Baler, Aurora

I changed my mind few hours before I left the house and I decided to go to Baler, Aurora instead of going to Bicol. That change was too abrupt, haha, the fastest decision I have ever made since traveling have become my integral part. However, it was my first time to go to Baler and that was the major factor I have considered why I proceeded with my Plan B since I've been to some parts of Bicol several times, especially in Pasacao and Naga City.

The bus left at 5a.m. with Genesis Bus Transport located in Cubao, Quezon City for my trip on February 15, 2012. We had 3 stop overs, the first one was in La Paz, Tarlac where the lunch was served in the mini canteen; the second one was in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija where the bus unloaded some of the passengers, and the last one was somewhere in Nueva Ecija and I believe that was the boundary part between Aurora and Nueva Ecija where the bus stopped and alternatively passengers may take some snacks. Quite pissed me off because we stopped more than an hour in Cabanatuan. We could have arrived Baler earlier as the original travel time going to Baler was approximately 6 hours. But the arrival of the bus was delayed for 2 hours.

Tricycles are available in the bus terminal going to the beach resort so the driver took me at Aliya Surf Resort. It was a nice resort though with a clean air-conditioned room good for 3 persons, accommodating staffs who are always ready to assist you for your customer service needs. Quite interestingly, the staff said that this resort was new and had been into operation for a year and a half already and usually celebrities stay in this resort.

So it wasn't a surprise for them when celebrities check in to Aliya Surf Resort and no wonder I met Cherry Pie Picache in this resort. At first I did not notice her for she was wearing sunglasses the time when I asked her a favor to take me a shot using my camera. I was so apologetic as soon as I recognized her, because I didn't really know that the person I asked to get me some shots was a celebrity, hahaha...She was nice though, very warm and she said it was fine for her for that favor. So I also had an opportunity to be with a celebrity in the photo.

The following day, the sunrise photo shoot session disappointed me as the sun did not came out. I did not know if I was in the right location, but the sun was covered by the clouds that unable me to take some few moments of shots of sunrise. Unlike my previous shots where you can watch the sun appears rising in the sky.

It was fiesta in Aurora and I went to the town to get a taste of their delicacies. Since I am a semi-vegetarian already, I hesitated to eat both pork and beef served at Gerry Shan's Place Chinese and Seafood Cuisine. I had calamares with rice and a pineapple juice for a fraction of 115 pesos only. Gerry Shan's is said to be the finest restaurant in Baler, Aurora. I also had their local suman sold in the street.

Below are some of the photos from the day I left Cubao to staying in Baler, Aurora:

Genesis Bus Transport in Edsa, Cubao Terminal

  

Aliya Surf Resort

Baler is a haven of the surfers in the north

Province of Aurora Fiesta

A finest restaurant in town

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Releasing My Karma

I'm quite conservative in reference to some of the new age beliefs and I may be picky at times when it comes to what I should believe in. No, not all these information that I should give a nod and approve what I've read from the internet. The Holy Bible itself is the basic foundation of my faith and I should always stick to that no matter what. At hindi ako basta-basta naniniwala agad and I'm being quite skeptic most of the time.Being vigilant and keeping an eye to these information that it may not confuse me and jeopardize my faith. I almost change my belief after being bombarded by what I have read from the world wide web. And it's some kinda brain-washing. It's not that I would not think out of the box but I know about the Holy Bible because I used to read it before.

Now I was looking for some information aside from the Bible and in fact I was weighing to what I've read. I can't really conclude that they were wrong but some of the teachings are not really from the Bible. And I respect them on that and I really hate to debate about my stand to what I believe in.

But speaking about karma I do believe in that, and it's even mentioned in the Holy Gospel "for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatian 6:7-8). And if past lives do really exist, did I already pay my karma in my present life?

I believe so, and some things happen for a reason. I may have paid my karma in this life time because I could see the progress to what I've been doing for the past few years. And it also seemed that I was given a task to do something good in this life time. And I know that moment when Jesus died on the cross, He had already delivered us from our sins and our karma, if we ask for forgiveness.

And I do apologize if this is my opinion and right now, I'm in a state of emotional roller-coaster and I do find myself having a hard time expressing myself in this blog.

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Keeping My Faith High

As of this writing I have no idea what to write in my blog as my head is turning into a spinning wheel - unable to write even a single sentence. For the past few weeks and up to this day, I've been suffering from emotional turmoil and this predicament of mine freezes me that withholds and procrastinates some of my  activities. And I am clueless when is this going to last. As this process goes, I feel like I am dismantled finding it hard to proceed with the things that could have been done and it also feels like I'm taking the bull by the horns wanting to win the battle. If I was employed, my situation would never allow me to work and perhaps I would be unable to meet the deadline of my tasks. Perhaps I would find myself on leave for work. This barrier traps me down to the pitfall as I'm trying to grab a rope in my hand, and perhaps a hand from someone out there who is ready to pick me up before I fall. But I know up there, there's an invisible HAND just waiting for me to call upon HIS name.

I don't really know this syndrome that I'm experiencing right now, but one thing for sure, some past issues that were considered as water under the bridge are hitting me off my chest and it lets me become more sensitive, sentimental and too emotional. It alienates me thus detaching myself from the rest and even keeping myself inside the room most of the time. My situation draws me into tears during the past few weeks and I was trying to figure out the few reasons why is this happening to me. If there's one thing that pushes me to write the best way I can, it's because I can hear my heart dictates me to find some words which lets me go ahead with this writing.

I'm no GOD and I'm no super human. Just like anyone, I am an ordinary human being capable of experiencing emotional ups and downs. And often times, most friends and colleagues are the ones seeking my advice so it would be quite different if I am the one knocking on their door to seek advice. Not because of my pride, they may find my situation entirely idiomatic in nature if I am going to tell them my story about what is going on with me. And some perhaps they may not be able to understand the way things happened to me as my perplexing situation becomes a turning point in my life.

The issue is not about the little business I have because it is picking up  in spite of the U.S. recession as I went through with this situation three years ago during the economic melt down. Neither it has something to do with my personal goals, dreams and aspirations in life that I've been wanting to happen since the beginning. And perhaps I am in self denial of being unable to accomplish some of these facets in life or I am against to face the failure once more. But I've already been on this stage before and learned to acknowledge failures since then.  The thing is I really don't know what is going on with me right now and why it pays my attention to think about the things that no longer matter to me. But one thing for sure, I'm trying to become a warrior against my own self fighting the odds in me - the emotional perpetrators inside that keep on abusing me.

As my journey continues I'm beginning to realize all my shortcomings and detriments and I'm taking the good hard look of myself, and that I know I am the same person who most of closest people knew me. And I believe the turning point in my life has come which lets me change of becoming a better person this time. And I'm keeping my faith high to God in spite of experiencing emotional turmoil this time. And I know that the prospect of reward in doing goods comes close to me.

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Celebrating the Chinese New Year

I had a great time at Chinatown celebrating the Chinese New Year on January 23. The event was graced with the dragon dance and fireworks in the street of Ongpin. As a center of trade for the Chinese, the street was filled with visitors and vendors selling foods, good luck charms, souvenir items and more. It's the year of the dragon so I bought some of the good luck charms that I can display in my window.

As of this writing, there's not much in my head I could write into my blog, so I'm sharing some of the photos I've taken during the Chinese festivity.

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Visiting Calamba and Los Banos, Laguna

I went swimming in Calamba, Laguna last Thurday, January 11, 2012. We went to Sun City which the resort is popular in this place. You'll only have to pay 48 pesos good for 12 hours plus renting a cottage is a must, and depending how big it is, the minimum fee is 150 pesos.  They have three swimming pools for kids and adults, rooms fort those who wish to stay longer in the resort, a store and a canteen, billiard area with videoke for those who love to sing which they will have to drop 5 pesos per song in a machine.

By 2:30 p.m. we checked out from the resort and proceeded to U.P. Los Banos. We visited the university and following shortly we went hiking to Mt. Makiling where the jamboree was located. It took us one hour to reach our destination and thirty minutes to go back to the university. I never had any hiking experience before but I'm starting to like it. This Garduce effect in me is letting me contemplate to go to some greater heights where Mt. Pulag which the plan has been planted before.

The hiking was truly exhausting but worthwhile though, and when we reached the town in Los Banos, we had pancit canton as our snack at  Totoy's Original Pancitan.

And by 4:30 p.m. we boarded the bus but there was a long queue of traffic when we reached Calamba and arrived home at 9:00 p.m.

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Tips When Traveling to Batanes

Port of Ivana

Batanes is one of the traveler's dream destination. The place is simply breath-taking and the beauty of nature is mesmerizing. People in the island are so warmth that they even greet the tourists with their smiles saying good morning or good afternoon. However, Going to Batanes could really be expensive, and is more costly than traveling to Hong Kong or to any other Asian tourist destinations. Staying in Batanes for 3 to 5 days may not be an enough time to complete your traveling experience.

But there is an alternative way of spending your money in order to cut your budget cost based from my travel experience in Batanes. Below are some of my tips and the summary of my expenses and experience for you as a guide to look at so that you will be able to anticipate your cost to make a leeway to some unseen circumstances occur in the island. The more people traveling in the group is the better as this will lessen your expenses. But since I was the only one who went to Batanes, the cost was conservatively based from my personal experiences.

Travel Expenses:

• Airfare (roundtrip with Sky Pasada via Tuguegarao to Basco):  Php 7, 600
• Bus from Cubao to Tuguegarao - 575
• Bus from Tuguegarao to Cubao - 575
• Food Allowance for 7 days - 2,500
• Inns for 7 days - 3,000
• Pasalubong and souvenir items - 500
• tricycle rentals in Batan tour - 1600
• Tricycle rentals in Sabtang tour 800
• Jeepney allowance - 200
• Faluwa boat ride (round trip) 100

Going to Tuguegarao made via Victory Liner bus takes approximately 12 hours travel time. From Tuguegarao to Batanes is one hour plane ride.

Sky Pasada also offers an alternative route from Manila to Batanes which is more expensive. You can check the time, schedule and rates and reserve a ticket online www.skypasada.com. Schedules of flights may change, so you should be able to check your flight schedule prior to the departure time. My flight from Batanes to Tuguegarao when I purchased my ticket online was at 8:45a.m. But good thing I left the inn at 6:30 a.m. because the flight was earlier and it left Batanes 7:30 a.m. According to the staff, the schedules online in their website are NOT updated.

You are only allowed to check in 5 kilos of baggage and will pay more in excess of 5 kilos including your hand carry bag. In my case I have a total of 13 kilos, so I was required to pay the 8 kilos amounting to 404.00 pesos. This was a quite ridiculous experience because my returning flight from Batanes to Tuguegarao, I was only asked to pay 3 kilos excess which I paid the amount of 150 pesos only and they did not include my hand carry bag to pay an extra fee. Sky Pasada is a 19 seater plane and is suitable once you are in a budget travel. Make sure to get an advance reservation for your flights as much as possible if you are going through the month of February which is the prelude of the peak season.

Bring extra cash as there is only one ATM machine available at Basco which is Landbank. Also you cannot use your credit card for paying some goods, restaurants or any hotels/inns.

Hotels/Inns

If you are a backpacker, you can stay at some of the cheapest inn to cut your cost. Ivatan Lodge starts from 300 pesos per person a day. Some hotels/inns is more expensive averaging from 800 to 1500 pesos a day. Peak season occurs during summer. If you are going this season, make sure to make a reservation in advance as most of these inns and hotels are fully booked.

Restaurants

There are few restaurants you can find in Basco, Batanes. The one that I usually dine in is Zantan's Canteen owned by Susan. It is beside Ivatan Lodge. They have a free wi-fi internet. It opens from 9a.m. to 10p.m. The schedule might change depending on the season. SDC Canteen is found near the plaza and is the biggerst restaurant in town. Hiro's Cafe is a classy restaurant located at Abad St. Foods in Batanes are expensive as most of these goods are coming from Manila and Luzon island. You can also drop by at Vatang Grill along the national road going to Ivana. It is the only restaurant you can find along the main hi-way. Pension Ivatan offers an Ivatan food even if it is not a peak season. It is found outside the Basco airport. Ivatan foods are seasonal so Pension Ivatan is a good place to eat especially if you are looking for a local food. Foods there are really expensive so if you want these foods to be served as your meal, you can ask a caretaker in advance to cook for you.

Note: Please DO NOT eat a coconut crab or "tatus" for it is an ENDANGERED species.

Tour Guides/Car Rentals

Marlboro Country in Mahatao

If you are in a guided travel, tour guides charge their services from 1500 pesos or more for a whole day tour exclusive of car/van rentals. You may also hire a car/van and rental fee is 1500 a day. It's the same amount charged by tricycle owners for a whole day tour. You may not need a tour guide once you know the spots what you are going to visit and you can ask the driver to take you to some of these spots.  And usually the drivers know about it and could also be your tour guide. But hiring a tour guide is HIGHLY recommended if you don't want to miss out some of these spots. But I SUGGEST that you hire a tour guide!

Transportation has been a problem in Batanes. You can ride through a jeepney if you are going to another town. But please take note of their time for they only have two trips daily. One is morning which is as early as 5a.m. and the other is at noon at 12p.m. Make sure when you return to Basco, you don't miss the last trip which is around 3pm. Otherwise when you miss the last trip, you will be able to return to Basco the next day already. Ask for some people about the schedules of the trip.

Going to Sabtang Island

Lighthouse in Sabtang

Sabtang island is simply irresistible and is recommended to visit so you will be able to complete your tour. It highlights a lighthouse, the old houses and the Morong beach. But the trip could be dangerous as it involves traveling by water through Faluwa boat ride, a small boat used by locals for traveling back and forth. The weather condition changes from time to time, and it even changes in just a matter of minutes. The fare is 50 pesos only from Port of Ivana. They normally have two trips daily. First trip runs at 7a.m. If you are already in Sabtang, please take note of your time when returning to Batan. Schedules vary, depending on the weather condition as it is unpredictable in Batanes. Especially when low tide, the boat leaves the port early from Sabtang due to the weather condition is unpredictable and the boat can hardly leave the port when low tide. I had almost missed the trip returning to Batan due to the boat was leaving already the port in Sabtang and it was already the last trip during the day. DON'T MISS THE LAST TRIP if you do not want to stay overnignt in Sabtang.

Tricycle rentals for your half day tour in Sabtang is 800 pesos only. You can go to the tourist desk upon reaching the port in Sabtang and sign up there. They will be able to help you up to get a tricycle service and prepare some foods for you.

TIP: Always ask the locals if you have any questions anything about your travel in the island.

FOR MORE TRAVEL INQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS: Kindly post a comment or send me a message to johnluismiguelmadrigal@gmail.com to forward your inquiries to the tour guide.

NEW UPDATES: For Batanes bookings contact us at https://traveleveryjuan.com/contact-us

For best deals on local and international flight bookings:  https://traveleveryjuan.com/flight

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My Travel Wish Lists for 2012

It's the first day of the year 2012 as most of  my friends are posting their plans, goals and new year's resolution made via Facebook wall. And I am one of them, haha... having a goal like healthy diet minimizing the intake of meats, pork and sugar, get some regular exercises and achieve spiritual awakening.

But to those who are able to read my blog, let me greet you a Happy New Year!

Now that it's January 2012, it's time to go back for work and be more productive to whatever field of endeavor that we all have. It's all about work, work and work and retire soon!

Morong, Rizal

As far as my plan for this year is concerned, I really need to figure out well, what's the best I can do when it comes to mine, setting the best foot forward to get the merits for my goals this year. It may not be 100% achievable but it could be workable and worth trying. Nevertheless it's up for us on how objective we are to achieve these plans and execute them one by one the best way we can. I also believe in luck, timing and determination. Okay I won't divulge some of them but let me focus what my travel wish lists for this year 2012. Last year, I have made more than 10 local travel destinations that I have achieved and I never had any international travel except for the year 2010. Instead, I have focused my travel to the provinces. International travel is truly expensive and this is one of the reasons why I never came up with one major travel abroad.

So here's my travel wish lists for the year 2012 and see how the following destinations can be achieved:

Local Travel

• Baler, Aurora
• Some parts of Bicol
• Boracay, Aklan
• Lake Sebu in Koronadal
• Davao City
• Mount Pulag
• Sagada
• Burias Island in Masbate
• Mt. Banahaw
• Some parts of Laguna
• Tagaytay

I have my Plan B just in case some circumstances require me to go abroad and if my finances can fuel my travel destinations:

• New York
• Louisiana
• California
• Illinois
• Some parts of Europe and Mediterranean  like Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey.
• Some parts of Asia like Tibet, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Traveling to these destinations are TOO AMBITIOUS, haha, but who cares about it anyway. just keeping my fingers crossed that it might possibly happen depending on one's financial circumstances.

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A Backpacker Me

When I travel, I don't go for any further tour packages whether there's a big sale or not. And most of the time, when I travel, I go by myself. Not that I am an introvert type of a person. In fact I am ambivert. I may be gregarious to some extents whenever I want to but it all depends who I should go with, as long as we can correlate each other and that we have a good sense of chemistry. If there are number of people that I should go with especially when traveling, normally I set my limit up to two people only. I am always in a hurry and that's why, I'm a bit upset when I am with someone who is still taking a long bath or grooming his hair in time when I am about to leave the place. I don't normally go with someone who is into drama and picky person.

The reason could be that I may be quick enough to get ready to any given situations. As a backpacker I always travel alone, I go with a cheap way of traveling, I stay in a quite affordable hotels or inns and I eat anywhere as long as it is clean. I always carry my knapsack along with my camera and laptop and my usb stick is always loaded so I can attach it to the port to connect to the internet whenever there's a signal available within a place. As a backpacker I make sure that my personal blog is always updated with my itineraries and experiences within that period of time.

When I travel, I don't really go for adventures. Either I would just only walk around and see the nature, or stay in a place sit down and relax. And often times I don't go for any activities like mountain climbing, jogging or any sports activities. I just want to walk in a sandy beach and find some sea shells in the morning or just sit in the sand or in a big stone as the roaring sea and wind is a music to my ear. Watch the sunset and what the people doing. You see I don't go too much with the activities that is why a guided tour is not recommended for me.

One important aspect of being a backpacker is flexibility to adjust to any situations; also learning the place and the culture, and experiencing the good and the bad moments. For instance, my experience staying in a hostel in Brooklyn, New York had taught me to adopt to that situation as it compelled me to stay overnight at Times Square for my own safety. Three days without a normal sleep until I was able to find a place to berth in.

Just lately, I've taken photography seriously that I've even reached to the northern most part of the Philippines which is Batanes to photo shoot and lots of preparation was made prior to going to this island. My interest in going to Batanes and in photography started when I was in college. So cases like these have made me become a backpacker.

Prior to backpacking, I do a lot of researches about the place, hotels and included are some of the reviews of the people posted in the internet. This would give me some insights of the place that I am about to visit.

Here are some of the few things that I prepare when backpacking:

• Extra cash.
• Few clothes like shirts, underwear, towel, shorts.
• Toothbrush and tooth paste.
• deodorant and shampoo.
• Slippers and a rubber shoe.
• Watch.
• My cellphones fully loaded and chargers.
• My laptop and charger, memory flashdrive, a fully loaded internet USB stick.
• My camera, gears and USB cord.
• A pen and a notebook.
• Candies and foods.
• Medicines

Beginning my tour in Batanes, I had two bags -  one for my laptop and camera, and the other one I used for storing store clothes and other toiletries.

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My Travel Summary for 2011

Naga City, Camarines Sur

    

The year 2011 was promising for me as I was blessed with some local travels. So here are some of the photo blogs I've collected in the entire year and I just hope in the year 2012, it can be surpassed with the places I longed to go but this time my travel wish lists include the following: Italy, Switzerland, Greece, France, Canada, and Tibet. I know that traveling abroad is costly and I am an ordinary citizen who belong to the mass with dreams of rusticating different places but just like any other, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and with hopes that it just might bind to happen.

Vigan, Ilocos Norte

Boac, Marinduque


                                                                                     

Bangus Festival in Dagupan

Mariveles, Batanes

Baguio City

Lucban, Quezon

Pasacao,Camarines Sur

Pagbilao, Quezon

Tanay, Rizal

Batanes

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About My Recent Dreams

About two years ago, my mother who died in 2006 appeared in my dream.  I asked her why she was still here and not leaving the house yet and my mother replied, “I am still waiting for your brother, Arthur...” My brother lived in the south with his family so he never got a chance to visit us in our house. When my brother finally came home in 2009, I told him about my dream and quickly his wife punched in with a reply that maybe my mother was waiting for my brother because he never got home after she passed away. I could see my brother’s face and was a bit quiet the moment I imparted the message I received from my dream. My dream was so clear that I could hear my mom’s voice as she spoke to me. It was like a puzzle that either she meant she was waiting for my brother because he never got the chance to visit our house or she was forewarning of what had to transpire soon. But I was little scared about it.

My brother passed away just a few days ago and it was an untimely death as he suffered a brain stroke.  But prior to the incident, I had several dreams already about my brother moving home, and I had two dream occurrences that his children wanting help when I was in Batanes. It had triggered me to think that maybe they would indeed need my help. I was a bit worried though as this made me sense that something  might going to happen soon but not sure what it was all about.

Five months ago, I posted to my facebook wall “I don’t want to dream about a falling tooth anymore” because I had a dream about my tooth falling as the blood scatters over my mouth.  But previously, I had several dreams about a falling tooth where things usually happened in time like death had to be partaken. It happened few months before my relatives, my father and mother died.

The forewarning I recently received implied about the untimely death of my brother. May he rest in peace..

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Batanes Day 8: Going Home

From Basco to Tuguegarao by Sky Pasada plane

I couldn't believe it was all over. Seven days in Batanes was so fast and how I'd wish I could stay any longer. That was my initial reaction the moment I started putting all my things back in my blue bag. Everything seemed to be just like a dream coming to an end. I had to say that Batanes is my ideal place and all my interest in any part of the Philippines just seemed to dropped off. Simply because everything there are such very ideal. The people, place and the simplicity of life in the island where there's not so much technology there. A television and internet could be enough there if you are looking for a place that you need to relax and have a complete rest.

I went to the airport around 6:30 a.m on the 29th of November and the plane left Batanes at around 7:30 a.m., an hour flight going to Tuguegarao where I had to ride in a bus to Manila. Up to this day, I still had my hangover and few moments in that island were still fresh.

From Tuguegarao, I went with Victory Liner bus for almost 13 hours drive to Cubao. We were stuck up in a traffic jam for about more than 30 minutes while we were in a mountainous part of Nueva Vizcaya.

Caught in a traffic in Nueva Vizcaya

I used my cell phone in taking these these pictures from the airport till I was on my way to Cubao.

Definitely, I would be back again in Batanes given that there's another chance to be there someday. It might take a little bit long when should be the right time but by the next time, Itbayat island will be included in my Batanes itinerary. I have to say that Batanes is my dream island.

The people are so warm and every visitors have the reason to stay there as tourist like me are safe.

The landscape is such a beauty and untouched by the present civilization. It's not commercialized like Boracay or any beach resorts in the Philippines.

at the lobby of Basco airport where I left my two bags

So there's a reason why the locals there never wanted to develop this island to build this island some hotels and resorts.

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