Along The Road

Holy Week 2016. We braved the traffic and the long road travel just to visit my hometown. One of my friend who was with me 4 years ago, invited a bunch of his friend to visit the island of Ticao once again. The last time, we sat on a 15 hours journey in an ordinary bus, and crossed the island in a RoRo (Roll on Roll of) boat. This time we drove a lite ace van for more than 24 hours!!!

This epic road tripping in a jam packed, with an open window van involves a  lot of stop over to  car mechanic along the road, losing gasoline kilometers away from the next gas station, stopping over for halo - halo, looking for some local eatery, emergency stop over to spend the night in some public park  hundred of kilometers away from our destination after spending whole day on the road, and missing the last boat to cross the island!

Sound like a travel nightmare right? Well, even the worst thing produces something fun and amazing if you keep your cool and just enjoy the whole mishap that would sum up the whole trip.

halo-halo stop over somewher in Quezon Province

emergency camp in Sorsogon (cto sir Niko)

breakfast.  seafoods freshly caught from Bulusan Lake

the view of our e-camp in Sorsogon

home

The Leaning Tower of Milaor

One of the most famous church in Camarines Sur for visita inglesia during holy week is the Milaor Church or St Joseph the Worker Parish Church in the town of Milaor, Camarines Sur. We found this historical church by accident when we were looking for eatery along the road that serves local cuisine.

What so special about this church is that its bell tower is leaning. According to the historical committee marker, the first church started in 1725 and completed in 1735, was destroyed by fire in 1740. The present church was constructed in 1740, its belfry in 1840. 

It's an old church like many churches in Bikol region. The stone structure is amazing and will make you wonder how they survives the ravages of time. But what makes me wonder was not just the structure of the church and its leaning tower but the inside of the church where there is no statue of any patron saint in sight. 

The Real Coffee and Tea Cafe With Their Famous Calamansi Muffin

The fascination all started with a box. Unassuming box of muffin that is. "The Boyfriend" came home in one of his trip from the island of Boracay with a box of Calamansi muffin. I'm a girl with overwhelming attachment to everything sweet so a sour muffin is not something I would prefer. Well, not until I took the first bite. Since then whenever "The Boyfriend"  go to the island he has a standing order to bring home a box of it.

So when I visited  the island one of my goal was to have a calamansi muffin at Real Coffee and Tea Cafe and experience the famous calamansi muffin with their own brew of coffee. And they didn't disappoint!

tuna sandwich, calamansi muffin with Real Coffee coffee 

Their store that time was at their old place in Station 1. Now they moved to Station 2 with an exquisite view of the beach. And sipping coffee while munching  calamansi muffin became another level of experience.

I've already tried a lot of food in their menu, but every now and then I still crave for that sour muffin with hot cup of coffee while watching the view.

mother and daughter owner with their amazing staff 

The Dream That Never Was

I have a lot of dream places,and sometimes when the opportunity opens for me to visit those places I was left on the curb waiting for the next bus. There's not enough time,my schedules does not permit and the saddest part? THE budget. So wait it is. For there will be still a next time.

And while waiting for it, let me share with you one of those dream destination that I wish I'll be able to visit. That for now would be just a picture of a dream maybe..or maybe not?

photos courtesy of Edward Mikehell Grylls

The Heavenly Paradise I Called Home

I've been to other places. I fall in love with each and every one of them. I wander and got lost. But my heart and soul belongs to you. 

Good morning Mr. Sun!
my morning view

Let's eat!

siesta time!
you can see the clear blue sea at the background..

Let's  take  a walk ....

sea, sand, sun=beach bum!
my very own backyard beach

when I was young I used to spend hours sitting on those rocks watching clouds and rainbows!

not your usual waterfalls....why?

....because it falls onto the sea!
underneath the waterfalls is a cave...we are too scared to enter...J

take a dip!

...or play...
most of my childhood spent playing on that beach 

mi casa 

goodnight said mister Moon.

photos: Edward Mikehell Grylls,Chai-Onte Cruz, Malou Inolino

Backpacking Bohol and Cebu (Part 1)

Anna  a friend I met  hiking  the mountain of Balagbag on the hated day of  February  2 years ago in some climb for a cause. And then came the month of September  where we're  able to climb again together for a tree planting event in Makiling. We both went to that event because we both wanted  to plant a tree for our birthday. Yup! We share the same birth month. Must be  the reason why we hit off like old friends.

On that tree planting event, she opened up that she had a plan to go to Bohol and Cebu. And I remembered telling her that I wanted to travel too but it is hard to find a good travel buddy. (Have you tried traveling with  some of your friends? Do so. You will know them in their worst. Teehee! )   Most of my friends whenever I invited them to travel they will just say they don't have the budget or time. Worst some would plan the trip with me and then back out! How uncool is that? So I never had the chance to do some backpacking though I've been itching to do so for the longest time. Hence, when Anna sent me a message in FB saying her supposedly travel companion back out and IF I would like to join in her trip. Of course I said yes! But on one condition, that she should find me a sale ticket.  And she did! So backpacking it is!

Day 1  Off to Bohol

Since I was traveling in a tight budget a cab to the airport was not part of my transportation. What I did was took the MRT to Taft station and rode the shuttle bus to NAIA 3. (MRT fare P15, shuttle bus P20) We met at NAIA 3 at   6:00AM to board a 9:00 AM flight to Tagbilaran via Air Phil Express.  After checking in, we had some coffee and pancake for breakfast at the airport.

Our pilot said he landed us in Kalibo Airport! :)

We arrived at the small airport of Tagbilaran around 11:00 AM. Once we got off the plane and recovered our backpacks, we head to the restroom to freshen up. But lo and behold no water!!! So we hoarded the brochures of tours and resorts in the information counter and got out of the airport to start our adventure. (hoard those flyers, mostly the places they’re advertising are expensive BUT you’ll have an idea where are the tourist spot and how much does it cost. Give half of the price from those brochures when you are haggling)

A van is expensive especially that there was just two of us, and using the public transportation isn't a good idea because you can’t finish your country side tour in one day, though would be cheaper. So we decided to hire a tricycle instead. We paid 

P1, 000($23) for that compare to hiring a van that would cost around P4000+.

Loboc  River Cruise

Loboc River

along the river banks are  these  children dancing some of their  traditional dance for the tourist.

 And since it was almost lunch time we choose to go directly to Loboc River. A cruise of Loboc River riding in a bamboo raft is worth P400 with free lunch that tastes bland. After the river cruise we started our countryside tour of Bohol. 

Tarsier Sanctuary was first. It wasn’t that special except for the idea that it was my first time to see face to face the smallest primate. We stayed there for about 10 or 15 minutes. The sanctuary was newly renovated according to them that were why we paid P90 entrance fee. It was supposed to be 100 bucks but I avail the student discount. Hah! 10 pesos is still 10 pesos. (stingy eh?) But according to our driver just last week visiting the Tarsier Sanctuary was for free.

Jump and fly!

On the way to Chocolate Hills, we passed by the famous Man-Made Mahogany Plantation. Approaching the area you can feel that the air is cool. We stopped for a few minutes for our customary jump shot! Of Course our driver cum photographer was more than willing to take our photos to our heart content

Then the famous CHOCOLATE HILLS! We drowned our self with the amazing beauty of nature. Entrance to the place was P50 each.

...taking a deep breath for my jump shot! lol

Hanging Bridge was next. It was just that. A hanging bridge made of bamboo. We took some jump shot again! J

Next to the last stop was Baclayon Church. It was already 5:00PM the church was already close so we just took some souvenir photos outside. 

at  the gate of the blood compact site ..No picture there 

Last stop before we head back to Tagbilaran City was the Blood Compact Site. And this was also CLOSED! What a bummer! 

We asked our driver to just drop us off to Island Mall. Kuya Johnfel our driver/photographer so that Anna and I would have pictures together. Thank you so much! You are such a kind hearted soul. We told him that we have no place to stay for the night since we didn’t have any hotel reservation and we were waiting for Anna’s old college dormate in Elbi to give a go signal that we indeed can crash to her parents house in Tagbilaran City. Since we didn’t have a confirmed place to stay for the night he was hesitating to leave us there hence with a lot of persuasion, and he was teary eyed when he finally bid goodbye. He told us how to catch a tricycles ride back to Tagbilaran that would be cheaper. Again, thanks Kuya. You made our countryside trip a memorable one. 

2Go or not 2Go

Been dreaming to visit the most talked about beach (overrated) of Boracay? But you are in a tight budget and seat sale in all airline companies were sold in a blink of an eye. And buying a plane ticket NOT on sale is out of the questions. …so what’s the answer but 2Go

an alternative way to travel to Boracay
(photo source)

Yup! 2Go Travel is one of the most efficient, budget friendly and fun way to travel to Boracay. They travel twice a day directly to Caticlan from Batangas port. You heard that right. No more hassle with land transportation from the airport to the port of Caticlan because once you step out of the ship you are now going to pay entrance and the environmental fee (too expensive in my opinion, especially the environmental fee- you’ll agree with me once you step on the port of Boracay)to enter the island.

The accommodation is clean, the food is nothing spectacular. They leave on time. That’s based on my experience. That’s why we weren’t able to catch the boat from Caticlan because we were late. LOL

If you choose to use this alternative way to travel to Boracay you will spend less than 3,000 pesos ($73) round trip, inclusive of bus fare from Cubao station, entrance fee in Batangas port, and Caticlan.  The disadvantage is you are going to spend a lot of time traveling. From Cubao to Batangas port travel time is about 3 hours. 2Go ferry to Caticlan is about 8 hours.

But hey if you are traveling with your friends and family the travel itself would be part of the fun. So are you going to 2Go or not 2Go? That is your decision. Have fun!

Just a travel tip: If you are going to buy a ticket stop buying your tickets from ticketing outlets. There is mark-up yeah know! (you can use the usual mark up in their tickets to buy pasalubong for your friends, officemate, family, neighbors and almost everybody who knows you are traveling….hahaha)