Mt. Batulao - Nasugbu, Batangas - April 2012

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There's no easy mountain to climb. Each, unique. Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu Batangas, a 4/9 811MASL Minor climb is one of them so called day hikes that beginners will find challenging and rewarding at the same time. I’ve been browsing photos and reading blog posts about this mountain and have often mistaken its saw teeth ridges as one from the great Guiting Guiting. The magnificent range of the mountains that defines the old and new trail is as well an art on its own.

I was fortunate enough to have survived a couple of day hikes, some turned 12hour hikes namely and I have scaled twice each, Manabu and Maculot and once in Makiling UPLB trail, but that's just to emphasize that I am a noobie at the hobby and a lamer for that matter.

I find it jaw dropingly awesome that the Pro’s can climb this mountain in 75minutes using the new trail. Nothing is impossible, but wheres the fun in that? LOL.

Tagbilaran-Panglao, Bohol - March 2012

Date of Travel : 14-17 March 2012

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Second time In Bohol.

There is so much to appreciate in Bohol and personally, I could say that it's bang for your budget. Back in 2009, we were able to do the Country and Panglao Tour and visit most of the significant boast-abouts of Bohol. The Chocolate hills, the Man-Made Forest, Bayoyoy in Dauis, The Baclayon Church, Loboc River (just to name a few), as well as Balicasag and Panglao Islands. This year, we decided to return with an initial plan to just beach bum and relax. Although the IT was not as fat as the previous, we were still able to tire ourselves while relaxing our minds to the laid back feel of Tagbilaran and the less Tourist-Merchant Stressed beaches of Panglao and Balicasag.

Mt. Makiling - Los Baños, Laguna - March 2012

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Setting Expectations. Mt. Makilng, Peak 2, UP Forestry trail.

1090 MASL, Approximately 4hours of hike and limatiks. Basically, thats what I expected from this, my first 1 thousand meters above sea level climb. Admittedly, I paid less mind and preparation seeing Geralds photos of a seemingly easy wide rough road trail. But none the less I was excited, a bit nervous as my knees and ankles were oddly giving out signs of pinches of pains a few days before the hike. (and previous disclaimer still applies)

Mt. Maculot - Cuenca, Batangas - Febrauary 2012

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You know you're out of shape when you easily pant, suffer knee inflammations at a rated 3/9 minor trek and finish a 2hour climb/descent more than the projected. Then again the latter is debatable and panting is expected when you do Mt. Maculot..

Mt. Maculot Redux. I was invited by couples Gian and Leo to join them do Maculot. My wife was then forced to get herself some clothing and gear to abide by my invitation to drag her with me. So it was the 4 of us.
We took the same route when I first did Maculot with only a few differences.

• 3am-4:30am - Bus at Cubao Araneta - Old Puregold area. To Batangas, Tambo Exit. (P132x2)
• 4:30am-5:15am - Tapsi at Tessies Goto - Tambo Exit. (P60x2)
• 5:15am-5:45am - Jeep to Cuenca - (P20x2)
• 5:45am-5:55am - Tricycle to Jump off, passed by Barangay Registration. (P20x2 + P10x2 Environmental Fee)
• 6:15am-9:05am - Trek to Campsite, rest then off to the Rockies.
• Lunch at the Rockies.
• A Cold Refreshing Sprite care of the 711 at the Campsite (P35x2)
• 12:45 Descent.

Boracay Island, Malay - December 2011

Date of Travel : 15-18 December 2011
Disclaimer: A huge amount of resource has already been dedicated in finding ones way in Boracay. Being a Boracay virgin, I have listed those that I think will assist first timers, who would like to have a tip of the ice idea of what this place has to offer. 
We are coffee loving people who prefers spending vacations in a sound and quiet environment and here we list our sentiments and opinions about how Boracay appealed to us.

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Boracay for Noobs.

Domestically , there are two ways to get to Boracay from Manila. Via Kalibo and Caticlan; the long and short route. Although the Caticlan route is preferable, ticket price restrictions during the season we went there is still viable above the latter.

The Kalibo Route.

If you know or have reviewed your Geographic’s or read user experiences through blogs,(which should be a requirement to anyone going places) you’ll see and know that the municipality of Kalibo in the province of Panay requires:

• 1 and a half hour van/bus ride to the Caticlan Jetty Port
• 15minute boat transfer to the Island of Boracay
•  20minute tricycle/multicab ride to your preferred resort.

Make sure you alot extra leeway for ticket purchase and van/bus waiting time. This is important so as not to miss your schedule and flight going home.

The Caticlan route however, only requires a P50-5minute trike ride to get to the port then cross the island.

Dumaguete, Negros Oriental - August 2010

Date of Travel: August 27 to 31, 2010

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A little background.
Holding the map we bought from national book store, I told my wife, Dumaguete seem like a small city. And I was not wrong. We hardly took any tricycle from point A to point B. And almost 80% of vehicles in the City proper consist of either tricycles or motorcycle/scooters.  Now, what to do in Dumaguete? A friend said that Dumagueteños’ past time is… drinking. Seriously? A question I exaggeratedly asked as well. Where I grew up, liquor is most often associated with good times and yeah… trouble; an irony that they are termed “The Gentle People”.

 A friend also told me about Rizal Avenue, much like Baywalk here in Manila. Other than Siquijor and Apo Islands, there’s also the internationally known Silliman University… Founded 1901, we were fortunate enough to be there during its 109^th founder’s celebration.

|| Hotel || Silliman U || Food || Landmarks || Street Photos || Siquijor Island || Apo Island || Expenses ||

Mt. Maculot- Cuenca, Batangas - October 2011

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Disclaimer: Im not an experienced climber and to that matter, with handicaps. I’m overweight and is coping up with a knee injury I’ve inflicted on myself doing a first 10K run a few years back. Bottom line, use this info as reference but don’t take it from a noob hiking enthusiast.

I have done Mt. Manabu twice and twice learned a lot of lessons the hard way, even when I came mostly prepared the second time. I must admit that Mt. Maculot was a relief of some sort, given that it wasn’t raining unlike the 2 times I climbed Manabu.

7:30AM. Our two man group, Gerald and I, met at Robinsons Lipa.
To get there, I took the bus at Buendia Taft-going to Batangas, boarded off Star Toll exit (Tambo exit) and took the jeep to Robinsons. There are jeeps going to Cuenca in front of the mall which we took and boarded off at the Cuenca Municipal town hall. We loaded up at the nearby eatery and took the tricycle to the jumpoff. There is a mountaineers stop (Ka Manuel) a few meters before the area to load and clean up as well.

Notes:

• ·         The trail is more or less a 2hour assault.
• ·         Hardcore tip is to progress slow but non stop. You’ll be there in more or less an hour.
• ·         There are lots of mini stops as well to sit and catch breath.
• ·         Expect your heart rate to near max.
• ·         Cover up, there are mosquitos, ants and blade grasses, especially near the summit camp.
• ·         Dont get lost. It is to your physical and psychological advantage to be with someone who knows the trail as even those who previously climbed Maculot, take the wrong fork.
• ·         Pick up garbage along the way and don't add up to the pollution, please.

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte - September 2011

Date of Travel : 18 - 21 September 2011

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Bad Vibes.

After about 3 weeks of split offs, the taste of the long awaited vacation seem heavenly orgasmic (for the lack of a meaningful superlative adjective, blah!) Hardly feeling rest days, on the side I was tipping Gian not to break hell lose as is the problem with group vacations... How to get them organized, ..a general term. Under which, means, constantly communicating; confirming attendance, bank deposits as payment, conceptualizing plan B's, reiterating itineraries and what to brings and all those stuff commonly neglected by the herd. Shout outs to Gian for bearing that heavy dope. We were also pressured to meet the necessary headcount the TOUR requires. The pack of 13 ended up in 8 that of which consisted of a lot of back outs, uberly lame alibis, head substitutions and another Tour service.

End tag, Bad vibes.

We were fortunate enough, with some hardcore research from Gian, to have found Sir Melvic Briñas' Calaguas tour service. Our small group of 8, was a go- so we rid ourselves the head count requirement from the previous tour we were eyeing.

Turned out, it still is the Cagbalete group and 1+1 of Gians' friends which made the group complete. 

Bacolod, Negros Occidental - July 2011

Date of Travel: 24 - 27 July 2011

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Silay, now what?

Early morning chills. The magnificent open fields of sugar canes and mahogany trees and the view of the mountain regions and not to forget the cold baguio like air brought by the pending typhoon in the horizon, somehow fills  me and my wife’s lungs a new sense of adventure as we step out of the new Silay airport. Parang commercial lang ng Listerine... “Ah...”

So we made our way pass the people offering van rides to the city, dodging offers and blocking our ears off, not because we’re rude but because we have a different method in mind. Commute. Our Day 1 plan is to:

Take the tricycle out of the airport, eat, roam and enjoy the laid back scenes of old Silay.

Commute to Bacolod and check in L Fisher Chalet.

It was fortunate that 2passengers are already waiting at the tricycle so we didn’t have to privatize the entire ride.

 It’s a short 20minute ride or so to the main road of Silay (Rizal Avenue) also termed Hiway. Tricycle leaves full with 4 to 6 passengers, but you can also pay for the whole trip.  Fare as of July 2011 is P20 each. Ideal if you plan to wander in Silay before going to Bacolod.

To compare DIY vs Vans, P20(tricycle out of Silay Airport)+P15 (multicab to Bacolod)+P7.50(jeep from Bacolod to your hotel)+inconvenience of transporting huge bags, I say it’s fair enough to take the Airport Transpo priced at P100. But anyway...

Puerto Princesa, Palawan-February 2011

Date of Travel: 8 - 12 February 2011

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Itinerary and Reservations:

City tour, Places to visit:

• Crocodile Farm
• Butterfly Garden
• Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral
• Plaza Cuartel
• Baker’s Hill
• Mitra’s Ranch
• Iwahig Penal Farm
• Baywalk
• Firefly watching
• Underground River
• Honda bay

Must try:

• Kinabuch Grill
• Ka Lui's
• Sans Rival of Divine Sweets
• Heavenly Desserts
• Viet Ville Resto
• Itoy’s coffee haus
• Badjao Seafront Resto
• Balinsasayaw 

*I've crossed out those that we werent able to go to or try out.