Off to Tacloban with No Itinerary and Reservations

We usually have set itineraries, cost estimate, and accommodation reservations when we go somewhere. But this time, we don’t. Pure adventure.. fun.. and excitement.

Six months before our flight, there was a promo with Cebu Pacific. As promo-grabber as we are, we booked to any destination where there are still promo seats available. Just trying out any destination in the list… Puerto Princesa – sold out. Dumaguete – sold out. Tagbilaran – sold out. Davao – sold out. Boracay – sold out. Tacloban – taaadaaaan!!! We do not know what’s in there, but we booked flights for the 4 of us.

A little research told us Mc Arthur landing shrine is there.  Not sure if we can pass by the famous longest bridge in the Philippines, San Juanico, but, we put it in our list. And that's it. We did not bother to research more until the date is really fast approaching.

November came and we'll be flying to Tacloban already. Bembem can’t come with us due to work schedule. Mika had hesitations because Bem can’t come with us. And if Mika won’t go, and so as Bevvy Joy. Poor Weng, I’m the only one left! :(

But… wait wait wait...  Bevvy Joy texted me 2 days before... She asked if I still want to go to Tacloban. Of course I said yes. And she also liked to go. We’re now going! High five! :)

I tried to book a hotel 12 hours before our arrival. As expected, all hotels I called were all fully booked. I also asked for quotations for tours but they were all too expensive. Good luck to us.

Upon arrival at Daniel Romualdez Airport in Tacloban, we called the other hotels I haven’t called yet. So lucky, Bevvy Joy found one. Leyte Park Resort is so nice. We enjoyed the pool and the everyday breakfast buffet. 

Also at the airport, we found a van that can tour us around the whole city and bring us to Sohoton cave in Samar. Now, that’s what we call adventure, wonderful and fun memories worth looking back.

Historical? Yes!

Leyte Provincial Capitol

 

UP Tacloban

Madonna of Japan

Balyuan Tower

Sto. Nino Church

Sto. Nino Shrine

There are other places that we've visited such as the famous McArthur Landing Monument, Rafael's Farm, and San Juanico Bridge which is the longest bridge in the Philippines!

Nature? Of course. We also went to Sohoton Cave in Samar.

Actually, after the tour, we just realized that we do not need a van to tour around the city. They are just near each other we can even just walk around except for the Rafael's farm, San Juanico bridge, and McArthur Shrine.

Boracay + Palawan = Borawan

Have you been to Boracay? How about in Palawan? How about Borawan? Yes, you’re reading it right. There really is a place called Borawan.

It got its name, obviously, from these two tourist spots, Boracay and Palawan. It has rocks like the ones you’ll see in Palawan and sand like in Boracay...

A Night at Dampalitan

If you know Anawangin Cove in Zambales, Dampalitan is something similar to it because of the pine trees... The sand is not that fine unlike in Puting Buhangin and Borawan but it is where you can enjoy swimming especially when you're going during the rainy season...

Picture Taking at Puting Buhangin

So what would you expect? From the name of the island itself, you’ll already know what you’ll see. This is our first destination and among the three islands, this is our favourite. The fine white sand... the grass... the shade... the cave... everything is beautiful!

A Weekend at Borawan – Itinerary

Do you want to escape from the busyness of the city? Its pollution and noise? Well, aside from the destinations found at nearby provinces such as Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas, there is one found also in the southern part of Luzon... and don’t worry, it is not that far... and it has white sand.

Have you heard of Borawan? Yes... it is not Boracay... and also not Palawan... but Borawan...

Duka Bay Resort Escapade

I am from Cagayan de Oro. I was a riverguide for the first whitewater rafting company in the Philippines until I went to Manila primarily because of Weng and of course to try my luck. I am also a member of an organization that is nature oriented. I help protect and preserve nature. I used to climb mountains, do spelunking and play percussion for a modern ethnic band playing earth music. But I am not totally a musician... just a wannabe, and now a wannabe magician as well. I am also fond of mountain biking.

Yes, you are on the right page. This is not an About Me page. So why am I saying things about myself? I do not know. Haha! I just want to tell that even though I came from CDO, was in the tourism industry, and nature lover, still I have not explored all of what my province has to offer...

Farewell Lou

Have you ever felt close to someone you have never met yet? I do! It's not a love for someone in the opposite sex like the one you meet on Facebook, Friendster, and other social networking sites or your textmates and chatmates where it either turns into a broken heart or the love blossoms into a wonderful relationship. It's a love and care I feel like she's a family to me...

isdaan rainy day experience

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “isdaan”? What else? Of course, anything related to fishes. But, have you thought of going to Isdaan to see big statues and feel like you’re in a different country like Thailand?

When we first saw the pictures of our friends with these statues, we thought it was not here in the Philippines. That intrigued us to visit the place. Fresh Catch Isdaan, The Halfway to the North Floating Resto-Park is located in Gerona, Tarlac. And with us coming from Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, it would just be a few hours travel...We are excited to go to Isdaan not because of the food. We would just like to see the park and take pictures. But of course, who wouldn’t want the food huh? Not us. Hehe!However, the weather is not cooperating with us. It rained just after we arrived. So please pardon us for a lousy picture of their front signage taken while running under the rain towards the restaurant...

Monasteryo de Tarlac

“You are not here by coincident. You are here because you are called by God.” – Officiating Priest in the Mass

Our plan is just to go and eat lunch at Isdaan in Gerona, Tarlac. But while talking about the plan with tatay, ate, and Jan Ray, they suggested that we also go to a monastery where the relic of the True Cross of Jesus is kept.  And since Monasteryo de Tarlac is just near it, we opted to visit the place first and attend the mass then go to Isdaan afterwards...

Mountain Biking in the City

We live in a city and we love to bike. But, is there a place to go mountain biking in the crowded city of Metro Manila where all you can see are tall buildings and people that are always in a hurry? Yes, there is. One of them is in Fort Bonifacio’s MTB Trail in Taguig.

Bem has been there a couple of times. He always tells me that it is a nice place to mountain bike since there’s a trail good for both beginners and experts. It is not just a flat surface like roads where thrill comes from the thought of biking alongside with fast cars and motorcycles and smoke belcher jeepneys and buses who always stop and wait for passengers. And the humps! Oh, we love them. :) So yesterday, we went to MTB Trail at The Fort together...

eyes of a child



[kids guiding on a trek going
to Big Falls in Sagada, Mt. Province]


 These children still have that "faculty of wonder". If for us we only have seven wonders of the world, maybe for a child, they have seven million! Or even more than that... :)

Well, we've been to different places... and every time we see kids, we can't help but take photos of them. There's just something in them, like a magnet, that attracts us..

And the result is always beautiful or should we say...

...awakening...

we fell

"there’s a special level of comfort between two matching souls
an unbreakable bond of constant support and closeness
it’s when a warm embrace feels so right
or when two hands fit so snugly...

it’s a feeling that’s hard to define but easy to recognize
and when you find that comfort, you just know, you’ll never let go..
everybody in this world is scared
and sometimes, it takes TWO scared persons to do one brave thing:

to FALL IN LOVE…"

happy hearts day!

A heart that is as hard as stone.
Oh yeah, it is really a stone found on
our way to Capones Island lighthouse.

Feb 14 is really fast approaching. And what’s with the date?
Looking at a usual calendar, it is “St. Valentine’s Day”.
To single ladies and gentlemen out there, it is “Single Awareness Day”.
To those in a relationship, it is “Lover’s Day”.
To sick people, it is "Another Day to be Thankful For".
To busy people, it’s just an “Ordinary Hectic Day”.
To us, it’s our “Meeting Day”. Hehehe.

By the way, since it is February and you’ll see lots of heart decors everywhere, I’ve thought of sharing our pictures with hearts. Some are obvious, and some, you’ll have to figure out...

Whitewater Rafting

Rapids.

Thrill.

Excitement.

Team work.

Adventure.

Real extreme.

Adrenalin rush.

Forward!
High five!

And what can you think of when you hear those words?

travel map

Do you know what is one thing that inspires us to go to a new place? One of the reasons is our travel map! :)