Samar and Leyte Trip

March 15-18, 2022

I was out again to new adventures (with work). 

 

I am grateful and will always do my work because I am able to travel once in a while via plane. 

I can go to places I have never been yet. 

 

For this blog’s entry, I want to share with you my recent travels to Samar and Leyte.

This was an official business trip but we still had the opportunity to have a side trip to beaches and some tourist spots.

 

 

- [ ] Day 1 Tacloban to Catarman 

Our flight was at 5:30 in the morning.

We then reached Tacloban City by 7 in the morning.

We had breakfast at Andoks and then we’re off to a 6-hour road trip to Catarman.

We rented a car going to Catarman. 

Our Operations Manager joined us on the trip and she’s the one who drove the car.

I got dizzy because it’s been awhile since I had a long trip.

But I was fine.

We reached Catarman at almost 6 in the evening.

We then had our store visit before we had dinner and then we finally checked into a nearby beach resort.

 

Langtaran White Beach Cove Resort

It’s been a long day so I slept early. 

I woke early as well. 

I went to the beach, sat in the sun, stared at the wide horizon and waited to see the sunrise. 

I felt grateful to experience this now.

Beaches make me feel calm and relaxed. It is therapeutic for me. 

We had the chance to dip in the water before going back on a road trip.

I also didn’t miss the chance to take some photos of the beach.

But accidentally, my camera got wet and it didn’t work out anymore.

Sad life.

We had our breakfast before getting back to the road. 

And then we're back to Tacloban!

 

- [ ] Day 2 Catarman to Tacloban

This time, we reached Tacloban earlier.

We also had a stopover at the San Juanico bridge for a quick photo ops. 

After our store visit, we checked into our hotel. 

Then we’re back to the store again.

 

We had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. We had a boodle fight. Yey! We enjoyed our dinner and then I slept early again. 

 

 

- [ ] Day 3 Tacloban to Palo to Tanauan

We had a store visit again then we had a side trip to McArthur Landing Memorial Park.

It was a historical and tourist site that we took the chance to visit. 

Before lunch time, we were back at our hotel to check out and go to our next hotel, Playa Alegre. It was a beach resort. 

We had our boodle fight lunch there before we checked in at 2 pm.

And it’s already a free day for us so we dipped into the pool and had some photo ops again at the beach. 

 

I once had a time again to stare at the sea while the group was resting in the room and lounge area. 

I am really grateful for this opportunity to travel while working.

 

Then we had our dinner at the lounge area before sleeping. 

 

The moon was full and so bright that night that the sea was lit up.

The sand was also shimmering.

My camera couldn’t give justice to the beauty of the place.

 

- [ ] Day 4 Home

We had our breakfast at the resort before checking out. Then we’re back in the city. We attended a store opening.

Then we had a quick lunch at the mall before we went to buy pasalubong and then we went to the airport to catch our flight.

 

I was already home at past 7 in the evening. 

 

This week has been so tiring but I had so much fun! Because this is what I really love to do - traveling and exploring the world.

Mount Espadang Bato

March 12, 2022 - Saturday

Montalban, Rizal

Reunion Hike with TeamTraverser!

After two years, I've finally done two things I love the most.

First, hiking! I love exploring mountains,

enjoying the trails, the breathtaking view,

the stories shared with co-hikers.

Second, bonding with friends!

It was never a dull moment when you spend time with friends,

especially if you haven't seen each other for a long time. 

Team Traverser has been my friend since 2016,

back when I started joining hikes

and stepping out of my comfort zone to meet new people.

These people eventually became my friends. 

For this day's reunion hike, we went to Montalban, Rizal

via a friend's car.

Our destination: Mount Espadang Bato

at Barangay Mascap, Montalban, Rizal.

We met in Cubao at 5 in the morning. 

We had a stopover at 7/11 to have some coffee

and while waiting for our other friends - Jan and Joy.

Right there at that time,

we decided to hike Mount Espadang Bato.

It was all our first time going there.

We even lost our way going to the jump off area

and started our hike a bit late. 

After more than two hours with lots of  ‘take five’

or short stops to rest, we reached the summit.

The mountain has become well known

because of its rock formations that look like a giant sword

and also the scenic backdrop when you take a photo here. 

It felt good to be back on top of a mountain.

I didn't hike for the last two years

so I easily got tired during the ascents.

But the pain was worth it when you're on top.

And I also missed the forestry trail. 

Since the pandemic and several lockdowns,

hiking has been prohibited.

When we went there,

we were the third group to hike. Unlike before,

hundreds were flocking to the mountains

especially on weekends.  

Looking forward to seeing more people

will go back to hiking soon. 

Current tour guide fee is 500 pesos for 5 pax. 

And we paid 100 pesos each since we were 6 in the group. 

We also paid a registration fee at the Barangay of 20 pesos each. 

By 1 pm, we were back in the jump off area

and had our lunch in a nearby cafeteria.

Then we headed to Wawa Dam where we rented a cottage

and had a dip on the river.

After that, we also had dinner at SM Fairview

before we finally parted ways. 

I was happy reconnecting with nature and friends

and I can't wait to have more moments like this

as we are eventually going back to normal. 

Fingers crossed.

Thank you Lord God for keeping us safe and for always providing for us.

Thank you for the time spent with friends

and we were able to see your creation's beauty once again on a higher view.

Villa Zenaida Beach Camp

 February 9-10,2022

Calatagan, Batangas

I was able to travel again! Yey! 

This time, I was with my husband. 

We planned to go there for my 32nd birthday. 

And here's our itinerary:

February 9, 2022

6AM - travel to Pasay. 

7AM - we had breakfast at Jollibee 

8AM - On the way to Calatagan Beside Kabayan Hotel,

we rode a van there going to Calatagan.

Their current rate is 350 pesos per head because

of the minimized van capacity. 

12NN - we finally reached our destination.

The van dropped us at Calatagan Terminal

and then we rode a tricycle going to Villa Zenaida.

Tricycle fare to Villa Zenaida was 400.00 (for 2-3 pax)

Entrance Fee for an overnight trip is 200 pesos per head.

Then we rented a tent that cost us 300.

All in all, we paid 700 pesos for the accommodation.

We booked our trip via their Facebook Page

and we paid through Gcash.

We built our tent and then we ate our lunch.

Then we just chilled and enjoyed the day by the beach. 

We were alone that day because it was a weekday

when we visited as if we rented the whole place.

I loved the serenity and some alone time that it brought to us. 

I missed the views like these. White sand beach,

salty air, sunny and clear sky, the waves, the trees

and mountains that surround us, this is life!

And I am grateful to experience this on my birthday.

Last year, we just stayed at home

but now here we are in our little tent that still feels like home

because I'm with my husband. He is my home.

Our marriage is our home. 

We swam on the cool sea and just chilled

then we ate again.

We made a bonfire to re-heat our food. 

It was just sad that we forgot to bring marshmallows. 

We slept early because the wind was so strong

that it became so cold at night.

February 10, 2022

It's my birthday!

It became low tide so we took a walk

and saw the sunrise on a nearby beach side.

It's always a breath taking view for me.

Then we had coffee before leaving the campsite.

The tricycle driver who drove us there was also the one who fetched us at 7am.

This time, we rode a bus at Calatagan Terminal.

This cost us 240, much cheaper than riding a van.

By 12 noon, we were already at Pasay

and  we had a birthday lunch at Jollibee before finally going home.

I'm so grateful for this opportunity to travel again,

to see the beach and to just have a chill time with my love

under our beach camping tent.

The kind of life I always look forward to after a busy life in the city. 

Cheers to my 32nd birthday!

I am grateful as always. 

Gabriel's Sanctuary

December 20-21, 2022

Antipolo, Rizal

It's our first wedding anniversary!

Cheers to our first year of marriage!

This lifetime partnership with the love of my life is a gift for me that

I will always cherish and protect. 

I am choosing this man everyday even though there are days that are not so good. 

 

And to celebrate our love, we went to a camping site for an overnight trip. 

We chose Gabriel's Sanctuary located in Antipolo, Rizal.

It has an overlooking view. 

We rented a tent and we just brought food. 

We paid 200 pesos for an overnight fee per person and 300 pesos

for the tent rental.

Going there is easy. The place is just near the Metro.  

We placed our tent under a tree and we just chilled until night. 

Before the sun went down, we made a bonfire.

And then cooked for dinner.

Before going to sleep, we stayed around the bonfire

while drinking,

roasting marshmallows and just talking as if

we're all alone in this world.

We laughed, we shared our stories, we dreamed

and planned for our future together.

And it felt like we're going back to the time

when we're only starting out.

It felt good to go down to our memory lane together. 

The night was long and we definitely didn't get bored. 

 

The staff are accommodating and friendly.

There are also kids there who volunteer

to buy the things you need. 

 

When we woke up the following day,

our eyes were filled with so much gratitude

because of the wonderful sea of clouds that

we had witnessed just outside our tent.  

 

We're blessed and we're grateful.

We had coffee for breakfast before leaving. 

 

And I would love going back there soon.

 

How to get there:

From Cubao, we rode a jeep/FX going to Cogeo.

And then from Cogeo,

we rode another jeep going to Paenaan. 

We told the driver to drop us off at Cabading Arko.

Landmark is a hospital.

Then we rode a tricycle going to Gabriel's.

There's a 5-minute hike going to the entrance

so be prepared for it.