Travel

L’petite Europe: One day Khao Yai trip, Thailand (2152)

A little taste of Europe would be fine but Khao Yai topped expectation.

We had a family trip to Bangkok Thailand and did a sidetrip to a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Khao Yai.

The first time I learned about the place was months before our trip to Thailand. Khao Yai is located near Bangkok which is approximately a 3-hour drive from the center. Based on observation, there are only two ways to get to the site, it’s either you rent a car and drive yourself or book through klook, we picked the latter because neither Mom nor Pao was willing to try the traffic and the right-hand driving in Thailand 😀

There are tons of things to do and places to choose from in Khao Yai but our time only affords a day off from the city so we ended up visiting just five places within the area.

Here is the video I created for our entire trip in Thailand.

The colours of The Bloom (Flower Park)

First stop. We did not regret going to The Bloom first because it is beautiful during the morning. We availed a service vehicle (optional) to give us a complete tour of the land where we saw the accommodations that The Bloom offers. Yes! you can stay at The Bloom for a longer trip in Khao Yai, they have cool inns and container apartments. Do I need to pay 20 baht per person for the vehicle? I recommend not to do so if you are just interested with the flower park since the park is just 5 meters away from where we bought the ticket. 🙂 You can see the entrance right next to the ferris wheel (find photo below)

Entrance Fee: 100baht + 20baht for an optional vehicle

The green and grey Primo Café (Restaurant with view)

After the flower power, we went straight being coffee lovers – to the Pirom Cafe. I personally chose this café because of the view and structure of the coffee house, the greys and the greens of Khao Yai. Surrounding the cafe is the vineyard with good landscaping. There are few choices in the menu so we only had chicken wings, breaded maki, sausage and another chicken recipe which I cant recall anymore. We spent 700 baht for the snacks for six people which is not bad for a place with this aesthetic. The pictures were priceless also.

No entrance fee

Primo Piazza (Mini Italy Park)

Italy trip memories rush through as I walk inside the piazza with the mountains as backdrop of the Italian-styled structures – absolute plus. The place is really a must when you decide to visit Khao Yai. There are also activities inside, like climbing the super-windy-up-there tower and feeding merinos and alpacas.

Entrance fee: 200 baht per person

Sweet and dark Chocolate Factory (Shop and Restaurant)

Second to the last stop. Khao Yai brings out all you energy indeed. This is a place to relax and to find sweetness that is lacking from your life. Be overwhelmed by the different kinds of chocolates. Above the factory is where you can find the café which serves none other than chocolates. 😀 They have coffee and milkshakes too. The price is reasonable for all the products being sold here when I am expecting a higher price, because of the location. However, contrary to what we were expecting, people cluster here. Just a pro tip, buy instant chocolate drinks which costs 50 Php only but tastes exactly what you can get from the café.

No entrance fee

UK at Midwinter Green (Restaurant with view)

Experience winter at Midwinter when it’s not really cold, it just looks cold because of the ambience. The structure is my favourite but beyond it, you can expect a good view of mountains which are very prominent in Khao Yai. The mountains made it more beautiful, I promise. We dined here to finish our trip. We had a European dinner with (of course) bread, prosciutto pizza, steak and sparkling water 😀

No entrance fee but the food is pricey

We ended but not completed our trip in Khao Yai with new experiences to cherish and stories to keep in our hearts and in our smiles. I hope you got it too. All the best!

– Bads

A Quiet Place: Stella Maris Beach Resort in Bagac, Bataan

One cannot make Bataan fall very easily, but Bataan can make you fall (inlove) so easily.

Historically, Bataan built its patriotic reputation during the WWII fighting the Imperial Japanese Army. The fall of Bataan was followed by the very popular Death March where tireless Filipino and Allied soldiers walked miles from Mariveles and Bagac town to the camps in San Fernando. The province of Bataan, until now, commemorates the tenacity of the soldiers and as a fact, the province placed kilometer markers along the path of the death march which can be seen on the way to Bagac, Bataan. These serve as a reminder what our forefathers sacrificed for freedom.

With the tinie-tiny facts about the history of the province, I wanted to share that Bataan can be fun too with its mountains, coves, and beaches in Morong, Bagac, and Mariveles. This post is about a beach in Bagac which we discovered just recently – the Stella Maris Beach Resort.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BEACH RESORT

Peaceful. The resort is secluded despite that it is only a 3-hour drive from Manila. During our day trip (July), there are only 3-5 groups of people who are on the resort. It will surely gain its popularity eventually, but as long as discipline is there, I think the resort will still be as peaceful
Fine sand. Having white sand is not really a plus on beaches (personal opinion). I like sand of any color, be it white, black, gray, or red, as long as it is fine, it is fine 😉
Good waves. Waves are not too big. They’re just right but watch your kids because waves may crash the shore with quite an impact.
Green. It’s good to have pine trees outside Baguio. The resort has a lot of them and less of concrete gray walls (just the comfort rooms and the long-stay houses).
Almost clean. There is no much trash around, just plastic cups from the kids trying to make sandcastles (I hope the parents discipline their kids though). Also, there is no much trash bins so people’s trash are just being tossed on an overloaded bin. The comfort rooms are not being used properly by the beach-goers. I do not think that it’s the management that is lacking on the maintenance of the comfort rooms, It’s the care of some beach-goers which is lacking. For example, you dont throw tampons on bathroom floor and expect the caretaker to pick it up for you. Instead, you seal it, toss it in the trash bins/garbage bag. It isn’t that hard 🙂

Personally, there is nothing that I do not like about the resort.

Want proof?

HOW TO GET TO STELLA MARIS?

One is through the use of private vehicle especially with big groups because the beach resort is 10-min drive from the main road. Here’s the common route from Manila.

This route is approximately a three-hour drive which uses the San Fernando exit from NLEX with toll-fee of 186 pesos from the NLEX entry point (Balintawak).

Another is through public conveyance where you can ride a bus (Genesis Bus) in Cubao terminal to Balanga, Bataan. Alight at Bataan Terminal. From there, ride a jeep to Bagac Market and finally, a tricycle to Stella Maris. (Caution: The road is bumpy from the main road to the beach resort.)

EXPENSES BREAKDOWN

Seaside picnic tables with nipa roofing (not for overnight stay): P500
Entrance Fee: P100/person x 6 = 600
TOTAL: P1,100 for 6 persons

In addition, the resort is approx 148 kilometers from Manila which will approximately cost P1,500 for the fuel. For the food, there are no markets nearby so bring your food to the resort. You can grill meat at the resort.

RATES and REGULATIONS as of July 2019 (Information directly from the Resort Mgt)

The entrance fee is P100 per head per day. The overnight stay is counted as one day until 12:00NN the following day. All children below 6yrs of age are FREE of charge.

FACILITIES:
Picnic Tables P300/day
Open Bench P700/day
Seaside Picnic Tables (Pala-Pala) P500/day
Camp Site Area (Good for 4 tents) P500/day
Open Cottage Small (10 pax) P1,500/day
Open Cottage Big (15pax) P2,000/day
Closed Cottage P2,500/day
Closed Cottage w/ Room P3,000/day
Villa (10 pax on beds, 10 on floor) P4,000/day
White House (6pax beds, 10 on floor) P5,500/day
Pavilion (approx. 50 to 100 persons) P6,500/day

Tent Rental
Good for 3 Persons P200/day
Good for 4 Persons P300/day
Good for 6 Persons P500/day
Good for 8 Persons P700/day
*All tent rentals are separate from CAMP SITE AREA FEE. Author’s note: If you have your own tent, you will still pay P500/day for setting up your tent at the camping are.

CONTACT DETAILS: For complete information and guide, here are the contact details of the resort: Mobile number: 09205507360 and Facebook Page: Stella Maris Beach Resort

MY PERSONAL NOTE: I really liked the resort, I know that visitors liked it too. I just hope that future goers will not just like but also care, not just for this place, but for the nature. What we do to our environment will come right back at us, for certain. As a reminder for future beach-goers, leave no trace and try to pick that plastic cup and toss it in its proper place. Love lots.

Of Tamaraws and Great Landscapes: Mt. Iglit in Mindoro

Hiking is an entirely different activity which gives you an entirely different feeling than merely travelling cities and tasting never-before-tasted delicacies. Let me just step back from the travels and tell you something about an activity that you might want to try, something more intimate with nature, lets talk about HIKING!

I personally chose Mt. Iglit to be the first entry in my series of hiking adventures because the hike was special. This was my first hike with my dearest Pao. We literally went through ups and downs, and rocky muddy roads (with marshmallows) just to climb Iglit and see this

Ughhh, mornings are the best up there. Before sunrise is freaking treasure for the eyes; and when the sun came, words can’t define how much joy it brought us. Even Pao was shocked, mesmerised by the beauty of the mountain, it’s landscape (from one peak to another), with a good amount of sun rays striking the green field.

But hold your brakes, let us rewind to finding the place, how much energy to store the night before, and other how to’s before reaching such heavenly beauty.

Mt. Iglit is located at Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines with climbing difficulty of 6/9, trail class 3 with bouldering according to pinoymountaineer.com. In simple terms, expect a loooong walk and use of hands for balance. In my personal experience, we traversed our way through for 8 to 9 hours. We started at roughly 7 AM and reached the final station (sleeping station) at 4 PM. Members of our group are legitimate mountaineers who climbed Iglit multiple times already so there’s no much time to rest 😀

OKAY, where to begin? You need to locate Occidental Mindoro.

From Manila, the easiest way is to ride a plane to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, and proceed to the DENR office and be guided before starting your adventure. For first timers, make sure to always register and get your permit before hiking. San Jose is located in the ‘south-most’ of the province while Calintaan is licated in the middle part of the Province, near Sablayan (the biggest municipality in OcciMin).
From Batangas, you might want to try riding a roll-on roll-off (RORO) ship to Abra de Ilog, the winterfell of Mindoro. From there, ride a bus/van to Sablayan and again, locate the DENR office to secure your permit and instructions.

I was born and raised in Occidental Mindoro before we moved. My hiking companions since 2016 are also bred in Mindoro so there is really no problem for our group finding the place and making our way through. However, for visitors, a guide and proper orientation of dos and donts is advisable since Mt. Iglit is a protected area and a home to the tribesmen of Mindoro “the Mangyans”. Of course we don’t want to cause trouble because we are just passers to their land. THEY ARE DOING US A FAVOR.

I am not a fan of itineraries especially when hiking. No “at 1PM, you need to see this mountain right here, they serve special tacos” or the likes. It’s just leaves and streams appreciation and possibly joining soul with nature. So here’s what you can get from me:

DAY 1

This is no 1-day hike. Allot one or two nights up there. The sleeping station is very comfortable.
Start your hike as early as possible because you will be walking, climbing, struggling for 9 to 11 hours depending on how much time you need before you start moving again.
On the way, there are few streams (mini falls formed) where you can shower a bit and chill.
There is a wide running stream along the way where you might need to cross a hanging bridge which is not really a bridge but a single strip of rope-like metal. If the stream is not wild, then lucky you! You can just pass through with just wet ankles. (see bridge photo below)
Walk, walk, walk. Nod and greet if possible the people you come across. Just walk and wait for a few hours before you see something majestic. It is waiting ahead.
There will be a station where you can cook and eat before reaching the sleeping station. Of course, who would hike without food?
By the time you arrive at the sleeping station, be ready to prepare your dinner party with those pancit canton and longganisa or if you are extra prepared, your chicken adobo. Thank you Paolo for the adobo.
Relax, play that Uke, and throw jokes while looking at the stars

DAY 2 (with relaxation)

Start early. Wake up at 5:00 AM and run to higher grounds to see the before sunrise look of the land.
Ditch early breakfast and wait a little more for the sun.

Alternative DAY 2

Climb the summit (which we did not do)

Allot 5-7 hours going down; and as much as possible, you walk with the sun up. For our group, we bathed at the wide stream I mentioned above. You can also cliff-jump at the station.

Now come on, plan your next hike, touch that cloud, and enjoy life!

Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence|IT (10393)

One of the most famous galleries in the world is the Accademy Gallery located at Via Ricasoli, 58, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy. Mainly known to be the shelter of Michelangelo’s David and different sculptures from known Renaissance artists.

The gallery opens at 8:15 AM and closes at 6:50 PM. Our group went as early as possible to avoid long lines at the entrance. During the time we went there, the walk-in tickets cost 8 euros , but according to sources, the ticket prices vary from season to season. Looking at the ticket price on the Galleria’s site, the gallery has three visitor categories, the full paying (for non-EU citizens 18 and over and all EU citizens over 25 years old), reduced (EU citizens between 18 and 25 years old) and free admission (applies for children under 18, PWD, International Council of Museums members, and journalists with valid ID showing professional status).

By the time we were there, the line was short. It just took 2 minutes for us to wait for our turn to buy our tickets, proceed to security check, and finally enter the gallery. The gallery is enormous and “treasure-ful” so allot extra hours to enjoy artseeing, plus taking pictures (no flash) is allowed.

The first sculpture upon entry is Giambologna’s The Rape of the Sabine Women located at the middle of a big hall (Hall of Collosus) with walls decorated by numerous artworks which mainly focus religious subjects. Giambologna’s work is very powerful, even just seeing it for the first time. Some artists in the the Collosus include Paolo Uccello, Perugino, Filippino Lippi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Andrea di Giusto, and Alesso Baldovinetti.

On the left exit from the Hall of Collosus is the start of a journey to the Hall of Prisoners and The Tribune where Michelangelo’s works are placed. There lined the unfinished sculptures of Michelangelo which are nude men who were slaves or captives for the grandiose project for the tomb of Pope Julius II della Rovere. Across the hall is where the great David stands.

Alley of all nudes. I am an art lover, not nearly an expert, so I innocently asked my mates why. Pao, my boyfriend, said that it’s because details of garments take more effort than the details of a naked body. But we searched for Michelangelo’s ‘obsession’ to naked bodies. We found that Michelangelo loved nudes just because it is real, and he wants, as much as possible, to imitate reality.

Let me share here a piece from http://www.italianways.com/michelangelos-studies-and-sketches-nudes-and-mens-maliciousness

“The author of this essay, written in the form of a letter to a friend of his, also adds, “You might remember, dear friend, his answer to the person who asked him on behalf of the Pope to cover up the nakedness in the Sistine Chapel frescos: ‘Tell the Pope this is a small issue that can easily be fixed; if he can fix the world, fixing the painting will take little time’ (Vasari, ‘Vita di Michelangelo’). With these words, he meant to say that evil was not in imitating reality, but in men’s maliciousness” (“Lettera di Michelangiolo Buonarroti pubblicata ed illustrata dal prof. Sebastiano Ciampi”, D. Passigli e socj, Florence 1834).”

Since then, we have those people who possess, as we call it today (in Filipino), “MALAYANG KAISIPAN”. Mabuhay ka Michelangelo!!!

Gipsotecca Bartolini, another hall full of sculptures. From very peaceful to very terrifying sculptures can be seen lined up across the hall. Never touch the artworks, theyre fragile.

The gallery also has a collection of the Florentine gothic paintings from 13th and early 14th century which can be visited after the Gipsotecca bartolini hall. What to expect from the florentine gothic paintings are its vibrant colors and gold (a lot gold). See sample photos below.

Finally, the last stop is the hall of musical instruments for music lovers. There displayed musical instruments from 16th-17th century.

THE GALLERIA DELL’ACCADEMIA, ladies and gentlemen.

PARIS (10737)

It was so sudden that I just blinked for a second, Im in Paris.

Europe has always been my dream destination, partly because I live from the other side of the globe, but mainly because I feel like I’ve been/lived there before this life. I do not know, or maybe Im just too fascinated by the movies I’ve been watching since I was young :D. But whatever it is, I just feel connected to Europe.

Finally, I made it to Paris which is 10, 737 km away from home (Manila, Ph) and it was on a chilling December. We flew to Paris 12th of December 2018 and the temperature was down to 1 degree celsius. We did not even attempt to go outside the airport despite our long layover for our flight to Italy. Also, we are saving Paris for last on our mini European escapade.

After our trip in Italy, we went straight back to Paris for our last three days (December 24-26) in Europe. Yes, we have decided to celebrate our Christmas in our warm apartment in Paris.

The Charles de Gaulle airport is approximately an hour away from the city. The Paris Metro is very raw and straightforward; while the tickets are being checked, we were instructed to take care of our belongings specially when we stroll the centre. Pickpockets are all over the city but we are not threatened because of the fact that we live in the Philippines (we know how to take care of our things).

We prepared for Christmas the night we arrived in Paris. We bought ingredients for our noche buena. The goods are surprisingly cheap from the supermarket near our apartment. We had our Filipino-Italian style spaghetti, lumpiang shanghai, buttered shrimp, and salmon. Yummmm

On the 25th, It’s Christmas!!, we attended a mass at Notre Dame Cathedral.

After the mass, we did a lot of leg work to maximize our time around the city. We’ve visited the famous places near the center, ate at a Mcdo chain, and walk the streets. Not much but guuuhhhh Paris has a different vibe.

The Grand Louvre (Musée du Louvre)

The museum was closed on the day we went so we failed to see Mona Lisa 😦 The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world and tickets cost 15 euros. It is advisable to buy a ticket online to ensure entry because apparently, people love Louvre.

Monday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesday: Closed.
Wednesday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–9:45 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Emos

Arc de Triomphe

A long walk at the Avenue des Champs-Élysées just to see this Arc! My mates said it was not worth the walk, however, I think they’re just looking at a different perspective than mine. I think the arc is beautifully placed in the middle of a circle which connects the veins of Paris (Paris’ version of QCM Circle) :D. Since it is a rotunda, expect cars (a lot of cars) , so take that risky shot.

Eiffel Tower

Now, here’s the Eiffel which makes Paris more Paris. Truly one of the best(strong) towers ever made. I don’t see it just as a tower but really, a symbol of love and happiness (I am speaking for myself) . When we went to the tower, people clustered not just because of the tower but because of the car exhibit. Imagine to test drive a Ferrari though I am not sure if it’s a regular thing in the area. When in the vicinity, the viewing deck can be easily seen where you can take a good panoramic view of the area with the Eiffel. Also, if you are feeling energetic, good shots of the Eiffel can be taken from the alleys surrounding the area. It just takes leg work, and creativity.

It was fun, so fun. I would like to go around Paris some more but my body cannot really do it anymore because this is the last stop of our very mobile European trip. The cold was also another hassle, so shooting photos was very minimal. But, it’s not the end of the world. I will definitely go back and visit museums, chapels, complex, and gardens.

Au revoir.

Surviving Europe (on a December)

Would you still go outside knowing that negative 4 degrees celsius is waiting to freeze your bones? Would you dare take off your coat for that perfect Eiffel tower photograph?

Surviving Sweater Weather

Layering can be messy and a headache if your wardrobe is not prepared for the cold weather. It is one of the golden rules of travelling I think, to check the weather and gather your appropriate clothes. Ive been living in the tropics for almost 25 years and I have never been in a cold weather simulator so packing for Europe on a December gave me a hard time. I do not want you to have the same fate tropic-mates so let me just share the essentials that can help you fight the cold and enjoy outdoors. For reference, I’ve spent two weeks in Europe (Italy and Paris, France only)

2 pairs of thermals (underwear/base and socks)
3 wool sweaters (very effective in retaining the heat)
4 long-sleeves/cardigans (for layering)
3 coats (black, brown, or anything not flashy)
a heavy-duty rainproof windproof jacket (when it comes to worse)
a pair of gloves and a scarf (great great great help)
2 pairs of comfortable boots (waterproof shoes are the best, cold feet are the worst)
3 pairs of pants

For a two week trip, I have mixed and matched clothing and I used the wool sweaters most of the time. Also, 9 out of 10 of my photos, Im wearing a coat so if some additional coats wont hurt your back then bring them. It is not wise to overpack when it is winter because I promise you, you cant use everything. Did I overpack? Yes! Some of our apartments have a washing machine so there is really no problem on scarcity 😀

Surviving Europe

Less expenses, more fun

Generally, prices are higher (approx 3x) compared to Philippine Peso. (Accept that fact and do not linger on the thought)
Bring your bottled water anytime. (Purified water is expensive not just in Italy/France I think, but all over Europe. Tap water is drinkable.)
Avoid using public toilet, Water Closet (WC) as Europeans call it, it is as expensive as six Cornetto ice creams (Saan aabot ang bente pesos mo?)
If you have a strong pocket grip, always make sure to balance your income and expenses every night.
For expensive items, always check for a possible VAT refund.
Pizza is life (in Italy), 6 euros for a whole Pizza is a pocket heaven already.

Moving places

Ask the right people ( Asking questions can be troublesome in Europe. Strong culture I sense in Yourope.)
Download an offline map (Yesssssss!!! The best!!!) and bring a powerbank to keep the map going.
Walk, walk, walk (unlike in the tropics, walking in Europe is “no sweat”)
There are buses that require tickets from ticket kiosks.
Be confident and independent. You are far from home.

Funny yet “insightful” encounters

Packed ground coffee doesn’t have milk even if it says latte or bianca 😀
Do not interpret the words based on your vocabulary especially when dealing with liquid detergent 😀
Do not say grazie when you are not in Italy 😀
Respect when someone says “Libre Kanin” 😀
There are times when adapted dishes > original (Ehem, lasagna) 😀
Challenge yourself by ordering unknown dishes 😀

I’ve got a loooong list of tips and tricks, let me update this from time to time. Grazie! HAHAHA

Be happy!

Pisa in five days: Business trip turned vacation (10656)

Ponte di Mezzo

Our European trip was originally just a business trip to Pisa to attend an international conference … but we do not have little dreams mate.

We travelled Europe on a December (Gaaah!! I swear it’s not easy but lets talk about it next time) for a 3-day conference where we will present our research papers. My friends and I, being risk takers and living-the-life type of people, decided to stay and stroll Europe for 2 weeks which started in Pisa, Italy.

Manila > Shanghai > Paris > Florence > Pisa

My boyfriend (Pao) and I departed from Manila a day earlier than the rest of our friends and arrived at our apartment in Pisa after more or less 30 hours (we waited for almost 12 hours in Paris for our flight to Florence). It was a very tiring trip but thanks to Pao for sacrificing his sleep to look over our stuff during our layover in Paris (because he knows that if I fall, he falls ). When we landed to Florence, I thought its gonna be a tough fight since Italians have a strong culture which means less to no english for us. Luckily, I was tipped to ask everything at the airport and get a map (of course, always get a map in case my phone dies and my offline map with it). Photos below summarize our entire trip, cuddle, eat and watch. 😉

Lets skip the travelling scene and let us look at the beauty, peace and pizzas of Pisa. Let me start by appreciating our minimalist apartment which is literally located in the main shopping street of Pisa – the Corso Italia. It was a busy street with restaurants and fashion boutiques and there can be artists too (if you are lucky). I can almost compare it to Myeongdong of South Korea minus the street foods and the colorful Koreans <3. Actually Pao theorized that “window shopping” came from this part of the Earth, he may be wrong.

Meters north from our apartment which is also the end of the shopping street is the Ponte di Mezzo which is a bridge crossing the Arno River with a good panoramic view of the old buildings of Pisa. For early risers, the Tuscany sunrise is a very fulfilling experience also (see first photo below).

For the first three days, we’ve been passing back and forth to this beauty and everytime we cross, I never fail to take a photo. The venue for the conference is the Polo didattico delle Piagge dell’ Università di Pisa which means “two bridges away from where the photo was taken” in English. We’ve encountered rough roads before finding the venue because the university is everywhere and Università di Pisa is not a good address.

Business Days…

There’s not much on our first three days, we just routinely wake up at 2:00 AM (9AM in Manila), eat breakfast, shiver, attend the conference, shiver, lunch out at some Pizzeria, shiver, eat dinner, make our presentations, and redo everything. The lowest temperature that we experienced in Pisa is -5 degrees celsius but it may not be colder compared to 3 degrees celsius with a chilling wind.

Who wants to hear about the conference? The conference is fine, we’ve encountered people who authored journals we’re citing, there are good papers but I dont think I will go further about the conference in this narrative.

When the conference concluded, the vacation began.

Vacation Days…

From our apartment, we walk our way to the leaning tower (there is no riding in Pisa, it’s better and more touristy to walk and be amazed by the buildings and vintage of Pisa). It is also easier to walk in Pisa for a shorter travel distance since you can pass through narrow alleys where you can shop til you drop. If you failed to get a pocket wifi for connection, make sure to download your offline map and Viola! you can go anywhere as long as you have the energy.

Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre pendente di Pisa)

The leaning tower is located behind the Pisa Cathedral in Piazza (plaza) de Miracoli, formally known as Piazza del Duomo. It is the 3rd oldest building in Pisa after the Cathedral and the Baptistry. Yes, the Piazza is really a tourist attraction because situated here are the three most famous buildings of Pisa.

Pisa Cathedral (Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale di Santa Maria Assunta)

Pisa Baptistery of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni)

Now, who would leave Pisa without the creative shots?

When in Lake Pandin

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anon

For a start, let me share this travel post I published waaaaay back. This was in Pandin Lake with my travel mates/good friends. Quick info!! Pandin Lake is one of the seven lakes that can be found and enjoyed in Bgy. San Lorenzo, San Pablo Laguna. We got curious and took interest with the lake through an online source which described the place as El-Nido like paradise, I mean, El Nido? tell me this is not a good hook. The thought of El-Nido is very exciting so we immediately planned our Pandin escapade.

As usual, planning is the hardest episode of group travels but I, being a pushy, managed to persuade. A week ahead, I contacted Ms. Tina through this number 09079952983 (in case you want a contact person, and if this does not work, try searching for pandin contact persons) to book our lake trip. Booking in Pandin lake means booking for bamboo raft “balsa” that can accommodate the group, so pre-booking is really important if you want to ensure a “balsa” for your group. Also, booking doesn’t include land transfers, which means that you have to google map your way to Bgy. San Lorenzo, San Pablo, Laguna (which is easy, btw) or just follow the steps Im about to give.

How to get to Pandin?

1.Ride a Jac Liner or DLTB bus bound to Lucena and alight at SM San Pablo (135 php from Kamias, 2 hours and 30 mins)

2. Ride a jeep to Bayan and tell Manong to drop you off at Simbahan (7 php, 10-15 mins; and I think this is the only Simbahan near the area)

3. Facing the church, walk ahead and keep right til you see the Ilog bound jeepneys parked at the side of 7-11. Tell Manong driver to drop you at Pandin (12 php, 10-15mins)

4. At the Pandin drop off point, kids are waiting to be picked as guides to lead you to the exact location of the lake (amount depends on your budget and kind heart, 10-min walk)

5. Search for your contact person.

Lets GO!
We departed from Kamias at exactly 9:30 AM and we arrived in Pandin Lake at 12:45 PM. I talked to Ms. Tina and waited (30 mins to 1 hour) for our “balsa” to be ready. A balsa rent costs 180/person, however, you can choose to add food/snacks (because you don’t want to starve yourself and rush the adventure) which will cost additional payment of 180/person. Basically, “balsa” without food costs 180/person and “balsa” with food costs 360/person. Easy.

My companions are the 1st three on the left and three on the right. Yes, there is sharing of balsa with strangers. Its good to make new friends tho. 🙂

Time check: 1:30 PM.
So, this is where the fun begins, our “balsa” started to move towards the picnic area and the next happenings are priceless.

We unleashed the photographers in us to capture the very sweet bonding with nature, its trees, its water, its freshness. TIP#1 – Frame the moments (you can never repeat the exact same moment ever again)

We sipped some fresh juice. TIP#2 – No alcoholic beverages in Pandin, and pls, do not litter (not just in Pandin,this applies everywhere). Help the Nature in your own little ways 🙂

We enjoyed the water. It has just the right temperature to enjoy, to the point that you would not want to get off if only you could. It is clean yes, however since this is a lake, it lacks direct exchange with the ocean so please do not expect a very clear water. Pollution is the primary threat to lakes so please do not litter. Also, natural sinkers do not go well with lake water so TIP#3 – As much as possible, keep your floaters on. Do not risk it, or you’ll be the annual sacrifice. 😉

We took advantage to be photographed with this cheap yet famous swing. Tip#4 – Be friendly to your neighbors always, you may need to pass through their “balsa” to use the swing. (True story)😀

We enjoyed our time together. Tip#5 – Do not be ashamed. Express yourself (Tin’s first swimsuit experience).

It was 4:30 PM when “The Kuyas” told us to wrap up and enjoy our final minutes on the lake. For the last ten minutes, we just swam, took photographs, jumped, laughed, swam and swam some more. Truly, it was a nice experience for us.

Good game, well played Mother Nature. Not nearly El Nido but still kudos to the People of San Pablo for maintaining such beauty. May God bless Pandin.

*TIP of the century: Never be ashamed to ask questions. It is the fastest way to find the San Pablo highway :)))

How far from home?

“It’s like being a bird, maybe, the perspective of flying over the Earth.” -Peggy Whitson

Since then, I wanted to travel the world, to see the world , smell cities, taste cultures. It’s normal! Everyone wants to travel the world but actually, the idea suffocates, it consumes as we grow older.

Lucky are the birds who can travel wherever they want, whenever!

Unlucky for us, we do not have that facility but fear not, for we have a lot more than that – we dream, we fight for it, we carry on.