Siquijor finale

(March 29, 2013)

One of the best places I have visited in the Philippines is Siquijor. More than the gorgeous touristic spots I came to see here, It's the overwhelming warmth of the people that made it the best for me. Even during our last day, Heid and I still experienced the goodness of people on this island. Together we checked other great places: Kagusuan Beach, Cang-Isok House, Ragi's "second home" and back to Salagdoong Beach (we couldn't get enough of it.haha).

With our wonderful travel buddies in Siquijor: (our long-lost little brother) Ragi, Emil and Rachel.



A common summer fruit on the island - Siniguelas.

A long trek to Kagusuan Beach. I was so thrilled! Don't I look like it? haha

Finally!!! picture-picture muna!

Hear ye! Hear ye! La Kagusuan Beach!
I like this beach, it's so private!

Heid et moi :)



The Cang-Isok House. Didn't feel scared at all. Thanks to daytime!



Ragi's second home has such a beautiful view!

The best lunch I had in Siquijor! Good food plus good view! :)

 

Ragi's pride: his family's hospitality! :)



We're back! Didn't have enough of this beach!!! :)



Serenity at sunset!



wander:

Kagusuan Beach

Cang-Isok House

Ragi's "second home"

Salagdoong Beach

wonder:

two side trips in one day

(March 30, 2013)

Mom has stayed for quite some time in Dumaguete City and I promised that I would take a side trip and look for her long-lost buddies after my Siquijor vacation. Impatient that I am, I almost gave up  after several attempts to find the address she had given me. Good thing, I was with my friend Heid who was patient enough to push me and continue our search. And after some inquiries here and there, we found what we're looking for. It was so different from mom's description. Oh well, it was more than three decades ago that she was here anyway.

In this trip, I met some young cousins for the first time and they toured us around the city. I so love the "inside-track" sort of travelling! :)

First stop, mommy's school. It was first called Foundation College but is now named Foundation University.

 

Welcome to the more-than-a-century-old Silliman University!!!



We got the chance to tour inside the university. Yehey!



The church inside the campus.

 After touring around the two big schools in the city, we visited the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, tagged as the “Oldest Stone Church in Negros”.

We also took a short trip to Valencia, which is just a few minutes drive from Dumaguete City. The town is so clean and green!

A very clean park of Valencia



The people of Valencia enjoying their public pool.

After taking two side trips, we're off to our next destination -- Bacolod City!
Another butt-numbing, six-hour bus ride.haha

The A Girls

My favorite people in Ateneo graduate school, my super great friends -- Ms. Ricci, Frances and Jhoanna :)
We often CRAM for paperworks and exams -- that's our expertise. We regret doing things the last minute but sometimes we're left with no choice. When all the busy weeks in school is over though, we usually chill, eat and chat. We always look forward to dessert time: we usually go for cupcakes, ice cream, halohalo, anything sinfully sweet! One of the most memorable dining experience was when we ordered ONE teabag and four teacups with hot water at a restaurant! We shared the single teabag and luckily our tea still tasted good.  This moment was both FUN AND FUNNY!

Our most recent lunch date. Picture-picture muna while waiting for Frances and the bill!haha



Finally, Frances came!!!

desserts!!!!!!!

black and white

craft

of cloudscapes and grasslands

We all woke up pretty early on our third day in Sagada. I am more of a sunset person but this much talked about sunrise in Sagada is worth getting out of bed as early as 4am. We finally arrived at a perfect-for-sunrise spot at past 5 in the morning. We may  not have trekked the famous Kiltepan viewpoint (because we took the wrong direction, my bad) but we had a special spot exclusively for us and the view is as magical as it is seen in most travel photos.

We also enjoyed the beautiful cloudscapes with a hot cup of coffee, thanks to the town mayor's hospitality :) His house has a perfect view of the Kiltepan sunrise. So lovely! Wondering how we got there? We had an emergency situation and luckily it's the most accessible and absolutely the best house to rescue us. 

After our coffee session at the mayor's house, we went back to trekking. Sans breakky, we walked for more than two hours to the Marlboro Country. We almost gave up as we didn't have enough energy to keep us going plus our map was not as detailed as we thought and it happened to be the only guide that we had. Nevertheless, after our push and pull moments, we finally decided to keep walking forward. We saw a lot pine trees first, then some high bushes next and and we finally made it! The green green grass of home! The calm Marlboro Country was waiting for us all along! The view is just... BREATHTAKING!



from bud to bloom

  

The vegetation along our trek to Marlboro Country



A bug's life



FROM photo-ops kind of trekking 
TO literally wandering 
TO pushing it some more
TO AT LAST, WE MADE IT!!!

After all the morning treks, we, for sure, deserved a big big breakfast! We also had some nap to restore our energy. As for our final afternoon in Sagada, we chose it to be a quiet one. We went to see some recommended cafes: Strawberry Cafe and Lemon Pie House. We capped it off with a light dinner at my favorite spot in Sagada, Gaia Cafe. :)

wander:

Kiltepan sunrise

Marlboro Country

Sagada cafes

wonder:

“If we know exactly where we're going, exactly how to get there,

and exactly what we'll see along the way, we won't learn anything.”

― M. Scott Peck

Day 1 of Sagada trip '13

Day 2 of Sagada trip '13

let's trek it slow

Rise and shine everyone! Sagada itinerary for Day 2 is on!

We started the day at around 6am to prep up for a trek date at 7am. We joined a group of six perky and funny school teachers for our 2-3-hour trek to Bomod-ok falls. We learned that this group often takes roadtrips and travels to different parts of the country together, planned or unplanned. They seem to be carefree and just enjoy the perks of being near retirement or retirement. Our trek was a bit of a challenge for them because of the up and down trails that they had to walk but they took the challenge and did it slowly but surely. Obviously, the generation gap was evident; nevertheless, our group (that's moi, Jed, Bong and Ate Juvilaine) and theirs are one in a big goal of trekking the mighty falls. 

This way to the falls. Our group paid 500 pesos for the trek guide plus 350 for the jeepney from the town center and back. We divided the total cost of 850 by 10, which then made us only pay 85 pesos each.
Thanks for this trek-in-a-big-group experience.

The all-so-natural water system

The vegetation

The view while trekking is so inspiring! Let's trek some more!

The main produce



Let's trek it like a pro! Yoh!



Finally, we reached the must-see Bumod-Ok falls. The energy that comes from the powerful rush of water is definitely amazing. We all felt so relieved and refreshed by merely standing next to the giant falls.

After enjoying the beautiful view and the cold splashes of water from the falls, we headed back to the town center. That's another hour or so of trekking for us. And the best way to beat the heat and quench our thirst is to eat halo-halo. Just like in Banawe, they serve bizarre ingredients here: macaroni and crackers. Unfortunately, I didn't give in to the Sagada-style halo-halo and preferred to enjoy this refreshment my way.

When we reached the town center,  everybody had lunch and prepared for the cave challenge. As I have already experienced the caving activities in Sagada, I chose to wait for the group at Gaia Cafe. I have been to this cafe before and I promised myself that when I come back, I should spend more time here and read some more books.

A lot of improvements have been made since the last time I was here. Nevertheless, the homey and quiet feel has never changed. Plus, the view of the rice terraces got even more and more beautiful.

Gaia Cafe and the beautiful view

It was raining when I was dropped off at the cafe. The sound of the raindrops plus
the chilly weather created a perfect moment to have a hot cup of coffee
and read a good book.

  

wander:

Bumod-Ok Falls

Gaia Cafe

wonder:

Day 1 of Sagada trip '13