly googled for tours and packages catering to Tangadan Falls and luckily found a good one (KG Travel and Tours - average tour rate is P1,500/head, all in). I normally travel with a group of friends so we rarely avail of packages because in reality, you save a lot when you do DIY tours in big groups. But this time, we were short on head count so we just joined a tour package -- small group joining a big group -- that's a lot of savings.

The tour itinerary, aside from the main event (Tangadan Falls), included quite a number of intersting tourist destinations in La Union. Check out the list:

PINDANGAN RUINS

If you are a fan of historical and heritage sites, Pindangan Church Ruins is a must-visit. This age-old religious structure narrates rich stories of the past through its stone walls built in the 1700s.

MA-CHO TEMPLE

It is tagged as the world's largest Taoist Temple outside China. It really is massive from the inside. The place is serene and well maintained. Perfect for a nice peace and quiet moment before kicking off our Tangadan adventures.

We also droppped by Bahay na Bato / Pebble Beach but there's nothing to see in there really but model houses made from stones.

GRAPES FARM

There are lots of grape vineyards in this side of La Union. We went to Bauang Grapes Farm. And just like any other vineyards, you get to pick grapes right from the farm. There are also various grapes products being offered like a refreshing grape shake, wine, and more!

TANGADAN FALLS

And of course, the star of this tour - San Gabriel's pride, Tangadan Falls. La Union is mostly known for its surfer-friendly beaches but recently, it's also making big waves to daredevils and trek/cliff junkies because of this 50-foot waterfalls nestled in the forests of San Gabriel.

The towering trees and cliff walls as you take the trail are beyond captivating. Look at that view! The trek to the falls will take about an hour. Pretty easy!

Before reaching the falls, you will pass through different river stops where you can do mini cliff jumps that are 15-20 feet high.

Beautiful indeed! The photos don't do justice, to be honest.

Photos below credit to our tour mates. :)

Follow me on Instagram @enjayneer for real-time travel updates! :)

Detailed Itinerary:

0200 ETD Manila / Buy breakfast
0800 ETA La Union
0800 - 0900 Grapes Farm
0900 - 0930 Pindangan Ruins
0930 - 1000 Ma-Cho Temple
1000 - 1100 Bahay na Bato
1100 - 1200 Lunch and preparation for Tangadan Trek
1200 - Start trek
1330 - ETA Tangadan Falls
1530 - 1630 Trek down
1700 ETA San Juan Beach to freshen up, snacks, etc.
1800 ETD Manila
0000 ETA Manila

Things to bring:

1. Extra clothes for swimming/cliff jumping
2. Rashguard/Sunblock/Cap
3. Light snack during trekking
4. Drinking water/water container
5. Trekking sandal/shoes/slippers
6. Towel
7. Toiletries

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