I was planning on just devoting one post about Danjugan Island but it seems like I enjoyed my stay so much that a single post cannot contain everything I have to say about our experience. Just explaining why this island is one-of-a-kind made my previous entry too lengthy. Read about the history, wildlife and wonders of Danjugan Island here. So [...]
There was a knock on the door. It was Arvee, a Punta Bulata staff, informing us that the boat had just arrived, ready to pick us up. “Are you sure it’s safe to go now?” The rain seemed to be getting heavier and the waves stronger. Honestly, my two friends Celine and Ronnie and I had been having second thoughts. [...]
After the Davao Wild Water adventure, our group headed back to Davao Crocodile Park (where the Davao Wild Water Adventure is based). Because we were such a big group, it took so much time for every one to take shower and change clothes. Since the Poor Traveler was one of the first to line up at the shower rooms, I [...]
For the longest time, I felt like a part of me had been missing. Whenever I come home to my hometown, I’m appalled by how much the place has changed. Even our house is completely unrecognizable. The trees that I grew up climbing, the grass covering our backyard, they are gone. Long gone. What’s there now are pavements. Concrete floors [...]
When the Poor Traveler was just a young boy, he heard from a magazine show on TV of a child being attacked and then devoured by a huge crocodile in the province. Since then, I had feared crocodiles. I didn’t like seeing them even on TV. Whenever National Geographic Channel would feature them, I’d switch channels. They had been giving [...]
Our flight back to Manila was scheduled at 2pm so we still had the entire morning to explore Puerto Princesa City. Again, our original plan was to take the City Tour by Casa Linda, which cost P600 per person. That would allow us to explore the city on an air-conditioned van. But if there’s one thing we learned by then, [...]
Our original plan was to take Casa Linda’s Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Tour with buffer lunch at P1600 per person. However, the tricycle driver we met (Kuya Ding, 09186620495) referred to us a travel agency that offered the same tour with buffet lunch at a lower price — P1300/pax. We grabbed it. Kuya Ding gave us the number and we [...]
We stayed for over an hour at the Chocolate Hills and drank as much buko juice as we could. At this point, the whole countryside tour had gotten tiring as much as it was exciting. Sitting in the van for hours was more exhausting than we expected. Haha. Our next stop was the Simply Butterflies Conservation Center which houses a [...]
Right after our “big gutom” was quenched by our big buffet lunch, we hopped back into our service van. As soon as we were comfortable, our driver announced that we would be heading towards Carmen, Bohol to see the Chocolate Hills, which made everyone cheer up. (Mind you, the buffet lunch was a lot sleep-inducing, there’s a really good chance [...]
From big to small. From reptile to primate. From monstrous to the cutest. Bohol is home to not just the world’s biggest snake in captivity but also the world’s smallest primate — the tarsier! And man are they cute! The province of Bohol is most commonly known for two attractions — the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier. I remember, both [...]
The Poor Traveler is usually scared if reptiles. Very scared of reptiles. Terrified, in fact. I remember our trip to Lucban, Quezon for the Pahiyas Festival, there was a house where a big yellow snake was on display and they encouraged tourists to have a photo-op with the snake on the shoulder. My friends had a very difficult time wasting [...]
After a hearty breakfast at Cafe Uno, the Poor Traveler and his friends drove to Baluarte. Baluarte is a relatively new attraction in Vigan. It used to be former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson‘s residence. That’s why it is commonly dubbed “Baluarte ni Singson,” “Baluarte ni Chavit,” or “Chavit’s Fortress.” Today, it is a major tourist destination in the [...]
