Lakad Pilipinas

PAMPANGA | A Wild Night at Widus Resort and Casino

2012-05-27T23:22:00.001+08:00

Let’s meet at room 3402 later, words that were being passed around as our luggage was being stowed off the bus and we were being herded to check out the rooms and amenities at Widus Hotel in Clark, Pampanga. It was Lakbay Norte’s last night and a strange bond seemed to link the busload of travelers that were pure strangers just a week ago.
A gurgling fountain set on dark slate rocks in the middle of the lobby surrounded by minimalist white walls gave me a good preview of what this hotel has to offer. Formerly dubbed Hotel Vida, the hotel has now been transformed as the hotel component of the Widus Resort and Casino.

A quick tour of the premises revealed a well-equipped gym, a cozy spa, a curious sundry shop and an expansive lawn with a huge pool that has slides for kids and a sunken bar for the older peeps.
Widus’ rooms are equally impressive. We were bunked on a Family Junior Suite and wow; it was simply beautiful. The white clean walls contrast with the warm tones of the comfy sofa and the dark wood of its cabinets. The room’s soft warm light seemed to be inviting us to just lie down, relax and never go out again.
The room’s amenities include a bathtub with 8” shower head, a refrigerator, microwave oven and a 32” LCD TV with cable; perfect for staycationers. But the thing I like the most about it is the verandah. I’m really just a sucker for balconies, I can stay there forever, writing, sipping coffee or just staring into the horizon for hours on end.
After resisting the urge to lie down on their soft bed, I headed to our rendezvous at room 3402; party time! The Lakbay Norte guys were all ready with beers and yakisoba’s for a night of Pinoy Henyo. The room erupted with hoots and laughter as the game started and I fear the room’s walls were not soundproof enough for the racket going on.
Early the next day, everyone headed to the Salt Coffee Shop for breakfast, one of the three dining options in the hotel. It was the most extensive breakfast buffet I’d ever seen; fruits, sausages, bacons, hash browns, baked goodies, and all sorts of fresh and fried stuff. They seriously seemed to have everything!
After a week of shuffling around various hotel rooms around North Luzon during the whole Lakbay Norte 3 tour, I’d have to say hands down, Widus Resort is the finest hotel of the bunch. The best is indeed saved for the last.

    Widus Resort and Casino
    5400 Manuel A. Roxas Highway
    Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
    Telephone: (045) 499-1000
    Website: http://widus.com/
    GPS Coordinates: 15.190275,120.525255 | Click to view location on Google Maps

ANGELES CITY | Dinner at The Verandah

2012-05-26T00:02:00.001+08:00

The Lakbay Norte bus smoothly ran through three hours of rolling afternoon landscapes at the SCTEX. The view outside was poetic but inside our bus, all hell was breaking loose; the team had just discovered Pinoy Henyo and everyone was rolling and howling with laughter all over the narrow hallway.
We were all plastered and hungry by the time we reached the parking lot of the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Pampanga. Dinner was gonna be at The Verandah, one of the restaurants at the renowned tee club.

We filed through their well-lit corridor and seated ourselves on a long table in their dining hall. The restaurant was dimly lit with wooden chairs and marble tables matching its wood and glass interior. The team however was still as rowdy as kids in kindergarten class despite the very adult and posh ambience of the place.
I imagine the floor to ceiling windows opposite the dining area looks out over the greens, but since it was too dark to see outside, I wasn’t really able to tell.
A few minutes later and the food arrived. We were served a cup of pork sinigang for starters and was quickly followed up by crispy fried chickens, seafood curry, fish fillet and chop seuy.
Everything was pretty okay, but their fried chicken stood out the most for me, and well apparently for everyone else as well. It was gone faster than you can say where’s the chicken. It was such a big hit that a second serving followed and was also gone as soon as it hit the table.
I’m not sure what’s with their fried chicken, it seemed as ordinary as any fried chickens can be but everyone seemed to be on the lookout for some more.

Our time at The Verandah had been brief, but most were still talking about the fried chicken as we walked out into the dark night and boarded our bus.

    The Verandah
    Mimosa Golf & Country Club‎
    Manuel A. Roxas Highway
    Angeles City, Pampanga
    Telephone: (045) 866-5143

    GPS Coordinates: 15.187251,120.516543 | Click to view location on Google Maps

ZAMBALES | The Ritz Tropical Spa at Subic

2012-05-25T01:41:00.001+08:00

Being on the road for a week; exploring dark caves, riding raging waters on a rubber raft, speeding on mini F1 racers and doing all sorts of sporty adventurous stuff that I’m really not used to makes me yearn for a bit of respite. A soft comfy bed at night or better yet a full body massage perhaps.
On the seventh day of the Lakbay Norte loop, I got my wish; the group was gonna be treated for a full body pampering at the Ritz Tropical Spa in Subic. Everyone was looking forward to this part of our trip and we were hopping down our tour bus like rabbits after a carrot as we stopped in front of the spa.
The Ritz doesn’t look like much outside, their signboard needs a bit more glitz and the façade is pretty nondescript; mottled yellow walls, woven sawali ceilings and to make it more confusing two Shishi Chinese lion guard its entrance.
Everything changes though once you enter their glass doors; their lobby is beautifully decorated. Amber-colored wall line the octagonal lobby, softly lit by luminous capiz windows framed by billowing white curtains and glowing golden leaves overhead. The effect is calming, as if giving us a good preview of the next hours in their hands.
After a quick shower, some headed for their bubbling Jacuzzi before trooping to the massage houses located at the maze of seemingly old and rustic cottages at the back of the spa.
Named after spices and flavors, the cottages are finished in rough concrete painted in vibrant hues of yellows, greens and blues. Old wooden doors, capiz sliding windows, rusty vintage lamps, weathered lintels and carved railings saved from old houses are all charmingly incorporated in the design.
Dressed in robes, we were asked to lay face down on the massage beds, we’re gonna be treated to a Swedish massage. Cool minted oil was slathered on my body and the graceful yet strong hands of my masseuse started gliding over my haywired muscles. I felt every fibrous strand of my muscles relax as she expertly applied pressure all over my body.
I was trying so hard not to fall asleep, wanting to savor every relaxing stroke over my tired body. And as far as I can recall, I didn’t or at least I think I did not. It was hard to notice the passing minutes and before I knew it, she was saying we were done. I can’t believe an hour has already passed, it was over much too soon.
We then tried their sauna afterwards but I can only stand sweating rivers for ten minutes and had to get out and shower after.

Fully rejuvenated from our weeklong fun and strenuous loop around North Luzon, I was thinking maybe we can extend our tour and do one more week; and perhaps we can visit The Ritz in Subic afterwards again haha.

    The Ritz Tropical Spa
    Blk. 76, Bicentennial Park, Rizal Highway, CBD
    Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales
    Telephone: (047) 252-6088 | (047) 252-3342 | (047) 252-3347
    E-mail: the_ritz_tropical_spa@yahoo.com

    GPS Coordinates: 14.824133,120.28951 | Click to view location on Google Maps

ZAMBALES | Subic’s Jungle Survival at Pamulaklakin Forest Trail

2012-05-24T01:59:00.001+08:00

He flips the bamboo, scratches off thin strips off its outer skin using his sharp jungle bolo then clumps them together and starts vigorously rotating a small piece of wood over it. Seconds later a puff of white smoke emits from his work and fire eventually flare all over the bamboo strips.
Meet Kasuy, an Aeta jungle guide at Subic Bay Freeport’s forest, he’s gonna be our survival instructor inside the Pamulaklakin Forest Trail. He has been teaching American G.I.’s how to survive inside jungles before and he’s gonna be teaching those same things to us.

Kasuy is quite the character; dressed in his native garb, he spats out funny anecdotes and jokes as well as he manipulates his bolo to transform a single trunk of bamboo from a water cup, a rice cooker, a fire-maker, a spoon and fork (or a chopstick if you’re Japanese) and finally a toothpick. Producing a whole kitchen with a single trunk of bamboo is one mean feat.
After his cooking demo, he led us into the jungles of Subic; passing a mini bridge and into a trail. Thirsty? He began chopping a tree branch and lo and behold, drinkable water! Droplets of water that is, but I bet your ass you’d be more than happy to have that if you happen to get stuck in a forest with no Gatorades in your backpack.
He then directs us to plants that can be used as medicines and went on to demonstrate traps that can be used for monkeys. All these he did with such gusto and comic that you can’t help but be convinced that he really enjoys what he’s doing.
I had my misgivings at first regarding the show that they’re putting on. At first glance it looks as though their being Aetas is somewhat being exploited for show, making an entertainment industry of the country’s indigenous tribes. But after reading H’s take on this, I began to realize that this may be one of the few ways that they can still retain and share their culture with city dwellers like us.The short hike ended at a clearing laid with a buffet of traditional Filipino dishes; ensaladang talong with ampalaya, crispy tilapia, chicken barbeque, sinigang na hipon and kalderetang baka. Paired with rice cooked in bamboo, who could ask for more, really.There were tables and chairs set up along the banks of a small stream and I hurriedly saved a seat near the water, washed my hand and didn’t bother to use a spoon and fork; there’s nothing like eating Filipino dishes with your bare hands. I dig the chicken barbeque and the crispy tilapia so much! Our refreshments were of course served in bamboo, similar to what Kasuy made earlier in his demo.
A lesson in survival, a trek through tangled growths mixed with lots of laughter in between and an excellent lunch afterwards; when we’ve already seen quite a lot of what North Luzon has to offer during the pass few days, it’s not a bad way to start the seventh day of Lakbay Norte.

    Subic Jungle Survival Training
    Pamulaklakin Trail
    Binictican Heights, Subic Bay Freeport
    Subic, Zambales
    Telephone: (047) 252-4242 | (047) 252-4123 | (047) 252-4032
    GPS Coordinates: 14.805722,120.330162 | Click to view location on Google Maps

    Rates & Fees:
    Sightseeing (with Guide) - Php50.00
    30-Minute Mini Jungle Tour (with Guide) - Php50.00
    2-Hour Ecology Tour (with Guide) - Php250.00
    Overnight Jungle Tour - Php500.00 + Php50.00 every succeeding night
    Picnic - Php50.00
    Picnic Table - Php150.00

TARLAC CITY | La Maja Rica Hotel

2012-05-22T23:25:00.001+08:00

It was the sixth night of Lakbay Norte and everyone was already feeling the effect of non-stop traveling through the roads of north Luzon. After a full day of cruising through the Dawell River in Dagupan and speeding through the race tracks of Kart City Tarlac, the group called it a day and retired to the La Maja Rica Hotel.

This 40-room boutique hotel at the heart of Tarlac City was once a junkyard of sorts. Before the hotel, a half-century old warehouse once stood on its ground. The Pascual Family took notice of this and decided to transform the eyesore into something beautiful; the La Maja Rica Hotel.

The Mediterranean-styled hotel is a no-frills lodging house; the rooms are simple but aptly furnished, the beds are standard and the toilets clean. A kidney-shaped swimming pool can be seen from the open corridors and is available for guests. A bar is located right beside the atrium where live bands perform.
I spent my Lakbay Norte night at the bar, listening to the band and drinking beer while doing my daily notes. In hindsight, I should’ve dumped all my cameras and laptop in my room and should’ve gone swimming instead hehe.

La Maja Rica Hotel may not be as fanciful as the other hotels we’ve stayed in during our eight-day northern tour but it has all the basic things one needs for a restful night; a clean room, a nice soft bed and of course, wi-fi!

    La Maja Rica Hotel
    McArthur Highway cor. Ligtasan St.
    Tarlac City
    Telephone: (045) 982-2314 | (0918) 427-9228
    E-mail: info@lamajaricahotel.com
    Website: http://www.lamajaricahotel.com
    GPS Coordinates: 15.483501,120.595121 | Click to view location on Google Maps

QUEZON | Lucban’s Pahiyas Festival

2012-05-21T01:23:00.001+08:00

I can hear the Holy Mass starting again at the old Lucban Church as we finished our silog breakfast at the Sucre et Sel Café. The pavement was wet and muddy as we emerged from the ancestral house-turned-eatery and walked with the throngs of tourists visiting Lucban for this year’s Pahiyas Festival.

Every 15th of May, the town of Lucban in Quezon celebrates the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron of farmers. The tradition started way before the Spaniards conquered the Philippines.

According to www.pahiyasfestival.com, in olden times the people of Lucban would offer food and crops to the anitos or the local gods after a good harvest to ensure a healthy yield for the coming year. The tradition was continued even as the Spaniards arrived; whereas they would store their offerings on a small hall before, this time Lucban Church became the place where they would bring their bounties and the priest would in turn bless them.
As the community grew, so did their harvest; and in time the church’s space was not enough for the town’s bounty. The parish thus decided that instead of the people bringing in their produce, the priest would be the one to visit them at their homes along with the image of San Isidro and bless their crops which were then displayed on their yard. The annual fiesta was originally named after the patron saint, it was only during the mid-70’s that the term Pahiyas was coined by Fernando Nañawa, then the president of the Art Club of Lucban. The moniker came from the local term Payas, which meant to decorate.
Only the houses where the image of San Isidro would be paraded upon are decorated during the festival and since it takes a fortune to decorate each house, the routes are rotated annually to those that haven’t experienced coloring their houses yet. And since I’m visiting Lucban for the first time, I really have no idea where to start.
My point of reference was the Lucban Church, I was pretty sure that the festival would just be around its perimeter somewhere, and I wasn’t wrong in my assumption. Just a few minutes walk and we found a house filled with kipings and rice grains. A marching band soon emerged from a street corner and started blasting hornfuls of fiesta favorites.
The local band was trying to liven up the somber grey skies above but failed miserably as drizzle rained on their parade. Rain was not enough to dampen the festivities of the day though; umbrellas were up in no time and the Pahiyas Festival continued.
The last time I saw anything so colorful was at the Aliwan Fiesta in Manila; but that pales in comparison to the scale of the Pahiyas Festival; we’re not talking of colorful people in costumes here but whole houses! The amount of time preparing each and every detail of each house is astounding.
Think of any color and you’ll see it on display on the streets of Lucban. The hues of the rainbow are all well represented in vibrant and shocking hues through all kinds of farm produce and Lucban’s traditional kipings; the wonder product which was brought to the country by Juan Suarez during the Galleon Trade Era from Acapulco.
It was said that its inspiration came from Mexican Tacos. Back in Lucban, Suarez tried to incorporate local products in creating his own version of tacos. The end product was kiping which was made from rice galapong. The term was derived from word kipi or kinipi which describes the process of drying the liquefied rice by pressing it against something heavy.
These kipings are what makes the festival in Lucban very unique; any other towns can decorate their homes with colorful tapestries but without kipings, it would be just another fiesta in an unknown town.
The atmosphere started to get more and more festive as we turned each street corner, finding more elaborate house designs besides the traditional kiping flower icon. Some homes used colored coconut shells, rice stalks, straw mats, colorful hats and fans, strings of ginger, bamboos, anahaw leaves, eggshells and real live grasses. One house even have moving life-size figures, reminiscent of the 80’s Christmas mannequin shows in C.O.D. Cubao.
The clouds eventually cleared and blue skies arrived. The heat was blinding but people flooded the streets of Lucban like there was no sun above.

The Pahiyas Festival is clearly for people who like to have their photos taken. Most houses offer niches where one can pose for the camera and some even allow tourists to go up to their second floor and pose on their windows while a friend waits below to take their photos. I admire the hospitality and generosity of the Lucban people for allowing complete strangers into their own homes.
It takes quite a while to circle the Pahiyas route and it can definitely take toll on one’s stomach. But never fear, the rumbling in your tummy is something you never have to worry about while in Lucban, there is food everywhere! From the modesty-dropping pancit habhab (Php10.00), fried Lucban longanisa’s in sticks (Php20.00), unending variations of Batangas kakanins, leaf-wrapped kesong putis and most surprisingly, deep fried or barbecued colorful kipings (Php10.00)! Even the street fares at Pahiyas Festival are colorful!
My feet were protesting as we rounded one more street corner and saw that we had already circled this year’s Pahiyas route. It took us more than four hours exploring every colorful house in Lucban but it didn’t felt like it took that long; only our aching feet and sweat-drenched shirts indicated the time it took to go around the loop.
Even though I’m really not hungry yet, after gobbling leaf-fulls of pancit habhab and other what-nots along the way, who would be? But since my feet were already giving out, I guess lunch would not be such a bad idea. We again ate at a local hole-in-the-wall; a second serving of longanisang Lucban for me. I’m so glad there are no Jolibee’s and McDonalds in Lucban.
With my feet rested and my tummy well compensated; I brought out my cameras, donned my hat again and prepared to circle the Pahiyas loop once more. My travel buddy incredulously asked if I was serious; the sun was blazing down unforgivingly at the once wet morning pavement. With the number of houses we passed earlier, I am pretty sure I missed not a few details that can only be seen on second passing, indeed I was serious.

And so, I again entered the colorful streets of Lucban; immersing and losing myself for a second round of the organic swirling rainbow colors of the Pahiyas Festival.

    Lucban Pahiyas Festival
    Every 15th of May
    Lucban, Quezon
    GPS Coordinates: 14.114919,121.5537 | Click to view location on Google Maps

    How to commute to Lucban, Quezon:
    Board an HM Bus bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna in Cubao (Php149.50.00), ask the driver to drop you off at the
    jeepney terminal going to Lucban. Take the big jeepneys with the Sta. Cruz - Lucban signboard (Php49.00),
    you can topload if you want but the road is zigzagging and the drivers are pretty fast so extreme care must
    be taken. Alight at the jeepney terminal and hop on a tricycle to town (Php10.00 per person)

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES
LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

QUEZON | Lucban’s Sucre et Sel Cafe

2012-05-18T20:56:00.001+08:00

The last meal I had was a pack of instant pancit canton six hours ago and my stomach was starting to protest as we went off the Lucban church ground in search of morning grub. I heard of a somewhat peculiar café near the historic Lucban Church from a fellow traveler that only opens during the Pahiyas Festival; Sucre et Sel Café it was named.

Literally translated, the name means sugar and salt. But being foreign to tongue, I held off asking the locals where the café was located. Fortunately it was really not that hard to find, being located at the east side of the Lucban Church. A tip for those who want to check the place out, just gaze upwards at the second floor of the houses besides the church and you’d find its carved wooden signboard.

Sucre et Sel Café looked like a typical ancestral house with its ground floor converted into a store selling local Lucban delicacies. We asked the store clerk if the café was already open and she led us into the second floor of the house.
We passed a dim hallway, through a flight of stairs and into an airy dining hall filled with metal chairs wrapped in rattan and glass tables. The floors were of wide hardwood planks that typifies houses of this type. Capiz windows line two of its dark wooden walls with the central one looking directly to the stone façade of the Lucban Church.
We ordered tapsilog and longsilog through their open kitchen, traditional Filipino breakfast fare fit for a morning at the province. Well, there really wasn’t much of a choice since all they have besides those two was Teriyaki Chicken (which I must say was really at odds with their atmosphere and offerings).
While waiting, we watched the streets go busy through the huge central window. The sky turned grey again but the light drizzle didn’t seem to dampen the crowds visiting Lucban for the annual Pahiyas Festival. Merchants were opening their stalls in the middle of the street, kesong puti sellers weaving through the throngs with their wares slung on their tough shoulders along with balloon and taho sellers. The crowd’s getting thicker by the moment.
Our meals arrived some minutes later, it took a quite a bit but we didn’t mind waiting; it was a treat to hang out at their window.

Sucre et Cel’s tapsilog beef jerky was a bit tough but has a nice slightly sweet flavor. Their longsilog which consist of a pair of crispy traditional Longanisang Lucban was excellent as was to be expected of the famed garlicky sausage. It would have been better though if they added another piece of longanisa since the portions are way too small.
One pet peeve I have about Tapsi houses are their claim to serve fried rice when in actuality they do not; unfortunately Sucre et Cel Café is guilty of this.

Nevertheless, the café’s ambience, more than passable food and very affordable price make it an interesting food destination if you happen to find yourself in Lucban during the Pahiyas Festival.

    Sucre et Sel Café
    113 A. Mabini Street
    Lucban, Quezon
    Telephone: (042) 540-1523
    GPS Coordinates: 14.114458,121.554097 | Click to View Location on Google Maps

    How to commute to Lucban, Quezon:
    Board an HM Bus bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna in Cubao (Php149.50.00), ask the driver to drop you off at the
    jeepney terminal going to Lucban. Take the big jeepneys with the Sta. Cruz - Lucban signboard (Php49.00),
    you can topload if you want but the road is zigzagging and the drivers are pretty fast so extreme care must
    be taken. Alight at the jeepney terminal and hop on a tricycle to town (Php10.00 per person)

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES
LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

QUEZON | Lucban Church - San Luis Obispo Parish

2012-05-17T21:51:00.001+08:00

It was the 15th of May and all roads led to the small sleepy town of Lucban in the province of Quezon. This was the day the sleepy town comes alive with rainbows of colors; it was the annual Pahiyas Festival.

With no idea where Lucban was, we took a chance and visited the province to partake in one of the most colorful festival in the country. The journey by bus and provincial jeepney took four long hours through chilly winding roads. We alighted at the gates of Lucban as the town was slowly waking up to a gray and drizzly morning.
I approached a vendor selling bundles of the famed Lucban Longanisa and inquired where the festival was, everywhere she said. Well that was pretty vague; I decided to follow up with a more specific question, is the church located nearby? I got my specific answer.
Most old towns in the country have whole villages built around its church and plaza and I assumed from the photos I’ve seen on the net that this would be true in Lucban’s case. Its church is pretty old and I presumed that the festival would probably revolve around its perimeter.
A mass was being held as we approached the stone walkway leading to the 419 year-old cathedral; the Church of St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse. Surprisingly, it was not named after the root of the town’s festival which was San Isidro Labrador the patron of farmers, but was instead titled after a Catholic Bishop who was once a cadet of the Royal French House of Anjou.

The first incarnation of the lime and cement cathedral was constructed in 1593. A reconstruction was made between 1630 and 1640 but was met with tragedy in 1733 when fire razed its lofty halls. The church was brought up from the ground five years later.
The ravages of Second World War partly damaged the structure in 1945 and its final restoration took place in 1966 with the aid of the National Historical Commission.

But it does not take a history major to perceive the years Lucban Church has been through; one only has to look at its beautifully aged and faded walls, the weeds growing in its niches, its arched doors and stained windows, the cloud-shaped façade and its three-tiered bell tower topped with a weather vane.
Lucban Church’s interior is much in contrast with its exterior. Where the latter is rough and aged, the former is smoothly painted in light yellow tones with accents of Trompe l'oeil styled artwork here and there. Golden chandeliers hang along its nave and the dome at its transept is painted in a striking blue hue, most probably representing the clear heavens above.
The mass ended and the clear bongs of its bell rang through the now bustling town. The clouds seemed to clear and the verdant slopes of Mt. Banahaw reared its green head in the not so distant horizon. The throngs of the faithful started trooping out of the church, ready to taste the color and hues of this year’s Pahiyas Festival.
    Lucban Church - The Church of St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse
    La Purisima Concepcion st. Cor. A. Mabini st.
    Lucban, Quezon

    GPS Coordinates: 14.114919,121.5537 | Click to view location on Google Maps

    How to commute to Lucban, Quezon:
    Board an HM Bus bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna in Cubao (Php149.50.00), ask the driver to drop you off at the
    jeepney terminal going to Lucban. Take the big jeepneys with the Sta. Cruz - Lucban signboard (Php49.00),
    you can topload if you want but the road is zigzagging and the drivers are pretty fast so extreme care must
    be taken. Alight at the jeepney terminal and hop on a tricycle to town (Php10.00 per person)

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES
LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

TARLAC CITY | Go Karting at Kart City Tarlac

2012-05-16T18:28:00.001+08:00

The flag was waved and I pushed the gas of my go kart as hard as I can. Hard right, full throttle forward, an s-curve, hard left and a looping right curve; the wind was whipping hard through the open kart, everything’s a blur and my adrenaline was pumping high. Welcome to Kart City Tarlac!
The Lakbay Norte crew was welcomed by Mr. Pio Arugay, one of KCT’s brainchild and he immediately led us to their videoke room.

Kart City’s fame is not limited to high-speed chases; they also serve a mean panizza. It’s basically a thin crust pizza sliced into strips that you then roll into bite-sized balls. We never minded that we’re still full from our lunch at Matutina’s Seafood, KCT panizzas (and regular pizzas as well) are simply superb.

While munching on their delicious pizzas, we were then briefed on our karting session. It was gonna be a relay rally. The Lakbay Norte team was grouped into four with each member doing at least ten minutes around the circuit. The team with the most number of laps wins the game.
Everyone donned their racing helmets and were off in a blur. The track is straightforward enough for new go karters but not too simple to be a bore for those who have been into the sport for quite a while. I love the adrenaline of pushing the gas pedal to the max, flying off the asphalt and overtaking a fellow racer.
I’m not sure how many laps I did, but it was not enough. The flag was waved and it was over much too soon, I want more!

To douse our speed addiction we were again herded back to the videoke room where a buffet table greeted us. The TV was turned on, the songbook opened and the mic passed around. Crispy fried chickens, sinful crispy patas, egg-ridden pancit canton, and squid with veggies filled our plates while beer bottles were uncapped and the videoke blasted on.The night went on as almost everyone had their chance in belting out their favorite tunes in synch with the revving of go karts outside the window. The alcohol I’m sure contributed to the evening’s fun atmosphere. Kart City Tarlac is not only for the adrenaline addicts but for food junkies as well.

     Kart City Tarlac
     MacArthur Highway, San Roque
     Tarlac City, Tarlac
     Telephone: (045) 491-4053
     Open Hours: 3:00PM to 12:00AM
     Rates: Php120 for 5 Laps | Php200 for 10 Laps

     GPS Coordinates: 15.477897,120.596173 | Click to view location on Google Maps

URDANETA CITY | Matutina’s Seafood Restaurant

2012-05-14T16:28:00.001+08:00

Being a TV-soaked kid in the 80’s, the first thing that came to mind when I heard that the Lakbay Norte gang’s gonna have lunch at Matutina’s was of us eating at a long table filled with all sorts of sumptuous seafood dishes with Matutina of the 80’s John & Marsha TV show character doing the serving.
But when in you’re in Pangasinan, ask any of the locals and the same imagery would probably be conjured, sans the squeaky-voiced Matutina character in the background of course. Matutina’s Seafood is a household name in the said province; it equates to good dishes from the sea much like Dampa is for the Manileños.

An hour has not passed since I devoured a whole arm-length grilled bangus after the Dawel River Cruise in Dagupan City and here we were again, noisily piling in at the Matutina’s Seafood restaurant branch in Urdaneta City for another round of foodfest.

It was noontime and the place was packed. The décor was very Filipino; bamboo wall panels, traditional capiz sliding windows, karitela wheel spokes and rattan woven metal chairs on warm wooden tables; outside, thick wooden chairs and tables lay around the covered garden.

Matutina’s Seafood restaurant started out as a sidewalk turo-turo stall in Tondaligan beach providing simple dishes to local beachgoers. It has since grown into two full-pledged restaurants in Dagupan City, one in Baguio City and another in Urdaneta City.
Now to the food! There were no starters, we were immediately barraged with all sorts of dishes; standard fare pork barbeques, platefuls of Ilocano-favorite Pinakbet, crispy nilasing na hipon with kropek and of course, the world famous grilled Dagupan bangus.
My favorite was the nilasing na hipon with kropek; I love how crunchy and flavorful the shrimps were. The whole thing, heads and tails included, is dipped in special vinegar, much like a chicharon. The leche flan dessert was also excellent, perhaps not as good as the ones my grandma used to make, but good enough.
Matutina’s Seafood’s claim to fame might be of former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo’s proclaiming it is one of her favorite restaurants, but really, no such praises is needed for Matutina’s; their food speaks well enough for themselves.

    Matutina’s Seafood
    Nancayasan Highway, Brgy. Tulong
    Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
    Telephone: (075) 531-1814

    Other Branches:
    Bonuan Beachfront
    Bonuan Tondaligan
    Dagupan City, Pangasinan
    Telephone: (075) 614-3162 | (0917) 642-1466

    Baguio City
    19A Legarda Road, Baguio City
    Telephone: (074) 446-9009

DAGUPAN CITY | Dawel River Cruise

2012-05-13T02:34:00.001+08:00

Huge colorfully decorated bangus sculptures greeted us at the wharf leading to Dagupan City’s newest tourist attraction. The breeze coming from the Dawel River was refreshing as the Lakbay Norte team boarded the floating platform that would tour us along the green waters of the river.
Similar to the famous Loboc River Tour in Bohol, Dagupan had also launched its own river cruise. It has almost the same rectangular boat capable of seating sizable amounts of tourists and it plies a similar scenic route. Only difference is that there is no buffet table and there’s no band serenading the visitors.

Not to worry though, those are in the works. Improvements are being implemented as they go, the tour being still in its early stages.

Pangasinan’s Dawel River is not always as clean and green as it is now. It used to be full of bangus fishpens that Dagupan is known for, but pollution and fear of massive fish overkill due to the uncontrolled number of pens made the local government act a clean up of the river. The banks are replanted with mangroves and the fishpens regulated.
Indeed, the hour-long cruise passing through Dawel and Watac-Mamalingling Rivers is really aimed at showing off how beautiful the waterway has now become. The water is free of garbage, its rich green hue matched by the thriving mangrove trees along its shores.

Munching on local kakanins, our peaceful reverie was broken as we were told to transfer to a smaller boat to check out the city’s pride; the world famous Dagupan Bangus.
The smaller boat swiftly skimmed over the emerald surface of the river, crossing over the shallower part of the watercourse which the viewing platform cannot navigate. We soon alighted and crossed a narrow clay path that serves as a border for the milkfish farm.
The harvesters were already ready with their nets as we watched them close in on their catch, looping the circle of nets closer and closer until arm-length milkfishes had nowhere to go but to the fishermen’s containers.
The harvest over, we continued with the cruise. Another quick stop had us planting a few mangroves along the way before doing a u-turn back to the wharf.
The tour concluded with a bonus. The multitudes of bangus caught earlier were grilled and served smoking hot with fish bagoong and calamansi.

I cannot describe how good Dagupan’s bangus were! The challenge of deboning the fish was well worth it once you dip its soft meat in the salty sour sauce. It was simply the best grilled fish I had ever tasted.As of the moment, the tours are still free of charge and can be availed by contacting Dagupan City’s Tourism Office. The viewing platforms are also available for events like wedding receptions and other activities. The small catamarans can hold 25 persons while the larger one can seat up to 45 individuals.

And here’s what I think would be the best way for the Dawel River Cruise to gain popularity; serve fantastic milkfish dishes to the tourists on board the cruise, add some classic Filipino songs in the mix and I’m betting the river tour tickets would sell like hot banguses fresh from the grill.

     Dawel River Cruise
     Dagupan City Tourism Office
     Telephone: (075) 515-6196
     E-mail: rtengm@dagupantourism.com | simon@dagupantourism

     GPS Coordinates: 16.059776,120.339518 | Click to view location on Google Maps

BAGUIO CITY | A Night at Camp John Hay’s The Manor

2012-05-12T00:08:00.001+08:00

I cannot believe that I’d be staying at Baguio City’s premier hotel for one night.

I always fancy staying at The Manor every time we visit the City of Pines, but its rates are too steep for mere mortals like us. We’d usually just saunter in their lobby, checking out the fireplace, the quirky political chess pieces at one of its nooks, then head over the gardens at the back for some photos.
The air was chilly as we alighted from our Lakbay Norte bus and unloaded our baggage at the hotel foyer. Warm lights illuminated the expansive wood-paneled lobby, the blazing central fireplace warming the nippy Camp John Hay night coming in from the hotel’s open doors.

Designed by Architect Ruben Payumo, the four-star hotel is instantly recognizable with its Canadian fir logs façade. It sits on a hilltop, the former location of the camp’s main clubhouse, emulating a classic European Manor towering over the land.

I found a welcome letter on my bed as I plunked my bags down. I munched on the complimentary cookies as I read the personalized letter with my name on it, really nice touch.

The room was beautiful as I expected; soft fluffy beds, plush sofa, huge flatscreen TV and spacious and clean toilet. The décor was simple, muted yellow and white walls dashed with splashes of orange for accents. The lighting was warm and inviting. Being in Baguio, there was no need for air-conditioning.
Although everything was perfect, there was only one thing that didn’t really clicked with me though; it doesn’t look like The Manor. I was expecting something that resembles the log cabin look of its exterior and lower floors, but there wasn’t one hint of their famous façade inside their rooms.
A tour of the premises was in order after we were all settled. From the spacious lobby, we were herded to artwork-lined hallways, their sweets shop, the dining halls and their suites. I love how they preserved their pinewood interiors; wood should be wood and there shouldn’t be a reason to paint over it. It is a beautiful material, and I’m glad The Manor shows it all off in all its grainy glory.

I also learned that I don’t have to be a rich baron to stay here, for just Php2,500.00++, I can book a room for two here during their off-peak season. Sweet!
The night was capped with a three-course dinner consisting of ratatouille soup, U.S. beef short plate in red wine shallot sauce and strawberry flambé for dessert. Whew, the names of rich-folk dishes are so complicated! Everything looked expensive and they most probably were.
Dinner was held at the open lanai facing the magically lit back garden of The Manor. Infused with multitude of stories, non-stop teasing and healthy dose of laughter, our meal lasted for two whole hours.

The cold evening air was already making its way through our thick sweaters as we finished our dessert.
Years after laying eyes on this huge log cabin of a hotel in the middle of the pine-laden Camp John Hay, it was finally time for me to bed down at The Manor.

     The Manor at Camp John Hay
     Camp John Hay
     Loakan Road, Baguio City
     Telephone: (074) 424-0931 to 43 | (074) 424-0945 to 47 | (074) 424-0950 to 53 local 1003/1004
     Email Address: reservations@campjohnhay.ph
     Website: http://www.campjohnhay.ph/

     GPS Coordinates: 16.40059,120.617716 | Click to view location on Google Maps

TAGGED | Best of Travel Photos: My 7 Super Shots

2012-05-11T00:27:00.001+08:00

I don’t know whether I should thank Aleah of Solitary Wanderer who tagged me at the 7 Super Shots game or detest her (just joking Aleah hehe). The challenge seemed easy enough at first glance; select seven of your best photos that would fit the seven themes of the game.

Well… Upon second thought, this is not really easy stuff after all. Considering I have 75,159 photos sitting on my hard drive (more than half of which I have really not yet processed), easy just got thrown out the window. It would be, as the cliché goes, like picking seven needles in a haystack.

But I want to do this, so off the top of my head here are my needles.

T A K E S M Y B R E A T H A W A Y

OCTOBER 20, 2011 | THE HIMALAYAS, CHINA

Photographed 32,000 feet over the Himalayas on my first and only trip out of the Philippines. Not wanting to miss anything, I was fighting off sleep while on board a jetliner to the Netherlands; sleep of course always wins. For some lucky reason, I woke up as we were passing the Himalayas and saw this awesome awesome view from the comfort of my airplane seat.

M A K E S M E D R E A M

OCTOBER 26, 2011 | THE HAGUE. THE NETHERLANDS

Taken on the last day of my European trip. That was actually me on the photo, I set up my tripod, ran like hell and photographed myself before going back to Manila. Winning this trip was actually something that was a complete and utter surprise for me. Never in my wildest dream that I’d be picked for On Assignment: Europe from over more than a hundred veteran travel photographers in the country and be shooting for the Lonely Planet. It’s a reminder that we shouldn’t stop dreaming and what seems insurmountable and impossible is possible if we put our minds to it.

M A K E S M E T H I N K

AUGUST 1, 2011 | BATAN, BATANES

The northernmost province of the country had always been one of my dream destinations. I was surprised to find that not only did Batanes possess beauty in its breathtaking windswept landscapes but also in its people. For one whole week, I felt nothing but good vibes from the Ivatans. Every single person we met on the road, young or old, whether they’re walking, riding a bike, an automobile or a motorcycle, they never failed to greet us. At first I thought that it was because we looked like tourists; cameras and all. But as I soon found that they also greet each other with the same warmth. Now that really made me think; why is this phenomenon limited to Batanes? Why can’t all Filipinos be like the Ivatans? There’s nothing to lose and everything to be gained if we just emulate their kindness.

M A K E S M E L A U G H O R S M I L E

OCTOBER 21, 2011 | THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS

I mean, do I even have to explain? :D

M A K E S M Y M O U T H W A T E R

FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | CASA ROCES, MANILA

My all-time favorite food are Longanisas. Unfortunately, I seem to have no good photos of them; most probably because I’m always too excited to eat them and remember to photograph after only everything has been consumed. But my second most favorite food is Crispy Binagoongans; which I have a good photo of. Taken from the Casa Roses restaurant somewhere in the vicinity of Malacanang; it may not be the best Crispy Binagoongan I’d had (that would be from Lola Idang’s) but this is definitely the most hugest one; and surprise, they’re actually good too!

T E L L S A S T O R Y

JANUARY 18, 2011 | BURNHAM PARK, BAGUIO CITY

When I was still a kid, every time I get scolded for doing something naughty my grandma would always end her sermon with the phrase “Hay nako, papunta ka pa lang, pabalik na ako.”

I ’ M M O S T P R O U D O F : M Y W O R T H Y O F N A T I O N A L G E O G R A P H I C S H O T

OCTOBER 24, 2011 | URK, THE NETHERLANDS

I know this is not really my bestest of the best photograph and I know that I can easily top this with a slew of dramatic images, but I won’t. This is the photograph I am most proud of. Taken at a small fishing town of Urk in the Netherlands, this snapshot landed the cover of Lonely Planet Magazine Philippines. My first magazine cover, ever. It may not be worthy of National Geographic, but it is worthy of the Lonely Planet at least; and that’s good enough for me.

And that was tough! And now it’s my turn to pass this problem to other travel bloggers out there haha:

Gladys of Byaheng Barok | Ivan of BatangLakwatsero | Elal of The Shades of Grey
Ding of The Pinoy Explorer | Ca of Adventurousfeet

PANGASINAN | Dasol Sunset at Tambobong Beach

2012-05-10T00:32:00.001+08:00

The sun was lowering down as we sped away from the beach, trailing voluminous dust clouds behind, leaving everything golden and heading back to the tumult of the city. Work was waiting and we have to catch the bus bound for Manila.

But that was two years ago on my first visit to Dasol, a very short daytrip due to work schedule. I was longingly looking out the window at the setting sun back then, knowing I had no choice but to turn my back to it. This time, I am ready for Tambobong’s sunset.

Well, sort of.

The afternoon was fast approaching but I was still not getting off Tambobong Beach’s placid waters. It was just too hard to stand up and leave the comfort of the low sun, the soft fine sand and the soothing cool/warm waters of the beach to get my cameras and tripod.

I looked again at the western horizon, I can see orange glows even as the sun was not yet on its sunset mode. I grudgingly got up for photography’s sake.
The first thing I noticed in Tambobong-Osmena Beach is the number of fishing boats docked along its shoreline.

The boats here are the outrigger types with ornamental fins on both ends of its body; the big ones have motors installed but the smaller crafts are paddle-powered. These colorful vessels are the source of livelihood for the people of the Dasol Bay and they also make for colorful photography subjects.
The sun was lowering on the western horizon and common sense would say that that is where you should point your camera, I was headed the wrong way though; the eastern end of the cove is where the interesting rock formations are.

I knew from the way the clouds were forming over the eastern sky that it would be blanketed with dramatic colors even if it was on the other end of the setting sun. At first I thought I was mistaken as the sun was suddenly trapped by thick cloud cover and the sky colors went dead.
My hopes went up again as the sun reappeared. Now much lower, it painted a strong magenta hue over the eastern sky. I cannot hope for a more dramatic backdrop for the jagged rocks of Tambobong Beach.
The tide was coming up as I waded farther and deeper along the craggy edges of the cliff-like formation of the beach. Using my tripod to gauge the depth, I stopped as my tripod can no longer go without dipping my camera into saltwater which would immediately make it into a very expensive paperweight.
The sun dipped, and the colors flared its last breath of color. I didn’t get as many frames as I would’ve wanted, my target location was already way beyond reach due to the incoming tide. But still, it was a good sunset shoot. One of the better ones I had in a long time, in fact.

    Tambobong Beach
    Brgy. Osmena & Brgy. Tambobong
    Dasol, Pangasinan
    GPS Coordinates: 15.931093,119.786167 | Click to view location on Google Maps

    Matabang Beach Resort
    Brgy. Osmena
    Dasol, Pangasinan
    E-mail: heyse.pineda@gmail.com
    Telephone: (02) 425-4980 | (0905) 245-5425 | (0928) 937-7701
    Website: http://matabang.multiply.com
    GPS Coordinates: 15.93107,119.788128 | Click to view location on Google Maps

    How to get to Tambobong Beach by Commuting:
    From Manila, board an Alaminos bound bus (Php300.00). Alight at Alaminos and board a jeep going to Burgos
    (Php27.00) and ask the driver to drop you off at the Burgos Market. From there, rent a tricycle (Php200 to 300.00)
    to Tambobong Beach or Matabang Beach Resort.

       2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
       DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH
       DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH

       2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
       TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT
       AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

PANGASINAN | Underwater at Dasol’s Tambobong Beach

2012-05-08T22:56:00.001+08:00

The warm water enveloped my body as I dived into the calm turquoise water of Tambobong Beach. From the images I saw at Google Maps, Dasol Bay looks quite promising for underwater fun; it was spotted with different shades of green, indicating a rich a marine environment.
The clarity of Tambobong’s water is excellent as I swam my way from the shore to its deeper regions. It took me a while though as the seabed has a very gradual slope. I got pretty far, having no fear of being dragged by the current, the water being as calm as it was.

The cove’s underwater life is indeed quite healthy. Sea grass and flowers are blooming profusely under its green surface with a few colorful corals every now and then.
I understand that this is a fishing village and I know that Dasol is no Coron but I was a bit disappointed with the number of fishes I saw as I snorkel even in its deeper parts. There are colorful fishes, yes; but not in multitudes like most snorkeling sites in the country. The fishes here are naturally afraid of people and quickly hide whenever I get too close.
Still, I guess the fisherfolks of Tambobong must be practicing correct fishing methods as small fishes still thrive here, replenishing the bounty most people around the cove live on.
Aside from the vibrant fishes, I also saw quite a few sea slugs and starfishes on the sea bottom. There were also rare encounters with eels (or were those seasnakes?) and apple-sized jellyfishes.
One interesting feature of Tambobong’s water can be found on its eastern end where saltwater mixes with freshwater that seeps out from the jagged stones along its bank. Here the water shifts from warm to cold and clear to filmy in matter of seconds. It’s an eerie experience especially if you’re swimming alone.
Considering that Tambobong Beach is really not a tourist destination and most especially it being a fishing village; I still got to enjoy gliding over its calm green waters. The fishes may be few and the corals may not be as abundant as those in Coron and Balicasag but its wild underwater garden was enough for me.

       2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
       DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH
       DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH

       2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
       TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT
       AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

PANGASINAN | Dasol’s Tambobong Beach Revisited

2012-05-07T22:58:00.000+08:00

We were eating dust. The road to Tambobong beach is a real pain and the mood in the open-aired jeep was sour. I thought that after two years of absence, the situation would improve, but it didn’t; we passed the same bumpy, arid and dusty road for a good half hour before the turquoise waters of Dasol Bay assured us that there’s some point in subjecting ourselves to this kind of trip.
Caked in dust, the first thing I did after helping bring our luggage down was to jump in the water. I just removed my shorts and dived in with only my boxers on. The hardships of the 7-hour trip was forgotten and melted to nothingness as I immersed my body down the warm blue-green water and the fine sandy depths of Tambobong beach.

Like the previous summer we were here, we again checked in at the Matabang Beach Resort. I heard that there’s another resort facing the beach now, but the hospitality of Matabang’s owners and the simple and laid back atmosphere of the resort made it a no-brainer where to check in.
With lunchtime the only break, I again dived back and explored the eastern end of the beach. The water here is weird, similar to Coron’s Twin Lagoon. As I snorkeled my way; I immediately noticed the temperature switching from very warm to cold and back to warm again in a matter of a few seconds; the visibility also trembled from excellent clarity to muddled filmed-over view, it was like looking at an extremely out of focus photograph.

The first time I encountered this at Coron I was extremely weirded out. But this time, I now knew the reason for such; the meeting of seawater and freshwater. Matabang Beach Resort didn’t get its name from nothing; the reason for the name is the freshwater spring at the back of the resort; and this same spring also seeps out from the jagged rock formations at the eastern side of the cove.
The rocky side of Tambobong beach is littered with jumping ledges and caves. We tried to check out one of the caves but it was too dark and cramped inside. It’s also a must to use reef shoes as the rocks are quite sharp and can easily bruise.
After swimming all the way to edge of the rocky cove and back; it was time to recharge. We headed to the halo-halo stand a few meters from the shore and had one glasses each. Well, they had one; I had two and a half. Nothing beats an ice-cold halo-halo right beside the beach.
The last time I visited Tambobong, I wasn’t able to stay overnight and had to go back to Manila before the sun lowered down the horizon. This time, I made sure that I’d be staying overnight and experience what I was not able to experience before; stargazing on the beach.
Unfortunately, our stay at Tambobong coincided with the brightest moon of the year; it was supermoon night and the stars got drowned by its brilliance, the beach appeared to be illuminated by a giant lightbulb. An R.E.M. song played on my mind and we immediately stripped off and ran to the water. The water’s warm to our skin but the sand was cool beneath our feet. Stories and laughter were passed around as we dipped and swam under the bright moon.

The evening was getting late as we made our way back up to the shore. I recall the crazy dust-ridden drive on the way here and looked back at the moon’s warm yellow rays over the water of Tambobong beach; all those dust I ate was definitely worth it.

    Tambobong Beach
    Brgy. Osmena & Brgy. Tambobong
    Dasol, Pangasinan
    GPS Coordinates: 15.931093,119.786167 | Click to view location on Google Maps

    Matabang Beach Resort
    Brgy. Osmena
    Dasol, Pangasinan
    E-mail: heyse.pineda@gmail.com
    Telephone: (02) 425-4980 | (0905) 245-5425 | (0928) 937-7701
    Website: http://matabang.multiply.com
    GPS Coordinates: 15.93107,119.788128 | Click to view location on Google Maps

    How to get to Tambobong Beach by Commuting:
    From Manila, board an Alaminos bound bus (Php300.00). Alight at Alaminos and board a jeep going to Burgos
    (Php27.00) and ask the driver to drop you off at the Burgos Market. From there, rent a tricycle (Php200 to 300.00)
    to Tambobong Beach or Matabang Beach Resort.

       2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
       DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH
       DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH

       2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
       TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT
       AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

BAGUIO CITY | Airsoft Shoot ‘Em Up

2012-05-05T01:23:00.001+08:00

Slowly inching my way through the thick underbrush, the sunlight piercing through the tops of the giant pine trees and my hand firmly gripping a heavy submachinegun; I felt I was part of some elite black ops unit somewhere in Laos or Vietnam.
But it was all make-believe. What I have in my heavy gun were plastic pellet ammunitions and I was not in some far-flung godforsaken place; in fact I’m in Baguio City, at the backyards of the Baguio Country Club.

The main activity for the sixth day of the Lakbay Norte 3 tour was to mercilessly shoot each other out at the pine forest of Baguio City.

Being hit with pellet bullets is really no fun and I’m sure I’m not the only one who was having second thoughts in joining the mock war game. One of the participants summed it up when he said “Ayaw na ayaw ko talaga yung nasasaktan ako” (The thing I don’t like the most is getting hurt). I agree two-hundred-percent-ly with him.

But what the hell, I don’t think I’ll get another chance in playing Rambo for free, so hard-hitting pellets notwithstanding, I went ahead, got my jacket on, picked up a gun, donned my mask and proceeded to the killing fields.Airsoft games originated from where everything cool usually starts, Japan. Being barred from owning firearms as a consequence of their notorious participation during the Second World War, they instead made air powered replicas of it with pellets as bullets.

The game has now spread throughout the globe with scenarios as straightforward as last man standing, to capture the flag games, to more complicated kidnapping scenarios and having enemy infiltrators within your own team which can either rack painful pellets behind your back or join your cause.Most airsoft games are set on urban locations but with Baguio City, we get to play them on lush pine covered forests.

The city’s cool air didn’t help though once we roughed it out and crouched and crawled our way to our enemy camps, firing guns without discrimination. The going was hot, rough and dirty. Freakin’ fantastic! There’s nothing like hearing zings of pellets passing just a few centimeters from your face and giving them some pellets to eat too.
The whole afternoon was spent squeezing triggers, never letting go ‘til it was too dark to play. We crouched, we crawled, we fell and we squeezed the life off all the ammos we had through the weedy underbrush and towering pine trees. I am a pacifist at heart but playing airsoft totally rocks!

     Play Airsoft Games in Baguio
     Baguio Airsoft Club
     http://baguioairsoft.proboards.com/

BAGUIO CITY | Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant

2012-05-04T00:23:00.001+08:00

It was weird to be suddenly in Baguio without enduring the usual six-hour bus ride from Manila. An hour hasn’t passed yet since we ate lunch at La Union’s Capitol and here we were preparing to chow down again, this time at Baguio’s Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant.

Te Quiero, which literally means I Love You, is one of the newest food joint in the City of Pines. Part of the Microtel hotel in Baguio City, it sits loftily above the towering pines of the city.
The restaurant has a modern chic interior; white and yellow walls, huge windows, red furniture and lots of textures. I specially love the airy dining hallway that’s lined with red paintings over a stone wall. On one side Te Quiero’s windows open to the bustling Victory Liner bus station, but look on the other and you’d see nothing but pine tree tops.

I really don’t know what to expect of their food, having no idea what a Tapas Bar was. Stupid me thought it was some sort of posh tapsilogan but upon receiving our food; I’m pretty sure it was not haha. Okay, Wikipedia to the rescue:

Tapas (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtapas]) are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid). In select bars in Spain, tapas have evolved into an entire, and sometimes sophisticated, cuisine. In Spain, patrons of tapas can order many different tapas and combine them to make a full meal. In some Central American countries, such snacks are known as bocas.

Te Quiero’s name should’ve been a dead giveaway I know, but isn’t the tapa in tapsilog Spanish too (or is it?). Alright I’ll stop before all my eight readers unsubscribe; enough of my dim-wittedness, lets dig in.
For starters, the Lakbay Norte team was served with Calamares & Chips. The calamares was very tender but has enough outside crunch. It compliments the chips and although the dip was somewhat unusual; mashed potato with olive oil and garlic, I really loved it.
Next on our table, Ham & Cheese Panini; this one’s real heavy. We were still full from lunch but that didn’t stop us from wolfing everything down though. These are excellent when hot but with Baguio’s cool weather you better eat ‘em up real fast.
Te Quiero’s Strawberry Shake kept everything shaking. I’m no fan of strawberries but I really love this. The sweetness, sourness and texture are just spot on.

Everyone was gut-bustingly full as we exited from the restaurant. With Te Quieros relaxing ambience and delectable offerings, we just cannot say no; full stomachs and all.

    Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant
    Microtel Hotel, Marcoville
    Upper Session Road, Baguio City
    Telephone: (074) 619-3333
    GPS Coordinates: 16.406148,120.602621 | Click to view location on Google Maps

SAN FERNANDO CITY | Lunch at the Provincial Capitol

2012-05-03T06:30:00.000+08:00

Standing majestically on top of a hill overlooking San Fernando City is La Union’s massive Provincial Capitol.

Originally located at San Fernando City’s current City Hall, it has been transferred to its present location after the Japanese bombings of the Second World War. Construction started in 1949 and was finished a year after.
Unifying the province’s 19 municipalities and 1 lone city, the Capitol stands as a testament to La Union’s name which literally means The Union.

The massive Capitol sports a Neo-Classical look, with towering pillars out front and terraced balconies on its east and west axis. It would have been more formal if painted in white, but I guess pink is okay too.

Dubbed as the People’s Capitol, it’s generosity to its people extended to the Lakbay Norte 3 group as we made our way through its cool interiors for our midday meal.

We were served local delicacies along with fresh fruits inside one of the Capitol’s airy halls.
Dinakdakan, an Ilocano dish compromised of grilled pork cut from a pig’s ears, snout and cheeks. The meat is sliced into small portions and mixed withy onions and chilies among other spices. I’m guessing this is totally popular with beer drinkers.
Pinakbet, another classic northern recipe was also present at the buffet table. Although I’m not a fan of this particular dish, my aunts and uncles dig this like its ice cream. The combination of okras, eggplants, stringbeans, chilies, squash and the dreaded ampalaya (bitter melon) mixed with shrimp paste sends most kids screaming from the dining table. I guess Pinakbet is an acquired taste, but I never seem to acquire it how much I try.
My favorite among the dishes served was the Grilled Blue Marlin. It’s a straightforward grilled delight and I love its subtle smoked fish meat taste.

Our time at La Union’s Capitol may be brief but it was enlightening nonetheless, not only did we acquaint ourselves with the province’s colorful history but also with their unique dishes.

    La Union Provincial Capitol
    Aguila(Zig-Zag) Road, San Fernando City
    Telephone: (072) 242-5550 ‎
    GPS Coordinates: 16.613043,120.318325 | Click to view location on Google Maps

LA UNION | Hiking through Bacnotan’s Holcim Ecotrail

2012-05-02T06:30:00.000+08:00

The first destination for the fifth day of the Lakbay Norte 3 tour was at La Union’s Holcim compound. Today we are going to walk; as evident on my blog’s name, I love walking be it on hard concrete or rough trails.

A brief introduction was in order before we took off. Holcim is a Swedish mining company that supplies cement and aggregates for construction. They have four cement production sites across the country and is one of the leading cement suppliers around the world. Sounds bad for our environment right?
So what’s an ecotrail doing in their production yard? It turns out Holcim isn’t like many of the big bad mining companies out there. They’re actually trying to promote a sustainable way of mining; greening their mining locations, making it as good or even better if its possible than when they first touched the land.

The Bacnotan Ecotrail in La Union is just one of their green projects. Made not only for the enjoyment of their staff, it is also meant as a recreational area for the general public as well.

After introductions were made, we started on the trail at nine in the morning. The sun was just starting to heat up, casting golden colors on the rustling leaves overhead. An ascending dirt path lined with bamboos signals the start of the trail. The air was starting to get humid as we went up. Here we go!
The well-maintained path is lined on both sides by nothing but greens. Our silly chatter, broken only by birdcalls and nature sounds.

The trail is really not that long, taking only about a quarter of an hour to fully traverse. It is not a walk in the park though, almost half of the path winds up and down through the hilly forest. It was a leisurely if somewhat tiring walk.
Afterwards, the team was moved to a bare land that has just been mined by the company. The place was as desolate as desolate can be; there were a few trees at the perimeter but most or the land was just raw earth.

Committed to be a responsible mining company, Holcim has already planned the long term redevelopment of this bare land into a lush park.
We helped plant trees hoping to reap a greener landscape after five to eight years. It is interesting to note that even though the company could have just bulldozed everything, they left a few towering landscapes. They say it would be an interesting feature after the land has been greened to a park.
But I’m still having doubts; are they really serious in their endeavors? My questions were all answered after we had a quick snack at a grassy knoll where a colorful Harry Potteresque tent was put up.

We again headed to another trail, this time a planted forest from a mined location. Our guide says it took more than five years for the trail to reach its current woody-tangled-up status. Although the trees are not as tall as the previous ecotrail yet, the forest looks lush and healthy. Nowhere can I see the dried-earth look of a mining location.
Aside from the current green trails at the compound, Holcim is still bent on improving everything like having campsites, treehouses and other outdoor activities for the local community.

To say that I’m impressed was an understatement. It’s not everyday that you hear a mining company that’s trying to do things right. The industry which is usually associated with the destruction of our environment has been given a new light by Holcim; let’s just hope all others follow suit.

    Holcim’s Ecotrail
    Quirino, Bacnotan
    La Union, Ilocos Region
    Phone: (072) 888-4252
    GPS Location: 16.769582,120.335312 | Click to view location on Google Maps

LA UNION | Sunrise at San Juan’s Kahuna Beach Resort

2012-05-01T06:30:00.000+08:00

Us who likes cameras like sunrise and sunsets. Unlike the former, sunrises are harder to shoot since you have to wake up earlier than normal and lumber through the dark all by your lonesome self. The Lakbay Norte 3 caravan rolled into San Juan, La Union the night before and we got to have our very first beach front; finally a chance to shoot a sunrise.
With only three hours of sleep due to an almost all-night chat session with the guys (good thing there were no beers involved or I would probably be unable to wake up for the sunrise, or was that a bad thing?), I woke up to my quacking alarm and proceeded to the still dark beach of La Union.

I’ve never been to La Union and I really don’t know what to expect of their beaches. I knew they have good waves here, strong enough for surfing in fact. But what I was really looking for were rock formations along the shore that would be good for a bit of landscape photography.
Alas, it looked like they have none of those. All I saw were sand and sand and sand. The beach of San Juan may not have the white sands of the more famous beaches in the country but it is pretty fine in itself.

With no foregrounds to anchor my photos, I contented myself with surfboards, lifeguard towers and the crashing waves.
Mornings at San Juan are quiet affairs; with only surfers, locals and a few stray dogs walking along its sandy banks, the only sounds were the wind accompanied by the booming waves. The dark sky soon turned into magentas and the sun rose; time for breakfast.
The Lakbay Norte team soon started filling the Kahuna Beach Resort’s dining area which has a direct and very open view of the beach. Nothing beats a steaming traditional tapsilog meal with vinegar right in front of the beach.

While waiting for my breakfast to be served, I spotted some rocks in the distance using my telephoto lens. Goodness, it’s what I’ve been looking for all morning!
I ran off with my cameras after I made a quick meal of my tapsilog. Braving barking dogs and splashing waves, I tried to do a quick shoot before we were all herded back into the Lakbay Norte bus.

I wasn’t really pleased with the end result but I at least know where to go at the ungodly morning hours for a sunrise shoot the next time I drop by San Juan.

    Kahuna Beach Resort
    MacArthur Highway
    San Juan, La Union
    Telephone: (072) 607 1410
    Website: http://www.kahunaresort.com/
    GPS Coordinates: 16.65811,120.321576 | Click to view location on Google Maps

PUBLISHED | Smile Magazine’s North Bounty

2012-04-29T22:39:00.001+08:00

I was sipping my chilled coffee at the porch of the white-clapboarded coffeehouse at Baguio’s Camp John Hay when A plopped down a couple of travel magazines on the café’s wooden table. “Let’s check out our next destination” she says.
There were a couple of Smile Magazines, the official publication for Cebu Pacific Airlines, and my mind began to whirl. I was actually looking for the current issue of this magazine a few days ago as some of my food photos from the Lakbay Norte 3 made it into its glossy pages.

So off I went to the magazine rack and there it was, the April issue of Smile Magazine.

Although I can’t take the copy home, I was able to check out and photograph its pages. The article about northern food delights is written by another Lakbay Nortier, Sam Shoushi and three of my photos made it into the final cut.
It’s really not much, but this is my first time to get published on an airline magazine. Big thanks to Sam for the referral and Cebu Pacific for considering my photos print worthy.

The April Issue of Cebu Pacific’s inflight magazine can be viewed and downloaded here: Smile April 2012

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS | The Headware

2012-04-28T22:50:00.000+08:00

I once asked Ed of SoloflightEd why he got an expensive Headware than buying a much cheaper bandana to use for his travel. He explained that it was much better than your regular biker dude bandana and proceeded to demonstrate its uses. Still, considering it is ten times more expensive, I was left unconvinced.

A week ago, I got a chance to test this wonder bandana called Headware in Baguio City after being sent a couple of samples. The first one’s a limited edition Marvel-inspired Headware that’s a bit too colorful for my taste (so I gave it to A instead) and the other’s a much more conventional black floral design that I kept.

The cloth was really soft and as I tried to put it on and I was surprised how easy it was to breathe through its fabric.

Although I only got to use it for an anonymous profile portrait for my Facebook account and didn’t get to try it on an actual shut-eye situation, I’m pretty sure this would be a sure-fire way to sleep through a long bus ride.
The Headware’s tubular design makes it easy to wrap on one’s wrist when not in use. It also doubles as a handy hanky to keep your face sweat-free during long walks. Plus it just looks plain cool too.
With Baguio’s chilly weather, I was able to use my Headware to keep me warm by wrapping it around my neck. I also like how it perfectly reduced the friction from my camera strap which always gets my nape sore after a full day of shooting.
Depending on your preference, its colorful designs can make for a flamboyant ponytail or a scuunci for girls while its simpler designs are perfect for long-haired rocker dudes (you can even do an Axl Rose on this one hehe). Using it as a balaclava and headscarf is also quite easy; just slip it on, adjust it a bit and it’s an instant ninja headscarf.

Being always out on the sun, I love wearing my Headware as a dustmask with my hat. Aside from its obvious use as a pollutant deflector, it also keeps my head cool from the sun. The fabric being stretchable and breathable makes it a comfort to wear all day.
Another thing I like about this product is how easy it was to clean. I have zero knowledge on washing clothes, but washing it was a piece of cake. And more wonders, it dries off quickly too.
After a week of walking around in Baguio, I am now convinced why every traveler should have a Headware. Aside from its super flexibility; it can transform from a simple headband to a tube top and skirt for girls, it also doesn’t fly off like your regular bandana when encountering strong wind.

Headwares cost from Php240.00 to Php425.00 depending on its design; with its functionality and quality I have to say that it is well worth its price.

* PHOTOS OF YOURS TRULY BY ANNY OF CHOCOLATE SKIES

    The Headware
    How to Wear your Headware
    http://www.theheadware.com
    https://www.facebook.com/the.headware

POSTCARDS | Into the Pine Forests of Baguio City

2012-04-27T14:29:00.001+08:00

Across North Pine’s verandah is a hill full of towering pine trees; I haven’t seen so much trees on a residential area in Baguio City. From morning coffees at the deck, I can see a trail leading deeper into the woods. We followed this dirt path one chilly afternoon, climbing upwards through pine-needled forest floor, passing joggers, bikers and horse riders. I’ve always been fond of trails and this one branches everywhere. After running around and getting lost for a bit, we eventually climbed a pass that led us to the grounds of Camp John Hay. Perfect, time for some ice-blended coffee!

THE POSTCARDS SERIES ARE ONE-PHOTO JOURNAL ENTRIES TO FILL IN THE GAPS WHEN I’M OUT TRAVELLING.
I HOPE IT’S ENOUGH TO GIVE FLAVOR OF MY CURRENT WHEREABOUTS WITHOUT SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY
STARING IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP WHEN I COULD BE WALKING AND SHOOTING OUTSIDE :P

POSTCARDS | Cool Summer at Baguio City

2012-04-26T20:01:00.001+08:00

Escaping the suffocating heat of Manila, we boarded a northbound bus to the summer capital of the Philippines. This is my third trip to Baguio City this year and my first time to ever come up during the summer season. I didn’t bring a jacket with me this time, expecting a not so cool Baguio. Boy was I wrong; the air is nippy even at high noon! Here’s a view from our room’s verandah in North Pine Transient House. Cold weather, hot coffee, starry skies, cool pine trees, colorful wild flowers, neighing horses and kids playing baseball on sprawling green fields; I love this place!

THE POSTCARDS SERIES ARE ONE-PHOTO JOURNAL ENTRIES TO FILL IN THE GAPS WHEN I’M OUT TRAVELLING.
I HOPE IT’S ENOUGH TO GIVE FLAVOR OF MY CURRENT WHEREABOUTS WITHOUT SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY
STARING IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP WHEN I COULD BE WALKING AND SHOOTING OUTSIDE :P

Lakad Pilipinas

PAMPANGA | A Wild Night at Widus Resort and Casino

ANGELES CITY | Dinner at The Verandah

ZAMBALES | The Ritz Tropical Spa at Subic

ZAMBALES | Subic’s Jungle Survival at Pamulaklakin Forest Trail

TARLAC CITY | La Maja Rica Hotel

QUEZON | Lucban’s Pahiyas Festival

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

QUEZON | Lucban’s Sucre et Sel Cafe

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

QUEZON | Lucban Church - San Luis Obispo Parish

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

TARLAC CITY | Go Karting at Kart City Tarlac

URDANETA CITY | Matutina’s Seafood Restaurant

DAGUPAN CITY | Dawel River Cruise

BAGUIO CITY | A Night at Camp John Hay’s The Manor

TAGGED | Best of Travel Photos: My 7 Super Shots

OCTOBER 20, 2011 | THE HIMALAYAS, CHINA

OCTOBER 26, 2011 | THE HAGUE. THE NETHERLANDS

AUGUST 1, 2011 | BATAN, BATANES

OCTOBER 21, 2011 | THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS

FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | CASA ROCES, MANILA

JANUARY 18, 2011 | BURNHAM PARK, BAGUIO CITY

OCTOBER 24, 2011 | URK, THE NETHERLANDS

PANGASINAN | Dasol Sunset at Tambobong Beach

2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH 2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

PANGASINAN | Underwater at Dasol’s Tambobong Beach

2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH

2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

PANGASINAN | Dasol’s Tambobong Beach Revisited

2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH 2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

BAGUIO CITY | Airsoft Shoot ‘Em Up

BAGUIO CITY | Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant

SAN FERNANDO CITY | Lunch at the Provincial Capitol

LA UNION | Hiking through Bacnotan’s Holcim Ecotrail

LA UNION | Sunrise at San Juan’s Kahuna Beach Resort

PUBLISHED | Smile Magazine’s North Bounty

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS | The Headware

* PHOTOS OF YOURS TRULY BY ANNY OF CHOCOLATE SKIES

POSTCARDS | Into the Pine Forests of Baguio City

THE POSTCARDS SERIES ARE ONE-PHOTO JOURNAL ENTRIES TO FILL IN THE GAPS WHEN I’M OUT TRAVELLING. I HOPE IT’S ENOUGH TO GIVE FLAVOR OF MY CURRENT WHEREABOUTS WITHOUT SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY STARING IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP WHEN I COULD BE WALKING AND SHOOTING OUTSIDE :P

POSTCARDS | Cool Summer at Baguio City

THE POSTCARDS SERIES ARE ONE-PHOTO JOURNAL ENTRIES TO FILL IN THE GAPS WHEN I’M OUT TRAVELLING. I HOPE IT’S ENOUGH TO GIVE FLAVOR OF MY CURRENT WHEREABOUTS WITHOUT SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY STARING IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP WHEN I COULD BE WALKING AND SHOOTING OUTSIDE :P

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES
LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES
LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

PART OF A THREE-PART LUCBAN PAHIYAS FESTIVAL SERIES
LUCBAN CHURCH – SAN LUIS OBISPO PARISH | SUCRE ET SEL CAFÉ | PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH
DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH

2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT
AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH
DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH

2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT
AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

2012 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH REVISITED | UNDERWATER AT DASOL’S TAMBOBONG BEACH
DASOL SUNSET AT TAMBOBONG BEACH

2010 TAMBOBONG BEACH SERIES
TAMBOBONG BEACH | COLLIBRA ISLAND | CABACUNGAN ISLAND | MATABANG BEACH RESORT
AN AFTERNOON WALK AT TAMBOBONG

THE POSTCARDS SERIES ARE ONE-PHOTO JOURNAL ENTRIES TO FILL IN THE GAPS WHEN I’M OUT TRAVELLING.
I HOPE IT’S ENOUGH TO GIVE FLAVOR OF MY CURRENT WHEREABOUTS WITHOUT SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY
STARING IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP WHEN I COULD BE WALKING AND SHOOTING OUTSIDE :P

THE POSTCARDS SERIES ARE ONE-PHOTO JOURNAL ENTRIES TO FILL IN THE GAPS WHEN I’M OUT TRAVELLING.
I HOPE IT’S ENOUGH TO GIVE FLAVOR OF MY CURRENT WHEREABOUTS WITHOUT SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY
STARING IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP WHEN I COULD BE WALKING AND SHOOTING OUTSIDE :P