Siargao is the kind of place that you can just spend days and days in enjoying the sand, sun and surf. Though it’s known primarily as a surfing destination, even non-surfers can appreciate the simplicity of island life here. Here are a few snapshots from my solo trip to the beautiful island last week.
Category: Travel
Solo Tripping in Surigao City
It feels strange to be sitting still in front of the computer back in Manila after several days of being constantly on the move. During a very unplanned solo trip last week, I found myself hopping from plane to jeep to boat to van to bus to habal-habal with no clear itinerary, making decisions on the fly, encountering very helpful people on the road, and ending up in places both weird and wonderful.
Food Trip: Catanduanes
Aside from the great surf and host of nature and outdoor adventures, the province of Catanduanes in the Bicol region boasts of some of the best food. Bicolano cuisine is known for its generous use of gata (coconut milk) and spicy ingredients. Mix that with the natural abundance of seafood in the island-province, and you’ve got a perfect match. Here’s a food diary of the most memorable meals from my trip there.
Lobster: This delicious dish of steamed lobster was served for lunch in Majestics Beach Resort in Puraran Beach, a major surfing and tourist destination in the province. The meat of the lobster tasted tender and a bit sweeter than crab meat. Since the flavor was a bit mild, this went really well with calamansi and soy sauce.
Ride to Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs
Angono in Rizal is probably not on the top of rider’s list of places to head to on a weekend, being relatively near Manila. Often, you’ll find yourself at a standstill or crawling through mind-numbing traffic rather than revving your engine as you would on the twisty mountain roads of Marilaque or on your way to Tagaytay.
Bali’s Temple of the Holy Water
Pura Tirta Empul or Bali’s Temple of the Holy Water is regarded as one of six most important temples in Bali, Indonesia. Located in Tampak Siring, a town in Central Bali, this temple is known for its sacred spring that is believed to have curative properties.
Interview with a Mermaid
Mermaids are one of the most fascinating creatures in folklore and fantasy stories. Most girls growing up have probably pretended to be a mermaid, like the heroine in Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid or one of the mermaids in Peter Pan’s Neverland.
It’s Really More Fun in the Philippines!
NOTE: This is a guest post
If you are looking for a holiday break that offers beauty, relaxation, adventure and most of all fun, then you will do well to visit the Philippines. This Southeast Asian nation has some of the most varied landscapes around, as you would expect from the unique way it is made up from many different islands. When you visit this beautiful country, you will be enthralled by the idyllic rice fields, the towering volcanoes and the bustling large cities where you can find endless attractions.
Crab Overload in Samar’s Alimango Festival
“Batok alert. Crab high cholesterol festival!”
“Panalo yan. Ang Sarap. Ang Alige, Ang High Blood at Cholesterol.”
“Drool drool! Cardiac delights! (add thick coco cream for that ultimate mortal sin meal )”
Continue reading “Crab Overload in Samar’s Alimango Festival”
Harry Potter: The Exhibition
It was with a heavy heart that I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and last novel in the Harry Potter series by J. K Rowling back in 2007. You know the feeling of not wanting a certain experience to end, but at the same time wanting to know that the characters you’ve invested so much in, get their happy ending.
This feeling was also echoed during the airing of the eighth film in the movie franchise last year. After ten years of having a new Harry Potter movie to look forward to almost every year, watching the final film was bittersweet. Continue reading “Harry Potter: The Exhibition”
An Off-Road Spa Adventure: Puning Hot Springs
Our 4 x 4 vehicle thudded along the scorched gravel road, forcefully freewheeling its way over the uneven terrain. The landscape was a sea of sunburned land and hills of towering ash set against a backdrop of a perfect blue sky. Continue reading “An Off-Road Spa Adventure: Puning Hot Springs”
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