Backpacking Langkawi: 10 Things To Do

Only having 3 days to spend in Langkawi, it is expected that our stay will be filled with different activities but all our plans changed after we checked in at Pantai Cenang (Cenang Beach). Maybe it is due to aging or lack of budget, we decided to drop most of our activities for an afternoon stroll at the beach and evening food comma trip at Pantai Cenang road. 

Backpacking Langkawi: 3 Days Itinerary and Expenses

Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 99 islands (an extra 5 temporary islands are revealed at low tide) in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. 

Cebu: The Last Lone Adventure

In a Sukhasana, I face the sunset of Moalboal. Had I done this two years ago, it would have brought me tranquility but I am now a different story.

Cagbalete: The DIY Paradise

Life is what you make it. If you want to be happy, then smile and do whatever it is that makes you happy. If you let anything or anyone stop you from achieving your bliss, it is not their fault. 

As cliche as it is, Cagbalete is no different. This place is what you make it, you could either make it heaven or hell. 

Even if there are resorts in Cagbalete, the accommodation offered is very basic. Most resorts don't serve rice meals during weekdays. Camping is very popular here and that is why this getaway is popular for families and budget travelers.

A Summer Weekend at Burot Beach

A Perfect Sunset at Burot Beach

How to Get There

1. Take a van bound to Calatagan. This van terminal can be found at the back of Kabayan Hotel in Pasay, near the MRT Taft Avenue Station. 
2. Alight at Calatagan Market. It is advisable that you buy your basic necessities here. As of this writing, there is already a sari-sari store in Burot Beach that sells everything you may need but the prices are a bit higher than usual.
3. Take a tricycle from Calatagan Market to Burot beach. Regular fare is Php 150 - Php 200. It is best that you get the phone number of the tricycle driver so that he may fetch you when you already want to head back. I would recommend contacting Kuya Jun (0946-205-2027). He is friendly and doesn't overprice.

NOTE:
1. Even though multiple google searches would say that there is a bus bound to Calatagan in Metropolis Mall Alabang, there isn't any.
2. DLTB buses bound to Nasugbu in LRT Gil Puyat station doesn't pass by Calatagan. They will drop you at Lian instead, and you have to ride another jeep bound to Calatagan.

Chasing Sunrise in Bagasbas

"Yesterday's failure is redeemed at the sunrise” - Todd Stocker

Bagasbas Beach is a tricycle ride away from Daet, Camarines Norte. It is known as one of the top surfing destinations in the country. In fact, it is the home of one of the best female surfer in the Philippines but what made me fall in love with this place is not in the water. 

Baler: The Uncombed Story

He never looked nice. He looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.

He is not a standout. His beaches are not as pristine as Palawan and Boracay. His sceneries are not as picturesque as the Cordilleras. But she found herself back to him a month after her last visit. 

Baler: Coming of Age and Uncovering That Secret Spot

I had planned to be somewhere extra special in celebration of that day when my parents screwed up their lives. I was thinking Batanes or Bali in Indonesia just so I could have bragging rights of being somewhere significant on my day. But just like most of my travels, out of no cognitive reason I ended up in a place east of Nueva Ecija.

If you do not already know, Baler is best known for surfing. I am no surfer nor am I a swimmer, and my surfing stint in La Union was probably out of pure luck or weak waves so there is no real reason why I choose to be here for my birthday. But I guess it is the mindless decisions that always lead me to the most blissful moments.

Urbiztondo: On Wiping Out, Riding In and Running Away

 

I want something else, something more. I want to go and never go back. Because bite size travels don't suffice my hunger anymore. Because I know I should be somewhere else but here.

Solo in El Nido: Romancing Nature in a Honeymooner's Paradise

Sometimes we get lost, sometimes we find love.

Read title again: Solo in El Nido: Romancing Nature in a Honeymooner's Paradise. I came up with this line a week before my flight to Palawan. It is because this is how I envision my trip will be like. Sitting alone in the beach staring at the horizon in the midst of couples holding hands while walking by the sea shore.

I arrived in Puerto Prinsesa morning of June 26 without any expectation. All I wanted was to meet a few interesting people and to have a new destination to write about. I never thought that in this trip, I will turn out to be not so alone.

Solo in El Nido: Things To Do

I am not adventurous when I am alone so this list is not out of the ordinary. Just a number of things I did/should have done in El Nido with my own opinion on how I can do them better next time.


1. Island Hopping

This is a no-brainer since it is what this place is famous for. 45 out of the 7,107 islands in the Philippines can be found in El Nido. People from all over the world travel thousands of miles just to swim in its waters.
Unlike the other island hopping destinations I've been to like Pangasinan, Sorsogon and Boracay, island hopping in El Nido will require you to choose from Tours A, B, C or D. Every corner of El Nido town has a travel company that offer these tours. 
If you are alone, you do not have to worry because they are going to be the one to create a group for the tours. If you are on a limited time and budget, there are combinations tours A-C and B-D. If you are on a group, you could also rent your own boat and choose your own island adventure. 
The most popular tour is Tour A-C and being the mediocre traveler that I am, it is what I choose. Although in my opinion, Tour A-C is too fast paced as you only get to stay at every beach for 30 minutes so you don't really get to enjoy each one. Combination tours is good if you are just after taking a lot of good pictures to show off but if you want to relax, swim and appreciate nature, doing tours A, B, C and D separately would be ideal. Or better yet, rent a kayak and explore.

7 Commandos Beach

Solo in El Nido: 4 Day Itinerary and Expenses with Solo Survival Tips

In as much as I would like to be the outdoorsy adventurous person that I seem to be, I value the importance of clean toilets and so I am back to chasing white sand beaches and get-more-than-what-you-pay-for accommodations. 

I can't remember when and why I booked a flight to Puerto Prinsesa. What I recall is that El Nido is what I have in mind while completing the online booking. I do realize that El Nido is known for being one of the top destination for honeymooners and anniversary-celebrating couples, so I thought it will be interesting to go there alone, and because of that my second self induced solo trip was confirmed. (My first solo trip)

I wouldn't say that I enjoy traveling alone more than traveling with someone. I think that traveling with friends is more fun but being alone while in the road is something that I like to put myself into once in a while to put my wanderlust alter ego to test. Also, dragging and begging friends to come with you to your dream destination is frustrating and tiring.

So I found myself lost in a place where there is an influx of tourists with pointy noses, blonde hair and blue/green eyes. Being a Filipino traveler, at times I felt out of place. I actually never got to know a fellow Filipino that is having a vacation in El Nido. Most of the friends I met are locals and friendly folks from another country but even if I have to speak English 80% of the time, I did have a good time.

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 2: The Beaches of Matnog

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 1: Bulusan and Irosin
Soaked in Sorsogon Day 2: The Beaches of Matnog
Soaked in Sorsogon Day 3: Paguriran Island
Side Trip: Camarines Sur Water sports Complex

April 21, 2013

After 8 hours of sleep in Mateo's Hot and Cold Spring Resort in Irosin, we woke up at 5 AM. Even if our room is non air conditioned, we were able to get a good night's sleep. Our favorite tricycle driver, Kuya Jovan, picked us up at exactly 6 AM to drop us off the Irosin Centro where the buses and jeeps bound to Matnog pick up passengers. We were told by the other tricycle drivers that jeep and buses doesn't arrive until 7 AM, our itinerary for the Day 2 of our Sorsogon Adventure requires us to be in Matnog to meet our boatman before 7 AM so we decided to have kuya Jovan take us to Matnog for Php 300. Judging by it's distance, Php 300 is a reasonable price. Travel time from Irosin to Matnog is 30 minutes.

Upon arriving at the Matnog port, boatmen approached us offering their boats for Php 2,000. It is a good thing that Lakwatsera de Primavera suggested a person named Eddie Evasco (0926-1404577). We contacted him a day before and he offered us his boat for only Php 1,300. Tatay Eddie is a Kagawad and once we told the flock of boatmen surrounding us that we are already in contact with Mang Eddie, they immediately stopped bugging us.

Matnog Port, just 2 hours away from Samar