Wednesday, December 31, 2008

2008: My year of adventure!

Early in the year, I was already foreseeing that 2008 would be my year of travel. Of course, thinking about it is one thing, and fulfilling it is another, so I'm only happy to find that I did end up visiting a LOT of places this year. Some I've never gone to, others not so new. But regardless of destination, what's so heartwarming is that all trips were packed with new adventures that continues to make me want to go back for more.

I know, I know, it may sound overly optimistic, but what can I say? The company is always great, the experiences fun, the activities and conversations unpredictable. I'm doubting if I can go on as much trips in 2009, but I'd rather not think about that at the moment ..

For now, I'd just like to rundown on where I went in 2008, say a BIG THANKS to Him who made it possible, and of course, to everyone who experienced all these things with me and made all these plans a reality, and hopefully, I'd get to travel with you guys again in the future!

   
January – Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental

Couldn't have kicked off 2008 any better than with a sunshiney trip to the beach! My first time in Puerto Galera was spent not in the more popular “swimming” spot of White Beach, but in the divers' area called La Laguna Beach (so yes, I really do have to go back there). But I wasn't so bummed with the lack of powdery white sand and long shores for sun-bathing. Instead, was pleasantly surprised with our lodging (nice view, spacious aircon room, value for money!) and satisfied with having enough space to lay our sarongs and sun-bathe (thanks to a cooperative weather, of course!) Something major to remember for future trips in La Laguna, though: Bring lots of food or order your dishes early, because resto services are VERY VERY slow!



February – Manalmon, Bulacan*

Not really an expedition but I'm counting this in because it was very memorable. We were supposed to camp out overnight and boulder for two days, but was met with very bad weather. What I ended up doing (with a handful of our group) was just hike through the muddy trail and cross the rushing rivers to the boulder area, and then back to the parking lot again. So even if I only spent a few hours in Manalmon, even if the plans didn't push through, it was such a reminder on other beautiful things that one can appreciate – nature, fresh air, flowing fresh water. It left me so hungry for more.

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March – Baguio*

Finally, a real climbing trip! We were a party of two cars to Baguio to catch (some) cold weather-bouldering before summer fully kicked in. In the daytime, we visited Asin and Lamtang, hopped across boulders, and attempted to climb whatever surface we can (including the pipe holes of an unused dam – or was it a sewage system?) At night, we stayed in a friend's big, comfy house that had a fireplace where we attempted to make  smores using mini marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, and barbecue sticks. Miel ended up making his own version of a “flambe”. It was also then when I first discovered Honey on the Rock, a resto by the Cathedral that serves scrumptious, filling organic food! Something I will visit for sure when I go back to Baguio.



March-April – Hong Kong*

Second bouldering trip of the year! And first shopping trip of the year ;) Miel, Dennis, Xtian, Buddy, Niknok and Jules went to join the HK Bouldering Invitational, while Nana, Alex and I went to boulder outdoors. Sad to say we weren't so happy with our first day of bouldering...spent more time hiking and searching for a climbable rock than anything #@&^!!!...but we were appeased with the Shek-O boulders, where we got to crimp and pull on more stuff. Granite was so tough on the skin but served me some lessons. As usual, we stayed in the “First Class Guest House” in Tsim Sha Tsui. Cheap, not-so-clean, but definitely practical because it's so central and has easy access to our favorite climbing shops. And what is Hong Kong without the shopping, right? :)



April – Caylabne Bay Resort, Ternate, Cavite (MB Summer Outing)

Summer means beach, and for our Company Outing, we went to Caylabne (which my mom later on  told me was formerly known as Marbella – a resort we visited when I was a kid!) It was a cove hidden somewhere in Cavite, not so big, but ideal for a company like ours which had only about 25 employees at that time. We spent the day swimming, gossiping in the pools and beaches, throwing frisbees, and counting the dead jellyfish that lay on the shore. Note that I don't know if the deaths were caused by the resort or some freak of nature (global warming, most likely), but it was such a depressing sight. On the brighter side of things, Caylabne also offered some kayak + other equipment rentals for those who want to visit with family and friends.



May – La Luz Resort, San Juan, Batangas (CKC Summer Outing)

Beach #2 was La Luz Resort for The Chocolate Kiss Cafe staff outing. It was my first time in that place, and was quite eager to check it out because I've heard of San Juan, Batangas resorts so many times from different people. Turns out that it's really a group-outing sort of place because it has plenty of large cottages where everyone can just dump their things and jump right into long coastline. The long coast, however, is shared with different resorts on opposite sides, but the water is of course open to anyone as long as you're willing to swim the whole stretch. Some bad news: I lost my frisbee there, so just make sure you keep an eye out on your things (or have someone watch over for you) as you relax in the salted sea.



May – Donsol, Sorsogon*

Wow, I had a lot of beach visits this year :) But this one was to go swimming with the whales, and swimming with the whales we did! A trip I would recommend to anyone who isn't afraid to jump in the water. The experience of being face to face (oh alright, more like on top of) the whaleshark is impossible to describe, but if I had to use one word, I'd choose HIGH. And the whole trip itself is easy! Just fly to Legaspi and take a one-hour land trip to Donsol (cheaper if you rent a van with a group, of course.) May is already off-season, so we took longer in finding the whales, so if you're planning a trip, go March to April.



June – Subic

A spontaneous weekend getaway is always fun, and this was one of them. Miel wanted to join the Beach Ultimate competition in Subic, and I sure didn't mind getting more sun. Got to “baptize” Cali's new car and ride on SCTEX (woohoo!) Then the cool surprise was our accommodation, which was a military barrack. Yes, it was half-dome shaped with bunkbed “cabins” and a single aircon unit cooling the whole thing. Yes, communal bathroom. No, not the best price, but the experience was worth it. ;) Took it easy with the girls as the boys had all the action on the beach, but at night, we all gulped down beer and chit-chatted away.



August – Dumaguete

I've wanted to go back to Dumaguete since my first taste in 2001 (?), and the city was just as laid-back and romantic as I remembered it to be. I love the small size of the town, and its resulting slow pace, topped off with picturesque Baywalk sunset and tree-brimmed Siliman University. Many  firsts for me on this trip: First NAIA 3 flight, first out-of-Manila disc tournament, and first time to stay in a YMCA. Favorite memories would be competing in a track oval field (not a wall! Wow!) and Payag Bar which sponsored the tournament and let us turn their kubo into a mosh pit.



September – Singapore

This was my first Singapore that wasn't just a sidetrip or a stopover (to Thailand or Malasysia), and my experiences completely changed how I feel about the city. I used to see SG as just a shoppers' paradise, but this trip allowed me to see the more cultural side of Singapore – and I loved it! A smörgåsbord of art shows, theatrical performances, and cultural events are available to you at any day of the year, each in one train ride, and that kind of availability and accessibility just sends a tingle up my spine. Though I was in the city for work training, cooped up in a conference room from 9am to 6pm for five days,  Singapore's efficient transport system let me visit the Hello Kitty Lantern Festival, ride the DHL Balloon, climb, shop for books, gear and gadgets, drink n dance in a bar, and meet up and feast with old friends all around. SO much to do, my time wasn't enough.



October-November – Yanghshuo/Hong Kong

THE climbing trip of the year. Something in the works for 2 years, and only happened now. And the 2-week trip turned out much better than I ever expected it to be. Despite the rainy weather in Yangshuo, though Miel and I took the long/less comfortable route of taking the land trip from HK to Yanghshuo and back, I was immensely grateful and inspired simply by being surrounded by countless limestone towers and good vibes, care of my climbing compadres. I didn't get to climb too many hard routes, but I completely appreciated earning new engrams and getting back into lead climbing shape! And even if you're not a climber, I'd still recommend Yanghsuo as a travel destination because it's such a quaint place. Think Boracay vibe, with quiet restos at day/funky parties at night, but set in mountains and crisp, cool weather rather than beaches and coconut trees. Then aside from the lively town, you have a handful of scenic spots to visit in the daytime. It's such a pretty place, and a  hardcore climbing area, that I think I'm going back in 2009 :)



December – Tali Beach, Nasugbu, Batangas

We wound up the year with trips to Tali Beach, hosted by Miel. The beach itself isn't anything special (many corals/seaweeds by the shore), but the house we stayed in is the perfect family getaway, and the cove, as it turned out, hosted the perfect bouldering spot. So the frequent trips to Tali became more for climbing than swimming. And with or without a decent meal (our second trip was spent munching on junkfood from 9am to 7pm), with or without the agitation of taking climbing to the next level, they were always accompanied by good energy and friends, which pretty much sums up what all of my travels are about.



December – Tagaytay Highlands

Though Tagaytay Highlands has never been one of my top Tagaytay destinations (read: pricey amenities, pricey food that don't taste good), it continues to expand and recently opened up a restaurant that I might actually come back for. The place is called Bistro Saratoga in the Tagaytay Midlands part, serving salads, sandwiches and pasta using vegetables and herbs grown in fields where the actual resto is situated. I also liked it for its architecture, which is much more modest than the humongous club houses adorned with large plants and ceramics that you know cost a fortune. So the next time you do drop by Tagaytay Highlands, I advise you head on to Bistro Saratoga. My other Highlands must-visit: Geraldine's Soda Fountain, for the 60's ambience.





Hope you were able to pick up some interesting points in my stories, whether it be a travel advice or climbing realization or whatever random insight. I'm looking forward to more adventures to 2009 – more in quality or quantity! – and hopefully, I will do a better job at documentation and story-telling.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


*Stole some pics from Miel, Nana and Ge. Thanks, guys! :)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

there's always a first for everything

my family and i are spending Christmas at The Tagaytay Highlands Spa. went up here yesterday, Dec 24, and going back home tomorrow. mainly my mom wanted to get away from doing all the Christmas prep work (cooking, cooking and more cooking, to be followed by house-cleaning, house-cleaning and more house-cleaning). but at the same time, the whole family is also eager to just have a relaxing holiday, complete with free, fancy massage at the Highlands Spa -- this is Merry Christmas to us!

so yes, it's probably a first to spend Noche Buena without our traditional feast of...
- quezo de bola
- chinese ham
- embotido
- roast chicken/turkey
- pastel de lengua
- merced's egg pan de sal
- flowing chilled wine

and it's a first to have, in lieu of the above dishes, a mishmash of items such as....
- american ham
- blue cheese
- room-temp red wine
- skittles
- hershey's dark chocolate bars
- krispy kreme

....all because that's all we remembered to bring: junk food! haha!

i guess it's also a first to not be opening ANY gift on Christmas Eve. not that I open a lot, but all our lives we've been opening presents around the Christmas tree at the stroke of midnight. I intended on bringing at least a few to open even while we hang out in the hotel room, but totally forgot amidst the rush to leave the house as well :) 

it's also my first to be blogging outside of work or home! thanks to my brother's laptop and the available wifi in my mom's room.

well, just to cut to the chase, it's a refreshing experience to spend Christmas in a different way. i wouldn't dare say it's not special, because it's quite the opposite. it's probably even more special because it's so pure -- just me and the company of my family, all five of us + my grandmother -- enjoying each passing minute together inside the room, wearing pajamas and watching TV! no fancy gifts, no extravagant food.....just a luxurious setting of a hotel and expensive massages, hahaha.....but really, i haven't experienced Christmas any simpler than this. but it's cool, it's fun, it's rejuvenating, and it makes me feel more blessed than ever.

so before the day expires....MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!