Hiking through the volcanic landscape of Mt. Pinatubo is perhaps the closest thing you can have in experiencing a Tolkienesque world. With unique and stunning scenery of sculpted sandstone and long winding streams, you'll be in for an interesting trek. For starters, you'll wind your way through sand dunes and dust carpeted plains, through rocky gullies and canyon walls. The trek, supervised by local guides (each group has one assigned), can be a wondrous journey but it should be noted that it can also be quite dangerous especially when there's rain. Flash floods quickly occur so make sure to pay the weather man absolute attention when planning a trek. That being said, only go when there is no rain in the forecast.
Hard-core hikers may consider trekking to Mt. Pinatubo as cliche because of its popularity and the easiness of the trail. Regardless, the landscape offers scenic vistas and the turqoise blue crater lake is a destination that's worth seeing. And yes, trekking to the most sought after crater is physically demanding.

Are you convinced yet to trek Mt. Pinatubo? Well, here is a guide that might help you survive the hike. I'm not saying trekking to a volcano is dangerous but a little preparation and knowledge will definitely come in handy. You don't have to be a complete health buff to hike. What you need are two legs. And a good weather.

So you've heard about Caramoan. That it's being developed to be the next Boracay makes you find out what it has to offer before it gets infested by tourists and vacation-hungry people. But you don't know where it is. Yes, it's in Bicol, where exactly in Bicol, you barely have a clue. You Google it, and you get to this page. Don't worry, you've come to the right place. This is a rough guide on how to get to Caramoan by land and how to survive a very long trip from Manila to the Caramoan Peninsula in Bicol.

For my most recent trip (December 2012) in Caramoan, you may want to check out these links:

1. The long trip starts in Cubao where there's a bus terminal that features a pageant of bus lines (old and new, defective and rabbit-fast, cheap and affordable) all offering to take you to your destination. One way fare to Naga can be as low as P400 depending on how effective your haggling skills are. But don't just go for the cheapest. Try checking the bus as well. Old ones are more likely to encounter tire problems, engine failure and what-not, which will cost you dearly, time-wise. We're told that reliable bus companies are Penafrancia, Cagsawa Tours and Isarog.

The terminal is located at the back of Shopwise, just beside Ali Mall.
2. Bundle up. Even if the bus you're boarding looks a bit rusty and old, it still has an excellent air-conditioning system that will leave you literally chilling for the entire trip down south. It's a long 10-hour ride, add two more hours because of the ongoing road construction in some parts of Quezon and Camarines Sur. If your resistance against cold is bear-like, then fine, don't bother covering yourself up. For ordinary people however, wearing a summer outfit is advised against because you'll just be freezing your ass off. It's like being inside a moving fridge. Not sure if you can ask the driver to lower down the temperature. You can give it a shot, especially if you feel like you're close to getting hypothermia.

3. Don't forget your music, especially if you're the type of person who easily gets bored. Better yet, take an antihistamine or your favorite sleeping pill so you can be lulled into complete oblivion. It's a looong ride. If you're used to getting to your destination by plane, then a long bus trip like this will certainly test your patience.
4. Take the early evening or late afternoon trip. Travel time to Naga is around 10 to 11 hours. Expect some bumps (read: delays, flat tires for instance) on the road. If the bus leaves from Manila at 6pm, you're more likely to arrive in Naga 12 hours later, tops, delays already included in ETA. So at 6am, you'll be taking a van from Naga to Sabang, where there are boats plying to Caramoan.

While in Naga, grab something to eat (there's a panaderia and Dunkin' Donuts near the terminal) and have breakfast on the road. Travel time from Naga to Sabang is 2 hours. Sleep or watch the scenery outside, your choice.

Van Terminal to Sabang near SM Naga

5. Without the travel snafu you dread, you should be in Sabang at 8am, just in time to catch the second boat trip to Guijalo, Caramoan. There is a toilet nearby which you can rent (5.00) if you need to do your morning business. The boat is parked a few meters from the shore. You have the option not to get wet - ask the porters to carry you (on their back, fun experience for sure). They charge for the service, of course. A small raft transports passengers to the boat. A 10-peso fee is collected from each passenger who gets on it. They charge everything in Sabang - for using the toilet (5.00), for getting your bags to the boat (20.00) and for riding on the raft. Boat fare is 120.00. The boat is pretty long but awfully narrow. Not much leg room. For a boat that size, it can surprisingly carry up to 70 people. Don't worry, they have life jackets on board.

Earliest boat schedule from Sabang to Guijalo is 5:30 AM. Latest is normally at 12PM or 1PM.

At Sabang Port, you will see Mt. Mayon

6. Enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains on your left as the boat winds its way through calm waters (if the weather's fair) or rough current (common affair). Thick-forested, Shire-like - the landscapes are changing. Because the route that the boat traverses is only about a kilometer from the shore, you get a close view of the scenery nearby. You can even make out the small waterfalls dotting the rocky walls. We counted about 4 on our way to Caramoan.
7. Before you leave the port of Guijalo, you are required to pay a 30-peso environmental fee at the terminal. A few meters from the port, you'll see a pockmark dirt road and you'll begin to wonder where the environmental fee is being used for.

8. Book your accommodation ahead so you'll save time looking for one when you get to Guijalo. We didn't find any hotel but they have villas, resorts and affordable homestays, which are located downtown, and far from the beach. Most of these resorts send a motorized padyak to fetch you from the port. It's perhaps wise to choose a resort that includes food and island hopping in their package. The exhausting 16 hour travel time will make you yearn for two things - food and sleep.
9. Caramoan is all about beaches. It is of paramount importance to check the weather before you schedule your trip because you can hardly enjoy the island hopping tour when there is a storm. But then again, the weather in Bicol region is finicky and unpredictable. Sun-dance won't work, maybe prayers will.
10. Another important note - a SPECIAL PROJECT is occasionally held in Caramoan so a few islands are closed to public. There was a beach front in Paniman that is inaccessible to everyone, including the locals. But we were lucky. Since the owner of the resort we stayed at has a resto-bar located inside the camp, we're allowed to enter the site and were able to find out what that SPECIAL PROJECT is.

To sum it up, total travel time from Manila to Caramoan is 16 hours, which is why it's advisable that you plan your trip ahead so you can maximize your stay in Caramoan. Remember that you'll be spending 32 hours on the road. That's a lot of time to be wasted spent on travel. Having said that, it'd be smart to schedule your VL on a weekend.

Better yet, take the plane although there's always a chance of having your flight cancelled. But road trip is fun.

An awesome but scary thing happened at the Mt. Pinatubo crater on the day we trekked.
One area of the gigantic walls surrounding the turquoise blue water sort of 'erupted,' creating a thundering sound and sending massive dust and smoke up in the air.  I'm not sure if it's a normal occurrence in the site but it scared the hell out of me.

True, you can hurt yourself while riding on one of those 4x4's. These little monsters run, gallop, trump like crazy over rough terrain of dust, gravel and rocks - basically not minding any hurdle. With mad drivers intent on giving their passengers a 'fun' experience, the ride can turn into a dangerous exhibition. Not for the faint of heart, I tell you. But as long as you buckle up (no seat belts, just on hold to the bar real tight), you'll be safe. The possible worst thing that can happen to you is bump your head or butt against the hard metal and that's just a little price to pay because you don't really get to experience riding on a 4x4 that often.

Our intuition was right - this was going to be a great day. No dark clouds looming over the horizon, temperature was high, the humid air smelled of salt. We could tell that the sun was trying its best to emerge from the cottony mid-day mist. The waves however were a bit rough making the ferry sway a little violently as it's parked in the wharf of Balingoan. 
Normally, seeing angry waves slapping against the shore makes me worried sick but I found comfort in the size of the boat we boarded on. Well, it's not that big, but the fact that sail time wouldn't take 2 hours was enough to calm me down. And the sight of life jackets was pretty much reassuring too. I don't remember how long the ferry stayed docked, I'm sure it didn't take too long. I also don't recall feeling bored at all. I guess it's because I was busy conversing with my travel buddies. That's one good thing about traveling with friends - there are hardly boring moments, unless of course your friends are a buzzkill. Ross and Erpe are anything but. As the boat sailed on, we plucked topics from the air and discussed them enthusiastically while nibbling on a pack of sweet peanuts oddly bagged inside a plastic container that had a name of juice brand on it.  

*Young Blood Traveler Roby Magsino confesses that he's just a regular guy who tries to travel as much as his budget allows. He takes a lot of pictures, tries out local food and soaks up the culture of that place. A true blue traveler, he gets completely depressed when he doesn't get to travel so he always makes it to a point to regularly pack up and wander about, regardless how far or near it may be. 

How to pet a tiger

How he discovered his love for travel
My sister and her then-boyfriend traveled together a lot and it was something I admired. So my girlfriend and I replicated it and vowed to travel at least one domestic and one international destination a year. After going through a messy breakup, I needed something that I will "own", anything that will allow me to re-establish a foothold of my identity. Traveling became my therapy and it stuck eversince.

[Balingoan Port, on a balmy morning]

The previous night's weather report on TV was kind of depressing so we braced ourselves for the worst. Surprisingly, the sun was out and there was barely any cloud in the sky. Whoever said that this part of the country (Southern Mindanao) usually gets spared from typhoons was partly right. While most areas in Luzon and the middle parts of Visayas took the beating, the sun happily shone on Cagayan de Oro and its neighboring island Camiguin during the entire duration of our stay.

Much has been said about the enchanting beauty of Camiguin, a small island north of Mindanao. It was romanticized in the local film "Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin" and was featured with slight irreverence in the horror flick "Quija Board."  Regardless of how it's depicted in the movies, its unique charm can hardly go unnoticed.
Considered as an off-the-beaten-path destination especially by foreign travelers, Camiguin is diminutive in size, (the smallest province both in population and land area after Batanes) but it absolutely doesn't reflect the richness it has to offer. Here, you will find seven volcanoes ( most of them are active), scenic waterfalls, hot springs, church ruins, a sunken cemetery and friendly locals. With such attractions scattered around the island, anyone who's looking for adventure will not be disappointed. Whether it's lazying on the beach, trekking the rainforest, trying out local cuisine, Camiguin can be an ideal spot for respite and quality vacation.  

"No, you stay here," my sister told me with conviction and annoyance as she and my other sibling were preparing to leave. They're going off somewhere - perhaps to a nearby town,  they wouldn't tell me. It was summer, I was about 7 or 8 years old, small but perfectly healthy. No reason they shouldn't take me with them.

"Why can't I go with you?" I asked, a bit teary-eyed.

"We'll be back soon and you puke on the road anyway," she said, dropping off the subject with a truth that left me whipped, figuratively. Even if I wailed and cried and pleaded, I knew my sister wouldn't budge. I couldn't blame her -  taking a liability on the road was no fun. Similarly, cleansing one's mess could make traveling a nightmare.

Throwing up on jeepneys was and still is a common trend among kids in the village. It's a curse that I wanted desperately to get rid of but to no avail. The ointments (Vicks Vapor Rub, mint leaves) that were supposed to cure motion sickness hardly helped. I didn't understand it - I could handle tricycle ride just fine, but how come my stomach did a wild somersault every time I rode on a jeepney? It was a mystery I couldn't resolve.

The fact that I threw up on the road pretty much solidified my belief that I had no business going to places that required riding on a mass transportation. But my folks understood my weakness and stubborn as a mule, I never let my 'little personal problem' get in the way as far as traveling was concerned.

The lively chatter, the tinkling of utensils, the soft RB music downstairs - all these sounds faded in the background as I looked at the pictures on the wall, closed my eyes for a few seconds and imagined myself being transported to another place. The place I wanted to be at that moment - New York. After all, I was at Borough - a restaurant named after the five boroughs in New York - Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. Okay, I told myself, so this is how dining in the Big Apple feels like. 

WHAT WAS I DOING THERE?

Nuffnang celebrated its 5th Anniversary and they invited some bloggers to join the party. Getting an invite was easy - you just needed to greet them through a blog post. The first 50 would receive an invite. I was one of the first 50 who posted a birthday greeting. We could tag someone along, and so I tagged my good friend Phoebe.
  

I expected a grand party, a large swarm of bloggers and media people, a big buffet, lots of freebies and expensive raffle items. The first level was fully-occupied but they were not there for the party. They're customers of the restaurant having dinner. The event was at the loft, the guy at the bar told me when I asked him if I've come to the right place. 

Apo Island is a volcanic island located off the southeastern tip of Negros Island, 30 km south of Negros Oriental. It's known for its marine habitat protected by the National Integrated Protected Area Act (NIPA) and under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). A popular dive site and snorkeling destination among tourists, Apo Island has been documented by the global science community, thanks to the Siliman University Marine Laboratory who's responsible for establishing and taking care of the marine sanctuary.
Getting There

Memory holds better images than photographs. A poetic, dramatic excuse for someone who has experienced something great but doesn't have a picture to show it. But then again, do all great memories have to be proven through pictures? Can't stories suffice? I may not have a picture to show you what a great experience it was, but you should believe me when I say that it's awesome. Will you just take my word for it, please? Anyway, we all know that it's the memories and remembrances that last -- oh right, photographs can be immortalized these days too.

 I didn't have an underwater camera, dammit. I just let the one-of-a-kind experience go down the drain, water if you must. Bummer right?

Here's what I did - on my birthday (that's January of this year) I went on a snorkeling trip with a bunch of divers in Apo Island. This piece of paradise, which means 'grandchild'  in Filipino and Bisaya is located off the Southeastern tip of Negros Island in Visayas. It boasts of wonderful rock formations scattered over the terrain, a protected rich marine reserve, and lovely white sands. They say it lists approximately 650 documented underwater species and 400 types of corals.

Travel buddy and office mate, Marvin, shares his travel journal primarily written as a Valentine present for his significant other, Ross. The unique yet romantic proposition earned him lots of hugs and kisses from his lover, who was enamored by the adjectives littered across the write-up. Marvin is a hopeless romantic, a poet in the making, a dreamer and sometimes, a nutcase and a loon. The journal below is a manifestation of his undying love for Ross and travel

Of Love and Travel - The Crossroad of Discoveries 
by: Marvin Erpe
(Warning: this is a very long prose. Read at your own risk. :-)
Yes, as mushy as it may sound, I get inebriated in sappiness each time I crawl back down memory lane. Well, you can’t blame me. The places I’ve been to and the memories herewith were nostalgia worth reminiscing. Heck that sounds like a love song! Got melody in mind?

Sometimes when I look at some of the pictures, my mind plays a song in the background incredibly fitting to that particular moment. Or is it just our mind’s auto-musical-scoring-machine working? I don’t know. There’s one thing I’m sure of, with or without melody, both Ross and traveling rocked my 2011 unforgettably.

Harold's Mansion is a backpackers' hostel located at the heart of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. There are several reasons you should stay here when you travel to the City of Gentle People:

1. Great location. Situated right beside the busy stretch of Hibbard Avenue, Harold's Mansion is a 5-minute walk away from Silliman University, the town plaza, Rizal Boulevard and various restaurants. There are a lot of tricycles passing by so going anywhere in the city is easier.

They say there is no better way to experience a destination than to explore it yourself. Exploring a destination can be done with a company or (para maiba naman) alone. Going alone can be a fun and liberating experience (scary for some) but it also has a few downside. Here are some of the things I have learned and discovered from my first solo adventure in Dumaguete.

1. You're the boss. Solo travel gives you the freedom to decide where you want to go, what you want to do and how you want to do it. You have control of the schedule and no one's telling you what to do. The time you go to bed or the time you wake up is your prerogative. There is no need to rush through things and you can be more spontaneous. Your mistakes are your own, your triumph all yours.

Young Blood Traveler* Marj Garra, an assistant manager in an international company in Makati, talks about how she was bitten by the travel bug; shares her dream destination and offers a few advice to newbie travelers.  

With friends at Calle Crisologo in Vigan

We've all dreamed about getting out of our comfort zones, seeing the world and travelling extensively. We just can't afford to actually do it because there are various hang-ups and considerations that prevent us from taking the plunge.

Jobs and money are two primary things that mostly hold us back. I, for one, just can't imagine quitting my day job without a sure fall back especially in these trying times. But some, however, like them travel bloggers [Edcel Suyo of Soloflighted; Lois of Sole Sisters], are brave enough to pull the trigger and take a chance. So far it has worked out fine for them.

For us who dream of traveling but are not ballsy enough to quit our job, there are a few options that would let us travel without having to worry about keeping a steady source of income.

1. Teach Abroad

Image from Google

Becoming a teacher off shore is probably the most popular way of going to a different country and still make money. Some employers don't require an undergraduate course in teaching, a teaching certificate or TOEFL can suffice. I've a friend who got employed by an international school in Malaysia without any teaching certificate. But the chances of getting a job offer are much higher if you have one. There are short-term education programs offered by local universities.