From afar, Merloquet Falls looked like a white curtain pinned to a lush forest wall just flowing in the wind. Up close, the waterfalls was even more dramatic and grander than it looked. I kept the photo-taking short, as I wanted to join the locals who were relaxing under the cascades.
Category: Philippines
Siargao: A motorcycle and the open road
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.
Castaway in Caramoan
Interest in Caramoan, Camarines Sur has surged ever since it was featured in the hit reality show Survivor. International franchises of the show that have been filmed here include Serbia, Israel, Bulgaria, France and most recently the 25th season of the US version, which started airing last week.
Snapshots: Siargao
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.
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.
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”
You must be logged in to post a comment.