2012 Year-End Review

A little bit of everything... is how I sum-up my 2012. Some were stricken-off my bucket lists while some, because of work and other matters, remain to be elusive. But all-in-all, while I do scrap some of my planned trips during the year, I could say that 2012 is a pretty good year travel-wise.

Of course, I am anticipating some big changes to happen in 2013 so traveling, health and life will no longer take the back seat. But for now, here is a look-back of some of the travels and other things that transpired in 2012:

I always have this love affair with Waterfalls and I have visited more than half a dozen of them in 2012. I particularly love Bigaho Waterfalls in Port Barton and the Buruwusin Falls in Laguna. I also had a great time with Bugtong Bato Falls in Antique, Papuwayan Falls in Port Barton and Lanzones Falls also in Laguna. I also visited Imugan Falls of Nueva Vizcaya for the second time this year. If someone will ask you what is the best way to have me surely say yes on a trip - just say the magic word - Waterfalls.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is no longer the same. One by one we go. But distance is never a hindrance to celebrate His birth for He is the reason for the holiday season. 

 Merry Christmas Everyone!

Makati: Ayala Enchanting Lights and Sound Show 2012

Curtain of Lights

This time of the year, the Ayala Triangle Gardens turns into an enchanting place surrounded by thousands of lights and colorful spheres that gives an impression that they are floating in the air.

A Tale of Two Pansit Batil Patong

Tuguegarao's Pancit Batil Patong

This is it pansit!

Two versions of a regional treat but each done differently. Of course, both has the same main ingredient of noodles and sunny-side-up egg. And both is accompanied by a soup stock resembling an egg drop but the taste and the similarity ends there. Pansit Batil Patong is known to originate from Tuguegarao City so it is also called Pansit Tuguegarao. Almost every corner of the main streets in the City has panciteria which serves this plateful of delicacy.

Someday...

...soon!

Cebu: Heritage Town of Boljoon

Cebu's Premier Heritage Town

I always wanted to go to Boljoon. I have heard so much about the place specially on how the locals there do a concerted effort to preserve the place. Even before Oslob became famous for those gentle whalesharks, Boljoon has always been at the back of my mind whenever I travel Cebu. And why not, it is the home of the oldest remaining original stone church in Cebu.

Palawan: San Vicente Long Beach

Serene

From Alimanguan to Pinagmangalokan is a stretch of fourteen kilometers of white beach which is reputably the longest beach in the Philipppines. As if Palawan is not loaded enough with lots of natural attractions, Tabon Cave, Underground River and Coron to name a few, add to that is this longest beach in the country, thus, Palawan will be hard to beat as the premier province for eco-tourism.

Palawan: Ridin' Honda at the Philippines' Longest Beach

San Vicente's Loooooooong Beach

Palawan: Good Morning San Vicente

San Vicente, Palawan

What does your typical morning look like? In my case, six days a week, it's always the same - people in the rush as they try to beat their bundee clock. And in the process, there is the never-ending exodus of cars, buses, motorcycles and what-have-yous that typically converge on EDSA. Chaos. But for that one other day of the week, it is different. It should be different. And it should look like these:

Aklan: It's Boracay, Not Bora

Life Guard Tower with a Native Twist

Call me a beach-chaser with penchant for finding beaches within off-the-beaten paths. And with more than Seven Thousand Islands islands in it's archipelago, it will take more than a lifetime to chase all of them.

From the international traveler's point of view, Boracay is undoubtedly the queen of all beaches on the country. As proof, readers of Travel+Leisure Magazine named Boracay as the Best Island in the World for 2012 beating out other beach-laden islands like Bali, Maui and Santorini.

Nueva Vizcaya: Malico Pine Forest

When my sister chanced upon me browsing through my Malico Pine Forest pics, she said the place looked like a scene from the Twilight series. Well, I dunno if it is just me or if there is anybody else for that matter that can't relate but I never really followed that series. I mean, although I am aware that there is a Team Bella or Team Edward, I guess I have outgrown Count Dracula or the Teenage Warewolf, so the entire Twilight thing is a little alien to me.

Nueva Vizcaya : Reunion Trip @ Imugan Falls

Dreamy Imugan Falls

It is the first time in months that the six of us has gotten back on the road. Well, other than the occassional food trips around the metro and several out-of-towners that include four of us at most, this time, the gang (with a muse) is complete and of course, fun and laughter accompanied us every step of the way.

Iloilo : Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral

Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

With a few hours to spare before my flight back to Manila, I spent those hours wandering around Iloilo City proper. It is my first time here eventhough just in-trasitu, so it is a good idea to check out the place.

Light

Batangas: Ala Eh! Laiya

Sunny Laiya

Fine Sand... check; Awesome views... check; Activities... check; Overnight accommodation... check; Accessibility... check! For s no-fuss with lots of frills weekend trip, Laiya in Batangas is a perfect spot. In fact, amidst arguable opposition, it holds the title of Batangas' Summer Capital.

Stop-Over Lunch @ Dumarao

Dumarao, Capiz

Pengees Restaurant boast of having the best Kalderetang Kambing (Goat Meat Stew) in the whole of Panay Island. Although I am not a fan of Kambing dishes, not tasting this famous Capiz dish is a big no-no for me. What's my verdict?

30 Days of Sunset 30/30

the day the sun finally sets-in...

The 30 Days of Sunset series ends here. I immensely enjoyed sharing these photographs I have taken in White Beach, Boracay. These were mostly taken in almost the same spot for three straight nights with the paraws or sail boats, Willy's Rock and some beach combers adding a little extra to the scenes.

30 Days of Sunset 29/30

the day of looking forward...

I always look forwards for a perfect opportunity to shoot sunsets. The everchanging colors in the sky as the magnificent hues of blue, orange and/or red turn into complete darkness and then eventually, the moon and the stars take center stage.

30 Days of Sunset 28/30

the day of words...

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.

30 Days of Sunset 27/30

the day i need to decide...

One of the hardest part of life is making decisions that will change the course of one's life. But how hard it may seem, we need to choose and stick with it. And as Victor Hugo would put it "Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.".

30 Days of Sunset 26/30

the day that if i could, i would, but i won't...

It is not hesitation but plainly making stand for if we do not make up our minds to act decidedly and take the consequences, there is no good that will ever be done in this world.

30 Days of Sunset 25/30

the day to be hidden...

There are three things that cannot be long hidden. The sun, the moon and the truth. Although the last one may take the longest one to come out, it will eventually reveal itself out.

30 Days of Sunset 24/30

the day of rants and burning-out...

Have you ever felt that exhaustive feeling that you have already accomplished so much given the time allotted to you and yet there are still so many things left to be done? And despite all the efforts you have put into your work, your superiors felt that it was still not enough?

30 Days of Sunset 23/30

the day of guilty pleasures...
 

I was asked once what is my guilty pleasure? I couldn't answer at once for I haven't got a slightest idea of what guilty pleasure is. I mean, how could you be guilty of something that is pleasurable? But then, I was made to believe that guilty pleasure is something as simple as enjoying sappy movies or collecting starbucks mugs or buying same style of shoes at all colors available. In short, it is something you enjoy even though you know it is not good for you, or too expensive, or somewhat selfish.

30 Days of Sunset 22/30

the day of deadlines...

A famous actor once quoted - "To be honest with you, I'd rather not be working. When you work, there are all sorts of deadlines and pressures. I like to do one thing and take my time to do the other one."

30 Days of Sunset 21/30

the day of long lists...

How do you cope-up with so many tasks and duties lined-up for you to do? You do it one day at a time.

30 Days of Sunset 20/30

the day of heroes...

"Fortunate is the country where heroes emerge because that country will live on." - Andres Bonifacio. Today, the Philippines celebrates National Heroes Day as a tribute to the man and woman who fought for the country during the Spanish and American colonization. Heroes like Bonifacio, Rizal, Mabini, Aguinaldo, Tandang Sora, the Silangs and more will always be remembered for their sacrifice and for the independence we enjoy today.

30 Days of Sunset 19/30

the day my mom mourns the loss of a best friend...

They grew up together and shared lots of memories from their childhood days until highschool. She was even with her when my mother decided to elope with my father on a Simbang Gabi and has to bear the anger of my grandfather on why she let my mother go. I fondly recall this because this is always a running conversation piece whenever these two ladies meet- of how my mother did a disappearing act in the name of love.

30 Days of Sunset 18/30

the day of predominantly blue...

It is the first time that I changed the theme of my blog to blue. It has always been black and sometimes dark brown or dark gray but never of a bright color such as blue. I had the notion that since this is a photo-blog, the photos must take center stage and the theme should take a subdued backseat.

30 Days of Sunset 17/30

the day of mystery ...

Most of the times, we love to sort out the truth from mysterious things, but more often than not, we sort out the truth of life - which is itself a mystery". We woke-up wanting our days to be beautiful and we took efforts just to have it stay that way.

30 Days of Sunset 16/30

the day to chillax...

CHILLAX - the merging of words chill and relax. One is coloquial while the other is traditional but both mean the same thing - to be quiet and calm after a hard days work. And sometimes the most urgent and vital thing we can possibly do in this busy world is chillax.

30 Days of Sunset 15/30

the day of little changes...

Washington Irving of Tales from a Traveller once quoted "There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; as I have found in travelling in a stage-coach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place."

30 Days of Sunset 14/30

the day of searching...

"I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me."

30 Days of Sunset 13/30

the day i opened up my eyes and saw---

30 Days of Sunset 12/30

the day of reminiscin' about...

30 Days of Sunset 11/30

the day of enjoying new tunes and i like... 

30 Days of Sunset 10/30

the day of looking forward to the long weekend, and i will spend it in ...

30 Days of Sunset 09/30

the day of dreaming, and i am dreaming of ...

30 Days of Sunset 08/30

the day of false hope, and i was made to believe that...

30 Days of Sunset 07/30

the day i feel strongest is when ...

30 Days of Sunset 06/30

the day i wish to be left alone is ...

30 Days of Sunset 05/30

the day i regret the most is when ...

30 Days of Sunset 04/30

the day i wish i am in my favorite place which is ...

30 Days of Sunset 03/30

the day i listen to no other song but ... 

30 Days of Sunset 02/30

the day i miss you most is when ...

30 Days of Sunset 01/30

the day i don't feel like doing anything but ...

Rizal: Day Hike at Mount Sembrano

Mount Sembrano Craggy Trail

The passion for hiking can still draw people together across differences of whatever kind. And in this case, people of different department - audit, accounting, purhasing and tax. For all our differences, hiking provides us a common thrill of adventure, a flash of wildness that binds us together.

Boracay: Pick Puka

Puka Beach, Boracay

It is easy to understand why Boracay is named 2012 world's best island getaway by an international travel magazine. It is accessible, the beaches are simply gorgeous and most of all, by foreign standards, the accommodations are very affordable.

Cabanatuan City : Tabon Fish Pool

Cabanatuan Secret Paradise

All manner of traveler's tales talk about how one resort outdoes the other. But for a while, seeing one is pretty much like seeing them all, and the thrill is totally and completely gone. But in the case of Tabon Fish Pool, a family resort in Cabanatuan, a welcome surprise awaits.

Marinduque: Poctoy - Life is a Beach

Poctoy White Beach with Mount Malindig

Life is a beach - a play on words, taken from "life's a ***** and then you die". Originally meaning life is not easy, or that indeed life is hard and in a bit of sarcasm depending on how it is used, it could mean the complete opposite, that life is a breeze.