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It was only during days before the trip to Sagada that I learned Cordillera has a number of rice terraces. This particular spot in Banaue Rice Terraces is the most popular one for two reasons. This is where the old one-thousand Philippine peso bill derives its sketch. This is also the exact location of the controversial wakeskating video beautifully shot on top of one of the rice terraces in Banaue. That particular video was released (or at least became viral) three days before our intended sidetrip.

How To Get There:
You can take the Ohayami Transit bus that goes to Banaue from its terminal in Sampaloc, Manila. The bus leaves around 10pm and you will spend at least 9 hours in the bus. So prepare your sleeping stuff with you.

How Did I Get There:
It was a sidetrip during the Sagada weekend trip organized by Travel Factor to catch the Panag-apoy Festival. We visited the Banaue Rice Terraces twice, before and after Sagada, and in two different overlooking spots. The last visit is the most exciting because we trekked the pathways of the terraces to shot better photographs and selfies. It is one of the bravest decisions that I made in my life. It is terrifying to follow the narrow and slippery path of mud. One stupid slip and you fall in a terrace 10 to 12 feet below.

The heron is one of the species roaming freely around the beaches of Fihalhohi Island Resort. These birds were part of the welcoming committee of the island resort while we’re docking at the entrance. I knew upon seeing them that Fihalhohi Island promises more – a diverse marine life below sea level.

This snapshot was taken while I was beach bumming in the island one more round for the last time.

How to Get There:
You can arrange your visit to Fihalhohi Island Resort (i.e. transfers to and from Male International Airport) when you book from their site or after the confirmation has been sent by Agoda or Booking.com. Male and Fihalhohi are separated by an hour of speedboat trip. Interesting to note that Fihalhohi is using a different time zone, an hour ahead of Male.

How Did I Get There:
Joining a group of 12 delegates from the Philippines (and Australia), LOL, who got lucky to score “free” tickets to Maldives, we arranged a speedboat ride from Maafushi Island to the Fihalhohi Island Resort. We need at least to experience the luxurious side of Maldives before we get back to Male. While it seems I enjoyed bird and fish watching in the resort, seeing couples in their honeymoon or in their retirement gave a different feeling. I wished that you were there too.

Have you ever wondered the feeling of defying the gravity while gliding in the air through the help of the power of the wind? Go to Carmona, Cavite and try paragliding. Cavite is aiming to be the sports capital of the Philippines. While the province is also offering sport activities through Nuvali, paragliding is one of the, if not the most extreme sports you’ll have in Cavite.

How To Get There:
The paragliding take off site is at the Carmona Ridge. It is better to communicate and to arrange the tandem paragliding session directly with Sir Buko Raymundo, an airsport specialist (highest ranked Filipino in the Paragliding Accuracy) and president of Philippine Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association through his number +63917 8167820. Since the sport is relying on winds, Carmona, Cavite offers paragliding from February to April only.

How Did I Get There:
I previously contacted Sir Buko for our session but I wasn’t able to go to Carmona Ridge via public transportation. That’s why, when PH First offered their first paragliding trip, I grabbed the second chance. The published rate of PPHGA is PhP 3,500. PHFirst offers a transportation inclusive tour package for PhP 3,600. Well, it’s like I just paid extra for a taxi from Metro Manila to Cavite roundtrip. Plus, the owners of the agency are also cool.

The experience is so much fun and fulfilling. (Video upload is up next.) The glide is pure luck because the wind controls the fun of the tandem. I am fortunate enough to stay in the air for at least seven minutes. Some participants would go higher and stay longer than that. But there are also cases, that the tandem won’t get as high as the first jump and end up taking an emergency landing in less than a minute or two.

This lagoon is one of the five lagoons of Danjugan Island, two of which open to the sea. Danjugan Island is 43-hectare island and private marine sanctuary that houses many wildlife species including sea eagles, bat species, butterflies, mangroves, corals, and giant clams. It offers activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling and unlimited kayaking. Overnight accommodation is possible too. It also hosts several international youth marine and wildlife camps.

How To Get There:
Since this is a private sanctuary, correspondence with The Philippine Reef & Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc is strictly required. The daytour package already includes a boat transfer from Bulata. To go to Bulata from Bacolod, you can take the bus bound to Hinoba-an.

How Did I Get There:
Our friend and fellow couchsurfer, Julius Tagomata, has ties with the management of the Danjugan Island and has been responsible in registering our daytour trip around the island. We visited the lagoons, bat caves, watch tower, and the long stretch of white sands of Danjugan beach. We ate our snacks and lunch under the shade of lush forest. We also spent our time kayaking. The most exciting part is the scuba diving where we witnessed the diverse marine life being protected.

I salute the men and women behind this grand-scale wildlife conservation.

Madlum River runs through the feet of Mt. Manalmon. Its clean waters are inviting. The river is also surrounded by boulders and rock formations where one can try diving from the cliffs. To get to the jump off point of Mt. Manalmon hike, either you cross the river via a bamboo raft or via a monkey bridge. While Madlum River and Mt. Manalmon offer a handful of extreme activities, it is also interesting to note that along with the caves of Madlum, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

How To Get There:
Take the North Luzon Tollway (via Baliwag Transit or ES Transport buses) and exit at Sta. Rita. Head north along the National Highway towards Plaridel until you reach San Ildefonso then San Miguel. You will be dropped off at Brgy. Camias. You can hire a tricycle from there to take you to Brgy. Madlum.

How Did I Get There:
Fellow couchsurfer and travel blogger, Ace Guevarra, organized Mt. Manalmon dayhike with a minimal fee of PhP 800. The cost is still cheaper compared to other travel groups offering the same package. I couchsurfed on his place in Apalit near the meeting point of other participants. I slept almost the entire travel from Pampanga all the way to northern part of Bulacan. Sleepyhead I am that other participants had even tallied my sleeping positions inside the hired jeepney. It’s freakin’ four.

I knew that Mt. Manalmon is a hike for beginners but I was sold with the idea of crossing the monkey bridge over the Madlum River. And the experience is fulfilling! We also got a chance to swim in the Madlum waters. The river was shallow that time so I was able to cross waters by walking on the rocks between riverbeds. I didn’t try cliff diving though. And yeah, I took a nap there too.

This is a breathtaking view of the islets of Sipalay from the Perth Paradise Beach Resort. It is a reminiscent of the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan. From Perth Paradise Beach Resort, you can take a raft to navigate the waters around these islets to witness the sunset. Except for one life-size kangaroo statue installed within the resort, nothing else is Australian vibe. The resort features an infinity fool facing these islets.

How To Get There:

Coming from Bacolod, one should take a bus bound to Hinoba-an and alight from the bus to public market of Sipalay City. From Sipalay, hire a tricycle to take you to Perth Paradise Beach Resort.

How Did I Get There:

Our group’s initial plan was to take our boat from the Turtle Island and to anchor in one of the beaches in the Sipalay. However due to the unpredicted waves and the size of our boat, we went back to Punta Bulata and take the tricycle to Sipalay. My friends were already teasing me whenever I silence my mouth during the last boat ride because they thought I was too scared that I couldn’t swim and the boat would topple. We hire another tricycle from Sipalay to take us all six to Perth Paradise Beach Resort.

While the resort was not part of the itinerary and didn’t popup in travel guides like Sugar Beach or other popular diving resorts, catching the view of these islets of Sipalay at this perspective is definitely something that visitors of Southern Negros Occidental shouldn’t miss.

Our visit was also the best time of the day. The sun was about to set. The resort was playing their reggae renditions of popular songs. And the gang of six was dancing to the summer beat like we own the place, like no else is watching. But yeah, the other visitors were watching us. Well, that’s how we appreciated and enjoyed the view of Sipalay.

We decided to go back to Punta Bulata after we played a long Monopoly Deal card game and saw that the moon has already risen. Good thing our hired tricycle was still there.

Tinipak River, more popularly called and passed by word of mouth by the tourists as Daraitan River, is regarded as the cleanest river in the Southern Tagalog Region in Luzon. The wide white wall of limestone and large boulders and rock installations at the end of the river trek plus the calming sound of the jade river are worth the sweat. There’s even a cave nearby that you can explore given the tide is low and rapids aren’t that strong.

How To Get There:

From Shaw Boulevard, take the van bound to Tanay, Rizal that stops at the public market of Tanay. Hire a tricycle going to Brgy. Daraitan. Before reaching to the other side where the barangay proper is, you will take a raft. Ride another tricycle. Register to the visitors center.

How Did I Get There:

I joined my fellow tour organizers, Jez and Box of Just Go, as a participant. For only PhP850, the dayhike open-trip fee includes roundtrip transfers, registration and guide fees, lunch and awesome photo and video coverage of Box, an indie filmmaker. Oha! But I got mine for free.

As an adventure and thrill seeker, I enjoyed the trek in the river banks and at certain heights we even hike along the feet of the mountain. I was really amazed by the great wall. It’s like the pearl white version of the Grand Canyon. We felt closer with the nature that I even fell asleep as it cradles me. We weren’t able to do spelunking and swimming near the Great White Wall because of the high tide and strong water current but we got our chance to take dip into the cold waters of Tinipak River later somewhere in the flat river bed.

Qingtiangang Trail is one of the scenic mountain hiking trails in Yangmingshan National Park suitable for entire family even with beginners. It offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Zhugao and nearby mountains. The executive trail leading to the bunker at the top is well-fenced pathway of gravel. Probably, the fences serve as barricades for the free roaming cows and visitors not to mess with each other.

How To Get There:

From MRT Jiantan Station, take the bus R5 going to Yangmingshan National Park, the bus line’s last stop. From the Yangmingshan terminal, take the roaming bus. You can choose your trail by jumping off either from Lengshuikeng to complete the Qingtiangang Circular Trail or from Qingtiangang.

How Did I Get There:

Right after visiting the main Yangmingshan park where the Flower Festival was being held, I headed straight to the bus going to Qingtiangang. The bus was jam-packed because of the flock of visitors on a Saturday following the first day of the Chinese New Year.

I hadn’t taken lunch since I wanted to squeeze my itinerary allowing more places to be visited before my departure back to Manila at night. Filled only with only biscuits and enough water and improper hiking attire, I still managed to trek the trail with a breeze.

It was a dry season, sun was up and happy, and greens were less than what’s being shown in the travel guides. Nevertheless, for someone who likes a wide view of mountain ranges, the place is still epic.