My Bedtime Stories

This dream will come true, God willing!

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 20:31:00 +0000

There were times when I had felt that dreams are just that, dreams. They stay in your head, become vivid when asleep, and never become reality.

Now, I ~~feel~~ know that they can creep out and become real. I learned to just believe and keep pushing in the direction of your dream, with a lot of hope and pure faith in God. In a short span of time, one by one those dreams I had became real.

Now, I have one huge dream I want to become tangible. All I have is hope, faith, trust and someone who shares the same dream. I will push, hard. I will believe, completely. I will trust in His timing, absolutely. I will pray, everyday, that this dream will come true.

#diwatarr

Gearing Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 04:10:00 +0000

Yes, I need stuff! I need the gear if I want to pursue the life of a traveler. I didn't even own a bag for crying out loud. LOL. So, in a span of 1 month, I saved up and bought what I needed little by little. Here's my list of gear bought and need to buy. I didn't realize just how much stuff one needs till I wrote all down!

40L backpack - DONE! Cheap Baclaran type with rain cover, but it will have to do for now - P1,100
5 or 10L dry bag
Headlights - DONE! - P100
Flashlight/Tent light - DONE! - P130
Snorkeling gear - DONE! - P350 - cheap Divisoria kind
Dri-fit shirts and shorts
Compression pants, leg warmers or at least leggings
Waterproof bag for money and cellphone - DONE! Again the cheap Divisoria kind for P40. I want to get the more reliable ones for P150-P200
Trek sandals
Hiking shoes/Amphibious shoes
Socks! LOL obviously I don't use rubber shoes much anymore
Sleeping mat/sleeping bag - DONE! - Again the cheap Divisoria kind of sleeping bag for P480
Tent! - DONE! From Lazada for P500 good for 4pax
Tarp for tent/Ground sheet - DONE! bu I think I need to either cut it or get another that fits better - P130
First Aid Kit - DONE! Mercury at P303
Another rashguard or swimsuit - since I lost weight, what I have are a wee bit too big - DONE! Sun Kissed P780 and MTO from IG P650
Water container - DONE! P88 from that Japanese store in Robinson's Las Pinas
Rope (also required for the BMC I plan to attend to in April)
Mesh kit/portable cooking set - although I have baonans I can use, I want the ones that come with a cooking set
Portable butane stove
Aqua shoes
Arm warmers
Gloves
Fold-able chairs
Action Camera
Waterproof jacket
Rain coat
Repair kit
Belt bag
Cap - IKR, pati ba naman cap wala ako haha
Pillow! - DONE! P100 neck pillow (turned out to be my best friend in Jomalig!)

I'm pretty sure the list will grow, but I think I have most of what I need at the moment. :) P4,751 spent so far. Not bad considering how expensive gear can be. I know I will have to invest later on more sturdy items like a better bag or tent. This will get me by for now. :)

Till the next blog! Much love.

Cagbalete Island Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 06:52:00 +0000

Finally had time to finish the blog. :)
Here's my story on our weekend in Cagbalete Island

Now off to Divisoria to buy some stuff for this weekend's Jomalig trip!

Much love.

Excited for Cagbalete!

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 22:28:00 +0000

Another family trip planned this weekend. Can't wait to beat this heat in Cagbalete, Mauban, Quezon! Will blog about it next week! :)

Much love!

Selfie Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 13:59:00 +0000

I never used to like Selfies. Didn't even really like having my picture taken, but since about 2 years ago, I've started to appreciate taking a selfie. So I have started a Selfie Bucket List! It's still growing and some have been crossed off the list already. Some are a long shot or just dreams (libre naman mangarap). You never know though, I just might cross it out at some point in my life.

SELFIE:

with a full sleeve tattoo
with Apo Whang-od or Grace
on the summit of the top 3 highest mountains in the Philippines
with a sea of clouds
with a whale shark
~~on a road trip with friends~~
lying down on white sand
jump shot on golden sand
sitting down on pink sand
~~with diving gear~~
walking on a sandbar
with a live starfish
with an endangered species
swimming above corals
with Nemo or Dory
while swimming with a sea turtle
pitching my tent on a beach
pitching my tent on a mountain
roasting marshmallows over a bonfire
jumping off a cliff into water
hundreds of meters above ground on a line
climbing roots
while rappelling
on a hot air balloon
while parasailing
while Whitewater Rafting
~~horse back riding~~
on a horse on the beach
chilling on a huuuge ass duyan (hammock)
going down a sand dune
in an outreach program
as a volunteer tutor to kids
hugging a snowman I made myself
boarding a plane on a domestic flight
getting off a plane from an international flight
watching fireflies light up the night
making water spray while on a jet ski
running down The Great Wall
having wine with the view of the sea, white walls and blue doors
spotting an alien or bigfoot in a huge working miniature exhibit
on top of an elephant
partying it out in Oktoberfest
drenched in Songkran

Firing up an old passion

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 15:22:00 +0000

Back when Multiply still existed as a social media site, I had loved customizing themes using CSS. I would offer them for free on my site, and met new virtual friends along the way. It was fun and fulfilling to see others use my themes after nights of design and coding. It saddened me that they shut down and I lost an outlet in the virtual world.

Maybe I'm a late bloomer, but it's only now that I am discovering blogging. Now the frustration of templates and not seeing what I want is making want to code and design again. I find myself searching through ever-so-reliable Google for coding late at night, instead of the usual non-sense. Design ideas running through my head and trying to figure out how to make it happen. This familiar feeling of restlessness and hunger is beginning to get stronger.

That said, my blogs may be transforming a little over time as I discover how to give my blogs a make over. I hope I don't get you guys too confused as I go. :)

Much love!
Sleep well, dream big.

Where Have I Been?

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 00:47:00 +0000

As promised, here is a list of places I've been. :)

Ang Galang Bata: Where have I been?

Much love!
Sleep well, dream big.

Lakad Tsibog: Piggly Wiggly

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:39:00 +0000

An unexpected Lakad Tsibog lead to a yummy hungarian sandwich at #pigglysouth

Read my story here:
http://lakadtsibog.blogspot.com/2016/02/piggly-wiggly.html

Much love!
Sleep well, dream big

Lakad Tsibog ni Roobs at Mike: Kenchan Ramen!

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:35:00 +0000

The other night, I joined my brother who was in the mood to ride around the village on his motorcycle. I realized then just how many places there were to eat in our village, BFRV Las Piñas! Then I find out my brother apparently had eaten in almost all. So I suggested that he take to his top 5 places to go. He suggested something even better. "Ate, let's try the new ramen place tonight, kunin lang natin pera ko sa bahay." My brother is treating me to ramen, how can I say no? Hehe.

We agreed that he would take me to 2 other places on Monday night (watch out for that blog!), but tonight was the ramen he has been dying to try at Kenchan Ramen. It's a new place, just 3 months old, along a main road of the village, Gloria Diaz Street. Their sign can be seen right away and looks very inviting.

We parked and then realized just how small it was. It didn't look that small when you drive by. They only had 3 tables, one of which was long and could accommodate about 5, and 2 square tables that would be tight for 2 the way it was set up. When we got there only one of the smaller tables was free.

The waiter was very, very nice. He talked about the differences of what was on the menu and knew his menu well. The service was awesome! That alone places a big star in my book for Kenchan Ramen. We decided to get the Tonkotsu Ramen and an order of one of their meals that had Tori Karaage, Tonkotsu Ramen, Coffee Jelly dessert and iced tea. I am honestly not very familiar with Japanese food, and have only tried ramen once so I may not be a good judge on the authenticity of the menu, but it was gooood!

The Tori Karaage, a Japanese style deep-fried boneless chicken, was served with a mayo-based dip and cabbage on the side. The chicken strips were tender and very tasty. The serving size is good for 1. The Tonkotsu Ramen on the other hand was a big serving! My brother and I couldn't even finish our bowls. It had pork strips, egg and mushrooms in a cream-based soup. Not spicy, so if you want spice, you can add chili powder that is readily available. Their other best-seller, Shyoyu Ramen, is the soy-based soup that was spicy. The level of spice though could be adjusted by request. Next time, we will try that. We were so full we had to take home the dessert. The Coffee Jelly is very small and a little bland, but after all the strong flavor I appreciated it's blandness.

Price-wise, it was worth the money, A little pricey for an everyday meal (P200+ for the ramen and P300+ for the meal). They deliver with a minimum order of P600.

Apparently, the Japanese owner, Kenchan, was only testing the market, hence the small place. He didn't expect to have so many customers in a day, many of which did suggest that they find a bigger place. Because of that, in April they intend to open a restaurant along the main road of Las Pinas, near Casimiro. It will be open 24 hours and will have more food selections. That was music to my ears, ramen at 3AM would be awesome!

A big thumbs up to Kenchan Ramen! That's a 4/5 busog rating from me. :)

Much love!

Sleep well, dream big

Laguna: Nagcarlan and Liliw

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 23:03:00 +0000

I guess there is a reason why my other trips were postponed. One of which, I believe, is because it had to give way to a trip with family and family friends. My Mom's best friend's daughter, Rina, was looking for other people to join her trip to Laguna, and my sister thought Mom would want to go. It was trip any senior could go on since it wasn't too physically challenging. And I was glad we went. Mom has a good time. :)

Where to in Laguna? A resort in Nagcarlan, Laguna, where apparently my stepfather had lived in for 4 years, and a side trip to Liliw, Laguna, home of the Liliw footwear.

So here was the plan and proposed budget:

Unfortunately, it was a rainy Saturday making it pretty darn cold. This part of Laguna did not have hot springs so we were all worried we wouldn't be able to take a dip in the waters. But we still pushed through. We opted to leave in the afternoon so that it would allow for a lot of rest and less stress for the seniors.

We got to Nagcarlan without getting lost, thanks to my stepfather and Waze. When we got to Villa Sylvia Resort, the place felt secluded. The fan rooms were the first thing to see, lined with the parking area. The room was big with 4 beds that could fit all 12 of us. We opted for the fan room instead of the air-conditioned ones since it was already cold and we figured the air-conditioned rooms would just leave us freezing all night. We could grill in front of our room under the trees and we were provided a long table and chairs (very kind of them since it wasn't part of the deal really). It wasn't peak season so only a few people were there (yey!). We rented a videoke, cause everyone with us loved to sing and boy did that thing get no rest! The videoke was a bit pricey though at P800.

Trees and parking in front of our room

My stepfather and a friend he hadn't seen in ages who lived in the area

After we got ourselves settled, we decided to take a peek at the place. Going down the entrance, it looked tiny, but the plants and landscape only made it look so. As you go down further, you're greeted by a view of 3 big pools surrounded by trees and flowers. There were 2 long slides in the middle that looked like fun! There were 2 or 3 open-air venues that I spotted, which I assume could be rented out for occasions, and a church up the side of the pools. There were also huts practically hidden among the plants and trees. The air-conditioned rooms are also inside this area of the resort.

Click to enlarge photos

My Mom who would stop often to take a selfie LOL

From left to right: my cousin Gene, a family friend Sam, my Mom's best friend Tita Vhing, my Mom and my aunt Tita Dhel

At the top of the slide, there still seemed to be more to the place so we ventured through the trees and paths. We passed by a full basketball court, another venue area, kindda like a big hut that could probably fit about 100pax, and a closed cafeteria. There still looked like there was something else back there so we kept going. There we saw stairs going down and we could hear running water. That's when we found out the place had access to a stream and turned a part of it into a place one could swim in! We decided we'd go in the morning since it was getting dark by then, and there were no lights in that area. We were sooo hoping it wouldn't rain the next day.

Photo courtesy of Rina

After dinner, the seniors wanted to take a dip in the pool, so the most of the group went off. It was drizzling and cold so I opted out. The seniors came back saying they would go in the morning instead because the night breeze would make the swim too cold. When I asked where the others were, they were already in the pool. So my cousin and I went to check on them. The pool looked so inviting! We ran back to the room, got dressed and dove in. And yeah, Mom was right. It. Was. Freezing. Cold. So I decided to go for the slides. Great way to get the warmth going and it worked. Did a few laps and the cold had lessened (and the panting increased! LOL Gotta stop smoking).

Photo courtesy of Rina

If there would be something I didn't like about the place, it would the fact that the shower didn't work and there was no hot water. So imagine having to swim in cold water, then taking a shower with freezing cold water as well. Thank goodness we didn't get the air-conditioned room. Also, you could hear the cars that would come and go outside, along with doors opening and closing from the other rooms. Well, couldn't expect much, so I just had to deal with it. So I didn't sleep as well as I had wanted. Because of that, I couldn't get up early enough the next day to swim in the stream (sadness). I had found out that Mom and the others already had their swim in the pool, but didn't go to the stream for fear of leeches (which I eventually confirmed that there wasn't any). Before we left, we went to the stream to take some pictures instead.

I love seeing her all giddy! She pretended to fall over and she was laughing that she made us panic!

With Rina, the planner of the trip (Photo courtesy of Rina)

After the photo ops, we headed back to the room to pack up and finished the rest of the trip. Since it started to rain again, we decided to skip the falls for fear of it being to slippery for the seniors and it was a little out of the way. We had left the resort later than planned to take full advantage of the cost, so fitting in the falls would extend the trip too long.

Next stop was the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. The cemetery had a chapel built in the 1800's and the bodies there date back in the early 1900's. They no longer add to the buried there and turned it into a tourist spot. They try to maintain as much of the original building as they could and restored the facade a bit. It's tiny and a short walk, also not too deep underground. What's left of the original ceiling of the chapel were on the restored ceiling. Relatives of the departed buried there still visit every now and then, which is nice to know.

Pieces of the original ceiling

Graves a floor down in the ground

Next stop was Liliw, Laguna. Off to the red church, and looking around for shoes or slippers made in Liliw. The church was big. The outside of the church was of red bricks and pretty! The alter was the same as the church I saw in Tanay, Rizal.

On the side streets around the church are the shoes and slipper stores. It was a disappointment really. It cost more there than it did in Manila. My aunt bought just a few house slippers that was cheaper there, other than that, they didn't find anything else they liked. I like the way they decorated their stores though. It was cute and reminded me of Vigan a little.

After that stop, we were ready to go home. To see the smile on my Mom's face made it all worth-while. I'm glad we went and spent most of the weekend at Laguna. Now she wants us to plan for island hopping in Quezon. I have a feeling she's got a list ready as well LOL.

Till my next post. Sleep well, dream big.

Much love!

Peter Pan

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:11:00 +0000

How I wish Peter Pan was real. Wouldn't it be nice to have him show up to your window and fly you away to the second star on the right. It would be nice to see the falls in Mermaid Lagoon, the cave where Captain Hook kept Tiger Lily, to party with the Indians and the Lost Boys, and to trek through the forest on the way to or from the hideout. Too stay young and carefree, like there were no problems except Captain Hook, that you could easily beat anyway.

Alas, we all have to grow up, to the point where you have bills to pay and you need a source of income. Back to reality. Like Wendy, you have to come home and wake up.

My reality now has to kick out my Neverland trips this month, and it's breaking my heart. I was really looking forward to it, all gone in a blink of an eye, just because this Wendy has to wake up and grow up. Pooooooofff Subic. Pooooooffff Calaguas. So frustrating. But I am grateful to have friends like the Lost Boys, always cheerful, looking on the bright side of things. They're so positive it rubs off on you. Makes the heart break not so wrenching and keeps my whining at a minimum. I am grateful for these bills too. It's proof that I have responsibilites that run a household, and that I contribute in taking a burden off my Mother's shoulders. I am also grateful for the set back. It's fueling my drive to find ways to earn and it teaches me to plan better. It literally gets me out of bed earlier than usual!

The beach isn't going anywhere. The Hot Air Balloon Festival is annual. There are other places on my list that has a zipline. There's always another month for camping on the beach. I just need to learn to be patient with myself. It'll happen eventually. For all I know it might just be more fun then.

Right now, grown up stuff comes first, to make room for more Neverland time in the coming months. Just wait Tinkerbell, I'll be there soon. Right now, I gotta run and pay the bills. Literally.

Sleep well, dream big.

Recap of travels past

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 17:53:00 +0000

Since it's been a long time since I've started blogging again, I'll post a list of places I've been to in past years. I may not have the complete details anymore (like cost and specific times) but the memories of the experience are still clear. That's what is important anyway, the experience, the beauty, the ups and downs, what you take home with you from a trip.

I'll try to get it completed this weekend. :) Til then! Sleep well, dream big.

Much love.

Calinawan Cave - Daranak Falls - Tanay Church

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 04:39:00 +0000

And I'm back! Back with a new bedtime story of how I faced a fear and conquered! hehe. Feels good to be on a nature trip, and I hope this blog will help you on yours. My first ever DIY Solo Travel to Tanay, Rizal on a day trip.

Why was I doing this?

I want to be able to go places without depending on anyone else or on the convenience of a travel and tours group. I want to be able to backpack from tip to tip of the Philippines and ultimately the world. And it starts with having the balls to go out on your own, in unfamiliar territory, alone... which of course I didn't have haha. Hence the trip. Decided on a day trip so that I don't get too freaked out and anxious. Also, I couldn't stay still. I've been still for a while now and my feet have started to itch.

Was it on my bucket list?

Location, nope. Didn't even know these places were so close to home til I looked around for places to see in Tanay, which I heard had windmills now. But the DIY solo trip, yes it was a bucket list entry in several versions too. A trip, not this particularly, but to take a trip, well I've been bitten long ago by the wander bug and it's effects haven't left, but the trips have been halted for a while.

Why Tanay?

Why not? It seemed like a safe place to start on my own. Not too expensive, since 1k was the budget. Not too remote; not too far off the town proper and no boat rides. Not too far off; About an hour out of Antipolo, 3 hours from home in Las Piñas.

What was plan?

Ha! Plans really have a way of changing so let me tell you what the planned itinerary was versus what I ended up doing.

So here was the plan:
Sunday, January 24, 2016
0630 ETD Tanay Rizal from Star Mall Shaw Blvd
0830 ETA Tanay Rizal Market/Terminal
0900 Start Tour
0930 Daranak Falls
1130 Batlag Falls
1200 Lunch
1430 Calinawan Cave
1600 Tanay Church
1700 Sunset viewing in Parola
1800 Head back to Manila

The problem with this was the budget. I had estimated about 1,800 on a solo trip and 1,000 if it were a 4pax group (a table at Batlag Falls). I had only 1,000 to spare. At the start of the trip, I already knew that there would be a change in the plan. I was willing to let go of Batlag Falls (which had an entrance fee of P100 on top of the entrance fee in Daranak), any tables and the Parola.

This is what eventually happened:
0800 Left Las Piñas (late even for my own trip demmit)
0900 Crossing/Shaw Blvd bound for Tanay Terminal
1100 Arrival at Tanay
1130 Calinawan Cave
1230 Tricycle to Daranak Falls
1300 Daranak Falls
1445 Tricycle to Tanay Church
1530 Mass
1700 Head back to Manila
1845 Crossing
2000 Home

Bus ride to EDSA

How was it?!

Word of warning: I was slightly frustrated that I couldn't find detailed experience during my research so I will break this down with headings. You can just go past the parts that will be draggy for you as a reader, or if you feel it will take away the fun in the experience.

Trip to Tanay Terminal
Getting there was easy enough. Took the EDSA bus to Star Mall Shaw (note the only restroom there at the time that the mall is closed is at Chowking). The van to Tanay Market/Terminal is located along side EDSA, fare of which is P70. I had expected a long wait time for the van to fill up, but it didn't take more than 10 minutes. Probably because it was a Sunday and there were those heading to Regina. I found out later that "Regina" was Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia (RICA), a 13.5 hectare pilgrimage site with a 71-foot statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. There was hardly any traffic and we passed thru Antipolo. For those who want to stop at Antipolo for a view, you can definitely add it in your itinerary.

Looking for a ride to Calinawan Cave
Once in Tanay, the moment you get down tricycle drivers will approach you asking if you want a ride. I made a deal with a tricycle driver, Kuya Elmer (I kindda freaked out later because I eventually figured he stoned as f***), to take me to Calinawan, Daranak and the church for P400. If I had thrown in Regina if would have been P600. Didn't really want to see the belen so I opted not to go there. If I didn't take the package deal, grabbing a tricycle between places would be more or less P150 a ride or none at all. Walking in the area is long and not exactly safe for a solo female traveler (especially after I realized my driver was stoned). I didn't want to risk not getting a ride so I agreed on the package and off we went. Why did I still go for Kuya Elmer knowing he was high, well I dunno. It just felt like I would be fine.

Trip to Calinawan Cave
The ride to Calinawan Cave was alright at first. I saw at the distance the windmills, which I didn't expect. The driver said we could go there too (at a cost of course). I think you might be able to get away with P500-P600 to include the windmills and Parola if you're good with haggling. Less than half the way, the rough road starts. The roads were not cemented and the houses were not exactly next to each other. There wasn't any power posts so I had assumed there was no electricity in the area. He was right, I hardly saw any tricycles pass by and several people were walking the long route between places, but I didn't see anyone that was alone.

At Calinawan Cave Reception Area
The ride was 30 minutes and once in Calinawan Cave, there is a kubo (nipa hut) as the tour guide reception area. The people there were so accommodating and friendly (and 2 tour guides that were kindda cute LOL). Contrary to what I read online, there is a restroom there that belongs to the nice old lady of the sari-sari store. It can be used for P5 to pay for the rationed water and cleaning. The tour has a mandatory fee of P20 and the Tour Guide is P200. If you want to go further into the cave, just add a few more to the Tour Guide fee (amount of your choice).

Inside Calinawan Cave
The entrance to the cave is tiny, and dark. Research advised to bring a flash light of your own, and
I'm glad I did. It's pitch black and tiny inside. It's a small cave what was used by Filipinos as a strong hold during the revolution against Spain and I could see why. It was discovered in 1901 and had natural tunnels ranging from 7 feet or so, to a little over 3 feet in height. There was even a passage way only about 2 feet in height, but travelers are not allowed to pass it.

There was also a tunnel that they fondly called the Sexy Tunnel, because if you didn't fit, you weren't sexy. I didn't find it funny, and the path wasn't too tight. But anyway, moving on. The first open landing of the cave was also used to film local fantasy TV Shows in the past, which is why there are some glitters pasted on the walls of the cave and rock formations to fake stalactites and stalagmites. It's sad that such an area can be ruined for the sake of money and ratings. There are also vandalism on the walls of the cave around that area. Along the way, there are real stalactites and stalagmites though, but not as much I had hoped for.

Sorry for the black lines towards the bottom. My phone camera has a crack there.

Bats used to be abundant in the levels that I have been thru, but now that it is a disturbed area, they have moved to other levels. They have left behind deep holes on the ceilings. There were a few I was lucky see though, and a spider as big as my palm resting on crystals.

The palm-sized spider

Old homes of bats

Bats hanging way up in cracks and nooks

Towards the end of the tour it gets pretty with the different rock formations and spacious areas in between tunnels. I liked the echoing sound of your steps as you walk thru the natural tunnels. The exit to the cave has a really pretty high wall and much larger than the entrance.

If I had seen this before I saw Sagada's caves, maybe I would see this cave differently. I agree with some blogs I read that if you are going to see the cave on a trip to Tanay only, it's not worth the effort. Best to see the other parts of Tanay before or after the cave. Also if you bring a child to the trip, it is good for them. It's not a difficult walk inside. Nonetheless, it was great to see stalactites, stalagmites and those that live in the cave. There was still a beauty to it that you bring with you when you leave. Don't touch the stalactites and stalagmites, cause they say it ruins and "kills" it. As they say, "Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures".

Oh and yes, there was no electricity in the area as confirmed by ate tour guide. So best not to go there too late. The entire walk through the cave at a slow pace (I took so many pictures hehe) was about 45 minutes. If I had gone to the other levels, it may have reach an hour or so. After the tour in the cave, I grabbed my bag (the tour guide had advised to leave it behind in the kubo) and got ready to leave for Daranak Falls.

Going to Daranak Falls
The road was rough until the bottom of the hill that lead to the falls. By this time, I noticed there were multiple groups of motorcycle riders going to and coming from the direction of Daranak Falls. Apparently it was a common venue for cyclists and motorcycle riders since the roads were steep, surrounded by trees and rough. It took about 30 minutes to get to the falls on rough road.

Daranak Falls
The place was full. I should have stuck to the plan of going in the morning to avoid the influx of people. Oh well, lesson learned hehe. Locals said it's best to come on weekdays especially Mondays.

Kuya Elmer had offered to watch my stuff while I was inside as well since he can go in and out without being paid for. Apparently tricycle drivers who frequently bring in guests can go in for free. I was not comfortable at first and I kept my valuables with me in the water. Later I had no choice (I had accidentally ripped the waterproof pouch I had in the cave, hence water was seeping in the bag). I was glad that he was there to watch my stuff. That is a problem with travelling solo to a place where you can't keep your stuff secured. With the number of people, it would have been hard to leave your stuff around the area. The entrance fee was P50, and children below a certain height can get in free. Police men (at least I think they were, or maybe security of the Barangay?) will check your belongings. Note, alcoholic beverages are not allowing inside. I was happy that despite the number of people, the place was kept clean. The water was green and free of trash. Good job Tanay! It is open until 5PM only.

It wasn't too cold and it was deeeep. The rocks were slippery, but it was not sharp (yey!). The falls itself was at the corner by a dead end and beautiful. It wasn't high like Pasanjan Falls, but wider and prettier. There were also some smaller falls in front of the main one, with a shallower bottom where kids could stay. There were also several other shallow areas downstream where most of the children would swim. It was nice to see kids exposed to nature. There were pretty butterflies and insects flying between trees, and it wasn't too hot considering I got there pretty much noon time. There were fences and tables made of bamboo, and only in the shower area will you find cemented tables and benches, floors and steps, which I think was very considerate of the government (the falls is under the care of the government and you get an official receipt of the Municipal upon paying). Up the cliff there is a big building, but I am not sure what's up there and I didn't bother going up.

After my swim (and selfies LOL), I ate lunch that I brought with me. Then, I decided to go and see the church. Besides, I didn't want to shower close to closing time considering the crowd. The shower area was a not great. There are enclosed showers where you could change with privacy, but the line was so long, I opted for the open showers instead. Either one though has a charge of P5. Changing in the open shower area was a bit awkward. There was no door to the shower area, just a curtain, so anyone sitting in the tables and chairs outside could see anyone changing inside. There was a closed off changing area in the corner, but the water from the showers would build up there, so um no thanks. I managed to change and headed for the sari-sari store/souvenir shop to get myself ciggs (yey, only the 3rd for the day!). Then off to town.

In Tanay Church
Kuya Elmer explained that there is a sculpture in front of the church, craved from an old chopped tree. He said it took about 4 months and rumors say it cost half a million. It was gorgeous and big! The details were done well. It could be seen once you turn the corner. The church itself was also gorgeous and well kept. Big and spacious with LCD screens for those far from the wide, high walled, statue-filled, flower-lined altar. I was in time for Holy Mass, so I decided to stay. Children did the readings and the choir was good. The priest was interacting with the crowd, which was new to me. He would ask questions and expected an answer. I liked that. I hope the Catholic church is doing that as a standard nowadays. It makes it more personal.

Front view of the carving

From the side

From the back

After mass, I took pictures and headed for the tiangge (bazaar) along the side streets. Stuff there were pretty much common so I decided to head for the terminal. A tricycle would have cost P10 as per Kuya Elmer, but I decided to take a walk. It wasn't that far anyway.

Heading back to Manila
Boarded the van to Star Mall Shaw. The line was long, but the wait was short. Kuya Elmer said the the vans and jeeps are around almost 24 hours, but I'm not so sure since the terminal on the Star Mall Shaw closes after a certain time at night. Same rate of P70 and a I was off to Manila with a smile on my face, confidence and refreshed mind.

How much did it all cost?
Short answer: P999.00 only.
Break down of expenses:
Transpo to Star Mall Shaw = P55
Van to Tanay = P70
Kuya Elmer = P400
Calinawan Cave Entrance = P20
Tour Guide = P200
Daranak Falls Entrance = P50
Snacks and ciggs = P67
Van to Star Mall Shaw = P70
Transpo to Las Piñas = P67

Not bad. If you were to go in a group, you can split the tricycle package price and you would probably be able to see the sunset at the Parola and/or see the new windmills.

Now that I know I have the balls to go out on a DIY trip and alone, I am excited to plan for the next one! :) Til the next story! Sleep well, dream big.

Much love,
Woobie

It's been a while

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 18:55:00 +0000

Wow. 2012 was my last post, the last of 2 too. LOL. A lot has happened in 4 years. Recently a friend of mine said I should continue this, and I think I just might. Especially since this year, I may be going to more places than usual. :) Now I'm thinking should I recap on the other places I've been to before? Hmm. We'll see I guess.

Till my next blog!

Weekend 2: Palm Beach Resort, Batangas

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Finally found the time for the next post... Here's Saturday of Weekend 2...

Weekend 2 Saturday: Palm Beach Resort

Planned after the weekend of Kamay ni Hesus was the Thomson Reuters company summer outing (sorry no budget advice for this trip). Destination: Palm Beach Resort in San Juan, Batangas. It is along the same coastline as Laiya, known for it's white sand and awesome waters.

Getting there seemed easy, if you knew where you were going. We were feeling our way, so we ended up with a total of 5 u-turns to and 1 from the resort. Long story short, the corner to turn into to get to the coastline is easily missed despite the huge signboards of the famous resorts in Laiya. We missed that by 11km. The road leading to the lined up resorts off the side of the mountain is deceiving - rough, tight roads, construction, residences and no view - but once you make the last turn, the view made me regret that I didn't bring swimming gear (I originally didn't have plans to go swimming, stupid me).

View from the side of the road on the slope of
the mountain. Photo courtesy of Harry Danao
(http://www.facebook.com/kodakero)

The ocean was beautiful and the sand inviting. The resort itself looked so relaxing, with an infinity pool, kayaks, banana boats, native huts, and a beach volleyball area. We spent the first few hours with the company program before we hit the beach. Luckily, I was able to borrow shorts and a bathing suit from team mates, and the company gave out a shirt and a towel. It was time for some swimming! The shallow shore was a bit disappointing. I didn't expect it to be rocky. Of course there were spots that was sandy, but there were parts that made me wish I owned a pair of aqua socks. The water though felt so good! Especially since it was super hot that day and water was clear and clean.

Some of my team mates took the opportunity to kayak. I skipped that since I wasn't in the mood to nurse tried arms, especially since I just got off a late shift and haven't had any sleep. Instead I enjoyed the infinity pool and watched other colleagues play beach volleyball. We walked around the resort, found the lodgings and the playground. That was pretty much it, that we saw anyway. I believe they also offer snorkeling, but it was not part of the package I guess.

The program included games and a beach body contest. The games I saw were fun. I fell asleep half of the time. The food could have been better though. The contestants of the beach body contest were interesting enough, and I had to agree with the winners that the judges chose. It was just a day trip, so around 8PM we packed up. We tried to stay as long as we could for the company program, but it was getting dark and the trip back took hours.

All in all, I had a good time getting wet and felt a little relaxed. I would definitely go back there but I'll make sure that the second time around, I would have my swimsuit and more sleep.

Photo courtesy of Harry Danao
(http://www.facebook.com/kodakero)

Weekend 1: Kamay ni Hesus

noreply@blogger.com (Mybedtimestory) — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:58:00 +0000

I'm don't think I'm a good copy writer, and I find that I can get really cheesy, so blogging is not on the top of my list. So why am I doing this? Because my friends think I should, and it'll be pockets of time put into good use. I figured I got nothing to lose anyway, and if the reader does not find what I have to say interesting, he'll just move on to something else. So here I am writing the first bedtime story.

I made a promise to myself that I would go out or do something every weekend. I tend to live my weekends in bed and sleep it away. Needless to say, it's not healthy at all. That promise was made hmmm round about mid-April. Since then I've been to places I didn't think I'd get to, actually go to, or could afford to get to. Today, I'll tell the story of the first weekend.

Weekend 1: Kamay ni Hesus | Gumaca, Quezon
I had a choice of either an underdeveloped resort in an island in Zambales, or a pilgrimage to Kamay ni Hesus (Hands of Jesus), a shrine in Lucban, Quezon province, at the slopes of Mt. Banahaw. Zambales was tempting, but I was inclined to go to Kamay ni Hesus instead since it was a plan looooong over due. I convinced my cousin to ditch whatever he had planned that day and asked him to come with me. Lucky me he wanted to go there as well. So the plan was set - the shrine on Saturday, then I ride back with him to hang out with family till Sunday in Gumaca, Quezon. I live in Manila, so I had to take a 4 hour trip to the Lucena Grand Terminal in Quezon province, where we were meeting up (bus fare = P185). From there it was a little under an hour to get to the shrine (we were on a motorcycle; gas = P200). At the terminal one can take a jeep or bus to the shrine. It was the height of summer, which probably wasn't the best time to go because of the humidity, but I didn't care. The first thing we saw was the tall statue of Mother Mary (don't know how tall, but definitely can't be missed) facing towards the mountain, back turned to the road. The entrance and exit is surrounded by stalls selling native hats and souvenirs like little rosaries and key chains, native coin purses and what-nots. Upon entering, if you have a vehicle, there is a parking fee of P10 for a motorcycle. I believe it's P20 for a car, not quite sure.

Huts in the Garden of Eden

A gravel path surrounded by trees leads into the parking lot with food and, again, souvenir stalls. I didn't notice the other statues near the entrance until we left but there were other imaged of bible stories at the foot of Mother Mary. What I did notice was a pathway into what was named "Garden of Eden". It was a stone arc with flowering plants, welcoming us away from the heat. Inside are huts and picnic areas under shady trees. We walked on further down the path, towards what apparently was to the side of the whole place, and we found a playground. It looked like a zoo of stone animals. The slide was an elephant and there were giraffes and other animals scattered around. Then there in background was the huge ark, with statues of animals around and on it, situated behind a fish pond. It is the retreat house / accommodation of the place. It looked like a real ark, with a status of Noah up on the balcony. It was, of course, called "Noah's Ark". Silence is observed within that area and we were not allowed in to see the view from the top. Nonetheless, it was cool to see a building intentionally made to look like ark.

Courtesy of the official website

That's my cousin

After we had our fill of the retreat house, we moved on towards the left, facing the side of the mountain. There are statues of bible stories such as Moses holding the 10 commandments, and Abraham with Isaac on a stone altar. They were situated apart from each other, with stairs to get between each. We realized later though that the stairs ended there with no other way but down. So, back down, up front, we went on more stairs and we ended up in the center of the Garden. There was a man-made (but small) waterfall above one of many fish ponds. Adam and Eve statues were all over the place. We moved further on and saw the church standing at the foot of 292 steps leading to the looming 50-foot statue of Jesus, hands raised to the sky, at the top of the mountain. And so the climb begins.

Courtesy of the official website. I believe this was during
Holy Week which is why it is filled with people. When we were there,
there was hardly anyone visiting.

Mind you, it was the height of summer. We were hitting 36°C more or less during that time. Just imagine what we were getting ourselves into. Off we went anyway, a bottle of buko shake and a towelette in hand.

The way up was not a straight climb (unlike the one in Baguio). There are several stops and turns which we were very grateful for. It was in these turns that we saw the story of Jesus from the last supper, to His suffering via the Station of the Cross, all the way to His tomb. Mid-way the mountain is a statue of Mother Mary, definitely taller than 7 feet. The landscape was well maintained and the statues life-sized, and the main attraction got bigger and bigger as we went higher and higher. When we got to the top, we were so tired! We rested under the trees as we admired how huge His shrine was. And the view! It was worth it. We could see far out, past the town proper of Lucban. It reminded me how "big" He was, nothing compared to the size of His shrine, or anything we can see as "big". We are just specs in this world and He is the bigger picture. I was reminded that we have a lot to be thankful for and we are blessed. That there was more to our lives than our jobs, our petty problems, and the space we roamed in. We said our prayers and thanks, and of course took pictures, then headed down the stairs. This time it was straight down.

The view from the top.

The church was at the bottom of the stairs. There was a scheduled mass at 5PM that afternoon, but we had a long way back to Gumaca and a drive through the zig zag on a motorcycle at night was not a good idea. So we decided to visit the church, say our prayers, then hit the road. The church was simple and a relatively recent build. It is in this church that a well known priest, Fr. Joey Ayala Faller, leads a Healing Mass regularly. For schedules, you may visit the official website of the shrine: http://www.joeyfaller.org. The tiles at the entrance of the church had etchings of thanks and prayers. I believe you can get a tile printed for you at a cost. On the other side of the church was a pathway leading towards the back, lined with images of saints. We didn't have time to see the rest of the place as it was getting late. Maybe next time, we'll get to see more.

Weekend 1 was a success. I did something different and forced myself outside my cocoon.
We spent, between the 2 of us, more or less P1,000 (including food - those stairs made us hungry!). Not bad. Not bad at all.