Archive for April 2013

When doing the Vietnam-Cambodia tour, one may go directly to Siem Reap from HCMC. The trip would cost $17-$20 USD and will take 15 hours travel time. For our group, we decided to stay for at least a night in Phnom Penh before going to SR. It was a very brief tour and meant one less day of stay in SR, but I would say it was worth the detour.

We took one of the earliest bus trips from Vietnam thru Mekong Express. We were supposed to be in PP around noon but ended up arriving to PP at 3PM. We just dropped our bags in our hotel room and immediately went to the Royal Palace. According to the tuktuk driver we hired, the gates of the palace closes at 4pm.





The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is a complex of buildings which serves as the royal residence of the king of Cambodia. The King’s living area, however, is closed to the public.

In one of E and my saturdates.

Tried to learn how to use a digital camera with a Krispy Kreme Kruffin.

This is an attempt at bokeh. Fail.

Kat told me that when taking photos of food, it should look delicious. Unfortunately, I can't tell coz I don't salivate at photos of muffins and other sweet food.


BTW, I did like KK Kruffins. They're not too sweet.

Arriving on the island.

Part 1 of a series.

Exactly a week and 2 years ago, Calaguas and I met for the first time. It was love at first sight. This year, I'm with a different set of folks, and instead of doing a DIY backpacking trip, we bought ByaheAdventours Lakwatserong Kusinero's (LK) travel package.

The package cost us Php 3,500 each. inclusive of stuff-i'll-write-about-in-another-entry. Basically, it's the type of backpacking package where you only need to bring clothes and personal hygiene items. You can call it a backpacking fail in a good way--or not, depending on how adventurous you are.

From the Philtranco Cubao bus station, our bus left at 9pm for Daet, Camarines Norte. The trip took around 9-hours. I slept for most of the entire ride.

Tip: Try to sleep during the earlier part of the bus ride because towards the end, when you're nearer Daet, you'll pass by a 2-hour long crazy zigzag road that can make it impossible for anyone to sleep.

At around 6am, the bus dropped us off at a breakfast place whose name I can't remember. Even in the pictures I have, the diner didn't have a visible signboard except for a LK ByaheAdventours poster.

Breakfast Place: Kubo at the back of the jeepney.

I guess it's one of ByaheAdventTours' headquarters. They served eat-all-you can breakfast that cost each of us 100 php. There were fried rice, hotdog, daing na pusit, dilis, egg omelet, fried maling meat loaf, pan de sal, bananas, and instant coffee.

The star of the meal was dilis. They served the tastiest dilis I've ever tasted in my life. It's boneless and is sliced in the middle. If I it were up to me, I'd name it: Freshly Cooked Dilis Chips.  I can see myself snacking on those dilis all day. Too bad I wasn't able to take a photo.

After breakfast, we headed to Vinzons Port to ride a boat that will take us to Mahabang Buhangin Beach (in one of Calaguas group of islands). But for purposes of this series, let's just call it Calaguas.

The stream was too shallow (low tide), Mr. Boat Man had to push our way through with a stick.

The boat ride takes about 2 hours. You'll ride an open boat with a makeshift shade. You'll likely be riding in the morning. Sit on the left side of the boat so you don't get that much sun exposure.


Before the boat reached the ocean, we were welcomed by an estimated 15-minute long stream lined by a marsh. It's so majestic-looking.

It may not look it in the photo, but the view is majestic. Look at how tall the palm trees are and part of them is submerged in water.

The stream takes around 15 minutes to traverse, after that is already the wide ocean :D

We were lucky that the waves weren't big. When I went there 2 years ago, water splashed on me several times during the ride.

On the way to Calaguas.

Tip: You won't be able to access your stuff while on the ride. All bags will be placed in a compartment inside the boat where the motor is. Bring a boat version of a carry-on bag while on the ride (a small pouch would do) Put water-resistant sunblock and your meds in there, along with cash and gadgets in a ziplock bag.

Don't be excited yet when you see this. Mahabang Buhangin is behind it.

I remember the first time I saw the island from afar. I was already feeling the tired-ness from the land trip and the boat ride. At this point, all my expectations and excitement are out the window. All I wanted to do was to get to the shore, lie down, and rest. I already set myself that I will enjoy the beach no matter what it looks like.


And I'm only too glad it's as beautiful as this:


All the exhaustion--gone. Just like that. The effort and travel time was worth it.

It's the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.

It's as beautiful in person as it is in the photo. All I was able to mutter was: Ang sarap mabuhay.*


To be continued to Part 2: Calaguas Island: Setting Up Camp and Beach Bumming

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Notes:

1. All photos, except for the last one were taken by Eric Joseph Avena.
2. The last photo was actually taken 2 years ago by Paolo, when we were literally, only 13 on the island. This year, there's more than a hundred people. It can get difficult to take a photo like this.
3. *Ang sarap mabuhay, can be translated to "It's good to be alive", but there's something more passionate about the phrase when you say it in Tagalog.

I think I am going to be posting more lighting fixtures in the future. I am really drawn to them and they're one of the first things I notice when I go to a place for the first time.

Hindi kaya alitaptap ako sa past life ko?

The photo below is a lighting fixture at Krispy Kreme Glorietta. It resembles a beehive and looks way better in person. That got me into reading articles about taking photos of light.



This one was taken at Landmark Makati's shoe section. I got overwhelmed by how big the chandelier is and how many they are. I guess around 10 of these are spread across the ceiling of the whole wing.

A Happy Lemon branch recently opened at SM Mall of Asia.

I really intended to quit coffee but I guess intending to quit is not enough.  Coffee dates have been one of Eric's and my time with each other and talk or sit quietly and do each of our stuff.

Here's where we last went:

Starbucks 6750

We don't often go here. So it was quite a surprise to see how nice pretty the interiors were. Not your ordinary Starbucks. It's a 2-level coffee shop with lighting fixtures that stretch from the ceiling of the 2nd floor.

There's one irregularly shaped group table in the middle that adds a very pretty touch to the whole store.

Map of the Philippines Starbucks of the Philippines

On the way up is a wall printed with the map of the Philippines made of letters making up places where, I presume, Starbucks coffee shops are. I don't often see Starbucks coffee shops with a Philippine touch to them.

If you're inspired by beautiful architecture and design, pay a visit.