Only a few days after coming back from our seven-day trip to Palawan, I came across an AirAsia seat sale with an airfare that was less than half of how much our Cebu Pacific Air fare was. At only ₱485.62, I thought to myself, “Some buffets cost more than this and it’s already a round trip ticket, so why would I not steal it when it’s more delicious than food?” Assuming I ended up not boarding the flight to Puerto Princesa, the truth is it wouldn’t have hurt that much. Not the case, though, as I went on a solo travel to El Nido.

The flight was in a year’s time but I pretty much knew that I was gonna be doing it on my own since my companions wouldn’t be interested in visiting the same place they just visited the prior year. I still informed them anyway just so they wouldn’t accuse me of being a selfish prick. *shrugs*

Arrival

I was heading directly to El Nido and was staying at El Nido Sands Inn again so I had a van ride arranged. My flight landed before midday and as I remember it I only waited for a few minutes before I got my arse on the van and its engine started grumbling. At six o’clock, I was back on the balcony overlooking limestone cliffs and anchored boats.

Our itinerary during the aforementioned Palawan trip was jam-packed in that we were essentially always on the run. There was no reason to do the same since the experience was still fresh and I wasn’t staying on the island for the same number of days. With that, I didn’t really do any planning; I only looked forward to getting some sun and seawater in El Nido.

After settling in my room (I don’t have problems being in a dorm but I opted not to be in one this time around), I went out to check the nearest ATM, hunted dinner, and watched tables unfold on the beach and be swarmed by people. It’s either I have yet to have the habit of taking photos of my beverages then or it was simply a sober night. Tapping my back if it was the latter. Good job, self!

El Nido Island Hopping

Eating isn’t a priority when I travel so having breakfast in the form of bread and cheese spread was already a luxury. Island hopping tours in town go by the alphabet and since I already did a combination of Tours A and C, I wanted to go on Tours B and D. Unfortunately, the latter wasn’t as popular as the former and it was an off-peak season again so the inn’s attendant wasn’t able to find a group that I could join in.

In the end I landed on a group that was doing Tour A, with the destinations being Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commandos Beach. People were crawling because it was the National Heroes’ Day and the islands I already visited weren’t how I remember them. #DramaKing

Big Lagoon

Unlike when I did the bundled tour, it was high tide when we came to Big Lagoon so it was such a marvel being able to explore it on a boat. The fact that I was the only outcast in the group, though, silenced my desire to tell the boatmen to stay around for a bit for some swimming. Boo! Sucks to be a #shytype.

Secret Lagoon

I’m not even gonna bother with photos to the entrance of Secret Lagoon because people were smothering it, waiting for their turn to penetrate it get through. Crazy how it was only us when we were there the year before. I started mingling more with the group here and even snapped at them. Saw Megan and Mikael on our way out and, true enough, the guy was “ahead of me” with only one tabò.

Shimizu Island

I’m not actually sure if it was Shimizu Island where lunch was served but if our watermen stuck to Tour A’s destinations, then that must’ve been the island. The food was even more heavenly than the last time and, with me gurgling with bottles even while still on the boat, sobriety was already a thing of the past. Booyah!

While the water was crystalline like everywhere else, I didn’t enjoy snorkeling that much because, where we were, majority of the corals have already undergone bleaching. Ouchie!

Seven Commandos Beach

For being the last stop of many tours, it wasn’t surprising that many visitors were making the most of the water at Seven Commandos Beach before calling it a day. For having benches for reflection relaxation and a store for refreshments, who wouldn’t wallow, right?

The tree swing was restless this time.

There was redemption on the snorkeling activity as there was a lot to take in with the submerged scenery here. In fact, I was sightseeing too much underwater, away from everyone, without paying attention to the time that one of the boatmen eventually came looking for me. Sarry!

Late dinner and more Red Horse was at a deserted Marber’s Restobar (can’t believe I don’t have photos of what I devoured). Afterwards, I retired back to the balcony, in front of my laptop, and abandoned myself to the quaint night and the lights illuminating it.

Taraw Cliff Canopy Walk

I was to climb Taraw Cliff (never thought about doing it when I had company) the next day but due to an accident earlier that year the activity was prohibited. Having already set my mind for it, I succumbed to doing the Canopy Walk which was supposed to be an alternative.

At the end of the trail was a platform overlooking the bay. Alas, it wasn’t any close to the view from Taraw Cliff. But hey! It’s already very good if you’re someone who doesn’t have the stomach for climbing cliffs.

I was done with the activity in less than 20 minutes and it felt like I was ripped off. Then again, it could’ve been due to my long-legged legs me being the only tourist around. The activity’s very safe with the quality of the hanging bridges and metal walkways and stairs. If you’re someone whose adrenaline loves the likes of tying your junk to a bungee or throwing it off planes, though, you’ll definitely prefer actually climbing Taraw Cliff instead.

Got some banana-pineapple shake (sosyal) to counter the blazing sun on my way back and came home to an empty inn. The sight was quite melancholic.

Nacpan Beach

Past midday I hopped on a scooter (remembering Bantayan!) and made my way to Nacpan Beach, stopping by the sign to Nagkalit-kalit Falls despite not having the slightest intention of getting wet there. Being in a van previously, I didn’t remember the road from the highway being unpaved at all.

I brought my loaf and cheese spread and at around two o’clock feasted on it together with the pancit bam-i I ordered at the cottage where I was loafing, all the while watching noobs people play volleyball using a minuscule net. For not having the custom of photographing everything yet, I don’t have a single proof of the cold beer that was quenching me. Shame!

The water was low but as serene and unclouded as it was.

When the sun drew closer to half past four I walked towards the capes to relive the cult for perspectives, saying hi to furries along the way.

I was already nearing my journey’s end when scooters scooted past me, making me bang my head the way Sia sang it, for the reason that I could’ve done the same had I seen someone ride one on the beach beforehand.

Nacpan and Calitang Beach—the twin beaches—were naturally in a dry state because of the tide.

I then carried on to the headland at the farther end. During my my first visit, our group had to retreat and stop exploring further because my companions were lazy asses one of my companions got dizzy.

Quite some view below, right? Only that it would’ve been way better if my scooter was with the lot. #bitter

The vantage point from this cape was made more picturesque by the presence of a tree, making the cape reminiscent of where the Kirikos lived during the Hunter Exam. With the right coverage, a shot could look as if looking at the beach through a forest. Kabog!

Pictured on the top right below is the headland with a view of the twin beaches. Would you go this far?

I got reunited with my scooter and lambasted it for not taking me across the beach 37 minutes past five and was back on the balcony yet again before darkness completely swallowed the day. That night I had pasta again at the same restaurant where I dined on my first night. Clingy, I know.

Puerto Princesa

I was leaving El Nido after lunch so on my penultimate day I just took a dip in front of the inn and fraternized with boats. That was also the last time my Ricoh camera was seen alive. Who was I to know that water was already seeping through the bastard?

I visit churches when I get the chance when traveling so I did that as well. You gotta be thankful, you know.

I arrived at Dallas Inn in Puerto Princesa at 6:00 PM and found myself chitchatting with a Kiwi couple in the 8-bed mixed dorm room. I’ve always sucked at geography and capitals and my knowledge that Auckland is the capital of New Zealand (well, it used to be) was debunked. Pretty much the same when I only learned in Sydney that Canberra is the capital of Australia. Yeah, my whole life has been a lie.

Despite having four bottles of Pale Pilsens that night I still managed to publish more than a year’s worth of post on my personal blog following flipping another year. Or was it all thanks to the drive brought about by the no-holds-barred moans of the foreign couple who banged the night away? Such music to my ears, it was.

The same melancholy in El Nido crept in on my last day after waking up and seeing that everyone had already gone for the day. But with Rasty and Airen—the inn’s cordial attendants—around, the feeling fleeted. We connected on Facebook and I remember Rasty being very approving of people who do local tourism on their own. He had a handful of necklaces with shells as pendants and asked me to take some to give to loved ones.

The greatest takeaway of the trip? Always bring a photo that you can easily dispose. ‘Course I added an entry to the map on the board. Ako pa sad! #kumpetitib

Tips

• For being among the most coveted destinations in the Philippines both by locals and forangers, flights to Palawan are aplenty and could be very cheap at times.
• Solo travel to El Nido is a piece of cake as you can easily join other groups in island hopping tours. Some may even include a visit to Nacpan Beach and/or Nagkalit-kalit Falls.
• Tricycles are readily available should you wish to check out nearby places and don’t know how to handle a scooter or motorcycle.
• Go for an accommodation near the beach so you can chill out or go swimming if you feel like doing so, pronto.
• As usual, avoid holidays and weekends if you want to steer clear of the horde of tourists. The presence of many people, bundled with the nature of tides, could mean that some stops during island hopping may be skipped.
• If you’re flying to and from Puerto Princesa and have or can make extra time, try to squeeze in activities there.
• Most importantly, don’t be gloomy when it’s gloomy. It was all drizzly before I flew out of Manila so I anticipated the same in El Nido especially with the forecast. For that reason I brought a laptop to be busy with in case I’ll be stuck indoors because of the weather. Life really is like a box of chocolates as the sun was melting me good throughout the trip.

Expenses

Visited: August 2016

The post Going Solo in El Nido: An Itinerary appeared first on Itinerant.

Prior to bungee jumping in Costa Rica I only had one such experience which was in Gunma alongside a Japan-based postgraduate classmate. It wasn’t what I hoped for for the reason that the elastic cord was attached to the waist and not to the ankles. (Choosy pa?) Nonetheless, it was still as fun and exhilarating. And oh, did I mention that on a cable car 143 meters high, at the time of writing jumping Monteverde Extremo Park’s is the highest bungee jump in all of Central America?

It was 20 minutes past two and I had just returned to the reception area of Monteverde Extremo Park after ziplining through the lush forests of Monteverde. By the way how I kept asking the receptionists, one could judge me infer how thrilled I was for my next activity, which I’d say stands next to skydiving.

Within ten minutes, those who were bungee jumping were called and off we went to meet the cable system. There were eight of us and they were loading the tram with a maximum of five persons including two guides so we were divided into—do the math, honey. The first to go was an Indian couple and apparently they were doing the Tarzan swing as well.

Icebreaker

When the tram reached the heart of the valley, I made my way to the observation platform to get a perspective of how crazy the shit’s gonna be. After seeing the two lose a portion of their breaths, my I’m-already-here-so-might-as-well-do-it disposition took over like a poltergeist that I came back to the rest of the group with an additional wristband indicating that I’m also doing the Tarzan swing.

I was going in with a Canadian couple and while waiting for the first group a handful of conversations transpired, which included me sharing to everyone how “disastrous” my first bungee jump was. Also…

Someone (to the couple): Where are you guys from?
Couple: Canada.
American woman: Fucking Canadians.
Everyone: *laughing*
Canadian guy: That’s the first time I heard that!

The icing on the cake was the presence of another Filipino who was accompanying his workmate who was also doing the jump! Dunno why he didn’t jab me at all when my jersey was literally bellowing “Pilipinas”, but when his companion gave him away, I jumped the gun and was delighted to know that despite having moved to the United States their household is still using Tagalog.

Bungee Extremo

At 18 minutes past three, my ankles were already bound while the cable car was settling between the mountains. I was the first sacrifice and without any fuss, was already on the edge of the platform about to throw my life away. If there’s one thing I learned about leaping off things such as cliff jumping, it would be to jump off as soon as you can; the more you prolong being on the edge, the more your legs will wiggle the way Jason Derulo sang his song. (Unless we’re on a different context, of course.) In fact, the guides only had two things to say:

1. If you have acrophobia (they didn’t actually use the term; too fancy), don’t look down and just look ahead.
2. Without looking down, jump forward as far as you can!

There was a GoPro mounted on the helmet and another one held by one of the guides. I wasn’t going home without any proof souvenir of the activity so paying extra for the video was out of the question. Still, I asked the Canadian couple if they didn’t mind recording my jump on my phone. They obliged and later on I was more than happy to return the favor.

Oh, yeah, about the actual jump. I didn’t save a second when the guides’ countdown ended in that I immediately plunged into the valley. Remember: He who hesitates is lost! As usual, I was howling at the top of my lungs. It’s an extreme sport, for Pete’s sake. You’re not supposed to stay quiet! If I find free fall to be the best part of skydiving, for bungee jumping it would have to be the recoil, particularly the first ones. *fist pump*

I mean, why wouldn’t you pay for a video, right? Aberrant Titan in the house!

Video

A massive shoutout to Gyom for the music!

My being “off the hook” (you need to fasten yourself to another cord to be pulled up) lasted for almost a minute and, from the moment I jumped, it was just about two minutes and 40 seconds until I got back on the platform. Time does fly jump, doesn’t it?

Here’s me feelin’ thee vibe~! #muntanga #hithitPa

Extreme Tarzan

Monteverde Extremo Park’s Canopy Tour was essentially ziplining across canopies in Monteverde and already included a Tarzan swing. I didn’t research enough to know about the latter so when the hostel attendant told me about it, I was swayed on my decision to do the Extreme Tarzan and only booked the Canopy Tour and bungee jump.

But as I already mentioned, I became adamant about the Extreme Tarzan swing again by just seeing the first group being transported by the tram to the middle of the valley. My company wasn’t doing the activity so they were more than happy I was more than eager to ask them to record me again.

I guess there’s only one way to describe the Extreme Tarzan swing: It absolutely felt like my body left my soul, which is the opposite of how it should theoretically be. If you’re doing the activity and not shouting your lungs out, I will judge you as the most lifeless thing on the sole planet that allegedly harbors life.

Unfortunately, no video was taken from the guides’ GoPro as they didn’t coordinate with each other. After initially faking my release, I was easily let go as if my feelings didn’t matter while the countdown was still at three! The guyde (see what I did there?) on the right was still preparing the action camera but I was already “Tarzaning” away.

Me: Do you need to countdown or something?
Guide: Yes. 3, 1!
Me: *leaves soul behind*

As for the recording on my phone, it was fortuitously cut a split second after I started baying. The Canadian lady was apologetic about it but who was I to complain when—and she knows it herself—her video of my bungee jump was badass? And so that left me with the footage of the GoPro on my helmet, which will make you realize that my pores are clearer than your future. So… Nope, taking a pass on showing that one for now. The entire swinger activity took around four minutes.

I snapped a photo with my group in my good-morning hair (thanks to the helmet) and, while it didn’t materialize because of how busy the season was (or simply because it was only a spur of the moment), it was very nice of them to offer swinging me around Niagara Falls on my freezing visit to Canada the following month. At five minutes past five we were back on land and wished the third group, which was almost overtaken by another group, good luck.

I took one last look from the observation deck to relive what just panned out, before bustling excitedly to secure a copy of my files.

Tips

• Check with Monteverde Extremo Park on the weight requirements. We can’t afford any disappointment, can we?
• The first item on the two-item list above. It will help!
• Don’t prolong your agony and just jump off that damn tram.
• Like when skydiving, try not to close your eyes as you dive head first. Savor it.
• If your stomach really can’t take it no matter how hard you attempt to get your ass off the platform, you might consider having the guides just push you hold you while you lean forward and then let them release you at their disposal. Okay, that might not have sounded encouraging but you get the point. It was like that in Gunma. You just gotta do it, bruh.
• Bundled tours can be cheaper, so I would’ve saved some bucks if I booked the three activities—Canopy Tour, Bungee Extremo, and Extreme Tarzan—from the start. Ho(s)tels can also do the booking on your behalf and sometimes could further slash the price.

Expenses

Visited: November 2019

The post Bungee Jumping in Costa Rica: Monteverde Extremo Park appeared first on Itinerant.

I know, Volcan de Fuego as seen from Acatenango Volcano oozes soo good that you might question your purpose in life. While the experience was not a series of unfortunate events as told by Lemony Snicket to children, I am saddened to say that this post will be an expectation vs. reality one, in that while the weather forecast was the most ideal on the day of our hike, the clouds seemed to have gotten too excited with our arrival at the camp that they wanted all the attention to themselves. You have been warned and if you still decide to carry on, my, I must’ve said something right in this paragraph. The photo is courtesy of Tropicana Hostel’s Instagram account.

Flying to Guatemala came to fruition after randomly looking for affordable flights with the dates I had in mind. When it popped after I missed grabbing San Andres in Colombia, I booked it in a heartbeat since Filipinos with US visas can also set foot in the country. After some reading, I decided to just settle in Antigua and see how things go from there; I had no plans of doing any Acatenango Volcano hike at all.

Preparation

I was quite active with machines and weights (right, the gym) before the trip but it wasn’t a deciding factor for me to actually hike Acatenango Volcano. That didn’t mean I wasn’t open to the idea either as I brought layers—a jacket and a hoodie. On my second day in Antigua, with the following day’s forecast being very favorable, the hostel staff finally convinced me to do the activity.

“Since you’re already here, you might as well do it.”

Sold! Among the inclusions of what I paid for were:

• Round trip transportation
• Two pieces of cold weather clothing
• Four meals (not that I’m one, but there was a vegetarian option)
• A snack
• A private campsite with toilet
• A post-hike refreshment

The number of meals may be very enticing but it’s just the right count for an overnight trip so I bought protein bars and nuts in case my appetite needed additional attention. Each participant was to bring four liters of water to be used for food preparation and this didn’t include drinking water yet. I’m not thirsty like the wolf but I brought more than enough, which turned out to be a good idea as increased water intake may help in acclimatization.

For the clothes, I chose gloves and a puffer jacket. While there are also pants you can borrow, I’d say it’s best if you really have one that has a snug fit. You won’t necessarily be wearing them during the hike since you’re on the move but you’ll definitely need them at the camp when the cold’s starting to bother your follicles.

The Hike

Breakfast came in at eight and I was surprised—and glad, actually—that there were only seven of us set for the hike (there were around or more than 20 the day before). Five were already huddled on a table so I took the empty one next to it where I was eventually joined by the last participant.

Our shuttle left before nine and within an hour we were at the starting point where a handful of furries were among the welcoming committee. If you think your legs will wiggle along the way, you can start looking for a walking stick here. A conically shaped mountain, which I assume to be Volcan de Agua, can be seen from a distance.

Our hike commenced before 10:30 and in approximately 50 minutes we were at our first stop where I was tempted to buy some beers for the night. With the presence of welcome signs, it looked like a rangers’ station.

In the ten minutes that we were there, I already went nuts over some of the nuts that I packed.

After a quarter of an hour we arrived at a shed where we rested for a bit again before continuing our pursuit to overtake other groups.

At midday we had burritos for lunch and the stopover provided the last chance to stock up booze for the overnight. “Nope, not this time,” I lied to told myself. There was a toilet, but as much as I wanted to clear my bowels, nature wasn’t hooting yet.

Being someone who tends to capture every fleeting moment, I’ve always preferred being at the end of a moving line so I can stop anytime without inconveniencing anyone. Just like being seated at the end of a bus, I find it satisfying being able to see what’s happening to everyone. Lakas maka-chismoso! (I was about to cite being seated at the end of a plane but since I never really pay for my seat during a flight, bus to the rescue there. #poor)

The trail transitioned from rainforest into, for lack of a better description, an open one with trees that looked like they were remnants of Praimfaya in The 100. (Here comes my post-apocalyptic tendencies again!)

Before long, an unobstructed view (well, if it weren’t for the looming clouds) of the mountain which was visible from the jump-off point materialized. If you’re from the Philippines, Mayon will definitely come to mind. At 15 minutes past one o’clock, we had our first group photo taken.

From then on we were greeted by a green landscape with more of the towering leafless trees where our guide showed us a leaf that can be used to save your ass (literally). It was timely for a call of nature, as the clouds started creeping in.

After steep trails and another stop 30 minutes past two, it was already a walk in the volcano park, with the terrain changing to a volcanic one. And breathtaking at that!

A mist was edging and thankfully, unlike in the movie, no extradimensional creatures emerged out of it.

Camping

It was three o’clock when we arrived at Tropicana Hostel’s camp and our guide mentioned that, given the duration of our stopovers, we were fast. Of course, it can be attributed to our headcount. Apart from the tents, there was a cabin which had enough room to accommodate twice our number. It was agreed immediately, though, that we’d just huddle up on the mezzanine.

The highlight of climbing Acatenango Volcano, for pros and beginners alike, I’d say, is witnessing an exhibitionist across it—in the form of Volcan de Fuego—rumble night and day. To appreciate the trickle of lava off its orifice, one simply has to stay overnight. After arriving at the camp, we were only blessed with a few minutes to see most of this neighboring volcano before the mist started engulfing it.

I pretty much accepted at that instant that it was not gonna be what we hoped for, but, being the hopeful human that I am, I still hoped against hope anyway.

Overnight

It was supposed to be for dinner, but before four o’clock struck we were already enjoying the wine and toasting using plastic glasses. Past the hour, part of Volcan de Fuego was still visible, until the clouds became totally unforgiving, utterly blinding us from the volcanic activity that’s only a stone’s throw away.

The clouds were heavenly against the setting sun.

When the cold was already making my skin crawl, I put on my jeans over my shorts and donned the hoodie on top of my jacket. The food was served early, followed by hot chocolate and s’mores marshmallows on sticks.

Conversations in front of the bonfire flowed smoothly since there were only a few of us. Aside from the basic introduction through the where-are-you-from question also came the question:

“What are your ages?”

In descending order, it was 31, 29 (American), two 27’s (American and Ozzie), 23 (Montrealer), and two 22’s (Irish). As we progressed I revealed that I brought three 700 mL cans of Gallo beer and that every arduous step on a precipitous slope during the hike I just kept telling myself that the extra weight is a reward that’ll be literally off my shoulders on the way back. Talk about motivation! Besides, there was NCIH that there was gonna be enough wine.

It came as a surprise to them that it had to be the oldest one who’d thought of such a thing so hopefully I only gave the impression that Filipinos are just social and not heavy drinkers. Gehee.

One of the Americans is into diving and has been to Palawan and it came out that the other one had the same Uber that I managed to book from Guatemala to Antigua. That driver was so conversant; there was no dead air during the long ride and if only he lived around town I would’ve asked him that we try the wild local drinks he was talking about.

We probably lasted longer outside had we had more to drink but since the supply was very limited, we called it a night before eight and made ourselves homey in our accommodation. The cabin was actually cozy that I had to take off an upper layer (I was already wearing the puffer jacket) before settling next to the wall. More chitchat followed which included hostel encounters and some topic which made me bring up The Purge.

Before silence fell and all we could hear was Volcan de Fuego grumbling, we agreed to wake up ’round midnight to check if nature became lenient.

I’ve always been a beach guy and not into climbing every mountain searching high and low so it was my first time hearing about altitude sickness. I felt difficulty in breathing when I was trying to fall asleep but I must’ve only been paranoid after seeing two in the group get sick upon arriving at the camp. I didn’t sleep well and when the alarm awoke me, the sound of the wind and my instinct told me that the view wasn’t any better, so I no longer went out to check if there was any lava visible amidst the black and white.

Part of the Acatenango Volcano tour is another hike from the camp to the summit for the sunrise and an even better view of Volcan de Fuego. We started the new day with a bonfire at four o’clock but due to strong winds and one of us getting more sick by the minute, we decided against it in the end and just waited out breakfast. With the view not showing any sign of clearing up, we might’ve just ended up with zero visibility—not even a sea of clouds—had we decided to carry on.

Descent

Among my issues in life (not really) is my high metabolism (so it seems) so prior to breakfast, I cleared the traffic jam on Hershey highway. The toilet had a seat but it’s basically a pit so deep that you won’t smell a damn thing at all. I was told that it gets “moved” from time to time, which makes perfect sense. It wasn’t fancy but it definitely did the job for someone who drops a load every day. Wet tissues and alcohol, come to papa!

We got on our feet at eight o’clock, two hours after breaking the fast, and it was foggy almost all the way down. Like during our ascent, I chose to be at the tail.

Todo bien?

Was the only thing that I could muster from time to time for the guide’s hijo.

I wasn’t able to take any photo but there was some sort of marathon going on. Made me so curious if they were supposed to get tagged somewhere above and then go back down.

When the first beer opportunity came, I made up for the shortage of the night before without batting an eyelash. After all, it may have been morning, but somewhere around the world it was nighttime and some people needed a drinking buddy. I was just being tactful.

As we were nearing the end of our hike, one of the Americans hinted at a group which was starting theirs that we enjoyed the experience. “You didn’t see it,” one of them shot back flatly. Man, was he omniscient?! Well, I could only hope they saw what we didn’t.

Three hours after starting our descent, breaks included, we were reunited with the furries and downing our post-hike refreshments. Our sick guy was not feeling any better.

Back at Tropicana Hostel an hour later the Ozzie was on the phone with someone who I assumed to be a doctor. Except for visa application requirements, I don’t really buy travel insurance. That would be the first time that I realized how important having one actually is. You can never go wrong with it.

Non-verbatim

Just like photos, I consider lines in a dialogue as triggers to memories and the ones below made the cut. I’m connected to all but one on Instagram and should they stumble upon this post, let it be known that there’s no negative connotation intended, just statements worth remembering.

American 2: It’s gone. I no longer have to pinch my ass. “I shit in the woods, mom!”

American 1 (on a sign in Palawan): Say no to drugs, yes to sex and diving.

Someone: There’s no such thing as bad weather; just bad clothes.

Montrealer (on brushing his teeth while driving): I just swallow. I’m used to it. #toothpaste

American 1 (before going to bed): Just looking for my sunglasses.
American 2 (already in bed): Oh, I’m wearing them.

American 1: How did you guys close this door?
American 2: Don’t tell her!

American 1: *painful throat in the morning*
American 2: You don’t remember what happened?
American 1: You wish.

Tips

• Do the Acatenango Volcano hike and if you have a day to spare, stay overnight. We haven’t seen any action in the dark, yes, but I can only imagine how spectacular it would’ve been (see the best night photos in this post!). I’d go back if I can just to see Volcan de Fuego squirting, especially since we don’t have such a volcano in the Philippines.
• I wouldn’t say that you have to be fit for the hike but expect really steep trails. Therefore, assess yourself. If you’re not confident about your physical capability or your gut simply tells you not to, don’t do it. I could no longer find the article about it but weeks prior to our hike, someone died. It was an old tourist and if I remember right, altitude sickness was a factor.
• Consider the weather not just on the day of the hike but on the previous days as well. It can be challenging and very tough when the ground’s wet. Sometimes it even snows on top. Our guide showed us photos, taken days before our hike, of snow on the ground.
• There are a lot of companies that offer the tour. It just happened that the hostel I was staying at also have it and even offered a discount so I no longer checked out others.
• If you opt for a cheaper tour like I did, check if you’re guaranteed a guide who speaks English. I haven’t heard ours speak English at all but thankfully one of the Americans lived in Mexico when he was a kid.
• There may be tours which limit the number of participants, which can make the group more connected. The renowned “pool” party was held on the day of our hike so I’m guessing we were only few because everyone else was raving.
• While I’m not complaining, the food may not be enough or that good if you’re going for a cheaper tour. Bring something that you can feast on in such a case.
• If taking a dump (yeah, let’s not sugarcoat it) is part of your daily routine, you might wanna make sure you’ll have access to a toilet.
• Tip your tour guide. Do it for their leg days.

Expenses

Because I have different priorities in life, I’ve excluded my beers and bites.

Visited: July 2019

The post Hiking the Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala appeared first on Itinerant.

As per the timestamps of my photos, we arrived at Nacpan Beach in the neighborhood of 30 minutes after the quick wallow at Nagkalit-kalit Falls. Our mode of transfer was a shuttle (van) which the landlady of El Nido Sands Inn arranged exclusively for our group. Other modes of transportation include renting a tricycle or a scooter (tried the latter on my second visit).

The Beach

At around ten o’clock, the long stretch of beach was next to deserted with only very few people, the powdery sand and azure waters extending on both directions against the horizon under a clear sky. There wasn’t any need for it in our case but if you want some quiet time instead of being amidst a crowd, either ends of the beach is your destination.

Before waging war against the sun, we helped ourselves to a late breakfast which was also prepared ahead by the inn. It was superb like our lunch the day before. Unfortunately, a knife succumbed to death following its battle against a watermelon. You fought well, Knifey.

Four-legged friends kept us company and one of them seemed to have gotten the habit of constantly touching people’s hearts for food. Who was I not to give in to a domesticated fur with such mischievous innocent eyes?!

After initiating another cheat day, we went for the cape on the south end to check out views of the twin beaches—Nacpan and Calitang—and along the way we passed by a community. The ocean was quite the temptress and the photo of a boatman carrying his boat reminds me of Eren Kruger after he revealed himself to Grisha Yeager.

The Cape

With grasses on the rocky promontory, I thought one particular photo dump was obligatory.

Our planner for the trip, Cha a.k.a. the lady in red, didn’t waste any breath and headed to the nearest high point from where we landed which, for some reason, had a prop ready in the form of a wooden bench.

Being the kumpetitib and epal that I am, I ventured even further for another high point that juts out into the sea.

The rest mustn’t have been inspired by Michael Bolton as they didn’t go the distance and just stayed downstairs, seemingly keeping up to date with what was on the news while trying to be shady. (See what I did there?)

Being on the farthest position, I had such a broad perspective and panoramic views were at my disposal, which of course included the signature view of Nacpan Beach and Calitang Beach sharing the same shore. (Does that mean they’re also caring since sharing is caring? *wondering emoji*)

Twin Beaches

Before long, the lady in red was already leading a cult. All hail Blood Reina!

We no longer headed to the other headland; someone got lightheaded and had a poor vision on our way back, probably due to the heat, that we had a runner do his thing for some water from the community we saw earlier. Run, Forrest, run!

With everything good, we packed our things and went home. Nah, that would’ve been among the greatest crimes of all time. ‘Course we luxuriated in the waters! The waves were close to none and the tide allowed us to get some distance from the beach. Phew!

We had lunch (we still had a lot of food!), had group photos taken, and then left around two o’clock. Rather early, yes, but that was for us to be able to ready ourselves and get a bit of rest as we were bound for San Vicente on the same day. I can’t believe I wasn’t day drinking though. Not a single one. Why!?

Nacpan Beach is a must-not-skip destination when you have time in El Nido. And while you’re at it, make sure that you also drop by Nagkalit-kalit Falls. There’s just no reason not to because it’s along the way. In fact, while this wasn’t one, there are also island hopping tours which may include both Nacpan Beach and Nagkalit-kalit Falls. Your choice.

Expenses

Our round trip ride from El Nido was exclusive to our group and inclusive of a stopover at Nagkalit-kalit Falls.

Visited: August 2015

The post Day Trip to Nacpan Beach in El Nido appeared first on Itinerant.

When I went to Singapore to meet my family I had a layover in Mexico and another one in Tokyo. Considering the timing of the purchase of the flights and where I was coming from, it was already a very good deal. The downside of it was the total duration to get to the final destination (not the movie, please). Layovers included, it was 44 hours and 40 minutes. One-way. Yup, no typos there.

Aside from the reasons already stipulated, I happened to have visas for my stopovers and my arrival in Singapore given the almost two days of transit coincides with the arrival of my folks from the Philippines. And what did I get from a nine-hour and 25-minute layover in Mexico City? You’re looking right at it.

With my usual gear for a five-day trip, I egg rolled to SJO airport and was of course already given all the boarding passes despite the airline from Mexico onwards being different (but an ally). It was my first time flying with Interjet and I was very much delighted that they had enough leg room to accommodate my long-legged legs. “I’d like Rum and Coke, please.” (Sosyal-sosyalan.)

For some weak passports, a US visa comes very handy because it’s acknowledged by some countries—Mexico being one of them—in lieu of an actual visa. Despite declaring that I was only there for a layover, I was stamped with 180 days of stay. No fuss. After which, I hunted down Telcel for a SIM card.

With data connectivity, CDMX was mine to conquer. (In case you’ll encounter it, the acronym stands for “Ciudad de Mexico”, the city’s official name.) My first destination was Biblioteca Vasconcelos, my most coveted stop.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos

I wrote about the place in a separate post so if you’re as curious as I was, read on. It was absolutely breathtaking, if not neck-breaking.

It was nearing 30 minutes past 7:00 PM when I first caught a glimpse of Zocalo, the city’s main square, and the buildings surrounding it. With the decorations around, it didn’t fall short of a holiday feeling.

Metropolitan Cathedral

I left Biblioteca Vasconcelos in time to reach Catedral Metropolitana before it closes but unfortunately even the gates were no more when I stepped out of my ride. As for knowing why by asking someone, blame it on my good-as-zero Spanish. The church looked massive.

Honestly, I have reservations if the ornaments around Zocalo were indeed Christmas decors because the colors of the Mexican flag just happen to match those of the season. And it was just August! They could’ve been celebrating something else. Then again, bells are also symbols of the Yuletide. (Dami kong problema.) In any case, they greeted me wonderfully.

For not having any discomfort during the flight, it was time to put them legs to more use. With Google Maps in my arsenal, I made my way beside the cathedral and to a street where Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Obras Publicas and Escuela Nacional de Ingenieros (pronouncing them in my most Spakol Español accent) faced off against each other.

It was rush hour and witnessing the traffic instantly told me to play it safe by not staying out too late because, as usual, you can never really can never can tell what’ll happen and missing my flight was the last thing I wanted to happen.

In the penultimate street before I was to turn left, I caught sight of Torre Latinoamericana por primera vez, its digital clock reminding me that despite the sky not yet engulfed in darkness, it was already two minutes to eight. And with my vision parallel to the street, I was reminded of nothing else but the streets in Athens.

Postal Palace

After seeing photos online of what looked like a palace of gold, I also really wanted to check out Palacio Postal which happened to be just across where I was heading to—Palacio de Bellas Artes. Unfortunately, the doors were already shut so I was only able to peek at its gold from the outside. Mi oro!

As curiosity killed the cat, here’s the interior that I missed, courtesy of Wikipedia. Hontou ni zannen desu ne!

Palace of Fine Arts

With wings on top of the structure, I was reminded of Castel Sant’Angelo in the movie adaptation of Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons. Palacio de Bellas Artes was so beautiful with the ridden Pegasi in front of it. It looks stunning on a clear day for sure. It’s currently a cultural center where events and exhibitions are held.

Diagonally from the facade is Torre Latinoamericana which, like other skyscrapers around the woild, has a public observation deck.

In retrospect, since there was an entrance nearby, I should’ve also taken a shot at the subway just like in Athens. Boo! Apparently as of this writing it’s the second largest metro system in North America after NYC Subway.

I always have the stomach for street food but because I intentionally didn’t have cash with me, nganga. I wonder how that corn tasted. Huhu. (Ginusto mo ‘yan!) There was also an organillero (organ grinder) but I didn’t catch him play. Tch.

Right next to “Bella” is Alameda Central, the city’s oldest park. With the Beethoven Monument and the place being brightly lit, it was very enticing to explore. Howbeit, at 20:20, despite being six hours away from my next flight, I decided to turn away and just leave the park be as tears slowly flowed down my dry cheeks.

But only after spectating a “piggyfront ride” (not displayed outright as MTRCB might be lurking, ya know). Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s something that never happens back home and I think it was cute. Also, I have nothing against it at all and wasn’t being a voyeur. Skillz, bruh!

As I was leaving, Sk8er Bois have gathered that I thought Avril Lavigne was gonna sing any mo(nu)ment.

When I saw two female police officers, I didn’t hesitate to ask them to take a photo of me using the same Spanish line that I mustered at Biblioteca Vasconcelos. Success! Before I walked away they talked to me which I understood to be that I take a photo of them. Turns out that one of them wanted me to join her in the photo. Shet. Celebrity?! More like exotic.

That was a first and it felt really weird. *grinning squinting emoji*

Madero Street

I skipped the buildings around Zocalo earlier because I intended to get an Uber ride at the same spot where I got off. On my way back I took a different route and ended up catching Calle Madero, a pedestrian street lined with shops.

With its tile facade, who would ever miss Casa de los Azulejos?

Adding to Catedral Metropolitana was La Profesa.

For wandering the street late, I could only muse at facades, which included that of Museo del Estanquillo’s.

There were a lot of shops on the street but I was only eyeing for one where I can buy a charger and fortunately I found one. As for Sfera, it’s among the very few brands that have sizes for my lanky physique so it deserved a snap.

Zocalo

In around twenny minutes I was back in Zocalo and with green lights illuminating the bordering buildings, I was once again convinced that the decorations could be for the Christmas season. If they were, indeed, then they celebrate even way earlier than the Philippines which does it every September! There was no better way to explore the square than circumnavigating it.

With the direction that I took, I passed by Portal de Mercaderes, the old town hall, the city’s administrative buildings, and Palacio Nacional. If there’s one thing that I read about but completely missed, it was Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico which happens to be inside Portal de Mercaderes. Those cage-like elevators must’ve looked James Bond-ish before my eyes.

The outdoor corridors looked lavish that there was no way I wasn’t gonna walk under one especially when it was licked lavender.

Again, I wasn’t totally sure, but like when I was in Athens, there seemed to be a protest given the presence of banners and the tents in Zocalo. I was really looking forward to seeing the enormous Mexican flag atop the pole in the center of the square but I guess they raise and lower it every day.

Unlike the rest of the buildings, Palacio Nacional, occupying the entire east side of Zocalo, didn’t have a green mind face.

Before long, I was back at Catedral Metropolitana and decided to have a peep at the subway station underneath (malamang) it.

If you’ve ever tried tequila (which I haven’t), then you’re a long-nosed Pinocchio if the sign below doesn’t remind you of the distilled beverage. Did you know? It originated around Tequila, Mexico. (Feeling trivia master amp.)

Departure

I returned to the airport before ten o’clock, had a slice of Sbarro pizza, and settled at Avianca Lounge since I had access to it. (Sosyal-sosyalan nenemen.)

There were spirits but I opted for beers (even took some for the flight, gehee) for my salad. #healthy

Before midnight struck I was the only living soul around and at around 01:00, after some indulgence, finally left for the gate for the 02:20 departure. When I was called by the ANA agent at the counter for what I thought was another one of those document checks, I told myself, “Make distance and don’t exhale heavily as if your life depended on it; they might not let you board if they sense that you reek of alcohol.”

To my utter surprise—oh yes, it was!—I was informed, “We’ve upgraded you to business class so we’ll be giving you a new boarding pass.” After hearing that it was as if all the cans cervezas that I downed have been flushed from my system and I was sober down to my last nerve (which was an excellent thing since I needed room for all the free booze that comes with the accommodation). The first time I experienced a free upgrade was when I was leaving Bhutan after a mission. So believe me, it happens!

In my more than nine hours of layover in Mexico City, I was only out for a little more than four hours. My decision was due to the fact that it was my family’s first time overseas and there was NCIH that I was gonna let them be on their own because I was stupid enough to miss my flight.

Tips

• Given the duration of your layover, assess if it’s worth going out or not. A rush hour could kill all of your time on the road.
• Uber (or any similar service) is a good bet for transportation. But by doing so, make sure you have data coverage so you can book your way back.
• If you have a lot of luggage, check if there are lockers in the airport where you can leave some.
• Gauge if you’ll be needing pesos. I didn’t bring any because the locations on the top of my list had no entrance fees; I was there for sightseeing. For those that I wasn’t sure I’d visit, I checked if they accept plastics.
• Search for the closing time of the places you wanna visit and catch them if you can.
• Get those legs ready. You’ll be needing them to maximize the historic center of the city.
• Eat. I could’ve sworn I wanted to munch a Mexican cuisine before going back to the airport but I guess no restaurant caught my eye (and yet I ended up in Sbarro, ngar).
• Get something to drink. A tequila, maybe? I usually invest in booze because you can never really be sober in this life but my access to the lounge got the best of me.
• There’s a restaurant—a vantage point—on top of a building facing Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Expenses

Visited: August 2019

The post What to Do on a Layover in Mexico City appeared first on Itinerant.

For having only two bottles the night before after our El Nido island hopping, we were on the road and back to our senses before seven o’clock and in around 25 minutes were already parked to start the hike to Nagkalit-kalit Falls. The entrance fee and tour guide cost us ₱770. Doing the math necessitates the counting of our heads in the foregoing post or carrying on.

The Hike

Rivers will have to be crossed so you might wanna ditch those shoes (but not the red dress!). I have my reasons, so along the way I was putting on some sunblock. #reasons #defensive

There was a track of what looked like that of a slithering snake but if it wasn’t that of such (a) reptile, then it was probably by your best friend who’s about to perform an act of perfidy (or already did).

You know what they say: silent still waters run deep. #mema

The Waterfall

In more or less than 40 minutes we reached Nagkalit-kalit Falls and since he who hesitates is lost, I took it off and jumped into the water without shilly-shally. Because like beaches, waterfalls shouldn’t just be looked at. (Well, at least for me.)

One happy kiddo.

Like other waterfalls, Nagkalit-kalit Falls provides free massage with no extra service.

Cliff Jumping

Our tour guide demoed where we could cliff jump so who were we not to do it? Gehee.

There were only three of us who indulged in the water and the rest were just onlookers, which was actually nice in that we had a dry maniniyot for some mowdel-mowdelan.

And mind you, our background below looks like the Devil’s Snare.

We only stayed for approximately 30 minutes but it was more than enough as we had the place to ourselves; a foranger came by but just added to the audience impact.

We retraced our steps through the wilderness called life and were back on the road a little past nine, about an hour after we arrived at the waterfall.

When in El Nido, you might as well get wet at Nagkalit-kalit Falls and be the early birdies (what’s new) at it. The hike was not like going to Igpasungaw Falls where slippery rocks offer you the opportunity of going with the flow. Malayo sa atay. We were on our way to Nacpan Beach when we visited and were lucky the torrent was substantial.

Expenses

Visited: August 2015

The post Nagkalit-kalit Falls: A Stopover to Nacpan Beach appeared first on Itinerant.

After securing a Telcel SIM card at MEX airport—which I thought cost 129 USD until I checked that “$” is also used for Mexican peso—and making sure it was gonna keep me going in the city, I booked an Uber to Biblioteca Vasconcelos for $91.96 and stepped out in ~23 minutes, muttering the palabra one has to know in the Spanish world: Gracias!

Like what I read beforehand, I found myself in front of the building whose parking entrance looked like it was specifically made for the transport of specimens. And so I crawled to the left for the main entrance. Precio de la entrada? Nada.

Entrance

I’m not the most burrowing bookworm but I got a knack of reading which may have started with the sorcerer’s stone. Or could it be that I was influenced by how my classmates were all over pocketbooks back in the day?

When we were in elementary, I remember “Halik sa Pisngi ng Langit” (A Kiss on Heaven’s Cheek) which became the talk of the class when the lead female character’s nails sunk into the back of a guy named Abner. I’ll let you imagine why. Then in high school I clearly recall an incident instance where a classmate concealed the pocketbook she was reading behind one of our textbooks, as if studying, only that the textbook was upside down, exhibiting that she was reading something else inside it. What a sight? Oh yeah.

Design

Indisputably, you don’t have to be devoted to reading to fall in love with Biblioteca Vasconcelos. The exterior may be meh but the interior is just stupefying. (Stupefy! And the Death Eater goes flying.) It’s out of this world. There was no other way but up for my gaze upon entering and I was actually discreet at taking photos at first as I felt that the guards would reprimand me. When I finally acclimatized, I was firing spells shots everywhere.

With the library’s modern design having steel bookshelves on translucent floors suspended from the ceiling, I couldn’t help but think of it as a laboratory, particularly those in post-apocalyptic novels-turned-into-movies-or-television-series. It’s like where the Munies were experimented on in The Maze Runner and where the Grounders’ bloods were extracted in The 100. (All clear there! No spoilers at all.)

There was a baggage counter but I didn’t leave my backpack and all was good. Maybe it’s only required when going to certain sections where Mrs. Norris might be purring. There were also artworks around.

Despite the futuristic vibe Biblioteca Vasconcelos exudes, I also get the feeling of books moving on their own. And while I’m at it, the thought of the place being the Ministry of Magic—accessible by flushing yourself in a toilet—in the world of Harry Potter. It was just magical at the same time.

On the ground floor were four sets of flights of stairs with landings that provide access to the first level of books. They’re vantage points (and the best ones at that IMO) for stunning shots. For being very particular on symmetry and having no tripod then, I was lucky that the guard I asked for a photo managed to position my head between the hanging shelves (referring to the topmost photo).

Yo: Tu hablas Ingles?
Ellos: No.
Yo: Puedes tomar mi foto por favor?

Ballena (Whale)

In the middle of all the aforementioned stairs (and the building itself) was a ballena skeleton sculpture with intricate markings.

Common Areas

Biblioteca Vasconcelos does not come short of reading, studying, and resting areas as well as computers. After seeing these common areas up-close, I was instantly sold on the idea of spending an entire day in such a humongous library. The ambiance was too conducive—no better word to describe it—and I don’t think it ever gets packed unless there’s an event.

Of course, what’s a library if you’re not even gonna browse through the selections, right? The stairs and walkways looked industrial, further adding to the image in my head of a laboratory with hip flasks on the shelves instead of books. Being the outdated software engineer that I am, I had to relish a moment with Windows XP. #Jurassic

After following my animal instinct, which wasn’t by The Cranberries, I toured the massive place from top to bottom and it was an excellent move since I wanted to cover all corners and immediately head out after doing so.

The common areas on topper (topper?!) higher floors were even more conducive with lesser people; computers, chairs, and couches were undisturbed and having the time of their lives.

I was really curious if anyone can just use any of the machines but since I was only “layovering” and had a SIM card for my antisocial needs, I no longer bothered asking (I didn’t even enquire if there was free Wi-Fi). But given that they’re numbered, it’s most likely not the case.

The Hall of Prophecy, anyone?

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…”

The presence of mangas didn’t come as a surprise and pictured here is a series where vampires engage in incest to retain their pure bloods. Bare those fangs, honey~

Balcony

Biblioteca Vasconcelos also has a balcony should you want some fresh air and a break from your pretentions whatever you’re trying to accomplish in your visit.

Halfway my way down (did that sound right?) I just had to ask for another photo and this time it was from a girl who spoke English. At this point I was not only imagining the books moving but the bookshelves themselves as well. Shabu pa.

As if that wasn’t (or weren’t?) enough, I wanted one more back-on-the-camera shot before going down the final set of stairs and while waiting for someone to take it I saw a couple making out. “Get a room library,” I wanted to tell them. #BitterOcampo

I think I asked for two retakes (perdon!) but the lad who made the cut was still unable to center-align my head like in the first one. But hey! Beggars can’t be choosers, right? You just have to be thankful as it’s definitely better than having no remembrance at all.

Conclusion

If asked if Biblioteca Vasconcelos is utopian or dystopian, I’d go for the former, no doubt about that. Aside from doing so with my eyes closed (pun intended there), I could even think of it as the tesseract where the quantum data was transmitted from in Interstellar. On the other hand, because of how otherworldly it is like a facility in a flick where Earth embraced an apocalypse, in such sense it’s dystopian.

Because of the structure’s glass walls, on a good day the lighting is natural and very good. With the many chairs to slouch on, you can easily lose yourself among the plethora of books available for flipping (the shelves weren’t even jam-packed, which could be maximum weight-related) or simply get some rest to clear your head. There are elevators around so you can still go up if leg day ain’t for you.

Now, before we bring this rubbish of a post to an end, Mr. Ballena here would like to ask a question.

“How many photos above were upside down?”

If you didn’t notice any—which of course you didn’t—then you have been incepted, a word here which I’m using in the context of the movie Inception starring Leonardo who’s also mentioned in El Nido. Don’t bother going back. You already lost your shot.

My roaming lasted for about an hour before I hopped on another Uber, for $55.65, to Catedral Metropolitana past 7:00 PM.

Video

Expenses

Visited: August 2019

The post Biblioteca Vasconcelos: Mexico’s Futuristic Library appeared first on Itinerant.

It was already 37 minutes past three in the morning when I did a final check if all the plugged gadgets were charging, ensuring we have enough juice for our El Nido island hopping activity. Following firefly watching in Iwahig (where I have no proof of the sightings because I was too busy dramatically thinking if a croc was gonna attack our boat in the dark), we flew from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in a van. It was one of those moments where you get to be thankful for an nth life, where n > 1.

We stayed at El Nido Sands Inn which was directly facing the playa. Of course, during that time I had no idea that “playa” is “beach” in Spanish. The place was basic with no air-conditioning, and I’m saying that not for a negative connotation but to point out that there really was no need for us to stay at a fancy accommodation since we were essentially staying for just one night. Young, wild, and free, if I may say. (On cue, Snoop and Wiz!)

El Nido island hopping has different flavors. We were to select from Tours A through D and we went for a combination of A and C, the supposed crowd favorite, and had a boat to ourselves since there were seven of us. After some food and beverage to start the day and some goofing on the balcony, we set off at eight minutes past nine.

Only a few meters away from the mainland, we were greeted by a turtle. I wasn’t adroit enough to take a snap though.

Helicopter Island

In around half an hour we arrived at our first destination—Helicopter Island. You might think of a position when you hear “helicopter” but even a kid should be able to tell why the island is named so. We spent the next 30 minutes snorkeling and socializing with Ariel’s minions besties.

Nemo, our favorite clam, and corals were in for the attendance check.

We still had a long day ahead of us so as much as we wanted to savor the white sand on our feet and check out the island itself, it was time to move on and set sail again.

Hidden Beach

El Nido is known for its limestone cliffs and it never comes short of them. Another 30 minutes elapsed and Hidden Beach was already in sight. The tide wasn’t what John Holt belts out in his song (it was already Atomic Kitten’s and Kardinal Offishall’s versions during my time) so the boat couldn’t be beached and we had to reach the beach ourselves.

The Beach and All Saints singing “Pure Shores” was what immediately came to my mind upon beaching. Trivia: Although the novel of the same name (Wikipedia, ikaw ba ‘yan?) from which the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio was based was set in Thailand, the author was allegedly inspired to write it after visiting Palawan. Di mabasol.

What six-letter s-verb first comes to mind?

We had a lot of choreographed group photos on this beach but majority of them have bombs so I’m settling with the one below. After frolicking for about half an hour, we made our way back to the boat and headed off to Matinloc Shrine.

Matinloc Island

After approximately 27 minutes (don’t ask me, but the duration of our transfers from one island to another up to this point seemed consistent), pointed cliffs of Matinloc Island greeted us before revealing the shrine behind them.

Aside from the Virgin Mary and angel statues under the dome, there was also a statue of Jesus Christ on the island.

Hardly any time was spent on swimming here; we exhausted our stay by sniffing around, taking photos, and climbing the cliffs by the shrine. As they say, never settle for less so aim for the high one!

Secret Beach

It was midday when we left for our next destination and along the way our boatmen started cooking our almuerzo. I didn’t really search beforehand what to expect so I was absolutely ecstatic when we were told that to reach Secret Beach we have to swim through a hole. *grinning emoji*

See that hole right there? Let’s get ready to rumble!

With uncalm waves, swimming to the concealed beach was so reminiscent of when we swam a great distance from our boat to the shores of Apo Island without life vests and, as confident as we were with our swimming skills, ended up struggling. That was another life and I’ll spare the story for a different post.

Just right before the orifice was a massive school of sardines which I would’ve mingled with had I already known how to hold my breath better then, had flippers, and the waves were pacific. (Muchas condiciones amp!)

But first, let me take a selfie with my ever reliable flappy little wings.

From the looks of it, the beach is also accessible when the tide is high (there, I finally spilled the lyrics) by climbing over the crevice (or whadever it’s called) seen below. Why’d I fail to ask the guides for kanfeermation, I wonder?

The soulmates didn’t join us; I had my Game of Thorns moment. Secret Beach certainly wasn’t a long stretch but we still spent a good amount of time on it.

Secret Lagoon

Seventeen minutes past one o’clock it was when we approached Secret Lagoon, our preantepenultimate stop. Again, our boat had to be docked away from the shore because of the water level. It was great, actually, because the background was like no other. Like no other!

If the view below doesn’t impress you then I don’t know what will. #gondo

An advantage of having a boat exclusively to your group, aside from providing flexibility in your pit stops, is it won’t be awkward taking photos on the bow (unless you’re comfortable with strangers watching you, of course). You can have as many shots as you want until the perfectionist in you is satisfied. Lights, camera, accion!

At half past one, we fin’lly feasted on the scrumptious meal our boatmen prepared. Por supuesto there was rice! Nyormnyorm.

When we’ve had our fill, we started our search for a Horcrux. Apart from watching out for sharp rocks on my way, I was also on the lookout for critters in the shallows. No big deal.

For not being witches and wizards who can apparate, we had to walk to the left to the entrance of the lagoon.

Fortunately, no sacrifice in the form of blood like what Dumbledore did was necessary as the hatch was wide open.

With the stillness of the water licked by a gloomy sky and the way we broke into the lagoon, it was as if we were in the cave where Voldemort You-Know-Who hid Slytherin’s Locket, one of his Horcruxes. If we weren’t there to steal it, then we probably were among the Inferi.

I failed to ask again but it appears that the lagoon can also be accessed through the crevice when there’s a rise in the water level.

Big Lagoon

Including our lunchtime, we lasted for an hour and around 40 minutes before proceeding to Big Lagoon which was roughly a 10-minute ride. Yet again, as the tide wasn’t in our boat’s favor, we made use of our limbs—for ten minutes—to reach deep waters.

Seeing what lay beyond reminded me of another movie: The Lord of the Rings.

Always watch out for this spiny sea creature. For being a prick having been pricked thrice already at the time of writing, perhaps I should add vinegar to my checklist?

Big Lagoon would be my favorite in the tour even with the low tide taken into consideration. The water was placid and perfect for practicing freediving, which is again quite a shame that I wasn’t any better with my lungs then and didn’t have fins.

Our plunge was a bit abrupt despite the size of the place but I still enjoyed it as evident in the lack of photos while we were at it. That didn’t mean that the shabu pose could escape though.

On our way back my company maximized the “availability” of land while I chose to be with marine life by retracing my steps. Was worth it.

Small Lagoon

We reached Small Lagoon at four o’clock after about ten minutes of transfer from the bigger one. One hole for the road! It was as peaceful as Secret Lagoon.

At this point my back was already burnt to a crisp. Not that I cared. I am dust, and to dust I shall return anyway.

And then we were finally off to our final stop.

Seven Commandos Beach

It was nearing five o’clock when we were arriving at Seven Commandos Beach and from afar I could already tell why it was the last stop. With the presence of huts, there was no denying that were was gonna be a place to buy food.

Of course, I was actually looking forward to drinks. And I naturally had my gesture of triumph when their presence was kanfeermed. Thinking back, I couldn’t believe I didn’t bring booze with us. Would’ve been sweet being squiffy all the way. Hic!

While we were waiting for the sun to set over beers, our girls were being hit on by a foranger. Isang round nemen jen!

There was a tree swing near the store and someone had his Wrecking Ball moment. #ngeshu #LawitDilaPaMore

Capping off the El Nido island hopping activity on Seven Commandos Beach is a great option. You can chill out on the sand, get one final soak, or just wait for the sun to be swallowed whole while finishing a bottle and thinking about decisions you failed to make in the shower. We passed an hour and a quarter more on the island.

As we were setting out for the mainland, another heavenly body was attitudinizing; the moon was beaming, as if reassuring the horizon that the sun is already out of the way. (Gracias, Samsung Galaxy Camera!)

And can I just mention the cavity on the cliff below? For what it’s worth, it felt like a Wall Titan should’ve been in it.

Apparently Seven Commandos Beach is not far from where we started the day, as in less than 20 minutes we were already back at El Nido Sands Inn, excited for dinner and the bottles of Excelente and G.S.M. Blue Mojito.

Tips

• Private tours are also possible in which you don’t get mixed with other tourists and you can select which islands to go to (i.e. you can stay on them as long as you want).
• Ask about how the day’s tide will affect your destinations.
• If you want to maximize visiting islands, I’d say you have to be in El Nido for at least two days.

Expenses

The following day we proceeded to Nagkalit-kalit Falls and Nacpan Beach.

Visited: August 2015

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Bucas Grande has always been under my radar due to its proximity to my home province. When I fin’lly (wow, twang again) had the chance to visit it, what I actually had in mind was a typical island hopping activity. Apparently, you can also swim with stingless jellyfish in Sohoton Cove. (The use of “stingless” there may have been unnecessary. Who wants to get hurt, right?) My GoPro was still alive back then and the nasty little devils sure did a very good job in showcasing how much wonder there is beneath the surface.

Socorro

Because the municipality of Socorro where Bucas Grande belongs to is adjacent to Siargao Island, Sohoton Cove is easily reachable via island hopping tours from Siargao (I only learned recently that there’s already one in Klook). In our case, our entry point was Hayanggabon Port in Claver, Surigao del Norte and from there we looked for an available boat that can accommodate our headcount.

So as not to deviate from the main event, I’ll spare the details on a separate post on how we dropped by a fancy resort for sightseeing (I’m not really a fan of expensive stuff so I didn’t get its name) and went spelunking.

Cliff Jumping

Touring Sohoton Cove is regulated so we transferred to smaller boats (this may not be the case when you’re coming in from Siargao) in order for us to proceed and explore islets, lagoons, and limestone caves. There was even a cliff jumping spot. It’s not that high of a jump but to get to it you need to go through a cave. So instead of retracing your steps, you might as well exit through the platform by jumping into the water.

Before we headed back to our main boat our boatmen asked if we were interested in getting intimate with jellyfishes. We needed to pay extra as it wasn’t part of what we paid for but that was immediately out of the question as my eyes were already gleaming just from hearing it. It’s something you should never miss; it’s out of this world.

Stingless Jellyfish

As they may not be provided, make sure to bring gargles goggles if you have a pair. Or better yet, a mask and a snorkel. Believe me—and I take it that the photos so far are enough proof—that the experience is absolutely not the same when you’re just observing the critters from the surface. Had I known beforehand, I would’ve even brought flippers (not sure if they’d allow them though since using them might be harmful to the jellyfish).

If you have an underwater camera that has a wide-angle lens, use it not just for photos but for videos as well. I would say that the best way to do the latter would be to swim around. You’ll see how wicked it’ll appear and feel in the video below.

The stingless jellyfish in Sohoton Cove is not one of a kind. There’s Jellyfish Lake in Palau and a similar lake with the same name in Kakaban Island in Indonesia. It wasn’t a lake in Sohoton though so it’s likely that there will be times that the magnificent creatures aren’t around. But hey! It’s definitely a cheaper option for the same (or even better?!) experience. We went in the month of April and herewith is the hullabaloo. Volume up for unearthly sounds!

Video

Expenses

Visited: April 2017

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Following our quickie (which didn’t feel like one, by the way) in Hinugtan Beach, we made our way from Alegria, Aklan to Sebaste, Antique in two tricycle rides and one bus ride within two hours. From there we hopped on one more tricycle and arrived at the jump-off point to Igpasungaw Falls around three o’clock.

Transportation

Reaching Igpasungaw Falls is easy-peasy because Sebaste is accessible by buses from Caticlan, Kalibo, and Iloilo. Our transportation was unconventional because we had a jam-packed weekend itinenarny itinerary and couldn’t afford to wait for one. We had to keep moving, just like in life. (YEHES!)

The Hike

Like other regulated tourist attractions, registration is required before the chase can commence. It drizzled as we started the hike but it was over before we even thought about turning on our heels. Rivers will have to be crossed along the way and ropes may be necessary to avoid literally going with the flow. We arrived at our first stop in roughly 30 minutes.

After acclimatizing to the water, we headed off for 15 minutes to the next stop, where I realized how worthwhile the visit was.

The Waterfalls

There’s no better background for a group photo.

If you have an eagle eye (which I doubt), you must’ve noticed that it’s the waterfall in the topmost photo. That’s right, it’s possible to go behind it. Of course, it could be very slippery so extreme caution should be taken. If ever you fall—in the same way you fell for someone who didn’t reciprocate your feelings—don’t go against gravity and just plummet into the water, like what my classmate did.

We arrived at our last stop, where a wide pool was sitting, waiting to be harassed disturbed, in less than 10 minutes. I guess this would have to be what everyone considers as the Igpasungaw Falls.

Sliding down (if you can slide up, do let me know) the first two waterfalls was no trick, but before we did it we walked a tad further to check what was around and, well, immortalize the experience in photos.

Who doesn’t want a massage, right? Although it was such a shame there was no extra service.

Waterfall Slide

And then it was the moment of truth. Could I be contemplating about my decisions in life here, thinking that it may not be too late?

And then it was too late. There was a bubbly light, and I thought I was done for. (Nah.)

Being the #influencer that I am, I wasted no time in shouting at the other two, telling them that there’s no point in delaying the deed.

We slid together side-by-side on the next one, leading to the photo below which is quite reminiscent of the one we had in Guimaras while in the middle of the ocean.

We had the place to ourselves but my hunch told me that it gets crowded on perfectly sunny days especially in the morning. In any case, start early so you can wallow in the waters all day and have all the stopovers that you want. It’s an easy trail and your only adversaries are the slippery rocks and current when crossing rivers. If it’s raining or rained recently, that’s gonna be another story. The cascades when we were there were not at their mightiest but I’d say that the torrent doesn’t dictate how much you’ll have fun. Besides, the pools were just too good.

Expenses

The cost of the tricycle ride to and from the jump-off point was ₱500 and has been excluded because our final destination was Culasi. Haggle if you’re only going back to Sebaste.

Visited: June 2017

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