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The ultimate PIOLO, Pucha I Only Live Once, moments of my travels since 2012 up to Weekend #62 of 2014.
- Tandem Paragliding in Carmona, Cavite
- Whitewater Rafting in Cagayan de Oro
- Ziplining in Eden Nature Park & Resort, Davao
- G-MAX Reverse Bungy & GX-5 Extreme Swing in Clarke Quay, Singapore
- Scuba Diving, Kayaking and Snorkeling in Danjugan Island, Negros Occidental
- Ziplining in Dakak Adventure Zone, Zamboanga del Norte
- Mountain Hiking in Pico de Loro, Tarak Cliff in El Nido, Mt. Maculot, and Mt. Pulag
- Monkey Bridge Crossing in Mt. Manalmon
Music by Will.I.Am & Justin Bieber, “That Power”
Dead Cat Bounce Remix
This is the longest video I blogged yet because we had shared and captured plenty pretty moments. What do you expect if three from the group brought a GoPro camera each? With that, someone needed to buy an external hard drive to pool the 12 gigabytes of videos and photos. Because I have to watch the captures again, it took me longer also to edit and to put them in one cool video. No complains though. It is the best buwis-buhay trip ever.
We came to the Great Southern Negros Occidental adventure from various locations: Manila, Boracay, Iloilo, Cebu and Bacolod. The party started in Iloilo as we celebrated the continuation of Mhar’s Best Birthday Ever. We then crossed the sea between Iloilo and Negros islands (and for some between Cebu and Negros islands). We took a long bus trip from Bacolod to Bulata and the rest is an awesome history.
We scuba dived, kayaked, snorkled, partied in an infinity pool pretended like no one is watching, played Monopoly Deal card game, sipped few alcohol, paid visit to private sanctuary island of Danjugan, beach bummed in Turtle Island, and did anything fun in between.
Music by OneRepublic & Alesso, “If I Lose Myself”
Tiesto Remix
and by Zedd & Foxes, “Clarity”
Tiesto Remix
Navigating the Beautiful North Batan is the second of the Because Beautiful Batanes series. I freshen up immediately after the exhausting DIY trip to the Naidi Hills. All of what I’ve eaten in Batanes Octagon Bed And Dine were burned up. Hungry but worried not be late, I just took a quick munch-for-lunch 2 baked […]
Crossing Maldives in the bucket list is a proof that miracles happen every day. #Malandives is a one-of-kind adventure to a surreal beach paradise on earth made possible by an airline glitch and made fun by newly found friends. The Filipinos invaded some of the islands of the country. We plunged to the clearest waters and whitest and finest sands in the world. We asked for group discounts, played and introduced Filipino games, hardly caught sunrises and sunsets, enjoyed Maldivian dish, got lost in Male, and laughed and bullied each other.
Music by Capital Cities, “Safe and Sound”
Dzeko & Torres Digital Dream Remix
For some reasons, we want to test our own limits beyond what our sober mind thinks. We take the chances. Because YOLO. Because opportunities missed are things we regret the most later. I have my own share of craziness in choosing exciting adventures too. Because greater stories don’t start with a “Once upon a time, […]
While there is no fine white sand in this beach, Valugan Boulder Beach offers a unique stretch of boulders and smaller roundish stones which possibly came from the nearest volcano, Mt. Iraya. Valugan means “east” in the native language, Ivatan, of Batanes. Valugan Boulder Beach is facing the humbling Pacific Ocean. The long stretch of Valugan Boulder Beach can also be appreciated and be seen below from the top of Rolling Hills.
In the foreground of the photo is an output of a rock balancing done by visitors and locals in the beach. You can see in the background one of the many cliffs and green landscapes of North Batan.
How To Get There:
PAL Express, formerly Air Philippines, and SkyJet are the two airlines servicing to Basco, Batanes. Within the compound of the Basco Airport, you can inquire to one of the travel agencies to tour you in North Batan.
How Did I Get There:
I joined a North Batan tour organized by Ate Remy, +63 928 239 7629, who is also one of the caretakers managing Novita House in Basco town proper. It is one of the cheaper alternative yet worth the money accommodation. We headed to Valugan Boulder Beach after a short visit to a Japanese tunnel.
There are several mountain trails at Mt. Pulag you can follow depending on your starting point and your hiking experience. Ambangeg Trail is the executive trail meant for beginners.
Mt. Pulag is the highest peak in the Luzon island. On whether Mt. Pulag is the second highest in the Philippines or third, there’s still a deliberation since Mt. Dulang-Dulang in Mindanao also stands tall next to Mt. Apo. You will overhear a lot of encounters by mountaineers that they experience temperature near zero degree Celsius. But what attracts a lot of peak climbers most is its famous sea of clouds phenomenon. And not all hikers will see the phenomenon on their first hike or even on their fifth try.
This particular shot is taken while descending from the summit. And yes, there are a queue of mountain climbers. It’s like exodus.
How To Get There:
Here’s a do-it-yourself guide by Pinoy Mountaineer. Take a bus from Manila to Baguio. Head to the bus terminal at Old Slaughterhouse and take A-Liner bus bound for Kabayan. Attend the orientation at the Visitor’s Center. Take a habal-habal to the Ranger Station. Start trekking to Camp 2. Trek early morning to the summit for sunrise.
How Did I Get There:
I joined Travel Factor‘s open trip to the executive trail of Mt. Pulag. I paid for the convenience instead of worrying too many details when doing it by myself. It was my first (and major) climb ever. The story of my first climb will be up soon.
It’s a default choice. I always want to get the seat near the airplane’s window because of the thought-provoking cloud formations, dramatic sunsets and unique skylines. This video documented the bird plane’s eye view of the islands of four countries namely Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives and the Philippines during our flights to and from the Maldivian dream vacation. This was also my first time to grab premium and business seats. Thanks to Air Asia X! The experience is so freakin’ awesome.
Music by Sugarfree, “Tikman”
Sung originally by Eraserheads
Yet another birthday celebration for a member of Team OSOM, it’s (Saint) Patrick’s day! Because we enjoyed Hashtag Saturdays at Club Haze the other week, we visited it again with vengeance – a bigger couchsurfing crowd. And just right after the partying and meeting bitches in the club, we headed straight to Laiya, Batangas to stroll in the beach with the club. What is so clingy?
Music by Pharrell Williams, “Happy”
Taxon Trap Remix
My 57th weekend getaway is a double celebration. It’s my XXX birthday and the send-off party of our new friend, Sam Wu. He’s a fellow couchsurfer and visiting volunteer to Tacloban. Team OSOM, my large group of travel buddies, decided to invade Club Haze. It was the first time visit for some of us. We categorically identified ourselves as proud jologs and the invasion in Club Haze is quite overwhelming but hell of a fun still. The foreigner Sam, on other hand, is mistakenly identified as a conio who graduated from Ateneo and from San Beda by some of the students of these law schools who gathered there for an event.
Music by Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, and Bruno Mars, “Young, Wild And Free”
David Larkie Remix