The Beauty of Pagsanjan Falls

Nature is the best artist of all time. I don't know how she does it, but she does it perfectly. She creates flawless wonders, produces unimaginable destruction and makes the world worth discovering.

Just like any other wonders, Pagsanjan Falls is like an art created by nature. Situated in the isolated areas in Laguna, the beauty and serenity of this treasure was preserved up to this date.

Going to the falls can be done via Pagsanjan or via Cavinti. In the Pagsanjan route, you can rent a boat that can take you to the falls or if you want to get there in the hard way, take the Cavinti route where you need to be physically fit. The cavinti route is way cheaper than the former so we chose the latter plus we want the challenge.

As we reached Pueblo El Salvador around 2pm, we paid Php270 fee which includes the gears you will use, a guide and the waterfalls ride to the foot of the falls.

After paying, we readied ourselves for the adventure. We left our things at the Pueblo office and brought only our valuables and the things we will need. As I've learned from my previous travels, I always bring a small bag/dry bag with me for emergencies. We trek for 10-15 minutes before reaching the first metal ladder. I was so excited to try it and I was smiling the whole time. It was my first time to try rappelling and damn I want to try it again.

My turn

After the second metal ladder, you will have the steep stairs going down so they have to put safety harness on you.

After the steep stairs, you will reach the stopping point where boats from the Pagsanjan route stop and wait for the tourist who took the Pagsanjan route. You cannot take this route if you take the Cavinti route.

I was in awe with the beauty of the falls. To be honest, it was so magical and mysterious and beguiling that I can't even explain my feelings. It felt amazing. It was like when you see such beauty, your smile becomes automatic. Such a flawless creation in the middle of the wild boasting it's raging power and force.

Look at our faces getting ready to experience the rage of the water.

We experience the water massage 4 times and the second time we were just 5 in the raft together with 2 Koreans so we were thrilled because the guides made the water massage longer. Being at the foot of the falls seems like you were being flushed by a million drums of water. It hurts.

These experiences is what I consider worthwhile. As you witnessed such beauty and took it into your system, imagine what it can do to change you for the better. 

Burot Beach: Overrated?

Captured the sunrise while in the boat bound for island hopping

While other travel bloggers write solely about the positive experiences they had during their travel and share little to nothing about the negative, you read so much greatness about the place and you expect so much when you go. The thing is, the negative will always hunt you and if you let it win, it will ruin your whole trip. For me, it's a challenge that I always want to accept. It is a piece of learning that wasn't written in any form and can only be acquired through experience. The fun and learning in traveling then, starts.

Planning the unplanned is common to young ones. You just thought of going somewhere today, drag your friends with you, pack your bags and your off to go. This is exactly what happened to us on our trip to Burot Beach. Friday night, Jhen and me wanted to go to a nearby beach to beat the summer heat. So we both googled on where to go and we stumbled to a blog featuring Burot Beach since it's a three to four hours away only from Manila.

Thrilled to pitch a tent to experience a camping style accommodation, bonfire and sleeping to the sound of the beach sounds great. It's going to be our first time to do just that. I thought we won't make it but on Saturday afternoon, we meet at Metropoint in Pasay Rotonda and head to the van terminal bound for Calatagan. It's a van terminal near Kabayan Hotel and Metropoint. I advise anyone taking this route to be early to avoid long queue. The vans also are not frequent and can only seat 16 pax. Fare is 180php. Get off at the van terminal near the Calatagan Public Market and ride a tricycle going to Burot. Fare is 150php one way to Burot, another 150php going back to the market. The travel time to Burot from he market is around 10-15 minutes bumpy road. I contacted a tricycle driver the night before to assist us. Here is his number. Kuya RC: 0905 358 7083

Look closely and you will see the people scattered all over the area.

This Burot trip came in a short notice. I just told Jhen to pack whatever she thinks we will need. We didn't prepare that much bearing in mind that we are headed to a secluded place, without electricity, good accommodation and descent comfort rooms. Why not?

True enough, Burot Beach is a secluded area. It is Henry Sy's property waiting to be developed. I don't know the real deal about having visitors, but it is a place where there's a "private property, no trespassing" sign. Guards man the area that collects the fees upon entering and a certain caretaker that owns a small store inside.

We arrived around 7PM at the beach and we were welcomed by a very big crowd. What to expect? It's a given fact. It's summer and a weekend. We paid 130php each for the entrance fee and we went to the store to rent a tent. Unfortunately, there's no more tent left available for rent. Opppps. We don't have any tent with us too. Think...Think... Think...

Since we have nothing to do about the supply of tents and torches, we looked for a place to settle our things and lay our picnic mattress. We ask Kuya RC not to leave us until we were settled and if he can find us a tent. He said his tent was broken. We just decided to stay the night in the open under the tree with our things and a picnic mattress with us. Besides, we're not here to sleep. Kuya RC left us and told us we can text or call him if we need anything.

2 hours had passed and I received a call from Kuya RC saying that he fixed his tent and he will be lending it for a fee. We agreed so he came back with his tent and his friend to pitch it for us. Yahoo! Tent it is.

We spend the night chatting about random things and from time to time distracted by random people doing crazy stuff. A man urinating in the seafront, (the heck?) a young couple near our place arguing about something,( melodramatic ) a female sitting alone in the sand, ( there's nothing wrong about it. I know! But it freaked me out because she stayed their like an hour, not moving) group of friends drinking beers and talking like the person they are talking to is a kilometer away from them (she was like that the entire evening until 4 in the morning, just imagine) and a drunken man spitting, kicking and splayed beside our tent. Good god his friends noticed and removed him from our sight.

Jhen asking Kuya Bong about the island hopping deal. The sun is not yet rising

We already saw the sun slowly rising in the east by 5:30 am. We can now fully see the full scenery of the place and it was crowded, plastic everywhere and the disappointing feeling of another hidden treasure slowly fading. We saw a bus parking in the parking space and sooner, the place became as crowded as you can imagine. Not as we expected as blogs described it as a nice beach area. It wasn't.

Just imagine the mess every single person in this planet contributed for leaving traces to the places they went. No exception.

Blurry shot but look at the plastics scattered all over the place.

So we decided we need to get outta here. But we didn't allow it to stop us from hoping that there is something positive about this area. So we approached the man in the boat and ask him how can we avail of an island hopping tour. He told us he was one of the boatman offering tours and it's 100php per head but you have to wait for other tourist to join before they leave. There's 8 -15 passengers depending on the size of the boat.

In our case, we chose to rent the boat for an hour which cost us 500 pesos for 1 hour. Kuya bong helped us arranged our bags and tent and then we were off.

And that island hopping tour sums up our weekend getaway. When Kuya Bong started the engine of his boat, I felt that familiar pang of feeling I always feel when I travel. That kind of peace and infinite happiness.

Who would have thought this was the house used for the All My Life movie starring Aga Muhlach and Kristine Hermosa. That movie was ONE of only a FEW local romantic movie I like.

This one was also used to some local television series. Kuya Bong say's its a series from ABS-CBN but I have no idea what series.

I really can't remember what series Kuya Bong was talking about so we just posed for a picture.

Besides, the area was good. 

My friend Jhen was excited to see the starfish, but when she was able to see and had a chance to hold one, she chickened out. So instead of her, I posed with the stars on my hand. LOL!

Never ever bring it with you

After our island hopping, we swam along the shoreline. We settled in a spot were there is lesser people and cleaner area. While walking, I saw a girl holding a starfish that appears like she's taking it home. What the heck? They're not supposed to take those sea creatures away from their home. I pity these kind of people, such ignoramus. Imagine it being done to a poor child taken away from his mother.


If you plan to visit the place, I suggest go really early so you can choose a good spot. Prepare to use the comfort rooms built without logic. One common logic of separating the female CR to male CR is to avoid men from peeking to the ladies or vice versa but in Burot Beach's case, well, wait till you see it. :)

Is it overrated? Well I guess depends in your experience. For me, some travel blogs exaggerate their description of the place. I've read some travel blogs that says pretty much about what to expect from it. But you cannot say it indeed until you experience it.

The island hopping tour made this trip memorable. I enjoyed Kuya Bong's company. I wanted to go back because of him. To explore the hidden wonders of the area more. I wanted to cross to the other side of the island, we're locals really live.

I wanted to join these women while they paddle and look for whatever their looking.

I'll be back Burot. I will...

Lake Pandin: A boon or a bane?

You probably read a lot about Lake Pandin in San Pablo, Laguna. I have heard so much about it too. Seeing great pictures online and positive reviews from different travel bloggers, I guess it's worth a try. So last Black Saturday, I decided to go to Lake Pandin tagging my friend along for company.

On how to get there click here.

I will not write about the background or history of the place since you will find it anywhere in google. I prefer to write something that will describe my experience.

Four days before Saturday which is Tuesday, I texted Ate Siony and Ate Tina as some other travel blogs say for raft reservation. Ate Siony wasn't able to beep me back but fortunately Ate Tina did the reservation. To my surprise, she told me that they will charge us 500php each instead of 360php because we were only two in the raft. In the end, I caved in. I just want to experience it and the 140php difference will be alright plus they will add inihaw na liempo to our food.

Then here comes Black Saturday and we go. We hired a guide to take us to the lake which was a kid and his name is Justin. He was entertaining. Giving us snippets of what awaits us in the raft ride. There is no fix price for guides during the trek so you're free to give them any amount you deem fit. For us, we gave him 20php. You have to trek for 10-15 minutes.

Contact Numbers:
Ate Tina: 0907 995 2983
Ate Siony: 0929 978 9565

with my guide Justin. (blurry picture as my friend is trying to figure out my camera)

Bamboo raft waiting to board

As we arrived, we were greeted by a lot of tourist docking on their rafts. We were approached also by some residents selling halo-halo and leche flan. As we were directed to our bamboo raft, I took the opportunity to take some pictures while waiting for the person in-charge to take us to somewhere.

About 20 minutes, a girl approached me and asked me if it's okay to have a family consist of 5 adults join us. They were walk ins and don't have any reservation. I said it's not okay, they should've contacted someone before coming right? And we were charge 500 pesos because the raft will be for 2 adults. (call me a bitch but I really am sometimes haha)

After another 10 minutes of waiting, a guy approached me again and asked if a family of four can tag along. He pointed to a mother smiling to me and a cute little boy staring at the bamboo raft. They were walk ins too. This time I said okay.

The man told them the price. I'm surprise again because they were charged 360 per head without the inihaw na liempo as an add on. So I think this Ate Tina tricked me, I don't know what's the real deal though.

Anyways, we started the tour and we ate a sumptuous meal plus Enzo, the cute kid is our entertainment.

No spoon and fork folks. Eat like a local.

What are you thinking little lad?

There's nothing really special about the tour. You get to ride a bamboo raft, eat like a local, see the view it is. For me though, I like the quite and serenity of the place with only the chirping of the birds as your music. The water is not as clean as it used to be because of fish kill incidents to the seven lakes. According to Justin, the water became cold. Its apparent that the change of water temperature affected the lake.

So to speak, is it a boon or a bane? It is both. You get to see how difficult it is to pull the raft through the ropes and how these women manage to pull it off without hurting there hands. Much to my experience, I enjoyed it mostly because of the locals. Watching them chat and make fun of one another is a boon and seeing their simple yet extraordinary duties. I'd consider it a bane to witness how climate change affected the community. There's a fish pen with tilapias in the lake. If the changes in water temperature continues and people wouldn't do something about it, this once beautiful lake that we still experience now will soon live in our memories.

How To Go To Lake Pandin and Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

View from the trek

Lake Pandin is one of the seven lakes in San Pablo, Laguna. You have probably read and stumbled to other travel blogs about it. You might be reading this because you also want to go there and would want to gather insights about the place. When I started doing DIY travels since 2012, this place was in my list. A lot of blogs had written well said things about their experiences and last Holy Saturday I was able to experience mine as well.

Side tripping to Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery is a bonus but for me, it's what I came for. Unfortunately, it was close when I get there, the caretakers opted to close it on a Black Saturday. Seems like a reason to go back then.

I came to see what's under this gem but it was close when I visited. :(

Getting there is easy and here's a guide on how to get to Lake Pandin and Nagcarlan underground cemetery:

From anywhere in Manila, go to Buendia Bus terminal in Gil Puyat and ask for buses bound for Lucena. Get off at San Pablo City 7-Eleven and get a tricycle to San Pablo Cathedral. There you can find a jeepney with the sign Liliw Nagcarlan near the fire station. Tell the driver to drop you at the underground cemetery. Fare is 25 pesos each. During your trip, you will see signs of the lakes including Lake Pandin from the left side of the road so try to be reminded of it's location.

This kid says we can climb the fence to get inside. I might have accepted the challenge but there's a lot of tourist in the area. What a shame. LOL!

I should be back soon Nagcarlan, solely for this reason.

You can find the Underground Cemetery at the left side of the road in front of Shell Gasoline Station. It's not easy to miss.

Ride a jeepney going back to San Pablo and get off at Lake Pandin. Fare is 18 pesos. There you have to trek for 10-15 minutes. You can get a guide going there and for us, we have this kid Justin Fortuna. He was entertaining us during the walk. You can give them any amount.

Bamboo Raft

To read my review about my experience in Lake Pandin click here.

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.