If my massive desire for travel were a symptom for some serious addiction, then 2012 would have been the year when I have become a complete junkie. Travel junkie, that is. The burning passion to be always on the road, the insatiable craving to go someplace, the irrepressible yearning to take off - they've gone very persistent this year. I had no choice but to cave in. This travel addiction isn't a sickness but at some point, it felt like one. The only cure was to simply travel; there was no other way around it.

But where has this wanderlust taken me? Were those travels worth every penny, time and effort? Did they make me a better person?

In a literal sense, this wanderlust has led me see and experience several destinations, some of which I've already been to before. Eye-opening experiences and life-changing realizations make every centavo, time and energy well-spent (I had no problem with time and energy, it's the money part that was a huge bump). I can't say for sure that these travels have made me a better person but they have let me see things with clarity and view life in a different perspective.

2012 was a year with so many firsts. It was my first time to travel solo, first time to climb a mountain and first time to go back to the same destination within the same year. It's also the year when I met friends who share the same passion as mine (traveling, what else?) both in the real and virtual world. Last year I made a list of my travel experiences, and in keeping with the tradition, I created this travel-round up, which is basically another list of travels I have embarked on for the past 12 months.

One of the things I avoid doing when I go out of town is eating in a fast-food resto. It's a travel sin in my book. But Biggs Diner is an exception. Besides, it's not your usual fast-food restaurant. (Read: not your usual Jollibee, KFC or McDonald's). In fact the only thing that makes Biggs Diner a fast-food resto is its pay-as-you-order system. Everything else - food choices, service, interior design, ambiance - hardly falls under the fast-food category. And the only thing that's mainstream about this famous homegrown diner is it's a must-eat place in Bicol. They say skipping Biggs Diner makes your Bicol experience incomplete. But does it really?

Disclaimer: This is mostly a positive post about CWC so don't be turned off by the seemingly unflattering title.

The thing about having low expectations is that there's less room for frustration. Because there's nothing to meet and almost nothing to lose, you just try and go for it without worrying about finding the whole thing a complete waste of time or money. With such mindset, you're predisposed to see the negative side so you're quite surprised when you experience something delightful.

That's more or less the case with my Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) experience. You see, I wasn't really psyched to try wakeboarding. Not exactly sure why, I guess it just didn't tickle my fancy. Or perhaps it's too mainstream for my taste and me having a tendency to be little anti-populist sometimes kind of saw it rather unappealing. Other than the fact that CWC attracts a lot of tourists and that it features an exciting activity called wakeboarding, I knew so little about this cable park.
More concerned with the possibility of being touted as a buzzkill for skipping wakeboarding, I kept my personal opinion about CWC to myself. My friends' excitement was too palpable I was afraid I'd ruin their mood if I rained on their parade.

We were kind of scrambling on Day 3 of our stay in Caramoan. Trying to catch the 9AM boat trip from Guijalo to Sabang, we had to wake up early. But even though we were running on a tight schedule, we did everything in a slow pace. We took time to pack our things and even breakfast became a sluggish affair. The sluggish breakfast was merely due to the fact that we were actually waiting for prawns to be served. Unfortunately, we were already approaching the shore in Sabang when it arrived (late delivery lang ang peg). After stuffing our stomach with protein (lapu-lapu and dilis), we finally bade goodbye to the compound that served as our home for 3 days.

Outside, the sun seemed to lure us to extend our stay in Caramoan. The weather was simply perfect for another day of island hopping. But we couldn't afford an extended stay. We had to get back to Manila where work was waiting for us, and colleagues were expecting for some provisions. And so we dropped by at a pasalubong store in Centro and bought shirts, key chains and pili candies.

Getting free access to Gota Beach, known for its expensive cabanas and luxurious island-life accommodation, was not by all means accidental. I knew for sure that we'd get in despite it being temporarily off-limits to public and non-guests. (Technically, island hoppers can still drop by at Gota Beach as long as they pay an entrance, which is Php300 per head, and that's just for swimming on its beach.) The owner of the resort we stayed at in Caramoan has connections with big shot resort owners (of Gota Beach and Tugawe among others) so I pretty much surmised that it's just a matter of perfect timing and doing some calls before finding ourselves in one of the most expensive beaches in Caramoan.
True enough, as we were having fun time at Cagbalinad Island, a snorkeling site near Gota, Ivan (our tour guide) shared with us the good news: we're going in Gota Beach, which was just across from we were at that time. As much as we'd want spending a little more time at the island, we needed to jump at the opportunity before the governor, whom they personally called to ask permission, changed his mind. So we scurried back to the boat and cruised our way to the beach, feeling excited.

There are two interesting versions I heard on the legend about the lone milk fish in a hidden lagoon in Matukad Island. The first version was relayed to us several months back during my first trip in Caramoan. I don't remember who told it to us but I suppose it's one of the boys who helped us climb the steep rock formation to see the famous, huge milk fish. In the first version, there was a fisherman who went fishing but didn't catch anything. In an act of desperation, he decided to catch fish the easy way out by taking the milk fish. He brought it home, cooked it, the whole family ate the fish and they all died - apparently from poisoning.

It's past 2 in the afternoon when we left Manlawi Sandbar and headed to our third and last stop for the day: Sabitang-Laya. The gentle rays of the afternoon sun and the cool sea breeze made up for a perfect sleeping pill which left some of my companions temporarily conked out. As I couldn't find a good spot in the boat to take a nap, I amused myself instead by gazing at the moon over a clear sky in the horizon. I wasn't being romantic or anything, I just found it a good distraction to while the time away. The moon seemed to be enjoying the attention it was getting from me that it decided to stick with us for a little while.
So it's not surprising when I found it hovering above the massive limestone cliffs as our boat finally moored at the shallow part of the shore in Sabitang-Laya. I think the connection I had with the moon affected my mood throughout our stay on the island. I didn't go crazy or anything (thank goodness), just a little weird. A little weirder than usual.

 If there's one thing that might dissuade people from going to Cotivas Island, it's its distance (from Paniman). You see, it's pretty far from the jump-off point and going there can take at least an hour. For an island hopping tour, that's quite a hassle. But I'm telling you that it'll all be worth it. Cotivas Island is a piece of paradise.

The fact that I believe in premonitions, bad omens and lucky stuff makes me a little superstitious. It's a bad habit, I know, but I just can't help it sometimes. I can't count the times I canceled or backed out from a trip just because something didn't feel right. An irrational fear that's holding me back doesn't sound logical especially to my travel buddies who are expecting my attendance. Oddly enough, most of my hunches were just simply a hunch. And I always end up feeling regretful while looking at the photos of the excursion/out-of-town getaway which I should have been part of.

Upon getting the total headcount of the people who were sure to go to Caramoan, I slightly panicked and thought about making an alibi to excuse myself from pushing through with the trip. We were 13! In my book, that's a red flag. It didn't feel like a coincidence, not to me anyway. But I had to shake off the feeling of doubt and apprehension, it's childish and counterproductive. After all, I was tasked to do the travel logistics which included doing the itinerary, making bus reservations and looking for an accommodation. If I'd weasel my way out, I'm sure my friends would have a hard time forgiving me.

Most girls don't travel alone. Hitting the road solo is simply a scary proposition for them. Those who have taken off with only a backpack and a camera for company are applauded for their audacity and bravery. Granted, solo travel is not for everyone but there are people, regardless of gender, who are ballsy enough to trot across the county, or the world. Take Charlotte for instance. A certified lone traveler, she has wandered off by herself to various destinations in the Philippines and overseas (America!). This 20-something geologist started travelling at an early age and there's no stopping her from going places. What keeps Charlotte on her toes (literally)? Where does she get her travel fund? Read on and learn as she shares with us a few things about her as a traveler. 

How and when did you discover your love for travel? 
When I was a kid, my family would spend summer in Dinapigue, Isabela. We would fly in a small plane to Palanan, Isabela and then a helicopter from there to Dinapigue, Isabela. My father's friends would open the helicopter door for us to get a view of the mountain ridges and the ocean. The view from the top was breathtaking. Life in that town was pretty laid back as I remember- with houses built in nipa huts, no electricity, paved roads or commercial buildings. Our nipa hut was near the beach. We would catch crills in rivers, climb hills, bathe in the ocean and watch fireflies at night. We could afford to indulge ourselves to crabs as big as plates, dozen lobsters or a sack of prawns. Those were the good ol' days.

Sta. Monica Beach in California

What kind of traveler are you? 
As much as I want to travel light, a girl can't have too many dresses or pairs of shorts when traveling, right?Haha. I invite friends to travel with me but I'm no stranger to traveling alone. With the kind of job that I have, I sometimes get the opportunity to go to places so I make it a point to do a side trip and extend beyond my business trip so I could explore the city or the country.

There's a monkey near the entrance of Katibawasan Falls. Tourists are advised to stay two meters away from this monkey. He's probably a grumpy monkey who doesn't like visitors. This monkey is chained to a tree nearby. He's used to seeing guests going and leaving the falls that he barely gives them a look anymore. He looked like he's comfortable being chained, which was kind of sad because nobody wants to be chained. It takes away one's freedom. He didn't seem like he's going to attack us but we kept our distance anyway. Better safe than sorry.

The town where I grew up is small and languid and everyone knows almost anyone. It's called Looc, which in our dialect means 'strangle'. No, don't judge us just yet. We certainly don't strangle strangers. On the contrary, we smooch and welcome visitors with open arms. In other words, we're loving and friendly people. The name 'Looc' is believed to have originated from a local legend about a giant protector (Talabukon) who saved the town from marauding Moros by strangling them.

You have probably never heard about our town. And that's completely understandable. It's not exactly famous like its neighboring island, Boracay. (I'm sure the mere mention of Boracay somehow sparked a glitter of interest). It doesn't have fine white-sand beaches found in Carabao Island (also a neighboring town) either. I can tell you a few interesting things about our town but they're not enough to make you book a flight and travel down here pronto but I really love my town so I'm pimping it out to anyone who might be interested to visit it. A lot of what our town offers remains unheralded, some hidden, few have yet to be discovered, which can be a perfect avenue for wonderful moments of discovery.

1. Cheap Seafood


Crabs, clams, fish, edible seaweed, shrimp... They're available in the market, which is located near the sea, normally in the morning seven days a week. They're fresh and cheap. Although there's no notable restaurant in town that offers seafood cuisine, you can still buy these fresh sea produce from the wet market or talipapa and have them cooked at the lodging inn you're staying. Best eaten with your bare hands.

I'm a sucker for shrimp. It's my favorite food. I'd die without it. It's the first thing I look for every time I dine out at a certain destination outside town. So when I found it on the menu at J&A Fishpen in Camiguin, I forced my travel buddies into ordering it. They couldn't say no, not after noticing that I was holding a table knife. Kidding. What can I say, they're the most supportive couple/travel buddies I've been with.

I don't usually go to church to attend mass (don't tell my folks about this). Not that I'm an atheist or agnostic. I believe in God, I pray before eating, sleeping or before leaving the house. Just like a good Christian. But going to church on Sundays is something I rarely do. In fact, I only go to the holy house when I'm out of town and I happen to see an old church in the area I'm visiting. I really like my church to be serene and peaceful - and you can't find that in the metro during Sunday masses. So yeah, you can pretty much say that, that's one reason I stopped going to church.
To have some serenity and peace wasn't exactly the reason we wound our way up this hill overlooking the idyllic town of San Jose in Tarlac. I'm not sure whose idea was it either. After our fun whitewater kayaking, the group unanimously agreed to make a short detour at Monasterio de Tarlac, a religious monastery perched atop the mountain.

Idyllic town of San Jose

Location: San Jose, Tarlac
San Jose is considered as a fourth class municipality in the province of Tarlac in Central Luzon. It has a population of approximately thirty-two thousand with an economy that is dominantly agricultural. To get there from Manila, take a bus bound for Tarlac City then from the Central Terminal, hop on a jeepney to Barangay Villa Aglipay. The jump-off point of the whitewater kayaking is at Maamot, an idyllic barrio nestled up the mountain about a 30-minute ride from the town proper.

There are plenty of reasons why cruise holidays are so relentlessly popular and appealing to so many of us from different parts of Europe and the world. The food is amazing, the accommodation resplendent and you're always likely to find yourself in the company of some fun-loving people. But possibly the biggest draw of the whole experience is the chance to simply unwind like never before and to escape everything for a glorious period of precious time. 

The Grandeur Of The Seas gives you a passport to sunshine, relaxation and adventure and there are some great deals on top quality holiday packages on-board over the coming months. There is nothing about the ship that is much other spectacular but of course you can be as active or delightfully inactive as you decide to be. And however you decide to spend your time, you will find one amazing location after another drifting into view as your holiday goes by.

Photo credit: VisitNorway

"WHO ARE YOU WITH SIR?" she asked in a tone coated with so much sweetness it sounded nearly cloying.

"Oh, I'm just alone," I responded, mildly hurt with her question despite its innocence.

"But your room has two beds, sir," she argued, ogling at the piece of paper with my name on it, probably checking if she had the correct document.

"Where is my room located?" I said, diverting the topic with an air of apparent annoyance. The receptionist, a local girl in her early 20s, hardly missed the message her guest was trying to send across but she nonetheless maintained her composure.

She called her colleague and asked for assistance but nobody seemed to have heard her. The thickness of the bushes flourishing in great abundance inside the resort must have sucked out her call. Without any hint of irritation, she took on the job of accompanying her guest to the assigned room - a small villa made of sawali, nipa hut and wooden bamboo floor.
"Enjoy your stay, sir," she told me while dropping my stuff in front of the door. The giddiness in her voice was still palpable and far from waning.

As I was taking a swig of Cuba Libre at Epic, one of the many bars in Station 2 in Boracay, a small commotion erupted from an adjacent table. A large chunk of dried coconut leaves fell from the sky and landed unceremoniously on a group of foreign party-goers, momentarily breaking the monotony in that part of the bar. It was such a miracle that no one got hurt, except perhaps for a few scratches on one guy's arm. Like everyone else, he laughed it off. Grinning, I took another sip and looked overhead, wondering if 'falling dried leaves' was a common occurrence in Boracay's famous White Beach.

Night parties are, even in low season (June to October). The long stretch of walkway running from Station 1 all the way to Station 3 is dotted with restaurants, boutiques, bars, hotels, cafes and other tourism-related establishments that get swarmed with tourists especially at night. Some parts of this small path that had become more of an alley can get clogged. You'll practically and literally rub elbows with people from different countries. Parties do get wild and normally last till dawn.

Pretty Young Blood Traveler* Kate Renner is not in any way related to Bourne Legacy actor Jeremy Renner but they nevertheless share a common connection - they both have been to El Nido.   Palawan is just one of the many destinations Kate has crossed out from her list. (And no, her surname isn't Renner; she sometimes goes with Escudero too. Kidding). This twenty-something attractive Proposal Manager is happily married (sorry, guys!) with two cute kids whom she shares her travel stories with. Find out how she's able to wander around the country (and abroad) despite her busy work. 
On discovering her love for travel
A little background -I am a certified Manilenia. Born and raised in the city,I am fascinated with everything outside the metro. I used to envy my classmates in grade school whenever they'd tell me stories about their vacation in the province. My dream back then was as simple as seeing a real clean flowing river.
My love for travelling started on my first unsupervised trip when I was in college. We needed to interview the leader of a religious group in Pangasinan. The trip was a very liberating experience and an eye-opener. It got me fascinated with people and stories.

I found Ellis Ecotel thru Agoda.com, an online site that provides hotel reservations. I was looking for a cheap but chic hotel, one that's decent but not too basic. I predicted a gloomy weather over the weekend so I thought it was a good idea to get a nice hotel room where I could leisurely spend the day in case I couldn't go out. True enough, my stay in Legazpi was wetter than I had expected. I stayed indoor most of the time.
Ellis Ecotel is a newly built hotel that occupies two floors of a shopping complex called Embarcadero just beside the gulf. A modern property with minimalist nautical-inspired design, the hotel serves as an ideal spot to discover Bicol. Its strategic location provides accessibility to famous attractions around the city such as Lignon Hill and Cagsawa Ruins as well as homegrown restaurants that feature local cuisines. Ellis Ecotel also offers guests a variety of recreational activities like ziplining and gokart.

It was raining cats and dogs outside, I knew, even if I couldn't hear the patter of rain on the roof. I didn't have to go out and check the weather. It's all over the news, this typhoon named Gener which brought strong gales and heavy downpour in Legazpi. Bicol isn't exactly new to weather disturbances. Located at the eastern side of the country facing the Pacific Ocean, it's constantly being beaten down by typhoons, strong and mild, its atmosphere always finicky and unpredictable.
With Gener intent in ruining my weekend getaway in Legazpi, I was forced to stay indoor and do my round of alternative exploration. But I just couldn't eat all day - solo dinner can be an expensive affair, not to mention lonesome if done more than usual. I knew that my one day stay would be reduced to holing up inside my room, reading a book, surfing the net, watching a film on my laptop - boring stuff no doubt but nevertheless valid excuses for not going out considering the weather condition.

Accommodation is something that I don't normally worry when I travel with my high school friends. You see, we have a 'travel specialist' who's always in charge of finding a budget-friendly but nice hotel (No, we didn't force him to take that role :-). He's the one responsible for getting as a discount at Sampaguita Inn in Cebu and he also booked us a suite at La Charica Inn for our Palawan getaway.

The inn's facade

For Php1,700 per person for a two-night stay with free breakfast and pick-up, we thought La Charica was a real steal. But Dan 'the travel specialist' reminded us that we shouldn't expect a buffet breakfast. Fine, free breakfast is a free breakfast regardless of what we're served with.

When I embarked on my first solo travel last January of this year, I admit that there was hesitation due to a gnawing fear that the trip might go awry. But I was adamant and there was a strong resolve to just go out of my comfort zone so I took off. I was able to go back home safe and sound with great experiences in tow. It made me more confident and I learnt a few things about myself that I wouldn't have known had I backed out from the trip. On the flip side, it somehow made me a little arrogant. But it's the type of arrogance that bolstered my self-esteem. You know, the sort that drove me to be a tad adventurous.
Six months later, I challenged myself again to do another solo travel. This time at a destination much closer to Manila: Legazpi City in Albay. Storm was brewing in the east which would potentially mean a rainy weekend. Things like this can easily give me the heebie-jeebies. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to push through with my trip but I was left without much choice - I couldn't afford to not use my round trip ticket, so on a rainy dawn, I took a cab to NAIA Terminal 3, apprehensively looking at the horizon, hoping the storm would change course. I didn't trust the weather reports I read online. Despite obvious signs of bad weather, I still wished for a sunny weekend.

One thing you might want to do when you're in Puerto Princesa (PP) is to take the Underground River and Honda Bay tours. At least that's what tourists who've been to PP would tell you. Well, I'd like to say the same primarily because I have immensely enjoyed both activities. I know you will too. If you are time-pressed and only have a day to spare in the city, then your best bet would be the Underground River tour, but make sure not to skip Honda Bay next time you're in PP. Rather, don't just spend a day in Puerto Princesa - there are several things to see and do that 2 days is not enough to enjoy what this city 'inside the forest' has to offer. 

Travel and movies are some of the things that make me sane. When I don't travel, I watch movies. In fact, when I travel, I try to squeeze film watching in my itinerary. So far, I've watched movies at SM Bacolod, SM Naga and Robinsons Palawan. Well, I guess I'm trying unconsciously to intricately weave films into the tapestry of my travels. So I hope I've justified my point that this post is not a deviation from the purpose of this blog.

Anyway, July is an exciting month for me and for everyone who loves indie films. It's the time of the year when the local indie scene becomes vibrant with exciting and fresh offerings. Movie enthusiasts flock the Cultural Center of the Philippines to watch Cinemalaya, an alternative film festival that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. 

This year, the festival is happening in three locations - CCP, Greenbelt and Trinoma. Here's the updated schedule taken from the Cinemalaya Facebook Fanpage.

After a gruelling but exciting hike to reach the summit, we emerged at a shelter atop Ugong Rock with a great 360 view of Tagabenit below. Panting and sweating, I took the helmet off and wandered to the edge of the wooden floor to see how high we were. I could feel a tickling sensation sweeping under my feet and the knot in my stomach tightened as I surveyed the zipline cable stretching out over the rice field to a landing platform in a distance.
Our group decided to zipline our way down to the base camp, as opposed to rappelling and caving through the same maze of passageways that honeycombs this limestone formation. I milled around for a bit, undecided  and anxious, eyeing the 350m zipline with great trepidation. Heights scare me, I'm not the most adventurous guy and this zipline thing was totally new to me so you can imagine how nervous I was while waiting for my turn.

Our tour guide

As the guides paddled the boat idly away from the wharf, we accustomed our eyes to the darkness. The crescent moon overhead was not enough to light our way but it provided the perfect setting for this one-of-a-kind experience. It's almost seven in the evening; we arrived in Iwahig just in time for firefly watching.
The stillness of the river was creepy, I couldn't shake off the thought of crocodiles lurking beneath the placid surface. "There aren't crocodiles in here, right, Kuya?" asked one of my friends as we carefully hopped on a boat that can only accommodate 5 people including two guides. Apparently I wasn't the only one with a hyper-active imagination. The guide snorted and assured us that the whole stretch of the river is free from crocodiles. Half-relieved, we sat back, observed and listened to the guide as he introduced us to the main protagonists of the night's affair - fireflies.

Fireflies or lighting bugs are light-producing insects that belong to the beetle family. They are commonly found in temperate and tropical environments, usually in marshes or wooded areas where there are abundant sources of food. The fireflies in Iwahig River are drawn to thickets of nipa and mangroves that line the brackish water. They come in droves and groups, swarming in trees and plants where there are flowers.

At the boat station.

Their beauty and power comes in unity, our guide explained to us as he pointed out his red light at a tree near us bearing a small number of fireflies. The lights erupted into hundreds more, making the mangrove glow like a Christmas tree. "They think this light belongs from their predator, so as a warning they would respond to it by emitting more powerful lights together," the guide told us.

"Don't they get stressed out, with all the lights directed at them every night?" I mused. If they feel they're being threatened every time, it's not impossible that they will leave the place and look somewhere else where they feel safe. The guide seemed to see the question coming and he gently explained that as much as possible they don't use the red light. "Although," he quickly added, "they must have gotten used to it that's why they're still here."

"How long is their lifespan anyway?" Dan, one of my friends, asked. Not very long. They only live for a 2 months tops, according to the guide. But they can be seen all year long as long as there are mangroves and nipa in the Iwahig River.
The 45-minute trip was illuminating, to say the least. We learnt loads of stuff about fireflies and the river itself, thanks to our funny guide (I don't remember his name, shame). Most importantly, we realized how Palawenos value nature and the great lengths they do to preserve it. We all stepped out from the boat feeling revitalized. I've never felt so much peace.

*Picture taking during the trip is not allowed, unless the flash is off. 
*Wearing of life vest is a must
*Rate per boat is 600. It can accommodate 3 tourists.
*Van rental to Iwahig river can cost P1,200 per pax. Not recommended to take trikes during this time of the year because of the ongoing road construction.
*Travel time to Iwahig River from downtown Puerto Princesa is about 45 minutes