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Shooting Trees at Microtel Inn & Suites Luisita in Tarlac

After a fun afternoon of Go Kart racing in Tarlac’s Kart City, we spent the night in Microtel Inn & Suites Luisita. It was an adrenaline-packed day, like all the other days of our Lakbay Norte 3 familiarization tour. I immediately hit the sack which made me wake up early the next day.

Shooting Trees at Microtel Inn & Suites Luisita in Tarlac
January 28, 2012

trees outside Microtel

I’ve been to a Microtel property before. It was where we stayed when I won a blog contest about Boracay. True enough when I checked our room, the chiropractic “healthy for the back” beds were there and they’ve always been consistent about this feature.

Microtel Inn & Suites in Luisita, Tarlac | photo by Marcos of PuebloPhilippines.com

We arrived from a long bus ride from Nueva Ecija to Las Palmas Hotel and Resort in Tuguegarao. Travel time took about 9 hours so we spent the night inside the Lakbay Norte 3 shuttle to rest.

Afterwards, we headed to our assigned rooms so we could get ready for another adventure prepared for us. But first we had breakfast at 5 in the morning courtesy of Mcdonalds. The meal was what we needed to keep us full as we travel to Kalinga and experience white water rafting by Adventures and Expeditions Inc.

White Water Rafting at Chico River
Kalinga, Cordillera Administrative Region

listening to our raft guide

Toploading in Kalinga

It was a chilly morning and the sun was still rising. On our way to the starting point of the rafting adventure, we made a stopover to change seats. Those who wanted to ride on top of the jeep had transferred. This reminded me of my crazy topload from Banaue to Bontoc during our trip to Sagada. It also made me realize I haven’t finished writing about my Sagada series.

chilly morning topload

I was in Manila last week and I was searching for backpacker lodges in the area since my friend’s place (where I normally crash) was unavailable. I was planning to stay in backpacker hostels in Malate but I found it a bit far from the metro. Good thing I was referred by Dong Ho to Our Melting Pot (OMP) hostel in Makati, Philippines.

I didn’t expect much from this place. All I wanted was a decent bed to crash plus good WiFi connection to work on my online assignments. I got more than what I asked for when I spent the remaining days in this awesome backpacker inn.

entrance at Our Melting Pot

Our Melting Pot Hostel Review

Our Melting Pot is located in what seems like an abandoned building in Makati Avenue. The elevator was a little creepy at first, but I got used to it.

On the 4th floor, I removed my shoes and went inside. I was welcomed by a spacious common area where the staff was already expecting me.

common area

While epic white beaches and a hot climate might be some of the main reasons people flock to the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is a utopia for nature lovers. This is one Spain’s Canary Islands, and located off northwestern Africa. Lush woodlands, volcanic hikes, botanical wonders, sand dunes, vibrant wildlife and marine life can be … Read more

Snorkelling at Tenggol Island in Terengganu, Malaysia

One of the perks while working in Tanjong Jara Resort was that during my days off, I could experience the activities that the resort offered. I couldn’t wait to sign up for a snorkelling trip at Tenggol Island in Terengganu, Malaysia when I found out about the adventure. I wanted to spend a day in the water and this was a perfect opportunity to unwind.

Snorkelling at Tenggol Island by Tanjong Jara Resort
Dungun, Terengganu
Malaysia

swimming with fishes

clown fishes

I’ve been longing for a beach escape in my backpacking adventure and I was only able to do that during a trip to Bali, Indonesia. But even then, I didn’t get to swim as much as the water was much fit for surfing. That’s why I’m so glad to experience the snorkelling adventure at Tenggol Island twice. Yes, I went to this island twice!

the beach

I travelled to Cagayan de Oro because of an assignment and I spent my weekend there alone. The previous weekend, I went to Siargao by myself, too. I’m starting to embrace the notion of flying solo and it’s not really that much of a big deal for me anymore. I still prefer travelling with friends as I get to enjoy the company of other people. But this recent trip gave me another thought to ponder when travelling to different destinations as I spent this trip with another group of people; this time with a family.

White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro River
December 4, 2011

CDO’s wild rafting adventure

Feeling restless that I didn’t have anything planned, I Googled ‘whitewater rafting Cagayan de Oro’ to finally experience one of the more popular activities in the City of Golden Friendship.

One of the websites that came up was that of 1st Rafting Adventure. I called them and made a reservation, hoping I could join a group that can accommodate one more head on their raft. It’s tough to get a good deal for packages when you’re alone. Luckily, I was given a go signal as there was an available slot with other companions the next day.

1st Rafting Adventure Office

The day before I left Zamboanga, I was able to visit the gorgeous Merloquet Waterfalls in Barangay Sibulao. This was one of the main highlights during my trip to this side of Mindanao known as Asia’s Latin Cty.

Merloquet Waterfalls in Zamboanga
December 9, 2012

Merloquet Falls in Zamboanga

I initially thought there were only two of us going to Merloquet. Jana and I were planning to take a bus to the junction, and then hire a motorcycle (habal-habal) to the falls. Fortunately, Jana’s family also expressed interest. We hired a jeepney from the city to the destination instead.

The 2-hour trip to the junction was a scenic route of plantation fields and mountains. I also noticed that there were many Philippine National Police (PNP) checkpoints for security reasons.

riding a jeepney

going down

During a trip to Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, I brought Jana to Apo Island for a fun day at the beach and some snorkelling. However, when we arrived at the island, the marine sanctuary was closed due to earthquakes and typhoons that affected the area. They had to close it to let the coral reefs recover. … Read more

Sunrise in Malapascua Island Cebu

It’s been a year since I first visited the island of Malapascua in Cebu. Up to now, I haven’t written a good blog entry about it sans for the time when I was able to jump off a 50-foot cliff – read article here.

I don’t think I’ll be able to write a better account any time soon so let me just share one of the good things that happened when I spent a day on this island. On a December, I witnessed a beautiful sunrise.

getting ready to steer the boat

Woke up at dawn as I worked on some freelance tasks to beat a deadline my employer imposed. After finishing the job, I stepped out and decided to take a dip. However, I ran back to our room and grabbed my camera when I saw a stream of light surfacing behind mountains from afar.

peek-a-boo.

We transferred to a different location here in Dubai. I can’t recall how many times I’ve changed addresses, but we’re going to stay longer here since it’s on a contract. One of the things I like to do in this new building apartment is go to the rooftop and take photos of the Dubai skyline. … Read more

Dinner at the Terrace of Madeleine Cafe and Boulangerie

We were invited for dinner at Madeleine Cafe and Boulangerie to try out their Weekly Specials and we were surprised that they reserved us a seat at the corner of their terrace to watch the Dubai Fountain Show. This was a special treat considering we had a clear view of the Burj Khalifa Lake below. … Read more

soloflightEd Dubai Blog Update

My, my. It’s been a very long while since I updated this blog. Not sure if it has reached a year already or more. I haven’t kept track. Please pardon the absence as my life outside my day job has been swamped with a lot of projects. To the point that I haven’t done anything … Read more

Dubai Dining Spots for Special Occasions

Home to some of the best hotels in the world, it’s no surprise that Dubai is famous for its world-leading restaurants, so let’s take a look at just five that you have to visit. Whether you’re a resident or visitor to the city, you should try at least one of these choices if you want … Read more

Top Five Indian Street Food Hotspots

India is famed for some of the best street food in the world. Each city has its own unique character and tastes to offer. Any discerning foodie will appreciate the country’s range of culinary treats, from spicy to sweet. Street food can be seen everywhere in India, be it a market, a street or just … Read more

Shooting Trees at Microtel Inn & Suites Luisita in Tarlac

White Water Rafting at Chico River in Kalinga

Toploading in Kalinga

Our Melting Pot Hostel in Makati, Philippines

Our Melting Pot Hostel Review

Natural Sights in Gran Canaria

Snorkelling at Tenggol Island in Terengganu, Malaysia

Cagayan de Oro Trip: Whitewater Rafting Adventure with a Family

Zamboanga Trip: Gorgeous Merloquet Falls

Fun Dive at Apo Island in Negros Oriental

Sunrise in Malapascua Island Cebu

Dubai Skyline Shots from the Rooftop

Dinner at the Terrace of Madeleine Cafe and Boulangerie

soloflightEd Dubai Blog Update

Dubai Dining Spots for Special Occasions

Top Five Indian Street Food Hotspots