Antique | Boracay | Seco Island Summer Trip

Antique | Boracay |Seco Island Summer Trip 

May 6-12,2019

 Another wandering time with my cousin!

This cousin is the closest to me. We were stick together since we were young. 

We even became classmates during our second grade in elementary and then during our third and fourth year in high school.

We also went to the same college! But we were enrolled in different course.

Last May, just the two of us, we went home to our dearest hometown, Antique to attend our cousin's wedding. 

We’ve witnessed beach sunsets, mountain views, province life once again. We so missed this!

Calawag Mountain Resort

Kawa Inn Pool

Kawa Inn

Sunset at Culasi

Kawa Inn

• Kawa Inn (Malabor, Antique)- for affordable stay

• Calawag Mountain Resort (Tibiao, Antique)- a river front resort with different amenities that are close to nature you can enjoy! Kawa Hot Bath and Fish Spa is a must try! And also water-tubing or river adventure! We also have the boodle fight meal in this resort!

• Bugtong Bato Falls (also in Tibiao)

• Rice Terraces - yes we have our very own!

• Pandan River- (Pandan, Antique) the cleanliest river in the Philippines

• Malumpati Spring (also in Pandan)

• Mararison Island (Culasi, Antique) -here's my blogpost for your reference :) 

• Seco Island of course!

• Our beaches and a lot more!

And then the day after our arrival we decided to go to Boracay!

Boracay is just two hours away from our hometown. 

This was our first time to go back in Boracay after it was closed for renovation and we can visibly see the improvement. 

Nice to see you again, Boracay! Your white sand still didn't fail to amuse me.

Two days after our Boracay escapade, which was also the day after our cousin's wedding, we then went to Seco Island!

I consider this as one of the hidden gems of Antique!

Our call time was 2 a.m. but the boat that we're riding started to sail at past 3 in the morning.

We've witnessed the milky way sky! Sorry, I don't have photo because my phone and cam didn't permit.

Lovely sunrise also welcomed us! 

And we also saw some dolphins before finally reaching the island.

Seco Island is a secluded island paradise in the province of Tibiao, Antique (my birthplace/hometown!).

White fine sand beach around the 4-hectare island, bluish crystal-clear water, solitude, "disconnect to connect" feels, unspoiled beach, presence of colorful sea shells, star fish, hermit crabs, alluring waves, long sand bar and a lot more! 

The three-hour boat ride was worth it!

We were back home at past 5 in the afternoon. 

When you're planning to visit Antique, please include Seco Island in your itinerary! 

And here's some of the best spots to explore in Antique:

I am so in love with my hometown and with Boracay as well! 

P.S. Kawa Inn and Calawag Mountain Resort are my relative's family business. :)

They have  Facebook pages that you can check.

My past blog post about my hometown:

http://alainemontemayor.blogspot.com/2017/10/roxas-capiz-and-antique-trip-back-to-my.html

1000-peso Budget DIY Day Trip to Liwliwa Beach, Zambales

Liwliwa Day Trip

San Felipe, Zambales

April 9, 2019

Off to a spontaneous trip with my cousin for this day!

We were badly missing the beach so we decided to go on a DIY trip to Zambales.

Our specific destination was at Liwliwa Beach, San Felipe, Zambales and our accommodation would be at The Circle Hostel, Zambales Branch. They do have other branches in Baler, Aurora and San Juan, La Union.

I have a friend who works at The Circle Hostel in Liwliwa (but as of this posting, she already resigned and just continued her life being a hostel guest and a forever beach bum. Hi, Abby! Miss you!).

2 am of Saturday, we were already at the Pasay Victory Liner. Their first trip to Zambales is at 2:30 

a.m. Travel time from Manila to Liwliwa Beach, San Felipe, Zambales is approximately 5 hours.

We chose to be dropped off at Olongapo so we could have our breakfast at Jollibee first. Fare is Php 273.00

We reached Olongapo at 6 am, ate our breakfast then rode a bus again going to San Felipe. Bus Fare is Php. 72.00

Upon reaching the town of San Felipe, we rode a tricycle going to Circle Hostel. Fare is Php 30.00 per head.

It was past 9 AM when we reached The Circle Hostel. 

Circle Hostel is just a three-minute walk to Liwliwa Beach.

We seized the day!

From morning till sunset, we loved and enjoyed the hostel and of course the beach!

Liwliwa has a grayish sand beach and for some time, the waves are high which is good for surfing.

There are nearby budget-friendly restaurants with yummy food that we also enjoyed.

By 12 midnight, we were already back at home.

This day trip is definitely one of the best treasured moments of my nomadic life!

Here’s our itinerary and budget for the day:

2 am - Victory Liner Pasay

2:30 - going to Olongapo (273 pesos)

5:30 – reached Olongapo, breakfast at Jollibee

6:00 – rode a bus going to Iba, dropped at San Felipe (72 pesos), then rode a tricycle going to Circle Hostel (30 pesos)

8:30 – reached Liwliwa

9am to 11 am – beach bumming at Liwliwa Beach with tent pitching

12 nn – lunch (100 pesos per head)

1-3 – Back to Circle Host, nap time until 3pm

4pm – back to beach for the sunset

5:30pm – snack time before wash off

6 pm – head home, rode a bus going to Olongapo, rode another bus (Victory) to Cubao

12 midnight- home

Estimated Total Budget -  Php 1,000.00

Circle Hostel Website: http://zambales.thecirclehostel.com/

Holiday Hike at Mount Mapalad

Tanay, Rizal | February 25, 2019

First hike of the year, yey!

Our meet up place and time was at Jollibee Cubao at 4 in the morning.

We rode a jeep going to Cogeo and then rode again another jeep going to Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal.

Mount Mapalad’s jump off area is located at San Andres, Tanay, Rizal.

We told the driver to drop us off at San Andres but unfortunately, he didn’t drop us there. He said that Batangasan and San Andres were just the same and we didn’t know it!

So upon reaching their terminal/end destination - Sampaloc, Tanay, we rented a tricycle going back and that tricycle brought us to Mount Mapalad’s jump off area which is the Barangay of San Andres.

Tricycle fare was 60 pesos per head.

This is also the same jump off area for Mount Batolusong, Mount Alapaap, Maynoba and other nearby mountains.

Registration fee is Php 100.00

And guide fee is Php 500.00 good for five persons.

We reached our destination and started the hike at past 6 am after securing a guide.

It was an easy and shady trail going to the summit.

In less than two hours, we reached the summit.

The not so good part here is that we have to wait for our turn to have some photo op on the infamous giant human palm with a perfect backdrop.

I think we have waited for more than an hour for each palm. The summit by the way has two giant palms.

We even had some time for early lunch and nap time.

After the photo op, we had some bath time on a nearby swamp that has mini-falls.  

We got back at the jump off area at 3 in the afternoon then we washed up.

At past 5, we’re back in Manila and had dinner at Mang Inasal.

Hello, unli rice!

Today’s hike is fine and also a good start for more hikes this year!

Thank you for the warm welcome, Mount Mapalad!

Gift-Giving at Tarlac and Guimaras

Tarlac and Guimaras | February 19-21, 2019

We’re back to Tarlac and Guimaras for the second phase of the Memory Project’s gift of portraits to kids!

February 19, 2019 | Sitio Manabayukan and Sitio Binyayan, Barangay O’Donell, Capas Tarlac.

At 4 in the morning, the team were already all set going to Tarlac.

We went to two Sitios to give to the kids their portraits. Last July 2018, we took their photos.

Sharing with you some of my favorite photos during this trip. 

And for the following day, our team fled to Guimaras.

Here’s some of the photos I took for our portrait-giving event at two schools - Dasal Elementary School and Ayangan Elementary School:

We stayed at Andana Hotel.

The said hotel is amazing and very picturesque!

I also love our room/pod which is very modern and minimalistic.

The whole team really had a great time staying here.

This three-day vacation was worth it and truly memorable!

(All photos are copyright and has a rightful owner)