Bicolandia Diaries

Seems like I forgot to blog about my Bicol escapade with my sister from work. We drove all the way from cavite, Quezon and finally to the home of spicy food, Bicol!!

A weekend getaway: Crystal Beach

If you are looking for a quick getaway from the city life, Crystal Beach is the place to be. I've been searching for beaches around north that week when I happen to stumble upon an blog regards Crystal Beach. Since its a long weekend we wanted to utilize our time to see each other for a quick weekend getaway before we go home and take some rest until the end of the weekend. 

Ilocos 3 days and 2 nights

I could not even remember how many times I've actually planned going to the Ilocos Province. Luckily for me, the odds and holidays are in favor. Enduring a 12 hours of travel from Pasay to Laoag is definitely worth it. My partner in crime in every travel idea I have in mind is waiting for me there. I've arrived in Laoag by 7am, just enough time for me to rest for a bit and tidy up myself. 

Mt. Balingkilat Traverse to Nagsasa cove

This has been in my draft list for like 4 months already. Summer is finally over and the rainshowers just about to start for the rest of the year. Long hiatus was made by my constant work loads and a bit of lazyness. Anyway, below is my real post 4 months ago.

The first mountain that made me Fall in love

I never in a million times thought that I'd be wandering around different provinces just to hike mountains and do it yourselves vacations. Which actually involves mountains plus oceans after. I've been for sure in love with the ocean just as much as I do right now. But never did I thought about hiking. When I was in college I had friends that go to the mountains like it was their calling, like it was something that drew you to it. I never had that calling before. Right after college I never had the time to explore the possibilities. But just like love it came to my possesion. It was just a simple dare with my partner, an afternoon planning my bucket list. An adventure we both knew that we had no idea about. An adventure of a lifetime. Little did we know that from then on, we'd be so inlove with the process of falling in love more with our world. A world full of wonders, love, blist, adventure and an opportunity to see the beautiful things he made.

So you, yes you, I encourage you to do things you'd never even bother to see before. To think outside the box. To feel liberated. To love something and do it more. To seize the moment. Cause when I grow old, I want to be able to tell myself. I am really glad you did rather than the what ifs.

Xo,

L.A.

Mt. Pinatubo

A few hours of sleep won't hinder us from being so excited to hike our destination, that is Mt. Pinatubo. It is situated in the tripoint of Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac. The most common jump off point is in Capas Tarlac. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes travel time from our house to Sta. Juliana. 

We were rushing to our destination because the call time is at 4:30 am, sadly we got there by 5. Pero abot padin. 

Our ATV ride took about 1 hour to the destination and another stretch of 1 hour and 30 minutes from the hike to the crater. It was so humid and a very sandy ride and hike.  But trust me, when you arrive at the crater, everything feels so majestic. You'll be at awe how something that got destroyed be so beautiful. 

Expenses for Mt. Pinatubo is a bit expensive than the other mountains we conquered. Maybe because you really need to ride the ATV to go there and that already cost 3000php for a group of 5. Luckily our jeep was open so we got a chance to stand while it was in transit. The total cost per head was 1300php.  Less travel expenses and our food. We got our Package without Transfer from Manila, From Ms. Sonia Bognot. Heres her number if you wish to avail the package as well, 0918 602 1943

This is the view of the Crater! It just feels so surreal. Majestic. I was at awe looking at this from the viewing deck. Worth the travel and the hike!

Corregidor Island

Corregidor has been in my bucket list for quite some time now. I have a thing for old museums, islands, and places to travel to. So last week I finally decided to book a tour to Corregidor. Sun cruises would be your choice of agency when you go here, not that you have any other choice, because they pretty much have a monopoly in the place. But lets not go there, since I've enjoyed this tour more than anything else. The usual tour in the Island starts at 7:30 departure in Manila and you'd be there at around 10:30 more or less. But it was fully book already when I was setting this tour so I called and they have another tour that starts at 11:30 am departure. We got on the island at 1:45 pm, and I was about to have a worst day because they were not that coordinated because we got left by the tram that was about to pick us up to go to the hotel. But being with G we just had to create the most fun in everything. While waiting, because the others where already hoisted somewhere, we got the entrance port all to ourselves. So looking on the bright side, we got photos without photobombers. Hahaha!