Slowly but surely, I committed myself of ridding smoking for good. I am still in the cut-back stage. I have dropped down my consumption from 20 to just five sticks per day starting this week.
Next week, my goal is 1 stick per day. I'll tell you all about it soon. Ciao!
1.30.2009
1.28.2009
OUTRAGED!
There are just so many things that I can take in this world. What do you do when you can't take anymore?
FUCK!
FUCK!
1.21.2009
The Caramoan Getaway
I know I will never be the same.
I guess you'll know an experience is something else when it leaves you gasping for air and gives you the feeling of release at one point or another. It is always refreshing to leave my busy life in Manila and trade it, at least for a few days, for a quiet time outside the city wherein you see chickens crawl the streets instead of cars and trees as far as your eyes can see in lieu of concrete. Not to mention the fresh air, of course.
We planned the trip to Caramoan more than a month ago in one of our 'drinking get-togethers' when my friend Cookie mentioned that the place has great beaches and that we could book early for cheaper airfare. I've heard the place before but never knew it as well as now.
So after a few research and a planning session, we did pack our bags and left. Armed with a few knowledge of the place, a couple days leave from work, an initial reservation and a limited budget, we were well on our way. We decided to leave January 15 and return January 20. We figured it would be the best amount of time to experience the maximum with expenses kept at the minimum. We also decided not to take a tour package for we felt it would limit our itinerary to those set by the guide.
Departure
Our flight to Naga was scheduled around 6:30 am of January 15. Cookie, Lene and I decided to meet at Dunkin Donuts at Gateway Mall and ride a cab from there to NAIA terminal 3. I was the first there and was pretty anxious. There were a million things that could go wrong and I felt that I was not prepared enough. I felt a little better when Cookie arrived, and then Lene. It was not long when we were in a cab to the airport talking fun things we'll be doing which replaced my anxiety with excitement.
The checking in to the airport was not that bad. We had to wait sometime but not painfully long, really. The plane ride was around 45 minutes.
Naga
We arrived at Naga airport in Pili around 7:15 am. The airport there is a lot smaller. We waited for our baggages a little bit and we were ready to have a little breakfast. We did not have someone pick us up so we walked a little and found a local carinderia. We also asked around how to get to Sabang port where we'll be riding a boat to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. The locals, surprisingly, did not know where Sabang port was but we did figure it out anyway. After breakfast, we took a pedicab, a bus, and a jeep and we were finally in Sabang port. Upon getting there, there were men all over us asking if we were going to Caramoan. We later realized that the men were really after our bags. Not to steal them or anything, but to ask us if they could carry them for us for a fee. Any one going there must be wary not to let some guy carry your stuff for they would expect a payment. Not that high really, 20 bucks minimum.
The boatride to Caramoan from the Sabang port was around 2 hours. We had to wait an hour and a half at the port since we did arrive early and the boat has to wait for more passengers. We left around 11:30 pm and arrived at Guijalo port around 1:30 pm. The trip was rather exhausting due to the intermittent rains and strong winds. We enjoyed it anyway. We were on the boat together with Caramoan's local judge who gave us helpful tips on which places would be best to visit. He did mention that our timing was not perfect because of the weather. The best time to go, he said, is March to May when the beaches are in their most prestine conditions. Well, we were not about to back out at that point. As we headed to Caramoan, we passed by some beautiful beaches.
From Guijalo port, we had to ride a tricycle to get to the place we were staying -- Villa Juliana. The ride was around 30 minutes. We arrived there around 2:00 pm. The place has an unkept charm to it. It is definitely not a five-star inn but we did manage to save a lot of cash staying there. Our rooms (for we did transfer to a new one later) had airconditioning and cable for only 600 pesos a night. Since we were starving, we settled in and scoured the town to look for a cheap place to eat. There were several but we opted to have lunch at a place called Lutong Bahay. The place serves home-cooked meals at prices below 50 bucks per meal. After having lunch, at around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, we tried napping a little and agreed to wake up around 9 to have a few drinks---now that never happened for I myself woke up around 4 in the morning. I guess we were dead tired from all the trip. We did travel by air, land and sea, you know. =)
Basud Beach
I woke up in the morning to strong rains and winds. The weather got better around 7 am in time for us to go to our first destination. We decided to do some island hopping. We left Villa Juliana for a 30-minute tricycle ride to the port. The bangkero there said that because of the weather, we would only be able to go to one island--Basud. We did pass by Sabitan Laya, a long stretch of beach talked about because of its white sand. It was beautiful but we were not allowed to stay there because as the bangkero said, it is private property and there are guards who would not let us swim there.
So we went straight to Basud beach and set-up tent there. We arrived around after lunch. The beach was spectacular. It is obviously a non-commercialized island for there is no single resort there (and no electricity for that matter). We swam our hearts out and mingled with some local kids---Angelie, Sarah Jane, William, and a little boy whose name escapes my mind. Sometime after we got there and finished putting up our tent, some fisherfolks arrived and harvested some fish. The harvest was not as bounty as we had hoped though. They caught some fish, a couple of squid and a lot of dirt.
We spent the night in Basud Island. It was pitch-dark at night and the winds were cold. We asked the caretaker of the island to start a bonfire for us so that we'll have heat and a source of light. We had some drinks, talked and had fun although there was a constant fear that someone might find us and take advantage. But that never happened. Instead, that night turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip.
Gota Beach
We were picked up by the boat Saturday morning and taken back to the port. We went back to the Inn, had breakfast and freshened up since we planned to go to the famous Gota beach. We heard that it was where the show French Survivor was shot. It was also 30 minutes away from the place we were staying via tricycle. When we got there, I was amazed at how picturesque Gota village is. Gota village is what they call the set of cabins that are open for rental to those who want to stay overnight or longer at Gota beach. The houses' architecture resemble those in Baguio or Tagaytay. Really clever, if you ask me, and beautiful.
We set-up our tent once more at Gota beach and marvelled at the amazing rock formations that can be found on either side of the beach. The wind was blowing very strong that our tent didn't make it upright. We had to fold it and use it as a place to sit instead. The waves were strong as well. We didn't do so much swimming (for we were physically unable to) as just lying and talking and just really savouring the moment. It was very relaxing.
We found some foreigners there which we heard later are from Israel. They would be closing Gota beach, again, to visitors for the shoot of Survivor Israel in February. I guess it was good that we came to the beach now that it is still open to the public instead of going there during the summer though it is the best time to go there. We also heard that several other countries would be shooting survivor thereafter.
We had dinner at the Gota beach restaurant which was a bit pricey but had a more cozy ambience that we certainly needed after fighting all that wind. Since I was not that hungry, I had coffee and banana split.
We went home around 7:30 pm and went out to do some videoke literally just across the street from our place. The videoke place is called Leonardo's. They have a VIP room on the second floor which were kind of just partitions. Cookie had several suitors there. They are mainly below the age of 18. That was funny. Lene belched out some songs and I acquired target. ;)
Omang Cave
Since we had a few drinks the night before, we woke up rather late Sunday morning. We had breakfast at around 9 am. We asked our good tricycle buddy, kuya Dondon which places are best to visit. He mentioned about Omang cave, again some 30 minutes from our place via tricycle. So we packed our bags and we were ready for an adventure. When we got to Ilawod (a barangay where we were going to start the 30-minute trek to the cave), some were concerned if I was going to make it up. Well, I thought to myself that I have been to other caves in Ilocos and Cagayan before so I don't think there should be any problem. What I forgot was It was some years ago since I have done some serious trecking and that I have gained a lot of weight since then. Anyway, we had to walk over a lot of mud and a steep, slippery part of a mountain to get to the cave. On top of that there were also sharp rocks that we had to endure just to get there. All the hard work paid off though when we reached the cave. It was amazing and we hung out for an hour there before we had to go back the same path that we took heading up. The worst part was we had to do it going down. There was at least 99% chance that you will slide down the mountain once you take a wrong step. It was all hard work, exhausting, and FUN! I guess the best part of it , aside from reaching the cave, is the experience of seeing the lush greenery all around you. There were a couple of cows and carabaos we saw on the way and back. The cave part was definitely something!
When we got back, the people of Ilawod were waiting for us with their faces enamored with disbelief. At that point I knew that they were betting we were not gonna make it out alive. But we did. And I'm darn proud of it.
When we got back to the inn we took baths and decided to spend our last night in town drinking. And boy did we, and then some! ;)
Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC)
Since our flight back to Manila was scheduled Tuesday morning and Villa Juliana is a two-hour boatride from the airport, and the last boat leaves 11 am, we decided that we have to catch the Monday 9 am boat and spend the night at a place near the airport. I knew that some of my workmates were
staying at CWC and they informed me that it was 15 minutes from the airport which was perfect. So we caught the 9 am boat back to Sabang port and rode a van to Capitol. At Capitol, we rode a tricycle which brought us to CWC.
CWC was filled with foreigners doing wakeboarding. We did not try it ourselves because personally, I don't think I can. But there were other things that CWC offers. There is a swimming pool that you use, a pool table, a foosball table, and other fun stuff you could do if you are not a wakeboarding person. It was fun to watch others do it, though.
CWC also provides free shuttle service to the airport, and virtually anywhere you would want to go inside and even outsde the complex which was convenient. Lene went to Naga to buy some stuff to take home and we asked her to buy some for us too.
Cookie and I meanwhile ate lunch at the CWC restaurant which was definitely expensive but since it was our last day, Cookie and I decided to splurge. She had the club sandwich plus fries while I had the chicken fillet burger with blue cheese dressing plus fries. It was yummy.
Anyway, Cookie and I hung around the swimming pool with a beer until Lene came back from Naga to join us. We did a little swimming and virtually relaxed our last night and had dinner at the Mansion (fronting a call center, Sutherland). I had pecking style chicken which was great. When we got back to the trailer, we planned to get a massage but that never happened for I was personally too tired and spent.
Arrival
We woke up around 4am and got prepared for our trip home. The CWC free shuttle to the airport picked us up at 6 am and our flight was at 7 am. I found my workmates and took some pictures with them. We were on the same shuttle and the same plane home. We landed around 9 or 10 am, just not really sure, rode a cab and we're home.
The whole trip was fun, and exciting, and something that I would definitely do again. I know that I will never look at Camsur, Caramoan, or my friends the same way again. The experience had certainly brought a refreshing reminder in me that life does not have to be dreadfully boring and can be fabulously fun.
I guess you'll know an experience is something else when it leaves you gasping for air and gives you the feeling of release at one point or another. It is always refreshing to leave my busy life in Manila and trade it, at least for a few days, for a quiet time outside the city wherein you see chickens crawl the streets instead of cars and trees as far as your eyes can see in lieu of concrete. Not to mention the fresh air, of course.
We planned the trip to Caramoan more than a month ago in one of our 'drinking get-togethers' when my friend Cookie mentioned that the place has great beaches and that we could book early for cheaper airfare. I've heard the place before but never knew it as well as now.
So after a few research and a planning session, we did pack our bags and left. Armed with a few knowledge of the place, a couple days leave from work, an initial reservation and a limited budget, we were well on our way. We decided to leave January 15 and return January 20. We figured it would be the best amount of time to experience the maximum with expenses kept at the minimum. We also decided not to take a tour package for we felt it would limit our itinerary to those set by the guide.
Departure
Our flight to Naga was scheduled around 6:30 am of January 15. Cookie, Lene and I decided to meet at Dunkin Donuts at Gateway Mall and ride a cab from there to NAIA terminal 3. I was the first there and was pretty anxious. There were a million things that could go wrong and I felt that I was not prepared enough. I felt a little better when Cookie arrived, and then Lene. It was not long when we were in a cab to the airport talking fun things we'll be doing which replaced my anxiety with excitement.
The checking in to the airport was not that bad. We had to wait sometime but not painfully long, really. The plane ride was around 45 minutes.
Naga
We arrived at Naga airport in Pili around 7:15 am. The airport there is a lot smaller. We waited for our baggages a little bit and we were ready to have a little breakfast. We did not have someone pick us up so we walked a little and found a local carinderia. We also asked around how to get to Sabang port where we'll be riding a boat to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. The locals, surprisingly, did not know where Sabang port was but we did figure it out anyway. After breakfast, we took a pedicab, a bus, and a jeep and we were finally in Sabang port. Upon getting there, there were men all over us asking if we were going to Caramoan. We later realized that the men were really after our bags. Not to steal them or anything, but to ask us if they could carry them for us for a fee. Any one going there must be wary not to let some guy carry your stuff for they would expect a payment. Not that high really, 20 bucks minimum.
The boatride to Caramoan from the Sabang port was around 2 hours. We had to wait an hour and a half at the port since we did arrive early and the boat has to wait for more passengers. We left around 11:30 pm and arrived at Guijalo port around 1:30 pm. The trip was rather exhausting due to the intermittent rains and strong winds. We enjoyed it anyway. We were on the boat together with Caramoan's local judge who gave us helpful tips on which places would be best to visit. He did mention that our timing was not perfect because of the weather. The best time to go, he said, is March to May when the beaches are in their most prestine conditions. Well, we were not about to back out at that point. As we headed to Caramoan, we passed by some beautiful beaches.
From Guijalo port, we had to ride a tricycle to get to the place we were staying -- Villa Juliana. The ride was around 30 minutes. We arrived there around 2:00 pm. The place has an unkept charm to it. It is definitely not a five-star inn but we did manage to save a lot of cash staying there. Our rooms (for we did transfer to a new one later) had airconditioning and cable for only 600 pesos a night. Since we were starving, we settled in and scoured the town to look for a cheap place to eat. There were several but we opted to have lunch at a place called Lutong Bahay. The place serves home-cooked meals at prices below 50 bucks per meal. After having lunch, at around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, we tried napping a little and agreed to wake up around 9 to have a few drinks---now that never happened for I myself woke up around 4 in the morning. I guess we were dead tired from all the trip. We did travel by air, land and sea, you know. =)
Basud Beach
I woke up in the morning to strong rains and winds. The weather got better around 7 am in time for us to go to our first destination. We decided to do some island hopping. We left Villa Juliana for a 30-minute tricycle ride to the port. The bangkero there said that because of the weather, we would only be able to go to one island--Basud. We did pass by Sabitan Laya, a long stretch of beach talked about because of its white sand. It was beautiful but we were not allowed to stay there because as the bangkero said, it is private property and there are guards who would not let us swim there.
So we went straight to Basud beach and set-up tent there. We arrived around after lunch. The beach was spectacular. It is obviously a non-commercialized island for there is no single resort there (and no electricity for that matter). We swam our hearts out and mingled with some local kids---Angelie, Sarah Jane, William, and a little boy whose name escapes my mind. Sometime after we got there and finished putting up our tent, some fisherfolks arrived and harvested some fish. The harvest was not as bounty as we had hoped though. They caught some fish, a couple of squid and a lot of dirt.
We spent the night in Basud Island. It was pitch-dark at night and the winds were cold. We asked the caretaker of the island to start a bonfire for us so that we'll have heat and a source of light. We had some drinks, talked and had fun although there was a constant fear that someone might find us and take advantage. But that never happened. Instead, that night turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip.
Gota Beach
We were picked up by the boat Saturday morning and taken back to the port. We went back to the Inn, had breakfast and freshened up since we planned to go to the famous Gota beach. We heard that it was where the show French Survivor was shot. It was also 30 minutes away from the place we were staying via tricycle. When we got there, I was amazed at how picturesque Gota village is. Gota village is what they call the set of cabins that are open for rental to those who want to stay overnight or longer at Gota beach. The houses' architecture resemble those in Baguio or Tagaytay. Really clever, if you ask me, and beautiful.
We set-up our tent once more at Gota beach and marvelled at the amazing rock formations that can be found on either side of the beach. The wind was blowing very strong that our tent didn't make it upright. We had to fold it and use it as a place to sit instead. The waves were strong as well. We didn't do so much swimming (for we were physically unable to) as just lying and talking and just really savouring the moment. It was very relaxing.
We found some foreigners there which we heard later are from Israel. They would be closing Gota beach, again, to visitors for the shoot of Survivor Israel in February. I guess it was good that we came to the beach now that it is still open to the public instead of going there during the summer though it is the best time to go there. We also heard that several other countries would be shooting survivor thereafter.
We had dinner at the Gota beach restaurant which was a bit pricey but had a more cozy ambience that we certainly needed after fighting all that wind. Since I was not that hungry, I had coffee and banana split.
We went home around 7:30 pm and went out to do some videoke literally just across the street from our place. The videoke place is called Leonardo's. They have a VIP room on the second floor which were kind of just partitions. Cookie had several suitors there. They are mainly below the age of 18. That was funny. Lene belched out some songs and I acquired target. ;)
Omang Cave
Since we had a few drinks the night before, we woke up rather late Sunday morning. We had breakfast at around 9 am. We asked our good tricycle buddy, kuya Dondon which places are best to visit. He mentioned about Omang cave, again some 30 minutes from our place via tricycle. So we packed our bags and we were ready for an adventure. When we got to Ilawod (a barangay where we were going to start the 30-minute trek to the cave), some were concerned if I was going to make it up. Well, I thought to myself that I have been to other caves in Ilocos and Cagayan before so I don't think there should be any problem. What I forgot was It was some years ago since I have done some serious trecking and that I have gained a lot of weight since then. Anyway, we had to walk over a lot of mud and a steep, slippery part of a mountain to get to the cave. On top of that there were also sharp rocks that we had to endure just to get there. All the hard work paid off though when we reached the cave. It was amazing and we hung out for an hour there before we had to go back the same path that we took heading up. The worst part was we had to do it going down. There was at least 99% chance that you will slide down the mountain once you take a wrong step. It was all hard work, exhausting, and FUN! I guess the best part of it , aside from reaching the cave, is the experience of seeing the lush greenery all around you. There were a couple of cows and carabaos we saw on the way and back. The cave part was definitely something!
When we got back, the people of Ilawod were waiting for us with their faces enamored with disbelief. At that point I knew that they were betting we were not gonna make it out alive. But we did. And I'm darn proud of it.
When we got back to the inn we took baths and decided to spend our last night in town drinking. And boy did we, and then some! ;)
Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC)
Since our flight back to Manila was scheduled Tuesday morning and Villa Juliana is a two-hour boatride from the airport, and the last boat leaves 11 am, we decided that we have to catch the Monday 9 am boat and spend the night at a place near the airport. I knew that some of my workmates were
staying at CWC and they informed me that it was 15 minutes from the airport which was perfect. So we caught the 9 am boat back to Sabang port and rode a van to Capitol. At Capitol, we rode a tricycle which brought us to CWC.
CWC was filled with foreigners doing wakeboarding. We did not try it ourselves because personally, I don't think I can. But there were other things that CWC offers. There is a swimming pool that you use, a pool table, a foosball table, and other fun stuff you could do if you are not a wakeboarding person. It was fun to watch others do it, though.
CWC also provides free shuttle service to the airport, and virtually anywhere you would want to go inside and even outsde the complex which was convenient. Lene went to Naga to buy some stuff to take home and we asked her to buy some for us too.
Cookie and I meanwhile ate lunch at the CWC restaurant which was definitely expensive but since it was our last day, Cookie and I decided to splurge. She had the club sandwich plus fries while I had the chicken fillet burger with blue cheese dressing plus fries. It was yummy.
Anyway, Cookie and I hung around the swimming pool with a beer until Lene came back from Naga to join us. We did a little swimming and virtually relaxed our last night and had dinner at the Mansion (fronting a call center, Sutherland). I had pecking style chicken which was great. When we got back to the trailer, we planned to get a massage but that never happened for I was personally too tired and spent.
Arrival
We woke up around 4am and got prepared for our trip home. The CWC free shuttle to the airport picked us up at 6 am and our flight was at 7 am. I found my workmates and took some pictures with them. We were on the same shuttle and the same plane home. We landed around 9 or 10 am, just not really sure, rode a cab and we're home.
The whole trip was fun, and exciting, and something that I would definitely do again. I know that I will never look at Camsur, Caramoan, or my friends the same way again. The experience had certainly brought a refreshing reminder in me that life does not have to be dreadfully boring and can be fabulously fun.
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