To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.

~ Bill Bryson

A visit to Thailand  isn’t complete without a trip to  a floating market. Escape to an exciting showcase of local custom,  rustic atmosphere and colorful ambiance.

Thailand’s most famous floating market is the vibrant Bangkok Floating Market or  Damnoen Saduak located in Ratchaburi Province. It’s around 105 kilometers away from the bustling city. Despite it’s distance, tourists and vendors alike flock the massive market catering everything from exotic food to fresh fruits to great bargains.

Thailand’s exotic food or not. I dare not to get near this stall.

We only have half a day to spare and the travel time to Damnoen Saduak will take away long hours of our time. Pursuing travel means we have to take a package tour, else burden ourselves and get lost with the blurry sketches on going there.   So, we checked out a nearby alternative that’s easier to navigate. You know we always do an off the beaten path exploration and itching DIO (do-it-ourselves) rather than taking a package tour.

Amphawa Floating Market it is!

After our early shopping at Platinum Mall and Pratunam Area, we checked out from Old Charm House by lunch time. Our host offered to keep our luggages until our flight that evening. We then hurried to catch the skytrain to  Victory Monument.

How to get there:

1. Ride the skytrain and get off at Victory Monument.

2. Find the bus terminal and hop on to a van going to Amphawa. Fare is around 70 baht per pax. Make sure to *tell the driver or operator that you’re getting off at Amphawa Floating Market. Get an interpreter if you must. =P

3. Enjoy the scenic landscape or sleep for about 2 hours.

The hard rain made us worry if we’ll get there on time, we can only hope that it wouldn’t ruin our last minute tour. Travel time is around 2 hours. We got lost initially since our driver wasn’t aware that we are getting off at Amphawa Floating Market. We *missed our stop. Good thing  he arranged for our transfer at another van going  back to the same direction.

Getting lost is part of the fun. I know Iphone maps has made my life easier now, but I’ll still prefer to get lost and take all the adventure I can, most of the time. teehee!

Amphawa Floating Market is open on weekends from 12 noon onwards. Perfect for the late risers! Enjoy good food, local music and busy friendly atmosphere. There are also boat tours to nearby wats.

The canal is filled with small boats maneuvering for the best place to sell  goods. It’s totally chaotic, especially when you see how they fit a lot of stuff into such small space. Slightly larger boats carry passengers for a fee.

Too bad we can’t stay long enough, the least we could do is try native delicacies and sweets like this yummy ice kacang.

Needless to say, our short visit requires a comeback. I hope soon. We can probably try a cruise to the river. Or husband will volunteer to taste spiders. lol.

Going back, we were greeted with heavy traffic. We raced to get our luggages from our host and head straight to the airport for our midnight flight. A bit crazy sked but we made it!

A nomad I will remain for life,
in love with distant and uncharted places.

~ Isabelle Eberhardt

After a hot midday tour at the Grand Palace, we moved on to few more temples. There are a lot of Wats nearby, and visiting all of them can be pretty mind blowing.

Outside the Grand Palace, we asked the security personnel on directions to Wat Pho. Sadly he can’t speak english so he called up this guy from the corner which in turn tricked us to a tuktuk ride. The ride was certainly cheap which will take us to the nearby temples and later on  to Wat Pho. He told us about a current national event held in Wat Pho so its best to go there in the afternoon when it’s less crowded.

Shortly after boarding the tuktuk, I realized that we were off to a scam deal. There has been a lot of writings about the tuktuk ride so I felt hesitant to continue since we were on a very tight schedule and we can’t tolerate and buy time to make a stop to a jewelry shop, a tailoring shop or any exorbitant souvenir shop, that aren’t part of our itinerary.

I immediately told the driver to just drop us to the first temple and then were off to Wat Pho. Oooops, too late.

He refused and beg us to just explore the jewelry shop so  he’ll get a  gas refund ticket. We felt sorry for him so we’ve been nice but it got really annoying when he dropped us to 2 more shops for his gas tickets and asked us to stay for about 10 minutes on each. That killed 2 hours of our precious time?@#$!!

Finally reached Wat Pho, one of the largest and oldest Wat in Bangkok. It is the house of a 46 meters long and 15 meters high gold plated reclining Buddha. The feet and eyes are engraved with mother of pearl and illustrates the passing of Buddha into Nirvana.

The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds. It houses more than 1000 Buddha images in total, most from the ruins of the former capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.

We did a quick round and headed out. Since we swear off to use tuktuk for the rest of our Thailand journey, the mister and I decided to wander by foot and find our way to the Giant Swing in front of Wat Suthat. The 88 feet tall giant swing was formerly used for the swing ceremony, one of the 12 royal ceremonies during King Rama I regime. The ceremony was discontinued after several participants fell to their death. Today,  it is one of the famous tourist attraction in Bangkok.

Further ahead, we saw the Democracy Monument at the center of Bangkok. It was built in 1939 to commemorate the 1932 Siamese coup d’etat. It led to the end of a 150-year old absolute monarchy and Thailand’s constitutional government was born.

Of course we can’t missed Thailand’s Khao San Road, the backpackers and budget travelers haven where the cheapest accommodations and best travel deals are within reach. This is yet the most lively part of Bangkok where you can find everything, from places to stay, variety of dining options and souvenir shops, open 24 hours.

Soi Rambuttri is a bit laid back than Khao San Road but hosts a number of budget options as well.

We sampled the most popular thai dish, pad thai from one of the street stalls. A stir-fried noodles that tasted heavenly!

On to our next destination, Mahakan Fort, one of the two remaining fortresses in Bangkok. It is built to protect the eastern entry point to the island. Behind the fort is a recently converted small park where we rested and killed time for sunset.

A refreshing sight awaits us at the resting area overlooking the river and Rama VIII Bridge.

Just a few steps away is the terminal where we boarded Chao Phraya Express Boat back to the Central Station. We were supposed to wait for night time to catch Wat Arun lightings but we only  have 30 minutes left before the last trip and it’s not even close on getting dark.

Wat Arun or “Temple of the Dawn” is best viewed during sunset and evening where it makes an impressive silhouette against the skyline. Perhaps the most striking riverside landmark in Thailand.

Since we were out the whole day and we wanted some cold treats, we went mall hopping during the night. We window shopped at Siam Paragon and MBK. I’m quite disappointed since I can  buy the same items back home (particularly in Divisoria and Tutuban) at fairly cheaper price.

We discovered something though, street stalls offer better deals, for the same item.

And what better way to cap of the day than a sweet ice cold treats from  Swensen’s!

For him, strawberry stripes and for me, butterscotch brownie  sundae. It’s high time to indulge and were lost for words. Mmmmm.

It’s our first time in Thailand, so we decided to dig deeper into it’s heritage and wander around the country’s capital, Bangkok.

We only have 3 days to indulge with Thai’s culture, food and adventure, although I must admit that the Land of Smiles is worth coming back again and again. I never really said goodbye, because my intuition tells me that I’m going to see it again soon.

So many temples to check out in one day, and then there’s shopping. I’ll go crazy on both.

Our beautiful accommodation is a secret hideaway from the bustling city of Bangkok. It’s just a walking distance away from BTS Skytrain and Pratunam Area. I can’t wait to go back.

After our Bromo Sunrise Tour, we returned to our hotel for a quick breakfast at half past 9 in the morning.

An hour later, we were ushered to the van that will take us to Surabaya. No one really mentioned that as we reached the town of Probolinggo, near the registration area, we have to switch vehicle. To our surprise, all those going to Surabaya will take the public Aircon bus. We left some fellow tourists waiting for their service to travel back to Yogyakarta or further to Ijen and Bali. We were with the other couple who is heading to Surabaya airport.

It was a dreaded 5 hours journey to Stasiun Pasar Turi (Pasar Turi Station) in Surabaya. Now, I know why they dubbed traffic in Indonesia a nightmare. It’s terribly bad.

From the Surabaya Bus station, we hailed a cab to take us to the train station.

Fortunately, one lady from the train station counter can speak english. We asked for Eksekutif train to Jakarta (Gambir Station) and she suggested Sembrani which leaves at 6:30 PM. Tickets are priced at IDR 310,000 each. Great, we still have two and a half hours to explore Surabaya and catch a late lunch.

We deposited our luggage at the store which offers safekeeping and walked outside the station to find a place to eat and when we got too tired, Mr. HavenHunter hailed an Angkot, a local minibus transport. We went down to the nearest mall with a supermarket and some fast food chains.

There aren’t any large malls nearby, so we decided to go back and kill time at the train station instead.

Night trains are a backpacker’s bestfriend. It’s a great way to save money for accommodation and pay for the cheap train fare instead. We get to lose no time and will be waking up to a different city. Not as comfortable as hotel bed though.

Sembrani is  a little worn out and for business class and executive class train, it’s not a posh one. I’m on the verge of exchanging our tickets to Argo Anggrek which I learned is a newer train. It will leave at 8:00 PM that night.

When traveling to Indonesia, forget about the time, because everything don’t normally come on time. Our supposedly 6:00 AM arrival at Jakarta’s Stasiun Gambir was late by two and a half hour.

Upon arrival, we freshened up and changed clothes at the restroom. I even heard splashing of water, so I’m guessing visitors can use the restroom to bathe.

We deposited our luggage for safekeeping as our prior decision to go explore Jakarta before our red eye flight to Manila.

Our first stop is the National Monument (MONAS tower) located at Merdeka (Freedom) Square park next to  Gambir station.  This 422 ft. tower symbolizes the fight for Indonesia’s independence.

There is a beautiful pond along the park that sits  beyond Indonesia’s national hero, Prince Deponegoro statue.

The Istiqlal Mosque can be seen from afar. It is the biggest moque in Southeast Asia where a Cathedral Church towers right in front of it.

We headed to Mangga Dua to check out the shopping scene. We first indulge ourselves with an appetizing lunch at A&W.

Mangga Dua is a cluster of large shopping center selling cheap finds from clothings to footwear, accessories, etc. at wholesale and retail prices. It’s like Divisoria’s 168 of Indonesia.

Our next stop is Jalan Surabaya to find some local handicrafts. I still find it a little pricey than Yogyakarta – Malioboro market. Too bad we missed out a good shopping at Yogyakarta. The whole stretch of Jalan Surabaya is a feast for antique collectors searching for  Wayang Golek (Javanese Puppets), Indonesian Traditional Batik and old handicrafts.

We also went to Pasaraya Grande Shopping Mall at Blok M to check out the Indonesian Antiques and handcrafted goods.

We decided to head back to Gambir Station and pick our things when Mr. HavenHunter find it difficult to maneuver his sprained feet. Just outside the train station are Damri bus going to Soekarno Hatta International Airport Terminal 2.

At the airport, I couldn’t resist spending my last Indonesian Rupiah with this Javanese Dolls, Rama and Shinta. I like Shinta’s dress much than Sita.

A few more Indonesian Batiks (sarong) for souvenirs too.

Mr. Haven Hunter checked the counter for lost baggage to claim the tripod we missed out during our arrival in Jakarta. He was taken to the warehouse, but after tedious search along with a lot of Cebu Pacific passengers claiming for lost items too, the tripod is nowhere to be found.

Our whole Indonesia backpacking took us into a roller coaster of culture, heritage and breathtaking nature.

We reached Manila at half past 5 in the morning.

See our full itinerary to Backpacking Indonesia here.

2nd day of our Indonesia – Central Java leg.

We prepared ourselves early and decided to have breakfast at Mc Donalds in Malioboro Street. Seriously, we need to stop eating at this fast food chain. Although, I can’t risk my appetite to any food stalls that day, as I am foreseeing a very long journey ahead of us on the road.

Trishaw or Becaks are a popular transportation in Yogyakarta. Here they lined up along the street and wait for passengers to carry to the nearby destinations. We dropped by at Mulia Exchange to change our last bills for the trip. Oh gosh, you can call me Señora Valeria for the day. Mind you, tourists are one day millionaire here.

Can you tell from the look on my face how overwhelmed I was? That smug look vanished an hour later when we had to pay the balance for the tour. lol.

We went around Malioboro to look for souvenirs as early as 8 in the morning.  But stores are close until 9 or 10. We haven’t bought anything except for the Raissa Batik the other day. =(

Went back and checked out from Rejeki Homestay at 9 in the morning and headed to Sosro Tours for the 9:15 pick-up. Here are some travelers going on a Bromo Tour as well.

We boarded the van with two couples from Germany, one couple from Austria and two girls from Poland. Everyone is raving about the latest football match, and I can’t relate.

Ten of us cramped on a roomy van but the aircon is an epic fail. Either it was too hot outside or it can’t cope up with 11 sweating people. Regardless, I had napped several times during the trip.

They are the usual motorists around Central and East Java. We enjoyed  a sight of Mount Merapi and a lot of rice paddies.

We even caught the train in East Java which got into an accident prior that day. Now, we were worried on how to commute going to Jakarta the next day or is it ever safe to travel this way? The night-sleeper train is our only option  and were hoping there is an alternative trails, than book an expensive flight to the city.

Our super long journey to nowhere finally stopped at a local restaurant.  We had lunch at 2 in the afternoon, I was dizzy and starving. We tried Nasi Goreng and Nasi Campur. It was tasteful and we love it! We ordered Mi Goreng, to-go for our dinner just in case.

We then continued the road trip and had another stop for bathroom break at half past 5 in the afternoon.

It was already 9 in the evening when we reached the town of Probolinggo. We had to go down to register and attend a short briefing for the schedule of Bromo Sunrise Tour and those who will continue their trip to Ijen. Everyone was given another ticket, I didn’t notice that they put the assigned accommodation on the ticket until we reached Cemoro Lawang. Contrary to what our agent told us, we were given a different hotel.

The good thing is that we already paid in for our whole trip which costs IDR 700,000 inclusive of One night stay at hotel, Jeep to Pananjakan  and Mt. Bromo Crater, Breakfast and Van transfer to Surabaya.

Some tourists were not able to book for the 4×4 jeep and paid a lot more at the registration area.

At the briefing, we were told about the pick up time the next day and what we should expect. We’ll go through a 15 minutes trek to the viewing deck or if we’ll choose to go on foot from the hotel, we must get up at least 2 o’clock in the morning to start the trek.

Probolinggo has a number of hotels and inns. If you plan to check in here, most hotels can arrange for Bromo and Ijen tours. It is one and a half hour away from the village of Cemoro Lawang, the closest point to Mt. Bromo.

At Last, we reached our accommodation after 14 hours on the road. The hotel was different from what we have been promised. It was Cemarah Indah Hotel that Ruly showed us if I remember correctly. But I was so dizzy at that moment, I didn’t realized we were dropped off to another hotel. Hotel Sion View.

It was okay, but to quote the other guests, it isn’t a hotel. It’s a backpackers area. The room is basic, with a not so clean toilet. It was good enough that hot water is available.

Here’s me and my memoirs of a lost million.

When we’re settled, we ate our packed dinner, Mi Goreng, then headed out to the Restaurant to have some coffee.

Lights off at half an hour past midnight.

Read our Indonesia Backpacking Itinerary here and how we scored the Bromo Package Tour.

Follow us in Facebook and see more photos.

We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

From wandering around Borobudur Temple, we continued the day to a short trip at a Batik Shop, then headed to Prambanan Temple. The heat didn’t spare us with exhaustion and by the time we reached our car service, Mr. Haven Hunter and I immediately fell into slumber.

Needless to say, we aren’t aware how much traffic we have to go through. I’m not sure if our driver Toto was following a speed limit or he really drives moderately. We reached Prambanan Temple at 5:00 PM, that left us an hour to wander around it’s full glory until it closes for the day.

We headed to a separate building where foreigners can lounge and pay for the entrance fee. Rates are: Adult USD 15 & Student USD 8. This already includes refreshments, coffee or water at the lounge area and Camera & Video Fee.

Prambanan is the ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Sustainer (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. There are 224 temples in the complex; dominated by three towering temples on the central terrace.

These ancient masterpieces of Hindu architecture is more beautiful and intricate than Borobudur Temple. It feels eerie to touch something historical as this site. It is as if it bounces an immeasurable energy to tell everyone it’s bygone story beyond the massive ruins.

Only few people were roaming around by sunset, perhaps most tourists were still battling they’re way out of Borobudur Temples. Sheesh, I still can’t get over how overly crowded it was.

By 6 PM we started to walk towards the exit. We were actually looking for the entrance to Prambanan Open Air Theatre for the evening performance of Ramayana Ballet, but were unsuccessful. Good thing, Toto, fetch us through the entrance door, and said he’ll just drop us to other gate. We urge Toto to first find us some good place for dinner before we head to the 7:30 PM Show.

He drives towards Prambanan Garden Cafe right next to the entrance door of the theatre. Oh no. It was out of budget but the Mister insist that we try the dinner buffet. As if we had a choice, inasmuch as we wanted, they don’t offer any ala carte.

Prambanan Garden Cafe has a lovely setting anyways, across the lawn from our table, the evening glow of Prambanan temple looks amazing. The whole complex is illuminated with yellowish light bulbs. The moon peaks from the sky.

This is the view from our table. See how lovely the evening is. Who can resist paying for a hefty IDR 70,000 each Dinner Buffet for that beautiful landscape?

The menu includes Asian delicacies that I recognized, but I only had one go, since I’m not really hungry.

After our sumptuous and expensive dinner, we headed our way to the entrance gate. Since we already bought our tickets at Sosro Tours, we only paid for the use of camera inside the theater. I find it odd that you have to pay for video and photo. I was actually disappointed that we didn’t get the VIP tickets earlier that day, since we actually spent the same thing, having to dine at the restaurant.

VIP tickets get the front row seats and and are indulged with snacks and refreshments plus a buffet dinner at the Restaurant.  While we get to seat at the Premium Area.

The Ramyana Ballet is a dramatic performance that tells the epical dimensions and living legend for millennia. It is a story of Ramayana, the classic Hindu tale of honour, magic and courage. This ancient literature focus on the tale of the heroic Prince Rama and his loyal wife Sita.

Performed on various dates over a six-month period, the Ramyana Ballet involves hundreds of dancers and is performed in a wonderful outdoor setting within the country’s famous Prambanan temple complex. Built in the ninth century, the temple is the largest complex of its kind in Java and is famed throughout the whole of Indonesia for its spectacular beauty.

This performance is able to unite various Javanese arts such as dance, drama and music on one stage and one momentum to present the Ramayana story, a legendary epos written by Walmiki in Sanskrit language.

I’m so bad at waiting time. I actually lost count on how many times I doze off before and during the show. The 3 hours show is so not good for sleepless souls. Don’t get me wrong but the performance is awesome. The choice of music though, gets into my spine that sets me off to dreamland.

After the show, we were given a chance to go on stage and take photos with the performers.

Toto was waiting for us at the parking area. He dropped us at Jalan Sosrowijayan and call it a night.

Mr. HH and I just changed clothes and check out if we can do some souvenir shopping at Malioboro Street. Turns out the shops are starting to close to make way for “lesehan” or night dining.  Warung is a store that sells food and drinks, while lesehan means sitting on mats.

I’m still full from our buffet dinner so we just got a refreshment from the nearby 24-hours McDonald’s. We went back to our room and prepare for our early day 2: Road Trip from Jogja to Bromo.

You can check out our full Indonesia itinerary here.

We woke up to a weekend of good food at Legazpi Sunday Market 5th Anniversary Celebration. A diverse selection of goods ranging from specialty foods, fruits and vegetables, breads, organic products, gourmet items, fabrics, art pieces, plants and more.

We started the day with the appetizing Takoyaki Balls, Chorizo Paella and Lengua Estofada from Spanish Cuisine Paellas. I could have ordered Wagyu Paella and Paella Negra if I wasn’t so full on my first serving.

LSM offer a cultural mix of cuisine from Filipino dishes to Indonesian, Chinese, Spanish, French, Korean and more. Almost all parts of the country is represented too, from Lechon Cebu, Kapampangan Homemade Classic Empainada to Negros’ Budbud-Kabog. Ah, we can spend the whole afternoon here, celebrating good life!

We went around and found some wonderful art pieces, handcrafted items, ceramics and colorful fabrics. One can find great bargains from the many bazaar stalls. As the afternoon sizzles, more families came in to spend a day-out, probably to eat and shop together.

The Grand Buffet was the main event for the Anniversary Celebration where a long list of Legazpi Market’s food vendors offer their exquisite dishes to a One-Go Buffet for only P180.00 each. Darn, we shouldn’t have eaten earlier.

We had to leave before the heavy rain started to pour in and spent a healthy walk to the strange serenity of the usually bustling Ayala/Makati life.

Legazpi Sunday Market is located at corners of Legazpi and Rufino Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati. It’s near Union Church of Manila. Open every Sunday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

.
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

~William Shakespeare

Our Mt. Pinatubo Day Trek Challenge was a challenge from the start. It was quite demanding when you have a changing weather, tentative participants and a certain budget to meet.

After some last minute cancellations, we ironed out the final details from budget to transportation and groupings. Check out our Mt. Pinatubo Itinerary here. In the end, we were able to list 18 participants.

18 participants, that goes to say that we were lacking 2 people in the group to make it an even number.  We didn’t get any discount with the 4×4 jeeps so we still have to divide the expenses of 20 down to 18. Good thing, we were able to cancel the other van we reserved and the owner was very understanding.

Our meeting time is 2 in the morning at Shell Station in Ayala Avenue. By half past 2, we were already sailing through NLEX.

We we’re down with 1 van and Mhike’s SUV. Mhike agreed to use his car after finding out that the van will not be as comfy if we crowd it.

Tines, Regs, Grace, Malen, Jen A, Jen G, Joanne, Badette, Icze, Cat, Ace, Ferdie and I fit ourselves to the van. We were ready to catch some sleep.

Rogel, Liezl, Anna, Dang & Mhike were behind us.

Since we are going on a convoy. We made a Stop over at Shell Select Bulacan for early breakfast and take-out. Then off to a long road trip again.

Dropped by at Mc Donald’s in Capas to ask for direction and last minute meal provisions. After a few more turns, and gazillion Reycat’s political posters later, we landed at the tourism office.

7:00 AM : We registered and divided the group by 4 jeeps. Each has one driver and a guide. We were so ready for the rough ride, sans any injuries. There were other groups ahead of us and a few more trailing behind.

One hour of rough ride, shallow waters, soft lahar land, ah, this makes a different weekend haven. It is equally an amazing experience should we proceeded by foot. It’s unsafe though during rainy season.

If you want to bring your own off road vehicle, you just need to register from the tourism office and get a guide.

The bumpy ride, amazing blue skies, and rolling hills are some things we love about a nature getaway. Something that our future generation might not see if we aren’t keen on keeping it the way it should be. An all natural stress-relief just by energizing the body and mind while embracing nature.

After bouncing off our energy, we reached a dead end, that seems to be a huge parking lot. From here, we have to walk to the crater for about 1 hour. But since, we weren’t in a hurry and we don’t have enough preparation to trek, we’re taking it slowly. Photo op for the most part of the break.

The trail seemed unending. I was so close in asking our guide, “are we there yet?”

So much for expecting a 30 minutes trek. The road was badly out of shape. Huge rocks from everywhere, which forced the jeep club to make the parking area a pit stop. This left us with only one choice, to trek for 1 hour and 20 minutes to the crater lake.

A light drizzle welcomed us when we reach the crater. The sky is a mix of dark clouds and blue horizon with the occasional sun streak.

The view is breathtaking, I can’t even imagine if I can make a fine print of Mt. Pinatubo in my mind. Everywhere we stand is a different landscape view. The crater lake  have taken the boundaries of 3 towns, Pampanga, Zambales and Tarlac.

It saddens me that  years from now, this place will just be a part of history. The surrounding lahar mountain walls are eroding gradually. The caldera may eventually collapse and this park and crater will be gone forever.

We positioned ourselves to eat lunch down the crater. Some groups hired the boat to transport them to the other side of the crater for P350 each. The others were more adventurous and took a dip through the cold waters.

The heavy rain poured after our delicious meal. We had to seek comfort at the nearest picnic hut. We used the time to introduce everyone to each other.

When the rain finally stopped, our guide proposed to start our trek back to the jeep. We are an hour early but we never know if the rain will be stronger so instead of risking to be trapped in our soaking clothes, we followed our guide without uncertainty.

It was a different trekking experience this time. The rain shower was heavier but I enjoyed it and almost everyone did. Its a nice diversion while concentrating on not to trip over the sharp rock edges. The cool water streams are soothing too. I miss the rain. and it was the first time I trek under such bad weather. But it was a blessing. No one was hurt.

As if the weather was teasing us, the rain stopped when we reached the parking area. And for the record, some of us were able to doze off during a bumpy ride. Exhaustion took its toll that even the sharp turn and rugged terrain  feels like a rhythm swinging us to sleep.

Use of bathroom at Mt. Pinatubo Spa Town is P100 each. It comes with a towel, soap and locker. We find the price a bit steep but we can’t help but to avail this to shower and change clothes following our encounter with dusty road and a surprised nature shower.

When everyone is refreshed, It is then a battle between Sisig Restaurant and Isdaan. Sisig Restaurant won by slightly a few more votes. Headed to Angeles City to savor the best Sisig in town, tokwa’t baboy and more before going home.

We had a blast and even if it was just a day of adventure, we were able to shake off some stress, get away from the bustling city life, reunite with old friends and gain some new ones.

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Contact Numbers:
Wendell – 4×4 Jeep Service 09196084313
Rent A Van – Sally 215-5645  | 0917-8239111 or Efren 964-8534  | 0917-8070911
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Photo Credits:

Independence Day at Mt. Pinatubo by Rogel
Mt. Pinatubo Independence Day Trek by Ferdie
Pinatubo Shots by Malen
Mt. Pinatubo Trek by Tines
Independence Trek by Jen

Special thanks to Chyng for the itinerary and 4×4 jeep contact details.

All natural cardio workout!

Travel is the name of a modern disease which became rampant in the mid-fifties and is still spreading. The disease – its scientific name is travelitis furiosus - is carried by a germ called prosperity.

~George Mikes

We reach the last leg of our journey up North and we still have some places to visit before we head home. It’s an inspiring weekend and fun adventure ’till the very end.

Check out our Vigan – Laoag – Pagudpud – Ilocos Itinerary as well as our First Day Adventures in Vigan & Laoag and 2nd Day Beach Bumming at Blue Lagoon and other tourist spots of Ilocos.

3rd Day : All our bags are packed now and ready to go… but wait… we can’t leave just like that!

After breakfast, we headed off to the local market to check out authentic Ilocano specialties, from bagnet to tupig to Sukang Iloko, to longganisa. Mind you our weight doubled these past days with the yummy dishes prepared by our generous hosts. And we still have a few take outs from them.

Not included in our itinerary was a  visit to the church of Sta. Monica or also known as Sarrat Church in the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. It’s only a few minutes away from Vintar where we stayed, so we grab the chance to drop by.

It’s an old Baroque church in a beautifully arranged red bricks. Further reconstructions were made when the former Philippine President Marcos’ daughter, Irene Marcos, choose the church to be a venue of her fairytale wedding to Gregorio Araneta in 1983. Sarrat Church holds the record of the longest  church aisle in the Philippines.

The ruins of a torture chamber can still be seen at the site of the church. In the torture chamber are 2 enormous brick-covered pillars. Filipinos accused of subversion and other major crimes were said to have been hanged from these pillars during the Spanish colonial period.

Our next stop is Batac, Ilocos Norte to visit Marcos Museum and Mausoleum.

Picture taking isn’t allowed at Marcos Mausoleum where the glass-entombed, preserved corpse of ousted President Ferdinand Marcos can be found. He died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 but this dictator is well-loved by his hometown.

Beside the Mausoleum is Marcos Museum where the former President’s  military awards, plate number, photos, and his work desk are displayed for viewing.

We found colorful graffiti just outside the museum. Impressive, perfect for a background!

We had the chance to catch the photo exhibit happening  not too far from the Mausoleum. Photo collection and memorabilia are displayed on wall with great pride. The newspaper which announces that former President Marcos topped the bar exams and with a score no one in history has ever beaten yet, we were in awe. The first couple’s photos of their younger years were also displayed. Former first lady, Imelda Marcos exudes elegance even at a young age.

Did I mention we have Ferdinand and Imelda joined our group?

Of course we can’t leave Batac City without sampling the authentic Ilocos Empanada. Ohhh, tastes heavenly.

We continued with the long drive to Juan Luna Shrine. The Shrine is the ancestral home of artist and world-renowned painter, Juan Luna (1857 – 1899). It was close when we went there, but we are lucky enough that the curator seen us surveying the area. He let us in and happily gave us a tour in the two-storey house. The restored house is now open to the public after it was converted into a mini museum which showcases various memorabilia and Luna’s works of art. A reproduction of his greatest masterpiece, the Spolarium, hangs on the wall, won a gold medal in 1884.

Interesting point is the genealogy which connects Imelda Marcos to Juan Luna’s ancestors.

We didn’t stay long for we still have to drop by Vigan before heading to Manila. The long journey gave us a free time for an afternoon nap.

Then there was Viva Vigan Festival. Some of the roads were close for the celebration. It is the grandest cultural activity in the North. Crisologo Museum was closed. We decided to have lunch first at the restaurant in Calle Crisologo then we’re off to Baluarte.

Not just a zoo, Baluarte is an interactive wildlife sanctuary and facility, with the breathtaking view of its dominating scenic boulders amidst trees and greens. Some addition I recognized from my 2006 visit is a camel ride, where you can actually sit on it and take photos. A huge dinosaur by the Baluarte signage and Butterfly Garden. There were colorful parrots on display too.

Baluarte is an 80 hectares of gently rolling terrains, hills and mountain sides, the structures of facilities and amenities, its phases of construction is in its best possible realistic and natural habitat for good and sound animal care. It is open to the public and admission is FREE. It is the home of Governor Chavit Singson.

Our day is coming to an end, we made a stop at Barangay Pagburnayan to witness Pottery Making. Burnay means earthen pot. Too bad, it is holiday in Vigan and there were no one in the jar factory to show us the potter’s tool. We did roam around though to our hearts content and check out some huge and broken jars.

We went back to Calle Crisologo to do last minute shopping. We have free time to scour for goods, bargains and Vigan’s best souvenirs. Oh, we did drop by at the town’s market too, to buy the most coveted chichacorn in various flavours, sweet and spicy, cheese, garlic, etc.

At half past 6 in the evening, we left Vigan, fortunately not in a calesa. We stop over at Pangasinan for dinner and safely landed in Manila by 3 in the morning.

To wrap it up, it was a long, three days journey, but it was all worth it. We were able to meet new friends, discover new places, experience the North side of the Philippines, been welcomed warmly by our hosts and Ilocanos we met along the way.

For More Photos, visit :

Weekend Haven Album
Group Shots by Charlone Ibanez
Lakbay Nikkitaa  by Ferdinand Teves
Northern Escape by RL Bernardo

Viva Ilocos!

Life is known only by those who have found a way to be comfortable with change and the unknown.
Given the nature of life, there may be no security, but only adventure.

~Rachel Naomi Remen

I have long been waiting to get out of my couch, and do a full swing to beat our lazy summer solstice. Another successful getaway with a new set of weekend travelers, from sampling authentic Ilocano delicacies, to souvenir hunting, Visita Iglesia, R&R at Blue Lagoon, learning more about Ilocos History and Marcos Regime, to our super long, bumpy road trip. Not my first time, but exploring Ilocos still excites me.

Refer to our Vigan – Laoag – Pagudpud – Ilocos Itinerary here.

The late holiday declaration left almost everyone a vague plan for a getaway. I was a bit confident though that it will be another long weekend, so we planned it out early this year. All 13 participants were eager to escape Manila’s hot weather and busy days. We have guests from as far as Zamboanga, to a new Nursing graduate, to professional landscape photographer based in Seoul, quite an interesting mix of personalities.

We left at 10 PM in Manila, hoping to get an early start for our Ilocos Sur to Ilocos Norte Tour the following day.

Day 1

Bong, our super driver cum Sexy Model, transported us safely to Narvacan, Ilocos Sur by 7 in the Morning. We had our first breath of Ilocos air at the shoreline of Paraiso ni Juan Grotto, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.

After having breakfast, quick stretching and a photo op, we continued our journey to Vigan City. An hour later and 407 km away from Manila, we invaded Calle Crisologo’s tranquil Saturday morning.

Our first stop is Vigan Cathedral or also known as St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. This church is a testament to Vigan’s strong Chinese heritage.

Behind the Church is Calle Crisologo. A leisure walk at this exceptionally intact and well-preserved cobblestone street takes us back to yesteryear. Vigan is declared as Unesco World Heritage Site for its fusion of Asian and European architecture and cultural elements. This makes it unique to the rest of the world.

Further ahead, we reached Bantay Church and Bell Tower. A popular tourist destination, where guests can climb the tower on top of the hill. No one from our group dared to take the stairs, as everyone seemed already exhausted with the hot weather.

There is an ongoing fair at Marcos Museum, so we skipped that part and rescheduled it for our 3rd day. We then headed to Paoay Church or also known as St. Augustine Church in Paoay. It is another Unesco World Heritage Site. The church architecture is a blend of Baroque, Gothic and Oriental designs.

By the time we finished wandering around Paoay Church, we were already craving for lunch. Ah, we savored the best bulalo in town, enough to energize us for the rest of the day.

We paid a short visit at Museo Ilocos Norte. This museum is a tribute to the cultural heritage of Ilocano people.

Our next stop is Malacanang Ti Amianan, or Malacanang of the North. It is the residence of former President Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte. It’s quite bizarre how similar it looks like from the Malacanang Palace along the North bank of Pasig River in Manila.

The palace is uninhabited now and restored as museum to let visitors take a glimpse of this Marcos property. From the veranda, it overlooks the scenic Paoay Lake.

We can’t miss Fort Ilocandia Resort of course and lust over it’s first class interior. Apart from being the only 5-star deluxe resort hotel in Northern Philippines, a showcase of Spanish colonial inspired villas, an addition of mini zoo kept the guests entertained.

Nearing the end of our 1st day journey, we visited St. William Cathedral in Laoag City. The church is built by Augustinian Friars and is unique for its Italian Renaissance architecture. The Sinking Bell Tower across the street is popular for sinking to the ground an inch every year.

Our day ended with a feast prepared by Mr. Haven Hunter’s relatives. We settled in at Vintar and called it an early night.

More Photos :

Weekend Haven Album
Group Shots by Charlone Ibanez
Lakbay Nikkitaa  by Ferdinand Teves
Northern Escape by RL Bernardo

Our 2nd day Ilocos Invasion soon!

Ilocos Photowalk ~