10 Silly Things i Did This Year

I know i've had more than 10, also sillier, but imma give you just the, uhm, photogenic ones.

10. We braved a storm in El Nido. 

OK so the trip had not been what we expected it to be.  But If not for the gale warning that kept us from the island hopping, i would not have met this twin beach. i mean, c'mon. 2 beaches facing each other. That's like every man's fantasy. *wink*wink*

9. We stayed in a high end resort in Batangas for a night, or at least what's left of it. 

Yes. The pegged Greece of the Philippines - The Fortune Island. I could not believe my eyes how storm aftermath can be this beautiful. 

8. Bora with my family.

So that's Bora minus the night life. silly right? But this is one of the best moments of my life. I've been meaning to explain to them why do i have this itchy traveling feet.i kinda let the arguably best beach in world do the talking. 

P.S. i will so do this again, so, ipon ipon muna. 

7. i slept on the sands of Calaguas

Finally, after so many years of attempt, i set foot at the best beach of the Philippines, according to some very reliable resources.I mean, i can't blame them thinking such. 

6. I went to Siquijor alone. On a full moon. 

It's like proving to myself that my life i everything but boring, i circled the isla del fuego. The infamous island of witchcraft and the supernatural. Well if they mean supernatural beauty, then i'm out of quips. 

5. i swam with whale sharks in Oslob.

Snorkeling with these bus-sized sea creatures is indeed scary and so much exhilarating. For someone who loves the ocean so much, this is just so awesome. Add the fact that Oslob is just pure love. 

4. i cliff jumped my heart out in Siargao.

I wont tell you about it being the Mecca of Surfing in Asia. I mean, everybody knows that already. imma tell you about the wonders of Magpupungko and Bucas Grande. This place is really a gem. 

3. I think i caught a stomach flu from Kanlaon. 

The virus' origin can't be determined for certain but my doctors are convinced it's from my stupid trail waters from Kanlaon. I don't actually believe that but It's just that i don't have much on that case. If the reason why i was hospitalized, which by the way is the very first time in my life, is this mountain? i'd say no regrets. 

2. i tore my trekking shorts butt-crawling the knife-edge and kiss-the-wall trails of Guiting-Guiting.

I never thought that this year will be the year i'll finish the hardest and most dangerous hike in the Philippines. Heck, it'snot even in my wish list. And looking back, it was stupid. I mean this is one of the most beautiful mountains i've seen and probably will ever see in my life. So guys, tune up, fear down - and have this mountain in your list ok?

1. i went lighthouse hopping in Batanes. 

Well i kinda braved those raging waves (with unfashionable loaded sick bags), and trashing winds of the top most part of every Pinoy traveler's local destination.  For what? Well, just for the view. nah. That's Batanes. i don't feel the need to explain further.  

So above all these silly things i just want to thank the Lord for all the blessings this year. My life is far from ideal, nor even close to something i want but the friends i have, and the family that i love, are just too much for me not to be greatful everytime. So, till next year of more silly things eh?

Oh, before i forget, happy birthday to me. :p 

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One Quick Anilao Dive

Anilao, Mabini, Batangas

April 28, 2013

Hey this was taken by my dive instructor Jeroen.

No time to travel as much at the moment, let alone  update my blog. I've got great weekends to share about though. Case in point the last weekend of April 2013. 

Being new at this company i now work for, i was really hesitant to join their summer outing in Batangas since i barely knew anyone. But then again, i did. Plan is, i'll stay in Laiya Saturday as much as i can and be in Anilao to be with my CS friends for a dive, as soon as i can. 

But since i underestimated my social skills, the Anilao trip had been a Sunday daytrip thrill ride. Cant really pass the opportunity to establish friendships with my new work environment can i. I tell  you Laiya to Anilao sounds a good idea but its not for everyone. We're talking about a land travel 3hrs slim. 

Anyway, i was in DIVE7000 in time for an hour dive and bunch of snorkeling. And i have to tell you, i am so much graceful now underwater, or at least thats what i feel. Equalizing is so much easier and things are really comfortable. I now get to enjoy this world all the more. 

  

  

Again photo credits to Jeroen.

One highlight of the day though is i  get to show them the video of my first dive experience last March. Seeing it on video, though an amateur one, is amazing. Lora, my dive instructor then, uploaded and shared it to everyone. How cool is that. 

Check out that video here - Anilao Dive - March 2013

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Hey i'm on twitter - @rome_john

The Nasugbu Project

December 29-31, 2012

Nasugbu, Batangas

I actually vowed that Pulag will be my last climb for 2012. But my December had been really urbanized, and i hate that. ;p

Thus this dayhike in Batulao. Little did i know that the climb is just a little portion of a weekend of a blast and spontaneity.

• Batulao Dayhike
• Interlink Dusk Swim
• Interlink Morning Beach Bumming
• Black Beach Skimming

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Hey i'm on twitter - @rome_john

Tongue ng Maculot

October 14, 2012

Cuenca, Batangas

Maculot had always been a part of a mountaineer’s life. With merely P350 budget excluding food, this mountain is a box office hit for many hikers. And with the perfect cliff views and easy trail, they say Maculot is the top most option of one’s first mountain.

True enough that almost half of our group had Maculot as their first mountain. As for me, this is one of the most enjoyable climbs because of the jolly good crowd.

Thanks to Ron for this picture of the whole gang.

Since the mountain is a bit famous for hikers as I’ve said, going there is a breeze. The buses to Lemery will know where to drop off climbers in Cuenca Batangas, some 2hrs away from Manila (bus fare – P140). From downtown Cuenca, tricycles are used to sending hikers off to the registration area for the P10 brgy fee, and then up to the Grotto or Rockies jump-off (tricycle fare – P20).

Given that most of us are new, we ascended a bit slower. It took us more than 2hrs under the sun to get to the camp site. Then we had lunch and socials. No plans in pursuing summit since our senior hiker Ron, hates mountains with stairs.

Right after noon, we headed to the rockies. The cliff views are dreadful especially for people like me with effin problems with heights. Although with slow pace and guidance from Ron, all of us made our way through down the knee trembling DilangMaculot, the lowest end of the cliff one can be.  The view, I would say, is spectacular.

Heights is a personal problem for me. I’d really love to go back to Maculot and see if the cliffs do have the same effect on me the first time I saw them. I really would want to get rid of that fear and I’d love Maculot to be my measure.

Another reason why I’ll be back in Maculot, well aside from the summit, is the Sitio Lumampao. An area a couple of kilometers down the jump-off where one can dip into the Lake. We failed to side trip on this one since photo ops ate all our time in the Rockies. A personal achievement of mine though is the shortest descent in my history – 30minutes. I think I can do better next time though.

We finished off the day with a well-earned bulalo in Lipa before heading back home to Manila.

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Hey i'm on twitter - @rome_john

Beautiful Batulao

 November 04, 2012

Nasugbu, Batangas

I have always wanted to climb this mountain because it had been very photogenic. They always say it’s an easy climb but the pictures suggests otherwise. So I have to know for myself.

5AM

First trip of BSC Bus from Pasay to Nasugbu. 

7AM

The bus dropped us off in the EverCrest. For most people, this is known as the fork to Calaruega, the famous church in a hill. This is where the climb starts. Locals offer a tricycle ride to the Barangay but I suggest you just walk from the Highway.

8AM

The initial part of the trail is filled with residences and with that, sari-sari stores. We took our first rest in a lugawan and had a light breakfast. The breakfast is fine with me but I really look forward in hitting the real ascending trail since the mountain is so enticing from afar.

9AM

Our pace is a bit affected by the sun directly scorching us. We just passed thru the old and new trail. As per planned, we’ll do Old Trail – New Trail Traverse.

Thirty minutes later we set foot at Camp 1. I would say that Batulao has one of the nicest camp sites I have ever seen. It’s a bit trimmed that might not fit to other’s taste but it sure can accommodate good.

11AM

Before noon, we assaulted summit. I enjoyed this part of the trail a lot since the challenge seemed to be very complicated but in reality it is very easy. The 40-60’assault and 80-90’roped assault to the summit is one of the best parts of the mountain. It gives you the awesome feeling of accomplishing something badass. Beginners may have a bit of a hard time and hesitation but again, the awesome feeling of getting past thru this is most exhilarating for them. (“them” talaga oh. So feeling ko naman hindi ako beginner?hehe)

12NN

If we stayed longer in the summit, we’ll be sun fried for someone’s lunch. We started descend thru the new trail and sail thru Batulao’s famous Peak series.

Just peak after peak after peak.

The view is overwhelming. Given the novice trail, I feel it’s a bit too much for a reward. LOL.

1PM

Since the sun is slowing us down, we had our late lunch at New Trail’s Camp. A local at the registration and a mountaineer by the store even offered me to have a glass of red horse. I thought what the heck so I gladly obliged and shared stories with them.

3PM

The skies got a bit gloomy so negotiating the rest of the new trail was easier. I even bumped into a friend whom I met in Tagapo. It’s amazing how you unknowingly have been building a network of new friends in the mountains. They’re just awesome people with lots of great stories to share.

4PM

As we get back to the jump-off, I have realized few things to remember when going to Batulao:

1. Don’t hire a tricycle. It’s ironic.
2. The trail, traverse or not, is very easy to navigate. Guides are totally not necessary.
3. The “ligo” rate in the store by the highway is not by person but by “timba” of water. Next visit, I plan to finish the trek at a much better time and try to check out the river the locals say is nice to dip into.
4. Expenses for this trek are one of the cheapest around. 110 is the one way bus trip to Evercrest, and 20 reg fee for each trails. That’s roughly 300 excluding food. It’s just like watching a movie, only with a better visual treat. ;p

5PM

Before going home, we have got to eat Tagaytay’s bulalo. This sumptuous meal in an overlooking diner and the cozy twilight of Tagaytay wrapped up our day.

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Hey i'm on twitter - @rome_john