Category: Adventure and Sports

5 Things To Do in Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro is best known for Whitewater Rafting and kayaking adventures. This first class and capital city in the province of Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao has been dubbed the “River Rafting Capital of the Philippines.” However, this adventure activity is best experienced if you’re staying a few days in the city. I tried this years ago during pre-blogging days when waterproof digital cameras were not yet that popular. For first-time visitors, this would be the major highlight of your visit to Cagayan de Oro.

mapawa nature park cagayan de oro travelup tree

But aside from whitewater rafting, what else is there to do if you only have a limited time to go around?  Here are some things to do in Cagayan de Oro around the city that you can easily visit in a day. Continue reading “5 Things To Do in Cagayan de Oro”

Gear Review: Hull & Stern Dry Bag

Did you know that the best way to dry wet gadgets is to dunk them in a bag of uncooked rice? I learned this the hard way a couple of years ago, when my SLR camera and mobile phones fell in a river (along with me) on the way to visit a waterfall. While my ancient Nokia survived, my other smartphone’s touchscreen was irreparable, and I had to pay a visit to Hidalgo in Quiapo to get my SLR and lens serviced.

hull & stern dry bag boat shades cebu

Nowadays, I usually have a couple of garbage bags in my all-around convertible belt bag during weekend trips in case it rains. But it really makes sense to have a dedicated waterproof bag since a lot of the activities I like to do – like island hopping, snorkeling, kayaking, chasing waterfalls and canyoning – involve bodies of water. Continue reading “Gear Review: Hull & Stern Dry Bag”

Inside the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant

The maze of narrow corridors with pipes snaking through the ceilings, hulking machinery and elaborate control panels looked like something out of a classic Science Fiction or horror flick. I couldn’t help imagine being chased by zombies as we walked along the dark hallways and climbed the industrial stairways of the building that has been sitting idle for three decades.

osprey bataan nuclear power plant control room Continue reading “Inside the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant”

Tomb Riding in Cambodia (Part 2)

On our first day of biking around Siem Reap, we rented a couple of mountain bikes to explore Angkor’s ancient temples. On our second and third day, we decided to take it slow and just rent city bikes instead. As hardcore as the mountain bikes look, we found out that most of the terrain was pretty flat. We also found ourselves spending more time on foot, channeling our favorite archaeologist-adventurers as we ventured into ancient temples and ruins. Who knows what hidden treasure we might stumble upon?

biking day 2 cambodia angkor archaeological park preah khan window

Continue reading “Tomb Riding in Cambodia (Part 2)”

JAPAN: World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go

Many role-playing video games start out in a remote place hidden deep in the mountains. The hero’s home town is often depicted as a rustic village full of wooden houses with thatched roofs. Outside each house, you pass rice fields surrounded by rivers, perfectly landscaped gardens and trees with fruits ripe for the picking. Okami, which is one of my favorite video games of all time, has all these elements of the classical Japanese countryside.

Walking through the streets of Shirakawa-go felt like I was transported into a fantasy world right out of a video game.

01. shirakawago village japan gassho style house

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Malinamon Falls in Capiz

The smell of gunpowder was thick in the air as the soldiers fired off their guns one at a time. The rapid succession of shots from the Armalite rifles felt disconcerting as we stood meters away from what felt like a firing line. We faced the soldiers dressed in full battle gear as they introduced themselves – rattling off their names, where they came from and their position in the battalion. They listed all the gear they carried with them – maps, GPS, grenades and the main weapon they carried before firing it into the air in a grand display.

Not exactly how I pictured our hiking trip to a waterfall would start.malinamon falls jamindan capiz travelup

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Tomb Riding in Cambodia (Part 1)

Cambodia is home to Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the most important historical sites in Southeast Asia. The site, which encompasses dozens of temple ruins, including Bayon, Ta Prohm and the legendary Angkor Wat, has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Partly because the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) was filmed here, this historic temple complex has been been on my motorcycle bucket list for years.

biking cambodia angkor archaeological park angkor thom gate

Continue reading “Tomb Riding in Cambodia (Part 1)”

Biking Guide: Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the main tourist attraction in Siem Reap, Cambodia. For foreign travelers and backpackers, biking is a popular way you can easily explore the temples around the massive complex. The roads between the main temples are paved and the distances between them are just right for bicycle touring. If you’re into biking at all, I think this is the best way to explore the temples.

Experiential posts:

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Gear Review: Merrell Capra Sport Hiking Shoes

For adventure getaways, I like to pack light. Along with a pair of slippers, I usually just have one pair of all-around shoes I can use for different kinds of activities like hiking or biking. When it comes to outdoor footwear, Merrell is among my preferred shoe brands. Known for their comfortable, durable and stylish kicks, Merrell offers a wide range of performance shoes that encourages people to get active outdoors.

merrell capra ambuklao dam getaway to adventure
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Vaude Hiking and Biking Backpacks in Manila

There are so many considerations when it comes to choosing a backpack these days. Three of the most important factors would probably be trip length, personal style of backpacking and body type. For weekend warriors and long-term travelers, a good backpack is a must for different kinds of adventures.

Vaude backpacks on wall tripologie eastwood

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