The Bungee That Never Was

I really wanted to try bungee jumping and it was on top of my list when I went to Macau earlier this year. As we all know, at 233 meters, the Macau Tower is the highest bungee jump in the world. And because of that, the jump never happened for me. HAHA! :p

Manukan Island, KK

I had a great time exploring the beaches of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia recently. Was able to go to three islands namely Mamutik, Sapi and Manukan (photo). Just 10 minutes away from the city, these islands are a boon to people, local and tourists alike, who would wish to have a quick beach getaway.

Beatles Night At Hotel Elizabeth

We certainly enjoyed the food at Hotel Elizabeth Baguio when we dined there recently, but the live entertainment provided by the amazing The Edralins band made the dining experience all the more pleasurable. I think this is one of the best Beatles night I've had so far. The band is so good they will surely give the likes of Orange & Lemons and The Bloomfields a run for their money!

A Weekend In Batad With Strangers

Sometimes one feels freer speaking to a stranger than to people one knows. Why is that? Probably because a stranger sees us the way we are, not as he wishes to think we are. ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Bicol Express: 10-Hour Train Ride To Naga

The moment I heard that the operations of the Philippine National Railways' Bicol Express have resumed, I immediately tagged along two good friends to try it out. I have always wanted to experience what it feels like to spend a night on a sleeper train and this was one opportunity I wouldn't miss for the world. It may not be something close to the inter-country slow train rides in Europe, but this will do for now. I'm sure Europe can wait. ;-)

Baguio In Bloom

It's a nice feeling to have spent an entire weekend in Baguio. These past few years, Baguio almost always meant two or three hours of waiting time before catching our bus back to Manila after a climb to some random mountain in the Cordilleras. This time, we made sure to see the Baguio we've been missing for years--with no schedules or itineraries to follow. Surely, it's one beautiful city we will never get tired of going back to time and again.

Heed The Warning

Do what you're told if you don't wanna end up in the wrong side of the food chain. Two meters away daw! LOL.

Waking Up In Mt. Pulag

This is the sunrise that took my breath away. Some of my friends were in tears upon seeing this. Certainly, Mt. Pulag tops my list of the best places to witness a magnificent breaking of dawn.

Off To Guimaras

I took this shot while waiting for our boat to depart from Iloilo City. I guess I expected too much of Guimaras so I became a little bit disappointed when I finally got to see their beaches. Or probably I missed the prettier ones? Even so, their mangoes more than made up for my dissatisfaction. I still love Guimaras!

An Ox Brain Encounter

I still can't believe I ate this ox brain at a Persian restaurant somewhere in Davao City. Well, it tasted OK as long as I didn't think too much what it was.

Roll On Roll Off (RORO)

This is how we roll -- from Samal Island to mainland Davao. Takes only 10 minutes. ;)

Calaguas: The Happy Beach

Grumpy waves. Virgin island. Stunning beach. Adventurous strangers. Friendly locals. Sexy babes. Awesome sunset. Lots of booze. Fresh air. Starry night. Playful fireflies. Travel Factor. CALAGUAS.

Swimming In Banaue... I Can't Even!

Hello there, October! It's getting colder everyday and taking a bath is becoming a struggle for me. I wonder how it would feel like to take a dip in this pool in Banaue, Ifugao. I can't even!

Thunderbird Poro Point

And if you have a minute, why don't we go... Talk about it somewhere only we know? This could be the end of everything... So why don't we go somewhere only we know?  ♫♫

Something Naughty From Xiamen

A friend got me this shirt in Xiamen, China. Said she couldn't think of anybody but me when she saw this. What's that supposed to mean?

That Tiny Bar In Sagada

When we laugh so hard we cry... Oh the love between you and I... It's something beautiful! ♫♫ 

The Worl'd Strangest Delicacy

Looks like adobo or binagoongang balut to me. We had this at Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac on our way back to Manila from a surfing weekend in San Juan. I wanted to try it, believe me. But I just couldn't make myself eat an unborn duck. :p

A Taste Of Ziggurat Cuisine

Ziggurat is actually a fusion of Indian, African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines that has Senegalese, Somalian, Moroccan, Ethiopian and even Afghan food in its menu.  Tucked away at the corner of Euphrates and Tigris near the red-light district of Makati, it is truly one of the richest best-kept food secrets of the metro.

Happiness In A Dozen Shrimps

This is my favorite pulutan in one of my favorite hangout spots in Makati, the City Garden Hotel roofdeck resto. Perfect with gin or tequila and a really nice background music. Awesome view of Makati from there!

Cheeseburger Love

Saw this at a burger joint in Bantayan Island while driving around town using my rented motorbike. I was two minutes away when I decided I wanted one. I ended up getting two. ;)

Flaming Greek Lunch At Cyma

It was 15 minutes past 12 noon. I just woke up and was craving for lunch. Got a text from Ate Jill: Where are u? Dito kame Gbelt. Punta ka dito lunch tayo! Next thing I was on a cab to Greenbelt. They were at Cyma Estiatorio and have already ordered food. I loved my roasted lamb chops and rice with feta cheese. And the flaming mangoes for dessert, of course! Opa!

Best Pig Ever

Best Pig Ever. That's how the famous celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain described the Philippines' lechon when he went here to shoot an episode of his travel show "No Reservation." But for me, the best pig would have to be the lechon leftover made into paksiw with plenty of garlic come the next morning. Agree? ;)

Storm Surfing In Baler

There weren't too many people in Baler that weekend. Only the few adventure-hungry ones dared to surf. I attempted to ride the board but gave up way too soon. The waves were coming from different directions and it was just nearly impossible to be able to stand up -- at least for a beginner like me. Everyone became contented watching the waves pummel the shore.

Pawikan Festival

Pawikan Festival is an annual celebration in the town of Morong in Bataan Province. It aims to create awareness regarding the preservation campaign of the Pawikan Conservation Center and the local government of Bataan.

My Bantayan Island Sojourn

This is my favorite spot in the whole of Bantayan Island in northern Cebu. Said to be built from 1839-1863, this is the very first parish to be established in central Philippines. Today, it is known among the locals as the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish.

Meeting Onion

Jay Herrera  doesn't usually accommodate walk-in guests at Kinabuhayan Cafe but he was, maybe, in such a good mood that Thursday morning I knocked on his door that he agreed to prepare lunch for my balikbayan relatives. While he was preparing our food, we took time to look around his messy yet cozy abode. He's got a pool table, tree houses, some antique pieces and a lovely pet pig named Onion. He was the most adorable pig I've ever seen in my life.

Dos Palmas Island Resort & Spa

 

When I was a kid, Dos Palmas was among the most popular beach resorts in the Philippines along with Dakak and Boracay. It became even more popular for the kidnapping of the American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and the death of ABS-CBN actor Rico Yan. It's a lovely little hideaway well-worth seeing. ;)

My Dying Sole & Paperback

Besides traveling, I also busy myself with running and reading -- at least I used to. I just realized I haven't been running for over a year now since I was diagnosed with snapping ankle syndrome. I don't wanna get into the details of this stupid condition but, yeah, it kind of stole running from me. About  reading, I simply find books to be very expensive nowadays they sometimes cost higher than a roundtrip promo airline ticket. TOO BAD.

Lt. Dan's Drunken Shrimp

This is Lt. Dan's drunken shrimp with mashed potato and some spicy chorizzo from Bubba Gump. Somebody must have really been a very good boy to deserve a plate like this for his birthday. ;)

Ifugao: Heaven On Earth

This place is beyond beautiful. It falls under the category too-good-to-be-true. This is Ifugao, a piece of heaven on earth. You owe it to yourselves to see this in your lifetime. ;)

Camara Island Snapshots

The crystal clear water, the big rocks, and the white sandbar made us wanna stay longer in Camara Island, the last stop in our Pundaquit adventure. But according to our boatman, the waves will become bigger come noontime and we didn't wanna roll the dice that there will be an exemption that day so we decided to head back to the shore after a few snapshots.

Best Birthday Cake Ever

I would've been happier it if it were mine, but it wasn't. :) It was my friend Alfred's who recently celebrated his birthday at The Peninsula Manila. I call it the best birthday cake ever not only because every inch of it tasted heavenly BUT it was given to us by the staff of the hotel for FREE!

Sunset In Paradise

When in Boracay, I enjoy the whites and the blues during the day but I enjoy better the silhouettes come nighttime. This was taken at about 6 o'clock in the evening when everyone flocks to the beach to witness a sunset in paradise. :)

Boracay Bliss

Spent four days and four nights in the world's best island drinking beer, singing songs, trying out different water sports, basking under the sun, sleeping late, waking up late, meeting people, eating great food, people-watching, dancing in the rain. And I could not ask for more...  except for a few more days. It's true: You can't not like Boracay. It's like denying happiness. :))

Happy Smiles In Banaue

Some of the biggest smiles I've seen have been in the postcard-ready Banaue. Here's a proof. ;)

Hungry For Spontaneity

We met one Friday night to have dinner and two bottles of beer. They ended up getting a tat and I went home with a piercing on my eyebrow. How do you spell spontaneity again?

A Rock Called Kapurpurawan

Why it's called Kapurpurawan, to me, is not important. Visiting this rock formation in Ilocos Norte is like one of those instances when you just don't wanna think about anything else but just breathe and enjoy that moment. To say that this rock is beautiful is an understatement. :)

So Long, Poks (The One-Legged Surfer)

 

It was such an incredible treat for us to see this one-legged man hit the waves of San Juan with his surfboard. We were so amazed we did not pass the chance to have a photo taken with him when he finally emerged out of the sea. It was nice meeting you, Sir! Enjoy riding the waves in heaven!

Mt. Sto. Tomas Hitchhike

"Are you gonna hop in or not?" These were the very words that brought back hope and beauty in the world again, thanks to that good samaritan who offered us a ride up to the summit of Mt. Sto. Tomas (2,256+ masl) and the nearby Mt. Kabuyao (2,025+ masl) in Tuba, Benguet. If not for him, we would never have made it to the top of these picturesque mountains.

Mt. Batulao Night Trek

It was my second time to climb Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas but this one's different from the first because we trekked at nighttime. A tad bit daring, yes, but definitely double the fun! Mt. Batulao, a popular location for day hikes, has an elevation of 811 meters above sea level.

The Lone Tree In Mt. Pulag

This lone tree is sure a sight to behold when climbing Mt. Pulag. On your long way down to the camp from the summit, make sure to say hi. I'm sure it will appreciate the gesture. :)

Mt. Pinatubo Off Roading

The mere idea of riding a 4x4 excites me big time already. So you can just imagine the thrill I felt while bouldering, river crossing, and swimming on the crater lake! I totally loved this Mt. Pinatubo experience!

Mt. Pico De Loro Nightlife

This is how we spent the night when we went hiking at Mt. Pico de Loro -- singing and dancing and drinking until we can't anymore. Good times! ;)

Mt. Batulao Amputee Climb

"You can't leave a footprint that lasts if you're walking on tiptoe." --Marion C. Blakely

Impromptu Trip To Sabang

One morning I woke up feeling so tired of the life in the metro. On an impulse, I decided to go to the port in Batangas and catch the next boat out. I ended up in Sabang, a village in Oriental Mindoro famous for its beautiful dive sites and wild night life. This is the view from the villa which I rented for P800! ;)

Chicken Pinikpikan, Anyone?

This chicken greeted us upon finally arriving in Sagada. It ended up to be a very tasty local dish called "pinikpikan." It's very similar to tinola, only, it had a smoky taste to it. Some groups are opposing to the manner this dish is being prepared because it requires beating up the chicken. Poor little bird.

Toilet Humor #1

Need I say more? Do the Math if you wish to do both. Haha! ;) Photo taken at a "pay restroom" somewhere in La Union. :)

Valentino Resort & Spa

We discovered a very nice mountain resort & spa in San Jose, Batangas. The resort's shades of green and blue and its cool ambiance brought about by the picturesque Mt. Maculot in nearby Cuenca make it a perfect family holiday destination. It helps when you're friends with the receptionist or the caretaker, you get big discounts. And they waive the corkage fees. ;-)

Summer, I Miss You Already

Like many, summer's my favorite part of the year. It's when the skies and the seas are at their most vibrant. Last summer was a tad bit too hot to bare but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Proof was a happy beach ride with the family in Laiya, Batangas. Summer, come back pretty soon will you please?

That Mt. Gulugod Baboy Sunset

Pardon my admiration for this photo but it's so beautiful I could stare at it forever. This was taken at the summit of Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Anilao, Batangas. This picture somehow takes my worries away and it reminds me to keep believing that better things are yet to come because the world we live in is nothing less than awesome. :)