Baler Escapade

I have done and gone to so many trips that I forgot to write up about it. It was just so stunningly beautiful that I was unable to think of anything else. Like when you are there at the moment and all you can think of is how exquisite that sunset is or how vast the world is when youre on top of the mountain. Im always thrilled about the change of season, the sound of the ocean, the starry night and even the smell of the grass and the rain makes me feel giddy!  It's just so extremely good ! And "Splendid" doesnt even come close to describing how awesome those places I have visited truly is. So now Im gonna feed you guys with my recent travel and walwal🤗

Baler 

11-5-6-16

Baler is my first beach trip na super layo but totally worth it ! It's a 6-7 hours drive from manila and since Im from the province add ka pa ng 4 hours haha 

I don't have the itinerary of this trip but you can look it up on the internet if you're planning DIY but if you want group tour which I highly recommend (hassle free kase and since wala pa kong car hihi) there's a bunch of events on social media pili na lang kayo ;)  

The best thing about group and organized tour is that you don't have to worry a thing ! And my favorite part is that I had a chance to meet exciting people along the trip. Even the locals, you get to meet them and learn about their culture (which you can do it also if DIY maging friendly ka lang bes) So yes ! Things to do and Destination to go are as follows:

• Old Balete Tree- omg the tallest tree I've ever seen and it's massive too ! Like it takes me 3minutes and so to walk around it. And you should totally try their summan so cute bc it's violet and so tasty. And may mga vendors there sa tabi tabi that sells Coffee Nuts (which is so good ! I tried it bc their signage says "Masarap...sige na !" Haha) 
• Mother falls (Ditumabo Falls)- (I'd like to think meron ding daddy and children falls haha waley) when you're in Baler please do not go home without seeing this marvelous cascade ! Sobrang ganda nya and napaka taas (I've no picture bc mas pinili kong mag landi at mag tampisaw sa napaka lamig nyang tubig haha)
• Museo de Baler and Baler Church -located at the town of baler walking distance lang from museo to baler church. The museo have a lot of paintings and stuff then there's this "BALER" thing at the center of the town where you can take photos.
• Ermita Hill- before it was called Mt. Castillo I don't know (or I just didn't ask) where Ermita came from. Well anyway, this is where you can see the beauty of Baler. It's scenic panoramic view of the main town and Sabang Beach is just so breathtaking ! Sobrang chill lang and super nakakarelax.
• Diguisit Beach and Rock Formation- is one of my favorites here in Baler. The huge rock formation just makes me wanna climb up there and make sigaw all my problems char haha unfortunately it's too dangerous so instead I transformed myself na lang into a mermaid haha
  
• Baler Hanging Bridge-the famous foot bridge was made of steel and cables and it is safe naman. It sure is one of the scenic spots here in baler to conquer ! Sadly when I was in this trip I have fear of heights pa so I wasn't able to enjoy this part. 
  
• Sabang Beach- the heart and soul of Baler. It is dubbed as the "Birthplace of Surfing in the Philippines" Where you can ride your surfing board up and smash into the enormous waves ! Truly is a traveler's paradise! This could be the most exciting part for me if I just wasn't too afraid to try it (huhu I cried like a river afterwards kse hindi ko sinubukan but what can I do ? Hindi ako marunong mag SWIM !) one thing I can't do talaga. Kaya some of my friends calls me "The mermaid who can't swim" bc I love the waters, being in the beach is my thing yun lang talaga hindi ako love ng dagat huhubels haha. 

Pero kahit hindi ako nakapag surf (mag ssweet revenge na lang ako soon haha) i got to meet the locals naman especially the local surfers nag chika chika na lang kami since all of my friends are having fun surfing ! And by the way I actually held a pearl ! Yung totoong pearl talaga ! 

We were in Baler for two days and 1 night. We ate at KAINAN SA SABANG it's a restau that if you paid 200 you can get a buffet na. Sobrang daming seafoods too bad for me bc I'm allergic. The place is located in front of the Sabang beach so nakakarelax kumain kase my feet were buried in the sand haha. Then we stayed in a transient house (I forgot the name sorry) that is super malayo sa beach and since nalate kami ng gising naiwan kami ng van and so we hired a tric pa para makapnta sa beach. Kaya I suggest if mag DIY kayo hanap na lang kayo ng transient house near the beach. I heard there's a good place for you to stay in that is along the beach lang it's called Nnyl Baler Beach Front. Then may night life na rin daw ! When we were in Baler kase nag walk kami sa beach after we had dinner. Nakakatakot kase wala man lang mga lights like ang dead talaga nung buong place so yun buti naman pwede nang mag night walwal ang sarap na tuloy lalo bumalik ! 

So that is all for now folks ! Just wait for my next travel and walwal na lang anytime soon ! Thank you so much  ! xoxo

Chicha Travels

This was written months ago but since Im forgetful I think gets nyo na haha This article is actually very important to me bc I wrote this when I finally realized what I really want in my life (Im the type of person kse na hindi ko talaga alam anong gusto ko like what career I want to be in basta walang goal ganun weird right ? Haha guess Im just one complicated individual) So here it is ! 

"Travelling became the great true love of my life. I have felt that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I became loyal and constant in love for travel. Its been a year now since I was introduced outside of my comfort zone. I just dont care anymore what it puts me through -all this tanned and uneven skin tone, blisters, cuts, and bruises in my legs and sole, and how many times my knee and back gave out on me- I just dont care. Because still, despIte all this, after seeing the vast natural beauty of this earth, I adore it. Like "Splendid" doesnt even come close to describing how awesome these places truly is ! And With these raw beauty, I've always felt a deeper connection to our Creator and to all of creations. And He created all those exquisite things just for me -I'd like to think it is all for me-. I could trade anything just to see every single thing He created. I could never get tired to live this life knowing that there are far and amazing things in life than the things we're holding onto now. I will always and always have been overcome with gratitude for all that there is, and always be thankful to the One above for orchestrating this tapestry of wonders. So I must say that I am a huge and no. 1 fan of God's creation where neither words nor photos could accurately capture what it was like to be here in this pink and purple heaven that unfolded. "

05-07-16

Matabungkay Beach, Batangas

ISA. parang d ko ata kayang simulan to mag-ISA.

I've been quite busy this past few months. Yes nag hahike pa rin ako, chasing waterfalls and pabalik balik pa rin kung saan saang mga beach. (soon I'll post something about my recent travels wait lang mga bes) But tonight, something out of my usual trip drives me to write up again. An ordinary day that has an  extraordinary night experience for me.

I have been staying at home lately. Eat, sleep, surfing, eat, sleep was my usual routine. A lazy cat social media addict. Though I'm not the typical netizen na "scroll, browse, and click" lang ha ? I was really checking out Indie films and music. It fascinates me how ingenious filipinos are. Their imaginative films and sensual music makes me feel nostalgic giving me all the feels and chills down to my spine. Unfortunately and I dont really understand is why these films isn't showing nationwide ! I mean come on ! Taga probinsya ako and kelangan ko pang mag byahe from my province to the nearest mall na may mga Indie films na showing which is sa manila pa. 4hours-freaking-drive. So yeah to those people na makakabasa nito please enlighten me bakit ganito sa pilipinas ! Haha kidding.

ISA. Isang buwan kong pinag pray na sana i-show tong film na to nationwide and it did !

DALAWA. Dalawang beses ko atang nasipa yung nasa unahan ko kakatawa !

TATLO. Tatlong beses akong nag cr para di ako matulad kay Lea at kay Tonyo. Ayoko kasing may miss na kahit tatlong minuto sa film na to.

APAT. Apat na rolyo ata ang nagamit kong tissue after. I was shookt !

LIMA. Limang beses kong pinaulit ulit sa utak ko na ito ang realidad. Hindi laging masaya. Hindi rin habang buhay na malungkot ka. Life is fair and unfair. Yin and Yang. Balancing lang yan.

ANIM. Anim o higit pa ata ang tawa ko kay empoy "Tonyo" sa film na to ! Like grabe unang scene pa lang nya, muka pa lang nya tawang tawa na ko !

PITO. Pitumput pitong tupa. (shet sabi ko na di kayang mag isa to e. Nasa pito pa lang ako nauubusan na ko ng words at napupuno na naman ng halo halong emosyon ang puso't utak ko dahil sa movie na to)

WALO. Walong beses kong pinag isipan kung kaya ko bang panoodin to mag isa (it turns out hindi ko pala kaya. Buti na lang talaga nag pasama ako)

SIYAM o SAMPOng beses o higit pa ata ang iniiyak ko sa movie na to. Too much feels. I can't really describe how great this movie was without being  so emotional. The characters truly captured my heart. Relate much talaga (I love travelling, I love making paper cranes, I love to visit Japan, I love cabbage, I love beers, lahat !)

Now I ascertain that every single thing that happens to our lives has a reason. And an act of random kindness might change your life completely. So live and give love. Follow your heart and for sure di mo lang alam si banana nasa likod mo lang pala haha (watch the movie and you'll know who's your banana *wink emoticon)

So watch #KITAKITA para maintindihan nyo yung 1-10 above. Predictable if youre feeling movie critic like me (haha) but all in all great movie. *hands up emoticon

Chichatravels / Mt. Hapunang Banoi and Mt. Pamitinan

 

"Mabato bes !" was the first thing that came to my mind whenever i recall my trip to Mt. Hapunang Banoi and Mt. Pamitinan. Haha literally mabato talaga sya like mas madami pa ata ang bouldering moments kesa sa trekking. But for me, those two mountains are my favorite so far. Sobrang enjoy lang and i feel like it was easier than my first hike at Mt. Sawi. 

 

It was my second hike and it was a very challenging hike for me. First of all it was so unplanned ! Haha. I was so depressed about my final grade that time and so devastated at how bad my hair color was. So yeah. Basically I was just wearing my denim jacket, shorts and my white converse. So now can you imagine na ba, bakit naging challenging sakin ang hike na to? Haha. 

We started our trek at 5:00 in the morning. I feel like we were ascending na agad kase the way was assaulted. A few trek and the path has a visible huge rocks na. The view was breathtaking! You can see enormous rocks piled against the mountains. I don't even feel any fear of heights because I'm too occupied na at how exquisite the view was. Then we reached the summit at exactly 8:38 am. 

The descending part at Mt. Hapunang Banoi was easy maybe because I like it when I'm traipsing over the rocks. (well I feel like an ninja haha) 

Then we ate at the Junction (an open type of kubo where there are bamboo seats and sari sari stores that offers beverages and trail foods. The junction is located at the middle part of the trail. Where Mt. Hapunang Banoi and Mt. Pamitinan's trails can be seen.) A few minutes after we finished our lunch, we headed na at Mt. Pamitinan. It was a short but difficult hike for me. Because kokonti lang talaga yung trekking part namin and the whole hike was bouldering na (rock climbing on boulders and large cliffs) It was my first time so I was so thrilled! I didn't expected it pa nga na matutuwa ako because of my fear of heights but yeah! I enjoyed it so much ! It's like an achievement for me and whenever I recall those moments, I am always overwhelmed with happiness. 

12:17 pm when reach the summit of Mt. Pamitinan. That's when I feel nauseas. I just can't handle the heights. Even now, just the thought of it makes me want to vomit! (But I am working on it naman na. Little by little macoconquer ko din yang fear of heights na yan. Abangan nyo na lang guys haha) 

So thats it! My super unplanned trip (as in pag katanong kung may slot pa, sakay na agad at go na agad to Rizal haha) Hope you like it guys ! Visit and experience the beauty of Mt. Hapunang Banoi and Mt. Pamitinan. Beginner ka man or Harkor (madami nang naakyat na mga mountains, easy lang ang mga minor climb, at madaming alam when it comes to mountaineering pero humble pa rin) na, it suits to everyone kering keri lang. And super affordable lang! Which reminds me...

Special thanks to Tiangala Traveller Philippines (Sir Erick) for their accommodating and super friendly service, kay ate Rhona who keeps on lifting my spirit whenever I feel tired and scared (mostly pag mag cross sa mga cliffs and holes haha), kay sir tourguide (sa Mt. Hapunang Banoi na isa rin sa super maka encourage sa akin mag pose sa cliff haha) kay Sir tourguide (na napaka galing umanggulo at mg stolen sa pag kuha ng pictures haha) at kay Sir diether na sweeper ( na nag pahiram sakin ng slippers when I couldn't walk na talaga because of my blisters sa feet) at sa lahat ng mga nakasama namin, Thank you so much po sa inyong lahat! 

 

 

Thoughts

#InsomiaFeels

On a night lit only by a slender peel of the moon

You were asleep and I'm trancing like a loon

How I wish I could dense these rays in my eyes

For me to dream as pacific as a lamb.

chichatravels/ Batanes of the East

Dingalan, Aurora

(Batanes of the East)

1 hour and 16 minutes from Nueva Ecija is the stunning secret paradise in the east or famously dubbed as  "Batanes of the East" the Dingalan in Aurora ! 

After our trek from Mt. Sawi, we headed to our side trip and reached Dingalan port at 12:26nn. We had a few minutes boat ride to reach the White Beach. Enclosed by mountains, the serene untouched body of water has a four hundred meter-long stretch of fine sand that hides the wonderful rock and coral formation. Among the 18 participants, it was just me and my munting prinsipe who plunged ourselves to the cool waters of the beach and to think na kaming dalawa lang yung hindi marunong mag swim haha but yeah, go pa rin ! We wandered over the rocks so i had some cuts na naman sa feet ko. But it was fine coz I get to see the sun setting while I'm soaked in the clear blue and green water of the beach. 

We also visited the remarkable spot in White beach, the Dingalan Light house. We hiked up the mountain where the lighthouse stood. Usually its about 10 to 15minutes trekking but as for me na beginner, i think it took me 30 minutes to reach the top haha very impressive right ? It's path is assaulted and steep so you really need to be careful so you won't fall off the cliff (again, fear of heights strikes) 

At first I was disappointed and too tired to hike coz of the muddy trail. I was thinking that "it's just a lighthouse what's so good about it" (they even prohibited tourist to climb the lighthouse)  But as I ascend, despite the sunny weather, the first thing I noticed was the strong breeze coming from the Pacific ocean ! And when we finally reached the top, for a moment I was unable to breathe at all; the view seems to had knocked the wind out of me. I was utterly amazed. Like i could stare to the endless blue forever. But that's not all, it's like I was so blessed that day that God even made me a rainbow ! (yes I always wanted to believe that everything He created was for me) It truly was the most unforgettable weekend in my life !

chichatravels/ When in Mt. Sawi

The mountain for brokenhearted hikers: Mt. Sawi  !

Yes! Its a mountain for brokenhearted hikers (tamang tama sakin na sawi sa pag-ibig choss haha) Mt. Sawi is located in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. There are two existing trail. One in Brgy. Malinao (where we started our trek) and the other one is in Dupinga Bridge. It was first explored by Nueva Ecija Backpackers and Community Mountaineers Inc. last May of 2016. It's a very hassle free for a beginner like me coz a friend invited me to a group of mountaineers called MDF Outdoor all of them are so accommodating and friendly so super smooth and chill lang (Well I was asleep the whole trip so yeah chill talaga haha) 

  

Anyway, we were trekking na when I heard the myth about the said mountain. According to the locals of Nueva Ecija, it was named Mt. Sawi because of  a girl who hanged herself to death at the summit because she got her heart broken by a guy who eventually left her and married other woman. So after that unfortunate event, it was called Mt. Sawi or Mt. Bigti. But I don't really buy that story kase wala namang pag bibigtihan dun sa area but some are likely to believe the brokenhearted-girl-story kase more dramatic daw haha. 

 

We started our trek at 6:15 in the morning. There have been some inconviences so we weren't able to catch the sunrise. We were walking the flats pa lang and I feel like my knees are giving up na (so its better to stretch stretch muna before trekking) From the bottom up to the summit was pure assault ! Konting flat grounds lang and lahat assaulted path na. Most part of the trail is grassland with sharp edges and some are as tall as a human. I'm not wearing the right attire and gears so my legs had some bruises, cuts, scratches and burns. Yes the sun kissed my skin talaga  haha it was so sunny and since i dont have enough gear like hat and other stuff, kaya sun burn talaga but luckilly mild sun burn lang naman.   

  

At 8:40am we already reached the summit. It was breathtakingly amazing ! Like every corner is worth capturing. Utterly fascinated at how exquisite everything was up there. (Kung pwede lang talaga wag na bumaba) You can also see the whole Gabaldon (which brings me to a very uncomfortable situation because of my fear of heights) But with a the help of my super supportive friend na keri ko naman haha i managed to stand at the top of the rock near the dead tree (the one where the girl hanged herself to death) Then at 9:34am we started to descend and reached the flat grounds at 10:25am. 

P.s. The descending part was the hardest for me. Thought my knees are finally giving up on me ! Without any help stranded na siguro ako at Mt. sawi feeling sawi haha. I'm still blessed and grateful to have someone who would help me no matter what (I'm really look like a scared baby cat up there ! ) 

   

#chichatravels