Top 10 Things I Learned From Traveling

It's been a long time since I last posted something in my blog. Neither time nor laziness was the reason I cannot properly compose myself to write something. During those past months of lethargy and writing predicament, I've been busy traveling for work, completing my masters application requirements because I really do want to be back in school, reading and watching movies to rekindle my oh-so-sleeping-mind. Tonight, I thought I should right something I learned from my past backpacking and isolation tendencies. Here is my list which I think best to share with you.


1. PLANNING AND RESEARCHING

It's my number one tool before I go out and about for a travel. I once read a book that says "the pleasure isn't in doing the thing, the pleasure is in planning it" which is true at least to me. I always find it exciting to plan something and doing research of my to-go place. Then going to that place and experiencing it, makes the planning successful.

2. STRANGERS ARE GREAT COMPANIONS (This doesn't apply every time)

No man is an island. So when you are traveling alone, you need to talk to a stranger and oftentimes you can be friends with them. Locals are always helpful in some travel destinations. I always ask for directions and they are happy to help. I've made friends during my travels and they are great companions and tour guides.

My dearest Pagudpud tour guide Kuya Arnel. He's been featured to other travel blogs.

3. LEARNING HOW TO CHARM THE GUARDS

I have a weird fascination with rusty, old and dilapidated buildings and areas. Not because I want to ghost hunt but I find it mysterious and interesting. Just like the process of knowing a person. After you see the outside, you have to look into the inside and seeing them as a whole makes them beautiful with their imperfections. You know, that right kind of wrong.

Dealing with the guards can be tricky and at times irritating. But guess what? I always win them over. I tried sneaking into one private art deco building in Quiapo, Manila. At first the guard ask for a permit and refuse to compromise but at the end, I managed to convince him to let me and my guy friend in. Yey!

El Hogar Building Hallways

The Chinese Cemetery in Blumentrit, Manila experience was different. The guard only allowed me but not my guy friend in. Better than nothing. My best trick? Be persistent. Always throw punchlines and laugh with them. Find a way to connect with them and SMILE. My guy friends always tell me it's easier for women to trick the guards. I say it's a gift for badass women. LOL! :)

L-R Outside of the Mausoleum, Inside of the Mausoleum. Wonderful!

4. UNDERSTANDING WILDLIFE AND ZOO ANIMALS

I am not an animal lover. I've owned a couple of dogs when I was a kid and lovebirds which died because I cannot take care of them. I though animals in the zoo are better than those in the wild. But as I've visited zoo's, theme parks and rehabilitation areas, I soon realize the difference. Seeing those skinny horses used for livelihood in Tagaytay and Baguio breaks my heart. Those sea creatures exposed to camera flash from visitors in Manila Ocean Park concerns me. However, those in the wild are threatened by human activities to it's extinction. Seeing sea turtles released after being rehabilitated for months face the threat of being captured again by poachers and foreign fishers. We have read or seen animal exploitation around the world and we are aware that some of it, are endangered and some were nowhere to be found. Proper regulation needs better implementation. But how can we do it? If United States cannot regulate their own people, how much more my country who is foreign to it's own land?

5. FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF THE DESTRUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT

In relation to number 4, I've also seen destructed mountains used as mining sites. I've seen a dry river, a dying mountain, a 100 years old tree being logged, and breathing the polluted air. The sad thing about it, we've seen it's effect. We've experienced the rage of our nature and what are we doing about it? What it can still do and how much of it's brunt can we bare?

A dry river in Sta. Cruz, Zambales

2 days after Typhoon Haiyan struck Visayas. This was taken in Panitan, Capiz.

I have a friend who throws his candy wrappers anywhere and when I told him how wrong what he is doing, he just told me that's why there's janitors and highway cleaners to get it. If he won't do it, they will lost their jobs. What a douche! Manners should be a subject.

6. BEING INDEPENDENT

I've always been an independent one. Some of my friends praise me for going alone on a long trip and some will give me a raised eyebrow. Being independent doesn't mean I'm a loner or a hermit. I love being in a large group too while traveling. Some may not understand, but traveling alone gives me peace of mind. I can decide faster which way to go, what food to eat, how to get there and walk in my own pace. I can be whoever I want me to be.

Timubo Cave, Camotes Island in Cebu

7. LOVING THE MOTORCYCLE RIDE

I must say, I can't wait to try it in Bangkok. The experience of riding a motorcycle during tours thrills me than riding inside a comfortable car or whatever four wheel vehicle that might be. With the motorcycle ride, you can take in the view, the breeze of air and the most part the ride itself.

Camotes Island Tour

8. NIGHT MARKETS

While in Baguio, I experienced going into a night market and damn right it's addicting. You can get a really good bargain into almost everything. I bought a nice jacket which cost 50php. Good for the cold days. It's also amazing to observe people from locals to foreigners flock there and haggle. I should check night markets in Hong Kong. :)

9. WALKING ALONE DURING THE NIGHT

It can be creepy and unsafe so I chose where to go and I trust my intuition here. If I feel like it's not a safe place to roam around at night, I don't do it.

View from SM BAGUIO at 1am

and most importantly,

10. DON'T STOP TRAVELING

Traveling isn't just giving yourself a treat from your hard days work. It isn't about wasting your money and time. It's not just for the young and strong, for the rich and famous. It is about you discovering the world, seeing what you need to see, learning, experiencing, breathing, living.

Conquering Ilocos

Please check my posts on where I stayed in Pagudpud. Goodnight Sleep in Kapuluan Vista Resort

It took me a while to write something about my Ilocos trip. The reason would be I'm too lazy and my sched is too tight at the moment. But seriously, I don't know how to begin it with. There are so many things to say about Ilocos. I stayed there for 2 days and 1 night but it was one of the my best experiences so far... well, it was the farthest place I've ever traveled ALONE which is why. Good thing I have Kuya Edu, my ever dearest and bloggers favorite tour guide in Pagudpud.

For the lack of better way to put it into writing, I will note down the things which I enjoyed and noticed during my trip in Pagudpud and Laoag.


Let me kick it off with Pagudpud's Kapurpurawan Rock Formation.

I was interested to see this firsthand as it entices me with very good pictures online. Seems like a view from another country eh? But what amaze me most about this attraction is it's mysterious existence. I thought, because of the name that it was just a big white rock but seeing it up close made my jaw dropped. I'm in awe of this rock formation or should I say, sand formation. It is a fine white sand formation. I tried to answer my question how did it happened. Looking at the sand in the area, it isn't white. And it is really a big rock sitting in the area.

I'm not really fund of taking pictures of myself but Kuya Edu want's me to pose so here I went.

If my memory serves me right, Kapurpurawan in Ilocano means white so they called it like that.

Slowly decaying sand. Please do something about it.

The sad thing about it, people visiting the area is not cautious about the sand. They vandalize and sometimes throws trashes anywhere. The local government prohibited tourists to enter some areas because they are slowly decomposing. Adding to this is weather disturbances that contributes to ruin the formation.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is a must see in Burgos but I will not recommend it anymore if people will just destroy this natures wonder.

Second in my list is the famous Bangui Windmills

During my trip from Laoag to Pagudpud and with a John Denver song Country Road on radio, I got the chance to talked to the two remaining passengers in the bus. I thought they were locals but soon I discovered that it was their first time in Ilocos too. oh! just like me. But they were in Pagudpud for work. They will be the workers for the additional windmills which will be added in Burgos. According to them, there will be additional 50 windmills to be build in the area.

I know what to expect from this site already. Windmills supplies electricity for the people in Pagudpud. But the view is great so I took the opportunity to go there. While my tour guide was driving me there, I already saw it from afar and he told me to examine the windmills. Why are some of them thin and do not rotate, while others are rotating and seems thicker than others. And it picks my mind. So he schooled me that the reason was if it stops, there is already much electricity in it and it rotates its propeller so it will stop receiving. hmm?

Cape Bojeador


From the beautiful pictures aside, I expected more from this attraction. If you read my previous post, you will see my fascination with ruins and old structures. Not because I want creepy ghost stories but I wanted to know the history behind it. I thought visiting it would make my heart beat faster because of other blog posts I've read about it. But as I arrived in the area, you will be welcomed by this view.

It seems surreal since I only see this in Tim Burton movies (I am a fan)

So to speak, no goosebumps, no creepy stories and definitely not a scary place. The caretaker told me that the his co-worker who also works here is not in the area at that moment. He was the one telling scary stories to visitors even it's not true. Good for some, bad for me lol :)

Someday I will be able to film a movie like Tim Burton's :)

The fine white sand in Blue Lagoon

I have nothing much to say about the sand but the view is good for photographers and the water is inviting. I must say I'll still choose the sand in Mangodlong, Camotes Island.


Kabigan Falls

This was another first for me. My first time to see a real falls. So I paid 100php for a tour guide and were good to go. My personal tour guide and Kabigan falls tour guide accompanied me to trek for 30 minutes to reach the falls. While trekking, I was a bit exhausted with the heat from the sun. I can already see a tan line from my wrist watch.

View from up above

This is what you'll see during the trek

This is truly nature

And here it is.

This is what I like when travelling alone. I get to see what really needs to be seen. When we got there, I was like a kid smiling from ear to ear upon seeing the falls. Good thing I was the only visitor when we arrived together with my guides. The atmosphere there was so cold and the water was so clear. It's really inviting but I managed not to dip because they say it's deep and I don't know how to swim (which I will learn someday haha). Meeting locals like my tour guides is one of the best things about my travels.

View of Patapat Viaduct

The Patapat Viaduct is just a bridge but the thing is, it's not just a bridge. Usually bridges have water underneath. As you can see, there's none here aside from the water in the shoreline. Kuya Edu said that the local government constructed the bridge because the bridge there was once higher and a lot of accidents happen like some trucks fall off to the shore especially when the weather is not good. If going there, you can still see the road above it but it was already close so people won't try to take that route. The water on the area was also bluesh green.

Paraiso ni Anton

I didn't spend much time in here and didn't even took pictures of the Anton's, but I was intrigued with this structure. It used to be a townhouse of a former politician which I forgot the name . When he died, they abandoned the place and no one took credit for it. So here it is. Rusty, dilapidated and ruined structure. I want to go up but we don't have so much time so I missed it.

Bantay Abot Cave

The Bantay Abot cave was the one that surprised me. Seeing it in pictures was so ordinary and nothing much to expect from it. But when I was there, the rush of going down and climbing up to that whole was amazing. I got wet because of the strong waves plus the strong wind might carry you away.

Let's go to Laoag by kicking in UNESCO's Paoay Church


Marcos's remains

Inside the museum

The remains of Marcos wasn't on my itinerary. I never planned to visit it. Since I was already there, why not do it. During my short stay in Ilocos, I happen to speak with some locals and their loyalty to the Marcoses is apparent. They told me how the family developed Ilocos.

"For every tear, A Victory"

Anyway, picture taking inside Marcos's mausoleum is prohibited. But seeing it myself sends chills to my being. A dictator who once took the freedom of my country, a person who thought he was greater than life and stole the lives of my countrymen. Seeing his dead body, though lifeless and cold, still reminds me of the dark days of the Philippines.

AND Macy's Diner

To be honest I like it better than 50's diner in Baguio. I enjoyed the food much than I enjoyed the offerings in Baguio's. Among other places in Laoag, what I really wanted to visit was this restaurant. I can actually skip the Paoay Church, Sand Dunes and others alike but no way to miss this one. I am a fan of Americans 50's to mention the cinema and the icons in the limelight during those times. Being in this kind of place makes me experience a little bit of what it was like way back 50's.

I haven't watched Gone with the Wind cause its total running time was like 3 hours and I don't have the nerve to sit like that for three hours as of the moment

James Dean on the low

This is what I ate for about 200php

The Great Perhaps Found in Bencab Museum

Instagram Post Bencab Museum

Art is the product of our imagination and expression. It is not defined by how well it is presented nor how people will react upon it but a representation of our emotions.

Art has many definitions. This can vary from person to another as to their backgrounds and beliefs. That is at least my interpretation of what is Art.

While I was in Baguio, I noticed the interiors of the restaurants, the concept of the coffee shops that can be an addiction, the pampering temperature and the ambiance of the foggy green mountains that pours peace and comfort. If you found out that the imaginary line of your life's axis is just a stupid imaginary path, then maybe the enlightenment you're looking for can be uncovered in Baguio. It's a place where you can think and focus. Which gives me an impression that this place is a haven for artists. I imagine tons of artists who chose to move and live there. These artists responsible for these coffee shops architecture, book shop named after a mountain and a cloud (Cute Cloudy Bookshop in Baguio City) and a museum on the mountain top. Yes, Bencab Museum.

I am not a gallery goer. Really. But I heard good things about this place and my mind people says I shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit the place.

Allow me to share these pictures as a proof of how I found one of my considered "great perhaps" in Baguio.

This was one of my favorite gallery. I love the native backpacks.

Backpacks for different purposes

Bencab's Gallery

This picture always makes me miss Baguio.

Here comes the fog. I really enjoyed seeing it approached us. My first time to see a fog like this. It's like a  paradise made for production I only see in movies.

From paintings, sculptures, and mixed media pieces, the artists freedom in expressing art is evident. The architecture of the area and the idea of putting up a gallery on that very place is genius. Bencab museum made me realize many things. One that I wanted to share is... go out and open your eyes to the things that deserves your attention.

Baguio City: A Home Away From Home

Baguio City. Crowned as the summer capital of the Philippines.

That weekend, I never thought I'd be in a bus going to Baguio. Unplanned as it is, I opted to join a group of new friends to experience Baguio firsthand as why it is the going-to of many people during summer.

When we went off the bus at 5am, I was freezing so bad that cause me to stutter when I speak. So... I didn't speak. But deep in my thoughts, I am beguiled by how cold it was and by how bizarre the place is.

With the cold temperature and the early morning darkness, we were able to walk around Marcoville St. and Leonard Wood Road to look for a transient home. As we make our way, I noticed the buildings and establishments weren't tall. Given that it's a mountain, there must be building codes here that is strictly implemented by the local government. Then I remembered the not-so-strict building construction in Intramuros Manila.

We had our breakfast at 50's diner which also caught me. I am a great fan of the classic era. I wish I have a time machine that could transport me from this era to that. I have found Bistro 70's in Katipunan with displays of famous classic hollywood icons but this diner made me forget it for a moment. A Marilyn Monroe's famous portrait and the James Dean iconic pose along with many other icons were displayed. Waitresses were also dressed with a very 50's uniform.

After eating the sumptuous breakfast at 50's diner, we explored Baguio and it's attractions.

Mines View Park

Gate to the Mansion

Burnham Park Boat Ride

UP Baguio

During my night walk.

Casa Vallejo

View from SM Baguio

Cute Cloudy Bookshop in Baguio City

The Great Perhaps Found in Bencab Museum Article Read Here

What we miss though is Diplomat Hotel. I will not miss this place the next time I go to Baguio. What I'm also looking forward to is to try to go inside a mining tunnel, hiking the mountains of Benguet and witness actual small scale mining and kanyaw tradition with my naked eyes.

What Baguio instilled in me was a place where I found home away from home. The people are so welcoming and friendly. Taxi drivers were honest and helpful. I was able to walk along Session Road, experience night market shopping with my camera on my shoulder until 1am alone. I don't know but it felt safe for me. Like you have nothing to worry about. The city looks so calm that it gives you peace of mind. These are the reasons why you'd always want to go back home right?