Sagada ( November 2013)

We trek back to Tinglayan and waited for the bus bound for Bontoc.

The Bus Fare is 100php and it was a zigzag road passing by mountains. It was almost t 1 and a half hours ride. We arrived in Bontoc Market and decided to have something to eat near the area before heading to the Jeepney terminal bound for Sagada. It was about 45 minutes to an hour ride and the fare was 45php

.  

  This is the view that welcomed us as we checked in our hostel- George Inn

George Inn

 It was almost dark when we arrived in Sagada so we just decided to take some rest and plan for our activities the next day.

  

That Night, we also get to try the ever-famous Yogurt at Yoghurt House. This restaurant also offers different Salads, Pastas, Sandwiches and other meals.


yummy Yogurt

The next day, I woke up early and decided to avail the Cave connection - Lumiang Burial Cave to Sumaguing Cave that took us (me and the tour guide) more or less 4 hours.  I did the spelunking alone since my friend is not really into caves.

Upon the entrance of the cave, coffins welcome the visitors.

the coffin   

 Kuya Edward preparing our light

the last natural light we would see before we start the spelunking

Then we started the spelunking. The cave was all the way downhill.  I crawl, swim in ice cold water to get passed these caves.

The view inside the pitch black cave was lit up by the lamp of Kuya Edward.

It was beautiful!

choco-caramel rock formation! :)

You'll get drenched in cold water and that's part of the adventure. ;)

After we took photos, finally..... We saw the light again and then I realized.. I survived the cave connection! :)

I Survived!!

 Then we walked back to where Kuya Edward parked his car.

We walked to this view!- Awesome!!!   

Kuya Edward then brought me back to my Hostel

I washed up and me and Albert decided to have late lunch at Salt & Pepper Diner

mountain tea

After we ate, we met Kuya Edward and started our Echo Valley Tour.

We saw this place on our way to our destination.

What a beautiful place to pray!

Then we passed by Sagada Public Cemetery

 

We trek down to have a closer look of the famous hanging coffins.

Ancient Igorot believes that the higher the place they hang their loved ones coffins, the closer they get to heaven.

 

my Good friend Albert Jumping for Joy!  LOL

Then we trek back to the point where everyone shout their heart out to hear their echos, unfortunately mine isn't very cooperative! lol, Kuya Edward and Albert told me that my voice has a high pitch, I tried it over and over again... but still the same result. My echo didn't bounce as much as the guys' echo would do.

Kuya Edward Sitting on his father's tomb.

I convinced Albert to try Balut, and he said he'll try. ;)

 

Albert bravely tried BALUT ;)

We had dinner in Lemon Pie House and ate offered to buy Balut  across the street for Albert.

Another must try in Sagada.. Lemon Pie!

The next day, we decided to see the Sunrise at Kiltepan, unfortunately it was too foggy that we didn't see anything.

Kuya Edward then decided to bring us to Bokong Falls instead.

  

**Here's our Itinerary... 

Day 2:

• Arrival in Bontoc
• Take a jeepney/bus bound to Sagada
• Dinner at Yoghurt House

Day 3:

• Register at the tourism office
• Start the Cave connection Tour
• Late Lunch
• Start the Echo Valley tour
• Dinner at Lemon Pie House

Day 4:

• Start early tour to Kiltepan (4:30 am~)
• Re-route to Bokong Falls
• Return to George Inn
• Check out
• Take the jeepney to Bontoc
• Breakfast at GoldenFish Cafe
• Take the jeepney bound for Banaue

Contact Persons:

Kuya Edward:  +639463233269   (Super accommodating Tour Guide)

George Inn: DORA- +639209483133     +639185480406



..this is the continuation of   ----- Kalinga/MeetingFangOd

Ilocos Sur - (June 2014)

I've always wanted to go to Ilocos because I want to feel the Spanish vibe even for a short period of time, besides I've been craving for Bagnet (crispy Pork belly).  Most of my friends have been there already so I was left with the option to go there alone.  I started planning the trip, the itinerary, the details of it, then while talking to some of my other friends, they've mentioned they are also planning to go to Ilocos, then boom! That's the start of our Ilocos Expedition- (with Pat, Ward and Yosh) ;)

photo credits to Patsyu

We thought of availing a travel package but for me, the time for most travel packages is too tight, I wanted a more personalized, laid back adventure trip so we decided to make it a 5N/5D which I think is reasonable enough to enjoy everything. We finally came up with the idea of meeting before 9pm on June 11th at PARTAS  Cubao Station We were supposed to take the 9pm bus but we took the 10pm trip instead.  The bus fare is P665 and it'll be an 8 hour bus ride. oh yeah!!! So, we left Manila at 10pm and as soon as I get myself comfortable with my seat, I started to doze off. I was awakened on the first stop over in Capaz, Tarlac and that was about 12 am already.  It was too cold, (well, I guess all provincial buses are!) me and Pat decided to do some leg stretching at the same time go to the restroom.  The second stop over was in Sison Pangasinan, here, i decided to have a chicken noodle soup which costs 35php. There were another stop over but I lost track already because I was too busy sleeping. :p When i woke up, we're already in Vigan and we get off at Partas Bus station-Vigan, Ilocos Sur.  It was around 6:00am. We took a tricycle and asked the driver to bring us to Arcellana's Lodging.  The driver asked us for 60php.

 

A few minutes after we arrived in  Arcellana's Lodging, Kuya Pablo was the one who greeted us and led us to our room. We put down our stuff and sat down for a while then we decided to head to Calle Crisologo, it was around 7am, cloudy, drizzly and a bit windy early morning.

 

W'e're really here!!! This is already ILOCOS!!!  I thought. :)

 

We took our way to Calle Crisologo, it's a bout 10 - 15 minute walk from Arcellana's.  

 

We looked around, took pictures, joke around We've noticed that stores in Calle Crisologo opens quite late, we were told they will open at around 10 or 11am.  

And we were surprised!!! There's a superclub  here!! :o

We continuously walked and finally we reached the last part of Calle Crisologo, we started looking for a place to eat.  We came across these mini stores that sell food in front of Plaza Burgos.

   

Of course we ordered BAGNET,  Sinanglaw,  and Igado.

BAGNET

SINANGLAW

 IGADO

After eating we decided to walk around again. we were able to ticked on our list these places:

• Vigan Cathedral

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

  

• Plaza Salcedo 

• Arzobispado Nueva Segovia

   

   
Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol

• UNESCO World Heritage landmark

• Burgos Museum

(Unfortunately, The Burgos Museum was being renovated when we got there.)

  Then after having great shots of these places we decided to rent out a tricycle. Kuya Adrian is our driver and he said the tour would be 150/hour. So we started our tour at:

• Bantay Bell Tower

• Camangaan Abel Weaving

 

I salute the people who still do this traditional way of weaving.. I tried it.. it's very detailed. :)
I admit, it's difficult and i think requires a lot of patience. :p

• Baluarte

**photo credits to Yosh :)

• Hidden Garden

• Mindoro Beach Resort

It was really cloudy that day, and it started to drizzle.

 

• Pagburnayan

*photo credits to Yosh :)

I've tried it! It was not that easy.. but it's absolutely FUN!!!!! :)

Then we head back home, washed up then we decided to take a nap.
Then Kuya Pablo left a bag of freshly picked Indian mangoes in front of our door.

WOW! mouth-watering mangoes!!! <3

   

We woke up  5:30pm dressed up and walk back to Calle Crisologo, it looks so much nicer at night we just have to dance in the rain and yeah, you heard it right!

   

 After we had our dinner at Mang Inasal (since most local restaurants are full) we decided to dance and play in the rain! Wow!!! I was never that happy in the rain. :D Thanks to my friends who share the same crazy mind as mine. ;) After we kept on walking, running, singing and playing in the rain at Calle Crisologo we decided to go home at around 9pm.  We walked back to Arcellana Lodging washed up, packed our stuff and decided on what time to leave the next day. After we all agreed to leave the house at 6:30am we dozed off and called it a night. We woke up at around 6:00 am, fixed our things and said our goodbye and thank you to Kuya Pablo.

   

Then we hailed a tricycle and asked him to bring us to Partas Bus terminal, he asked for 40 php this time.

** Here's our Itinerary:

Day 0:

• take the night Partas bus at Aurora Blvd. Cubao Station

Day 1:

• Arrival in Vigan
• Take a tricycle to Arcellana's lodging
• Look around Calle Crisologo
• Have a Lunch at Plaza Burgos
• Visit the following sites: - Vigan Cathedral, Plaza Salcedo, Arzobispado Nueva Segovia, Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol, UNESCO World heritage Landmark, Burgos Museum
• Hire a tricycle to show you around other tourist destinations that are quite far from each other. Places like - Bantay Bell Tower, Camangaan Abel Weaving, Baluarte, Hidden Garden, Mindoro Beach resort, Pagburnayan
• Wash up
• Take a nap
• Go back to Calle Crisologo for a night view
• Have Dinner
• Sleep :)

      **Estimated Expenses:

Partas Bus (Cubao to Vigan)  - First Class -665php /pax

Tricycle fare (Vigan Terminal to Arcellana's Lodging) 60php -- 15php /pax

Arcellana's lodging - 800 php /night -- 200php/pax

  Lunch:

• rice - 10/order
• Sinanglaw - 60/order
• Igado - 40/order
• BAGNET -150/order
• softdrinks - 20/order

Tricycle Fare (TOUR) 150/hr

• *it took us 4 1/2 hours so total is - 675php -- 168 php/pax

Donation  -Pagburnayan & Hidden Garden (any amount will do ;) )

Dinner

• Mang Inasal - 99php/pax

Tricycle fare (Arcellana's lodging to Vigan terminal) 40php ---10php/pax

**Contact Numbers: Arcellana Lodging - 0917 -852-2547

SANDBOX Adventure - (Porac, Pampanga - April 2014)

When i saw a post in facebook about Sandbox I immediately told my friends that we have to see and experience that ASAP! So on Saturday of that week (April 26th) we decided to get our feet to Porac, Pampanga. We met up at 10am in Trinoma, had lunch and bought some drinks. Then we left the mall around 12 noon and it started to rain in Manila. But after few minutes of travelling,  fine weather welcomed us.

We arrived there around 2:30pm and the weather was excruciating hot!

Burot Beach (Calatagan Batangas - May 2014)

So, me and my friends finally decided to settle for the nearest beach just to get some tan and sand on our toes. We agreed to go to Burot Beach which is located at Calatagan Batangas on May 10-11. :) We met up at Pasay Terminal to take the first trip of the van which leave at 4am. The terminal is located behind the Kabayan Hotel. (just walk straight to the street in between the MRT station and Kabayan Hotel) We waited for each other and decided to take the 2nd van which left at around 4:30am. The van fare is 180 php per person. We were too sleepy so as soon as we took our seats we instantly dozed off. When i woke up, It's already Calatagan and it's almost 8 am.

 

We get off the van and headed to the nearby market where we bought some stuff we'll need like - Food that doesn't get spoiled easily (rice, Tocino, adobo, Pork Sinigang) that will keep us full up until night, softdrinks, ingredients for smores. Then our contact person Kuya Polly, our tricycle driver who came to pick us up. Tricycle fee is 200php per way.

 

We arrived at Burot Beach at around 9 am, we paid the overnight entrance fee for 130 per person.
At that early, there were already a lot of people that had pitch their tents, people lining up for the restrooms and people hanging around the shore. So we started pitching our own tent that we just rented  for 400 php.

 

We started settling our things and went straight to the beach to take some photos.

our tent :)

At around 11 am we started eating our lunch. We bought a block of ice that is 25 php.

 

After we ate, we cleaned up and started lying down on the ground. The heat of the sun at that moment was immensely hot that we wanted to dip ourselves in iced cold water.

   

 

We took some more pictures then after a few minutes of resting, we decided to packed up our things and just go back home. We just took another set of pictures then asked Kuya Polly to pick us up at around 3pm since the last van/bus leaves Calatagan at 4pm.

 

 

That time Kuya Polly was not available so he sends Kuya Mario.

We took a bus back to Manila and paid the same amount of 180php the difference was, it took us crazy 5 hours before arriving at Buendia station.

Our back-up plan was to go to Tagaytay  but we just decided to go back home and call it a day! ;)

Here's our overnight Itinerary:

Day 1:

3:00-3:30 am waiting/Meet-up Van Terminal (Beside/Behind Kabayan Hotel)

3:30 – ETD 6:30- ETA Calatagan Terminal /Public Market

6:30-7:10 Buy stuff/food/water/ice etc..

7:30 –ETA Burot Beach

7:40 –set up tent/ things

8:00 onwards – FREE Time ( beach bumming, Pictorials?? Lol, swimming, eating snacks?)

12:00 – LUNCH!!!

1:30 – FREE Time again!!!!! :D

5:00- 6:00 Sunset viewing (wag magulo kailangan ko ng magandang sunset view! :p )

6:30 Dinner (bago magdilim kain na tayo?)

7:30 set up Bonfire 8:00 marshmallow roasting (hotdogs, pusit, tilapia, bangus, liempo, chicken, bbq if meron kayong dala)

FREE TIME!

11:00 Goodnight time

Day2:

5:30- 6:00 Sunrise viewing

6:00 – 8:00 swimming, pictures, walk around, (Free Time)

8:00 – Breakfast

9:00 onwards – FREE TIME :D

11:00 pack up (please make sure that we won’t leave any trash behind. Clean as we go),

RESPECT Mother Nature :)  )

12:00 – ETD Burot

12:30 ETA Calatagan Terminal

12:30 – LUNCH!!!

1:30 – ETD Calatagan Terminal

4:30 – ETA Pasay terminal

Estimated Expenses: **

(We were 4 in the group) Van/Bus fare - (180 Php per way) - 360 php roundtrip

Food - 160 php

Tricycle -(200 php/way/trip)- 100 php ea/ roundtrip

Entrance Fee - 130php overnight 65 php daytrip

Ice -  25 php

Tent - (400 php) 100 php ea