Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

welcome to Puerto Galera, Occidental Mindoro

going here is surely easy... 

just take a bus ride anywhere in Manila to Batangas Port for 2-3 hours that cost around 300 php... 

and once there just buy your boat ticket for a round trip ticket for 400 php... 

boat ride takes almost 2 hours...

I was invited by my friends for a weekend get-away...
and usually I cannot say no... friends!
but staying here is cheap too.. 
we had our room for 1,000 php good for 4 people... 
fan room with 2 beds with toilet.

we did not reserved any hotel or inn in advance.. 
someone just approach us while were walking down the shore 
to check some cottages...
there are a lot of restaurants here too...

and here is one of the best diving site in the country too... 
and some waterfalls in the mountain...

but my group of friends here are not much into adventure...

they are beach bummers!

some night life... 
it is very lively here... 
thanks to the presence of some local bars... 
and performers like this every night...

it is fun indeed to travel with friends! :)

total expenses:1,500 php

companion: 5

Sagada, Mt. Province

Welcome to Sagada, Mt. Province

This is where I spent my 24th birthday!

I promise myself to spend my birthdays on beautiful places.

2011: Cable Tours Bus goes directly from Manila to Sagada.

2017: You may catch the next bus from Manila to Baguio > Bontoc > Sagada.

or  Manila to Banaue > Bontoc > Sagada.

We took the bus from Manila to Baguio.

There are a lot of buses bound to Baguio from EDSA Cubao.

The travel time is 6 hours for P400.

Once in Baguio, we hired a taxi to the mountain province terminal.

The last bus bound to Bontoc is 1:00 PM

The travel time 5 hours for P250.

We arrived late evening in Bontoc and there is no evening transport to Sagada.

We stayed in Churya- A hostel along the highway.

It was P500 for 1 room, good for 2.

we did top-load! 

as exciting as it can be...

jeepney fare is 100 php for an hour travel...

with cliffs and blind curves!

we check in Sagada homestay as suggested by a friend...

it's within the town proper and on higher ground...

we had our room for 800 php

good for 2 people.. with hot shower!

there are a lot hotels, inns and home stay guest house in Sagada

you may check this blog Sagada Hotel and Home Stay Lists for details

we then register in the local Municipal Hall for 10 php..

and chooses our activities for the day...

there are a lot of tour guides available...

we went for a walk to the hanging coffin...

it's very near... so no need for a tour guide...

passing by the church...

and the usual cemetery...

the rocky hill where they hang the coffin few centuries ago...

up close!

It is believe by the local folks that if they hang the coffin

in high places.. 

it would easier for one's soul to reach the other side of life...

we then continue for the country side adventure...

we did not try the cave/spelunking... my friend has some fear for little spaces...

we hired a tour guide for 700 php going to the Big waterfalls...

there is another waterfalls near the area

but it's not promising...

It took us almost 3 hours walk to reach this area...

there are some jeepney that goes to this place...

but were unsure of the schedule...

it is magnificent!

and though it was freezing cold that afternoon...

we decided to take a dip!

Oh! yes! were crazy! life...

we then returned that evening to the town proper...

renting a jeepney for 1,000 php...

because it was too dark to walk and were so tired!

we had our dinner in Yogurt House

we wake up around 4 am for the sunrise

we did not hire a tour guide... 

we just follow the instructions on how to get there...

it took us about 15-20 minutes walk...

you need a flashlight at least...

one of the best!

for my 24th birthday... am speechless!

we stayed here about a while...

enchanted...

we travel back to Manila that same day... 

leaving 11 am to Bontoc and from there catch the Cable Tour Bus..

directly back to Manila...

I wanted to stay longer... drinking coffee is best done here!

and I want to try the cave too...

someday....

total expenses: 3, 500 php

companion: 1

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

welcome to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

this is a continuation of my solo travel that started in Vigan...

I arrived around 1 pm in Laoag 

just in time for the last bus that goes directly to Pagudpud. 

Travel time from Vigan to Laoag is 2 hours

and Laoag to Pagudpud is another 2 hours 

but it was never been boring...

the route is beneath the seaside... 

then I trike for 30 minutes to the heart of Saud 

where the long white sand of Pagudpud lies in the stillness of the world...

my share of sunset... 

Ah! never in my dream will I ever see you this close

 there are a lot of beach resorts along the long beach.. 

I inquire in Polaris Beach resort, 

fan room good for 2 people is 800.00 php

There are 2 types of itineraries that you can choose;

each cost 600 php good for 4 people

South travel consists of Bangui Windmills, 

White Rock Formation (Kapurawpurawan)

and the light house (Cape Bojeador)... 

I had chosen the North Travel 

and exchange the waterfalls (Kabigan Waterfalls) 

to the windmills...

in front of Bantay Abot Cave

Blue Lagoon in its stillness... 

pouring white sand with the bluest water in a hot hot day

Paraiso ni Anton... 

a cool warm springs along the road... 

I was never been here..

but when I first saw it I felt as if I've been here before... dejavu!

Aqua Grande... the infinite river freely flowing to the ocean

the Patapat Viaduct that connects Ilocos and Cagayan... 

someone told me that sunset is good here.

 I was here during the mid day 

when the wind is furious and the blue water is just swaying along the coast

the windmills and me

it's a long drive though... 

A fare distance... far north.... at the end of the Philippines

meeting the dusk sky in a lush mountain beneath the ocean

I can be myself...

no pretensions... no maybes... no yes... just me...

in the silence of the night underneath the boundless shiny sparkling night...

total expenses: including Vigan tour is 4,000 php

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

companion: none

btw, i love their constellation here! so full of stars