BORACAY ISLAND | Solo-backpacking to the World's Finest

Boracay Island is one of the best beaches in the world, that’s according to the travel agencies, websites, blogs, magazines and other people’s reviews and I can say “yes it is one of the best!.” The fine, white sand at the shoreline can be compared to a fine table salt, actually others said, that it’s like a baby powder.  The pristine, crystalline water is really adorable, as it serves as a mirror of the blue skies with cirrus clouds on it.  The reflection is like a painting of Michelangelo, as the blue water and skies forming a horizon, parallel to the shoreline.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY UPDATED BORACAY ISLAND ITINERARY

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The Venice | Global City

Like the Grand Canal, in Venice, Italy

The Venice (photo above) I saw a friend posting a photo, in facebook, that is so familiar. Out of my curiosity, I asked my friend if where was that photo taken. And she told me the details. I told my travel buddies about this place but I was sad, they already knew it.

 

The Venice Residences

Very similar to the Grand Canal in Venice Italy

For shops and dine

Potipot Island | Zambales

This post is just a continuation of our Candelaria, Zambales escapade.  Potipot Island is a small Island located in Brgy. Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales.  It's the nearest Island in Zambales mainland and just 15-20 minutes boatride from Candelaria shore.  It is composed of white sand beach like what Boracay have in Visayas.

I can give my two thumbs up . . . . for this place, it's really perfect for tanning your skin, but you need to bring SPF 100++ sunblock for skin protection. Visiting this island was an outstanding experience.  I felt that I owned the Island, look at this photo, I was walking alone with my barefoot. While walking on the shore, you can see the green grass, corals, hermit crabs, starfish plus the beautiful sunset in the afternoon.

Look at that wood lying on the sand, before I went to these place, I conducted a research about Potipot Island.  In some blogs, I already saw these tree, still have leaves in every branch, but it's now an additional design on the beach and serves as antique furniture on it.

Cottages are available in the Island, you just need to pay for it for a specific time.  These green trees are so relaxing in my eyes and they also give shade to the tourists.  Kamachile, coconuts and some other trees are there, waiting for other people who will appreciate them.

If you are an individual who loves nature, Potipot Island is the answer.  If you are planning to visit this place next year, try to bring tent and spend time at night with your friends, give yourself a simple life.  Forget the stressful life in the Metro.

Of course, I will not loss the chance to have a perfect pose on the tree.  POTIPOT ISLAND is perfect! 

HOW TO GET HERE: Alta Nina Resort 

Bangui Windmills | Pride of Ilocos

This was our third destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

After the relaxing visit in Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, we drove more than an hour for our next destination.  This time, we took the highway going to Bangui, Ilocos Norte; so the simple driving skills are necessary.

Along the highway are the modern and artistic houses but some are antiques. The human size windmills can also be found on the side of the highway that adds beauty and art.  The highway is totally different compared to the highway of Metro Manila in terms of traffic.

When the driver stopped on the parking space, there were a lot of vehicles, so we were not the first one to visit the place.  When the door of the van was opened, I easily felt the hot temperature, but the wind coming from the ocean was cold.

Bangui Wind Farm is the place that converts wind energy into electrical energy which is situated in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.  This wind farm has 20 units of 70-meter high wind turbines, stretching along 9 kilometers shoreline of Bangui and is facing the South China Sea.  Each of the turbines are 326 meters apart from each other.

On the shoreline of Bangui, where the turbines are located, you can see the view of the hills and ranges nearby.  The coastline actually has a gray sand and clear waters.  The souvenir shops were built few meters from the shoreline.  There were key chains, basi, t-shirts and other items sold in every shops.

Pinagrealan Cave

Pagkatapos ng aming buwis buhay na karanasan sa Lioness Rock Formation, isinunod naman namin ang makasay-sayang kweba ng Pinagrealan na matatapuan sa Brgy. Minuyan, Norzagaray, Bulacan, ilang minutong byahe sakay sa isang traysikel mula sa Rutonda ng Brgy. Bigte.

Ang Kweba ng Pinagrealan ay unang tinawag na Kweba ng Minuyan na matatagpuan sa paanan ng Bundok ng Sierra Madre na sakop ng Norzagaray, Bulacan. Ito ay ginawang Kampamento ng mga Rebolusyunaryong Pilipino, sa pangunguna ni Heneral Sinforoso dela Cruz. Ito ay naging pangunahing kuta at tanggulan ng mga manghihimagsik nang taong 1896-1897.

Sa kwebang ito nanirahan ang hukbong rebolusyunaryo ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo at Heneral Pio del Pilar. Nagkaroon ng iba’t-ibang labanan sa labas at palibot ng kweba. Sa loob ng kweba matatagpuan ang ginawang bahay ni Heneral Aguinaldo sa likod ng maraming nakatayong hugis pinto at tunay na marbol. Sa harapan naman ng kweba itinayo ang kwartel at bahay pagamutan kung saan ginagamot ang mga manghihimagsik na nasusugatan sa labanan – details: courtesy – Pinagrealan Cave.

 Isa sa mga espesyal na lugar sa loob ng Kweba ng Pinagrealan ay ang butas na ito (larawan sa itaas). Ayun sa aming guide, may natagpuan daw silang mesa na may nakasulat na: “Emilio.” Ito’y pinaniniwalaang pag-aari ng dating Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo. Ang iba pang mga bagay na kanilang natag-puan sa loob ng kweba ay matatapuan ngayon sa National Museum. Naisip ko bigla, kung kumasya si Aguinaldo sa butas na ito, malamang maliit na tao ang unang presidente?

 Ang kweba ay may iba’t-bang parte, may mga malalapad at masisikip na daanan at mga daluyan ng malamig na tubig. Hindi rin mawawala ang mga stalactites, stalagmites, curtains and columns sa iba’t-ibang parte ng kweba. Agaw pansin naman ang mga butas na nilikha ng mga paniki upang gawin tahanan.

 Gusto nyo bang maligo sa isang malamig pero nakaka-relax na tubig? Wag kayong mag-alala, ang parte ng kweba na nasa larawan sa itaas ay maibibigay ang gusto nyo. Noong una, napa-isip talaga ako kung mag-lulublob ako sa malamig na tubig nayun, pero nung sinabi nung guide namin na: “sige lang mam sir, try nyo lang, sabihin nyong sinungaling ako kung hindi kayo ma-rerelax.” Napaisip agad ako, at pag-katapos, agad na akong nag-lublob sa malamig na tubig. Totoo nga ang kanyang sinabi, na-relax ako nang bonga! Rock climbing, scrambling or spelunking? click here: Lioness Rock Formation

How to Get Here? Here’s what we did: From SM Fairview, we rode in a jeepney going to Rotunda in Brgy. Bigte, Norzagaray, Bulacan. Then, charter a tricycle going to Pinagrealan Cave or Lioness Rock Formation.

Things to Consider: It is really dark inside Pinagrealan Cave, so it is advisable to bring flashlights (guides will be providing flashlights for you.) Please take note; there are flashlights that can destroy the living minerals inside the cave, so LED light is more advisable. There are parts where stone are covered with sharp edges, so wearing helmet is a must! Outdoor sandals or slippers are also advisable; tourists will be stepping on and off the stones and boulders that might be sharp, so careful

Lioness Rock Formation

 Lioness Rock Formation is another tourist spot in Bulacan, being known because of great photos uploaded on online blogs. It is where tourists can do a death defying poses and stunts, literally “On the Rock.” This rock formation is named because of its unique rock formation that looks like a “Lioness.” Not only that, in this area we can also find the Monkeys, Rhinos, and Korona rock formations.

Nagsimula ang aming pag-lalakbay sa SM Fairview na kung saan kami sumakay ng jeep patungong Brgy. Bigte, Norzagaray, Bulacan. Dapat wala pang isang oras ang aming naging byahe ngunit sa di inaasahang pagkakataon, naging mabigat ang daloy ng trapiko. Ang pamasahe ay nag-kakahalaga ng 30 pesos.

Bumaba kami sa tinatawag na Rutonda ng Brgy. Bigte, malapit sa palengke. Pag-katapos, sumakay kami ng traysikel patungong Iglesia ni Kristo na malapit sa Paaralang Elementarya ng Bigte, at doon nagsimula ang aming kakaibang karanasan.

 Ang daan patungong Lionese Rock Formation ay matatagpuan sa isang pribadong lote na pag-aari ng mga lokal. Ang lahat ng bisita ay inaasahang mag-paalam muna bago mag-simula sa pag-akyat. Ang daan ay maputik at masukal, kaya masusing pag-iingat ang kailangan. May mga kabataang nag-aalok maging guide sa bawat bisita at mas magandang kumuha ng guide dahil delikado ang bawat hakbang.

 Ang susunod namang bahagi ay ang simula ng pag-akyat sa mga bato patungong tutok ng Monkeys rock formations. Sabi ng aming dalawang guides, nag-mumukhang isang ungoy daw ang isang bahagi ng batong ito kaya tinawag na monkeys. Medyo mahirap ang parteng ito, dahil masusubukan ang lakas at tatag ng mga braso at binti ng mga umaakyat.  Ngunit ng marating ko ang tutok nito, nakita ko ang gandang itinatago ng Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Katabi naman ng monkeys, makikita naman ang kakaibang bato na kahugis ng isang Lion. Nakikita nyo ang mga larawan sa itaas at sa kanan? Para itong ulo ng tinaguriang hari ng kagubatan, diba? Ang nakakatakot lang, base sa aking obserbasyon, ang mga bato ay may malalaking crack na habang tumatagal mas lalong nawawala ang tibay nito, kaya siguraduhing tama ang bawat hakbang. Ang isang maling hakbang ay posibleng maging mitsa ng aksidente. 

Larawan sa Kanan: Ako yan habang ginagawa ang aking “Buwis Buhay Pose.” Sa unang tingin, maski sa ikalawa at ikatlong tingin, hangang may paningin ka, malalaman mo agad na isang imahe ng Lion ang bato, pero dito sa larawang ito, parang akong isang ibong nakatayo sa ulo ng Lion.

BABALA: Sa mga gustong mag-karoon ng mga magagandang larawan, dobleng ingat ang inyong kailangan, kapag malakas ang hangin at hindi kayo komportable, wag nang ituloy!

 Ang susunod na bahagi naman ay ang pag-baba mula sa tutok ng monkeys at Lioness rock formations. Ang parting ito mas mahirap ng kaunti kesa paakyat, marahil mas mahirap makita ang mga aapakang bato. Kaya dito nasukat kung gaanong katatag ang aking mga braso at binti.  Malaking tulong parin ang aking gloves na pang garden at aking sapatos na may makapal na sole. Iwasang mag-dala ng malalaking bag paakyat, katulad ni Te Bing (may pulang bag) na medyo nahirapan, hindi ko alam kung dahil sa bag o dahil maiksi ang mga biyas, kayo na ang mag-husga. Peace Te Bing!

At dahil may dalawang bisita at kanilang guide na nauna sa amin, pinili muna naming kumain ng tanghalian sa isang malinis at patag na lugar, bago umakyat ng Rhinos Rock formation. Wag nyong pahirapan ang inyong mga sarili kung bakit tinawag na Rhinos ang batong ito, mamaya malalaman nyo kung bakit. Sa ngayon, wala munang clue. Ilang minuto din kaming nag-pahinga habang nag-seselfie ang mga nauna sa amin.

 Nung mapansin namin na pababa na ang mga taong nauna, nag-simula narin kaming umakyat sa likod na parte ng Rhinos. Sa parteng ito naman, mas delikado dahil mas matutulis ang mga bato, ngunit mas simpleng ng kaunti, dahil mas maraming kakapitan. Ay may joke pala tungkol sa “kapitan:” may nag-tanong ng: “marami bang kapitan dyan?” Sumagot ang aming guide na si Amboy: “ay hindi po, isa lang po ang kapitan dito!” Sumagot naman ako ng: “Ah, talaga? Eh, Taga saan ba si kapitan?" Hahaha. Sama talaga ng ugali ko no? Binasag ko yung joke nya.

Siguro naman nakikita nyo ang larawan sa itaas, tama? Ito ang paliwanag kung bakit tinawag na Rhinos Rock Formation ang lugar nayan. Base na nakikita nyo, parang isang imahe ng Rhino ang hugis ng batong aking tinutungtungan. Ang butas sa bato ay nag-sisilbing mata ng Rhino, kaya. Ang larawan naman sa kaliwa ay kuha sa itaas na bahagi ng Rhinos, at sa nakikita nyo, matutulis ang mga batong aking kinaroroonan, kaya mas kailangan ang masusing pag-iingat. Pagkatapos ng Rhinos Rock Formations, isinunod naman namin ang Korona Rock Foramation. Ngayon, siguro naman hindi ko na kailangang ipaliwanag kung bakit tinawag itong Korona.

Nag-pahinga kami sa tutok nito ng ilang minuto hanggang sa abutan na kami ng ulan. Ambon lamang ang bumagsak, hindi namin alam na parating na pala si Bagyong Luis. Mas lalong naging delikado ang aming pag-baba dahil mas lalong naging madulas ang mga batong aming tinutung-tungan pababa. Pagkatapos ng mga rock formations, isinunod naman naming ang makasay-sayang kweba ng Norzagaray, click here: Pinagrealan Cave

Need to Consider:

Before reaching the peak of these rock formations, you need to consider different aspects. First will be your health, it is very important, especially if you have the fear of heights, do try it without harness or professionals. You are encouraged to invest for your outfit: rocks are sharp, so your shoes should be dependable and should fit for rock scrambling and climbing. Sole must be thick and can’t be penetrated easily by the sharp rock surfaces. Stretchable shirts and pants are necessary, so you’ll be comfortable in doing the rock scrambling. 

Gloves are needed here because majority of the rock surfaces are sharp, gardening gloves will do. You also need to bring sun block for your skin protection and to avoid skin damage, and insect repellent lotion to protect you from insect bites since the area has shrubs and grasses.  

Sa mga nag-babalak na umakyat sa mga batuhang ito, mas magandang mag-sama kayo ng guide. Sila kasi ang nakakaalam ng mga tamang batong hahawakan at aapakan upang maiwasan kahit papanu ang mga disgrasya. Ibayong pag-iingat ang kailangan!! Bale ang naging budget namin ay nasa 500 pesos lang, bonga diba!

What to Visit in Bulacan

Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578. It is a first class province of the Philippines which is located in Central Luzon. Bulacan houses the very first three republics: 1. Republic of Real de Kakarong de Sili (1896) in Pandi, Republic of Biak na Bato (1897) and the First Philippine Republic in Malolos (1899-1901) – Wikipedia.com

Today, the Province of Bulacan is one of the rising tiger in terms of economy. This is one of the provinces that focus on tourism as part of their livelihood. Who can say no to tourism? Remember, this province is the house of many national heroes and artist of today. But, what can we visit if you drop by here, check the list below and click:

Barasoain Church – Malolos City

Biak na Bato National Park – San Miguel, Bulacan
Yungib I
Yungib II
Yungib III
Bahay Paniki Cave
Dakip - Bulakan, Bulacan

Plaridel Church – Plaridel, Bulacan

San Ildefonso Church – San Ildefonso, Bulacan

Bahay na Pula

Cruz na Daan Church

Casa Real Shrine - Malolos City
Baliuag Church – Baliuag, Bulacan

Baliuag Clock Tower – Baliuag, Bulacan

Bulacan Capitol – Malolos City

Guiguinto Old Train Station – Guiguinto, Bulacan
Jose Cojuangco Mansion - Malolos City

What to Visit in Cebu

Cebu City is situated on the eastern shore of Cebu Island which is also the city capital of the island. It is the first settlement and the oldest city in the Philippines. Sugbo is the ancient name of Cebu which was a small kingdom run by Rajah Humabon. -  Wikipedia.com

Cebu is one of the largest islands in the Philippine Archipelago.  It is considered as the “Queen City of the South” because of its economic stability and other factors. So in terms of Philippine history, this province can contribute more, especially in religion. Here are some of the historical/tourist spot that you can visit:

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

Cebu Cathedral Museum

Rajah Humabon Monument (first Filipino leader who accepted Christianity)

Colon Street (Philippines oldest street)

Heritage of Cebu Monument

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House

Casa Gorordo Museum

Magellans Cross (erected in 1521)

Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino (oldest church established in the Philippines

Fort San Pedro

WHERE TO STAY in Cebu:

Travelers Home Pension House near Carbon Market

If you have business like restaurant, hotel, pension house and other travel related establishments and want to be included in this list, e-mail here: darwinfdalisay@gmail.com