A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
The dusty road stretched out as far as I could see, its rock and gravel terrain framed by towering coconut trees. Farmers and construction workers on the side of the road gave a friendly wave as I passed. Every so often, a habal-habal, with two or three passengers aboard would rumble by sending a cloud of dust and debris at my face.
I was traveling solo and I wanted to see Siargao’s less-beaten paths. So I decided to rent a motorbike for the afternoon and explore the island on two wheels.
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.
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.
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” — Don Williams, Jr. (American Novelist and Poet, b.1968)
In a couple of weeks, the year 2011 will come to an end and another one will begin. This December, the 14th edition of the Blog Carnival takes a look back at the memorable journeys taken by 34 Pinoy Travel Bloggers. From journeys on land, sea, and air on the way to a specific destination, to trying out various modes of transport, overcoming fears, and learning life lessons while on the road, this compilation pays tribute to the spirit of adventure that courses through the veins of true-blue travelers.
Join us as we focus on the often overlooked journey it takes to get to wherever we’re going. Continue reading “What a Journey it has Been…”
Mindanao is often portrayed as a place of conflict and war. It only figures in the media landscape as a backdrop for conflict, bombings, kidnappings and insurgency. “Is it safe?” is a common question people ask when they hear of ANY destination in Mindanao. But Mindanao is a vast region — though conflict may occur in isolated areas – in other places, you will find beautiful natural wonders, diverse culture, and peace-loving people.
Here nestled in the foothills of Davao, one of Mindanao’s many provinces, is one of the most blissful and memorable places that I’ve visited in the country. The trip may have been a few years ago, but I still remember how special it felt to witness the fiesta of the Matigsalog tribe (“people of the river”), who reside in the forests and remote barangays of Marilog, near the riverbanks of the Davao River (formerly known as Salug River). Continue reading “Finding Bliss in a Tribal Fiesta”
Have you ever watched a video game cutscene and think, damn, I would love to visit that place? As a fan of role-playing games, sometimes I just want to get sucked into a game to explore the fantastic “out of these world” landscapes that heroes get to visit on their travels. Thankfully, there are a few places here in the Philippines that could just be the live action equivalent of the CGI scenes. Here are my top five picks of travel experiences that reminded me of certain video games:
1) El Nido, Palawan = Besaid Island, Final Fantasy X
With it’s crystal clear waters, limestone cliffs and numerous islands, the seascape of El Nido could easily be the setting where Tidus washes ashore at the start of Final Fantasy X. The Isle of Besaid, a small island at the southernmost point of the world Spira, features a large beach and seaport, a small village surrounded by forests and waterfalls, and a temple.
On the other hand, El Nido is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan, roughly 238 kilometres northeast of the capital Puerto Princesa. Having one of the most diverse ecosystems in the country, El Nido is protected for its unique flora and fauna, and pristine geologic formations. El Nido is notable for its spectacular limestone cliffs, expansive white sand beaches, tiny paradise-like islets, various types of forests, and major marine habitats. If you get to climb the cliffs, the view from the top is simply amazing just like in the game (well, minus the machina of course). Continue reading “5 Video Game-Like Travel Experiences”
NOTE: I am NOT affiliated with these resorts. Please direct all inquiries on rates and bookings to Estares Lake Resort & Punta Isla Lake Resort. Thank you.
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With its rich cultural traditions and natural attractions, more and more tourists are visiting Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. Dubbed the Summer Capital of Southern Mindanao because of its cool climate, Lake Sebu is a peaceful, idyllic fishing town, and the ancestral domain of the indigenous T’boli tribe.
If you’re heading to Lake Sebu and looking for a place to stay, Estares Lake Resort and Punta Isla are two places worth checking in. Continue reading “Lake Sebu Lodges: Estares Lake Resort and Punta Isla”
Updated September 2014
I was at my desk at work when Arvin, an officemate, arrived carrying a long bulky item wrapped in brown cardboard and masking tape.
“Ay naku, galing akong Baguio nung long weekend. So syempre may nagpabili ng walis.” (I just came from Baguio during the long weekend, so of course someone asked me to buy a broom).
This scenario got me thinking of items that are really such a hassle to take home as pasalubong (souvenirs), but we still buy for the sake of friends and family when we travel.
BAGUIO BROOMS
To commemorate the 150th birthday of National Hero Jose Rizal on June 20, 2011, the Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP) contributed to a photo project of Interaksyon.com, TV-5’s website.
In order to show the importance given by a town, city or municipality of a tribute to the hero, they asked members to contribute one picture of a Jose Rizal street, avenue or plaza with his statue to show its current status. To add to the variety and get a nationwide scope, they asked photographers in Manila to contribute pictures from the provinces. Continue reading “Revisiting Rizal Monuments in the North and South”
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