The Pinay Solo Backpacker

It’s 4am but I’m already  awake in my room at  New Emperors Palace Pension in Iloilo City.  I couldn’t figure out my next destination.  I reached for my backpack on the side table of my bed and took out the flyer I got  from Iloilo airport’s tourism division.  As much as possible, I wanna include a visit to a remote place on my trips and my 1st choice was Bucari in Leon.  I texted my friend  Marcos .  He replied, “‘ I have to warn you though, trekking is hard, it’s a very remote sitio, and it’s as lush as it’s in my pictures post-typhoon Frank.”   Being a  probinsyana, I am so used to trekking (except for Tappiya falls in Batad! ) so I wasn’t scared, but I need to go back at the end of the day.  I looked up my map to check out which sitio is closest to Iloilo City … and I decided to go to Igbaras!

my guide to Igbaras

I didn’t wanna bother asking Marcos for directions anymore as  he seems tired from his night out.  I went out to look something to eat and found a 24hr internet cafe instead just right beside my hostel. I went inside and browsed the internet for directions.  I found a write up by Mon Corpuz, a photographer and one of the coordinators of  The Black Pencil Project, a group of photographers, whose committed to provide pencils to early learners (Day Care to Grade 3) of select public elementary schools from beneficiaries of remote and or indigenous communities of the Philippines. . (more…)

Because of the King’s birthday celebration the night before I toured Dusit, the guards told me it is closed to the public.  Dusit is a relatively modern and spacious area north of  Ko Rattanakosin, established during the reign of the celebrated Rama V, King Chulalongkorn. Upon his return from Europe in1897,the king used his personal money to purchase orchards and paddy fields between Padung Krungkasem Canal and Samsen Canal for the construction of a royal garden which he named “the Dusit Garden”. It’s actually the farthest walking tour in my entire Bangkok trip, that’s why I wouldn’t recommend that you start the walking tour from Khao San Rd (KSR). Besides,  I couldn’t give the details of the  route that I took since I didn’t take note of  the street name & took short cuts by passing through some quaint street, monk houses and temples  but try to take me there and  I know exactly where to go.

Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall

This area is not particularly easy to reach by public transport, and it’s probably best to use a taxi or tuk-tuk to get here. I got lost the when I took a bus and ended up at Siam area so be very careful if you’re riding a bus,  it should only take a few minutes if you’re from KSR to get there.  (Read Getting There at the bottom of this post).

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Aside from secluded white sand beaches,  I’m a freak of  ruins of  old cities and historical places.  Blame it  on my background in anthropology (and amateur archeology) I guess.  And  since all these years I have failed to practice my degree and I’m missing the field school a lot, I try to visit historical places, immerse in indigenous culture or simply practice the charm of the social scientist on my journeys.

The  ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya was  hailed a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, the Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767 until it was invaded by the Burmese.   This was once known to be one of the richest city in Asia if not in the world. (more…)

Bangkok is in chaos, it’s all over the news and I am clueless because I haven’t watched the TV  for more or less 2 months!  I can’t cancel my flight, I’ve been waiting for this trip since January, besides, it’s a big hassle since I paid cash for the expensive airfare since there’s no promo on my flight dates.

Siem Reap after sunset, taken during New Year in Cambodia

While most tourists would spend 2-3 days in Siem Reap, I opted to stay for 1 week.  Like I said, after my quick trip to Ayutthaya, I vowed never to be in a hurry in one country again as it defies the real essence of traveling.

The plane touched down at 12 am at BKK airport, again, I wasn’t able to to register on Roaming, so my phone is plain useless.  Like before I slept at the airport until sunrise.  I was so pre-occupied during the past few months that I failed to plan my Cambodia trip, I didn’t even change my peso to US$ before leaving the Philippines which was a BIG mistake!!!  Left me no choice but change my peso to US$ at BKK airport, but the employee at the money exchange refuse saying, it’s not good for me, Php100 is converted to US$1!!  What!!??? Oh, well,  I have no choice. (more…)

Some few years back, I first read about Anawangin Cove and it’s mystical beauty.  So when  I went back to Pundaquit last year with my sisters, I wanted to see it.  Unfortunately, the boatmen refused to take us there because the waves are so huge, we settled for the equally enchanting Capones Island instead. So when I got the chance to have a weekend day-off  and my dorm mate in college Maricel, the online editor of  Businessworld, expressed her intent to join me in my road trips, I planned a not-so-organized trip to Anawangin Cove.  I invited some friends too, I know I won’t be alone that time since it’s a weekend get-away. Unfortunately, it’s raining hard in Manila, so some friends who were supposed to go with us were scared and didn’t make it.

It used to be a hideaway for mountaineers but now, Anawangin is one of the famous beaches in Luzon, but beyond it’s charm, is a great danger. Sadly, some parts of the beach that suddenly drops has claim lives yearly and trekking in the mountain rages to Pundaquit  during rainy or stormy season has caused unfortunate accidents leaving a tragic memory to it’s victims and their friends & family.  Despite the perils and warnings I’ve read online about it’s deep spots that constantly changes not to mention the garbage and crowd, I am still drawn by it’s mystery and beauty. (more…)

I meant to write a happy story…

but I  don’t wanna lie. 

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn't move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun."

During the early part of  the year,  I’ve been sorta threatened by my floating status.  I used to have a plan, now I don’t know what to do.  I just wanna explore the world, immerse in different cultures, meet diverse people and learn from it all and hopefully come home a better person.  And of course, I wanna write about it and make the memories vivid with my humble captures. (more…)

10 years ago I used to say that once I set foot in Guimaras then I can die.   Those were the days when I’m dying of envy  when my uncle would often show us pictures and tell us stories about how beautiful Iloilo and Guimaras is and how sweet and lovely the locals are, and oh yeah, the mangoes too!

10 years after,  February 2010, after my trek in Igbaras, Iloilo, there I was riding a padyak heading towards  the port to Guimaras!

I paid for the fare in port Ortiz Port to Jordan, Guimaras.  I was given a number to board a large outrigger boat  that has a capacity of more or less 25 passengers and is equipped with life jackets . All the while I thought once I get to Jordan, I could just walk and swim in a white sand beach nearby…but I was wrong. (more…)