Hittin' The Trail

Up in the Air

2011-05-01T13:50:00.001-07:00

"The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places; and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over."

I've spent too long away from home

Did all the things I could have done

Gone are the days of endless thrills

I know I'm not the only one

So long I'm goin'... goin' home

I saw the streets all ripe with jewels

Balconies and the laundry lines

They tried to make me welcome there

But their streets did not feel like mine

So long I'm goin'... goin' home

I want the sun to hit my face

Through oak trees in the open lot

Forget about the things you want

Be thankful for what all you got

So long I`m goin'... goin' home

-Adam

Travel Photo - Jomalig Island, Philippines

2011-04-27T02:21:00.000-07:00

[Click picture to enlarge]

Here's a picture of a deserted beach on the small island of Jomalig.

I visited this not-so-well-known island of the Philippines a few months ago with a group of friends. If you're not familiar with this island, don't worry, not many people are. Not many people have heard about Jomalig, because 1) You won't find it listed in the Lonely Planet, 2) It's difficult to reach. To reach the island of Jomalig we had to take a six-hour long ride on a fisherman's boat, and through rough waters, and 3) You won't find any hotels on the island. Zippo. We actually stayed with the counselor of the island, who happens to be a friend of Sheila's.

Hence, for these reasons, explains the deserted beach.

Gotta love deserted beaches, yes?

-Adam

Tasty Food in Taiwan

2011-04-25T02:12:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if Taiwan is renowned for its food or not, but after having spent three days there recently, I can say that it's food is simply delicious. Out of all the countries that I've traveled to on this trip, Taiwan's food ranks pretty high on the list. I'm not a big fan of eating exotic foods, and Taiwan didn't appear to have much of it - with the exception of stinky tofu. I don't even like the plain ol' regular type of tofu, much less the stinky kind. Seriously, it may be the worst, God-awful smelling food on the planet. I couldn't imagine attempting to eat something that stinks that bad. But I digress. The rest of the country's food was amazing. I'll let the pictures speak for itself.

-Adam

Final Day in Taiwan - Din Tai Fung and the Taipei 101

2011-04-20T09:28:00.001-07:00

It was our final day in Taiwan, and we had many things to see and do before our departure back to the Philippines that evening.

Our first stop of the day was to the Museum of World Religions. I wouldn't have known about the museum if it wasn't for a fellow travel blogger - and a devout atheist, I might add - who had written highly of it. I thought to myself, if this guy, an atheist, thought it was worth seeing then maybe I should check it out as well. And I'm glad I did, too, as I thought the museum was brilliant. I found the museum to be quite an insightful, analytical overview of some of the world's major religions. Furthermore, I felt that the museum did an excellent job presenting the religions without interjecting any personal biases or personal preferences for one or the other. But what I enjoyed the most, probably, were the miniatures of some of the world's most renowned religious structures, e.g. churches, temples, mosques, etc. Some of these life-like models had remote controlled video cameras installed, controllable by a joystick, if one desired to see its interior. The Museum of World Religions is definitely worth a visit.

Next, we attended the Taipei International Flora Exposition. It was a sensory overload from sight, smell, and... unfortunately, hearing. It wasn't the greatest location for the expo as the airport was nearby; and every ten minutes or so, a giant jumbo jet would fly over and cause a ruckus with its jet engine screaming. But we had a great time at the expo, regardless. It was beautiful to be surrounded by such colorful flowers and plants.

For dinner, we went to Din Tai Fung, a popular restaurant in Taipei that specializes in dumplings. Actually, we decided not to have dinner inside the restaurant as the line was incredibly long. So we ordered the dumplings for take-out and had it with our dinner that evening. I have to say though: I didn't find Din Tai Fung's dumplings to be overly tasty. Actually, I had better dumplings in the food market near our hostel. I'm just saying.

Our final stop was to the Taipei 101, the country's famous skyscraper which was once the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010. The Burj Kahalifa in Dubai now holds the official record for the world's tallest building; however, the Taipei 101 has the world's fastest elevator (I must have swallowed 8-9 times to alleviate the pressure in my ears) and the highest open-air observation deck - so it still has some bragging rights, I'd say.

So there you have it: My three days spent in Taiwan in a nutshell. It's definitely not enough time to see the country, that's for sure. It's a country that's often overlooked by travelers. But if I knew what I know now about the country, I would have arranged to spend more time here.

So, Taiwan, until next time...

-Adam

Travel Photo - Korean War Memorial, Seoul, South Korea

2011-04-18T02:12:00.001-07:00

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Korean War Memorial, Seoul, South Korea

-Adam

Travel Photo - Saud Beach, Pagupud, Philippines

2011-04-15T02:18:00.000-07:00

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Saud Beach, Pagupud, Philippines

Day Two in Taiwan - So Much to See, So Little Time

2011-04-13T09:13:00.001-07:00

Since Sheila and I had only three days scheduled for Taiwan, there was only one thing on our minds: To. See. As. Much. As. Possible.

And we did just that.

This required a lot of commuting and a lot of walking. Notice the emphasis on the word "walking." Boy, we did a lot of that. Whew. It was sort of reminiscent of my first few days during my travels when my brother and I went sightseeing in New York City. Now THAT was a lot of walking.

From the town of Shifen, we caught a bus to Taipei with our CouchSurfing host, Jiavanni, who was catching a flight to China. Once we said our goodbyes, we set out in search of a hostel which we had booked online the previous night. It was a difficult task, to say the least. But like I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, the people in Taiwan are extremely kind and helpful. We would have never found our hostel if it wasn't for a random middle-aged, non-English speaking Taiwanese woman who we met while walking aimlessly through a densely populated food market.

Word of advice: If you decide to visit Taiwan, make sure to print directions - to anywhere - in Mandarin Chinese. It's a lifesaver. Period.

After we checked into our hostel and got our belongings stored away, we immediately set out to explore the city of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.

National Concert Hall & National Theater

Chiang Kai-shek memorial Hall

Longshan Temple

Shilin Night Market

-Adam

Our First Full Day in Taiwan: Sky Lanterns & Shifen Waterfalls

2011-04-11T03:39:00.001-07:00

I couldn't have been happier to have chosen the rural town of Shifen for our first full day in Taiwan. After we acquainted ourselves with our CouchSurfing host, Jiiavani, and settled into our room where we took a much needed nap, our host shared some rather unsettling news with us: That Sheila and I had missed the Lantern Festival by one night.

Talk about being the bearer of bad news.

If you recall, the main reason why we had visited Taiwan in the first place was because of the Lantern Festival, where thousands of sky lanterns are lit and released into the air.

I could have sworn that the Taiwan Lantern Festival lasted a few weeks - and it does. But with one tiny caveat that I'd seemed to have missed: The first night of the festival is the only night where the government subsidizes the event, resulting in the thousands of lanterns that are seen in pictures and on television which make the festival so alluring.

Oops.

People, however, are free to purchase their own lanterns which are readily available throughout the town and certain areas within Taipei. So we were still going to be able to participate and witness people releasing lanterns, but just not in all its glory that we had hoped.

However, once Jiiavani told us that the largest waterfall in Taiwan was only a short walk away, our mood instantly changed from gloom to glee.

Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.

So we set off to see the Shifen Waterfall, and the town's surroundings.

Next, we took a short train ride to the town of Pingxi and wandered its streets. I think Sheila was a bit perplexed as to why we were aimlessly roaming around this small town. But I like exploring a new destination from time to time without any specific purpose, immersing myself in new surroundings. Usually it leads to something interesting happening.

A bomb shelter built during WWII

Once we returned to Shifen, we purchased a few sky lanterns and officially participated in Taiwan's Lantern Festival. But before we released our lanterns, we made sure to write a few wishes and notes of our own.

-Adam

你好' Nǐ hǎo - Welcome to Taiwan

2011-04-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

Recently I took a three-date jaunt to Taiwan, making it the fifteenth country I've visited since I left home back in November of 2009. Well, according to the United Nations, Taiwan technically isn't considered a country as China continues to claim control over it. But if you subscribe to the Traveler's Century Club (TCC), an organization which defines countries more loosely than the UN, it counts. According to the TCC's official list - which includes places such as territories, colonies, and islands - there are a total of 320 countries (there are 192 UN member states, in case you're wondering).

Geopolitics aside, Taiwan is a significant destination.

I visited mainland China last summer and wasn't too fond of my travels there, but after visiting Taiwan for three days, I can honestly say that my experience in Taiwan exceeded all my expectations despite Taiwan's proximity to China.

Off the top, here are a few things I enjoyed about Taiwan: it was clean, had great food, had exceptionally friendly people, and was technologically advanced with one of the best subway systems in the world, making it easy to commute. And because of Taiwan's economic success, it's included as one of the "Four Asian Dragons" - the others being Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

The country is a bit more expensive than Southeast Asian countries (excluding Singapore), but cheaper than, say, South Korea. Overall, it's definitely affordable - even if you're on a backpacker budget like yours truly.

Like I mentioned, the people of Taiwan were exceptionally friendly, to the point where - on more than one occasion, I might add - Sheila and I were approached by locals who attempted to help us even if we looked lost. Really helpful and accommodating people.

Speaking of accommodating. Our second night in Taiwan, we stayed with a Taiwanese woman who I contacted via CouchSurfing.com - a hospitality exchange program which connects travelers with locals who graciously offer a place to sleep in their home. This may include a bed, a futon, the floor, or a couch. Hence, CouchSurfing. It's a cross-cultural exchange, and a great way to meet people from around the world. I highly recommend it. I've done it before, and will continue to do so.

The first night we arrived in Taiwan, however, Sheila and I slept on a bench inside a train station in Taipei. We arrived in the capital in the middle of the night and couldn't justify spending any money on accommodation as we would be taking the first train out of the city in the morning to Shifen, home of our CouchSurfing host, Jiivanii.

The purpose of our visit to Taiwan, other than the fact that neither of us had ever been there, was to witness and participate in Taiwan's Lantern Festival. It's held every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar, and where hundreds, if not thousands, of sky lanterns are lit and flown into the dark skies. Many people write wishes on the lanterns before releasing them, and hope that their wishes eventually come true. The Lantern Festival festivities last a few weeks.

Our CouchSurfing host, Jiiavani, conveniently lives in the rural town of Shifen located within the Pingxi District where the annual Taiwan Lantern Festival is held. And it couldn't have been any easier to reach, as the train literally dropped us off in front of her home. She lives in a charming two-story home with her two dogs, who loved to play and gnaw around my ankles. Little rascals.

And during the day, her home transforms into a quaint boutique shop where she sells anything and everything related to Buddhism, as well as clothing and accessories, and tea. Ah yes, Jiiavani is a practicing, gentle Buddhist who can make the most delicious cup of tea. The way she prepared and served our tea truly was an art.

Instead of sleeping upstairs with Jiiavani, where there were available mattresses on the floor, she offered her simple guesthouse located behind her home.

The experience truly resembled something out of a Chinese motion picture, filmed in a traditional setting. I relished every moment.

-Adam

Travel Photo - Anawangin Cove, Zambales, Philippines

2011-04-06T02:50:00.001-07:00

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The amazing Anawangin Cove, about a 25 minute boat ride from Capones Island located along Pundaquit's coastline, was our third stop of our island/cove hopping tour of Zambales. And whether you are a beach lover or a woodsy-camping kind of person, Anawangin Cove is the place for you. I was in awe as our boat entered the cove. It's nestled in between riveting green mountains, has a greyish-white beach, and tall pine trees.

Beach, mountains, and pine trees? It doesn't get much better than that.

-Adam

Travel Photo - Motorbike Driver, Davao, Mindanao

2011-04-04T02:07:00.000-07:00

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After a visit to the Philippine Eagle Center located outside of Davao City, Mindanao, Sheila and I hired a friendly motorbike driver to take us back into town where we would then take a shuttle back to Davao City. Along the way, however, our driver's hat flew off as we were cruising down the road. He pulled over, and I quickly ran back to retrieve it. Our driver appreciated the gesture and expressed his gratitude with a candid smile. Sheila aka Ms. Paparazzi did an excellent job capturing the moment.

-Adam

Blast from the Past: A Video of Myanmar

2011-04-01T02:07:00.000-07:00

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After reading a fellow travel blogger's recent adventures through Myanmar (formerly Burma), I couldn't help but to think of my own travels there. However, unlike my friend, Andrew, from injectmewithtravel.com, I didn't write about my travels to the mysterious land of the not-so-well traveled country of Myanmar.

Because of the ongoing political situation in the country, where the oppressive military regime prohibits foreign journalists to write freely, I refrained from writing while I was there. Furthermore, because I spent a month traveling within the country - and because, at the time, I was already behind in my writing - I chose to skip writing about it altogether, only posting a link to view my pictures.

But here's a great video (footage of places that I've visited within the country) set to a wicked soundtrack - which, for me, leaves me feeling a bit nostalgic.

-Adam

The Bacuit Archipelago in El Nido, Palawan = Paradise

2011-03-30T02:29:00.000-07:00

After many months of traveling within the Philippines, I found myself in El Nido, Palawan, the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago - and the most beautiful place that I've see yet in the Philippines.

The Bacuit Archipelago in Palawan is simply paradise.

The town of El Nido itself is nothing special, let's just get that straight. It's full of overpriced, mediocre accommodation, tourist agencies, and a few bars and restaurants. And take note: Zero ATMs.

But only a short boat ride away, and you'll find yourself immersed in some of the most beautiful scenery that this planet has to offer, with amazing limestone karst cliffs, lagoons, crystal clear water, and countless uninhabited beaches.

The Bacuit Archipelago is reminiscent of southern Thailand and Ha Long Bay, Vietnam - but, in my opinion, the Bacuit Archipelago in the Philippines edges out the two.

I've read that Alex Garland, author of the novel "The Beach," - which was later adapted by Hollywood into a movie and filmed in Thailand, starring Leonardo Dicaprio - is loosely based on the author's travels and experiences spent in the Philippines. This doesn't surprise me, as there are many hidden beaches and lagoons in the Bacuit Archipelago which could have easily sparked the idea for the book.

Like I mentioned, El Nido is the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago. To reach El Nido:

Fly to Puerto Princesa, Palawan via Cebu Pacific or Zest Air
From Puerto Princesa Airport, take a tricycle to San Jose Terminal (P100)
From San Jose Terminal to El Nido take either a van (six hours, P600) or a local non-aircon bus (eight hours, P300)
Remember: There are zero ATMs in El Nido, so make sure to withdraw cash in Puerto Princesa

There are a number of tours offered to explore the Bacuit Archipelago in the town of El Nido. They are listed from A, B, C, and D. I did Tour A and C, supposedly the best two. I can't imagine Tour B and D being any better. The duration of the tours are approximately from 8am - 5pm.

Tour A (P750) includes:

Secret Lagoon
Lunch at Simisu Island
Snorkeling and fish feeding
Big Lagoon
Small Lagoon
Seven Commandos Beach

Tour C (P1000) includes:

Snorkeling with sea turtles
Lunch at a beach
Secret Beach
Matinloc Island Shrine
Hidden Beach
Helicopter Island

Here are some pictures from Tour A:

Secret Lagoon and beach.

Lunch at Simisu Island.

Big Lagoon.

Small Lagoon. These two pictures were actually taken just outside of the small lagoon, as it's only accessible via swimming through a small opening in the rocks. I wished I could have gotten a picture of it.

Seven Commandos Beach.

Here are pictures from Tour C:

I don't have a picture of the sea turtle that our guide caught as we were snorkeling. Bummer. It was huge, too.

Here are pictures of the beach where we ate lunch, though:

Secret Beach. It was a bit disconcerting reaching the Secret Beach, as one has to swim through a narrow opening which had to be timed properly in order to avoid the waves that crash into the sharp rocks. And during high tide, one has to swim through the narrow opening under water. Luckily, it wasn't high tide when our boat arrived at the Secret Beach.

Matinloc Island Shrine.

If you are visiting the Philippines and are pressed for time, make sure to fit El Nido into your itinerary and see the Bacuit Archipelago. You won't regret it.

Paradise is very nice.

-Adam

My Return to the Bureau - and how I was Forced to Strip

2011-03-28T02:41:00.000-07:00

Recently, I returned to the Bureau of Immigration in Manila to extend my visa. If you recall, my first visit to the Bureau was a bit unpleasant, after a government employee working at the cashier's desk attempted to rip me off by overcharging me nearly $30 USD. Needless to say, the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Luckily, however, I verified how much it would cost before I visited the Bureau - you know, just in case something like that would happen.

Like the old saying goes: Trust, but verify.

"Let's get this over with," I thought to myself, as I climbed out of the car and began walking towards the building. "Let's see them try to rip me off again."

I was ready.

I was prepared.

Or so I thought.

"Excuse me, sir," said a man standing behind a podium, with a mean-faced looking security guard standing beside him. "Where are you going?"

"Oh, hi," I said, thinking it was a bit strange how the guard appeared to be blocking my entrance into the building. "I'm just going inside to renew my visa, that's all."

"Sorry, sir, I can't allow you to enter the building."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you see the sign?" he asked, as he briefly stepped aside from his podium in order to point to the visibly posted sign on the entrance door.

Crap. There was a sign.

"You see," he said, clearly relishing the "gotcha" moment, "you're not allowed to enter with shorts and sandals."

"You've got to be kidding me, right?"

I was slightly perturbed, to say the least.

I mean, it would be one thing if the Bureau was a lavishly decorated building that exuded professionalism. But let's keep it real: It's dingy, dreary, and drab - a real dump. And I'm pretty sure I wore sandals during one of my previous visits, but whatever.

Rules are rules, right?

Unless, of course, it was another scheme just to make money off of foreigners, created by these two schmucks the day before or something.

I had my suspicions.

"Come on guys, I just came all the way from Marikina," I pleaded. "There's got to be a way ya'll can let me in."

"Sir, you can go to the store located up the street. There, you can purchase some pants and shoes."

Well, that was obviously out of the question.

"Or," he continued, "you can rent a pair of jogging pants from me."

Huh-Ha! An ultimatum! I knew it was a freakin' scheme. I knew it.

"How much are we talking about here," I asked with a smirk.

"Fifty pesos."

In case you're wondering, fifty pesos is equivalent to a little over a buck. It was really a no-brainer. So I gave him the nod, and the security guard handed me his jogging pants.

"Okay, so where do you want me to change?" I asked.

"Right here, sir."

"Are you kidding me?" I laughingly said, "You guys are a real class act."

And I began stripping down.

"Let me get this straight," I casually said, with my shorts visibly present around my ankles for all the public to see. "So you have a policy here at the Bureau that finds it obscene to wear shorts and sandals, but it's okay to strip down to my boxers?"

Once I pulled up the ol' jogging pants, I tossed over my shorts and entered the building - with my sandals still on, mind you. I arranged to pay them once I returned.

Curious bystanders who had witnessed the spectacle were giggling at me as I approached the sign-in desk.

"How much did they charge you?" the woman manning the desk asked, releasing a few chuckles.

"You all saw that, huh?" I said, as I finished signing my name. "Well, there should be another show soon. So stay tuned."

And sure enough, about forty-five minutes later, I found myself outside again with my shorts around my ankles - and just as an armored money truck pulled up, too.

Awkward.

It's a good thing I wear boxers, and not briefs.

I was expecting to be overcharged at the Bureau, that's a given. But I sure wasn't expecting to have to strip. Just another day at the Bureau, I suppose.

-Adam

Travel Photo - Nagsasa Cove, Zambales, Philippines

2011-03-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

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If you're thinking about island hopping in Zambales, make sure to have the boatman stop at Nagsasa Cove. Here, you'll find an amazingly long stretch of greyish-white beach lined with pine trees, and surrounded by beautiful mountainous scenery. Oh, and there's an unobstructed view of the sunset.

Surprisingly, I didn't see any foreigners here. Go before it's too late.

-Adam

Travel Photo - Ayuthaya, Thailand

2011-03-24T03:03:00.001-07:00

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The face of Buddha - Wat Mahathat, Ayuthaya, Thailand.

-Adam

Video: Filipino Accent Tutorial by Mikey Bustos

2011-03-23T03:15:00.001-07:00

I came across this video the other day. And since I've been in the Philippines for six months, I thought it was worth sharing. It's a pretty accurate account of the Filipino accent, and especially how Filipinos confuse the "he/she" distinction pronouns. It's quite humorous. Enjoy.

-Adam

16th Hot Air Balloon Festival, Philippines.

2011-03-22T07:56:00.001-07:00

The weekend after our epic trip to the island of Jomalig (I will post about that soon), I attended the 16th Hot Air Balloon Festival located in Clark Field, home of the former U.S. Air Base, with Sheila, Elaine and Jason. And because Sheila is friends with the head organizer of the festival, Tonet Rivera, we were given VIP status and allowed inside the fenced area of the venue. Sheila was giddy with excitement. She loves herself some hot air balloons, to say the least.

Here's Tonet Rivera's blog if you're interested: http://tonetcarlo.wordpress.com/

And here are some pictures from the festival:

-Adam

Travel Photo - Takengon, Sumatra, Indonesia

2011-03-21T02:43:00.000-07:00

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I took this picture while strolling along the streets of Takengon, a town located on the island of Sumatra in the province of Aceh. Don't expect to see any tourists here, as it's nestled in the heart of the the Gayo Highlands - an arduous journey to reach from anywhere albeit incredibly scenic.

-Adam

Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

2011-03-18T02:10:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Elaine, likes to dance - like a lot. I didn't see her for the first four months of my travels in the Philippines due to her hectic dancing schedule. So as one can imagine, Sheila, Jason and I were ecstatic when she invited us to one of her performances. It was a chance for us to see what's been keeping her so freakin' busy.

Elaine dances hip-hop, and she and her group put on an entertaining performance.

-Adam

Enchanted Kingdom: Enjoying the Day at a Theme Park in the Philippines

2011-03-17T02:21:00.001-07:00

We ended our weekend at the Enchanted Kingdom, a theme park located in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. It was a fitting ending to our weekend. Here are a few pictures.

*Credit to Sheila for the last three pictures.

-Adam

A View of Taal Volcano from Tagaytay

2011-03-16T02:06:00.000-07:00

The following day, the four of us went to the town of Tagaytay located in the Province of Cavite and enjoyed an amazing view overlooking Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. I had visited Tagaytay with Sheila and Elaine last year when I was here in May of 2010, and had a great time. And since Jason hadn't been there yet, we decided to make a day-trip out of it. This time, however, we didn't hike to the summit of Taal Volcano - we just enjoyed the view from afar.

Tagaytay is a must-see destination when visiting the Philippines, especially if you're in the vicinity of Manila.

-Adam

Travel Photo: Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

2011-03-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

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I noticed the three men (shown above) pointing at something, and quickly picked up my camera and captured the candid moment.

-Adam

Let the Good Times Roll

2011-03-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Once Jason returned from his trip to the Visayas region in the Philippines, our friend Elaine joined us at the apartment. The four of us had a weekend of good times planned. And to kick off the weekend, Sheila cooked up another amazingly delicious meal, which we gladly washed down with a few drinks while watching hilarious movies on YouTube.

Good times, indeed.

-Adam

Travel Photo: Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar

2011-03-12T05:27:00.000-08:00

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I came across these youngling Buddhist monks as I hiked to the Golden Rock in Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (formerly Burma).

-Adam

Bantayan Island, Cebu

2011-03-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

I had a terrific time in Bohol. I really saw a lot in such a short period of time. But because time was of the essence, we had to leave. Our next stop was to Cebu, an island just west of Bohol and easily reachable by ferry.

But more specifically we were traveling to Bantayan, an island that’s still politically a part of the province of Cebu but located way-over-yonder off the northwestern tip of Cebu Island. But first we met up with Jason in Cebu City, the capital of Cebu, who had flown here the night before in order to join us to Bantayan.

To reach Bantayan Island we took a five-hour long bus ride for 75 PHP ($1.75 USD) and a one-hour long ferry ride for 125 PHP ($3 USD). There was a lot of pretty scenery from Cebu City to the tiny fishing wharf from where we boarded the ferry to Bantayan. The island of Cebu is a long narrow island with varying terrain.

For the first few hours of our bus ride we drove along the island's eastern coastline, then about halfway through we swerved through rural towns and rolling hills. This is why I rarely read on buses, because I don't want to miss out on all the beautiful scenery along the way. Because the journey, at least from what I've experienced during my travels, is likely to be almost as beautiful as the destination. I even saw a few waterfalls which, if I'd been reading, I would've easily missed.

Once our ferry arrived in Bantayan I experienced one of the most explosive solicitations from touts that I’ve ever encountered during my travels. And what made matters worse, was that everyone from our ferry had boarded a jeepney heading to the Bantayan town proper, which left the three of us at the mercy of what appeared to be hundreds of money-hungry pedicab drivers. We were suddenly surrounded by a large crowd of men hollering and screaming at the top of their lungs.

Their solicitation was suffocating.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this before,” Jason said, feeling overwhelmed. “This is mayhem!”

We eventually chose two pedicap drivers from the crowd to take us to our accommodation. It was such a relief to escape the manic crowds of the touts.

The name of our accommodation was Budyong Resort – and it was overpriced, of course. Thank goodness there were three of us to split the cost. But we did manage to get them to lower the price, somewhat. Something is better than nothing, I guess – at least for me it is.

The following day I spoke to a middle-aged woman from France who’d traveled to eighty-one countries. I asked her if she’d been to Pai, Thailand as it has a special place in my heart, but she said that she hadn’t. And when I began telling her about it and why she should go, a man on a motorbike approached us. I stopped in mid-sentence after recognizing who he was.

“No way!” I shouted.

It was an old hippie guy with whom I had befriended in… get this, Pai! What are the chances, ey? And he said that he was going to return to Pai in a few months. I've spoken about Pai, Thailand to Sheila and Jason before, so it was nice to have them actually meet someone with whom I've met while visiting there.

Good ol’ Pai.

Later, we hired a boatman and went snorkeling at Virgin Island. Many of these boatmen have sons in which they begin training at an early age, prepping them for their inevitable future. For many people in this region of the Philippines there aren't many other options, I suppose. And if the children didn't follow in their father's footsteps it would sort of render them unemployable.

I had a really nice time snorkeling at Virgin Island. The water clarity was quite visible and I was able to see pretty coral, fish, and large starfishes.

After much debate I decided to return to Manila with Sheila, opting out of traveling with Jason for a few days as I had some things I needed to do in Manila.

It was another successful trip with Sheila. I had a blast in Bohol and Cebu.

-Adam

Chocolate Hills Forever - The Philippines

2011-03-03T20:14:00.001-08:00

Let me take you down
cause I'm going to Chocolate Hills
Nothing is real
and nothing to get hung about
Chocolate Hills forever…

This was the version of The Beatles hit song “Strawberry Fields Forever” that I was singing as Sheila and I were sitting in a local bus cruising through the island’s windy interior.

We were going to see the Chocolate Hills – and I couldn't wait.

The Chocolate Hills is a geological phenomenon which, according to the Chocolate Hills National Geological Monument plaque, “was formed ages ago by the uplift of coral deposits and the action of rainwater and erosion.” It goes on to say that, “these hills are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, and consist of 1268 mounds of the same general shape.”

That's a lot of mounds.

Like I mentioned, I was quite excited to visit the hills. It was one of the major attractions I had wanted to see in Southeast Asia.

We viewed the Chocolate Hills from the Chocolate Hills Complex located in Carmen, about 34 miles (55 kms) from Tagbilaran City. There’s another viewing station located in Sagbayan town, but it’s much further away and we didn't have the time to go there.

We visited the Chocolate Hills at the end of January so the hills were still a bit green. Supposedly the best time to see the hills in its “chocolate” color is from March to May. Regardless, the scenery was still surreal with hundreds of conical mounds of chocolate hills scattered throughout the land – forever.

Let me take you down
cause I'm going to Chocolate Hills
Nothing is real
and nothing to get hung about
Chocolate Hills forever
Chocolate Hills forever
Chocolate Hills forever

-Adam

Next Stop: Bantayan Island, Cebu

Travel Photo - A Rural Village in Cambodia

2011-02-24T06:04:00.001-08:00

This photo was taken in a rural village about 25 kms outside of Kratie, Cambodia. The previous night while taking an evening stroll along the Mekong River, I was approached by a young Cambodian male in his mid-twenties, named Sambath. To make a long story short, I befriended Sambath and the following day we commuted on his motorbike to his village located in rural Cambodia where he introduced me to his family and friends. A group of his friends invited me into a stilted wooden house where I suddenly found myself amongst friendly non-English speaking Cambodians. Despite that they didn't speak English, we were still able to communicate... because there was an ungodly amount of beer present - the true lingua franca of the world.

Cheers.

-Adam

Say Hello to My Little Friend... The Philippine Tarsier - Bohol, Philippines

2011-02-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

Once Sheila and I completed the Loboc River Cruise, we hired a motorbike driver to take us to the Philippine Tarsier sanctuary located just down the road.

A trip to Bohol wouldn't have been complete without seeing the tiny tarsiers. To face these fascinating little creatures eye to eye was one of the main reasons why I decided to travel to Bohol Island in the first place.

The Philippine Tarsier is one of the world’s smallest primates, about the size of my fist. Its enormous eyes can't move, but the tarsier has the ability to move its head 180 degrees. It’s nocturnal and eats insects and small lizards. A tarsier communicates with other tarsiers by making cute little chirping sounds. And when it’s not climbing trees it hops along the ground like a furry frog. I was lucky enough to see one of these furry frog impersonations shortly after we entered the sanctuary, and just before it found another tree to climb.

I thought the Philippine Tarsier was strictly indigenous to Bohol Island but, in actuality, they’re also found in Samar Island, Leyte Island and Mindanao.

An employee manning one of the large cages said, that the sanctuary leaves its cages open at night, allowing the tarsiers to wander off and hunt but that the tarsiers return during the day. He also said, that tarsiers are known to be suicidal - apparently, it will repeatedly bang its head against something - if caged in small confinements for long periods of time, or if they’re stressed. But I’m not certain if that's true or not. It would be interesting if it was, though.

Seeing the Philippine Tarsier was an amazing, eye-opening experience.

*Admission to the sanctuary is free.

-Adam

Next Stop: The Chocolate Hills – Bohol, Philippines

Travel Photo - Kuang Si Falls, Laos

2011-02-22T06:46:00.001-08:00

One of the highlights of my trip to Laos was of my travels to Kuang Si Falls (sometimes spelled Kuangxi), located 18 miles (29 kms) south of Luang Prabang. There were numerous turquoise blue pools along the trail before reaching the main waterfall.

The Kuang Si Falls is a must-see if visiting the beautiful country of Laos.

-Adam

Loboc River Cruise - Bohol, Philippines

2011-02-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

The Loboc River Cruise is one of the main attractions on the island of Bohol. It’s about 24 kilometers inland from Tagbilarn City via jeepney. And the view through Bohol’s interior was amazingly beautiful with rolling hills, rice terraces, and lush green jungle. The incredible scenery made out for an enjoyable commute, to say the least.

Before we boarded the boat for the river cruise, we were greeted by a number of elderly locals who began playing a vast repertoire of songs which almost sounded like traditional Cajun music – which, being along the muddy riverbanks of Loboc and all, conjured images of New Orleans, Louisiana, my second home.

The hour long river cruise consisted of an all-you-can-eat buffet, live music, and an abundance of stellar views along the Loboc River.

Later we made a brief stop and boarded a floating raft where a number of men, women, and children were playing music and singing local songs. Everyone aboard our boat were encouraged to join and participate in the festivities – for a tip, of course.

The Loboc River Cruise including the all-you-can-eat buffet, costs 400 Pesos (or $9 USD).

So cheap. So worth it.

-Adam

A Life Lesson from a Tricycle Driver - Bohol, Philippines

2011-02-16T03:30:00.000-08:00

After a week-long stint traveling with Jason, I caught a flight with Sheila to the island of Bohol, the tenth largest island in the Philippines. It’s located in the central Visayas region, and only about an hour flight from Manila. Through the Philippines' second largest flag carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, my flight to Bohol cost me a whopping $15 USD. So cheap.

Once we landed and exited Tagbilaran Airport, we were instantly surrounded with tricycle drivers soliciting our business. And because the drivers saw Sheila walking with a foreigner, i.e. yours truly, they tried to overcharge us.

“Ya’ll don’t know who you’re messing with!” I laughingly said, as the crowd of men followed and chased Sheila up the street.

Eventually a soft-spoken man approached us through the chaotic crowds of screaming men, and said that he’d take us to the bus terminal for the appropriate amount.

So we quickly hopped into his tricycle and left. And the tricycle drivers whom had just moments before tried ripping us off, pulled up next to us as we were driving away and said they would now lower their price and match our driver's.

Thanks, but no thanks.

As we were commuting to the terminal our driver told us that, at the end of every day, the tricycle drivers who attempt to cheat tourists always end up with nothing – that essentially the people they wind up cheating are themselves. And because of this, unlike his comrades, he is able to return home every night to his family with money in his pockets.

We made sure to tip him once we arrived at our destination. He was gracious, and said that it would go towards his son’s allowance.

I don't know about you, but I think his son might just turn out alright.

-Adam

San Juan Beach, La Union - A Surfer's Haven.

2011-02-15T02:02:00.001-08:00

Since Jason was keen to surf I suggested that we travel to San Juan Beach, a popular destination for surfers located in the province of La Union. If you recall, I traveled to San Juan Beach this past September with Sheila and had a great time.

I’m not a surfer by any means – I think the last time I surfed was when I was 19 years old while visiting California – but I didn't mind relaxing near the beach while Jason got his surf fix. Anyways, I was only going to spend one day here as I had to be back in Manila the following day.

I was surprised with how different San Juan Beach looked from the last time I was here. It looked like another beach. Apparently, my last visit here in September was during the off-season for surfing. The waves this time, however, were noticeably larger and many more people were surfing.

[Above picture was taken in September 2010]

[Above picture was taken in January 2011]

After some lunch and a brief stop at the Internet café, Jason grabbed a surfboard and headed out to sea.

The following morning Jason and I caught a bus back to Manila where I enjoyed a day of rest before departing to Bohol Island.

It was quite the week of traveling with Jason.

-Adam

Next Stop: Bohol Island.

Hundred Islands National Park, Philippines

2011-02-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

After a series of unfortunate events, Jason and I arrived at the Hundred Islands National Park located off the coast of Alaminos City, Pangasinan. The Philippines consists of about 7100 islands. And of these 7100 islands, the Hundred Islands National Park comprises a total of 123 (124 during low tide) of them.

But don’t come here expecting to see beautiful stretches of sandy pristine beaches. They don’t exist. Well, I take that back, there are a few beaches present. Notice the emphasis of the word “few."

The Hundred Islands, which scatter along the Lingayen Gulf, are remnants of 2 million year old coral deposits. And after thousands of years of erosion, these limestone islands have formed into muffin-top shapes – and are mostly inaccessible. In fact, there are only three islands that have been developed for tourism. These include Children’s Island, Governor Island, and Quezon Island.

The town of Lucap, the launching point for the Hundred Islands, is a sleepy hamlet that lacks any sort of nightlife. And since Jason and I hadn't slept in over 24 hours, once we arrived in Lucap we went to straight to sleep. Oh, and I should mention that it was 3 p.m. And we didn't wake up until 7:30 the following morning. That may have been the longest I've ever slept in my life. It was sleep much needed.

The following morning we hired a boatman to take us to the Hundred Islands, about 20 minutes from Lucap Wharf, where we snorkeled, explored caves, and anchored at a few uninhabited beaches.

Good times.

-Adam

Next Stop: San Juan Beach, La Union.

Travel Photo - Mui Ne, Vietnam

2011-02-10T19:52:00.000-08:00

[click to enlarge]

I took this photo in Mui Ne, Vietnam, as I was walking along its harbor in May 2010.

-Adam

Bowling for Bolinao.

2011-02-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

[credit: http://www.ivanhenares.com/]

From Puerto Galera, the plan was to loop around Mindoro and commute to Pandan Island, just a short ferry ride off the coast of Sablayan, Mindoro. However, as we all know, plans are subject to change – especially when you’re traveling.

The ferry from White Beach, Puerto Galera to Abra de llog – a town only reachable by boat from White Beach - was cancelled due to rough waves along the coast of Abra de llog. And not wanting to stay in the ladyboy infested town of Puerto Galera for another night, we agreed to return to Manila and leave the following morning for Bolinao, a town located at the northwestern tip of Pangasinan province.

Visiting Bolinao seemed to be a viable plan due to its relative proximity to the 100 Islands, another destination that I had not yet seen but was eagerly looking forward to visiting.

To reach Bolinao we took a basic, non-aircon local bus which departed at 3 am. And once we reached Bolinao, Jason didn’t hesitate in describing the excruciating 8 hour commute as “the bus ride from hell.” I couldn’t really argue with him; it was pretty bad.

Once we arrived, however, we still had to take another 30 minute ride via tricycle to reach Patar Beach.

I was so happy to have finally arrived at Patar. It had been a long, arduous journey. I hopped off our tricycle and immediately walked to the beach, which was flooded with local tourists as it was the weekend.

There was only one problem: there were zero inexpensive rooms along the beach.

Zippo. Nadda.

The cheapest accommodation that we could find were these wooden, bamboo constructed rustic huts with leaf roof thatching for 1500 pesos (or $35 USD).

Again, like I’ve mentioned in my previous blog, accommodation in the Philippines is insanely overpriced. And this is an area absent of foreigners, too. I saw zero white people here.

We had our tricycle driver take us down the road where we hoped to have better luck.

Nope. No luck. Zero. Zippo. Nadda.

The woman at the resort initially charged us a whopping 3000 pesos ($70 USD). And get this… for a dormitory room! I told her that we would stay for 1000 pesos ($23 USD) – still ridiculously overpriced – but she refused. The lowest I could get her to come down to was 2000 pesos ($47 USD).

I don’t think the people around Patar Beach understand the logistics of negotiating. So instead of earning 1000 pesos for the room, plus the money we would've spent eating there, she received the grand total of… 0 pesos.

Congratulations. Thank you for playing.

And we left.

-Adam

Next Stop: The Hundred Islands

Food For Thought: Beef and Mushroom Penne Rigate with Stuffed Pell Pepper.

2011-02-08T20:23:00.001-08:00

I think I may begin a series documenting the food that I've been consuming in other countries.

Could be interesting.

I'll start with this photograph (it's not your typical traditional Filipino dish, I know), a delicious meal that Sheila prepared for yours truly, consisting of beef and mushroom penne rigate with stuffed bell pepper.

Masarap!

-Adam

Ladyboys Galore in Puerto Galera.

2011-02-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

The day after Jason’s arrival in the Philippines we immediately went traveling. We had a week to travel together before I had to return to Manila to catch a flight, as Sheila and I had another trip planned for Bohol and Cebu.

After scrambling for ideas, figuring out what route Jason and I should take, we agreed to travel to the island of Mindoro and Coron. It seemed feasible to be able to see both of these islands before returning to Manila.

Sounded like a plan.

It was going to be interesting traveling without Sheila. It had been awhile since I traveled without her.

At the ungodly hours of the morning, Sheila kindly drove Jason and I to the bus station where we took a bus to the city of Batangas. Once we arrived at Batangas we boarded a ferry to Puerto Galera, located on Mindoro Island.

We stayed at White Beach.

Whenever a beach is called “white”, I always seem to envision the beach being… well, white. But it never seems to live up to its name. The beach is always an off-white, like a grayish or yellowish color. And it’s always a letdown, because I always hold on to the belief that I’m going to see a truly white, white beach.

Just call it like it is, dammit, and enough with the false advertising.

But I digress.

However, I have to admit, white beach or no white beach, it was… a nice beach.

Once we found a relatively affordable hotel room, and after we were offered a few prostitutes by one of the hotel employees – “Would you like a few girls,” he asked us – we set off to find some food as we were both starving.

First I should note that, contrary to what you may have heard, accommodation in the Philippines is NOT cheap. Despite a few hostels in some of the major cities like Manila or Cebu, rooms are typically at least 500 pesos ($11.60 USD). For backpackers like myself, this is quite expensive, especially for anyone traveling solo who can’t split the price.

And despite that you’re paying more, the quality of the rooms here are much lower than its neighboring countries. For instance, here, in the Philippines, 500 pesos won’t get you a room with a flushing toilet (it’s a 50/50 chance), air-conditioning, hot water, or a shower head (expect bucket showers). However, with 500 pesos in, say, Thailand, Laos, or Vietnam for example, I would be living in luxury.

While Jason and I were searching for some food, an old English bloke recommended that we eat at a restaurant called Paul's Restaurant. Or was it Paul's Place? In any case, it was delicious. The chicken adobo that I ordered may have been the best adobo dish that I've had during my travels in the Philippines. Yes, it was that good.

Since the title of this blog is "Ladyboys Galore in Puerto Galera" I guess this would be a suitable time to begin talking about that.

So, as the title of this blog implies, there were a lot of ladyboys present at White Beach. Seriously, I'm not lying when I say they were e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. And the ones who weren't frolicking along the beach were working at the restaurants - EVERY restaurant - and pestering us for our business.

"Not that there's anything wrong with that."

I have nothing against gay people or ladyboys; however, these ladyboys were so freakin' annoying and always in our faces, touching us and making sexual innuendo jokes. They didn't give us any room to breathe. Not joking.

It also didn't help that Jason and I arrived during the middle of the week, so there weren't many other tourists present. It's safe to assume we were fresh meat.

After one night at White Beach, Jason and I were ready to leave. I think we would've had a much better experience if we would've visited White Beach in a group and on the weekend.

So it was fitting that a rainbow appeared over the sea that evening. A rainbow flag, if you recall, is the international sign that represents gay pride.

Oh, the irony.

-Adam

Next Stop: Pandan Island (or so we thought)...

Red Palm Reunion.

2011-02-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

In November 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, my brother and I met heaps of cool people at the hostel, Red Palm. If you recall, this was the hostel where I met Sheila. And through social network services, such as Facebook, we've managed to stay in touch with everyone.

Fast forward one year.

Recently, it was sort of a Red Palm reunion as my Canadian friend Jason, who, after leaving Malaysia and spending one year working in Australia, came to visit Sheila, Elaine, and I in the Philippines. Jason will be here through mid-February before continuing his travels to South America.

However, the reunion wasn't complete with the absence of my brother, Marc, and Tess, who’s from Australia. However, a few months back, Tess and Marc had a bit of a Red Palm reunion of their own when she visited Marc in California while traveling through the US.

Facebook has really played an integral role during my travels, allowing me to keep in touch with people that I've met.

-Adam

Travel Photo: Marijuana Traveling from Myitkyina to Mandalay in Myanmar.

2011-02-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

[click to enlarge]

This is a photo I took of Marijuana (yes, that's her real name), a Romanian-German who I traveled with for nearly a month, while boat hopping down the Irrawaddy River from Myitkyina to Mandalay in Myanmar (formerly Burma).

-Adam

Apocalypse WOW: Road Trip to Pagsanjan Falls.

2011-02-01T02:11:00.001-08:00

The highlight of our road trip where we passed through three provinces – Rizal, Laguna and Quezon – was of our travels to Pagsanjan Falls, one of the Philippines’ most prized waterfalls.

Fun Fact #1: Stretches of the Pagsanjan River was used in the filming of the movie Apocalypse Now.

Fun Fact #2: Pagsanjan Falls isn’t really located in Pagsanjan, but in Anglas, Cavinti, Laguna. And the people of Cavinti refer to the falls as Magdapio Falls, or Cavinti Falls.

Once we arrived in the town of Pagsanjan and asked for directions to the falls, we were bombarded with illegal flaggers – in other words, unaccredited boatmen - who approached our vehicle trying to arrange a trip to the falls in their boats. We quickly rolled up our windows and made a U-turn towards the town’s tourist office as men wildly chased us on foot and bicycles.

After we made it inside the town’s tourist office, glad to have escaped the erratic behavior of the touts from outside, we were told that Pagsanjan Falls was only accessible by bangka (canoe) – and for the hefty price of 1200 pesos ($28 USD) per person, excluding entrance fees and tips.

Psh! There had to be another way, I thought.

After viewing a map, I noticed a road that followed the river all the way to Pagsanjan Falls. Not believing that the falls was only accessible through an expensive canoe ride, I suggested to Sheila that we drive as close as we could to the falls then simply ask a local the best way to access it. Overhearing me suggesting this to Sheila, the employee from the tourist office mentioned that there was, indeed, another way but that it was dangerous.

Calling her bluff, we said we’d take our chances and left.

[Knock, knock. Anyone home? Sheila asking for directions]

Just like I’d suspected, there was another way to reach Pagsanjan Falls (found in Anglas, Cavinti) – and for much less than the cost of hiring a boatman.

How much less, you ask?

Get this: The cost was only 150 pesos ($3.48 USD) per person. This included a guide, harness equipment for safety, and a free ride on a bamboo raft to – and through – the falls.

Whoa. Now that’s more like it.

But, that said, the trek down the ravine isn’t for the lighthearted by any means. It’s a strenuous trek, down steep steps and a few enclosed 90-degree metal ladders in which you have to be strapped onto a harness for safety.

[**Warning** Avoid massive spiders in between handrails]

Once we made it to the bottom of the ravine, I could see why director Francis Ford Coppola chose to film Apocalypse Now in this location. Pagsanjan Falls is situated in between a massive gorge, and the river snakes its way through beautifully green scenery.

After a tiring trek to the falls, we took a bamboo raft THROUGH the phenomenal falls and into a cave that hid behind it. Quite refreshing, indeed.

Pagsanjan Falls or Magdapio Falls or Cavinti Falls, or however the heck you want to call it, is a must see destination if visiting the Philippines. I'm so glad I got to see it.

You'll leave the falls saying, "Apcocalypse WOW."

-Adam

Paete: The Wood Carving Capital of the Philippines.

2011-01-30T19:28:00.001-08:00

Recently, I took a road trip with Sheila. And during this road trip we stopped briefly at the historical town of Paete, located in the province of Laguna along the shores of the largest lake in the Philippines, Laguna de Bay. Here, you’ll find an array of woodcarving boutique shops nestled in between quaint, narrow streets. The provincial town’s old Baroque style church, narrow streets, and boutique shops conjured an almost European-esque feeling. And to no surprise, as the town was founded by the Spanish in 1580 during its colonial reign.

But refrain from romanticizing about the town too much, because once the chromed, pimped-out looking jeepneys (the country’s most popular form of public transportation, which look like something straight out of a Mad Max movie) came barreling down the road past me, blaring music and filled with countless numbers of people crammed inside, any revering feelings I may have had towards the town quickly dissipated – just as fast as the smoke-belching jeepneys emit exhaust into the air.

-Adam

Man vs. Manila: Surviving New Year's in the Philippines.

2011-01-26T23:40:00.001-08:00

I opened the door to Sheila’s apartment, poked my head out the door as explosions in the sky lit my face, took a couple of deep breaths, and sprinted next door while covering my ears. Looking like a soldier running for cover from enemy fire, I sought shelter next door.

It was New Year’s Eve in Manila, and it was mayhem.

For New Year’s, Filipinos exhibit their passion for making a ruckus with an impressive shock and awe firecracker extravaganza. According to one of the million superstitions that’s shared in this country, making noise on New Year’s will drive away evil spirits, which of course – I mean, let’s be honest - is an excuse to blow shit up.

It was a war zone in Manila. And as someone who’s not a fan of fireworks, I was a bit uneasy. But forget about the fireworks for one second. Because not only did I have to worry about stray bottle rockets from invading my bubble space, I had to worry about gonzo gun holders who celebrate New Year’s with celebratory gunfire.

In the end, my feelings of uneasiness warranted legitimate concern because the moment the clock struck midnight there were a reported of 546 cases of injuries due to fireworks and stray bullets – and thirty-three percent of those cases involved children between the ages of 1 and 10 years old.

There’s definitely a good reason why my father didn't allow me to use fireworks as a child . . . because fireworks – in other words, gunpowder! - and children do NOT mix! Period.

I made it next door unscathed and viewed the city’s festivities from the third floor of Tita Helen’s (Sheila’s mother) apartment. It was an amazing spectacle to watch. I was just happy my body was completely intact by the end of the night.

Happy New Year’s!

-Adam

Spending Christmas Away from Home - Again.

2011-01-24T22:55:00.000-08:00

I know this blog is late, forgive me. But as of late, I've been busy traveling around the Philippines and I don’t own a laptop.

This was my second straight Christmas spent in another country. Last year, if you recall, I spent Christmas snorkeling on the island of Pulau Weh, Indonesia.

Good times.

This year, however, I've had the good fortune to spend Christmas in the Philippines. And even though it was a bit sad to be away from my family during the holidays, Sheila and her family filled the void, providing an atmosphere reminiscent of the comforts of home.

For Filipinos, Christmas Eve is celebrated more so than Christmas day. There’s a Christmas Eve feast, called Noche Buena, which begins once the clock strikes midnight. Our feast consisted of spaghetti, chicken curry, and menudo – a Filipino recipe which consists of green peas, ground pork in red sauce, carrots, sweet peas, raisins, and potatoes. Masarap! [translations: delicious]

On Christmas day, Sheila and I spent the morning exchanging gifts while speaking to my mother and brother through Skype. Technology really shrinks the world.

-Adam

I'm A Model - You Know What I Mean . . .

2011-01-07T07:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the title of this blog is meant for Sheila – not yours truly.

Let me explain.

The other day, Sheila left for work dressed in her usual dress attire. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. However, Sheila’s return home was nothing short of extraordinary.

I was typing a blog in her bedroom, minding my own business, when she returned and entered the bedroom – definitely a ‘blog-stopper’ entrance, I must say - looking like a runway model who’d just returned from performing turns on the catwalk.

"I'm a model you know what I mean,

And I do my little turn on the catwalk,

Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah,

I shake my little touche on the catwalk."

Imagine the sound of me typing on the keyboard come to a sudden stop once she entered the bedroom.

There was a momentary pause.

“Wha-What the . . .” I said, at a loss of words – and rightly so.

“Why are you . . . ?”

“Where did you . . . ?”

“Wait. What just happened?”

To find out, my assessment of her looking like a runway model wasn't too far from the truth.

A friend of Sheila’s, who’s a makeup artist, needed someone to be her model for her makeup portfolio. Naturally, she invited Sheila. And the photo shoot was held at the School of Fashion and Arts where Project Runway Philippines - a Philippine adaptation to the American reality television series, Project Runway – is filmed.

Lucky me.

". . . And I’m too sexy for this blog."

-Adam

The Philippines: Corruption at the Bureau.

2010-12-30T02:26:00.000-08:00

I've been in the Philippines for three and half months, and next week I’ll be returning to the Bureau of Immigration in Manila where I’ll renew my Tourist Visa once again.

I had an interesting experience the first time I renewed my Visa at the Bureau of Immigration. As I've mentioned in one of my previous posts, the non-governmental organization that monitors political corruption, Transparency International (TI), scored the Philippines at a 2.4, on a scale from 10 (highly clean) to 0 (highly corrupt) in its Corruption Perception Index for 2010. To get an idea of how poor of a ranking this is, the Philippines tied with Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe.

Tied with Zimbabwe? Now that’s corrupt.

So I shouldn't have been too surprised when the government employee working at the cashier’s desk of the Bureau of Immigration attempted to rip me off, overcharging me for the Visa nearly $30 USD. Luckily I had Sheila call the Bureau prior to our arrival and ask how much the Visa would cost, just in case something like this would happen.

Once the cashier punched the numbers in the calculator and turned it around for me to see, I knew I was being overcharged.

“What the . . . ?” I said to Sheila, raising an eyebrow.

Sheila quickly told the man that she’d called earlier and was told the Visa would cost much less. The man didn't speak a word; he simply reached for the calculator, nonchalantly punched in some new figures and turned it around, displaying a much cheaper price.

He smiled and gave Sheila a wink.

Now you know a country is corrupt when a low-level government employee tries to rip you off. If it’s corrupt at this level, I can’t even begin to imagine how corrupt it gets once you begin to move up the ladder.

It appears that Transparency International’s recent assessment has proven to be undoubtedly accurate - not that I’d ever doubted it.

-Adam

The Philippines: Christmas Caroling For Cash.

2010-12-23T03:37:00.001-08:00

After having dinner next door with Sheila’s family I returned to the apartment. My belly was feeling bloated due to an over-consumption of rice, so instead of walking upstairs I plugged in the laptop, sat at the kitchen table and extended my legs onto another chair where I began to relax, allowing my stomach to digest as I read my daily dose of international news.

And then it began. . .

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It sounded like children singing. Initially I didn't pay any attention to the singing that I'd heard as this was the Christmas Season - which, in the Philippines, has to be the longest Christmas season in the world as they begin celebrating it in September. Plus, it’s a 24-hour commotion cycle in the neighborhood, from vendors yelling and selling things; to the frequent firecracker explosions; to the ignorant neighbors who allow their children to piss at my front doorstep, etc. And because of this, I've learned how to block out my surroundings.

But the singing continued.

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Then the knocking at the door began, followed by . . . you guessed it, more singing.

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Raising an eyebrow, I starred inquisitively at the window. And then it dawned on me. But of course! These were neighborhood Christmas Carolers! Wow.

People still do that?

Anyways, it was sort of bad timing. I mean, I was pretty comfortable. But not wanting to be perceived as a Mr. Grinch or Mr. Scrooge, I got up and opened the door to greet them.

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

“Okay. Wow. Great job.” I said, smiling.

However, once they finished singing an awkward silence ensued.

“Um. Again, really great job, kids. That was . . . [cough, cough] . . . that was really great.”

Still nothing.

I guess since I've been living in a comfortable apartment for 3 months I forget that I’m still in Southeast Asia. This wasn't the typical Christmas Caroling that I've been accustomed to in the States. Oh, no. This was “Christmas Caroling for Cash.”

But what’s the going rate for tipping Christmas Carolers in the Philippines, I thought?

So I poked my head out the door to see if any of Sheila’s family members were around. And sure enough Sheila’s mother was standing outside watching.

She laughed.

“Just give them a few pesos,” she laughingly told me. So I grabbed a few pesos out from my pocket and handed it to the children. They sang a little “Thank you for giving us some money, we’ll be on our way now” tune, and left.

Oh, Christmas in the Philippines. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

-Adam

Road Trip to Northern Luzon, Part 3: The Bangui Windmills & Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

2010-12-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Feeling rejuvenated after twelve hours of sleep, Sheila and I were ready to travel back to Manila. But first we had our tricycle driver take us to Ilocos Norte's most prized landmarks: The Bangui Windmills and Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

I was highly impressed with the sheer size of these massive wind turbines, which stood 23 stories high.

I was also genuinely surprised with how relatively quiet these massive wind turbines operated, as I was certain that I would be able to hear the rotor blades slicing the wind. However, all I could hear - maybe it was due to the sound of the waves crashing ashore - was the soft humming of the enclosed generator.

The windmills, which are referred to as the Northwind Bangui Bay Project, were recently installed in 2005 and are considered to be one of the biggest - if not the biggest - in Southeast Asia.

The windmills are an alternative form of energy, albeit a source of clean energy which produces 40% of the Ilocos Norte's electricity. And before the installation of this wind farm, many of the province's inhabitants didn't have electricity in their homes.

Our next and final stop of our weekend-long road trip in the Ilocos region was to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

This was my second time to see one of the Philippines' Spanish colonial-era lighthouses, as I'd just seen the lighthouse on Capones Island off the coast of Pundaquit located in the province of Zambales.

However, unlike the lighthouse on Capones Island, this lighthouse appeared to be in better condition.

It's still fully functional as well, and directs ships entering the Philippine Archipelago towards safety.

Our road trip to northern Luzon was a success, and after a 12 hour bus ride from Laoag we safely arrived in Manila. Phew! What a weekend.

-Adam

Road Trip to Northern Luzon, Part 2: The City of Pagudpud, Waterfalls, Caves, and Blue Lagoons.

2010-12-17T02:16:00.000-08:00

Saud Beach, Pagudpud

After visiting Vigan we hired a tricycle driver to take us to the bus station. At the station we boarded a run-down, barely operable looking bus. And just as we were about to leave, the driver shifted the bus into park and began repairing it. It took the driver about 30 minutes before he finished. However, after about 5 minutes he pulled over again. We waited for another 30 minutes before I nudged Sheila, who had been asleep, and exited the bus. The driver was nowhere to be found.

“What the . . .“ I said in disbelief. I looked up to Sheila who was sitting near the window and told her that I didn't see our driver. To our dismay, a passenger who had just boarded the bus said that our driver was taking a bath.

“He’s doing what?” I said to Sheila, as I was certain that my ears had just deceived me.

“He’s taking a bath,” Sheila responded, gesturing a person taking a bucket bath.

That was the last straw.

I walked straight to the street and hailed the next approaching bus. It pulled over and we hopped inside.

Boom. Done.

I love how you can hail buses anywhere in the country. I wish it was like this in the States so I didn't have to drive. That would be amazing.

Two hours later we arrived in the city of Laoag where we transferred onto another bus to Pagudpud, near the northernmost tip of Luzon. The sun was rising as we were riding along the island’s northern coast which made out for some pretty scenery. I had difficulty staying awake during this stretch as it'd been over 24 hours since I'd slept. However, when I did awake from my brief, periodic slumbers it was to the regions diverse landscape: pretty mountainous scenery, rolling hills, green coastal land, water buffalo, and rice fields which were attended by people in ankle deep water.

About a half hour outside of Pagudpud, our bus driver pulled over and picked up an old woman who was standing along the street, waiving. The brittle old woman looked as if she'd been alive since Moses: she was about 4 feet tall; had zero teeth; dark skin; and deep, thick facial lines which zigzagged across her entire face, undoubtedly the result of exposure to the sun for over 10,000 years. She was full of personality and always smiling and laughing, and her voice sounded like one of the munchkins from the movie The Wizard of Oz. She was so adorable. And when she spoke it wasn't in Tagalog - the Philippines official language - but in Ilocano, the predominant language spoken in this region of the country.

Once we arrived in Pagudpud we immediately hired a tricycle driver for the day. We didn't have a hotel booked as of yet, so we asked our driver to take us to a place within our price range. He took us to Northridge Beach Resort, located along Saud Beach. I would guess the beach was over a mile long, and was lined with pretty palm trees and clear blue water. The view of Saud Beach was definitely well worth the long sojourn to the north.

We requested for our driver to pick us back up in 2 hours, giving us ample time to check-in, eat breakfast, and take a brief nap.

The first stop of our tour around Pagudpud was to Kabigan Falls. To reach the falls we had to pay a small entrance fee and hire a guide. It was compulsory. The people managing the entrance desk said the money would stay within the community. I hope so.

To reach the falls we had to walk about 1.5 miles through pleasant panorama scenery with gorgeous green vegetation. The sun was intense as we walked through the small village. However we were protected by the sun once we entered the jungle and its thick foliage.

Kabigan Falls was amazing. The pictures speak for themselves.

Stop number 2: Patapat Viaduct, one of the northernmost roadways in the Luzon.

Stop number 3: Aquao Paradiso/Grande.

Stop number 5: Timmangtang Rock.

Stop number 6: Bantay Abot Cave.

Stop number 7: Blue Lagoon Beach.

The Blue Lagoon Beach was our final stop before returning to Saud Beach.

Back at the hotel we decided to walk the entire length of the beach. The beach is so long that it's easy to find a section vacant of tourists. I think the round-trip took us nearly two hours, with one brief stop in order to enjoy the sunset.

We worked up quite the appetite walking the entire length of the beach and back. So immediately after our return we enjoyed a delicious dinner, which included pasta and salad.

An eventful day it most certainly was :-)

-Adam

Road Trip to Northern Luzon, Part 1: The Historical City of Vigan.

2010-12-15T04:23:00.000-08:00

This past weekend Sheila and I traveled to Ilocos, a region located in northwestern Luzon. As I've mentioned before, since Sheila works during the week we typically travel during the weekends. And it's fine, really, because it allows me to see the country at a slower pace. And traveling at a slower pace ultimately leads to spending less money which is ideal for long-term traveling. However, due to the lack of inexpensive flights, we had to travel to the northernmost tip of Luzon without flying. In other words, we had to rush.

After Sheila got off of work, we took a taxi straight to the bus station and boarded the next bus bound for Vigan. Due to the amount of traffic in Manila, however, it took us 1.5 hours to leave the city. Damn you, traffic. Damn you.

We arrived in Vigan at 2am after a 9 hour bus ride. The historical city of Vigan is a Spanish colonial town that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The main tourist attraction of the city is the preserved colonial street of Calle Crisologo. After exiting the bus Sheila and I walked straight to this famous street, passing a line of horse-drawn carriages. And since we arrived in Vigan in the dead of night we were able to experience the city’s main tourist attraction in relative solitude, with the exception of a few drunken passersby who slowly stumbled their way down the dark, desolate cobblestone street conjuring images of walking zombies as the sound of their shoes skidding the surface of the street echoed off the old colonial buildings.

We lucked out with the weather, too. It couldn't have been any more perfect. The sky was clear and the temperature was cool and refreshing which made out for an enjoyable stroll down one of the country’s most historical sites. Lamps hanging from the old colonial-era buildings casted long shadows of us over the cobblestone street as we quietly took pictures. It was a real treat.

Vigan, however, was just a short stop-over before continuing north to Pagudpud. And after an hour we caught another bus out of the city, hoping to arrive in Pagudpud by 8am.

So much to see, so little time.

-Adam

The Philippines: Island Hopping in Pundaquit, Zambales.

2010-12-09T00:55:00.000-08:00

Our next road trip was to Pundaquit, a small Filipino fishing village located in San Antonio, Zambales, about 3.5 hours northwest of Manila. We used Pundaquit as a jumping-off point for island hopping and to see some of the beautiful coves along its coast. A few weeks ago, Sheila came up with the idea to visit Pundaquit while brainstorming about our next trip. She said that she’d been there before and that it was beautiful. I was in. This time, however, we invited a few of our friends to join us as it was close enough in proximity to Manila. Plus, the more friends that joined the cheaper it would be as we would have to hire a boatman for the day. Sheila called the boatman that she’d used before and arranged everything. In total, there were six of us: My friend, Joey, and Sheila’s friends, Joseph, Jane and Ella.

The six of us took a bus from Manila and arrived in Pundaquit at around 3am. Two tricycles awaited our arrival as we exited the bus, and we were quickly whisked away to the boatman's house. Because we weren't going to set sail until 7am, the boatman's wife led us to an establishment in which I would simply describe as a 'shelter'. It was a small room with concrete floors and bamboo walls. Real basic. Just a place to get some rest and a little shut-eye before our morning departure at sea.

About three hours later I was awakened to the sound of the ever-so-annoying roosters that inhabit Southeast Asia and dogs which barked and scurried around our haven. I don't know how I did it, but I did manage to get some sleep. After I popped my back and slowly got up from the cold concrete floor, I walked outside where breakfast was being served. Our boatman's home was located about 100 meters from the sea in a tiny, basic village with pretty mountainous scenery. The homes in the village were essentially huts, consisting of tin roofs and bamboo walls - and the water from the village had to be fetched from wells.

After breakfast our boatman led us to the beach. The beach was lined with rustic-looking boats manned by Filipino men whose skin had been darkened by the baking sun. After we boarded our boat, a group of ten guys helped push our small vessel off from the sandbar and onto the sea.

And off we went . . .

The first island that we visited was Camara Island, near the shores of Pundaquit. The waves were strong, and continually crashed onto the island's shores. There were also a lot of boulders and interesting rock formations, undoubtedly caused by the wind and the daily pounding it receives from the sea.

The next two pictures below are of mainland Luzon, the coast of Pundaquit.

To the next island! . . .

Just adjacent to Camara Island resides a larger island, called Capones Island. Like its neighbor, Capones Island experienced strong waves creating an unsafe environment to swim in as there were many rocks and corals. But we didn't travel to the island to swim, we came to the island to see its lighthouse.

To reach the lighthouse we had to hike for an hour. This entailed hiking over to the other side of the island, along its coast, and up a steep mountain. Before we hiked over to the other side of the island, however, we passed through a stretch of beach where large deposits of sandals had been washed ashore. Very strange.

The Capones Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1890 under Spanish Colonialism. I was surprised to learn that the lighthouse was still functional. Because believe me, the 120 year old lighthouse looked every bit its age.

Apparently, the tower is the only part of the building which has been renovated, and is now solar-powered. The rest of the building is noticeably deteriorating. So when everyone began climbing the decrepit-looking spiral staircase to the lantern tower, I was extremely conscientious of my surroundings.

Initially, I declined the invitation from everyone who'd climbed to the top. It just didn't look safe. It was only after Sheila and everyone had repeatedly hollered for me to join them - which echoed throughout its eerie chambers - that I decided to join.

In the end, I was glad that I did as the scenery was spectacular. It was almost like a sensory overload. My depth perception was inhibited due to the sheer magnitude of the geological phenomena that I was witnessing. I momentarily felt dizzy and my stomach felt as if it was dropping, like I was riding a roller coaster or something. Weird.

After we descended back down the spiral staircase, we walked outside and to the edge of the cliff where we further soaked in the resplendent scenery.

Our third stop was to the amazing Anawangin Cove, about a 25 minute boat ride from Capones Island located along Pundaquit's coastline. And whether you are a beach lover or a woodsy-camping kind of person, Anawangin Cove is the place for you. I was in awe as our boat entered the cove. It's nestled in between riveting green mountains, has a beautiful whitish-grey sand beach, and tall pine trees.

Beach, mountains, and pine trees? It doesn't get much better than that.

We had lunch in the woods amongst the pretty pine trees. Our meal included fish, shrimp and veggies. Delicious.

After lunch we took a stroll to take some pictures. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an old woman carrying bundled tree branches came walking out of the woodwork - literally. Sheila and I exchanged a few looks as if to say, "How in the heck is she able to carry that?" For someone her age and size, it seemed physically impossible. After she crossed the shallow riverbed, she managed to lay them down next to a tree before walking away. Sheila's friend, Joseph, quickly walked over and picked it up. Even he struggled lifting the branches over his head. Next, Joey gave it a shot. He was able to do it easier than Joseph, but it still took a lot of effort.

Quite impressive.

After relaxing on the beach, swimming, and playing frisbee for a few hours, we left. Our next and final stop was to Nagsasa Cove, about a 45 minute boat ride south of Anawangin Cove.

If you can believe it, Nagsasa Cove may have been better than Anawangin Cove. It had less people, a longer beach, a pretty river that flowed into the sea, mountainous scenery, and an unobstructed view of the sunset. Unbelievable.

It took over an hour to reach the shores of Pundaquit from Nagsasa Cove. Back at the boatman's house, everyone took a bath outside by pumping water from the well into a bucket. So refreshing. There's something invigorating about taking a bucket bath outside.

After dinner, we expressed our gratitude to our boatman and to his family. I was really in marvel at everything that I'd seen and experienced. And I was thankful to be able to share my experiences with such a great group of people. It was another great adventure in the Philippines.

-Adam

The Philippines: Mount Makiling Forest Reserve and Hot Springs

2010-12-08T01:12:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, Joey, who I had met when I was in the Philippines back in May while visiting Banaue and its famous rice terraces, invited Sheila and I to his home. It’s always great to revisit friends that I’ve made during my travels; and I was especially excited for Sheila to meet him. Joey lives in the city of Los Banos in the province of Laguna, south of Metro Manila. After receiving his PhD from the University of Florida he moved back to the Philippines where he’s now a professor at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB).

After a long drive due to traffic and rain, we arrived at Joey’s home. It was great to see him again. I couldn’t believe that it had been six months already. Sheila and Joey got acquainted over a delicious meal that Joey prepared for us. As I had expected, they got along amazingly well – as if they had known each other forever.

Joey’s home is conveniently located near Mount Makiling Forest Reserve. He literally lives a stones throw away from the campus of UPLB, the foot of Mt. Makiling.

We spent the day hiking through the rainforest. The park had an abundance of beautiful wildlife and lush green vegetation.

While hiking the main trail up Mt. Makiling, we had to be mindful of bicycle enthusiasts who, without a moments notice, would quickly pedal their way past us and down the unpaved, rugged mountain.

Eventually we made it to the mystical looking Mud Spring where a cloud of smoke hovered over the boiling pool of mud. According to the informative sign adjacent to the Mud Spring, "A mud pot is a type of hot spring that is formed when due to volcanic heat, sulfuric acid breaks down surrounding rocks into clay. The clay mixes with water to form mud that is very hot (80 C/176 F)."

As we descended back down the mountain, we stopped at an area located within a relatively dry riverbed, called the Flat Rocks.

Our day ended with a dip in one of the many hot spring resorts in the city. And it should go without saying, being in a musically crazed country and all, that karaoke was involved.

Sheila and I had a great time hanging out with Joey, and invited him to join us the following week to Zambales, a province northwest of Metro Manila to go island hopping with us.

-Adam

The Philippines: Celebrating All Saints Day in the Cemetery

2010-12-06T00:13:00.000-08:00

I wasn't used to seeing so many churches when I first arrived in the Philippines, as Buddhism and Islam are the predominant religions in the rest the region. It was definitely a change of scenery. However, in the Philippines, roughly 90% of the population is Christian – 80% of which subscribe to Catholicism. The strong presence of Christianity in the country is the result of Spanish and American colonialism. And as a country with more Catholic citizens than any other in Asia, Christian holidays are regularly observed. I must say, Filipinos are excessively zealous when celebrating certain holidays. Currently, as a case in point, is the celebration of Christmas. The Christmas season in the Philippines begins in September. Yes, that early. But this blog isn't about Christmas. That’s a topic for another day.

All Saints Day or “Araw ng mga Patay” (Day of the Dead) as it’s referred to in the Philippines, isn’t a holiday which has been overshadowed by Halloween as in the United States. Quite the contrary. It’s a major holiday in the Philippines observed from November 1-2 with the celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. The combination of the two is referred to as Undas.

Sheila told me that every year it’s a tradition for her family to celebrate the holiday by visiting the cemetery to pay respect to the dearly departed. And not only do they visit the cemetery, but they spend the night there as well. That’s right, a good ‘ol fashion sleepover at the graveyard. Needless to say, when Sheila asked if I would like to join her family for the yearly traditional sleepover in the cemetery, I responded with an enthusiastic “Giddy up!”

The entire family crammed into the large van for the one and a half hour drive to the cemetery. Sheila’s uncle, Tito Freddy, made it very clear while driving that the word 'cemetery' in the Philippines is referred to as 'sementeryo', which he repeated like a broken record throughout the entire drive so I wouldn't forget. I’m not exaggerating either when I say the entire drive.

“Sementeryo.”

"Okay, sementeryo."

“Sementeryo.”

“Uh huh.”

“Sementeryo.”

“Gotcha.”

“Sementeryo.”

“For the love of God!”

Eventually I fell asleep, only to dream about a sementeryo and images of cheerios. And when I awoke he hadn't skipped a beat.

“Sementeryo.”

I was surprised to see how crowded it was when we arrived at the sementeryo. For some reason, I had thought the tradition was endemic to Sheila's family. I didn't realize that everyone and there mama would be there as well. Seriously, it was like a family reunion or something. There were so many people that police had to direct traffic. I love some of the vests these guys wear which read 'Traffic Enforcer', not to be confused with people who simply 'direct traffic'. And speaking of enforcement, many security officers could be found patrolling the graveyard for unlawful behavior. Is there anywhere these guys don't patrol? They're everywhere, I tell ya. It has to be the profession that employs the most amount of people in the Philippines.

For me, thinking about visiting the sementeryo conjured images of a sad and solemn atmosphere. Oh, how wrong I was. It was more of a party, festive atmosphere - a time where people caught up with family and friends, played games, and ate food.

One of the strangest sights for me were the amount of businesses present within the sementeryo attempting to capitalize from the holiday. The streets were lined with tents full of food businesses from Dunkin' Donuts to Shakey's. I was hoping to find a McDonald's and have a picture taken of me eating a Big Mac next to a tombstone. I guess the company refrained from participating in this year's Day of the Dead (and probably for good reason) as I couldn't find it.

The perpetual rain that continued throughout the evening prevented many people from partying as long as they would've liked. That said, I think Sheila's family and I went to sleep around 1am. I didn't get much sleep that night, however, laying outside under an open-air tarp while amongst unfamiliar tombstones of the dead as vendors selling balut, a popular snack in the Philippines consisting of a fertilized chicken egg, continually shouted in a way to advertise their product.

"Balut!"

I don't think I'll ever think of this holiday the same again. Celebrating All Saints Day in the Philippines was quite the experience, to say the least.

-Adam

Boracay Island, Philippines.

2010-12-02T21:17:00.001-08:00

I love Cebu Pacific Air, the Philippines’ budget airline which offers both domestic and international flights. Because of budget airlines like Cebu Pacific Air and AirAsia, the other budget airline based out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, you can fly anywhere in Southeast Asia without leaving a hole in your wallet. And when promos are available? Forget about it. You’re practically flying for free. Not joking. I once purchased a one-way ticket to Thailand from Indonesia for $17 USD – and that was after taxes. I wish AirAsia or Cebu Pacific had flights to and from the United States. That would be amazing. That said, AirAsia provides routes to London and, most recently, to Paris. And the other day when I performed a price check, I found a promo to Paris from Kuala Lumpur for $200 USD. Insane.

I love Southeast Asia.

Since Sheila works during the week, we’ve been traveling predominately on the weekends. And when I have a budget airline like Cebu Pacific Air at my disposal, I can travel anywhere domestically on a whim and still manage to keep within my weekly budget. So when we decided to fly to Boracay, arguably the most well known and popular beach in the Philippines, we were still able to do it on the cheap.

Boracay Island is located off the northernmost tip of Panay Island in the western Visayas region. I had heard many things about this well renowned island of the Philippines, and was anxious to see it for myself. I had seen relatively few tourists during my travels in the Philippines thus far; however, I knew this would change once we arrived in Boracay as every tourist who travels to the Philippines inevitably visits this island – or does so for the sole purpose to have a vacation in Boracay.

Before we left, the weather in Manila was terrible. However, three of Sheila’s friends who were already in Boracay, sent Sheila a text message saying not to worry as the weather on the island was great. Phew! The good news enabled us to relax a bit before our flight.

Instead of flying to Caticlan which is closer to Boracay Island, we chose to fly to Kalibo as it was cheaper. And to make things easier – and believe me, it made things much easier – we arranged for our hotel to pick us up from the airport and shuttle us to our hotel, ferry included. This was a stress-free way to commute to the island as it would have been much more difficult to do it on our own, and we didn’t want to risk the possible chance of being ripped off. We reserved a room on the island’s main and most touristy beach, White Beach. Accommodation along this beach is broken into three stations: Station 1 being the most expensive to Station 3 being the least. We chose Station 2.

Once we arrived and checked into our hotel, we went out with Sheila's friends: Paula, Will (Paula's husband), and CJ. I know that I said it was going to be touristy, but dang, I didn't think it was going to be THAT touristy! I hadn't seen so many white people since . . . well, probably Khao San Rd, the backpacker ghetto located in Bangkok, Thailand. But these Caucasians weren't backpackers, they were more high-end type of travelers.

I should note that I tend to label anyone who spends more than $15 USD a day a high-end traveler.

And they weren't all Caucasians, either. There were heaps of Koreans, too. My Lord, they were everywhere - Chinese as well. And because of the influx of tourists, everything costs more compared to the rest of the country. The island of Boracay has definitely become a tourist based economy. There's a plethora of hotels, boutique shops, beach bars, restaurants, and nightlife that stretch the entire length of the 4km beach.

We woke up early the following morning so we could enjoy the beach in relative solitude. But ultimately it was the free breakfast provided by our hotel that prompted me to get up that early. The power of food.

After breakfast we immediately walked to the beach and found a shaded area to relax.

I'm here to report that Boracay is beautiful. There's no way of getting around it. It ranks up there as one of the most beautiful beaches that I've seen during my travels in Southeast Asia. Its crystal clear blue waters, clean and soft sand, its blue skies, and the absence of flies made out for an enjoyable and invigorating day as I relaxed under the shade of palm trees.

"Thud."

The pleasant sound of coconuts hitting the sand could often be heard as the locals frequently climbed the trees to retrieve the fruits from which it beared.

With tourists come touts.

The absence of flies on the island was quickly forgotten with the presence of touts. Everywhere you walk, they're buzzing around your ears.

"My friend, sunglasses?"

"My friend, want a watch?"

"My friend, want to go island hopping?"

My friend, my friend, my friend. Ah! If you go to Boracay you're instantly the most popular guy in town - along with every other foreigner. The island definitely doesn't have a lack of touts, that's for sure. But it wasn't nearly as bad as some of the other places that I've traveled in Southeast Asia. It had just been a long time since I'd been approached by so many of them. The rest of the Philippines is not like Boracay.

There's something else the island doesn't lack: beautiful sunsets. Why are spectacular sunsets endemic to the tropics? In any case, the sunset in Boracay was simply stunning. It definitely ranked up there as one of the most beautiful sunsets that I've seen during my travels, as well.

For dinner, we went to a buffet. As expensive as everything was on the island, we surprising paid only $5 USD for an all-you-can-eat meal. I took full advantage of this.

The next morning, Sheila and I said our goodbyes to White Beach before commuting back to Kalibo Airport . . .

. . . and, ultimately, back to Manila.

-Adam

Davao City, Mindanao Part 4: The Philippine Eagle and My Participation in Local Politics.

2010-11-30T22:22:00.000-08:00

The Philippine Eagle

Once we left Samal Island we immediately began our long journey to the Philippine Eagle Center to get a glimpse of one of the most largest, rarest and powerful eagles on the planet, the Philippine Eagle. The Philippine Eagle, also known as the Monkey-Eating Eagle, is an endangered species which cannot be found in any other country. Due to the high rate of deforestation caused by logging, the existence of the eagle is on the brink of extinction. Killing the endangered species is punishable by a 12 year prison sentence. Not sure why this isn't applied to the real culprits who are responsible for the removal of the eagle's habitat - the essential fabric of its existence. But I digress.

Again, like everywhere in the Philippines, it takes a few modes of transportation to reach any destination. This included a taxi, a jeepney, and a motorbike.

Election-eve tricycle rally.

Our motorbike driver whisked us through villages with pretty surrounding scenery, as many onlookers nudged their friends as we passed. Again, I'm sure this area doesn't see many foreigners.

The Philippine Eagle Center is a sanctuary to roughly 36 eagles, half of which were bred in captivity. The center, which is supported by the Philippine Eagle Foundation, also serves the public by promoting environmental awareness and educating them about the dire state of affairs in which their national bird continues to find itself.

The Philippine Eagle astonishingly reaches 3 feet in height with a wingspan of 6.5-7 feet.

Whoa.

It's a shame that a bird as large as the Philippine Eagle has to be held captive for the sake of its species existence. Nevertheless, it was a privilege to witness such a fascinating creature as its future is uncertain.

After a wonderful visit to the Philippine Eagle Center, Sheila and I left and began our long journey back home as it was getting late and we didn't want to be traveling at night. We hired a friendly motorbike driver to take us back into town where we would then take a shuttle to Davao City. Along the way, however, our driver's hat flew off as we were cruising down the road. He pulled over, and I quickly ran back to retrieve it. Our driver appreciated the gesture and expressed his gratitude with a candid smile. Sheila aka Ms. Paparazzi did an excellent job capturing the moment.

Simply classic.

My Participation in Philippine Politics

Back at the house, political posters were hung as her cousin-in-law, Bobby, was running for re-election. He held the position of an elected low-level government official. From what I could ascertain, his position was the equivalent to a city council member in the United States.

Bobby, who was holding an election-eve rally with his fellow party members up the street, invited Sheila and I to attend and join the family. As a political junkie, I couldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. Sounded great. And just before we left, Bobby handed me a t-shirt with his name on it and asked if I would wear it to the rally. Initially, I must admit, I was a little hesitant as this is a country known to be extremely politically corrupt. According to Transparency International (TI), a non-governmental organization that monitors political corruption, its Corruption Perception Index for 2010 has the Philippines scoring at a 2.4, on a scale from 10 (highly clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). To get an idea where this ranks with other countries, the Philippines tied with Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone on the Corruption Perception Index.

Take a look at it here: http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results

If I was to ever to get involved in politics in the future, I could definitely see this biting me in the behind. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. What was I suppose to do, say no? Yeah right. But I'd heard Bobby talk about politics earlier and what he stood for, and it appeared that his political views were sane enough for my liking. He came off as an extremely friendly and honest man.

It was quite a memorable experience walking to the rally with Sheila's family, as Bobby stood by my side. I aroused inquisitive stares, smiles and laughter from bystanders as we walked through the busy streets. As I'd mentioned earlier, it didn't appear that this neighborhood had received many foreigners. And as one can imagine, I stood out like a sore thumb.

"Iboto si Bobby! (Vote for Bobby!)" I repeatedly hollered, as Bobby waved and shook hands with friends and supporters.

"Oh my God," Sheila said, who looked down and covered her face. "You're embarrassing me."

It's safe to assume that I was enjoying myself.

By the time we had approached the stage, I'd gained a following of children who laughingly surrounded me.

I was really impressed with the diversity of candidates who were running with Bobby. There was a woman - the captain or elected leader of the group - who was running for re-election; a Muslim; and a homosexual. And there were heaps of people in the crowds in support of these candidates, wearing shirts and holding signs. I was impressed.

This woman (pictured above) was a supporter of the opposing party - a party who had had their rally the previous night; however, she felt the need to crash this one. She was a bit unstable mentally, if you catch my drift, who was decked out in clothing and accessories that indicated her support for the candidate that Bobby was running against. She was really creepy with a mischievous smile, who constantly felt the need to spit. Yuck.

At the end of the rally, the popular Filipino singer-comedian Blakdyak (pronounced: Blackjack) performed. He really knew how to entertain the crowd. And as the only tall, white foreigner in the crowd, I knew it was only a matter of time before he honed in on me. In between songs as he was speaking to the crowd, he stopped, looked at me and comically made a comment about me being handsome. The crowd responded with cheers and laughter.

After his performance, as the rally was coming to an end, Neri, the Captain, called me up to the stage. Before we left for Davao, Mindanao never did I imagine that I would be participating in local Philippine politics. But there I was, up on the stage, holding hands with political candidates as everyone took a bow. Oh, life on the road . . .

Sadly, the following morning Sheila and I had to return to Manila. I couldn't have asked for a better experience during my travels in Davao City, Mindanao. I'm so glad that I ignored all the travel advisories that warned foreigners against traveling here. Just think of all the amazing experiences in which I would have missed.

Thank you, Bobby, Mercy and family for hosting us during our travels in Davao. Your generosity and hospitality is much appreciated.

The Philippines: Davao City, Mindanao from Hittin The Trail on Vimeo.

-Adam