Pre-summer Drive: Baler- Dipaculao- Maddela- Nueva Vizcaya

Taking a break to stretch

I have recently taken up driving to the country side. Every now and then, I would look at the map, and check which places I could explore, but this time, not through public transportation as I used to. Driving calms me more than sitting on the sofa and watch Justice League again. When I drive, I experience silence in that I focus on the road and the roadside scenery, away from the noise in my head. This also gives me a good opportunity for beautiful photographs- materials for my photo collage that I am planning to put up on my living room wall.

The Road Trip: Vigan, Pagudpud, Tuguegarao, Santiago

I drove for a hundred or so kilometres (6 hours) with my car’s hood unlatched. I noticed this only when we stopped at a gasoline station for a stretcher, halfway into our destination. I was lucky the hood did not fly open towards our windshield or someone else would be writing this story. Excitement can really get the better of anyone, but I am glad that even with that major safety blunder, I still went ahead and tick this to-do off my list. 

I had been curious about driving to Pagudpud and back. I never thought I would muster the courage to finally do it, being a fairly amateur driver. I got my first car seven years ago. It was a 15-year old automatic Accord, which I had to have fixed before driving. It would take three weeks including the repainting, so I had time to enroll in a driving school for a 10-hour session. This was enough for me not to be a threat to my life and others. For four years, I was a “good” driver, very defensive, not going beyond speed limit, letting pedestrians go first, and not violating traffic rules (except for the two times, when I did not see the signs). Driving was fun, but it was also a stressful endeavor, since one wrong move could spell the difference between life and death. This is not to mention the possible breakdown that I would experience on the road, which my old car gave me a lot of (overheating and starting problems).

From Catanduanes To Caramoan And Back

Binurong Point, Catanduanes

First Day
Chance is risk positively interpreted. And when it comes to chance, I could be stubborn to the point of irrationally ignoring the risks. I would ignore reason in exchange for a chance to see another beautiful place. And, I should have to rethink this.
This was a struggle during the trip to Catanduanes. It always is when you go for places barely touched by destructive progress. Still.
Lucky would be the best word to describe how things worked for me and my friends. We left on a Sunday evening, as two separate groups. We were to meet in Legaspi City, where we'd have breakfast before leaving for Tabaco to take a ferry going to either San Andres or Virac in Catanduanes. But since it was vacation period, with the Holy Week starting in just a few days, it was almost impossible for anyone to get bus tickets to anywhere. The other group could not chance on any bus going south, so they took the van, which got them to Legazpi 2 hours later than our group. So breakfast became lunch.

Biri Island

Biri is a statement. I can't be adding anything to its name if I use beautiful as a predicate because after seeing the island, Biri cannot be anything else but that. 

It is a respite after traveling for over 20 hours. From its people, to the view, and the simplicity of life, everything is a relief from the tiring trip and the numbing stress at the office. The island provides a sense of calm and an avenue for thinking about things that we try hard to ignore every day. 

Running with the Setting Sun

What is interesting about going for a run around sunset is seeing beautiful sights that are otherwise ordinary at different times of the day. I found these beauties while doing my regular Sunday jog.

A tree illuminated by the setting sun

A store overlooking the city

Afternoons

Every afternoon, these kids wait for their treats- chips, balut and peanuts. Back in my hometown, it would be banana or hot pan de sal.

Summer

Holding a glass of some disgusting liquor and with her back to them, she said, 

you should know the sea's never as beautiful as in summer, 

then drank all the disgust of the world 

and left.

Low-Key Photographs

Photo opportunity in my kitchen

Some hotel lobby

Never Stops

Oh, but it does.
Everything does. Even
our star. Long after
we are gone.
Still, it
does.

As It Falls

I am not one that's bothered by rain. The way it pelts the roof and the sound it creates are magic. I imagine the drops of water splashing on leaves, streets and colorful raincoats, forming puddles that reflect the sky. And though it usually keeps me home couched somewhere near the window, away from errands to be done outside, I do not mind. I keep still and listen to it slow down the world and see how it dims the sun, allowing for some time to look back on everything that brings forth a smile.

Capturing Pasig Palengke

Who knows where else my feet could take me?

It was a ridiculous idea to go to Pasig Palengke (Pasig Public Market) at one in the morning, and that's why I went. When my housemate asked if I wanted to go, I did not hesitate. Besides the experience of going there that early, it's a place I had always wanted to take street photos in.

I had never thought I could get vegetables and fruits at a much lower price at 1:00 a.m. Apparently, this is the best time to go if you want the freshest of goods at discounted prices. But it might not have been the safest hour.

Afternoon Rain and Christmas

Oh, afternoon rain! How easily you dampen my clothes. Yet, how fast you can lighten my heart.

Christmas is still the most festive season of the year.
It would be a shame to shut it out while you stare at its colors.

Finding Joy

It may sometimes seem as if it is always about pushing a rock to the peak on days end...

...but even a blade of grass can turn to joy if you only know how to look.

Blood Moon

A beauty that flits is made more beautiful when it is born out of a shadow.

This was taken during the lunar eclipse on October 8, 2014,

Familiar

It is a joy to discover something new about something thought of as familiar. It almost makes traveling cliche. I was going around my neighborhood, and I was very surprised to see several photographic opportunities. This being one of them.

Rave of Pasig (Pasig Rainforest Park)

I finally checked out Pasig City's rainforest park (Rave of Pasig) to learn some more about taking pictures, and of course, to enjoy the scenery, too. I have always been curious about this park, and since I didn' t have anything planned that Saturday, I figured, I should go.

Pasig City's rainforest park wasn't a difficult place to get to. I only had to take a jeepney from Ever Cainta, get off at Jenny's (Robinson's Supermarket), then take a tricycle to the bridge that I had to cross to get to the park. I heard that if you are coming from Mega Mall, you can take the FX with Angono/Binangonan/Floodway sign board.

I got there at 2pm, a bit late for taking as many pictures as I want and go around for fun. At the entrance, I asked about the different zones to visit, since you need to decide which you would like to enter or do among the following before going in (fees below are for Pasig residents, who are asked to show ID or cedula; there's additional fee if you are not):

Flower field (Php 10)
Train ride (Php 10)
Mini zoo (Php 10)
Maze (Php 10)
Butterfly garden (Php 10)
Water park (pool; Php 40)
Boating (No idea)
Adventure park where the zip line is (no idea)

I decided to go to the first 5 listed above, since my main goal was to take pictures. Why the train? Hell, who would want to miss that?! Besides, I would like to see the entire park, so it is best to get on it. Don't worry, I gave my seat to the families and kids, since I wanted to be on deck outside and take photos comfortably.

Park opens from 5am to 5pm, but the zones have different operating hours:

8am-11am, 2pm-4pm (Mini Zoo/Butterfly Garden)
9am-11am, 2pm-4pm (Train)
7am-6pm (Swimming Pool)
5am-5pm (the rest of the park)

This place is good for families, lovers and groups of friends who want to do something on weekends. The canopy of trees blocks the heat from the sun, so kids can run around even at noon. It is ideal for everyone who wants to experience nature but can't go far from the city. 

The park staff (students who work there part time) are very accommodating!




Interested in traditional Kalinga tattoo? Find out how here.

Check out other places I have been to here.

Gallery