Category: Luzon

Microtel South Forbes near Nuvali, Sta. Rosa

Nuvali is a residential / commercial complex and eco-destination in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. About an hour’s drive or so from the metro (depending on the traffic), Nuvali is a huge playground for various outdoor activities, including running, biking and wakeboarding. It’s also a family-friendly destination with restaurants, retail outlet stores and parks spread around the complex. While visitors can go around during day trips, Nuvali has become a popular destination for weekend staycations. If you’re participating in sports event in the area or want to maximize your weekend, it may be better to stay overnight in the area. One option for a relaxing hotel stay nearby is Microtel by Wyndham South Forbes, which is just minutes away from Nuvali.

microtel south forbes near nuvali sta. rosa facade

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A Feast on Caringo Island, Camarines Norte

You know your trip is off to a good start, when the first words you are greeted with are: “Kain na po!” (Let’s eat!). We had just set foot ashore Caringo Island in the coastal town in Camarines Norte in the Bicol region. Home to a small community of fishing families, Caringo is the furthest of the seven islands of Mercedes, yet it is well worth getting to. The invitation to eat — and the sight of the island itself — was very welcome.

caringo island mercedes camarines norte bicol beach

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Adventure in Aglipay Caves, Quirino

The jeepney’s wheels spewed out chunks of mud as the driver floored the engine, determined to get the jeep out of the rut. We sat at a distance, drenched in the rain, our feet caked in mud, but still in high spirits. A little rain never hurt anybody.

aglipay caves quirino 01

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Ride to Daraitan River & Tinipak Rocks

Outdoor enthusiasts know Daraitan as a village nestled in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges somewhere between Rizal and Quezon. After visiting the place during a trail run and on a mountain bike ride, Art of Outside Slacker likened it to Rivendell, the Elven realm in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. After finally seeing the place first-hand, I have to agree. The scenery wouldn’t look out of place in a fantasy film. You get that sense of wonder just walking through the white rock formations and crossing the clear streams snaking through the mountains.

01. tinipak rocks rizal

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Trek to Engkanto Falls, Libmanan

With its multi-tiered cascades and natural allure, it’s easy to see how Engkanto Falls got its name. The falls, named after creatures of local folklore usually characterized as forest spirits or elves, are believed to live in natural dwellings in the environment.

engkanto falls libmanan camarines sur bicol 01

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Travel Guide: Mercedes, Camarines Norte

Unlike popular destinations in the country that dazzle you immediately with their obvious beauty and vibrant energy, the town of Mercedes in Camarines Norte is one of those quiet beauties that often gets overlooked. But when you dig deeper, you’ll find that she has so much substance. Mercedes has a serene and quiet charm that just grows on you. The longer you stay, the more you’ll realize just why the town is called “The Belle of the Pacific.”

01. mercedes camarines norte bicol apuao pequena beach

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Just Ride

There’s always this strange mix of uncertainty and purpose whenever I ride. I may be at the mercy of the elements and of the terrain, but I am still in control of my fate. I come to a fork in the road and it’s always my decision where to go. If a path scares me, I can either turn back or go forward. There are no boundaries except my own limitations.motorcycle marilaque road Continue reading “Just Ride”

Ride to Wind Farm in Pililla, Rizal

The weather in Metro Manila and all through Manila East Road was bright and sunny, but just as we got to the foot of the wind turbines in Pililla, Rizal, the rain started to pour. Howling wind sent small stones and gravel from the rocky terrain flying in the air, showing us just why this elevated spot was chosen to be the site of a wind farm project. But despite the threatening grey skies and rain, the windmills were impressive, towering over the rugged landscape. There were only three turbines standing during our exploratory bike ride last Valentine’s Day 2015.

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Siitan River Cruise & Landingan Viewpoint in Quirino

I drifted along slowly with the current. To my right was a towering wall of limestone covered in lush vegetation. To my left, was a rocky riverbed peppered with purple flowers and weeds. We were cruising along Siitan River in Nagtipunan, a town in Quirino province where several major tributaries of the Cagayan River converge.

quirino province siitan river cruise photo by lakad pilipinas

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Flying High in Pangasinan

“Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need… roads!”

pangasinan aerial view wcc aviation 07 hundred islands

Images of Back to the Future’s time machine flashed before my eyes as I sat behind the retro futuristic dashboard of the two-seater Cessna 152 aircraft. The control panel full of complicated-looking buttons, knobs and gauges looked worthy of powering up a flux capacitor that could take me back in time 30 years. The width of the 2-seater plane is only about one-third the size of your standard car or SUV, with two seats squeezed together and some extra space for bags at the back. But judging from my excitement level of riding one for the first time, you’d think I was riding along with Doc Brown himself in the DeLorean.

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