The Secret Paradise

I never considered Bicol Region for a summer vacation. I thought that the only tourist spot they have is the perfect cone Mayon volcano which I've already seen when I was young.

When I heard about the Caramoan Island that boasts of its fine white sand beaches, I got curious and decided to go there with my equally adventurous friend Leah and cousin Coco.

From Naga, we rode a van going to Sabang port. And from there, we took a 2-hr boat ride to Caramoan Island (We were carried to the boat so we won't get wet). The boat ride ain't that bad 'cause we chatted with two friendly Caramoan residents Ate Carmen and Ate Ellen who answered all our queries regarding Caramoan. We were also busy staring at the cute guy sitting in front of us hehe:) super cutie!



When we reached the Guijalo port, we had to ride a smaller boat to reach the shore. We were scared at first, but what the heck! we were looking for an adventure and God is giving it to us! Woot! :)



Transportation available are motorcycles and tricycles. But the cute guy was fetched by a Montero! (hey! can we share a ride with you! joke! haha!) We took the tricycle and asked the driver to help us scout for possible places to stay in. A man in a motorcycle convoyed us and offered us hotel inns that didn't look too good so we decided to look for ourselves with the help of the tricycle driver hehe :)

To make the long story short, we took the long and less traveled road. A 6-kilometer ride ain't that bad 'cause we're loving every minute of our adventure :)



We didn't have a place to stay yet because we wanted it to be part of our adventure aside from the fact that we couldn't find a decent one in the internet. The well-developed Gota Village and the other island beside it were closed for Survivor Island-Israel. So we thought, why get scared? where's the adventure when you try to plan everything? :-)

Luckily, we found an available room previously occupied by a foreigner who had to go back home upon hearing news that a volcano erupted in Iceland, her homeland.



I fell in love with Caramoan during our island hopping. It was indeed a secret paradise.









We didn't want to leave the following day but we had to go back to Naga because we already made a reservation at Camsur Water Complex for wakeboarding. I didn't get to try it though because my period came the morning I was scheduled for it :(




We also tried the Bicolano pizza. Delicious :)



Wakeboarding!!! Leah tried it and enjoyed a lot! Coco didn't attempt to try it 'cause she's the clumsy, accident-prone type of person, just kidding! hehe!





And to top it all off, we only spent around P6500 for this trip. Very affordable compared to a Boracay trip :-)

My gosh, I love Bicol now! I'm definitely going back there ;)

Boracay for the 3rd time

I thought I won't be coming back to Boracay this soon but I found myself booking my plane ticket again for the summer. I couldn't resist Boracay. I love the comfort of being in that beach while getting everything that I need like I never left Manila. Yellow cab, grocery, Mang Inasal, tiangges, drugstore, bars, massage... name it they got it. The only difference is that you're stepping on a fine, powder-like white sand and smelling the sea breeze.

I got more excited when my sister, Let and her family decided to join me and my friends. Since it was already one and a half month away from my scheduled trip, I wasn't able to get them a cheap airfare and the same schedule as mine. They both came and left one day ahead of us which wasn't that bad anyway 'cause we still got the time to bond and enjoy the beach together. Plus they also got to mingle and enjoy the company of my friends (Marge and Teena) who were really easy to get along with.

Day 1. Lasingan time! (hehe!) Let and Ernest treated us to a lunch at Yellow cab. We didn't get the chance to freshen up and change 'cause Ernest already invited us for a drink at their place right after. My friends couldn't refuse! hahha! Aw!



Day 2. Island hopping. We went to Crystal Cove and Puca beach. Had brunch at the Puca beach and swam for a few minutes. Atleast in Puca beach, there were no algaes. Hay sarap!






We went strolling...




Had buffet dinner. Unlimited shrimps+crabs+talaba=allergy




Day 3. Let and family already left for Manila. Me and my friends swam and drank the day and night away. We agreed to go bar hopping in the evening but we only managed to visit two bars! must be the age! hehe!







Visit to Boracay won't be complete without watching the fire dance! galing nila!





Day 4. Time to leave Boracay :( sniff :(



I'd like to believe that Boracay will remain the no. 1 getaway beach resort in the Philippines. For how long I'm not sure. I hope that the future generation will still get to see and enjoy its beauty. If not, there are still many beaches in the Philippines that are yet to be discovered, developed and explored (hopefully not exploited, hehe!)

My family is planning to go there in October so I'm gonna see you again soon Boracay! :-)

Left town on Valentine's Day

For years, I've been wanting to visit Baguio but couldn't do so because I was either busy with studies or couldn't take a leave from work to join my family every time they go there for a vacation.

So I decided to go there on my own. But when I shared my plan with my friend Leah, she offered to go there with me. I'm finally going to Baguio! Yahoo!!!

Since we planned to go on a Valentine weekend (Feb 13-14), we couldn't find an available, decent but affordable hotel accommodation thru the internet 'cause they were all fully-booked! Huwat?! To free ourselves from pressure and stress, we decided to just look for one when we get there.

In Baguio, we were approached by a man who offered several accommodation. We agreed to go with him to visit possible places to stay in. We didn't like the ones he offered us so we decided to look for one on our own. We just paid him for the ride and the help he extended to us.

We were very optimistic that we'll find a decent hotel to stay in.



Luckily, we found this hotel with a room vacancy. God is good!



After settling in, we went out to explore Baguio!!!Excited! It's really COLD in Baguio! sarap!

We tried strawberry picking at the strawberry farm




Went to Mine's view park where we saw Douglas the super cute dog. Just pay P25 for three shots...




I'm not really scared of heights :)



We also went to the botanical garden where we didn't see much. The Igorots have to be paid when they join you for a photo-op. We weren't really interested but they insisted, hehe! what's a few peso when you can help them right? I feel sad for them 'cause they should be staying home at their age :(




Tried the strawberry taho. It was good:)



Ate at this wonderful vegetarian restaurant called "My Gulay" along Session Road






Prayed at the convent






Watched the parade





Stopped by at SM Baguio to buy stuff



And went biking. Haven't done this for a long time! I enjoyed every minute of it. We bought green mangoes, binatog, isaw and dugo while biking. Sarap!




Feeling exhausted and cold, we went back to the hotel to take a nap. We had dinner, then went off to a bar to try their night life. I ordered margarita while Leah ordered cosmopolitan. We also had two shots each of tequila while we listened to the band playing :)




We were dead tired when we came back to the hotel. And I had migraine the next day :( I couldn't make myself go up the grotto because I was really not feeling well. I just waited for Leah while she bravely went up the stairs to the grotto (and I'm talking about 100 steps ha! aw!)





This is how I looked when she came back from the grotto. This was a stolen shot kakahiya hehe!



Since it's our last day, we had to buy pasalubong. Good thing I have sobered up when we reached the market. Thanks to Plasil! We bought strawberries, veggies etc.




Then we went back to the hotel to get our stuff. I hate to say goodbye to Baguio ;(




In summary, we left Manila to avoid the Valentine's Day fever, and we had fun while doing it :-) Ciao!

Deadma

You can't be deadma all the time, you'll just have to learn how to do something about things or people that's been bothering you.

I know how. It wasn't good. But it helped somehow. Sana.

Move or mate. In my case, I chose to move on. Sana I won't look back :)

Kasi naman kasi!

I dedicate this song to the apple of my eye! bwahahahhah!



CHEEEEEEESYYYYYY!

Can it be true?

Let's be positive!

We never notice how we sometimes become negative about how we view our lives especially when we're bombarded with frustrating situations.

How about thinking happy thoughts for a change?

When you're feeling blue, try to think of memories that will make you smile. Perhaps a favorite song or a funny movie will do you good.

It works for me. Positive thinking invites positive outcomes. Let it happen!

Try it :)