Just because its Christmas..

kung minsan talaga..masarap maging bata na lang..lalo na pag ganitong pasko..isa lang naman ang alam ng mga bata pag pasko. MASAYA. pero pag ikaw ay tumatanda na, un word na masaya, masyado ng nagiging complicated. kumbaga, andami mong kelangan bago mo masabing masaya ka. not to mention, obligado ka na rin mamigay ng regalo which means  gastos. Christmas is gastos. bow. haay naman. 


Pero ang nakakatuwa naman, kahit papaano, pag dumarating ang pasko, narerealize mo yung blessings na natanggap mo sa buong taon kahit na puro kamalasan ang tinamasa mo. napapaisip ka, somehow, naidaos padin ang Pasko. kumbaga, natututo kang maging thankful. Thankful na kumpleto kayong pamilya sa noche buena. Thankful na me handa kayo. Thankful na walang maysakit sa inyo. Yung mga intangible things, tuwing Pasko, naapreciate mo. Yun ang pagkakaiba ng pasko sa mga bata. Ako noon, ang iniisip ko lang kung magkano ang makukuha kong aginaldo. Kung sino pinakamalaking nagbigay sakin ng pera, siya ang pinakamabait para sa akin. hehe.


At dahil wala tayong thanksgiving dito, at dahil it's the season to be thankful..


I'm thankful..


..na kahit hindi ko nagamit ang benefits ko this year, eh walang nagkasakit samin
..na kahit gusto kong magresign, eh me trabaho pa din ako
..na kahit nagdidiet ako, i get to eat three times a day
..na kahit nakakaiyak ang sweldo ko, nakakagala parin ako! yey
..na kahit malungkot at tinatamaan ako ng single syndrome at times, masaya padin ako..(genuinely happy)..
..at kahit wala parin akong boyfriend, eh me mga super panalong friends ako na never akong pagpapalit..




yun oh!


Happy Holidays guys!

Sagada '11: Thinking out loud at 5,000 ft.

I don't know what it is about Sagada.

Maybe the warmth of the people. The simplicity of life here. How they manage to be content. Not happy. But content. Or maybe its the way they live their life. Uncomplicated and easy.

If I meant to go back,(and I will) it may not be for the sites or food but because of the people, the environment, the place.

The last time I was here, I've got a lot on my mind. Questions unanswered, plans that don't seem to work. Even small dreams don’t come true. Frustrated. Upset.

And maybe, I’m still a bit of those. I still have questions unanswered. My small dreams and plans, still, don’t seem to come true. And I’m a bit frustrated and upset.

But coming here, going back here made all sense. I get to stop and think. I get to press that pause button. At the moment, I got hold of my life, even for just a couple days. I get to live the way I wanted. I didn’t felt rushed and obligated. Time. All I had was time.

And just as I said the last time I was here...

"Coming back from Sagada, I may not have found the answers to my life’s endless questions, but I have a clearer understanding of it. I get out of this place a better person, more whole than ever before.

Future might not be fixed for me but I trust Him and myself that whatever happens, I will be just fine.no matter what."

Sagada '11: Falls and Food

Finally saw the Bomod-ok Falls.

Then treated myself to a Php200/cup of alamid coffee

paired with a nice clubhouse sandwich..

and topped it with a bowl of home made granola yogurt..

perfect way to end the day..

Uno

My blog is turning 1!

It's been a year since I build this up. And so to celebrate,(and to mark one out of my bucket lists) I was planning to go back to Sagada alone. Instead, I got two guys with me. So far, everything's good.

I tried the Banaue route this time to see the famous terraces. Luck made a joke on us and we weren't able to go and actually trek to one of the terraces due to time constraint. Even the viewpoints aren't that good because of the fog.

Breakfast at People's Lodge

Toploading was fun.

I missed this feeling. 

Long bus hours.

Meeting locals.

Warm conversations.

I'm in my element. Yet again. Definitely.

growing up, growing old

when i was a kid, falling in love, getting a job, having a family, owning a house sounded all so good to me..

but i realized it wasn't all that.
now, i see them as realities. sugar coated realities that comes with ugly stuffs.

all those good things (at times) doesn't equate to happiness.. i sometimes feel that we're so deluded in achieving these things (or the things we thought would make us happy) that we end up not wanting them.

and it's all not that easy to achieve. i sometimes wonder how my parents did it..
bought a house, send us to school, support us, when i can barely pay my rent.

so, when one can say he's all grown up?
when you see him all dressed up for a date..?
..bought his first car..?
..paid his bills?..

has anyone seen the movie Finding Neverland? or Peter Pan?  
we come to a point where we want to stay exactly where we are..what i'm saying is, the idea of never growing old..of never having to deal with "feelings", responsibilities and changes. of being stationary..
..it all sounds so good..
but are we capable of such?


am i? rather.. 
are we?

growing up?.. or..
growing old?..

Missing the sun

It's almost three months (and counting) since my last gala. And my feet has never been this itchy. 

Indoors.

Mostly, it's indoors now. Which sucks. I miss the outdoors. The warm sun. Sand on my back. Wind on my face. The beach.

I've got nothing to post either.

The past month was spent mostly on movies, inuman and, again, indoors.

I was thinking of posting some of my past travels like Anawangin, Iloilo, Magalawa or maybe the Pinatubo. But all were ages ago, I might miss on something. I'll see if I can post a good story on any of those.

Basta, I miss the sun.

I was never a fun of the rain.

Not really.

30 before 30

1. Sleep under the stars

2. Mt.Pulag

3. Bungee OR cliff diving OR skydive

4. Maldives

5. See a butterfly OR a turtle born

6. Get paid to travel

7. Keep a blog

8. Save or change someone's life

9. travel alone

10. Dive

11. Surf

12. Backpack Europe (a girl can wish!)

13. Learn to forgive

14. See the aurora borealis, northern lights

15. Sakura

16. Angkor Wat

17. Fall in love

18. Sagada

19. Be back in Sagada. alone.

20. Christmas Island. See the red crab migration

21. Do a 365 day project

22. Support a charity and be active with it

23. Batanes

24. Swim with the whalesharks

25. backpack South East Asia

26. Learn to converse in a foreign language

27. Finish House of the Dead

28. Get a tattoo

29. Learn to pick a lock

30. File my resignation

Pico de Loro '11: Freedom Climb

I never thought I would agree on joining the climb last weekend. It all started when Cj bullied me saying I purposely don't join any of his climbs because I was afraid I might discover I have feelings for him. The hell! So i did join at the end.. oh i have no idea what i was in for..not a single clue..

I totally get why climbing was addicting as well as why other people don't get it. The fulfillment you get when you see the peak of the mountain as well as the craziness of going on a weekend just to tire oneself.


We left Manila around ten in the morning and arrived at the jump off point past noon. We found a van who would bring us to our destination. It was Mark and Buchoy who did the haggling which means we got a good deal.


If you have noticed, I have been meeting a lot of accidents every single time I go on a break. My El Nido cut, the Ilocos traffic mishap, and a lot of undocumented incidents. So, because this is something more of out of the box for me, I was so careful in every step I take. It didn't help that I was wearing the wrong shoes or the rainy weather. I was not the sweeper yet I was always at the end of the line..I guess I am not really that fit..

Well, we ( no, its more of I ),  reached the campsite after a grueling three to four hours climb. most were spent on taking photos and resting..countless rests along the way. nonetheless, I reached the top, no matter how slow I was..

Thanks Beth for the NF 

And the view..

It was breathtaking..

View from our campsite

It was far different from the beach scenes I'm used to.. instead of the white sands and the blue sea surrounding you.. mountains.. and clouds.. the full three-hundred-sixty view..

It was a bit cold. But we expected worse. Glad rain didn't poured on us that night. Or else, sleeping would be impossible.

Thanks to Ambo and Buchoy. We had a sumptuous dinner that night.  Yum!

Fish fillet, Super-patok na soup

At dahil nabasag ni Sir Ryan ang isang boteng Emperador, we (the eleven of us) were left to share one bottle that night. Super bitin! It didn't help that we had loud neighbors. As in super loud neighbors. Dra. Auds, my tentmate, can even attest to that. Argh. If we only consumed enough alcohol that night, we would reach dreamland in minutes. But fate was cruel, we were so wide awake the rest of the night.

Our super noisy neighbors

I woke late the next morning, hoping to get even at least 30 minutes of a decent sleep. But it never came.

I was so determine to look for the nangingibaw-voice last evening. All the shouting and the "Jump-brother! Jump brother!" was not funny at all.

When I finally saw who owns the voice, all I can do was stare him down. Rex was more of naghahamon-ng-away-mood. He said if Benjie and Afable were there, for sure, they were all in a brawl right at that moment.

I turned all my frustrations at breakfast. Careful not to eat much. I wouldn't want to have a go on an open-wide rest room. (Enough for poo-poo stories at me naaalala ako).

We went up to the summit and the view was far more breathtaking.

It gives one a different high..

Now, I totally get it why..

Mountain meets the Sea

Now that's a different set of mountains

Because it was the 12th of June, there was a flag ceremony at the campsite. At siyempre, Pinoys that we are, we didn't go. Instead, we did our own at the peak. hehe. So much for patriotism.

Isang mapagpalayang araw!

Some of us went on to go to the other peak. The three of us, Mark and Rex, were left knowing it was a bit of  a climb again.

Maysie, Ryan, Karl, Mark and Auds doing their own flag ceremony

We eventually packed up and left campsite.

The descent will be much faster compared the climb up. I thought I will be too but I wasn't spared. As expected, I was the end of the trail again. I took the most out of it and shot some interesting photos along the way.

Wild mushrooms

Jackfruit. tama ba?

Crossed one of two of these

At dahil sa tagal kong maglakad, naabutan ako ng ulan..haha. Sori Mam Maysie! Trekking under the rain, now, that's an experience.


The day after, I receive the most unrewarding gift one gets after climbing. Aching to the nth power legs. I was walking funny for a day or two. I really need to invest on some good shoes and do warm ups prior climb. But not soon. Maybe after a month or two.. or more.. hehe.


Contemplating on my first climb, I'd still do it again. Even after that unfortunate poo-poo incident. Even how many times I almost slipped because I was wearing the wrong shoes. Even if how hard the climb was for me. Even if, I'd do it all over again. Because, I know,  it would be all worthwhile at the end...  (naks!)


"Sometimes, the things that scare you the most are the most worthwhile..."

Pico de Loro '11: My first

I'm still thinking what to write about my first climb. 

I can't think because my legs are still aching. Ouch!

But this I have to say. And I'm quoting Ryan here, 

"It's a different experience"...

Coron '10: Enchanting Coron

I remember jumping and running towards the beach when i saw the white sand of Malcapuya shining midday..

 I remember having a serene moment when I saw this spot at Malcapuya. Claiming it mine. All mine..

I remember getting awed at the vast marine life I saw at the Sunken Ship

..of unbelieving I was in the Philippines when I saw Kayangan Lake..

I remember not minding wasting my time lying on one of the hammocks at Banana Island..

..and how I was thankful for witnessing another breathtaking sunset.

CORON '10: Enchanting Coron

Since I mentioned Coron being better then El Nido, it is only fair to post my trip about the place. I'm still thinking what to write about.

Hmmm...

LAIYA,BATANGAS: October Beach-ing!

a mini break with my college friends somewhere in batangas: that was the original plan. somehow, unimaginably, it pushed through at kahit me mga konting "oopss moments"

so on sunday,oct 19 (which was also margas post bday), nagkita2 sa mcdo-araneta. as usual late na naman si donya sheena (walang kupas!).on which we blame her for the next "little misfortunes"  we had that day.hehe ETD was 7:00am para maabutan pa sana ang check in time but since sheena was late,we left manila at 8:00am,arriving at Lipa, Batangas a little late before lunch. We had no idea what we were into. We dropped by at Robinsons Lipa for some chichira and booze (thanks marga!). At heto na ang unang "biyahe" namin. 






Think about this: php58 for a jeepney ride. imagine how long that trip was. We were fighting over wether the trip was either long or the fare was just pricey. Manong driver confirmed that the trip was indeed long. And he added that another ride is needed to go to laiya, which he stressed was another long trip too. haayyy...sheena kasi



So..bus ride (php136) 2 hours + lipa-san juan (php58) 45 minutes + san juan-laiya (php46) 45 minutes = php 240 (4-5 hours???) huwaat!

After too many "are we there yet?" from chepots and realizing that we really are near the resort after running out of paved lane, finally, we arrive!




We went to Taramindu unannounced. Marga's sort-of-game plan was to browse the whole laiya beach in case we didn't find any resort appealing. Glad we already have Taramindu in mind saving ourselves from marga's tiresome plan.







Having approximately ten rooms only, Taramindu is a welcoming place. Ideal to those who simply want to relax and unwind.

Immediately, we got our room. Hunger made us move fast, enough that we immediately handed our share for the room and food, unpacked, change into a more comfortable clothing and headed downstairs to feed our hungry mouths. Our room costs php 4000.They charge per room basis not per head so the six of us managed to squeeze ourselves into two queen size beds. Food costs php600/head which is consumable.







The wait was worth it. For lunch, we ordered pusit, sinigang, lechon kawali, pinakbet. The food was incredible or maybe because we were simply dead hungry. Nonetheless, it was all good. Plates were clean in a matter of seconds.

     Having been fed, we headed to the beach.

The whole stretch of Laiya was breathtaking. The sand was pebbly and walking on it became more of a foot scrub for us. We decided that walking was a bad idea after realizing that we can no more go on with our feet being de-scaled to death. Swimming. Basking under the sun. Volleyball. The whole afternoon, that's all we did.

 Then sunset came...

We were upset the sun set behind us. But we manage to take some equally breathtaking sunset photos and of course, silhouettes




Dinner time!
We had gambas, taramindu fried chicken and nilagang baka for dinner. Another satisfying meal.
We all agreed. Taramindu's food was indeed sumptuous.









Night came in.
Taramindu lights up at night. The resort use dim lights to achieve a relaxing atmosphere even at night. You could barely see a fluorescent light. Ceiling lightings were replaced by wall lights. Tinay said it reminded her of ust during christmas season.





Of course, an outing will never be complete without an inuman session. hehe ilabas ang alak!!
So, the kwentuhan began.




Ooops.This one's off limits.








We went to bed after sheena started complaining of palpitation, after marga was using the word "parang"  abusively and after chepots literally slept on her last tagay! tsk,tsk,hindi talaga mga tomadera. brainy bunch nga. hahaha




The rest of the evening went well.
Unfortunately, I was voted to share the bed with the couple (che&mark). thank goodness for vodka!!




6:00am. Sunrise. I went out to check Laiya. The beach was so peaceful. I decided to take a morning walk. Wherever my feet leads me to..





I happen to see some kids in uniform coming from the other side of the beach. So i figure to go and see where they came from. I found out that there's another whole stretch of beach beyond the rock formations. Just as i thought that this was the "other side" of the beach.






Chepots came looking for me for breakfast. The walk back was a bit hotter since the sun was already up by that time, and not to mention, i was still in my pajamas.

Almuchow!
I had tapsilog for breakfast.





Kapeng barako was the highlight of our meal. yum..yum
walang sinabi starbucks.hehe






The rest of the afternoon was spent on snorkeling, more swimming and more basking. Chepots did more of picture taking.more picture taking.more picture taking. When the photos were finally in the computer, it  totaled of  320! 230 of these were chepots'. alone. What a camera whore....hehe

We had lunch before leaving.

I can't imagine this month long preparation trip has finally ended.

Will there be another "bonding" moments like this? Definitely!... or maybe....