Lakad Pilipinas

BACOLOD CITY | Chicken Inasal at Manokan Country

2013-06-19T19:02:00.001+08:00

If there’s one thing Bacolod City’s known for, it’s the multitude of food places that line its avenues. There are expensive cafés and posh restos of every kind out there but there are also sidewalk carinderia-type eateries that shouldn’t be ignored. The most popular of these are the stalls that line Manokan Country, here the famous chicken inasal is king.

Still groggy from our almost ‘til morning infinity pool night at Melba’s Farm, we headed to Bacolod City’s Manokan Country for our breakfast grub. The plan for the day was to check out Mambukal’s seven waterfalls, we reckon we’ll need all the calories we could get for the trek ahead.

Manokan Country is located a few meters away from the sides of SM Bacolod. It’s a complex of chicken inasal restaurants housed in an unremarkable squat pink and green structure with a huge painted Manokan Country sign on its roof pediment.
Most people consider Aida’s to have the best inasal in town but Nena’s Beth is also highly regarded. We chose the latter since our van parked directly across their door; we’re sorta leaving everything to chance haha.

There are no air-conditioned restaurants along the whole strip of Manokan Country. Everything is open-aired and the ambience is of a typical carinderia; plastic orocan chairs and all. You’d however know that this is no ordinary kanto carinderia since each stall is huge and can probably seat a hundred individuals. Masskara masks also abound, reminding you that yep, you’re indeed in the City of Smiles.

Everyone unanimously ordered a stick of pechopak (chicken breast and wing) (Php75.00) and quickly followed up with a helping of oysters (Php60.00). We were the first customers in Nena’s Beth that day and I was expecting that serving time would be long, similar to what I experienced some years back. I was surprised to find our waiter trotting quickly back with plates of chicken inasals in no time.

Priced at Php75.00 exclusive of rice, Nena’s Beth pechopak was freakin’ huge! It’s actually good enough for two persons (who have normal diet habits that is, and that doesn’t include any of us harhar). So it’s one colossal pechopak for each one of us. In our defense, we have seven falls to conquer later that day! Right?!

Before digging in, we mixed our condiments first. Chicken oil were sprinkled on our rice and calamansi juice and chili peppers were mixed with soy sauce for the chicken. Now that everything’s in order, we dig!

The best way to eat chicken inasal is through your bare hands; forget about using a spoon and fork! Our group’s jolly chatter quickly died down and was replaced by total silence as everyone started on their chickens. At Bacolod’s Manokan Country, the chicken inasals do reign supreme. Galit galit muna!

Manokan Country - Nena’s Beth
Address: Father M. Ferrero St, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (033) 433-8830
Open Hours: 9:00AM to 9:30PM Everyday

GPS Coordinates: 10.67112,122.945657
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

BACOLOD CITY | Blue Hour at San Sebastian Cathedral

2013-06-16T13:10:00.001+08:00

After exhausting all the possible angles of Talisay City’s The Ruins, our group decided to visit the ecclesiastical seat of Bacolod City, the regal stone church of San Sebastian.

I’ve been to this church quite a number of times in the past and have already posted in detail its rich history, but most of my companions haven’t been to the city cathedral. And since we were just in time for the blue hour, I didn’t hesitate to tag along with them and have a few more images of its towering stone facade.

With tons of photos of the church already in my hard drive. I just took a few snaps and let my friends do the picture takings. Heck I didn’t even use my tripod anymore, lazy photographer me, I know.

Still, I think the photos came out fairly well. It’s just hard to take bad photos of a church as grand as Bacolod City’s San Sebastian Cathedral.

San Sebastian Cathedral
Address: 1755 Rizal Street, Bacolod City
Open Hours: 5:00AM to 8:00PM
Contact Number: (034) 433-0261

GPS Coordinates: 10.670303,122.947124
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

NOMINATED | Globe Tatt Awards 2013

2013-06-15T11:30:00.000+08:00

Walk Aim Shoot, Lakad Pilipinas’ partner blog, is nominated for the Globe Tatt Awards 2013! The photo blog is chosen as a finalist for the Best Photo Blog or Micro Blog category.

If you feel that Walk Aim Shoot deserves the nomination, I humbly ask for your support by taking a few seconds of your precious time by voting for it at the 2013 Globe Tatt Awards Candidates site. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ users can vote more than once after a one-hour period.

Social media count is also counted, so if you have a few more seconds to spare, please like Walk Aim Shoot’s Facebook Fanpage by clicking here.

I also congratulate my fellow traveler and blogging idols, Ferdz Decena, Marky Ramone Go and Gaye Mitra-Emami for also being nominated on this year’s Globe Tatt Awards! Kampay!

Voting ends on June 30! Thank you very much! Now back to regular Lakad Pilipinas programming. :)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL | The Ruins Re-re-revisited

2013-06-14T02:11:00.001+08:00

Bacolod’s famous ruin, which is really not in Bacolod City but in Talisay City, has been a favorite tourist spot for travelers visiting the province of Negros Occidental. I’ve been to this place twice before and like a proper tourist; I re-visited the place again for the third time.

I’ve already discussed the rich history of The Ruins before on my first blog post about it, so I won’t delve into that anymore and spare you the history lessons.

There are a few new things happening at the Ruins and one of them is the development of a café that caters to the visitors flocking the place and a gift shop selling all sorts of ruin-related souvenirs right next to it.

The architecture of the café left me scratching my head as it deviates so much from the overall ambience of the Ruins’ main structure. Its green-painted interior, which looks okay enough, is still a far cry from the Romanesque beauty of the skeletal remains right across it.

I also found that there are now free guided tours being held inside The Ruins. Although its history can be literrally read on notes posted on its walls, a guided tour, especially if done by an entertaining guide is so much better.

One can still dine within the walls of The Ruins, which is so much better than at the café, unfortunately, we were pressed for time (and not to mention, cash) that we chose to simply get our dinner at the much more affordable Manokan Country.

Why revisit the place? Why not? It’s romantically elegant remains is timeless. It’s not rated as one of the most interesting ruins in the world for nothing.

The Ruins
Address: Hda. Sta. Maria, Talisay City, Negros Occidental
Contact Number: (034) 4764334 | 0917-8326003
Email: ruins@theruins.com.ph
Website: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: 10.709105,122.982357
View on Google Maps: Click Here

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL | Nature Tripping at Talisay City’s Melba’s Farm

2013-06-12T16:39:00.000+08:00

I was holding on for dear life as our tricycle bumped its merry way across a boulder filled road--if you can really call it a road that is. We were literally bouncing like ping pong balls inside and after a few minutes our vehicle simply stopped, unable to traverse the dirt path any further. We have no choice but to walk all the way to Melba’s Farm.

Situated 600 meters above sea level, Melba’s Farm is probably Talisay City’s best kept secret. Some mistake its location to be in Bacolod City, but really, they’re not pretty far off the map. The farm is actually bordered by the two cities but is more accessible from the Bacolod’s barangay Alangilan side.

Mr. Alvin Carranza, Melba’s farm owner, named the resort after his mom (sweet eh?). The ten-hectare area used to be the family’s vegetable farm until four years ago when it was converted into a nature resort. The whole place is covered by lush whispering trees; apitongs, narras and even durians, most of which were planted by the family themselves.

The central hub of the farm is the huge clubhouse-like hut that sits on top of a hill. It’s like a big living area complete with a huge TV set, a comfortable sofa, chairs, benches, coffee tables and a dinner table. The only difference is, there are no walls! The whole place is open on all sides to the soothing greens of the farm outside.

I love how the place is decorated with all sorts of knick knacks from bygone eras; old sewing machines, manual typewriters, leather baseball gloves and analog telephones to name but a few. I imagine that these relics might even be from the Carranza’s own home.

Tattered travel magazines and old books also abound, which is really perfect if you just wanna hang out and savor the place. Melba’s farm runs on solar power and during our stay, it wasn’t enough to power the huge TV on the living area so our attentions turned to the printed words, which suits the place better in my opinion.

For lunch, we were served fried pork lechon and miki bihon. We would’ve loved to sample their other dishes, unfortunately there was some miscommunication about our arrival dates and they have no food stocks during our stay. Although guests can normally order food in the resort, a reservation is a must since the area is quite far from known civilization. That means they’d have to have stocks before they can cook something up. Guests are also allowed to cook their own dishes with no corkage fee, perfect for groups wanting to save on food expenses or for those who simply love the culinary arts. There is however a fee for using the kitchen which is understandable since you’d be consuming fuel for cooking.

Melba’s farm has a couple of rooms that can accommodate guests. The Lauan Room (Php3,500.00) which is located on the left wing of the main hall can comfortably bed up to five persons but can room up to ten if needed. The Mahogany room (Php2,500.00), which is a smaller version of the former, can hold two to four individuals.

Even if Melba’s Farm is located on the boondocks, the ladies need not worry about the toilet and bath situation. Their bathrooms are spacious, dry and very clean. The fixtures themselves are quite modern and they even have a water jet-type bathtub!

But my favorite place at Melba’s Farm is their infinity pool. It’s not that big, but is just enough for a small group to hang out in. It stretches towards a mountain drop and has a beautiful view of Bacolod City, which literally glows at night. The pool’s water is sourced from a spring but it seemed a bit murky during our stay.

There were a few hiccups during our visit to Melba’s Farm but we still enjoyed the experience of staying there; from the bumpy ride towards the farm, to our walks, the serenity of the place and especially the pool at night. Beer, trees, cicadas, swimming pool, city glow, stars. Perfect.

Melba’s Farm
Address: Sitio Masanglad, Brgy. Cabatangan, Talisay City, Negros Occidental
Contact Number: (0949) 670-3140 | (0919) 990-9472
E-mail: outdoorman@mac.com
Facebook: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: (I’d be grateful if someone can provide me the coordinates of this place)

MY GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO MELBA’S FARM FOR INVITING US TO THEIR PLACE

TRAVEL NEWS | A New Tiger Has Arrived!

2013-06-11T12:35:00.001+08:00

A new Tiger has arrived - and it brings with it a promise of a great adventure, memorable experiences, and the excitement of a new journey.

Known as the leading and most trusted value-for-money carrier in Southesast Asia, Tiger Airways Philippines will make its formal debut in the skies beginning July 10.

“Tiger Airways is the leading airline and travel partner connecting people across Asia Pacific. It is a distinguished regional brand that differentiates itself in terms of safety and reliability,” says newly-appointed president and chief executive officer (CEO) Ms. Olive Ramos.

Committed to bringing its customers its brand of friendly, high-quality service, and excellent standards of security, Tiger Airways Philippines promises to make travel around Asia more enjoyable.

With the Philippines poised to become Asia’s next tiger economy, Tiger Airways anticipates more flights connecting the country to its Asian neighbors – and even beyond, in the coming years. “It’s a niche we are eager and equipped to serve,” adds Tiger Airways’ chief.

Currently, Tiger Airways flies to Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong from Manila and Clark. Locally, it serves travelers going to Laoag, Bacolod, Kalibo, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban and Puerto Princesa.

Next month, Tiger Airways will add another feather to its cap when it marks a milestone - the Kalibo and Singapore route, the first and only airline to offer such route.

“We embrace the simple belief that travel is about bringing people closer to their dreams and about enabling great experiences, and memories,” adds Ramos.

The new Tiger Airways Philippines will offer great value and seamless experience. Together with the Filipino personnel’s warm and hospitable traits, the airline will be “the one to beat” in the coming years, she adds.

The birth of Tiger Airways Philippines brings along with it the technology and business savvy of Tiger Airways as it offers travelers greater accessibility to the rest of Southeast Asia. It does not only commit to high performance standards and innovation, it also confident about keeping its venture more sustainable for stakeholders.

Tiger Air embodies a ‘can-do’ and respectful spirit, according to Ramos. “We will continuously pursue for roaring excellence. We are going to be the airline of choice!”

For more details log on to www.tigerairways.com

PHOTOGRAPHY 101 | How to Get That Smooth Cottony Water Effect

2013-06-10T15:39:00.000+08:00

We’ve all seen those magically smooth and misty landscape photographs and have been wowed by it. The first thing that usually comes to mind after being blown away by such images is Photoshop. Has it been Photoshopped for the sea to look like that? I mean, it’s only natural, our eyes don’t usually see water like that.

But even the most proficient Photoshop user would be hard-pressed to produce such an image from a normal seascape photograph. The trick here really is within the camera itself and how a photographer manipulates light and motion to smoothen even the roughest sea.

So how do we manipulate light and motion? With the use of camera filters, particularly Neutral Density (ND) filters. Okay hold on, they may sound intimidating and all but I promise, it’s all very simple, hang on.

An ND filter is just like your any regular filter that you screw in front of your lens. The only difference is it’s very dark. There are varying darkness for these filters, but most are 3, 6 and 9 stops (or times if you will) darker than if you have no filter on your lens.
If you’re gonna invest in filters, get the branded ones. More expensive means higher quality when it comes to these things. They come in circular and rectangular types, get the circular ones to prevent light leaks when exposing. Good brands include B+W, Singh Ray, Lee, Hoya and Kenko (reportedly same as Hoya but much cheaper). Prices range from a thousand to more than ten thousand bucks depending on the brand and filter size.

Why the need for a filter at all? So that you can trick your camera to shoot at slower shutterspeeds to blur the motion of the waters, therefore smoothing them out. Most photographers call this as long exposure or slow shutter photography.

Have you ever taken a photo at night (on auto mode) without using a flash? What happened to the picture? It’s all blurry right? That’s because the camera reads that there isn’t enough light to capture the scene correctly and it compensates by slowing down the shutterspeed to let more light in to the sensor.

That’s the exact same principle in shooting long exposure photography. The only difference is the only thing that you would want to blur is the water (and the occasional fast-moving clouds). But how do you keep everything else sharp with only the water being blurred? By using a tripod. Yup, that clunky, heavy thing that landscape photographers lug around (yup they’re not for group shots after all haha).

So the basic kit in shooting long exposure photography are ND filters, a tripod and of course, a camera.

First, you set your camera on a tripod. And depending on the darkness of the ND filter you are using, you either compose your image first before screwing in the filter (for the really dark filters where you cannot see anything at all) or screw in the filter then compose (for the lighter ND filters). Now you can either set your camera on Aperture Priority Mode but if you know how to operate your camera manually, use Manual Mode. Lastly, set your ISO to its lowest value.

For landscape shoots, I usually set my aperture to f/8 up to f/16. Anything higher than f/16 and the image softens due to what they call lens diffraction. Don’t ask me to explain what and why that is, the experts say so, so let’s just have it at that alright? :P

The shutterspeed would depend on the darkness of your filter and the light of the scene. Just check your camera’s light meter (see photo above) and set it to zero or center. If the output is too bright, bring it down a notch to negative, and vice versa if it’s too dark. Yup, it’s a trial and error thing.

If you’re shooting in broad daylight, you’ll need a darker filter, like a 6-stop or 9-stop ND, to block out the strong daytime light enough to shoot at more than a second of exposure. But if you’re shooting during the golden hour, like before a sunrise or after a sunset, you may not even need a filter since the scene is already dim enough not to warrant a darkening filter anymore.

The same is true when doing long exposures at night. Remove all your filters and you’re all set to go. Just don’t forget your tripod of course, you still need one.

Now how many seconds do you need to get that smooth water? It all depends on what you’re shooting. If you’re taking a photo of a waterfall, 1/4 of second would actually do it since its water is already rushing down. But if you’re doing seascapes, 30 seconds to a minute is the ideal exposure for a fully placid water effect.

For shutterspeeds of more than 30 seconds, you’d have to use a remote though. Most cameras can only shoot up to 30 seconds without the aid of a remote for its Bulb Mode.

But don’t discount shooting at shutterspeeds of 1 to 2 seconds too, you don’t always have to max out your shutterspeed. Slow shutter exposures are good for capturing rushing waves and sea current motion. Something that longer exposures cannot do.

And that’s basically it. It sounds complicated at first but once you try it, it’s easy as counting 1 2 3. Just remember though, you don’t always have to use long exposure photography to capture great seascapes. There are instances where a normal exposure is better than a long one. You just have to put everything into the right perspective.

TAGGED | Travel Blogs That Matter

2013-06-09T15:38:00.001+08:00

I was a blog reader before I became a travel blogger. It’s where I get my information when exploring new places, where I get tips on cool places to eat out in and most importantly where I get my kicks when unable to travel and terribly bored at the office.

Recently, I’ve been seeing blog posts nominating their 2013 Top Pinoy Travel Blogs hosted by Melo’s Out of Town Blog and I can’t help but tag along with the bandwagon. So without further ado, here are fifteen travel blogs bookmarked on my Internet browser and subscribed on my RSS Reader. Everything’s ranked from first to last. Kidding, they’re in no particular order. :P

► L A N T A W I’ve been a fan of Allan even before I knew that he has a travel blog. I’ve been seeing his obra maestra’s posted on photography forums when I was just starting out in photography and they’re simply spellbinding. I rank Lantaw as having the best travel photo blog in the country.

► E N R O U T E Ferdz inspired me to put words alongside my photos during one of his talks. I didn’t know who he was then until a friend introduced me to his blog, En Route. To say I was blown away was an understatement; I think I unconsciously patterned my blog after his.

► T H E P I N A Y S O L O B A C K P A C K E R She has guts, this girl. Although she hasn’t been going out alone that much anymore (or I’m just out of the loop these days), she is still the epitome of a female solo backpacker. And don’t let Gael’s very serious writing fool you, she’s as bubbly and fun as any girl gets (even without alcohol lol).

► J O U R N E Y I N G J A M E S Probably the most hardcore travel blogger out there. I mean, he sleeps on a hammock and spends less than a Jollibee meal per day! Although not a few people find his online persona to be a bit strong, James is a fun buddy to travel with in beyond the World Wide Web.

► R A K I S T A N G N A R S I’m afraid to write about Rain. She just has this way with words that intimidates me to no end. I mean how can anyone write like that? Her travel writing’s so impeccably good and thought provoking that I’m actually afraid of commenting that often for fear that she might read mine. Plus she listens to LedZep! How cool is that!

► F L I P ’ N T R A V E L S It’s literally the flipside of normal travel blogging, this dynamic duo of Ron and Monette. They cuss, they diss, they talk about sex, they do everything that are taboo to regular travel blogs. And everyone’s cheering on for more!

► T H E T R A V E L L I N G D O R K Like one blogger puts it, you can literally hear Robbie’s voice when reading The Traveling Dork, complete with snide side comments and everything. It’s honest and straightforward without being a bore. Plus, he draws without effort and does great infographics that makes me green with envy!

► T A R A ! U S A P T A U There’s probably no funnier travel blog than Maricar’s. I often go here if I’m bored and wanted some LMAO moments. Taglish is probably the wave of the future! Try reading for yourself and you’d know what I mean.

► T H E Y E L L O W A D V E N T U R E S I don’t really like taking portraits and that’s probably why Hannah’s Yellow Adventures is such a hit for me. She takes portraits not of people’s faces but of their souls during her travels. I simply do not know how she does that, but it seemed as effortless as taking a picture of the sunset.

► A N N Y ’ S C H O C O L A T E S K I E S Short and sweet, that’s probably the best way to describe the postcards being sent by Anny. I like how poignant her pictures are and how she doesn’t care if her blog does not fit to the regular travel blogs on the Interweb. She simply does what she does.

► P I N O Y A D V E N T U R I S T A Talk about exploring the Philippines! This is my go to site whenever I need information about a place. Mervz’s Pinoy Adventurista is a literal what to do, where to eat, where to go kind of site and it has genuinely helped me countless of times.

► T H E T R A V E L L I N G F E E T Nevermind that she backpacked for months on end on countries I can only dream of visiting, it’s because I’m green with envy everytime she poses photos and videos of her freediving sessions that Doi’s The Travelling Feet deserves a spot on this list. To think that she doesn’t even know how to do a simple dive when I first met her! Tss!

► S O L O F L I G H T E D Ed is a very hands on guy. He’s not afraid to try everything, from bungee jumping from Macau Tower to catching bangus with the locals in Pangasinan and doing his signature headstands on all the places he’s been in. And oh, he also left his corporate life to pursue his dreams of grandeur--backpack across Asia for nine freakin’ months. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is!

► E A Z Y T R A V E L E R Browsing Edgar’s blog is like reading through very well-written pieces on glossy travel magazines. He strings words together like a T’boli weaver patching dreams into beautiful patterns. And if that’s not enough, he’s also a genious with a camera; in fact, one of his photos literally made me travel to the ends of the Philippines.

► B L I S S F U L G U R O I have the highest regards for teachers, and it only goes higher when that said teacher travels. I have been following Carla’s adventure both on and off the classroom and has often been touched about her insights with her students and bewildered at how different she is outside her school uniform. Red Horse pa tayo dyan ma’am!

So there you go; do fire up your RSS readers, click those Like buttons and subscribe to their newsletters. Those blogs are worth reading and following. :)

PANGASINAN | Bolinao Itinerary & Trip Summary

2013-06-08T16:30:00.000+08:00

What should’ve been an overnight affair turned into a three-day jaunt. What should’ve been an easy relaxing stay at a posh resort turned into a rugged wash and tumble landscape shoot on jagged seaside formations. I have always longed to visit Bolinao, Pangasinan and when the opportunity presented itself at last, I got more than what I bargained for.

Here’s a rundown of my three-day trip to Bolinao.

P O S T C A R D S

Bolinao Extended Play

D A Y O N E

Bolinao’s St. James the Great Church
A Refreshing Dip at Bolinao Falls 1
Round Two at Bolinao Falls 2
Floating Inside Bolinao’s Wonderful Cave
A Glimpse of Patar’s Coastal Landscapes
Going Higher at Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
The Gold Sand Beach of Patar, Bolinao

D A Y T W O

Sunny Days at Puerto del Sol
Slow Morning at Bolinao Beach
Rock View Beach Resort
Intense Sunset at Bolinao’s Patar Rock Formation
Starry Starry Night at Bolinao’s Patar Beach

D A Y T H R E E

A Bolinao Postscript

PANGASINAN | A Bolinao Postscript

2013-06-07T19:32:00.000+08:00

The sun arose with me on my last day in Bolinao. I have witnessed its demise the previous afternoon, radiating a final magenta warmth over the whole land and introducing multitudes of tiny sparkling stars as the twilight passed into evening. Now I await as it slowly resurrected itself at the other side of the land, unseen from the rocky shoreline of Patar Beach where I was currently standing, again waiting for it to paint the land with its golden hues.

It peeked through the mountains, through the trees; transmitting yellows, oranges and reds. Painting the western clouds with soft pastels, providing the landscape with surreal colors. A sight blessed to those strong enough to ward off the temptations of a soft bed and a cozy blanket.

The tide was at its lowest but the waves were at its worst. The plateau-like platforms replete with gold-colored seaweeds extending from the shoreline to the sea were now fully exposed. I can see how it forms some sort of a jigsaw, extending further than what I reached the previous day.

But the waves were not to be trifled with. Much as I liked to reach the farthest platform, I can just imagine how everything would look from that vantage, the strong sucking tides bade no way for me to do so. I was not about to leap into the unknown and risk everything for a single frame of photograph. My limits has been made known to me a couple of years back when I backpacked solo to Sagada.

The water crashed and ebbed like clockwork. Its massive power hypnotizes and lulls; surging upwards towards the platforms, it stops for a microsecond. Then it pulls back with all its might, straining the weeds backwards and creating a mini-waterfall back into the sea.

With the pastel colors of the morning gone, I decided to climb a jagged cliff adjacent to where I was staying. There I found more of the curious sea platforms. They were also ridden with golden seaweeds, a sight which seemed particular only to Bolinao’s Patar beach area.

And after so many wet encounters, scratches and bug bites, everything ends on a cup of coffee; by the beach, with my feet up on a bamboo bench. What started as a posh invitation to review a swanky beach resort ended in a roughing it out, crazy wave-ridden escapade at the Patar Rock Formation. I did so many things and explored so many places that I cannot believe it has just been three days since I left for Pangasinan.

Bolinao’s Patar Rock Formation
Address: Brgy. Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Entrance Fee: None

GPS Coordinates: 16.316927,119.782444
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

PANGASINAN | Starry Starry Night at Bolinao’s Patar Beach

2013-06-06T22:35:00.001+08:00

My steps crunched loudly on the pebbles littering the beach. I tried to make my way to the hut above the hill overlooking Patar’s Rock Formation but I can barely see anything. It was seven in the evening and it was pitch black outside my lonely thatched room at the Rock View Resort.

Last night I saw the Milky Way. It was crawling its slow way out of the distant horizon. Even with its millions of suns, it still took a few minutes before my eyes adjusted to the dark and I was finally able to make it out from the multitude of stars.

I wanted to see it again tonight, so I braved the night. Borrowing a flashlight from the resort owners, I mustered all the courage I thought I have and went out into the darkness.

The only sounds beside my sandy steps were the slow whisper of the wind, the heavy crash of the waves and occasional howl of stray dogs. I kept thinking of abandoning this mad night jaunt and simply turn back. Shooting the heavens without a companion is a surefire way to give one’s self a serious case of the heebiejeebies.

So why do it at all?

Because it’s not every day that you get to gaze at a sky filled with millions of stars. It’s not everyday that the Milky Way appears above the heavens. And it’s not every day that you’re given a chance to capture it as a photograph. You risk everything, you overcome your fears, you step into the unknown to capture something that is truly beautiful.

Bolinao’s Patar Rock Formation
Address: Brgy. Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Entrance Fee: None

GPS Coordinates: 16.316927,119.782444
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

PANGASINAN | Intense Sunset at Bolinao’s Patar Rock Formation

2013-06-04T18:12:00.001+08:00

The land was bathed in glowing magentas. Waves relentlessly pounded Patar’s distinct shoreline, the natural elevated seabed extending some meters into the roiling sea acted as my personal breakwater and my landscape playground. The tide hurriedly crashed in, I waited as it filled my mesa; I lightly touch my camera’s shutter waiting for the right moment when the water ebbed back to the sea and pressed it at the crucial split second as another set of waves crashed into me.

This is the only reason I stayed a day more in Patar, Bolinao. There were a few more caves, another waterfall and probably some more sights I was unable to visit during our tour of the place but my interest was focused on only one thing, Patar’s unique rock formations and how I would capture its beauty during the golden hour.

The quest to find the perfect vantage point started early. I don’t want to be caught dead standing on a mediocre foreground once the sun starts going down. So I scoured the area, looking for interesting formations and checking its safety level. The waves were having their rock n’ roll sessions and the last thing I wanted is for my camera (or even worse, me) to be dragged into the mad sea of Patar.

An hour of walking and the light started to change. Slowly, warm colors started to glow at the low horizon, making a graceful gradient to the blue sky above, and the rays of the silently retreating sun casted an additional glow to the already golden sands of Patar. I took position and readied myself.

Hunking down low, I tried to capture the fringes of coral stones hugging Patar’s beach, imagining them as monstrous tentacles reaching out to the sea. The open hut situated on the hill opposite the formation provided a good middle ground for the photo and the warmth of the retiring sun bestowed me with the perfect background.

Unfortunately, the colors of the sky weren’t as intense as I imagined it to be. With the sun already halfway below the horizon, I was almost losing hope of capturing my own lasting version of Patar’s landscapes.

The magic began as the sun disappeared below the sea. The sky turned into an intense shade of magenta and the land was bathed in crimson. Barefoot, I braved the edge of the mesa drop and was instantly lost on the day’s intense afterglow.

The waves were coming in and the light was dropping fast. But I just had to get this. This is what I came here for. I anchored myself tightly and prayed that no rouge wave would come to pull me into the chaos of the chasm.

And in those few precious instants, I got my shot. You just knew when you’ve nailed it even before the image preview comes on at your camera’s LCD. I could have packed up and rested, contented and confident that I finally have my Patar Rock Formation photo, but I just have to get more.

It is, up to this day, the most intense kind of light I’ve ever seen. And I was at the edge of Patar’s coastal drop as long as it lasted.

Bolinao’s Patar Rock Formation
Address: Brgy. Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Entrance Fee: None

GPS Coordinates: 16.316927,119.782444
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

PANGASINAN | Rock View Beach Resort

2013-06-03T09:02:00.001+08:00

My mind was swirling with the crashing waves. I was unable to let go of the images I witnessed yesterday when we visited Patar’s Rock Formation. My mind’s eye was churning infinite and exquisite possibilities of how those craggy coral stones and low lying natural sea platforms would look with the angry waves during the golden hour.

But the only way I can make these hazy images become a clear possibility is for me to stay another day in Bolinao. That meant I have to say goodbye to my travel buddies as they head back to Manila and it also meant that I have to find myself a decent lodging; cross decent, an affordable lodging near the rock formations where I can spend the night without me having to thumb my way back to the metro.

Google Maps became my instant friend as I navigated Patar’s coastline through my mobile and found Rock View Cottages. Having absolutely no idea how much their nightly rates were, I bade goodbye to my buddies, tried to forget the comfort of Puerto del Sol, slung my heavy backpack and hit the dusty road. I felt like taking a gamble.

A boulevard of white sand and midsized trees guided me as I alighted from the tricycle I rented to Rock View. It sucked that I didn’t have loose change for the fare and I ended up giving a few bucks more than needed since the driver also didn’t have change for my bills. Every cent counts on unscheduled trip extensions.

Rock View has a total of seven closed wooden huts that can accommodate up to five people each (or more actually, if you want to, they don’t have any limit on the guests allowed per hut) and four open cottages that are good for day trippers. The closed huts range from Php2,500.00 during lean months and Php3,000.00 to Php4,000.00 during peak seasons. The open cottages on the other hand range from Php300.00 to Php500.00.

It’s actually not bad especially if you’re in a big group. I reckon one can easily cram these huts with eight individuals which would easily lower your nightly accommodations to around Php300.00++ per person. But still, it was too expensive for an individual with no one to cut the expenses with, so I tried to reason and haggle with the resort owner if they can lower the rent. They asked me how much, I named my price and they easily relented; God bless your kind hearts ma’am and sir!

The huts have a separate open-aired living area and a closed bedroom with a queen-sized bed. The room is fan-cooled but I hardly used the fan since it was so freakin’ cold at night, the resort being super close to the sea. The toilet and bath is located a few steps away from the hut, which is no problem during the day but a real challenge when you have to pee in the middle of the night.

I like the fact that the area is surrounded by lush vegetation. I arrived at high noon and I still felt like a cool cucumber under the shades of the low trees. I even managed to order a cup of hot coffee while trying to fit in with my new environment. Chill.

A cave with a natural pool is located right in front of the cottages where guests can cool down without feeling the intense heat of the summer sun. I’m just not sure how safe it is to wade inside the cave since the water coming in were from the waves slamming the formation outside. I can imagine a huge wave coming in might leave one with severe bruises from the rock walls of the cave.

But my favorite spots at Patar’s Rock View Cottages are the open huts sprawled along the beach. Some are in rather bad shape but I really don’t mind; as long as I have a sturdy bench to sit on and put my feet up, a table to set my cameras, the endless sparkling sea on the horizon for my viewing pleasure and a cup or two of steaming hot coffee, then I’m totally good. I’m easy like that.

Rock View Beach Resort
Address: Patar Road, Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Contact Number: (0999) 303-4133
Rates: See post above

GPS Coordinates: 16.317869,119.783173
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

PANGASINAN | Slow Morning at Bolinao Beach

2013-06-01T13:04:00.001+08:00

My soft bed at Puerto del Sol whispered that there would be no beautiful light to be shed by the morning sky today. It promised me of deep comfort and restful slumber if I just lay off the thoughts of those lights and rays. I almost lost the struggle if not for the persistent quacking of my alarm clock; it was already thirty minutes to sunrise as I slowly broke off the drowning spell of sleep.

I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be getting a direct sunrise from this side of the land, Bolinao being located on the western seaboard of the country. But I’m just too hardheaded and too never-miss-a-moment kind of guy that I still decided to ditch my much needed sleep and take a chance on the light that might or might not be present that day.

Unlike some mornings where I sulkily go back to bed due to lack of interesting light, my sacrifice at getting up before normal people did paid off. The low western clouds were bathed in orange and yellow hues from the rising eastern sun, contrasting perfectly with the blue green hues of the morning sky.

Bolinao’s coast is protected by a natural breakwater hundreds of meters from the shore causing an almost mirror-like serenity over the whole horizon. The low-lying clouds, even bereft of the ephemeral colors lent by the morning sun looked stately as it reflected perfectly over the surface of the sea.

The golden light disappeared as immediately as it appeared. I began to turn back, lured again by the thoughts of sleep, when a group of kids innocently huddled over a corner of the beach diverted my attention. I realized that there are more interesting subjects to frame and capture than mere light.

I trained my lens on the horizon and found a patch of land replete with white egrets gliding over still waters. My feet led mo the direction of the flock before my mind said yes. But the landscape was not cooperating with the new morning’s plan. The water was too deep and I was unable to find a way to traverse to the mini islet; faraway, too close.

People slowly started to litter the once deserted beach as the sun begun to rise higher. Couples out for a taste of the sweet morning, joggers wanting to break a sweat and sun-sensitive beings wanting to have a dip at the sea before the heat becomes too oppressive for their pale sunblocked skin.

But the real characters of Bolinao’s beach are the fisher folks who rose even earlier than me, not to shoot a fancy sunrise, but to simply put food on their family’s table. These guys are the unsung heroes of this town.

The sun continued its juggernaut into the stratosphere. I beheld for the last time the calm and chaos of Bolinao’s waters far into the horizon; noting the graceful movements of fishermen as the egrets do.

Puerto del Sol Beach Resort and Hotel Club
Address: Patar Road, Barangay Ilog Malino, Bolinao
Phone: (02) 637-8963 | (02) 635-2547
Room Rates & Availability: Click Here
Email: webmaster@puertodelsol.com.ph
Website: http://www.puertodelsol.com.ph

GPS Coordinates: 16.355752,119.813016
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

MANDALUYONG CITY | Kanto Freestyle Breakfast

2013-05-23T16:00:00.001+08:00

I haven’t been eating out on fancy restaurants for a while now. Heck I’ve actually haven’t been planning any travels at all due to financial constraints (which is so not me at all). I’ve been having trouble with my travel funds the past few months that I’m seriously thinking of an opening an ISAs which can be used for travel savings. So when an opportunity knocks to check out a food place that actually serves restaurant-quality dishes at carinderia prices, I make it a point to grab it.

All this financial blues got me thinking of opening a savings account specifically for travel related things like gourmet restaurants and stuff. And as usual, all that thinking gets me hungry.

So after our exhausting (but fun) trip to the Mind Museum, R of The Traveling Dork suggested we have our dinner at Kanto Freestyle Breakfast. It’s a carinderia he just recently discovered along the backstreets of Mandaluyong City that serves lip-smacking breakfast fares without burning holes through our wallets.

The downside here is the ambience. Well, actually, there’s absolutely no ambience! The place is located right beside the street. Chairs and tables are set up al-fresco, guerilla-style right on the sidewalk. You get the complete carinderia experience; car fumes, pesky flies and all. There is, however, an option to eat inside their satellite branch which is just a few steps away from the eatery for those not to used to eating kanto style.

The dishes served at Kanto Freestyle Breakfast averages at Php90.00 for complete meals which usually consist of two eggs, garlic rice, tomato pesto and your choice of viand. But you can also deconstruct these meals and order only what you want, freestyle, as their name suggests. Besides the usual silogs, they also offer pancakes, French toasts and other sugary fares.

This is your epitome of the hole-in-a-wall eatery where you approach the counter, pass your order and wait for it to get cooked inside their jumble of a kitchen out back. I cannot vouch for the cleanliness of this place, but as they say, the dirtier the food, the tastier it actually is haha.

I love how attentive and helpful their staff are. They’re always checking on us if we need anything like extra ice for our water and such. The only thing I didn’t like, service-wise, was the really long waiting time for our orders to come out of their kitchen. It may be that we ordered too many dishes and they were understaffed since it was a Sunday.

With all our stories told, our evening “breakfast” finally arrived. Everyone was so hungry a complete and all consuming silence enfolded our table. I dug in to my three-piece Vigan Longanisa (Php90.00) with gusto. It can actually compare with the real Ilocano deal.

I ordered extra bacons (Php20.00) for my dinner since I thought the servings may be too small for my tummy (they’re not by the way). I like how they put an effort to style even the simplest of foods, like my happy bacons, for example.

R and C both had Honey Garlic Chicken (Php90.00) and they were kind enough to let me have a taste. From the little I had, I have to say that it’s pretty good. And serving size was not bad at all too.

They also ordered a helping of Spanish Sardines Tempura (Php60.00), probably just to see how it fares. C didn’t like it that much and R said it was just okay. I have to agree with the latter as there seemed to be nothing special about it, but it ain’t bad at all. I guess its appeal lies in its novelty.

And last but certainly not the least on our table was the Eggs Benedict (Php90.00) that R was raving so much about. And there really is much reason to rave, for it was really excellent! The yolk may be a tad too cooked, but still, it’s such a superb meal it can probably rival those served on expensive restaurants.

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast did not disappoint. The food is to die for, service is good and the price is as low as it can probably get for such dishes. And the street vibe (complete with a cat snooping around for leftovers) is a unique novelty, well at least for people who really haven’t tried eating in a carinderia yet. Highly recommended especially for travelers looking for quality meals but doesn’t have the budget for them.

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast
Address: San Joaquin St., Plainview, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Contact Number & Delivery: (02) 400-2268
Open Hours: Everyday 24 Hours
Menu: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: 14.580988,121.03116
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

TAGUIG CITY | A Day at the Mind Museum

2013-05-22T20:42:00.001+08:00

I’ve been restlessly waiting for an invite to visit BGC’s Mind Museum ever since it opened a few years ago. I mean, a real world-class science museum right here in the metro! Any geek worth his salt would’ve probably camped outside its doors on opening day. Unfortunately, traveling extensively has its price; I’m always broke. So there goes my ticket to the museum.

I almost jumped with joy then when an invite finally came my way a few weeks ago to cover the museum’s monthly MindBurst series. This month, they’re celebrating the International Day for Biodiversity and features the theme "Awesome Kinds of Life". It would’ve been a blast if it was a feature on the science of Star Wars but I’m really not complaining. At least I’ll finally get to visit the Mind Museum!

The first thing one notices about the Mind Museum is its very distinctive brand of architecture. While most structure around the BGC area soars towards the sky, the museum hugs the ground with its sleek, almost organic design. Famed architect, Ed Calma, made sure its form follows its function; he based it on cellular growth and structures. Err… It can’t be more scientific that that, right? Even I don’t understand what that is.

The museum is divided into five main galleries as signified by their logo; the Atom, Earth, Life, Universe, and Technology Galleries. I like how futuristic the interior of the Mind Museum is. Even their cafeteria looks like a science classroom with its plasma ball and all.

We were itching to explore all the galleries but we first decided to attend the MindBurst presentation. They have a special exhibit that day called Exploring Ecozones; about floras and faunas throughout the various regions of the world. Uh huh.

To be honest, it wasn’t my cup of tea, but what really caught my attention was the Wild Conversations talk. Isa Garchitorena, an animal behavior specialist was jovially talking about all things wild and was shuffling out cute animals on stage to the appreciative ooohs and aaahs of the kids watching. She’s pretty good at explaining and answering questions from the crowd that I was glued throughout the presentation.

The MindBurst activity lasted half the day and featured other special talks and exhibits like Maps of Life, Why Should We Care about Biodiversity and The Secret World of Ants. I was actually surprised to see Mikey Bustos of Chicharon ni Mang Juan fame discussing the joys of creating an ant farm. Coolness!

In between presentations, we checked out Mind Museum’s permanent galleries. First was the Atom Gallery where we explored the unseen world of atoms and molecules. Geek stuff right? I hated chemistry when I was in high school but this looks like fun!

My favorite part of the gallery was the part where you touch a metal ball and your hair would stand on end! We let C take the seat on this one since she has the longest hair. We all started cracking up once static coursed through her body and onto her hair haha.

A giant brain swallowed us inside the Life Gallery. It sorta reminded me of the latest Iron Man movie where a hologram of the nemesis’ brain pulsed inside Pepper’s room. But this is no hologram; this is a mega larger than life presentation of a human brain.

They also have a life-sized butanding (whale shark) on display which is reputedly the largest fish in water (sperm whales are not fishes by the way, so they’re out of the running). I haven’t seen one of these in real life and I assume it would be an awesome experience to swim with these giants.

Before proceeding to the Earth Gallery, we watched a 3D movie made by local film maker Chito Roño as to how the land mass and the flora and fauna of the Philippines came about. It was okay, nothing to really rave about, but still interesting and informative enough especially for the kids.

But the real bad boy of the Earth Gallery is the permanently snarling gigantic T-Rex in its midst. Unfortunately these are not made from authentic dinosaur bones but it is molded from a real one, good enough for me at least. There are real dino bones at the base of the exhibit though, and you can actually touch them too! Cool, right?

The nice thing about the Mind Museum is that all the galleries are interconnected by a tunnel so you won’t get lost inside. You’ll just have to follow a certain path and you’d see everything without doubling back. The tunnel to the Universe Gallery is the craziest of these where a rotating textile of stars and universe swirls around a metal bridge. It can get a bit heady, good thing there are handle bars just in case you get dizzy.

I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t been to a proper planetarium before. I was so elated that we got to watch a planetarium show inside the Universe Gallery! I also saw a controllable Martian Rover inside the gallery too; unfortunately a kid was hogging the thing all to himself so I wasn’t able to drive it. :P

And last but not the least is the Technology Gallery which is located on the whole second floor of the museum. It features inventions throughout time, from J. Gutenberg’s archaic printing machine to videogames. But the thing I liked the best was the x-ray machine where I got to x-ray my cameras! Something I’d been wanting to do on airports every time but was not allowed to. :D

There were still areas we were unable to explore, like the Botanical Garden and the outdoor Science-in-the-Park, but we were simply too tired to check them out. Well, it’s actually an incentive to go back to the Mind Museum, which is something I really wouldn’t mind doing; the Mind Museum is a total geek heaven!

The Mind Museum
Address: J. Y. Campos Park, 3rd Ave, Taguig City
Contact Number: (02) 909-6463
Rates: Php600.00 Adults | Php450.00 Children & Student Php150.00 Public School Students and Teachers
Open Hours: Everyday except Mondays 9AM-6PM

GPS Coordinates: 14.551892,121.045496
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

JAPAN | Trip Itinerary and Summary

2013-05-21T19:38:00.001+08:00

If you’re gonna ask me what I would remember the most during my three-day jaunt in Japan, it would probably be the rain. It poured days and nights the whole time we were in the so-called Land of the Rising Sun. But it was not a deterrent for exploration. Drenched and soggy, we still braved the streets of Tokyo and Kanagawa as much as time would allow.

Japan used to be an unreachable dream that I thought would totally remain as a such. I’m totally indebted to Sony Philippines for picking me to follow Sony Alpha’s new camera ambassadors; Pilar Tuason, Manny Librodo and Pepe Diokno to Japan.

I’ve been using a Sony NEX5n camera since winning it from the KLM-DPP On Assignment: Europe a few years back and the Sony A77 and other lenses (I so love the E 10-18mm!)provided by Sony for this trip perfectly complimented it.

Subarashii Japan!

P O S T C A R D S
Impossible Japan

D A Y O N E | T O K Y O

   Manila – Japan
   Of Geishas and Kaisekis
   The Old and the New at Toranomon’s Konpira Shrine
   Almost Paris at the Tokyo Tower

   D A Y T W O | T O K Y O & K A N A G A W A

   Rainy Morning to Atago Shrine
   Old Castles and Unending Rains
   Rushing Lunch at Yumoto Fujiya Hotel
   Reveries on Cemeteries
   Mists and Trails at Hakone’s Fujiya Hotel
   Secret Temples
   Braving Tokyo’s Underground
   Rainy Nights at Shibuya Crossing
   Two Nights at Tokyo’s Okura Hotel

   D A Y T H R E E | T O K Y O

   Buying Memories at Asakusa’s Nakamise Street
   The Oldest Buddhist Temple in Japan
   Mementos and Souvenirs

JAPAN | Mementos and Souvenirs

2013-05-20T22:00:00.001+08:00

My three-day Japan trip wouldn’t be complete without bringing home something to remind me of my journey after time passes. I know not a few people who think that buying souvenirs is kinda kitschy, superficial and touristy, but I really don’t mind, whatever floats your boat as they say.

The perfect place to buy souvenirs in Tokyo is at Asakusa’s Nakamise Street. They have almost everything, if not really everything every keychain loving tourists love. Besides the almost one hundred shops lining its main avenue, there are other side streets I wasn’t able to explore where more touristy junks can be purchased. One of the nicest things I got here were a pair wooden Japanese dolls. It was expensive at ¥1,000.00 but they looked really cute and very Japanese.

An old friend was asking me to buy her a Katana sword ever since she got news that I was going to Japan. But a sword of that kind costs an arm and a leg! I couldn’t afford a ¥30,000.00++ sword so I got her the next best thing after it. A mini Katana; it was a fraction of the price and looked really cool. It almost got confiscated in the airport though; I didn’t know it has a real blade inside!

I was also tipped that G-Shock watches were really really cheap in Japan, like half the price cheap from the prices in our malls. And the best place to get them were at the Don Quijote (Donki to the locals) shops that dot most major cities in the country. The models in the shop in Shibuya were quite limited though, luckily I found an exact match of the one that A wanted. I was unable to get myself a G-Shock, unfortunately, as the ones for the guys were still a bit expensive.

And then there are the ref magnets! I love how fine and detailed the magnets are in Japan. I also like the fact that they’re not made of plastic or metal. I got myself a few for my own fridge and some more for my aunts back home. There were also a lot of keychains being sold at Nakamise Street but I’m not a keychain person. It’s interesting to note that the prices of these souvenirs are exactly the same with those being sold at the airport.

I’ve been craving for a green tea KitKat ever since receiving one a few months ago as a pasalubong. I didn’t know these come in different flavors, being used to the normal red ones being sold at convenience stores in Manila. There are more than 200 varieties; from the mild sakura macha to the totally weird wasabi and soy sauce-flavored ones. We’ve been on the lookout for these ever since arriving in Japan but to no avail. Luckily, a few stores inside Narita Airport have them, no wasabi flavor though.

But the best souvenirs I got from Japan were those that didn’t cost me a single yen. The colorful and finely folded crane and turtle origami given by the Hotel Okura were really beautiful. I decided to permanently tuck them inside the pages of my yellowing travel journal.

Being a Scrooge left me with quite a chunk of yens left in my wallet after my three-day jaunt in Japan. I exchanged most of these to peso as soon as I got back home but decided to leave a few as a souvenir. Since most money changers don’t accept anything lower than ¥50.00 coins, I now have a chunky coin purse filled with ¥10.00 coins. It’s burstingly full I can even spare a few, want some? :D

JAPAN | The Oldest Buddhist Temple in Japan

2013-05-17T04:04:00.001+08:00

The rain lashed and tried to tear away the umbrella from my hands as I approached the massive Hozomon Gate that precedes the Sensoji Temple. I was on a buying spree for souvenirs to bring back home at Asakusa’s Nakamise Street when I chanced upon its red gates. I still have a few hours left before my plane leaves for Manila and it’s only with good fortune that my last destination before leaving Japan would be Tokyo’s largest Buddhist Temple and not to mention, the country’s oldest.

Crowds, both local and foreign flock the temple in droves. I spent a minute under the eaves of its gargantuan gate before proceeding further. The rain was really whipping it. I took the opportunity to admire the massive paper lantern hanging from the beams of the Hozomon Gate; painted in red with huge Japanese characters decorating its sides, they said it represents lightning and thunderclouds.

Sensoji Temple was built in 628 AD and finished 17 years later. It suffered massive destruction from the air raid bombings of the Second World War and was reconstructed thirteen years after the devastation. The shrine is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon, Goddess of Mercy.

A five-tiered pagoda stands proud on the left side of the temple, the Gojunoto. At 53 meters high, it is the highest of its kind in Tokyo. Although it is originally dedicated for comedians (please don’t ask me why haha), it is said that it houses ashes from none other than Buddha himself.

Running to the dry comfort of the outlying buildings surrounding the Kannon Hall, a sort of courtyard between the Hozomon Gate and the Sensoji main temple, I witnessed tourists and the faithful purchasing omikujis, a fortune inscribed on a little piece of paper. One can either get good or bad luck from these though. But worry not, if by chance you get a not so good fortune, just tie the paper on a string for the wind to blow your misfortune away.

Off the center of the square, a big metal cauldron billowing with white smoke was attracting people like magnet. Holding my umbrella on my left and my camera on my right, I took a closer look to see what the fuss was about. Young and old alike were fanning incense smoke to themselves; for purification, good health and healing of ailments they said.

Further on, I saw what looked like a bronze sculpture of a warrior with dragons positioned beneath his feet, a Chozuya. Water was sprouting from its mouth to a basin surrounding the statue. It’s a custom for the Japanese to wash their left hand, then their right, their mouth and finally the water laddle’s handle for purification before going inside a temple.

Jostling with the throngs of tourists, I finally made it inside the massive Sensoji Temple. Intricate glowing lanterns hanging off the sides of immense red pillars light its dim interiors, illuminating the exquisite handiwork of Japanese craftsmen that built the shrine.

I forgot about the din of the crowd and helplessly gaped at the great and painstaking details of the temple. Sensoji is overwhelmingly beautiful.

Coins were thrown down a pit fronting the golden statue of the Goddess Kannon before hands were clasped and heads were bowed. The faithful are saying their prayers and wishes to the six centimeter pocket-sized golden goddess housed inside the shining shrine. This is the original image that two fishermen found on the Sumida River that started everything in 628 AD.

The rain only intensified as I got out of the Sensoji Temple. Tourists and pilgrims still kept on pouring though, oblivious to the downpour. I checked my watch, it was almost time to go back to Hotel Okura and gather up my things. I’m about to leave Japan but I was glad that chance gave me a very memorable and significant destination before heading back home to Manila.

Sensoji Temple
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan
Contact Number: 03-3842-0181
Open Hours: Daily 6:00AM - 5:00PM
Website: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: 35.714750,139.796761
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

JAPAN | Buying Memories at Asakusa’s Nakamise Street

2013-05-14T16:20:00.001+08:00

I watched from the comfort of Hotel Okura’s breakfast nook as a transparent umbrella whipped off a salaryman’s hand on his way to work outside the streets of Tokyo. The rain had worsened on our third and last day in Japan. It wasn’t a good way to start the morning at all.
My original plan was to check the nearby Imperial Palace by foot. I’d like to savor Tokyo on my own slow terms. I wanted to see its side streets, its small stores and its ordinary life unfold by walking through its thoroughfares. But it looks like I’d have to come up with a quick plan B.

Then I remembered Asakusa. On our first day in Japan, we passed by a town with small Japanese shops lining its roads. I also recalled a giant torii gate as we hailed a cab en route to meet Sakura Jaya’s geishas over dinner. I loved the feel of the area, like old-school Japan intertwined with its modern counterparts. I thought that it might not be a bad idea to go back there to see more.

Wasting no time, I quickly changed camera. With the onslaught of rain, I felt it would be better if I simply bring one small camera with me. I ditched the weather-sealed Sony A77 and holstered my NEX-5n along with an ultra wide angle lens, it’s not rainproof but it’s tiny and it is wide. I like wide shots.

Taking the Tokyo Subway, I eventually reached Asakusa and promptly forgot where the specific area was. My GPS wasn’t working so I tried to ask for directions with some locals. Through hand signals and some walking through the rain, I finally managed to locate it.

The Kaminari Gate doesn’t look as impressive in daylight as it was a few nights ago, but the stores past it were! I’m an ordinary guy and I enjoy buying souvenirs and what-nots to bring back home like the next tourist. I like ref magnets, I like key chains and I’m not ashamed to say so; to heck with them so-called travelers.

Nakamise Street is an omiyage (souvenir) heaven! They’ve got everything here from real and fake Katana swords, wood block prints, Japanese robot toys, Doraemon, Astroboys, bags, shirts, kimonos and yes, beautifully made key chains and ref magnets by the heaps. It was so tempting to bring home a sword if not for the ¥36,000.00 price tag. Expensive stuff and I’m not even sure if it’s allowed in the airport.

Beside souvenirs, there were also a lot of Japanese foodstuffs being sold in the area. Sushis, candies, rice cakes, kibi-balls manjus, chocolates and other curious things I’m not familiar with. These are the processed ones already packed in cans and plastics, but a fresher alternative can also be brought from the other stores.

Vendors constantly calling out to passing tourists for a taste of their local goodies seemed the norm here. Again, I’m not really sure what they’re selling but unfortunately I really have no time (nor the spare cash) to have a taste.

So I made do with the next best thing, take photographs. It’s quick and it’s free to boot! I like how everyone seemed game to have their pictures taken. I encountered not one rude vendor here, everyone’s just so friendly and polite. I love the people of Japan!

There were also a lot of unique and very Japanese things being sold in the area; wooden toys especially. Although most of these come in premium prices, you can be assured that they’re authentically local. I closed my eyes, took out my wallet and bought a few to bring home.

The Nakamise Shopping Street has been around since the early 18th century when locals surrounding the nearby temple set up shops for people en route to the shrine. It stretches for around a quarter of a kilometer from the Kaminari Gate. There are three lanes and each one’s literally packed with shops, the area has a total of almost a hundred stores. And the alleys, even if it was raining, were also jammed with tourists and shoppers.

As I neared the last shop on the center lane, I noticed a tall and graceful pagoda from one of the toy stores I was busy rummaging in. I remembered one of my companions telling me there was a huge temple near the shops but I totally forgot about it; I didn’t even know it was located here.

After carefully wrapping my precious purchases; I opened my umbrella, set myself to get soaked in the rain again and started towards the massive Sensoji Temple.

Nakamise Shopping Street
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Contact Number: 03-3842-0181
Open Hours: Open Everyday

GPS Coordinates: 35.711143,139.796369
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

JAPAN | Two Nights at Tokyo’s Okura Hotel

2013-05-12T00:28:00.001+08:00

One of the things I really like about being sponsored on a trip is that I get to stay at really posh hotels. It’s something I usually don’t have the luxury for when traveling on my own since they cost as much, or probably more, than my whole trip expenses combined.

Sony Philippines was generous enough to host us at one of the nicest hotel around Tokyo, the five-star Okura Hotel in the city’s Minato ward. The area is pretty quiet for my taste, being surrounded mostly by office buildings and foreign embassies (49 embassies to be exact). Good thing it’s just a hop away from various train terminals so getting around through subways isn’t a problem at all.

It’s also a bonus that some of Tokyo’s iconic landmarks is just a stone throw’s away from the place. The Tokyo Tower is around ten minutes by foot; the Japanese Imperial Palace and Shibuya Crossing also looked accessible by foot (if you like walking as much as I like to that is, haha).

From the outside, Okura Hotel doesn’t look that interesting at all; its architecture seemed dated and forgettable. But the story changes once you step inside. Its lobby is one of the nicest I’ve seen; its elegance might be understated, but its there. And the service; bar none, they have the most helpful, polite and not to mention cutest, staff around.

The hotel has three wings and it felt like Tokyo’s microcosm. I was almost constantly lost inside its halls, looking for the proper exits when taking a walk outside, and the elevators when accessing my room. It’s so big it has its own mini-mall inside.

Please pardon my slacked jaw, I’m really not used to staying at such opulent places, being mostly familiar to hostels and backpacker inns when out traveling.

And my room was to die for! I love Sony for providing each one of us with a private room. I was originally expecting to have a capsule room, like what I saw from An Idiot Abroad’s Japanese episode (not that it would be bad, I actually liked to experience sleeping in one, truth to say), but this one really takes the cake. A have a whole freakin’ ¥27,000.00 room that’s good enough for two only for myself while in Tokyo!

There were all sorts of beer and alcoholic drinks on the mini-bar but they were unfortunately not part of the package. I have to shell out my precious yens for such. Luckily my fellow Japan Sony winner, L, was willing to share his alcohol with me. :)

I also love the turtle and crane origami items made from colorfully printed papers that the hotel gives out to guests. It’s a very personal and very Japanese touch that geeks like me appreciate. In fact, I liked it so much that I brought it home with me as a memento.

But the best part of Hotel Okura is surprisingly their toilet. Seriously! A fully automatic, push-your-preferred-button toilet rocks! The only thing missing really are the pre-heated toilet seat and the water flushing sound effect that are present on the more updated versions of these. I just have to say that a hotel experience doesn’t get more Japanese than this.

Okura Hotel Tokyo
Address: 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
Contact Number: +81-3-3582-0111
Website: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: 35.666955,139.74427
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

JAPAN | Rainy Nights at Shibuya Crossing

2013-05-10T01:56:00.001+08:00

The freezing night air blasted through the open gates of Shibuya Station. The weather had been sour through our whole day jaunt at Hakone and it remained the same when we returned to Tokyo. The rest of the guys wanted nothing but a bowl of ramen and the comfort of their soft hotel bed afterwards, but I was thinking of other things.

My mind is flashing images of multi-colored skyscrapers, swarms of chic Japanese citizens walking across a vast crossing and Blade Runner-esque neon Japanese billboards. I’m thinking of Tokyo’s famous Shibuya Crossing.

Finding myself a buddy, we fumbled our way through Tokyo’s confusing subway system and found the famous crossing through guesswork. I was supposed to meet a friend in the area, someone who can at least guide us, but the torrential rain made her back out. We were on our own.

The first thing that greeted us upon arriving at Shibuya was the sculpture of the equally famous Japanese dog, Hachiko. I haven’t really seen the movie yet, but they said that this was where the faithful dog has supposedly waited for his departed master until his own demise.

It felt giddy the first time the traffic lights turned green and we walked with the multitudes of clear umbrella-toting Japanese. Finally I’m seeing The Japan that I have in my mind. This is it! This is Japan! It can’t get more Japanese than this.

My mind flashed a scene from one of my favorite movies of all time, Lost In Translation, and how one of the character felt overwhelmed by Shibuya’s Crossing. I was having the same elated feeling but it also got me thinking where they set their camera for the overhead shot.

My eyes scanned the area and found a Starbucks Coffee on the second storey of one of the buildings directly over the crossing. Jackpot. We immediately headed over to the café and surprisingly found it to be not-so-packed. Must be the dismal weather and the lateness of the hour.

We didn’t order any coffee, afraid of wasting time. We only have an excess of two hours before the last train leaves Shibuya to our hotel. I normally have no problem walking, I even computed the time it would take me to reach our hotel by foot, but an hour under a single-degree temperature on a rainy night with wet, soggy socks does not spell fun for me.

Overhead shots done, we hunted for dinner. It has been hours since our last meal in Hakone and our stomach’s protests can no longer be ignored. Ramen was priority but we were having a hard time locating a not-so-expensive one with seats available. Plan B then; anything that looks delicious, is cheap and has free seats.

Roaming the glitzy side streets of Shibuya, stopping and taking photos as we went along, we eventually found our query. There were only a few diners in the restaurant and the fares look interesting enough. More importantly, their prices looked reasonable too.

Again, with guesswork, we ordered through the machine located near the diner’s door, punching our orders and slipping in our Yens through a coin slot in exchange for a food stub. Success! We entered and presented our coupon for dinner.

There were no English translations on their menu so we based our orders through pictures. It was rice topped with eggs and beef complimented by some sort of salad and a miso soup. Serving size was pretty huge and for ¥480.00, it wasn’t bad at all. In fact it was quite excellent!

With our tummies satiated, we headed back to the crossing. We planned to zigzag and cross the road with the Japanese people to our hearts delight. We’re touristy like that. Waiting in queue for the lights to turn green, I parted with my companion and let myself get lost with the crowd. Walking and stopping right in the middle of the road, soaking in Japan.

I wish though that I have a transparent umbrella with me. My mind was whizzing away the whole time why umbrellas like those are a hit in Japan. The revelation came as I started walking through Shibuya. I kept looking up to see all the neon lights and all I kept seeing was the top of my blue umbrella. Then it hit me why, and I had since been muttering to myself why I didn’t get one too.

Crossing a road is hardly any fun at all if you really think about it. Heck, I even know some people who dread it. But in Shibuya, when the lights turn green and the cars from all sides of the road stop. The most mundane thing in the world, crossing a street, becomes something special.

Forgetting that I’m wet, tired and cold; I braced myself for the nth time, the lights were about to turn green again. And like a kid playing in the rain, my heart started pumping as I walked towards the heart of Shibuya one more time.

Shibuya Crossing
Address: Near Shibuya Station, Hachiko Exit, Tokyo, Japan

GPS Coordinates: 35.65952,139.70051
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

JAPAN | Braving Tokyo’s Underground

2013-05-09T02:08:00.001+08:00

Red, orange, blue and green lines intertwine like roiling snakes in a pit. It’s Tokyo’s underground rail system and not unlike deadly vipers, they’re scaring the heck out of me just by looking at them.

I really didn’t have a choice though; to get from one place to the next, it’s either the trains or the taxis. Both are expletively expensive, but the underground is considerably cheaper by miles. So the rails it is.

The first thing I noticed during my first incursion inside the Tokyo Subway was the almost zero absence of English translations for the signboards. There were a few, but they were sorely lacking for a tourist lost in Japan’s Hiragana and Kanjis. Asking around also proved futile as most Japanese don’t know how to speak in any other language beside their own.

The best person to ask for directions are the uniformed guards (err, I’m not really sure if they’re guards) manning the stations near the turnstiles. They can understand and speak basic English. But it’s infinitely better if you have a map; simply point your location and destination and wait for them to nod or shake their heads.

The next challenge is operating the ticket vending machine. On my way to Shibuya, it took centuries to figure out how to get my ticket. I looked at the list of places above the machines and their corresponding fares then it’s the machine’s turn. I pressed the screen and everything appeared in Japanese. I’m screwed.

By some miracle, I somehow figured out which buttons to press after minutes of paralyzing analysis. At last, my precious train ticket. I’m not sure though if I’m just too stupid or too excited to go exploring on my own that I didn’t notice that the screen can be translated into English with a single press of a button.

Tokyo has a total of thirteen lines from various train companies. Each one has its own tickets and stations. So if you plan to make connecting rides from one line to the next, you have to purchase a separate ticket or day pass from each line. I was able to try out the Tokyo-Metro Ginza Line which plies the Shibuya-Asakusa route quite a number of times during our stay in Japan.

Unlike in the Philippines where train fares are dirt cheap, a minimum ticket for a ride inside in the subways cost ¥160.00 and covers a maximum of seven stations. Go farther and the fare rises from ¥190.00 to ¥230.00. In hindsight, I think it wasn’t that bad considering how fast and efficient they were.

But not unlike in the Philippines, the trains also get crazy during the rush hour. I didn’t experience severe pushing and shoving but one of my companions got it pretty hard inside the train as the doors were about to close. Apparently, there are assigned individuals on train stations that pushes in passengers inside trains, it is their job and sworn duty to do just that. Crazy, right?

Despite the crowd, I was again taken aback by the discipline the Japanese people possess. The train was packed like sardines but the seats intended for the elderly and the disabled were amazingly empty. There was nobody guarding the seats yet everyone were disciplined enough not to take them for themselves.

One of the things that surprised me when taking the trains were that the coaches in Japan are not as glitzy and modern as I imagined them to be. They actually looked old and yellowing; our country’s MRT is honestly more modern than theirs. But I like how clean it is despite its age. And I love how the seats are actually softly cushioned, almost like a mini sofa, and not made of hard plastic.

The same thing also applies to their maze-like stations. Most of them, especially in lesser known areas, looked dated and cramped. But the stations in more cosmopolitan districts are a different story. Take the one in Shibuya; it’s as spacious as a grand hall, complete with gargantuan murals and sleek designs.

I wouldn’t have thought that I’d be able to manage commuting by train through Tokyo. I get dizzy and confused simply by looking at all those snaking lines representing the city’s massive underground network. But I did it (thanks partially to Jorudan, a real-time train guide through Tokyo), tourist that I am, and was actually comfortable enough with Tokyo’s trains come our third day in Japan to go wherever my feet fancies to be.

JAPAN | Secret Temples

2013-05-07T18:00:00.000+08:00

My feet led me to a dead end. I followed a trail at the back of Hakone’s famous Fujiya Hotel and it let me to a winding set of stone stairs that descended into nothingness. I looked around, trying to see my way out of this place, looking for shortcut, a hidden pathway; anything but to double back from the way I came. My eyes saw a silhouette of a structure against the bush on my right; brushed it aside and found a temple. A secret temple, unbeknownst to my fellow travelers.

Fujiya Hotel’s massive back garden had given me something special. Finding an old shrine right at the tail end of the garden trail was a total surprise. I’ve seen it’s graceful buildings, koi ponds, waterfalls, water mills and cherry trees but this is totally unexpected.

I’m pretty sure this is no longer part of the hotel, being divided by uneven rows of pines and thick bushes. But part of me wanted to make it part of the trip. I didn’t see any trespassing signs (or they may be in Japanese), so I moved forward, carefully slipping through the thicket and into the hallowed ground of an unknown Hakone temple.

Furtively, I walked through the shrine’s silent grounds. It seemed disrespectful to make any kind of noise here; a simple rustle or a crunch of a dried twig cracks as loud as a gun shot. The air was so still, the pines overhead were not even whispering. Mists floated overhead, blanketing everything in a somber atmosphere.

The temple is not very large but looks very graceful. Most of it is made of wood; its pillars, floors, railings, its geometric inner walls and complex ceilings. Intricate carvings of what seemed like dragons and strange creatures floating on wooden clouds decorate its gate. They’re hauntingly beautiful.

I spent some minutes enjoying the silence of the shrine. I didn’t even take as many photos as I usually do. It was enough that I found this place. It was enough that I was here. It was enough that it was there.

After some minutes, I finally turned my back and said farewell to my silent temple. I started down its stone stairs, passed through some fog-ridden alleys and found my way back to Japanese civilization. In Hakone, I found my secret place.

Unknown Hakone Temple
My GPS seemed to have mysteriously conked out
at this area. Forgive me for having zero information
about this site.

JAPAN | Mists and Trails at Hakone’s Fujiya Hotel

2013-05-06T14:08:00.001+08:00

Hellen Keller, Charlie Chaplin and John Lennon; what do they all have in common? They all stayed at Hakone’s Fujiya Hotel. And that said hotel was our last stop for our second day in Japan. Coolness!

I can see from the fog-ridden landscapes of the resort that this is no ordinary hotel. The architecture is different, still distinctly Japanese but with hints of western influences. It looked like a modernist take on the country’s traditional architecture, but somehow, you know that it’s all authentic.

Fujiya Hotel was built in 1891, it is that old, and it has seen its fair share of history. The hippie guru John Lennon and his equally eccentric wife Yoko Ono among other notable personalities have made this hotel their home for a few nights, it became a refuge during the Second World War and a Nazi Gestapo leader was even cornered here decades after the war.

We arrived at its gate at around noontime but the sun was nowhere to be found. They said one can view the majestic Mount Fuji from here but all we were able to see were a monochrome blanket of flat grey clouds. The pavement was wet from the rain and mists were slowly swirling around the bare branches of the Cherry trees surrounding the property.

The hotel is absolutely gorgeous. The walls are painted in earthly yellows accented by red balustrades. The windows were all very modern but the roofs were all gracefully Japanese; curving and soaring high above with its wide eaves and multiple dormers.

Lush landscapes surround the buildings. Trimmed hedges and equally wild trees stand side by side. Cherry blossoms shine in pinks, cheerfully blooming against the gray weather. Bare deciduous trees glisten, dews sparkling preciously from its thinnest branches.

Warmth enveloped us as we proceeded inside. A sculpture of a dog stands guard over the lobby; Hachiko perhaps? Well I’m not really sure. The place was packed with guests lounging about and enjoying their late lunch. The view from the second level is amazing; it’s just too bad that Mount Fuji is in hiding.

Numerous small waterfalls and koi ponds swimming with huge colorful fishes litter the back garden of the hotel. A maze of stone trails wound its way through numerous gardens. It was all very confusing so I let my feet choose where to tread.

A watermill stopped me on my tracks. I’ve read about it in books, I’ve seen it on the telly, but I haven’t seen something like it in person, ever. A real working waterwheel scooping buckets of water from a murky pond.

A rain of cherry blossoms fell and I continued my journey. I lost sight of my companions but I kept on. My feet slowly following a wet stone path. Trails lead to places and I wanted to see those places.

I was alone and I can see that the path my feet chose led to an old Japanese shed. A dead end? But perhaps not. I can see just a hint of stairs, narrow and made of stone, descending down. I was thinking of turning back, I felt alone in this strange place. But my feet seemed to have other plans. It strode forward and took steps towards the stairs.

A dead end. But my eyes caught something beyond the bushes. I brushed the thicket aside and found a lone and deserted temple.

Fujiya Hotel
Address: 359 Miyanoshita, Hakone-machi, Kanagawa-ken 250-0404, Japan
Contact Number: (81) 460-82-2211 | (81) 460-82-2210
Rates: Click Here
Website: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: 35.244222,139.058955
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here