Our Cavite Trip (Kaybiang Tunnel and Ternate Beach)

December 20, 2023

It’s our 3^rd wedding anniversary and to celebrate this little win in our life, we went to Dalaroy Beach Resort in Ternate Cavite with Kaybiang Tunnel as our side trip before going home.

For our Day 1 – we had a three-hour travel time from Taguig to Ternate, Cavite.

Our first destination was Dalaroy Beach Resort. We checked in at 7 pm. We were four in the group and we booked a beach front kubo.

After settling, we had dinner in front of our kubo house. We brought Adobo that hubby cooked at home. We also brought a camping tent. Then after dinner, we bought hard drinks on a nearby convenience store. We also brought portable stove and cookware. So, we even had smores through our improvised bon fire.  It was a quiet and fun night until 12 midnight under the bright moon light and a fine weather. We went there on a weekday that there’s only few guests who went. It was as if we rented the whole resort!

Thank you, Lord God for this day, for a safe travel.

 

Day 2.

The following day, we woke up at 7 am then we prepared for breakfast. We had coffee then bread and we cooked pancit canton.

We also went for a morning swim on the resort’s pool with a scenic view.

Then we transferred to the beach.

At 11 am, we washed up and had our lunch. We had corned beef for lunch.

We then finally checked out.

For our side trip, we went to Kaybiang Tunnel.

At the side of the road, we saw a lot of monkeys and I enjoyed our mini-zoo side trip!

The Kaybiang Tunnel has already been a tourist spot and we even had some photo ops there and we bought pasalubong before finally going home.

We reached home before 6 in the evening.

Happy 3^rd wedding anniversary, Love! I had so much fun on our quick getaway trip.

Our Abra Trip

 

October 29, 2023 Sunday

A blessed Sunday!

 

For this day, we were given the chance to visit a newly opened hike-able mountain. 

This is my Mountain #47 (since 2015) - Mt. Baruyen

 

I am actually excited and grateful to go to this province as this was also my first time to visit to be here.

 

I have this secret goal (not so secret anymore! lol!) to complete my Project #Ph81 the soonest. 

 

And visiting Abra has been an affordable trip!

Thank you to the highly recommended organizer Sam of #Bundokista for this opportunity! 

It was tiring (because of the long drive) but it was fun to be a joiner once again. 

The total trip was a core memory! 

Mt. Baruyen has the height of 1036 MASL

Total KM is more than 1.5 and the whole trail can be done in less than 3 hours including the photo ops, rests and eating time. 

Difficulty level is 3/9. 

It was an open trail and grass land but there are also some difficult trails because of stiff slopes. 

Gladly there are at least three shaded areas when the sun is all show. 

The location is at Licuan-Baay, Abra.

 

Aside from the morning hike, we also had some side trips Around Abra.

And these are as follows: 

 

Sevilleja’s Eco Farm Resort and Falls

Calaba Bridge overseeing Abra River

I LOVE Abra marker

Tangadan Tunnel

 

Abra is a landlocked province on  the  Western side of the massive Cordillera in Northern  Luzon. Its deep valleys and sloping hills are enclosed by rugged mountains, except in the Western portion where the Abra River flows towards the coastal plains of Ilocos Sur. Abra’s neighbors are Ilocos Norte and Apayao in the north, Mountain Province in the South, Ilocos Sur on the Southwest and Kalinga on the East. (Source: Google)

 

Here's our itinerary for that day.

 

Day 0 of our Abra Trip: 

 

At 5 pm of Saturday, we went to MOA for our trip to Abra. 

 

We’ll be having a hiking to Mt. Baruyen and then some side trips around Abra.

 

At 6 pm, we were already at MOA, the van that will pick us up was late so we were able to have dinner and bought some water. 

 

At 7 pm, the van fetched us.

Then we’re on our way to Abra.

It was an 8-hour land trip. 

 

At 6 am, we’re already in Abra. But it’s still a 2-hour travel time to Mt. Baruyen jump off point.  

 

At 8 am, we started the hike.  

Our first stop was the pine forest, then the summit, next was the Rocks Garden, then the Ledge and lastly the Lion’s head.

We’re back to Pine Forest to have our lunch. And we’re finally back to the jump off point. 

 

We went to Sevilleja’s Eco Farm Resort and we enjoyed the falls and pool with spring running water. 

 

At 4pm, after freshening up, we had a short meal on a nearby cafeteria. 

I ordered their Special Miki.

 

Then we’re off to Calaba Bridge overseeing Abra River for some photo ops. Abra river can also be seen up close in this bridge. 

 

We also went to I love Abra marker at Victoria Park.

The sunset was lovely there and we saw the view from above. It was majestic. 

It has an overlooking view of its nearby town, Abra river and cordillera mountain range from afar. 

 

And for our last stop, we bought some pasalubong near Tangadan Tunnel and we’re finally on our way back to Manila. 

We reached Manila at past midnight. 

 

I would love to go back in Abra to visit its other beautiful and historical spots that I haven’t seen yet.

 

It was truly #Abramazing! 

 

Catanduanes Trip

 

August 31 - Sept 3, 2023

Catanduanes Island.

For me, this is one of the underrated yet best islands I’ve reached so far and would want to go back - over and over again.

I would love to visit every pristine white-sand beach it offers and other wonderful, mystic and scenic places it has.

Twin Rock Beach, Binurong Point, Puraran Beach, Blue Lagoon, Nahulugan Falls and a more than century year old Bato Church are just few of the superbs must visit spots! They are truly Instagrammable and Fb Reelable!

Our Catanduanes tour has been a chill and adventurous trip in one.

It was also a budget-friendly four-day vacation. Locals are great, hospitable and warm.

The food there is great as well especially the sea foods! A truly recommended place for you to visit, come and see the sea.

So, book that flight and go discover Catanduanes!

 

Here’s our itinerary and budget for this trip.

Day 1:

Virac Airport. We booked a flight from Manila to Virac. We arrived in Virac at 7 am.

Then we had breakfast at a  nearby Cafeteria.

Then we’re off to explore the beauty of Catanduanes!

Our first stop was at Twin Rock Beach Resort. Its beach sand was pure and off-white. The rock formations were beautiful and it got its name there. The vibe there was just chill and peaceful.

Then we went to Tampad Beach, Talisoy. We just had a quick visit there then we’re off to our next destination.

It was the Hicming Falls. It was a 15-minute walk going to the falls. We also witnessed a wide rice puddy as we walked along the rocky trail.   

We took a dip at the falls and we enjoyed it as we were the only guests when we arrive there.

 

Next stop was the Bato Church. It was on the way going to Puraran Beach so we took a quick stop over at the church to pray and to be amazed by its beauty.  

Baras, Catanduanes. Our booked accommodation was in Baras at Puraran Beach.

We checked in at 2 pm. 

Then we had our late lunch at 3 pm before going to our next stop.

Binurong Point. They often call this as their mini version of Batanes.

There will be a 20-minutes trek going to Binurong Point. But it’s worth it!

We reached the peak at almost sunset and again, we were just the only people when we got there as if the whole place was just ours to enjoy.

At 6 pm, we’re back to our accommodation and we had our dinner before calling the day off.

We had a fully booked day 1! It was tiring but we truly enjoyed it.

 

 

Day 2

Today’s agenda was just to chill out.

I woke up before 6 am to witness the breathtaking sunrise of Puraran Beach.

I enjoyed my solitude until 7 am.

Let me share to you a journal entry I have written while staring at the wide sunny horizon and sitting at the fine sand.

 

Sept. 1, 2023 Friday

Puraran Beach, Baras, Catanduanes

Dear God,

Thank you for everything.

Thank you for every opportunity you have given me to go to wonderful places. I am always grateful for the safe travel, good health and for providing everything for me. Your creations are truly appreciated.

I find happiness in the seas, mountains, locals I get to see every time I go out there, to wonder and wander, to experience all Your majestic gifts to humanity.

To feel the bright sun in my skin, to touch the sand with my bare feet along with the waves and to breathe the air that is so fresh, all I can say is thank you but actually, I am running out of words to say what I truly feel.

It’s all goodness, gratefulness, happiness and contentment.

And I believe that I will go farther. But still thank you, for giving me home where I can return to in every trip that I have.

Thank you for the life I have. You are great!

-end of journal entry-

 

We then had a breakfast by the beach. We just ordered food.

 

Then all through out the day, we just chilled by the beach.

At 4 pm, we had our early dinner. We had lobster! Yey!

Then we had a night swim while having some drinks.

It was a perfect day!

 

Day 3

For our third day, we went again on an adventure by exploring some great beauty of Catanduanes.

At 10 pm, we check out on our hotel. Then we went to Blue Lagoon. It has a trek going to the lagoon and it’s a bit hard going there because of the path with big rocks.

But the lagoon is breathtaking especially during low tide.

 

Then we had our lunch on a nearby Inasal restaurant. The food was delicious yet affordable! We enjoyed our lunch.

Then we’re off to Nahulugan Falls.

And then we’re back to Virac.

We went to Virac Port to buy some pasalubong then we also bought food for dinner.

We then checked in to Sunset Coast Beach Resort. It was already dark when we reach the resort.

 

 

Day 4

For our last day, it’s fly back time to Manila.

We checked out at 6 am and we headed to the airport which was 15 minutes away from the resort.

And finally, it was a home sweet home with a lot of happy memories that we brought home!

 

Thank you to my best travel buddies!

Our Total Budget. Php. 5,000.00/ head (for group of 5 pax) was our over-all expenses for food, accommodation and van transportation. Flight fee was excluded. We got it from a promo fare last March.

Breakdown budget:

Amount	Expenses description
1,000.00	Van transportation
2,000.00	Food
2,000.00	Accommodation
5,000.00	Total budget per head