TONYBOY STORIES

RAINY DAYS IN BACOLOD

2011-09-26T06:02:00.000+08:00

October 15-18, 2010 - Heavy splash and roaring thunder welcomes our arrival in Silay Airport. After almost an hour trailing the sugarcane road, we are now in Bacolod City. On our first night, we are supposed to watch the Electric Maskara but since it was still raining that night, we missed it caused the festival started late.

An energized Saturday breakfast with fresh and live alimasag on the side, then just a couple of hours, we are now in Manukan Country. This alley is where all grill houses that specialized in Chicken Inasal are lined up. We toured around the malls in the area to check some dry goods before heading to Central Plaza to hopefully watch the Maskara school competition.

Unfortunately we missed it and we are back at the house again. The night was full of meaningful conversation and stories. Sunday morning was more on visiting the relatives in the area and after a bountiful lunch, we are now heading to the plaza.

At the plaza, we had a glance of the participants of the barangay division. We had to improvise something to be able to get inside full-pack house. We talked to some supporters and we are able to get an idea that we can help in getting the props inside and it worked. Inside we had good vantage point to watch the completion upfront.

We watched half of the participants showcasing their dance and costumes as they sway to the tune of the Maskara soundtrack. Halfway, we decided to have dinner at the Lion’s Park grill house. It was almost late and fewer taxis are roaming around so we decided to hire a tricycle back to the hub. Another piece of advice, tricycles comes handy in the province.

Monday was our last day and it was the moment of truth to deliver what is supposed to be done. And we had to visit her grandfather’s tomb to tell him something also. It was a simple success story and it was refreshing one. The Sinigang flavored by the green berry called Batuan was my favorite. I like it much better than the Kamias or Sampaloc.

Before we headed to airport, we had a glimpse of one of the old mansions by a rich family in Negros. It was sight of ancient and antique artifacts. The best was the flat iron they are using that time. Back in the sugarcane plantation road, heavy rain dropped again and it was sign that the typhoon up north is affecting the Visayas region.

The rain did not stop as we hit Manila roads. The rains were a blessing in disguise to fulfill something unexpected in our timeline. Another story is waiting to be written and will be added to our colorful life. Malapit Na! :-)

I will surely comeback to Bacolod. ;-)

EXEPERIENCE CAMARINES...

2011-09-08T06:55:00.002+08:00

September 25-27, 2010 It was two years ago when I landed in Naga Airport, that trip was to go to Caramoan Islands and have time to wake-board in CWC. For now, it is a different one; our reason is join the CamSur Marathon. Because of schedule differences, half of the team boarded the bus going to Naga while others have different plane routes to Legaspi and Naga respectively. Anyway, the group was completed before night time of Saturday. We check out for Cochrane apartments and luckily we found Villa Caceres which is nice hotel I can say. We had a terrific dinner in Dennis Grill just a few meters walk from the hotel. All I can say that too much Crispy Pata is not good for your health but no-no this time; we need those fats for tomorrow’s run… The intended lights-out is early since we need to be at the site before the dawn breaks. All are pumped up when we rode the bus going to different starting lines. From the group of eigtheen, two will not be running and will be there to take pictures. Sixteen of us will be running, two for 42Km, two for 21Km, nine for 10Km and 3 for 5Km. I am one of the participants in the 10km, and all can I think during that time is pure mental. Honestly, I did not train but insisted to make the cut for ninety-minute marker which I got when I reached the finish line. It was really a different experience since the last time I joined a fun run, that was two years ago and I walked the whole 3Km.

For now, this is my first official 10km result and willing to improve in the next couple of runs. To cut away the experience in Naga, we are back to the hotel before lunch time after we strolled in CWC for a couple of hours. Some stayed because they are flying back from Legaspi the next day while majority is heading to the other side of Camarines which is Daet, hometown of our Koreana girl. In Daet, we experienced the local centro lifestyle, the surfing capital of Camarines which is Bagasbas then we had relaxing time in Brickyard. All I can say, the food was great, the hospitality of our Bicolanas was wonderful and overall the bonding session was even super. Magtatagalog na ako, basta sa susunod rules are rules..hehehe..Para may time magbonding ang boys and girls..ayos ba!.... See you on the next run outside Manila, prepare for Cebu in January. Enjoy Running Happy Runners! :-D

LEAVE NO TRACE

2011-09-07T06:47:00.001+08:00

I am sure everyone who went into climbing mountains with their friends, joining a trekking community and listened on one of the basic mountaineering course of any group heard the initials LNT. LNT means “Leave No Trace” and there are principles behind it but the only thing in my mind is the word “Preservation”.

This message is not entirely for mountaineering but for the overall outdoor activities you can imagine. Last weekend, we went to Mount Manabu in Batangas to have a clean-up drive. It was a success story not in terms of how much trash we brought back from the campsite and trails but the overall sight we discovered. A sight that is full of colors, vegetation and trees.

Also along the way, we catch a glimpse of these wonderful and colorful butterflies. My favorites were the white butterfly during the socials time, then the big red one before we left the campsite the morning after, the last one was the beautiful green butterfly in the hut.

It was one of those climbs that is purely fun. The essence of that fun is the foundation of this group. Before we are overshadowed with fun, we must always remember to “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints and kill nothing but time”.

Here is nice website that covers the seven principles of L.N.T.

http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php

Please have time to read the details on each principle. ;-)

TREASURE HUNTING IN TALINIS

2011-04-23T08:22:00.000+08:00

August 26-27, 2010

It was good that the our friend's uncle house is just beside Magsaysay Elementary School which is half-way the jump-off area. Magsaysay is sometimes called as Bediao. For this exploration, we will be taking the Bediao-Apolong traverse route. On the night, we talked to our local guides who will be monitoring us during the climb. The aura of some locals there is that we are treasure hunters who will be surveying the area for gold bars hidden underneath the mountain. The story of Japanese hidden treasures is still alive in their thoughts.

For the longest time, this is actually my first time to hike at dawn on the alpha day. We were greeted with early assault until we arrived on the first view deck where you can feel the ocean breeze and seeing the islands of Apo, Siquijor and parts of Cebu.

After three hours, we saw the simple beauty of Lake Yagumgum. In documents, there are many peaks in Mount Talinis, as per his uncle which has work in the area as forester said that the original peak is this side of the lake. There is another peak which is higher situated near the second lake. So we decided to battle the two-hour uphill assault to this peak and it was a grueling one. We stayed on the top to revitalize ourselves with the cold breeze and tantalize our eyes with the garden-like environment. The numbness of our hands signaled us to start the downhill approach which is more knee-dropping. It was noon time when we reached the lake and there we took our lunch.

The view transformed from open lake to forest trees before we entered a big hole going into a flat rest area. After a quick time, we creep into the darker zone which you will feel you are really in a virgin forest. It seems there is no trail, the trails signs are not visible. There is where the importance of getting local guides to navigate the team in to the right path. We are amazed as they walked on bare foot instead of using their slippers.

The terrain changed into slippery branches and stones. After one-hundred fifty minutes, we are sneaking into two beautiful lakes which are Lake Mabilog and finally Lake Nailig which is our intended campsite. It was really a good feeling that we push ourselves to make the pace faster. We adored the calmness and cleanliness of the lake as well the camp ground. Also we embraced the chilling wind as it breezed from the mountain sides. On that day, we were only the campers in the area, it was like we owned the place. Our night was shadowed with light from the hovering full moon above us.

Again, this is the my first to take the bed at an early time. This is because there is still a big task ahead of us tomorrow. We recharged ourselves with our cooked Arrozcaldo and then we start dragging ourselves back to the main trail. The next event corresponds to uphill and downhill passages. On the last note, you will be seeing the sulfuric river below but it was still a long steep ladder walk. In the so-called dead river, we took our rest and lunch.

it was our first time to see a clear open-field in the forested terrain. The lunch was great and the power nap was even greater. For now, we are walking into the lush green, rolled into the side of the river until we got to the point to do again an assault which is the last and you will be now working in the ridges going to Casaroro Falls.

After four-and-half hours, we realized that we are already in falls entrance point unfortunately it was already closed. There we enlisted to our minds that we have completed the trial.

This hiking exploration I can say is one the memorable events in my mountain climbing experience. The slides, duck-walks, crawling, jumping, not the mention the cuts and bruises is the manifestation that preparation is the key to believe that there is a treasure beneath this land.

As for now, we are planning again to visit again this part of Negros to cuddle the pristine woodlands and water spots and this will be a three-day itinerary. There are numerous trails which anyone can take and it will entail different levels of excitement and challenge.

On my last note, we cannot argue to those people in believing that there is still Japanese hidden treasures in the area nor we cannot justify their faith on the folk-stories. I can say and I will say, Mount Talinis had a lot to offer to the locals and also to adventurers like us. The majestic blessing and untouched areas is worthy of preservation.

Our encounter with Cuernos De Negros is truly inspiring and it will serve as a treasure in our heart and minds. The hidden treasure had been uncovered. :-)

THE MODE OF RELAXATION

2011-04-22T22:19:00.000+08:00

August 25-29, 2010

The main goal for this five-day trip is to appreciate the nature views of Mount Talinis. We had no solid plan or detailed itinerary of tourist spots in the whole Negros Oriental to visit nor we tried to do extensive research.

Upon touchdown, we decided to stroll around the city proper, starting from the sea side Rizal Boulevard then we saw Sans Rival cafe which is about to open. We had an early breakfast of pasta, Sans Rival, and other native products. By the way, the coffee was great and my favorite kutsinta.

Then we headed to Robinsons mall to buy the needed supplies for the hike. The idea is to pack light since this is our first to visit this mountain. Then it was about lunch so we asked where is the best place to eat, the suggestion was to go to Maluay in the town of Zamboanguita. This place is actually the major jump-off for scuba divers and visitors going to Apo Island. It was right timing that iit was Wednesday, it is actually their market day. We saw everyone selling different goods, trading cows, goat and chickens and a lot more.

We went to the shore to take pictures, overseeing the island. There are huts where people eat, our order was half kilo of yummy lechon, tinolang isda and grilled fish. Before heading to our friend's uncle house, we visited his other relatives in the area. At night time, we talked to our guides of what is our time-line for tomorrow's hike. The story that night is they really thought we are treasure hunters. There is an urban legend that Japanese soldiers buried some golds in the nearby mountains.

An early wake up call since our start trek time is 5:00AM. For our mountain expedition, we will take the Bedia-Apolong traverse with options to hike the peaks depending on our capacity. Loaded with our packs, we were greeted with an uphill assault until we reached the view deck where you can see the ocean, hovering also the islands of Apo, Siquijor and Cebu. In our two-days adventure, we familiarized and made a unified bonding with the nature discerning the thought to come back again. The attachment made us believe
that the beauty of this mountain is a worthy one and try another route the next time.

Saturday was food-trip day as we visited his relatives in the town fiesta of Bacong. The night was filled with drinks and so much food. There we heard again the stories of treasure hunting, finding hidden gold bars and so much more.

Though we had not visited any more landmarks in this part of Negros, our mentality descended into the notion of relaxation. We, four of us had traveled from South (Apo Expedition – 9 days), North (Silence of Batanes – 7 days) and now in the Visayas Region(Negros Exploration – 5 days). Summing up, a total of twenty-one days of enjoyment, exploration and the most important is the acceptance in the confidence with each other.

As we traveled to different places, we have known each other very well, not yet to the extent of drilling into each deeper side but recognize the value of good and bad attitudes relating to each uniqueness. As we see Mr. President aka Facial Wash Boy smiles, a smile we had not seen in the long time. As we saw our couple friend, namely Ms. Korea and Boy Kweba aka The Real Treasure Hunter evolves into deeper link with each other. As for the writer, another write-up will be created. :-p

To the Apo Team, thank you for the great time and see you in our next adventure!.. ;-)

A SWEET ONE IN PICO

2011-03-10T06:32:00.000+08:00

August 21-22, 2010

That was a sweet one, I can say! An unforgettable experience for the “Happy Hikers”. This is the first time that we have exceeded the magical number 10 in terms the number of hikers joined. This includes 16 individuals and our wonder dog “Pipo”.

Pipo made this climb a wonderful one, as his parents said, this climb would had been different if Pipo was not around. The dog graced the highlands of “Pico De Loro”, conquering the mud, streams, rivers, branches, and a whole lot more. It was a humbling sight that this little mighty dog never complained like everyone else.

As we planned for this climb, we made sure that every little detail will be seen. We are expecting rain on that night, so we had brought more canvas to cover ourselves when it pours. Our food management had improved since the last time we had done it.

We had a blast starting with:

Dinner: Sinigang Na Baboy with Brocolli, Pinakbet with Lecho Kawali, Lechon Kawali, Butter Garlic Shrimps, Fruits
Breakfast: Real Chicken Sopas, Hotdog, Corned Beef,Egg
Lunch: Lemon Chicken, Kalderetang Baboy, Fruits
Merienda: Chips, Nuts and Tacos with Meat

Though it rained during our weekend adventure, I believe it is a blessing from above. He made sure that when we started our trek, no rain had dropped. He made sure that we had cooked our food before it rained hard. He made sure that before it rain again, we are done with our dinner. He made sure that it was time to stop drinking and continue with our coffee. :-) He made it also sure that we are already in safe highways of Cavite before the rain poured again.

It was like a blessing from above that these group of young and diverse individuals met. As I always said, it was not about the climb, it was not about the food, it was not about the jokes. All I can say it was all about the friendship.

See you all in our next adventure. See you Pipo... and lastly See you again Apple! ;-)

A WEEKEND OF BUTTERFLIES AND SEA OF CLOUDS

2011-01-06T09:41:00.001+08:00

July 17-18, 2010 Location: Norzagaray, Bulacan / Rodriguez, Rizal

It was one-year in the making that I finally was able to use my blue shovel for the same purpose. Together with UP Mountaineers Environmental Committee, we headed to Ipo Dam Water Shed to be part of BAROC's tree planting activity. We traveled from Balara to Fairview going inside La Mesa Watershed and Eco-Park. There we saw the restricted area where water is treated to be supplied to Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces.

Another an hour of travel, we reached Ipo Dam in Norzagaray-Bulacan. We arrived at the site after 30 minutes of boat ride, there we planted total of 400 seedlings. The team is synonymous to the World War II veterans where our main goal is to save the watershed from Japanese forces who wants to disrupt the water supply. We are hoping that this act can help in a small way to feed consciousness to those illegal loggers and poachers in the area.

Before we set sail to the river, we spotted a school of butterflies and I did not hesitate to take macro shots. To my amazement, my patience did it as I was able to take some beautiful shots. The river is also a haven to these colorful creatures.

After the successful tree-planting, our main wish was for him to shower his blessings so that the land will take a grip to these young trees. It was heaven answered as small downpour directed to the site was seen after we are back at the main office.

As our itinerary states, we still have a mountain to climb and it situated in Rodriguez-Rizal. We trek using the wide-road trail going to the campsite called “Helipad”. Rain drops were falling on our heads as we reached the camp after two hours. Challenge was the name of game during the pitching of tents and cooking because of the rain. In the cold night, we had a superb dinner namely Crispy Pork Binagoongan, Oriental Pork, Fried Eggplant, Nilagang Talong with Shrimp Paste. On the side was Fresh Melon.

We had a blast during the socials time as the newbies came prepared with their very unpredictable jokes. Even though it was a different kind of theme, the night was still full of laughter and humor. The view from the top was the lights of Manila, Rizal, Bulacan and Pampanga.

In the morning, we were greeted with the sea of clouds hovering the ranges of Sierra Madre. The feeling is so different because of the enticing beauty around us. It was a great time to drink coffee and cook our breakfast Chicken Sopas. After the group picture, we headed down to the falls to experience it.

After the refreshing dip, we freshen up again at the terminal before heading to the highways of Novaliches going back to Manila. Before we jump-off the bus, we saw a small yellow butterfly in the bus. My mind can only verbalize, “How did that butterfly entered the bus and where it came from?”

All I can say, it was really a time to appreciate our watershed, give thanks to the people who are protecting it and enlighten those who want to destroy it and pray for those miseducated individuals.

I will always remember this as a weekend of butterflies and sea of clouds!...

;-)

HIKE, SWIM AND EAT IN THE MOUNTAIN

2011-01-03T17:13:00.002+08:00

July 3-4, 2010

To start my story, I would like to take this moment to say thank you to all of us (Happy Hikers and AMCI Friends) for having a super fun weekend at Papaya River in Mount Mariveles. Pressure is out of the game and fun stayed on the right track as we trek to the highlands of Tarak Ridge.

It is important that joining in any physical activity like mountain climbing, preparation is key to success without hurting yourself and people that you are with. The basics of frequent jogging, running, ramps and stairs exercises is wonderful way of starting your journey to the mountain. But this is not enough to conquer your excitement to see green nature, it will be always a combination of both physical preparedness and emotional mindset.

Our journey started with a roller-coaster ride to the city and indeed the passengers can only say, that was a fast one!. Our goal is to reach the river first which took us five hours because of numerous stops along the trail. As we sweat ourselves with the uphill climb, these were replaced by monikers, jokes and stories that made us energetic all the time. My favorite names Mister Malaria and Boy Kweba.

After pitching our tents, we prepared our tacos merienda and after that we dip in the cold river. It was bath time while taking underwater shots courtesy of Mister Incredible, sometimes we call him the younger brother of Sergeant Almont. We really believe they have the same father. After the refreshing swim, we are now preparing our dinner, Kare-Kare with Puso ng Saging coupled with Ginisang Bagoong and Stir Fry Chickens with Black Sesame Seeds. It was a success story that we had cooked our planned recipe for the night. We had also a taste of Fruit Salad coming from our Chinese lady friend.

Our lady mountaineers went to their beds early while we stayed until all had enough. An early wake-up call since we will still do a summit attempt. No rice for the morning, instead we prepared pancakes, egg, hotdog, sausage and bread. Some took straight to the summit while others stayed only at the ridge. It was a fulfillment to see the panoramic view of Bataan on top of a mountain cliff. After that, we rushed down as we are expected to a dip again on the cold Papaya river.

In the campsite, we prepared our lunch namely Spaghetti on Red Sauce and Paste on Spanish Sardines with Olive/Basil Toppings. Both were topped with Parmesan cheese. While pasta was boiling in hot water, we took a dip and had another run of underwater and river shots. Yum Yum Yum lunch indeed!

To summarize, it was an achievement to fulfill the promise of fun, enjoyment, and not so ordinary mountain foods. This will not be successful without the help of the organizers in terms of food management and making people realize to train and endure pain before the climb date.

Just want to share this quote:

Some Miss Out On the Beauty Because They Are Afraid of Falling Off, Other Try to Climb Too Fast And Cause Their Own Fall, Then There Are The Few That Secure Themselves Before They Start Climbing and Make It to the Top

More Power to the Happy Hikers!

THE LADY ON ITS DIAMOND DAY

2011-01-02T16:46:00.000+08:00

June 18-21, 2010

A special weekend indeed that all started way back when her daughters and sons begun planning this big day. As planned, it will be a normal birthday celebration for her nothing more, to her knowledge.. ;-) The week started with sight seeing in Samal Island then on the next day we headed to Kidapawan. But before her celebration, we went to our niece 5th birthday. As usual, after eating, card games will not be out of the picture. Lake Agco is the next itinerary for the third day. We had a quick hot and steam bath. It was one way to relax before the cooking and preparation starts.

Today is a celebration for family members only and the big day will be tomorrow. The night was filled with games not only for kids but also for us. Others are on their way on catching up with relatives with stories and updates. After the dinner and games, the major cooking started since guests will be flocking the house at lunchtime tomorrow.

In the morning, we setup the tables, chairs, tents, balloons, drinks and sound system. The program started with a prayer and headed to messages from grandsons/daughters, sons/daughters and other relatives. Nanay as we call her, was excited to hear the messages but ended up with her teary eyes. It was crying moment for everyone; each has different messages to her. As for me, this place is really special since almost my young days blossomed here beside Nanay/Tatay. They have been really a great part of my life. Enough for that, I might end up crying again…

To end the crying moment, it was a surprise to the lady on its diamond day. She never expected her birthday to be like what she is seeing right now. We really can feel how happy Nanay is. As she never experienced a debut on her 18th birthday, this one is incomparable as messages, roses, hugs, and kisses were given to her by everyone who loved her so much. Wishing you good health and more birthdays to come!

:-)

ONE DAY ASSORTED FRUITS AND FLOWERS AT KIDAPAWAN

2010-11-21T11:57:00.000+08:00

This album will show assorted pictures taken. This is same day we just got back from the secret paradise in Samal Island. On the same day, we headed to Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

Most of the plants and flowers were taken at the backyard of our house in that city. The last part is from the plaza where they sell orchids and numerous variants of plants.

It was a nice sight that flowers and fruits were blooming. Right there at the backyard, we got some huge mangoes, makopa or tambis, and rambutan. Enjoy the fruits and flowers! :-)

HABAL HABAL RIDE TO THE SECRET PARADISE

2010-10-30T22:32:00.001+08:00

June 18-19, 2010

It was one day before our Davao trip that I decided to search for an adventure to be our itinerary on our first day. I saw some blogs and pictures of Canibad Beach which is termed as the secret paradise of Samal Island. In an instant, my brother and I decided to stay overnight on that day.

Our flight to Davao is scheduled early morning of Friday. Before lunch, we headed to the island to have a tour and we ended up in BlueJaz Resort where we ate and rested for picture taking. After lunch, the group decided to go home and together with my cousins, we decided to be dropped off at Babak Market.

In the market, we rented Habal-Habal to go to the so-called paradise. Our fare was P80 per person. We got two motorbikes to start our bumpy roller-coaster ride. It was combination of rough road, dirt, and swerving, uphill, downhill and butt-jumping moments. Since Canibad is on the northern part of the island, it took us almost one hour of fast lane.

You need to hike down before you reach the resort. The place is not as special as I have been to different isolated beaches in the country. It was right timing that we were only the group on that place which made it really a secret place for us. Good thing also, that the caretaker decided not to turn on the generator so it was night of classic lamp light beside us.

We had everything on our hands, the beach which is cold, the fisherman views; sharing and catching up with our cousins, sea lights of the boats and not too mention the superstition. It was a sight of maturity to our cousins since they have grown up already and they are willing to answer questions out of the ordinary.

We had early wake-up call since we will be fetched by the same transportation. On our way back, I decided to take my camera out of my pocket to take pictures while we are on the fast lane which amazingly I got some good pictures. :-)

When I was there last April 2009, I had no chance to have a session with my cousins in Davao which made this a different one. It was a night of not too much drinking, just an overdose of The Bar, sharing and laughter.

Next time, we will explore the other isolated areas in Samal. ;-)

IN MEMORY OF THE KILLER'S TRAIL

2010-10-28T22:10:00.001+08:00

June 12-13, 2010

The most anticipated climb dates of the year and it was supposed to be a continuation of a month-long preparation. Finally, the news of the cancellation for the Mount Pulag adventure was uttered and shared to its members and invites. As a result, another itinerary was selected and this was to conquer the two adjacent mountains of Nasugbu, Batangas, Mount Talamitan and Batulao.

Since we will do a dayhike on Talamitan, an early meet-up time was set. As the day starts, it was still Pulag-fever with jokes at the side. We arrived at the jump-off with the mind-set that will be a walk-in-the-park. After stretching, we started our hike and did encountered minor hardships because of accompanying sun’s heat. Pulag words were still heard, as the Talamitan River was compared to Eddet River and the cogon fields as Malboro Country.

Honestly, Talamitan is always underestimated because of its height and required trekking hours but with the scorching heat on top, trekkers are given a good challenge. At the summit of this mountain, we celebrated the Independence Day by singing the national anthem with hair-raising tone. The aura of everybody was tired and a quick power nap was seen from all during our jeepney ride to the second site.

At Evercrest, we had a bountiful lunch in order to re-energize our fatigued bodies. We headed to the pine-covered area of the club which was compared to ambience of Benguet to take an hour of rest. The ecstatic group then started the long walk to the Batulao jump-off. For this one, we will take the old trail as starting point and pitch our tents at Camp 6.

Majority were not disappointed as they displayed their new jackets to the approaching cold weather of the night. The socials time for this freedom climb was the best as all enjoyed the games, sharing, dancing, singing and jokes. No one expected that it will be a great night and it turn out as it surpassed its expectations.

We had early breakfast and then sang the national anthem again together with NCALABS mountaineering group. Some wore their barong and costumes and the eye-catcher of the day was the outfit of our Lapu-Lapu brother.

After breaking camp, we are now conquering the summit of Batulao and our friend (sun’s heat) is still there shadowing us. Some dominated their fears and successfully given the prize of reaching the summit. Rolling down the camel-back trail of this mountain was synonymous to walking the trails of Pulag grasslands.

Overall, the two-peaks undertaking was a test of physical and emotional ability. I can say and others will say also, this is one of the memorable climbs since I joined Barkadahan Adventure Recreation Outdoor Club.

At the right time, I know Pulag Killer’s trail will be experienced by this group.

To all BAROC, say Chee-Za! :-)

THE SIMPLE BEAUTY OF CAGBALETE

2010-10-27T21:49:00.006+08:00

May 29-30, 2010

Our long travel going to this island was replaced by a relaxing moment as we approached to dock in the island. We were welcomed with clear green water and white sand.

It was around 3:00PM already and we are super hungry, we waited for a couple of minutes and our lunch (Spicy Pusit, Lumpia, Afritadang Manok and Leche Plan) was served. After, we pitched the tents, some went to swimming, some stuck themselves in the hammock and some walk around. Our merienda (Pansit Bihon and Bico) was served after an hour.

We had sharing session while waiting for our dinner. Our first observation with the crew of Pansacola, they are very attentive to their guests. Though they are also catering a much larger group in the resort, we were not left out with our needs. The dinner was superb composed of Crispy Pata, Sweet & Sour Fish, Chopsuey and Mango).

After dinner, some went fishing and the rest continued the session. They came back with the biggest catch of the year, one fish. This is a sign not for them to be sad but a sure bet that are fish in the area. The story of the night was about the two prisoners and the jail warden lookout. (Hehehe).

Our morning started with our breakfast (Daing, Giniling, Egg and Bananas). The whole morning was used for swimming, jumpshots, fight scenes acting and sand dunes walking. It was like walking in a desert that resulted from a timely low tide.

We ate our merienda (Pancit Lucban and Bread) while getting ready to break camp. At exactly 12:00NN, we headed to our banca to go back to Mauban port. Along the way we experienced rain and strong gust of winds, though we arrive safely at the port, it was a one bumpy ride. We also witness a school of fish giving us a show with their flying tricks.

Overall, the experience in Cagbalete is worth the bucks including the service we got in Pansacola beach. This is also the first time I enjoyed the water because of its clear and pristine state and not too mention that it is knee-deep a few meters away.

I will surely come back to this simple and beautiful place.....

Last to say, this is the birthplace of Grupo-Grupohan... ;-)

OVERNIGHTERS MEETS DAYHIKERS IN MOUNT MAKILING

2010-10-26T21:21:00.005+08:00

Whenever you here the word “Los Banos”, it is always tagged to swimming but sometimes Mount Makiling is uttered. For this weekend, we will climb this enchanted highland. There are two organized groups, dayhikers (18 individuals) and the traverse team (22 individuals). I am part of the latter team.

We started our trek at 9:00AM and reached Melkas Ridge campsite at 4:00PM with numerous pit stops along the way. The first day was full of assault with views of Batangas area. During our lunch, we saw a small snake that is also resting while we are eating.

In this small campsite, we pitched our 12 tents realizing that there was already a new campsite just above us which can house at least 20 tents. The other groups were able to conquer that other side. We had an early dinner as well our socials since we are scheduled to have an early wake-up call.

At 4:30AM, different alarm sounds were played to wake the remaining campers. We prepared our “Lugaw” breakfast with combination of Tuna sandwich. After breaking camp, we started our assault to Peak3 at exactly 7:15AM. We had our group shot taken at that peak. Just a quick rest and now we are in the forest trail going to Peak2.

The forested trail is my favorite part of the hike because of the difficulty level. I named it as a soldiers training ground where you will learn to crawl, squat, slide, use rope segments and insert through wood obstacles.

Finally, we reached Peak2 at exactly 11:15AM, where we are supposed to meet the dayhikers and have lunch together. Since there is communication barrier in telecoms side, we decided to hike down to UPLB trail at 12:30PM which amazingly just after 15 minutes of walk, we met them along the trail. It was a united moment, where overnighters finally meet the dayhikers.

Hiking down the UPLP trail was a breeze with some attacks of the leeches along the trail. We were also blessed with some rain along the way. Before 5:00PM, we reached Station 7 which is the general marker of this side. We rest and freshen-up at Station 1 before heading back to the highway.

The Makiling traverse is a great experience because of the diversity of the trail and views. I like to try the dayhike traverse itinerary but it will require more physical and mental preparation.

See you soon Maria Makiling and Thank you for the good weather!

Congratulations BAROC!!!

BUKO, ICE CANDY AND THE RIDGES OF BATULAO

2010-10-25T07:47:00.003+08:00

April 9-10, 2010

Something or someone woke me up at around 08:30AM, Friday morning. As I reached and browse to my mobile phone, I saw some messages and miss calls. The messages are pertaining to our Mount Batulao climb, I replied and got a message back saying they are already in the bus terminal and waiting for us. Hmmm, there is a misunderstanding on my mind; I thought the schedule was a Saturday climb.

To cut the story short, I packed my things and headed to Pasay to catch a bus going to Nasugbu, Batangas. I had only charge my headlamp for 30 minutes.

I reached Evercrest at around 2:00PM and they are already waiting for me. We started the trek using the new trail at 2:30PM and reaching Peak10 at 5:00PM because of numerous Buko and ice candy stops. To my amazement, my camera only lasted for 13 shots.

But still I am happy that I was able to bring our dinner, “Bunga ng Malunggay”. Then an early wake up call to prepare for breakfast and have enough rest to shoot for the summit and traverse back to the old trail. It was a nerve racking site from Peak10 to the summit and going down from summit to Camp6 especially to those people have height sickness.

We reached the jump-off area at around 3:00PM.

Sad to say, our lady friend was not able to join us on this climb. Next time!

:-)

I had to wait for the other photos! hehe

----------
I added some photos coming from the other cameras but the owner did not change the date settings..hahaha.. ;-)

TARGET SHOOTING TRIALS

2010-10-24T22:27:00.002+08:00

April 12, 2010

For most, it will be our first time to shoot using a real gun but with blank bullets. We experienced it at ARMSCOR in Makati Cinema Square. Nine enthusiasts went on to try 9MM and 40 calibers with an average 50 bullets per person. It was enough for us to enjoy the smoke, recoil and the sound of a gunshot inside a safe and controlled environment.

The fee was a good deal and it is worth coming back to try again another caliber but it will not be soon. After firing frenzy, we went to Amici-Don Bosco to have merienda.

For those who want to try it, you can go to JETHRO or ARMSCOR and have them define their promos and fees.

Be Safe and Enjoy! ;-)

BOSO-BOSO ROAD TRIP

2010-10-23T22:23:00.000+08:00

It was a beautiful Maundy Thursday and we are set to visit Regina Rosarii in barangay Sampaloc in Tanay Rizal. We rolled thru Antipolo via Sumulong highway then made a shortcut going to Cogeo and the rest was a moment of fun and laughter on the road.

We scaled upwards to the mountains of Boso-Boso until we reached Cottage Gardens. It was a huge nature park and residential state but we only managed to take pictures by the road signage. There are only a handful of vehicles during that day. It was outnumbered by mountain bikes, racers, motorcycles and big motorbikes. The stretch of this highway is always a haven of bikers (of all types) as you always see designated stop points intended for this purpose.

A cool breeze under the heated sun, we are now on the highest point seeing Sierra Madre ranges. After 2 ½ hours of traversing from Antipolo to Tanay, we reached the home of the Dominican sisters just beside the private resort of ex-president Estrada and a few meters away from Camp Capinpin.

At the Regina Rosarii compound, we lighted a silent prayer while walking up to the hill. We also shared our blessings by donating one tree for the preservation of the compound. One note of guidance, when going to this place, please wear proper dress code, they do not allow sleeve-less shirts and wear shorts that will cover your knees.

We ate lunch at “Kainan Sa Tabing Lawa” near Lakeshore Drive in Tanay central town. Another day where fish is the main dish. The rest of the day was spent in Villa Lorenza for swimming and billiards.

Be with your loved ones in this week of bonding, prayer and rest. :-)

THE STORIES OF NAGSASA COVE (MMDA Way)

2010-10-17T11:32:00.000+08:00

March 27-28, 2010

As our itinerary started the morning of Saturday, it was excitement for most. The reason behind is that this will be the first time for everybody to go to Nagsasa Cove in Zambales aside from joining eighteen individuals and three cute mini pinschers. Our convoy rallied thru NLEX to SCTEX then passing thru Subic Freeport before heading to Barangay Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales. At 12NN, we met with Mang Florante, our designated boat master to discuss the details of the wave ride. We loaded our heavy loads onto the four bancas and sailed into the open sea. The view was worth watching as our eyes rolled to many coves in the area. Finally, after sixty minutes of splashing ride, we docked at Nagsasa.

Our merienda menu came to the rescue to our sounding stomach.

Oven Baked Fresh Tuna in Japanese Mayo with Crushed Walnut
Egg Spread in Olive Oil Infused dill herb with toasted Almonds
Yummy Bulacan Puto

After that initial merienda, it is time to cook the other merienda which are:

Fried banana wrapped in spring-roll wrapper with caramelized sugar coating topped with cream
Pancit (Canton and Bihon) with plenty of vegetables

While most are waiting for the food to be cooked, some played beach volleyball; some went to fishing; some strolled, and had power nap and others the usual picture taking and swimming mode.

With the sun setting down, it was time to prepare for dinner, our menu:

Grilled pork belly in soy bean sauce and lemon juice with pickled green papaya; Grilled to perfection
Salted grilled fresh tilapia with toasted green bell peppers, tomatoes and Salted eggs.
Char grilled egg plant, tomatoes and onions in local vinegar
Fresh fish sour soup in tomatoes, onions, peppers and water spinach
Deep fried fish

After dinner, we started the session with lots of chips, nuts and sisig under the hovering bright moonlight and beside an enormous bonfire. Since most are not acquainted with each other, we started the socials with “introducing yourself” part. In this, you can say anything about your true-self. After many rounds of cocktails, the sharing time quickly changed the aura of the night. Lots of stories, lots of revelation, lots of famous lines and lots of not-so-funny jokes. The funniest was the classic MMDA storyline.

As each individual went to their respective tents to silence the night, some stayed until dawn. An early wake up for everybody, where breakfast menu are waiting to be prepared.

Corned beef with potatoes
Tortang Talong with Bell Peppers
Hot Spanish sardines
Crab and Corn Soup
Fried Rice

In the morning, some experienced mountain climbing under the intense sun. Some strolled to the pine and river area, some had water dip and snorkeling. At 12NN, we headed back to the mainland. At exactly 2PM, we are heading back to the highway.

To summarize it all, it was a bonding session of great proportion. It is the essence of work-life balance. As new faces shared their time with the old-timers; and old-timers shared their time with the new faces. As we also shared our time with these three cuddly dogs; The planning was overwhelming but we made it sure that everyone will enjoy but still there are room for improvements.

Thank you to our Master Chef, Tent Master, Our Funny Comedians, Photographers and Models, Garbage Disponal Unit, Table Committee, Grill Masters, Grocery Boys, Kanin Girls, Fishermans, Best Umpire Boy, Dive Master’s Angels and lastly to the Doggies.

Sa Mauulit Na Pagkakataon! ;-)

ENJOYING THE SUNNY WEATHER IN TALIM ISLAND

2010-09-13T21:52:00.002+08:00

March 20-21, 2010

This is my fifth activity with this group, I’ll still remember my first which is the endless walking adventure in Mount Ugo August of last year. BAROC or Barkadahan Adventure Recreaction Outdoor Club will celebrate its 2nd year anniversary and what a way to enjoy it but to the proximate island from Manila. Total of 37 participants joined and the group is heading to Talim Island in Laguna De Bay where a towering Mount Tagapo is standing with 360 degress view of Laguna, Quezon, Rizal and Manila.

Our journey will start with a one-hour boat ride from Binganonan port to Barangay Janosa. At 9:00AM, we started boarding and from there, our banca rolled-out to this gigantic bay where still calm welcomes you and also beautiful rock formations on the left side while fish pen enclosures on the right.

We registered at the barangay and while waiting for our designated trekking start time, some strolled, some played color game while most rested at the accommodating town hall. We had also our lunch there. During our stretching session, we were accompanied by a lively music and then it switched to a solemn one during our prayer. It was timing in sync to what we are currently doing. The trek was a maze for all us and it was all about finding ample shade to battle the sun’s heat. The normal two hours was extended to another 90 minutes of walking and resting. Step by step, we reached the fired campsite at 4:00PM. It was a huge campsite but most areas are charcoal-ed so we had to squeeze everybody.

After resting and pitching our tents, it is now time to hike and enjoy the sunset view in the summit. Circling your eyes in this summit, you will see diverse illustrations from mountains, fish pens, and buildings. You can see the skylines of Manila covering Eastwood, Araneta Center, Ortigas, Makati and The Fort.

Down, down, down after the group shots and time to start cooking. After our calculated dinner, it is now time for socials. It started with the usual “introducing part”, then it was time for the invites to shine. As the group said, these set of invites were the elite circle of talented ones. The next was celebration and greetings for the March birthday celebrants where they also shared their talent and also brownies. The group did not push thru with the games because of space constraints. Including the extended socials, we turn-off the lights at 12MN after the ghost stories section of the chairman. We did not experience an all-throughout cold weather.

Our downhill approach is scheduled at 8:30AM, we had an early wake up and then prepared for breakfast. Along the way, we organized a mini-clean up drive also. We reached the town hall at around 10:00AM. Some rested, some took turns in the poso to freshen up. And what a way to refresh, buy the best seller, “Iced Sago’t Gulaman”.

We were back at the port nearly 01:00PM. Some had lunch while others went straight home.

It was a successful and simple anniversary climb. More Power to BAROC!

NANAY'S ROAD TRIP

2010-09-12T20:31:00.001+08:00

March 06, 2010 - A challenge plays!

It was Saturday morning when they fetched me at the office. I had my breakfast inside the car while seeing the view of South Expressway. Since I am designated tour guide, I need to stay awake. Our first stop will be Calaruega which they want to see for a long time now.

We arrived at around 10:00AM; the church area was crowded since there is an ongoing wedding. They walked down and up the garden to the hanging bridge area. The place is clean and organized as ever where 50 caretakers are doing the maintenance on a daily basis.

We saw a big family going down to the picnic area where they brought everything, from chairs, table cloth and their food. We went up again to the main hall going to the church. As always, it is a solemn place for soon-to-be brides and grooms.

Next, is we head down to the highway of Batangas going to nearest beach where we intend to eat lunch. So we decided to take the Lian route going to Matangbukay hoping we could have a quiet lunch. We used to swim in this public place way back then, the same aura where floating bamboo rafts is still the scene. We were disappointed with the way locals do their own way of mobbing and haggling prices in order for the visitors use their facilities. The end result, we took a thirty-minute drive again back to Nasugbu area.

A quick two hour lunch/rest and we are now driving back to Tagaytay. Along the way, we bought some pineapples and bananas. A quick tip, when you see traffic is rising from the Muntilupa side, take the Alabang exit going to the service road, then a quick exit again to Sucat going back to the expressway. It was a lucky shortcut but effective.

Hope to visit Canyon Cove in Nasugbu next time!

BREAKING THE SILENCE OF BATANES

2010-09-03T06:35:00.000+08:00

February 21-27, 2010

We went the northern most part of our country last February 21 of the same year to experience the majestic beauty of these islands. The usual way was to read about the places to go and eat, but for me it was a different one. I was trapped into researching and reading articles about the four hours boat ride going to Itbayat. This liquid form that makes our planet is my dilemma every time I am about go to coastline areas.

It was one week before the actual date that I decided to flag a red signal on my mind. As my mind uttered, “Stop reading those articles and just wait for an unexplored adventure ahead” :-D

Our seven days partnership was a combination of everything. Silence was though the dominant aura during our entire stay. It was an enjoyment to see spectacular and panoramic views. It is also a time to appreciate simplest form of lifestyle you could ever embrace.
s always, it could never be different from any place in our unique country; even this silent group of islands is not exempted from the harshness of people, politics and change.

Nevertheless, the experience was worthy one and I would always come back if given a chance.

My wish is the same as most people would say “Preservation”. But my prayer cannot do it alone.

Hoping the silence of Batanes will not be broken.

Watch out for a collection of pictures of my tour in Batanes.

CLIMBING AT THE NORTH SIDE

2010-09-01T23:29:00.002+08:00

February 26, 2010

Today, we will go into separate paths. Bernard and Cicelle will be joining in the tour going the burial caves and other landmarks. For me and Mher, will be climbing Mount Iraya, the mountain fronting Basco airport. Tita Lydia already secured us our permit and she also provided us a local guide named Toniko (aka Mark Anthony).

After our Cornsilog breakfast, we met with our guide down the hotel lobby and headed to Hiro’s café to get our packed lunch. A short tricycle ride at the back of the runway and there is our jump-off area.
When we get here last Sunday, there is already clouds hovering this mountain and still on out sixth day, clouds are still there..It is really a sacred mountain like Dinem (the island mountain), for the two days we have crossed that mountain in the sea, it has same aura as Iraya.

Our trail walk started at exactly 7:40AM, we got to the start of the assault fifteen (15) minutes after. From there, it was all assault; I believe almost 90% of the trail. We have crossed several ridges and 50% of the trail does not have signs. We do not have to worry because Toniko just said that his last climb was in 1998 when he was just a kid. (hehehe) With the smile on our face, we are confident that he knows the place very well as he says, the only thing changed were cogon reeds getting taller and foot areas are covered with ferns and vines.

As we go up and up, he made some slash on some trees and vines to make trail signs. Also as Tita Lydia says, be careful in shouting in the area as this is a majestic place, also we need to cautious to some wild animals like snakes and vipers. We were very lucky that these animals did not come out to surprise us.
Mher had synchronized his altimeter at the Tukun weather station. So at 10:30AM, we are at 800MASL and another uphill climb, we reached the 903 MASL at exact 11:00AM. We uncovered some trash along the trail so we decided to bring it down during our downhill approach.

Another 30 minutes and we reached the summit. We only measured it at 987MASL as compared to 1009MASL to some internet details. We did not push thru to the end point since all you can see is a white background. We ate our lunch and rest for about at hour.

The downhill is much harder than going upwards, with steep rock formations, muddy areas, leaves and sliding branches. We had a fair share of stumbles. Be careful with unseen vines because of tall ferns, you might get hook and fall. We rallied down for almost two hours and reaching the flat land at 3:00PM.

At the shade of coconuts, Toniko got us with fresh buko for refreshing our thirst. After the thirst quencher, we headed to Hiro’s café to take merienda but it was closed. As a bonus, we ate again street foods. As we heading back to the hotel, we called Cicelle and she let us know that Sir Elmer (Batanes Mountaineer) is asking we could met with him. Just down Abad St is the place so went straight and have a sharing session with Sir William (President of Batanes Mountaineers) and Elmer.

They will be climbing tomorrow for the Climbpalooza event. He shared the other unexplored areas in Batanes and also good spots for biking and camping.

Next time, we will be doing that. :-)

WHOLE DAY TOUR IN BATANES

2010-06-06T07:05:00.004+08:00

February 25, 2010

Honestly, this is the day that we did not wake up so early to be able to commit to our itinerary. The atmosphere outside is cloudy and we are praying and hoping that it would not rain. The slated start is 9:00AM. After our Bangsilog breakfast, our Sarao jeep headed to the church in Matahao (San Carlos Borromeo parish). We are fortunate that Father Bridge Casas was there to share the story and the restoration process of this place. The standout part of this church is the ceiling where they have used cogon reeds which is really amazing. It is one of UNESCO heritage churches in the country.

A short the old Spanish bridge then walks to one of the oldest house in Batanes, “home of Dakay” where we met with Lola Ida. Our next stop is at the Ivana port, seeing the San Jose Obrero church then we went to the docking station to see the “Jackstones”, these are used to block incoming waves. Another quick walk and you will be in the “Honesty cafe”. There we bought Palik (fermented sugar cane juice).

As we make turns and honk the horn of the jeep, next is the “Ruins of Songsong”, which can be seen from the highway. We are now stopping at a view deck near the “Old Loran station”, as the local said, it was formerly used by the US Coast Guard. Kuya Ariel also noticed that the right front tire was flat. A 10-15 minute change gives us ample time to do some jump-shots along the view deck cliff.

Right on the timing, we will be having our lunch at Racuh A Payaman aka “Marlboro Country”. Our menu includes the following, (Shoots with Egg, Sinigang Na Sea Bass, Venus-Dried Gabi stalks with Beef, Pork Stew, Steamed Tilapia with Vegetables and Suman dipped on Bucayo). There also we had taste of their red wine (Palik). During lunch we had a great sharing session with our doctor tourmates, they shared about their traveling experiences.

fter eating, we strolled to the hills seeing carabaos on the other hillsides; lighthouse can be seen from afar, two giant communication towers and coastline below. Also, we did some jump shots. Too bad, we were not able to go the Mahatao Lighthouse because of time constraint.

Our jeep rolled down to the other side going to Diura Fishing Village and then we walk uphill going to the “Fountain of Youth”. There we had a short dip on the spring water, a refreshing one. Our last stop for the day was in Matahao view deck, we decided to go down the staircases to feel the waves downstairs. At the deck, you can see Basco port and Naidi Lighthouse. Sadly, I ran out of battery.

We arrive at the Seaside hotel at 4:30PM, so I decide to recharge my camera battery to be used for sunset at Naidi Lighthouse. Before 5:00PM, we decided to rent bike again at Amboy store, unfortunately, only one bike is available, almost all are rented. The result is we had a 15-minute walk going to the lighthouse.

At 6:00PM, we decided to walk back to the town center. On the road, we had a barbecue bites at SDCBI, this is the canteen of the students of Batanes State College. Then we proceed to Hiro’s café to talk to Tita Lydia for our Day 6 schedule. After a short dinner, we immediately rested because of our uphill challenge tomorrow.

Location: South Side of Batanes

BIKING TO THE SUNSET

2010-05-15T08:11:00.000+08:00

February 24, 2010

Today is Sabtang Day, another island tour for us. We will be joining another set of tourists from the hotel. Our designated guide will be Kuya Roger and Ate Remy for the other group. The road trip going to Ivana port from the origin is around 30 minutes and 30 minutes also for the boat ride. A rough sea and lighthouse will welcome you entering the San Vicente port. While we are waiting for our transportation, we walked around seeing the school, mayor’s office, and the San Vicente de Ferrer church. At the registration area, we tried Vakul (native hat in Batanes).

Four of us decided to top-load on the rented van while our tourmates are enjoying the view inside. Kuya Roger made some short stops discussing the Idjang (fortress for native Ivatans, a very sacred place for them). Next stop is the stone houses in Savidug. Only Sabtang is preserving these icons in the best they can. Some of them are now being transformed into cemented houses for family use.

Next agenda was the Chamantad-Tinyan Sitio where you can see a view like in Ilocos Patapat Bridge. You need to do some minor trekking to see the panoramic scene of the island coastline. Down the hill is the Chavayan village which is the center of weaving, where there you can buy authentic Vakul and native products.

After a refreshing buko sip, we headed back to Nakabuang Beach and Arc for our lunch. Our menu includes, Seaweed soup, Ground Pork with Beans, Sauteed Cuttlefish, Sweet and Sour Maya-Maya, Steamed Lobster, Turmeric Rice and Buko. Some had swimming after lunch while did some photo-shoot along the beach.

At 2:30PM, we need to back at port to catch our 3:00PM boat ride back to Batan. It was a bumpy ride because we are fronting some of the big waves. Though catching some dolphins in the sea is a relaxing scene. We were back at the hotel at around 4:00PM, so we decided to rent bikes and enjoy another sunset viewing.

Armed with our bikes, we strolled and sweat ourselves reaching the second bridge just after Batanes Resort Hotel. We parked our vehicles down the road and then made a short hill-walk to get a better view. Then we need to make a 2km pedal to the center town to return the bikes. After returning, we strolled again, eating barbecues and local ice cream.

We got back at the hotel for dinner, a heavy one again. We decided to have a session after but as soon I embraced my bed, I was sleeping like an overworked horse as they have described.

Location: Sabtang/Basco, Batanes

RALLYING AND SAILING IN BATANES

2010-05-07T08:03:00.000+08:00

February 23, 2010 - It was a cold morning in Itbayat, as fog is visible from the window of our room. While we were waiting for breakfast, the boys went to the nearby plaza (along the national road) to have picture taking. As early as 6:00 AM, the elders are doing their novena at the church. Our breakfast includes nilagang baka, tapang porkchop, friend flying fish, bucayo and buko for the drinks. Our focal point today is to visit the other barangays in the area. It was rally style, cement and dirt roads while on top of small truck. We saw some government projects like the irrigation dam which did not push for some reason, the airport is still it its rehabilitation phase.

As of 2007, the census population record in this town is at 3125 which rarely increase because after high school, some of the youngsters are going to mainland Basco, Manila, Ilocos and Cagayan to continue their studies and would not come back. Would you also believe that the only president that ever visited this side of our country was the late President Diosdado Macapagal?

While eating, Kuya Tobias (our guide) brought some coconut crabs for us to take pictures. I called these baby robots because of their size, shape and magnificent colors. We also bought some organic garlic. After breakfast, we have a quick photo-shoot with our host. It was a fast one because she wants us to catch the first boat (M/B Ocean Spirit) ride back to Basco which we missed by almost 10 minutes. And the result is we need to wait for M/B Intransa which docked after 10:00AM.

With this scene, we need to wait for goods to be unloaded. The faluwa were loaded with cements, boxes, furnitures and even appliances like refrigerator and television. They need to unload all before people can board. Our departure was at 12:30NN and boat carried only 17 people including the passengers and crew. Today was a rough one at the sea; we experienced more big waves as compared yesterday. Luckily, our position is more relaxed, we can sleep which we did. Plus we had a bonus, we had a taste of fresh tanique, kilawin on the fly as the crew catched a 5-foot tanique while doing their rolling.

We were back at the hotel at 3:45PM and immediately ordered Pizza Supreme from Casa Napoli which will be delivered at 6:00PM. While waiting, we climbed the nearby hill in front of our hotel. The hill welcomes us with a refreshing view of the sunset, the bay area, town center and airport fronting the mountain. We were starving when we got back, the pizza was rapid gone.

It was only a matter of time that dinner was served. The buffet includes, Paco Salad, Ginisang Kalabasa, Nilagang Baka, Adobong Manok, Maya-Maya Sauteed in Garlic and Ginataang Bilo-Bilo. It was rest time again since we need to wake up early for another island experience.

Location: Itbayat/Basco Batanes