Category: Philippines

Thinking for a place to contemplate this Lenten season? Why not try visiting the Walkway to the Old Volcano in the island province of Camiguin. The place features a traditional Stations of Cross (Via Crucis) which stops are spread across a trail of average steepness. They said that the total length of the trail is 8 kilometers but it seemed shorter during our visit. The early part of the trail, probably up to the fifth stations (if I remember well), is pave with concrete stairs. The remaining portion of the pathway is somewhat a little penitence. This very spot is ... Read more

Calaguas, A tropical beauty How was/is your first love? I guess, he/she was/is the person you could hardly forget the most (if you’re no longer together) or the person that you cherish and love the most (if you both enjoy the married life). Love is at its sweetest if you are each other’s first. I know you can remember well the very detail of your first date, your first kiss, or even your fist sex (Oh, don’t raise that brows to me!). I bet you agree that your first was you most remembered and your most talked about? Seeing Calagaus, ... Read more

The Risk-takers I returned to Calaguas, and I couldn’t wait for my sunburn to heal for me tell you what transpired. Would you know why? Because it was another life-threatening adventure. We sailed in a raging sea again, with waves large enough to consume the precious lives of ours. It may not be as huge as the waves we encountered in Anawangin last January 2013, but still, it did give us the same eerie feel. A friend of our companion offered us to cook for breakfast and had it ready upon arrival in Paracale, Camarines Norte. While waiting for the meal ... Read more

The Small Lagoon was the final stop of our awesome island hopping tour in El Nido. It is just one of the three lagoons to visit in El Nido‘s Tour A, which are all located in Miniloc Island. The other two are: the Secret Lagoon and the Big Lagoon. The smallest is the Secret Lagoon followed by the Small Lagoon and of course, the Big Lagoon. The Small Lagoon Though it is called a small lagoon, don’t belittle its size and depth. It’s large enough to swim around and best explored with a kayak. It was low tide when we ... Read more

To put the record straight, the 3,000-peso budget excludes my round trip airfare, which I got for ₱1,500 and my expenses and accommodation in Puerto Princesa, which falls on another budgeting category. Expense Summary To give you a quick summary, refer to the following table. Expense Description Amount Cherry Bus: Puerto Princesa to El Nido ₱370 First Night Accommodation: Our Melting Pot Hostel EL Nido Free Day 1 English Breakfast: OG’s Pension House and Restaurant ₱230 Combination Tour: Tours A & C of Northern Hope Tours ₱1500 Day 1 Dinner ₱180 Belle île’s Mango-Nutella Crepe (you must try this) ₱100 Second Night ... Read more

Valentine’s Day has passed but it is still a love month. So I guess, it isn’t too late for me to share my love story, a story that isn’t all about what you are thinking. It is a love affair that hopeless romantics could not get an inspiration with – but, I wish, globetrotters do. Unlike any other tales, it wasn’t love at first sight. In fact, it started bitter. Her name is Travel and I don’t like her at first. It wasn’t because of her weird attitude, her peculiar character, or her not-so-ordinary look but because of my unusual ... Read more

From El Nido, I planned to take the 10PM bus bound for Puerto Princesa for me to catch my 11:55AM flight the following day. However, the plan changed. I thought that I must take a good rest before going home since I still have to report to the office few hours after my arrival in Manila. I looked for a cheap yet comfortable place to stay in Puerto Princesa through Agoda. Then I found Centris Inn which offers the best rate. My requirement was just a place to stay – I don’t need the other perks. I immediately booked the ... Read more

Here is the itinerary and the expenses we had during our Minalungao-Baler Tour. Excluded in the expenses are personal add-on expenses, pasalubong, and booze. The third column indicates individual contributions already. [custom_table style=”1″] Day Time and Activities Fees/pax Day 1: Side Trip to Minalungao 07:00AM – Take Five Star Bus to Gapan, Nueva, Ecija ₱160 11:00AM – Arrival in Gapan, Lunch ₱100 12:00PM – Jeep to Papaya (Gen Tinio), Nueva Ecija Option: Trike ₱200/3pax ₱27 12:45PM – Arrival in Papaya, Neva Ecija Trike to Minalungao Natural Park (Rountrip: ₱500/5pax) ₱100 01:45PM – Arrival in Minalungao = Entry Fee: ₱20 ₱20 01:30PM ... Read more

Breakfast at Baler’s rolling storeWe extended our contract with Kuya Erwin and Bernie and paid ₱100 less, as a discount. Since we had an awesome day 1 with them, we hired their services again, anticipating for another great tour. Technically, our day 2 in Baler is the Day 3 of our Minalungao-Baler tour series. The two joiners, Jo Anne and Francis, who accompanied us in the second half of our first day in Baler insisted on taking a breakfast at the rolling store after hearing that we had a delicious breakfast the day before. They also wanted to try the ... Read more