me and my travel bag

Club Paradise Beach Resort, Coron Review

2010-04-20T15:30:00.006+08:00

Going on a Coron trip? Want to know the real deal on Club Paradise Beach Resort in Coron, Palawan? Check out our review! You can also check out gallery of the place here.

Travel, Travel!

2010-04-12T11:04:00.002+08:00

Here's our new baby.. it's fairly new but visit us anytime for new developments! It'll be worth it, we promise! :D Just click the link below:

http://love-to-sweat.com/

Every Word Counts

2009-03-19T10:40:00.006+08:00

Okaaayyyy.

A potted plant you've been trying to keep on your balcony falls over the ledge it was sitting on. You run outside to survey the damage. What do you see?

1. The plant landed on the ground upright and intact

2. The pot broke, but the plant seems to have survived the fall

3. The pot and plant are both smashed beyond recovery

4. For some strange reason, there is no sign of either plant or pot

My Result:

Key to Look Out Below

The sheltered life of a potted plant corresponds to a hidden, guarded side of your character and the ways you try to keep the world from penetrating your social mask.

2. The pot broke, but the plant seems to have survived the fall

You seem calm and unflappable to others, but the reality is you just hate to show your emotions. Those pent-up feelings within you just keep growing and growing, and no pot can hold them in forever.

Great. Just great. Sigh...

Words of Wisdom

2009-03-06T17:34:00.003+08:00

I came across these while researching for my article: How to Avoid Getting Depressed during Unemployment

I think they're applicable in any aspect of life. Hahaha.

"Change how you view things. Believe that every event in your life has a meaning, even though you don't always know what the meaning is."

"Feelings many times fail to correspond to reality. Do not give such feelings more weight than they deserve."

"You're worrying--even obsessing--about things more than usual."

Pre-Birthday Fun

2009-03-04T13:05:00.002+08:00

It's the day before my birthday. This same day last year, God gave me a surprising, unusual "gift."On my way to work that morning, I saw my long-time high school crush after a couple of years ... and sat beside him in the FX all the way to Makati. While I sat stiffly pretending I didn't know the most unwelcome guy beside me, the radio played, "Dahil ikaw pa rin ang sinisigaw ng damdamin..." Hilarious, I know.

Today, however, there are no unfortunate accidents like that. This whole week, so far at least, I've been elated happy for some reason I probably do and don't know. Haha. And just minutes ago, my officemates and I were having a guitar session here at the office. From Ako'y Sa Iyo at Ika'y Akin Lamang with Gisa's lost lyrics, to Hotel California with Sir Gelo's wild rendition, to my own favorites Out of Reach and With a Smile. I'm happy. Really happy. :D

Gift Certificates for Microtel Inn, spas, and sports products for sale! 30% off!

2009-01-16T13:20:00.008+08:00

Here are some of them:

Microtel Inn & Suites (Boracay, Davao, Batangas, Cavite, Cabanatuan, Tarlac)
The Spa (Libis, Trinoma, Glorietta)
Gold's Gym
Vans
The North Face
Umbro
Reebok

Buy now before they expire! PM me if you're interested! See link:

http://adelynne10.multiply.com/journal/item/40/Gift_Certificates_for_Microtel_Inn_spas_and_sports_porducts_for_sale_30_off

What I Loved about Bora

2009-01-05T15:13:00.024+08:00

When I still wasn't in the proper mindset, I didn't like Bora. Never had any interest to visit the place because of its reputation: 1) it's crowded; 2) it's supposedly polluted; 3) going there is expensive. But I figured, any Filipino who loves to travel got to visit it at least once. So I did, along with Sho and his friend. And what do you know, I fell in love...with Boracay, that is.

Just some quick facts:
Boracay is NOT polluted. There may be clearer waters than its beach, but it's far from dirty.

Best time to visit: November-May, which is the regular or normal season. Although I think the best months to go here is December-February. March-May is already summer (part of peak season), which means super crowded beach and very expensive hotel rates and airfare.

Now, here's what I loved about Boracay....

1. The breathlessly, breathtakingly, bewitchingly, beautiful beach. Ok, I'm exaggerating, but only a little. :P The beach is really Bora's asset. I think the talcum-fine, white sand in Station 1 is incomparable to others.

The water nearest the shore has a pale blue color, but the turquoise to deep blue water toward the middle part of the sea cannot be missed. I tell you, the beach is really, seriously, enchantingly beautiful... it's like it has some sort of spell. And there are hardly strong waves, too. It's really ideal for swimming. It's my most favorite among the beaches I've been to. :D 2. The huge selection of restaurants. Surprisingly, I loved Bora even if it's cramped with restaurants. I actually think it's one of Bora's many advantages, since it offers lots of food choices for tourists with various budgets. Andok's is a good choice for people who'd rather spend on activities than food. While restaurants such as Aria allow others to indulge in gourmet cuisine. 3. The fun activities! Bora has the best beach and beyond-the-beach activities out there. Unique to Bora is reef walking, a super fun, sort-of-diving activity, although you're standing and walking with the fishes 10 feet underwater. ATV rides up Mt. Luho, the highest point in Bora, is an exhilarating exploit, too--perfect for those craving for some adrenaline rush. Other popular activities are jet skiing, banana boat rides, kite boarding, and island hopping. [I'll talk about reef walking and ATV ride in a separate post. ;)]4. Massage by the beach. Before you leave, a massage by the beach is a must. This is a cheaper alternative to the hotel spas, and the masseuses by the beach employ the traditional Filipino massage, which is very relaxing. The beachside is the perfect place to unleash: the soothing sound of the waves and the cool breeze are perfect ingredients to that one-hour trip to nirvana.(PS: I just got the pic from Google :D)5. The extraordinary atmosphere of fun. Bora is one place where you're sure to forget all about your worries. It has a different air of fun about it, which makes vacations all the more merry. :D

Comparing Notes: Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove

2008-10-27T21:32:00.016+08:00

When a person says "Zambales," one couldn't help but think of lahar. And yes, indeed, the province was once plagued by the lahar tragedy of Mt. Pinatubo. But unknown to some, there are hidden slices of paradise in this northern province, two of which are Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove.

Search "Anawangin Cove" in the Internet and you're sure to find loads of blogs and pictures about the place. As it turns out, Anawangin is not so hidden paradise anymore, with lots of mountaineers discovering the place each year.

Anawangin Cove
Anawangin is known to many as an unspoiled haven--a lovely beach with white sand, palm trees, and imposing mountains. The catch: there are no facilities; no electricity, no drinking water--just a makeshift shower that you have to share with other vacationeers and a water pump (that is, if you chose to stay in the area where you have to pay a fee. In the free area, you get nothing but the beauty of nature.) It's also reputed to be one of the dangerous beaches in the country, with the numerous blogs citing deaths in the cove related to drowning.

Though I was seriously afraid of drowning, I still opted to go here, curious to see for myself if the cove looked as good as it did in the pictures from the Net. As it turned out, Anawangin Cove was really beautiful, an unusal sight in the Philippines with its lush mountains and palm trees by the beach. The lake, tucked behind the beach, was what caught our attention first. The whole scenery looked like it had a sepia color, with tall trees framing the lake, and the beautiful mountains peeking from above. Lots of small fishes swim and jump their way to the lake, and several uknown pretty birds frequent the area. When we arrived, there was a slightly huge white bird by the trees, which flew instantly when we got to the lake. One downside of the lake: the water was stinky, (according to our companion), although I wasn't able to notice that.

The beach, of course, was as breathtaking as the lake. It had soft, white sand with specks of gray (yes, from the lahar). The right side (if you're facing the beach) provided a panoramic vista of the mountains and the trees below it, bordering the beach. The sand closest to the water was very soft; our feet sinking as we walked to the beach. Surprisingly, though it was already late in the afternoon, the water, which had a dark greenish blue color, was quite calm (contrary to what I've read in the blogs) and it was not salty; it tasted just like freshwater.

Nagsasa Cove
Nagsasa Cove, I believe, remains to be a secret paradise among the few people who have discovered its beauty. It's less popular than Anawangin, since it's way farther. As you venture to the site, light blue waters with hints of light green will greet you, along with the glistening white sand and majestic mountains with mixed hues of green, yellow green, and brown. The area has few, small houses (which are inhabited by some locals) and slightly tall rock formations. Behind the houses, a lush forest and several mountains stand, its numerous trees producing a gentle yet whooping, descending sound when the wind passes by. Hearing such sound makes you feel like you're in a different, secluded world, wrapped in a mystic air of tranquility.

The water of Nagsasa Cove is undoubtedly tempting. It reminded me of the beach in Pagudpud, although the latter is more captivating. Just like in Anawangin, the beach was very calm, with most parts cold. On the cove's right portion was a sandbar, which was matched with a stunning view of the mountain overhead. From the beach, you can see the various mountains surrounding the cove, the clouds overhead adding to the charm of the scenery as they form shadows over the mountains.
Nagsasa also has a lake, but one has to either walk a long way toward the right side of the cove or take a boat ride to get there. Nagsasa Lake welcomes sightseers with its exceptional mountain with stunning slopes, an imposing beauty in the seemingly secluded area. The water from the lake was cold (and not stinky), and it combined with the waters from the sea. As in Anawangin, palm trees dot the area below the mountains, providing a beautiful, rustic scenery that's unusal for the Philippines. The mountain was the center of attention in Nagsasa Lake; unlike in Anawangin, the huge mountain here was in full view, standing in all its glory for vacationeers to see.

For me, this was a better site to Anawangin. Though it is farther, the one-hour boat ride under the scorching heat of the sun is surely worth the wait.

Zambales Trip (Part 1): Camara and Capones Islands

2008-10-18T00:07:00.016+08:00

Last Saturday, my long-postponed Zambales trip finally pushed through. Thanks to my sis Len who's currently in the country, I finally had a sure companion to the mystical Anawangin Cove, unspoiled Camara and Capones islands, and a new discovery, Nagsasa Cove.

Around 6 am, my bf Sho and I, along with my sis and four of her friends, were on the bus bound for Iba, Zambales. Since I was busily packing and preparing for the trip the night before, I was knocked out during the whole trip, lost in my own slumber land. The travel took four hours, supposedly due to traffic (which I obviously wasn't aware of since I was asleep!). We reached the bayan of San Antonio at around 10, and rode a trike (Php 60 each) to Canoe Beach Resort in Brgy. Pundaquit.

Upon arriving at the resort, we checked in, threw our stuff in the rooms, changed into swimming clothes, and then hurriedly set off for our island hopping with empty, grumbling stomachs. Destinations: Camara and Capones Islands.

Camara Island
From the shore of the resort, we could already see the Camara Island standing a few feet away with its rock formations and glistening white sand. We reached it through a 10-15-minute boat ride (or even less). The island was small, flanked by two limestone cliffs. The sand was a pretty sight; it had a beige color and almost fine texture, peppered with several shells. The water was greenish blue with moderately rough waves. The island's main attraction, I guess, was the mesmerizing view it provided. Facing the resort, you can see the majestic mountains covered in a mix of green, yellow green, and brown, resembling those found only in other countries. Though the sun was shining brightly, we spent most of our time there cam-whoring (of course!). Before we left, we took a short dip in the water, whose waves were getting stronger and stronger.

Capones Island
I never thought I'd make it to Capones Island alive. Since it was already late in the afternoon, the waves were very strong, which meant a looong, hellish, splashy boat ride (I'm a scaredy cat, you see :D). I was sitting in the front portion of the small fishing boat, on a monobloc chair, which shook and flew a few inches every time there was a huge wave (which was like every five seconds). I was screaming almost the entire trip, my dress soaking wet due to the huge splashes. We were supposed to go up the light house, but just when I thought our boat was about to dock, it turned around again and continued to sail, prolonging my ala-roller coaster ride. As it turned out, the shore in that part of the island was rocky, so the boats might get damaged if we settled there. We continued then to the other part of the island, which was 15-25 minutes away. I was trying to focus on the beautiful surroundings to ease my nerves, but it was impossible to do so with the boat shaking and the water splattering on my face. We were finally a few feet away from our destination, when the boat's engine suddenly stopped in the middle of the deep water with huge, angry waves. Our boatman asked Sho (who was behind me) to stand up so he could rev the engine (which was underneath Sho's seat). Sho had to ask me to move my chair forward so he could stand up, but I didn't have the courage to stand up myself and move my chair (Haha. I told you I'm a big scaredy cat, didn't I? :P) Since I was reluctant to move, afraid I'd tip the boat over (ridiculous, I know), our boatman asked me to reach for the paddle instead, which was at the front end of the boat. I reluctantly and shakingly did so, and our boatman finally paddled us to the island. Whew.

Just like Camara, Capones Island was small, with several big rocks and a tall limestone cliff. It had a coarser white sand than Camara, which resembled sands in aquarium setups. The sand particles were smooth and shiny, with lots of shiny stones and shells. Sadly, though, the island had a number of trash in front of the cliff--various beach "trash," plastic bottles, tattered slippers, etc.

I had little energy left to explore the island, since I was shaken up in the boat ride. Haha. We spread out our wet cover-ups in the big rock, under the scorching heat of the sun, and took some pictures. When we ran out of things to do, we left the island (during which an unknown pretty bird flew), and ventured again into the boat ride. The trip was less scary and splashy that time, but my hoodie (yes, I wore a hoodie so I would still be recognizable when I come back to Manila. Hehe) was still soaking wet when we reached the resort.

Back at the resort, we took a shower, snacked on expensive junk food from the cafe, napped, and ate dinner (we bought food from the market and asked the resort staff to cook it for us. It was a cheaper way to get filled than buying expensive meals in the cafe). We were supposed to swim that night, but we were already tired, so we hit the sheets instead. :)

Note: The island hopping was Php 900 per boat for the two destinations. I think that price is already discounted since two of my sister's friends know the boatmen.

Best Day So Far in My New Office

2008-06-27T18:47:00.002+08:00

'Tis the best day so far in my new work.. For those who don't know yet, I've moved over to a new company, Excite.co.uk, which I'm enjoying so far *-*. These are my highlights for the day:

free lunch by the company at Italianni's :)
revelation of my deadly crush on Chito Miranda :D
Mike's age revelation: he's 38 (daw!)
endless laughs about cheesy content for dating website:

Meet the love of your life, or simply go for kicks and giggles (SPEED DATING.)

You don’t need to look too far for that special someone; just register online with a dating agency for a match made in heaven... on earth

If you're a single parent balancing bills, work, and children, dating other parents can bring release, relief, and rapture.

What I Loved about Pagudpud

2008-06-03T09:51:00.025+08:00

What beauty lies on the northern part of the Philippines? Being a daughter of a Bicolano and a Batangueña, I have lived 24 years of my life basically oblivious of the provinces in the north. There were very few occasions that I had been to a northern province, except of course in Bulacan where Sho used to live.

So when Sho’s friend invited us to a budget-friendly long weekend getaway in Pagudpud, we went for the ride. Though traveling to Pagudpud is exhausting (14-hour trip by land, plus stop-overs!) the view that awaits you is all worth it. Here are the things I loved about Pagudpud.

1. The beach. The beaches in Pagudpud are by far the bluest waters I’ve seen. The beach waters in Bangui had a bright blue color; so are the waters in the fish sanctuary. But perhaps nothing can beat the beauty of the Blue Lagoon beach with its clear, blue waters teeming with various fishes and corals. You don’t even have to rent a snorkel mask to see the fishes; once you take a dip in the water, you’ll instantly see the fishes swimming underneath.

A lot of people claim that Pagudpud is the Boracay of the north. Perhaps the waters are comparable to Bora’s (who knows, the waters of Blue Lagoon might even be cleaner), but the quality of the sand is not that impressive. It’s not really fine and white as a lot of people claim; in fact, the sand is peppered with little rocks and seashells. The sands of Bohol and Hundred Islands are finer. Moreover, since the place is not yet developed, the shoreline is typical of a public beach—a number of beach “trash,” sort of dried leaves, are scattered in the shore along with a number of small boats.

beach at the fish sanctuary

beach at Bangui

Blue Lagoon beach

2. The view. I love the sceneries in Pagudpud. Everything is like a painting—a lovely backdrop of blue sky set against blue waters, green leaves, and pink flowers. The mountain range is also an amazing sight. One who loves the simple, rustic life will truly appreciate this place.

3. Bangui windmills. Where else can you see towering windmills here in the Philippines? The Bangui windmills “were built by the NorthWind Power Development Corporation to take its share in reducing the emission of harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs) causing global warming and to accelerate the rural electrification of the government.” But apart from their environmental and electrical benefits, the windmills are tourist attractions in themselves. Located just a few feet away from Bangui beach, the sight of the row of windmills framed by the waves in the beach’s shoreline is absolutely breathtaking.

4. Top of the Cape Bojeador lighthouse. Waiting in line and climbing a steep and frail-looking spiral staircase is all worth the effort once you get to the top of the lighthouse and see the magnificent view below. Again, the whole scenery is like a painting; it would require anyone to pause for a moment to take in the beauty of the scenery.

5. Tranquility. Pagudpud is one of the best places to retreat to if you’re after a peaceful and quiet vacation. Unlike other developed and popular tourist vacation spots that boast of a nightlife, Pagudpud mainly banks on its untouched natural beauty, which is perfect for nature-loving individuals.

Whom Am I Googling In My PSP?

2008-05-31T08:18:00.007+08:00

Last night, Sho and I had dinner at Ditzy Diner in E. Rodriguez. The place is a Wi-Fi spot, so we tried it with our PSP. Whom did I search for?

Want Some Pasto?

2008-05-24T11:14:00.006+08:00

One of the things that Sho and I have in common is our love for food (yes, I love food although it’s not that obvious). Occasionally, we try out new restaurants or dishes, if our budgets allow it.

Last May 16, feeling rich and utterly hungry for some new food, Sho and I decided to try a new restaurant. Sho originally craved for big burgers, but we don’t know any other restaurant/fast food that offers such except for Wham! and Brothers. So inspired by my grumbling stomach, I browsed through list of restaurants at www.munchpunch.com and found Pasto (which is not a burger joint. Hehe).

As you would’ve deduced from its name, Pasto is an Italian restaurant. One look at its menu can leave one intimidated by the Italian names of dishes but hungry at the same time with the description of each dish.

Although the typhoon was at its peak during the time, Sho and I braved the storm and went to El Pueblo in Ortigas. A corner away from St. Francis Square, El Pueblo isan area that houses various restaurants and fast food such as Friday’s, Racks, McDonald’s, and many more. Pasto is right below Friday’s.

Although I am a hard-core lover of pizza and pasta and I was in an Italian restaurant, I ordered Pasto’s Manzo (Php 395), “a Grilled U.S. angus steak topped with mushroom and garlic in a red wine reduction served with rice pilaf.” Sho, who was reluctant to pick any dish from the menu since the names were in Italian, settled for parmigiana (Php 325), “a chicken breast stuffed with smoked ham, spinach, and mozzarella topped with parmegiane sauce on a bed of penne pasta.” Since it was raining, we decided to order Zuppa di Funghi (Php 125), a “cream of pureed roasted mushroom soup,” but were told that it was not available. So Sho and I settled for Zuppa di Gamberi (Php 155), “a smooth and rich bisque soup.” For our drinks, we had two Te Freddo (Php 190), a refillable iced tea that comes in lemon and raspberry flavors. Not feeling adventurous, Sho and I both preferred the lemon flavor.

Zuppa di Gamberi, which was yellow orange, came in a large cup. It had a very rich, thick, and distinct flavor of shrimp broth. Although it did not come with anything else, Sho and I found it to be very filling.

Then the main courses came. Both of our dishes were very appetizing. I loved the combination of the taste of my steak and the red wine reduction. The steaks I have tried so far all came with gravy, so it was something new for me. Although there was a subtle intoxicating flavor of the red wine, the dish was still delicious as a whole. I would’ve preferred my steak to be tenderer, I guess, as it was slightly difficult to chew. It wouldn’t have hurt also if my dish came with a bigger serving. Hehe. The steak was regular-sized, and the quantity of the rice pilaf seemed like it was measured with a ¼ cup.

Of course, I also got to taste Sho’s dish. I’m not a big fan of parmigianas, since I find the sour taste very overwhelming, so Pasto’s parmigiana was just all right for me. I believe it came in a bigger serving, though, than my dish.

All in all, we loved our dining experience at Pasto. Although that one dinner was a little bit pricey for us, we’d still love to try their other dishes, perhaps on our next feeling-rich moment. :D

Want to see the menu of Pasto or any other restaurant in the country? Go to www.munchpunch.com. Bon appetit!

** the service charge was less than (almost) 10 percent of our total bill

Maxine by the Sea and the Whole Hundred Islands Experience

2008-05-21T13:57:00.009+08:00

We could not leave Pangasinan without tasting its delicacies. So even if Dave was the only person who brought money, we all decided to eat at, I guess, the grandest restaurant in the area called Maxine by the Sea.

Maxine by the Sea is a restaurant and lodge situated above the sea. It has two floors of veranda which allowed guests to relax and look at the view while waiting for their food.

Maxine’s menu offered a little bit of everything—seafood, meat products, drinks. They also have big crabs and catfish available. One crab’s worth a whopping 700 pesos. Dave, the bangus addict, ordered grilled boneless bangus and sinigang na bangus on his tab. Sho and I ordered gambas, while Mabs, who’s not so much a seafood fan, ordered chicken barbecue. For drinks, Sho and I settled on mango shakes, Mabs on mango-banana shake, and Dave on water.

All in all, the dining experience was very pleasant. The foods were delicious, and I thought they were reasonably priced. All in all, our meals amounted to 1,200 pesos.

Summing It Up
Our whole Hundred Islands escapade was one nice break from our demanding jobs. Although we did spend more than we intended to, it was fun to be in a different place even for a while, and to try out activities that we couldn’t usually do in our “normal” lives.

Here’s my dreaded expense list:

>>Php 670: roundtrip fare from Manila to Alaminos via aircon Victory Terminal bus bound for Alaminos
>>Php 1,550: accommodation at Oregon Building plus island hopping
>>Php 1,200: parasailing
>>Php 250: snorkeling for whole day, including gears

Other expenses:
>>Food for two days and two nights
>>Shouldered expense for one reserved slot (since two people backed out; the other slot was still paid for by our supposed companion)
>>Fare expenses going to and from the Victory Liner Bus terminal in Cubao
>>Fare expenses from Oregon Building to Hundred Islands National Park and bayan (a trike usually costs 10 pesos per person)

The Main Course: Parasailing

2008-05-21T13:25:00.008+08:00

Perhaps to me this is the most looked forward to yet dreaded itinerary of our trip. Pretentious brave souls we were, Mabs, Dave, and I decided to try parasailing.

Our parasailing escapade was originally set at 8 a.m. But since the activity required desirable winds, the jaunt was moved to 9 then to 10. While we waited anxiously at “home” for Ms. Jen’s go-signal, I tried to settle my nerves lest I waste the 1,200 pesos that I paid for the 15-minute fly.

And then the call came. We hurriedly set off to the parasailing site where a boat driven by an American picked us up. By this time we (Mabs, Dave, and I) were all nervous, and the thought of backing out at the last minute was playing around in our heads. Sho’s teasing did not do us any good.

While in the boat, Mabs and I volunteered Dave to be the first to parasail. I decided to go second since I figured I’d get more nervous if I was the last to fly. After a few minutes of sailing through the island, Dave was up. The parasailing assistants hurriedly hoisted him to the parachute, and slowly, up, up and away Dave went.

Watching Dave parasail was not as nerve-racking as I expected it to be. I spent all my time convincing myself that parasailing was as simple as riding the Ferris wheel in Enchanted Kingdom. Dave’s 15 minutes felt like 30 minutes or more, but watching him take pictures of himself while 50 feet above the sea assured me that the experience was not as scary as we thought.

And then, it was my turn. The assistants hurried me up as if it was a matter of life and death. I was hoisted even before I was prepared, which I guess was the reason why I failed to position myself comfortably in my harness. The sail took me up, higher and higher and higher. I was mildly shaking while the sail took off and I did not immediately dare let go of the sides of my harness to video myself with the camera around my neck.

“Pwedeng hindi humawak!” the parasailing assistant shouted at me.
“Ayoko! Natatakot ako!” I retorted back.

Midway through reaching 50 feet, I felt the boat pulling me higher and higher, during which I shrieked a series of “Oh my God.” By this time, I already let go of the harness and held the camera with my hands to document my extreme adventure. I chattered and chattered as I shot a video of myself 50 feet up in the air. This was my way of calming my nerves. I shifted from video to stills to video to stills again. I tried to take pictures of the parachute behind and above me and the view of the Hundred Islands.

By the time the rope pulling me settled, my nerves settled as well. Since my position was not comfortable, my left armpit and legs were already aching after several minutes. As with Dave’s, it felt as though my 15 minutes was already up. But the boat kept pulling me farther and farther into the islands, so I just contented myself with the cool breeze and with taking pictures of myself. After what felt like another 15 minutes, I felt my sail sinking lower and lower. It was a little scary when the boat turned while they were pulling me back. A few more pulls and I was only a few feet away from the water. Then, after several seconds, I was closer and closer to the boat, and then I landed sitting down, which was not a very pretty sight.

But perhaps the greatest adventure of all was experienced by Mabs. I guess it was a good thing that I opted to go after Dave, since during Mabs’s turn, the pulley got stuck and the American driver had to let Mabs fall in the water. It was “extreme parasailing,” as our boat driver said. Still, after the adventure, all three of us were elated that we braved the parasailing escapade.

The Snorkel Affair

2008-05-21T12:47:00.006+08:00

Alas, it was time to swim! Sho and I eagerly tested the beach and were surprised to find out that the island has very deep waters. The water just a few steps away from the shore was already neck-deep (to me, but I’m only 5 feet). A few more steps and I already couldn’t reach the ground beneath the water.

Unlike other snorkel affairs you may know, snorkeling in Hundred Islands does not include a boat and a snorkel guide. I actually thought a boat would take us to the best spot for snorkeling, but it turned out that we had to look for our own.

Although I knew how to swim, I still had to wear my life vest to be able to go to the farthest end of the beach and snorkel. At this point I understood why Quezon Island, which had a small swimming area, was limited by buoys.

Snorkeling in the island was not as fun as I thought it would be. There were very few fishes, countable by the fingers, and the view underwater was nothing spectacular as photos of the islands promised. However, we saw two to three giant clams, a distinct feature of the Hundred Islands. (We weren't able to take some pictures of them, though.) These clams were a sight to behold, but they’re very aloof and hard to spot underwater.

We took a break from snorkeling by 12 noon. At this point there were more people, and the sun was hot as ever. Since we already ate our supposed lunch, we settled on our junk food to fill our hungry stomachs. We weren’t able to bring enough water, so Sho and I decided to buy drinks from the store in the island. Lo and behold, our 12-ounce softdrinks cost 60 pesos!!! So much for quenching our thirst . . .

If there was something nice about the expensive store, it was the fact that it provided good shade and cool breeze at noontime. Sho and I took advantage of this and had a little siesta.

We resumed our snorkel adventure by 3 p.m. This time, our snorkeling affair greatly improved as there were more visible fishes underwater. We saw various schools of fishes in several spots. We even took matters into our own hands and fed the fishes with a burger bun. Unlike the aggressive fishes in Bohol where I’ve gone snorkeling, the fishes in the island waited for the bread crumbs to fall before they ate them. They did not dare come near us. Still, the coming out of fishes was a very pretty sight.

At around 4 p.m., the fishes were coming out on their own. While Sho busied himself with crabs with neon legs, hermit crabs, gophers, and sea urchins amongst the rocks in the waters, Mabs, Dave, and I tried to catch up with the school of eating fishes which transferred from one coral to another. The school of fishes was mostly medium-sized and silver, but there were two parrot fishes (rainbow-colored fishes) that were with the group.

Soon after, we had to retreat to our place to rest. The waves were getting angrier and angrier by the minute and the waters were getting deeper and deeper. It felt as though we were working out while swimming as we struggled to fight the strong waves of the island.

Before we took off from the island, we saw someone parasailing. The sight left our heartbeats racing since it was our itinerary the following day . . .

Island Hopping at Hundred Islands

2008-05-17T10:40:00.021+08:00

We were scheduled for an island hopping and whole-day snorkeling on the second day of our trip. Since the adventure was to start at 8 a.m., I decided to wake up at 5:30 a.m. (I have lots of early-morning rituals so I needed to wake up way ahead of my roommates.) Since we were going to stay at one of the islands from 8 to 5, we decided to pack our lunch and snacks so we wouldn’t have to shell out money on expensive food in the island. Since we were in the bayan, we opted for Jollibee rice meals and a pack of junk foods plus a big bottle of mineral water. Ms. Jen, our travel agent, drove us to the Hundred Islands National Park and set us off in a boat for our island hopping.

Hundred Islands National Park has only three developed islands: Children’s Island, Quezon Island, and Governor’s Island, which was our first stop. Ms. Jen told us that we were to get off at these three islands only and explore the other undeveloped islands by boat. The boat ride offered a view of the various islands scattered in the sea. These islands looked like little hills from afar. Some islands had fine white sand while the others had brown.

Governor’s Island
The Governor’s Island is famous for its PBB house. Inspired by the ABS-CBN show, the government erected a similarly looking house in the island which is now considered a tourist spot in itself. Governor’s Island is also the only island which has a viewing deck of the whole park. As we got off our boat to explore the island, our boatman reminded us that we only have 15 minutes to tour the area. But “tourists” as we are, we spent our supposed 15 minutes alone in picture-taking sessions, which I guess pissed off our boatman. Oh, well.

The first thing you will see in Governor’s Island is a little stairway. When you climb those stairs, you’ll be welcomed by a stunning view of the bluish greenish waters and white sand. On the right side of the beach is the 100 plus steps (I think) to the viewing deck. The stairway had a blue rope on the sides where the guests can hold on to while climbing. Some steps were steep and slippery, while the others are okay. Going up the steps on a summer day can leave you panting, especially if you’re asthmatic and has a knee injury like Sho. When you get to the top, you may find it a little difficult to breathe, since the air is thinning out. The viewing deck is a small area with little cement chairs and a sort of veranda from which you can see the other islands below. Again, the islands looked like little hills to me, only these “hills” were standing on greenish waters.

After some photo-op in the deck, we went to the PBB house. The PBB house was that—a house that looked like the one on the show. I didn’t explore it much since there was really nothing to see. I originally thought the house was open for exploration of guests, but it was not. The house is erected above the island, with beautiful landscape and plants on its sides.

On the way back to our boat, we decided to walk through the waters instead of climbing up several steps again. We held on to the rock formations as we carefully trudged through the waters. We discovered that crossing the waters was an adventure in itself, since the bottom of the beach was slippery (some rocks had moss in them). Our fellow vacation whore, Dave, even had a little "accident" with his slipper while we were crossing. Still, for us, it was a fun way to exit the island.

Children’s Island
Since we took so much time exploring Governor’s Island, we tried to make it up to our boatman and practically ignored Children’s Island. Well, not really.

The first thing that would greet you in Children’s Island is a long pathway, a cement bridge, leading to a flight of stairs, which in turn lead to the Children’s Island. Children’s Island is much smaller than Governor’s, and it is lined with picnic tables and cottages. When we got there, there were already a number of people frolicking in the beach. This island is especially designed for children (thus the name), with its waters especially shallow and safer for children.

Quezon Island
Quezon Island is the largest and perhaps the most popular of the islands in the Hundred Islands National Park. Ultimately, this is where we decided to stay and snorkel for the rest of the day, until 5 p.m., to be exact, the time when we asked our boatman to pick us up.

It was only 10 a.m. when we arrived, but the island was already brimming with people. Contrary to what I expected, the people milling about in the area were mostly locals, people who live in the area who just decided to have a dip in the beach. Since we were on a tight budget, we didn’t bother getting a picnic table (which costs 200) and instead scattered our things at the sides of the picnic tables for rent and took our brunch.

Afterward, we looked around for a nice but safe spot to leave our things unattended. At first we were hesitant to do so, but we all wanted to swim, so we settled in a corner near the shore . . . (on to the next post: The Snorkel Affair)

First Night: A Little Place Called Oregon (Hundred Islands Trip: March 28-30)

2008-05-17T10:05:00.015+08:00

It all started out through a friend’s insistence on breaking away from her overtime-loaded work. I, who was bored with my current job, easily welcomed the idea of a vacation. At first we were four, then we were six, seven, eight, and ended up being four again. Unfortunately for us four vacation whores, we had to shoulder the reserved slots for our supposed two companions who backed out during the last minute.

Though our original plan got screwed up several times, we still made it to Hundred Islands in Pangasinan. With a tight budget but strong determination to have fun even for just a few days, we set out to Alaminos, Pangasinan via Victory Liner bus in the EDSA-Cubao terminal. We originally intended to leave at 3:00 p.m., but boyfriend and I got to the terminal at a little past 3:00, while my friend’s office buddy got stuck at traffic and arrived at around 4:00. If the ideal system—a bus leaves every hour from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m.—ensued, we would have made it earlier in Pangasinan. But since the system in the terminal was effed up, we were able to leave via Alaminos Bolinao bus at around 5 p.m., this accompanied with confusion and grumbles on the effed up seat and ticket numbers.

The trip was five hours loooonggg. By the second hour of our trip, I was already bored and hungry. Since we left an hour before the evening struck, the trip promised no enticing views. A few minutes before 10 p.m., we were still among the very few passengers left in the bus. All first-timers in Pangasinan, we were told by our travel agent to get off at the Victory Liner terminal in Alaminos, which we did at a little past 10. From the terminal, we had to take a very short tricycle ride to the place we were staying at, an apartelle unit in the Oregon Building, prepared for us by Refinne JG Travel & Tours, the official travel agency of Hundred Islands National Park. If we only knew how near the place was to the terminal, we all would have preferred to walk than pay 10 pesos each for the ride.

The Place
Oregon Building was typical of the apartelles you usually see in provinces. It was located in the bayan, which meant we were a 10-minute trike ride away from the Hundred Islands National Park. It had four floors; the rooms occupied by Refinne JG Travel guests were on the third. Upon reaching the third floor, we were welcomed by a small waiting area and a receptionist table. Kuya Rene, the caretaker, led us to our room, which was at the farthest side of the hallway. The little hallway had a mini-bar, where a hot and cold water dispenser and set of glasses stand.

“Wow, mini-house!” were the words that came out of my mouth when I first saw our room. The place actually looked like a little house with a loft. The doors (wooden door plus screen door) open to a dining set with six chairs, with a widescreen 21” inch TV on the corner of the area and a kitchen sink on the right side with cabinets below it. An empty personal refrigerator was at its right side. There was a door at the far end of the room, which led to a veranda where the guests can hang their wet clothes. The veranda offered a view of the lush trees of the neighbors and a little of the city road. The bathroom, which I thought was clean and big enough, was situated at the farther left side of the room.

At the right side of the area stood a little black stairway, which leads to the loft. The loft houses two double-sized beds. The area was equipped with a small, not so effective air condition unit and a medium-sized electric fan.

All in all, the place was chic. But we did find the location of the TV unusual, as it was obscured by the dining set in the downstairs area. We actually considered taking it up the loft so we can watch TV while we were comfortably snug in our beds, but it was against the house rules, not to mention the unavailability of the cable plug upstairs. My other personal concerns was the lack of mirrors (I’m vain and I’m a woman, ergo I need mirrors!). The unit only had a small oblong mirror in the CR, which meant you can only check how you look if you go downstairs and enter the loo. Plus, if you look at the mirror, all it can show you is your face up to your neck, unless you move it around to check out other areas of your body. Hehe. The beds in the loft also had no dividers between them, which would require you (if you are of mixed genders) to dress up and do your afterbath (read: naked) rituals in the CR. The CR had no hot water, which scared me at first, but the water there was not that cold so it was okay. The unit also had no closets, so we were forced to keep our already crumpled clothes inside our bags during our stay. Lastly, I expected the apartelle to include basic amenities such as toothpaste, toothbrush, perhaps a few drinks in the ref, but what was only provided was a tiny Safeguard soap and a sachet of Sunsilk shampoo in the CR and three towels (we were four).

After a short exploration of the place and the TV channels and a little picture-taking, we wrapped up our first night at Pangasinan.

Karting @ Speedzone

2008-05-16T16:18:00.006+08:00

One of the perks of having a boyfriend who works for a techie magazine is that I get to tag along in their events and avail of some free stuff.

Last March, Sho was given free tickets to Speedzone, a go-kart facility at Fort Bonifacio Global City. It was, I believe, the second-to-the-last day of Speedzone, so the tickets were available for half the original price: Php 300 only per head for 12 mins. (Speedzone was said to be opened under a new management.)

Although I don’t know how to drive, I love racing games, and I’ve always wanted to try karting. So when I found out that I’d be able to do so for free, I was ecstatic.

Here are some photos of my karting adventure (Note: fan of racing as I am, I’m not really good at driving, so there were a few bumps here and there. I think I got stuck twice or thrice in the track. Haha [walang reverse yung go-kart so pag nabangga ka at na-stuck, you have to raise your hand for assistance]).

If you want to try karting, there are other karting facilities aside from Speedzone (which I don’t believe has opened yet). You can try it at City Kart Racing , which is between Sucat and Bicutan interchanges, an indoor karting facility where a 10-minute ride is worth Php 600. If you want to experience speed at a cheaper price, you can try the go-karts in Boom na Boom. A 12-minute go-kart ride is said to be at Php 250-260.

Happy karting! :)

Li'l Spa Adventure: Callospa

2008-05-16T15:12:00.016+08:00

from my Wordpress blog: 02/18/08

Last Feb 16, Sho and I set to our li’l spa adventure, but unfortunately I never got to write about it immediately afterward. So here’s my long overdue post about our visit to Callospa in Antipolo.

Yep, our spa of choice (more like mine only) for our Valentine celebration was Callospa Resort in Antipolo. Since I wanted a hint of nature and outdoors while we have our massage, I solely decided on availing the “Affordable Escape” (P650) in Callospa, which was both a spa and resort tucked away in Antipolo City.

The first thing that greeted us in Callospa was a little garden by the stairways which was covered with mist. The resort entrance bore an earthy scent and promised an even better view inside so we wasted no time in entering the vicinity.

Upon entering the huge gate, what only welcomed us were a little closed door with a Visa credit card logo and voices singing along with the videoke. We followed the voices and soon realized that the entire resort was rented by a family. So we went back to the little closed door and finally found the spa—our promised haven. Since we set an appointment a day before, the Callospa staff were already expecting us. They led us to a little room with lockers, a Jacuzzi, two shower rooms (one with a massage bed), and a sauna room. The staff gave us our locker key, cute Japanese slippers, and clothes to change into. My clothes were a spaghetti-strap top that exposed my stomach (more like a midriff top but slightly longer) and an oversized pair of shorts (that was the smallest size they have). Sho, meanwhile, was given floral shorts. :D

Sho and I took a shower first and then went inside the sauna room for our “invigorating eucalyptus-scented sauna bath.” We were served with two glasses of water while we basked in the heat of the sauna room. The room, which can only accommodate a maximum of two persons, reeked of eucalyptus. Since I was feeling cold during the time, I sat on the topmost ledge so that the heat was directly on me. After a few minutes though, the room got hotter and hotter that Sho and I had a little difficulty breathing. After 30 minutes or so, Sho and I got out of the room with red cheeks and glowing bodies.

Then it was time for our “luxurious hot Jacuzzi bath” with floating kafir leaves, pandan, and AHA calamansi tops. This was our favorite moment in our spa experience. The warmth of the Jacuzzi bath, the relaxing current in the water, and the soothing sound of water in the background were all just too perfect for our tranquil escape. While having the Jacuzzi bath, we were served with two small cups of hot tea a la Japanese style. Sho and I lounged in the glorious bath for 30 minutes or so, until a Callospa staff told us our little fun was over.

Alas, it was massage time, our ultimate reason for coming to Callospa in the first place. We were led upstairs by two masseuses in the common massage room. Luckily, there were no other customers during the time so we had the room to ourselves. The massage room has four beds, which can be separated by curtains, if you want privacy. Callospa’s signature massage is Swedish-reflex Thai massage in their own sequence. It includes a massage of the legs, thighs, arms, back, face, head, and even chest. After 30 minutes or so, our masseuses left us with soothing instrumentals to sleep.

Although I loved how my masseuse massaged my always tensed-up shoulders, the entire massage was basic to me. It was not relaxing enough as I would’ve wanted it to be, which is why I did not fall asleep. Once our masseuses realized that Sho and I are “already” awake, they gave us another set of massage, which was better than the first one. While sitting on our beds, our masseuses massaged our backs and carried us in the air while massaging our bodies with their feet. It was an interestingly different kind of massage that we experienced. However, that massage was only good for 10-15 minutes. After that, our masseuses left us yearning for more.

Supposedly, our spa adventure was over after the massage. However, since Callospa also offers facial services, Sho and I decided to have our faces cleaned, or so we thought.

Callospa’s basic facial included an application of facial cream (I don’t know what kind) steam, and extraction of blackheads/whiteheads. I actually thought that after my facial, my whiteheads would all be gone. But as it turned out, the Callospa staff only chose the whiteheads/blackheads that she wanted to remove. By the end of our session, I could still feel a lot of whiteheads on my face. Oh well, so much for 250 bucks.

After the disappointing facial service, Sho and I went downstairs to take a shower and change. We tried to get a few pictures here and there but my camera phone just isn’t that reliable in dark places. :(

All in all, our spa adventure cost us Php1,800—650.00 each for our “Affordable Escape” massage, 250.00 each for our basic facial. Our other expenses include transportation and tips (which were mandatory).

Raves:

nice comfortable place to chill out in, with a relaxing nature feel

affordable services in comparison to other spas

includes other amenities such as pool resort, videoke, badminton court, multi-purpose hall, and apartelles for overnight stay (We didn’t get to tour the entire place but Callospa is actually bigger and prettier than we thought.)

Rants:

not-so-satisfying massage
disappointing facial service
rushed services: since Callospa is short on staff, the staff are always in a hurry to finish their services to accommodate other customers

For more info on Callospa, visit http://www.callosparesort.com/
**High-res photos were from http://houseonahill.net/travel/callospa-resort/

Itching to Get Away

2008-05-15T16:08:00.003+08:00

For the past two months, I’ve been stressing myself over my exhausting job. I’ve entertained countless thoughts of resigning from my job—countless enough to get me depressed for a while. It even came to the point where I was desperately looking for a place to retreat to for a while to reflect on what’s happening with my life and look for answers to questions that have been haunting me: where is my dissatisfaction coming from? Am I the one at fault because I can’t seem to stay in a job for a long time? Will I ever find a job that I’ll enjoy doing until I reach retirement age?

Though these questions are still at the back of my mind, my stress levels have reached a steady stage as of this writing. I still am planning to leave, but I’m willing to wait until a better opportunity comes up. Funny, because just last week I was telling my former officemates that I’ll be handing in my resignation letter this Friday, May 16. What can I do? My job and I have a love-hate relationship . . .

Right now, all I want to do is get away and be relieved of all my worries, even for a while. It’s a good thing I’m looking forward to watching the 3rd World Pyrolympics (the finale show) on the 24th. This will be my third time to watch, but it’ll be my first time to watch the event from MOA, at the terrace of UCC Café, to be exact, which, according to “experts,” is one of the places with the best views of the event. According to a travel blog I read, the barge containing the fireworks is anchored directly in front of the UCC terrace.

I’m not satisfied with that one agenda, though. I’m still looking forward to a relaxing getaway in a nearby province, hopefully on the last weekend of May. If our plans push through, there’s no doubt you’ll hear about it in this blog.

**I still have a lot of overdue entries to post, some of which were posted in my Wordpress blog. Hopefully I’ll be able to post them all before my planned getaway this May.

**pic from: http://poop-art.deviantart.com/art/honey-i-m-leaving-town-20403400

Spot the Dolphins

2008-05-09T21:56:00.004+08:00

Here's the link of the video of our dolphin-watching adventure at Pamilacan Island in Bohol. Hear our shrieks at the sight of the dolphins. Hope you don't get too dizzy watching, though. :D (Sorry, I was having problems uploading the video here at Blogger.)

Leaving the Paradise (Summing Up the Bohol Experience)

2008-05-03T10:42:00.018+08:00

We woke up early morning on our last day with a heavy heart, knowing that it was the last day of our blissful vacation. So to make the most out of it, we went straight to the restaurant to have our breakfast, and voila! It’s buffet breakfast day again! :D

After another fantastic breakfast, my family and I hurriedly went to the beach. This time all five of us swam under the heat of the sun, but as usual, my dad, sister, and I were only the last ones to leave the beach. It was a little harder to swim during the time since it was high tide and the waves were stronger. After several minutes of swimming, my sister and I gave up and just let ourselves be carried by the waves.

After a while we decided to swim in the pool, but the pool nearest our resort was still being treated and would not be available until 12 noon, which was our checkout time. So we decided to try the other pools, and off we went to the largest one.

Before we could reach the largest pool, we could already hear children’s voices. When we arrived, the large pool was packed with Korean kids and their relatives. We were a little hesitant to jump in the packed pool, but since we wanted to make the most of our last day, we settled on one side and swam until almost checkout time.

After taking showers and packing our things, we were all set to leave. But since the driver who would take us to the airport wasn’t there yet, we decided to order dessert before we leave. Yum!

The Lowdown
All in all, our Bohol experience was the best vacation I’ve ever had. It was honestly one of the few times that I actually looked forward to waking up, because I know I’m in a beautiful place where there are lots of awesome things to do. Here are my rants and raves about our vacation:

Raves:
• Nice, big resort
• Awesome beach and pools
• Clean and spacious enough comfy rooms
• Big bathroom with relaxing hot and cold shower
• Awfully cute tarsiers
• Lovely Chocolate Hills
• Breathtaking marine sanctuary
• Buffet breakfast! (I miss it so much!)
• Cute dolphins

Rants
• Expensive food and snacks in the resort
• The reception of the cable TVs in the room did not function properly on several occasions. On more than one instance, the sound was delayed, so it was hard to understand what we were watching because the sound and the opening of the mouths of the characters on TV were not in sync.
• Mosquitoes outside the rooms: Since the resort is full of various kinds of plants, there were a lot of mosquitoes in the hallways and outside the rooms.
• Flies during the river cruise: I guess it’s unavoidable since we’re cruising on a river and there were a lot of food on the raft.

Despite these few rants, I still love Bohol and Bohol Beach Club. I hope to return there someday with diddy and close friends.

**By the way, I couldn't leave Bohol without taking a tarsier with me, so my sister and I bought one at the airport. It was expensive, Php 250, I think, but it was sooo cute, so pwede na rin. :D

** If you want to visit Bohol, you can pick a package from the travel agency of our trip, Essence and Scenes. They’ll provide you everything you need and you can design your own package with them. Happy trip! :)

Take a Dip in Bohol Beach Club (Third Take on Bohol)

2008-05-02T17:20:00.012+08:00

After two days of fun activities in Bohol, it was time for us to bask in the beauty of Bohol Beach Club, our chosen resort. As guests of the resort, we had a complimentary glass-bottom boat ride for 30 minutes, which we decided to avail on our third day since we had no other activities to do during that time.

As the name suggests, the boat has a glass bottom (a small rectangle) which will allow you to see the fishes, corals, and what-have-you underwater. The ride was free for all the guests, so it’s on a first-come, first-served basis. But since we went there at around 7:00 a.m., we only shared the boat with two Canadians and a Filipino couple.

That morning the waves were particularly harsh since it was threatening to rain during the time. The waves were nearly inside our small boat, but we were too busy looking at the fishes underwater through the glass bottom to care (except my mom who’s always so paranoid about waters :D).

The glass was clear enough for us to see what’s beneath the boat, but it wasn’t clear when captured on cam (I guess all you can see in the video are corals underneath). The boat ride was until just several feet away from the shore, so we didn’t get to see many fishes. There were, however, countless starfishes. The Canadian, who was in the boat with us said, “it’s as if the stars had fallen from the sky.” As the boat got farther and farther from the shore, we could see that the sea bed beneath us was getting deeper and deeper. Throughout the ride we were able to see few fishes, lots of corals, and starfishes everywhere.

The Unforgettable Buffet Breakfast
After our pleasant ride, we headed straight to the restaurant to have our breakfast. What do you know, it was a buffet breakfast day, which meant we could freely get every meal we wanted from the buffet table!

First stop on the buffet table was eggs. There was a chef on the other side, waiting for our request: Do you want eggs? Do you want it sunny-side up, scrambled, omelet? How many do you want? Just say what you want and they’ll have it delivered on your table, plus the coffee or whatever kind of drink you wish.

There were lots of breakfast dishes to choose from. You can choose to eat rice or bread (or both) tapa, sausage, other beef dishes, soup, hash brown, other potato dishes, salad (you are to mix your own), fruits such as watermelon and mangoes, and iced tea. That morning I feasted on coffee, deliciously cooked omelet, hash brown, another potato dish (I don’t remember what it’s called but it’s delicious), soup, and mangoes. Yum! (Sorry, we didn't get to take pix of the food. We were just too excited to eat that we didn't have the time to take pictures.)

After that hearty meal, it was tempting to just lie around in our beds. But the turquoise waters were calling us. Who are we to ignore it, right?

Swimming, Swimming, and More Swimming!
Finally, we got to leisurely swim to our heart’s content! The sun was shining brightly then, so we decided to take a dip in the tempting beach.

The good thing about having a vacation during off-season is you get to have the whole place to yourself. During our whole stay, there were only a few people in the resort, most of which were Koreans.

Beach bums as we were, my sister and I set out to the beach. The shoreline of Bohol Beach Club was filled with mosses, which was not really a pretty sight, but it was okay. Some parts of the beach were filled with rocks and corals, so we had to look for a clear spot to swim in. The beach had clear turquoise waters in some parts, blue in the other parts. The sand under the sea is very fine, but the sand on the shore is a little rough, since it is scattered with sea shells. During the time, it was low tide, so my sister and I were already near the buoy but the water was just waist-deep. The sea was perfect then with only a few light waves, which made our swimming experience extremely pleasant (except for the scorching hot sun shining above us).

When it was almost 12:00, we decided to move to the pool so that we could spare ourselves a little sunburn. The pool nearest our room was the medium-sized one. It was very cute, with a little bridge above it. Beside it is a bar from which you can order food and drinks. There were also two tanning chairs nearby.

My sister and I took advantage of having the pool to ourselves so we swam and swam and swam until about 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. After which, we retreated to our rooms to rest, tired yet again but extremely happy with our swimming escapade.

It’s All About the Water (The Second Take on Bohol)

2008-05-02T09:23:00.013+08:00

After our tiring yet fun tour of Bohol the previous day, we woke up early on our second day, eager to set out to our water adventures: dolphin and whale-watching at Pamilacan Island and snorkeling at Balicasag Island.

All of us have never seen dolphins before and I’ve never tried snorkeling either (yup, I’m a li’l ignorant girl) so we were all excited for the planned activities. Our fun was supposed to start at 7:00 a.m., but since there were a few misunderstandings with our boatman (we couldn’t find him!), our itinerary was set back an hour later.

Pamilacan Island

Pamilacan Island is a popular sidetrip for guests in Bohol resorts. The island is famous for its dolphin sanctuary. After 15 minutes, you’ll be in dolphin haven—at least, that’s the idea. And if you're in luck, you'll be able to see whales, too. (Whales are said to be more easily spotted in Bohol during the summer season; hence, we didn't see one.)

It took us a while to spot a fin (dolphin’s, that is) in the endless blue waves of the island. Since it is not a dolphin show, you have to find your own pleasure—you have to crane your neck and ogle at the sea until you see even the tiniest sign of a dolphin in the area.

Our sign was a group of triangles milling about in one spot. After seeing that, almost magically, we were able to see other dolphins, scattered in groups across the sea. There were many dolphins in the area, more than our eyes could feast on. However, these playful dolphins weren’t bold enough to meet its watchers; most just stayed at a safe distance from us. Once in a while, a dolphin would perform a show and dive into the water, which made us scream with excitement. (Haha. Listen to the video, which I'll include in a separate post.)

After several minutes of shrieking at the sight of dolphins, we were content; our senses were filled. So we decided to move on to the next adventure: snorkeling!

Snorkel, Snorkel

Balicasag Island was a 30-minute boat ride from Pamilacan Island. After cruising in the sea for about 30 minutes, our boat stopped in the middle of Balicasag Island where we were greeted by a group of men who invited us for a snorkel adventure: Php 350.00 for a whole day of snorkeling, including equipment: life vests and masks. Of course, we took the offer and went for the adventure (except Ma, who’s afraid of water).

Four men, each with a boat, took us to the snorkel and diving spot of the island. Since I was a newbie, my snorkel guide briefed me first on how to use my snorkel equipment. Standing only at a height of 5'', I struggled without a life vest (they were not given to us immediately) in the deep water of the island. Since we were at a diving spot, there was a huge seemingly bottomless pit below us, teeming with wonderful fishes and other sea creatures. To snorkel, I had to wear my slippers (we didn’t rent fins) because the corals were too sharp. This was a difficult task, as I kept losing my slippers.

After several prodding of my guide, I tried to take a peek at the treasures underwater. It was truly a breathtaking scene: countless fishes of various colors and sizes moving about underwater. In the middle of our spot was a huge crater, which looked like it was ready to suck me in any time. Since I’m not very confident about my swimming skills and I still didn’t have a life vest, I didn’t dare swim at first above that pit, although it was very tempting because there were more fishes there. But since my guide was very insistent that I make the most out of my snorkel adventure, I took the plunge, which was very well worth it.

In the deepest part of the “bottomless” pit were hundreds of big silver fishes (I don’t know what kind of fish they were) moving in circles. After a while, hundreds of the same fishes were parading in the water. There were numerous other fishes, the common colors of which were black, green, and blue. We also spotted little Nemo. :)After several minutes, our guides gave us bread to feed the fishes. As soon as we dipped the bread in the water, the fishes’ aggressive streak came out. In just a matter of seconds, the whole bread was nowhere to be seen. The experience was a little scary since some fishes, especially the bigger ones, would really bite your fingers in their haste to eat the bread. Still, it was delightful to see all those colorful fishes.

We snorkeled and snorkeled to our heart’s content, not minding the extreme heat of the sun above us. However, by the time the clock struck 12:00, we did mind our grumbling stomachs, so we decided to get back to the resort to grab some lunch.

Note: The pix of the fishes were taken above the water. That's how clear the water is at the island. Simply breathtaking. :D

Getting to Know Bohol Beach Club

It was almost 1:00 when we got back to the resort. We went straight to the resto nearest our room to have some lunch. Most of the dishes were expensive, tagged with tourist prices. The lunch we had was “forgettable,” as I can’t seem to remember what particular dish we ordered during the time (sorry :D). But surely, it was not horrible. It was just okay.

After lunch, we stayed in our rooms, tired of our water adventures of the day (we’re very energetic people, as you can see. Haha.) We went out at around 5:30 p.m., when the sun was about to set, to explore the resort. We took countless pictures in the beach, in front of our rooms, and inside both our rooms (Ma and Pa stayed at a separate room, of course.) After the cam-whoring adventure, we ate dinner.

We originally intended to take a dip in the pool that night, but we were all tired (again!) and sleepy, even if it was just 7:00 p.m. So we just stayed in our rooms and watched TV, and by 9:00 p.m, I was in dreamland . . .

Waking Up in Paradise: Bohol and Its Many Wonders (The First Take)

2008-05-01T19:16:00.028+08:00

**This is a super long overdue post. We took this trip on January 11 to 14. But I still want our Bohol trip documented, so here it is. Better late than never. :D

A promise of a paid vacation for six days (two extra days for before-and-after trip rest) in the peace and quiet of a lovely town teeming with breathtaking sceneries is enough to make someone say, “This is the life.” And indeed, it was the life for me in Bohol. Four days tucked away from the busy city and ballooning paperwork, my Bohol escapade left me worried at nothing but whether my tan line was visible enough or not.

A generous gift from my balikbayan sister got me and my whole family in the beautiful province of Bohol. Our vacation package promised four days and three nights of endless fun activities coupled with frolicking at the beach, of course, and discovering the interestingly rich culture and unique natural wonders of Bohol.

Our first day in the province seemed to have ironically zoomed fast yet dragged endlessly at the same time. Fresh from our one hour and ten-minute flight courtesy of Cebu Pacific, we were instantly welcomed at the Tagbilaran airport (capital city of Bohol) by a Bohol Beach Club personnel (the resort we were going to be staying at) and Kuya Manuel, a tour guide from Essence and Scenes, our travel agency.

The Sandugo Shrine
It was barely 7:00 in the morning, but Kuya Manuel did not waste any time as he hurriedly brought our baggage to the van and set us off to our day tour. Our first stop was the blood compact shrine of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, a marker of the alliance/friendship between the Spaniard and the then-chieftain of Bohol. My family and I learned a little bit about Philippine history as Kuya Manuel explained that the shrine erected in Brgy. Bool was not the actual site of the blood compact, as cleared by National Historical Institute (NHI). According to NHI, the blood compact took place in Loay, Bohol, where now a painting of the blood compact stands to clear the controversy regarding the actual site of the historical event.

Tarsier and Bat Sanctuary
After several poses with Legazpi and Sikatuna, Kuya Manuel decided to take us to the tarsier and bat sanctuary, one of the most anticipated itineraries in our tour.

The tarsiers are the cutest creatures on Earth! Little and vulnerable as they are, they stare back at you with their adorable huge eyes as they cling to the branches of trees. They have intriguing and cute smiles plastered on their faces. If they weren’t only endangered species and suicidal, I would’ve taken one home to be my pet.

The Bilar Man-Made Forest
Our next stop was the Bilar man-made forest. Once our van made a stop in the sidewalk of the unbelievable lush forest, my family and I couldn’t stop craning our necks at the awfully huge mahogany trees. The place made us feel as if we were suddenly excluded from the rest of Bohol as we stood under the protection of the huge trees. The forest was a product of a reforestation program in the 1960s, where volunteers each planted a mahogany seedling with the aim of preventing landslides in the area. Little did the Boholanos know that their planting efforts would soon boom as one of Bohol’s tourist attractions.

Chocolate Hills
Alas, it was time to see the Chocolate Hills! I have known Chocolate Hills since I studied about them in Philippine history, and I’ve seen a replica of the famous green and brown hills during my field trip in Nayong Pilipino when I was in fourth grade. But the beauty of the faux hills in Nayong Pilipino and the joy that I felt as I ran up those hills many years ago is absolutely nothing compared to actually seeing the mesmerizing beauty of the Chocolate Hills before you.

According to Kuya Manuel, the Chocolate Hills is the farthest destination in our day tour. From the man-made forest, it took us 30 minutes or more to get to the town of Carmen, where the hills actually are. To get to the top, in the viewing deck of Chocolate Hills, you have two choices—through the stairs or the straight but steep path. As suggested by Kuya Manuel, we took the straight path to get all the way up to the viewing deck. The Chocolate Hills was a gem you have to work hard for to see, as it isn’t easy climbing 242 steps or walk against gravity in the straight path. It took us quite a while to get to the top as the pavement was slippery since it had started to drip during that time. A few shots in between our panting climbs and we finally find ourselves face to face with the magnificent Chocolate Hills.

At the viewing deck, we could not help but gush and sigh at the awesome sight before us—hill after hill after hill of lush green everywhere, matched with even more green sceneries of rice plantations and trees at the other side of the viewing deck. If you don’t have fear of heights, you can have your pictures taken closer to the hills by standing on a small piece of steep land just a small ladder higher than the actual viewing deck.

After a few minutes or so of breathing in the wonderful scenery, it was time for us to climb down the 242 steps. Below the viewing deck are little souvenir shops where you can buy genuine Boholano products. Of course, before we hopped in the van to get to our next stop, we had to take pictures with the Chocolate Hills as our background one last time.

The Loboc River Cruise
It was almost noon and we were all hungry, tired, and sleepy (our departure flight in Manila was 5:45 a.m.) yet satisfied with what we’ve seen so far, so Kuya Manuel took us to the Loboc River, our next stop.

The Loboc River is one of Bohol’s tourist attractions as well, famous for its floating restaurants and scenic views. Amidst a wooden raft dragged by a motor boat, we had a delicious buffet lunch with other tourists and a Boholano singer with a guitar who entertained us throughout our trip.

We feasted on inihaw (roasted) fish, fresh fruits, seaweed, and other meat products such as barbecue. The boat drove us to the far end of the river where the Busay Falls seemingly appear out of nowhere. Mid-cruise, our raft stopped at a group of Boholano children in a wooden raft as well. The children serenaded us with amusing pop songs such as Itaktak Mo, coupled with lively dance moves.

By the time we were supposed to get back, the boat driving our raft seemed to have engine problems which forced us to stop several times in the middle of the river. During that time I was having utter difficulty of keeping my eyes open as the cold breeze and the gentle waves of the river lulled me to sleep.

It was raining hard by the time we got off the raft. We were all tired by then, feeling as though it was already late in the evening since we’ve toured so many places already by the time the clock struck one o’clock. Still, there were amazing places to go to so we gathered up all our energy and set off to our next destination.

The Baclayon Church
Our next stop was the Baclayon Church, the second oldest stone church in the Philippines. We were greeted there by a tour guide who led us to the different parts of the church. The church was built in 1596, but amazingly enough, some of its original structure is preserved until this day. Every part of the church seemed to speak of the ancient times. The church even comes with a veranda, which, according to our tour guide, was the place where the aristocrats stayed during the mass because they refused to socialize with the masses. The veranda is like an upper box seat in an opera house which is made of wood.

After seeing the church, the tour guide led us into the museum where we got to see the different religious artifacts of the church from way, way back. This included the first church bell, different religious figures, ancient Church documents which were in Latin, and many more.

Our Home Away from Home
It was finally time to see Bohol Beach Club, the resort we were crashing in for the next three days. After an almost 30-minute journey to the resort, we bid goodbye to Kuya Manuel as Bohol Beach Club personnel welcomed us and brought our baggage into the resort. The resort had a long stretch of white sand and turquoise waters. It has three restaurants, which offers seafood, pasta, and even the usual chicken meals. It houses three swimming pools—small, medium, and large—scattered in the entire stretch of the resort.

After a seemingly long day, we hopped in our comfortable beds to rest, with the thought of waking up in paradise the next day, and with the spectacular natural wonders of Bohol still fresh in our minds.

War and Paint

2008-04-26T21:03:00.004+08:00

from my Wordpress blog (02/18/08) . . .

I’m not an athletic person. The last thing anyone would mistake me for is a player of any kind of sport. Blessed (or cursed) with an unflattering thin frame, I never felt the need to keep myself physically fit or active. But now that I’m getting older and my metabolism’s getting slower, I figured I at least have to try interesting outdoor activities out there.

Fortunately for me, Mel, my former office buddy, invited us to a paintball game at Global Gutz in Manila during her last day at the office.

We originally intended our first battle to be a boys-versus-girls game. However, us girls were just too ‘smart’ for a boy’s game such as paintball that we never attacked. We waited for the boys to come. Haha. So upon the suggestion of the Global Gutz umpires (err.. I don’t know how to call them), we started playing a real game and the fun began.

Okay, I’m not a good shooter; I never played war games before so you can’t blame me if I wasn’t able to shoot any of my office mates. Besides, half of the time I was struggling with standing up and army crawling while carrying my heavy gun. Excuses, excuses, I know.

Although the whole adventure highlighted my miserable health condition (I was panting while I was hiding behind wooden props; my knees were weak and shaking as I struggled to move from one place to another), I had fun pretending to be a sporty gal for half a day. Hehe. I’ll definitely play again with a larger group of friends. And I just might do some exercises before I go out into the battlefield. ;)

Paintball Adventure:

Pros:
Fun game for big groups
Decent “battlefields” complete with props, designed for beginners and pros

Cons:
Heavy gun and gears (not too ideal for people with petite frames like me)
If you have no reservations and there are lots of people, you’ll end up waiting forever for your turn to play.

Just Moved In

2008-04-26T09:57:00.004+08:00

I'm back to Blogger! Being a professional blog hopper that I am, I'm back to Blogger. Although I still love my Wordpress blog, I had to move back here because there are just some things I can do here that I can't do in wordpress (edit CSS, for one).

As my nth attempt to start a more fun blog, this blog will include all my escapades, big or small, travel plans and dreams, babblings, and possibly a few rants here and there (sorry).

Happy reading! :)