Monthly Archives: August 2011

Sandboarding and 4×4 Ride in Ilocos Norte

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When I was a kid, I always looked forward to riding the giant slide in local fairs or carnivals. There was something about sliding down from such a height that was so thrilling. Another favorite was the roller coaster, with it’s slow uphill ascents, loops, lurches, and sudden drops.

Trying out sandboarding and riding a 4×4 off-road vehicle around the La Paz Sand Dunes during the Lakbay Norte 2 media tour earlier this year brought back the thrill of these childhood amusement park rides, but amped it up to the next level. Continue reading →

Postcards from Waterworld

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A photo essay I did for the Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ)’s photojournalism course is currently featured in ANINAG.org.

The online photo magazine ANINAG (which means to see, to be visible) was formed by Filipino photographers Estan Cabigas, Buck Pago and Gigie Cruz under the guidance of veteran photojournalist Jimmy Domingo. According to the founders, while documentary photography has long been a tradition in the Philippines, opportunities for publication and exhibition of such works remain limited.

The idea of forming a platform for Philippine Documentary Photographers came independently to yours truly and Buck. Both recognize the importance of internet communications technologies that can be utilized to showcase the works of Filipino photographers as well as to encourage documentary photography in the country. – Estan Cabigas, Aninag.org

Check out the gallery of previous work, which shows rich documentary stories like Estan’s dwindling flagellants of Infanta, Brad Feliciano’s portraits of gay senior citizens living in a “Home for Golden Gays” and Cheryl Baldicantos’ closer look at the dancing prisoners of Cebu.

Cliff Climbing in El Nido

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While island-hopping and spending time at the beach are the more common activities in El Nido, Palawan, the  scenic limestone cliffs don’t just serve as a backdrop for your photos – they also offer another great activity in the areas – cliff climbing.

Here are some things you should know about cliff climbing in El Nido: Continue reading →

Manila by Motorcycle

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Mention Manila and the most common image that comes to mind is heavy traffic, smoke-belching jeepneys, swerving buses and congested streets. Our country’s capital city hardly seems like an ideal place to visit, and even more so by motorcycle.

But if you give Manila a chance, it may just surprise you. On a Sunday morning ride, when the traffic was relatively light, I found it extremely satisfying to be able to zip along Roxas Blvd. and visit various tourist spots and cultural and historic landmarks. Though I wasn’t expecting it to be a great ride, I have to say, Manila does have a unique charm. Here are  just a few scenic spots you can easily ride to and a rough guide of what you can do there. Continue reading →

10 Travel Lessons I’ve learned from Video Games

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My blog just turned five months old today! To celebrate, I’ve compiled a few travel tips I’ve learned from years of playing video games, which apply to real-life travel.

1. Talk to locals so you know where to go. They might even give you free stuff.

Continue reading →

Budget Travel Tips from the Shoestring Masters

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Check out today’s issue of Sunday Inquirer Magazine for the full article on budget travel tips. Some of the tips are a bit extreme for first-time travelers (ex. hitchhike on a truck full of goats), but am sure a lot of people will find the tips useful.

Here’s a shout out to all the cool backpackers and budget travelers of the Pinoy Travel Bloggers (PTB) who shared their tips. Check out their individual blogs below (in alphabetical order):

Backpack Traveler / RV Escatron

Budget Travel Tip: TRAVEL BY BIKE OR MOTORCYCLE

“There are some hostels in Cambodia which offer complimentary use of bicycle. At the very least, a minimal rental fee. I grabbed this chance. Whenever I can, I rent a motorcycle wherever I go. I tried this in Chiang Mai and in Siquijor. For an average of P500/day, that excludes fuel, I can explore places at my own pace.” Continue reading →

Shutterbugged: Real Life Cactuar

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Starting this month, every Friday I’ll be uploading snapshots of geek references spotted during travel, funny signs, and just stuff I find cool.

To start off, here’s a plant that bears a striking resemblance to Cactuar, a recurring enemy in the Final Fantasy series. Extremely agile and tough to hit, these critters use “1000 Needles” as their main attack.

The real plant labelled “Old man” was spotted in a cactus farm in Dasoland Adventure Park, Dasol, Pangasinan.

Cool Travel Resources on Officially Philippines.com

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Did you know that of the 500 known coral species in the world, 488 are found in the Philippines? Or that the top 3 exotic foods in the country are balut (fertilized duck embryo), paniki (bats) and kamaro (fried crickets)? These are just a few of the fun facts found in this infographic about Philippine Tourism on the website Officially Philippines.

The colorful airline ticket highlights some interesting trivia about  the country, including UNESCO spots, tourist arrivals by month and year, and tourism revenue, among others. Continue reading →