Postcards from the edge: Sunset-hunting in Dubai

My sister is an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) in Dubai. She left late 2011 and she was back home last December for her first vacation after finishing a year of her contract. Actually there is another story here, one that I will write about in another post.

Anyway...one time, while driving along one of the provincial roads on our way home from somewhere, I stopped to point out the sunset. My sister looked at it and said, "oh, in Dubai,the sunset is enormous."



Yes, I remember. I was there in March 2012 for a short meeting and one thing I remember vividly were the sunsets. It was so near, so heavy, so big. It was breathtaking. I still have to read up on why it seems closer and much bigger in that side of the world.



My sunset-hunting has taken me to so many places, or I would always sunset-hunt in the places I find myself in. One place sunset-hunters should not miss then is Dubai (or the middle east).

Like a roller coaster ride...

Oh, wait. It actually was a roller coaster ride.

If not for this 37 for 37 challenge, I would not have gone on this ride (the Battlestar Galactica: Human, Red track). I don't think I would have gone to Universal Studios either. I am not a theme-park person. But I would go to these parks at least once in my life, so I can perpetuate that idea of myself as someone who is not a theme-park person (if that makes sense).


But I went. Because I had a weekend in between work/meetings. And except for food tripping and shopping, there is not much to do in Singapore (but if shopping is your only purpose for living, then this is the place for you). I think Singapore is one big theme park but that's just me. A lot of tourists enjoy the attractions, but to me, that's what the city is all about - just attractions. I find everything about the city polished, manufactured, designed to attract tourists or impress visitors. And even its rough edges seem contrived. Ok, that's a bit harsh I admit. It has its charms and in the many years that I have been going to Singapore for work, I found the charm of this country through the eyes of the locals or the migrants who have made this their home. Their local food haunts, the best hawker places, a watering hole...etc.

I digress...now back to the roller coaster. The rules of the 37 for 37 challenge state that if it's a place you've been to before you have to visit some place that is new to you. So roller coaster ride it is.

After California Screamin' roller coaster in Disneyland California, I said I will never ride another roller coaster again. My first was the Space Shuttle in Enchanted Kingdom, Laguna, Philippines but it was nothing compared to the the 108-foot drop from the highest point of 120 feet of the one in Disneyland. That was the scariest part, the drop. And then this, the tallest dueling roller coasters in the world- we saved this ride for last and all throughout the queue, I was nervous as hell. But what made me try it? Two things: (1) i saw all the loops and I am ok with loops, even the one with inversion and there was no death-defying drops. I don't like falling. No, not at all; (2) I timed it and it lasted only 60 seconds. I remember a line from the movie "We bought a zoo" that goes: all you need is 20 seconds of courage. So for the whole 60 seconds of that ride I screamed, and screamed. It was what I needed- an excuse to scream out loud. It was a stressful week, and an even more stressful week before that and ahead. So it's the best outlet in the world. If every one who is stressed screamed their lungs out once every two weeks, the world will be a happier place, this will be the end to world wars.


But having said this, I am not sure I can muster enough courage to try another roller coaster ride but who knows? Maybe the next challenge will be 38 roller coaster rides from all over the world. Now, that has to be done before my heart gets too old, too weary, and too weak to take all that excitement.

(This is trip no. 10 of the 37 for 37 challenge)

Postcards from the Edge: Anilao, again

It's an easy drive (2&1/2 hours from Manila). Doable day trip. It's dagat.

So Anilao will always be a default destination whenever the noise, the smog and ugliness of the city close in and I need to get away. I think I come here 3 to 4 times a year and have brought foreign guests to enjoy snorkeling.

This is not the best beach (there is no beach actually- it's rocky, more coral rocks) and not the best waters the Philippines has to offer but it has great sunsets, good diving and snorkeling spots. Once I brought my American-Mexican colleague and he said "you have such high standards for beaches/oceans/islands but for us, this place is perfect!". I guess he is right. Anilao has its charms and I will keep coming back.

(The picture was taken at Dive and Trek Resort)

(This is trip no. 7 of the 37 for 37 challenge)

Like an unexpected song

A day or two after the New Year I went on a road trip with a few good friends. We woke up to very heavy rain, almost stormy, even. But of course that did not deter us. We started to drive to the southern part of Leyte and our planned final destination was Kuting Reef Resort.

It was raining heavily the whole time we were on the road but I kept telling my companions that we needed to be at our destination in time for the sunset. “Sunset? In this weather?” But when we were about 10 km from our destination, the rain became a drizzle. At 5km, it stopped. And the sky began to clear. By the time we got there, this sunset was waiting for us. And I felt that this was heaven’s show for us, specially for us. Right after the sunset, it started raining again.



I was overwhelmed, overjoyed, over loved. So I said a silent prayer-- Here’s to another year of spectacular sunsets and unbelievable moments that come to us like an unexpected song (ang daming song references sa line na ito, anovah!).

(This is Trip no. 2 of 37 for 37 challenge)

A river runs through it (Torpedo Boat Adventure)

We now open the New Year with an adventure. This has become a tradition ever since we went for an unplanned drive to Silago, Southern Leyte and a trek to Tres Marias falls one stormy day a couple of days after the new year. That was in 2011. And then again, to Lake Mahagnao in 2012. And for 2013, we decided to do the Torpedo Boat Adventure in Paranas, Western Samar.

This was the German’s idea, again. The German is a pseudo-local of Leyte. He moved to Tacloban with his partner a couple of years back and since then has been exploring the province and beyond looking for rare orchids, documenting them for a scientific journal. This is our hometown, but this German knows its nooks and crannies better than any local. So, funny as it may sound to the others, the German is our dependable guide in our own backyard.

The drive to Paranas, Samar from Tacloban took 2 and a half hours. Upon reaching the town, we headed towards the headquarters of Samar Island National Park (SINP). It isanother 16 kilometers along the Wright-Taft road past the junction (ay, we kept asking the annoyed German, are we there yet?) and up a hill. You register, pay the fee, choose a guide and get a briefing before going to the jump-off point. I think the package for 5 persons is PHP 1800 and it includes the helmet, the boat, and the fee for the guide. (The package rate is based on boat capacity- maximum of 5 pax, so if there are six of you, you need to get another boat for 1800. So it’s better to go there in multiples of 5).



The boat ride along 10.5 kilometers (one way) of the Ulot river (total length is 520 km) was scenic, with a lot of wildlife sightings along the way (it’s a bird watchers’ heaven). We saw a couple of waterfalls by the river banks. And there are a few rapids and drops that will satisfy the adrenalin junky. The ride downstream was exhilarating but the ride upstream was even more so since we were going against the current.



The ride culminates at Deny’s point, the designated picnic area where visitors could swim then have lunch by the big stones and boulders lining up the riverbank. Oh, and we dared each other to jump into the raging waters and let the current just take you downstream where the guides wait to pull you back to the riverbank.

It was a good day trip, the perfect start to the year and this 37 for 37 challenge.

(all photos by Mandy Aumento)

(This is trip. no. 1 of the 37 for 37 challenge "

The 37 for 37 Challenge

I, with two of my closest friends, decided to make the year leading up to our 37th Birthday (38th for P) more interesting. We got this idea from a friend who challenged herself to go on 35 trips before her 35th birthday. We met her on the eve of her birthday and she was going on the 35th trip (to Davao) the next day. So we said, why not try it..we are always looking for places to go anyway, always hoping for time (and money!)so we could go on our next adventure. We are perpetually planning...even if half of those plans do not work out.

So we decided to call it 37 trips/new places for 37 years (or 38 for P)- the 37 for 37 Challenge. It is a challenge because: (1) there are only 52 weeks in a year, meaning, 52 weekends in a year. And our work is such that we have to work even on weekends so there is no guarantee we can free up those weekends to go on these trips; (2) That means 3 trips every month. And right now, we barely have time meet up for dinner once a month or so. So yes, it is going to be a challenge. But bring it on!

We drafted these rules so we know what's and what's out...

General Rules

1. Primary purpose of the trip: vacation, leisure (* see exceptions to this rule)
2. It has to be a place that you have never been to before ( ** see exceptions to this rule)
3. At least 90 kilometers away from base city (reference point Kilometer Zero in Rizal Park, Philippines and Kilometer Zero in Tacloban City)
4. A city or town counts as one point even if there are numerous tourist attractions in that town or city
5. One could earn several “points’ in one trip for as long as rules 1-4 are met
6. Coverage: for Me and D: January to December 2013. for P: March 2013- March 2014.


* For work related trips to be included, there should at least be one full day “extension” devoted to sightseeing/vacation for the trip to count ; the site/attraction/place should be a place that one has never been to before

** A trip to a place that you have been to before can count as a point for as long as Rules 1 and 3 are met; You stay in that place for more than 8 hours.


So there. I have decided to document where the '37 for 37' will take us in this blog.

A walk along Nanjing Road

I spent a week in Shanghai last March but as usual, I barely had time to explore the city, even after work. There was one night though that I put on my coat and braved the chilly weather to explore the famous pedestrian street Nanjing Road.

I remember taking another walk along other popular pedestrian streets in Barcelona- the Portal de l’Angel and La Rambla. There were a number of street performers and musicians along the stretch of these streets. In one alley, there was an opera singer taking advantage of the good acoustics of that specific spot. Further down, there was a guy playing the Spanish Guitar. A flamenco dancer. A clown. Bubblemakers.

But I was told that these performers had to audition to get a permit to show their art on the streets of Barcelona. The idea is, if you have no talent, or if your act is not original or interesting at best, you get no permit.

It was obvious that this was not the case in Nanjing Road. I got the feeling that anyone who wanted an audience can set up in one corner and do whatever they want, regardless of talent or lack thereof.

I started my walk in Nanjing Road East and just a few meters down, I saw a crowd and I checked out what caught their attention. It turned out there was a pair demonstrating some ballroom dance but the moves were almost unrecognizable. A little bit of Swing, a little bit of Cha-Cha, and a little bit of Boogie. But they had avid fans, gathered around in a small circle like it was the cast of So You Think You Can Dance.



On the other side of the road, you see China’s version of the Line Dance. And there was another group a block farther down. I saw a lady in corporate attire briskly walking who surprisingly veered from her direction and joined the group like it was an afterthought. It very well could be that all participants intended to be there at precisely 7 in the evening so they can dance. But it equally seemed so random too- people who are just walking by and compelled to join in a little bit of community activity, maybe, to make them less alienated from the rest of the world. And what better way to do this than join a group of strangers and dance.



But my favorite was the group of older folks, singing traditional Chinese song and revolutionary songs. There is one guy who sets up a flipchart showing handwritten lyrics of the songs, a speaker and a microphone. To me, this was throwback karaoke. And any one feeling a little bit nostalgic can join in the group singing. There is even a guy with a saxophone and a conductor-wanna-be. Oh, how fervent their singing was. That’s the best I can say.



And it was like this, different performances all the way down Nanjing Road. Performers would bring their portable audio sets, their thermoses with hot tea, their disposable cups and then they would set up along the street and perform all night long. I took a walk on one cold night in March 2013 but the minute I set foot on that road, I was thrown back to another era, another time, and I don’t even know what era it was.

Postcards from the edge: Dauis, Bohol

One thing I really miss from my childhood were the times I spent up a tree. In primary school, I remember spending a lot of time up the Kalachuchi tree (Plumeria Acuminata, Temple Flower) while waiting for my parents to pick me up after school (the branches are brittle, not like the guava tree, my mom would always tell me. At home, my favorite was the Balimbing tree (Starfruit). I would bring a book and read it while perched on one of the branches of that tree. Whenever I see an imposing, magnificent tree, my instinct is to climb it, find a nook for myself.

So when I saw this tree, it instantly became a favorite. I may not be able to climb it now, at this age, but I can certainly lounge around under its shade. It is the perfect accent to this coffee shop (Cafe Lawis) in Dauis, Bohol (it's beside the church). It is on the right side when you cross the bridge connecting Tagbilaran and Panglao. I love spending afternoons here, sipping coffee while taking in the view. Dinners here are also romantic, even if you are on your own.

The winds of March that make the heart a dancer

Horoscope for March: This month will be filled with all sorts of things to do and places to go. Travel is a very real possibility now, especially in early to mid-March, and to places not too far away. You may decide to go for any reason - for enjoying romance or to complete a deal at work. If you can go, do, as being in a new setting will refresh you, and when you return you will be energized and more motivated to tackle other projects.

So on the very 1st day of March, very close to midnight, I got on a van with 4 other friends and started to travel as my March horoscope foretold. All 12 hours of driving through 400 kilometers up long and winding mountain roads and at some point through roads that are 5000 feet above sea level.

It may be sooooo far but Sagada attracts a good number of foreign and local tourists. It is a small town and it can easily be overwhelmed by tourists. Most shops cater to tourists- restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops. During the peak season (April, May, December), there are so many people that it’s hard to find a place to eat, and a place to park.


It is so easy to lose sight of this town’s charm, what with the droves of tourists all over. I have found an effective remedy when I find myself in a town like this; I try to find that space where I can shut off all the tourist chatter so I can hear the town speak to me. I usually find that space and time very early in the morning, long before weary tourists wake up or before the next batch of tourists arrive. So at 630 am, we took a walk from St Joseph’s Inn to the Anglican Church, sat and watched the churchgoers arrive for the first mass, mostly old ladies slowly making their way through the fog. Our walk took us past the cemetery to Echo valley, a popular spot because it has a view of the hanging coffins. It is better seen that early in the morning, when there are no tourists shouting their lungs off just to check out why it’s called echo valley.



From there, we went to Masferres Inn to have breakfast. It has charming window-side tables where you can sip hot decent coffee while enjoying the cool & fresh breeze wafting in from the open windows. I’d go back there for the bread.



I think the best way to enjoy Sagada is to take it slow. But because it already takes practically two whole days to get there and back from Manila, most visitors have barely a day or two to spend here that there is that frantic dash to see and go everywhere. And you completely miss the point of Sagada if you do that.

So aside from that walk, my favourite part was that lazy afternoon back at the cottage. I opened the window of the attic where my bed was and I could see the trees outside. I propped my legs up the headboard and started reading my book. I loved how quiet it was, how far away I was from my world, but close enough to be with my friends. I could stay that way for hours and hours.


It was a Saturday when we were there so we went to Sagada Log Cabin for their dinner buffet. Charming place and really good food. The roast pork was to die for. After dinner, we went back to the cottage, opened a bottle of wine that I brought in from the city and talked about everything and nothing. Oh, how I loved those long and easy conversations among friends at night over wine.

Sagada is about taking leisurely walks; it’s about lingering over coffee, or taking 5, or 10 minutes, or an hour more of time under the covers. It’s about taking time out to smell the flowers, literally and figuratively. As for me, I love the smell of pine cones more. It permeates the air in Sagada.



BUT do not discount the travel going there and back because it is just a magical experience as the destination itself. From Manila, we decided to take the Nueva Vizcaya route, with a short stop-over in Banaue. We arrived there at 7am. It was a brief stop, just enough to quickly take in the splendour of the Rice Terraces from the Viewpoint. Although, on the way up to Sagada, you pass through many versions of these rice terraces. It’s a very scenic drive, once you enter the Ifugao province. It’s actually exciting to be driving along the cloud-capped top of the mountains. On the way back to manila, we took the Sagada-Baguio route. If you have to sleep during the trip, do so on the Baguio to Manila leg because the view from Sagada to Baguio is spectacular, spectacular (4-5 hours from Sagada to Baguio and an additional 5 hours from Baguio to Manila). You actually go through the highest point in the Philippine Highway system (7400 feet above sea level).



So yes, the winds of March brought travel. And as for romance part, that’s another story that has yet to be written. What I know for certain is that I will have this on-going love affair with Sagada. When things get crazy, it will be the place in my mind that I can retreat to, and I will imagine the smell of pine cones, the cool weather, the walks, and that fresh air and silence at night that the city could no longer give.

Tips:
Transportation: We rented a van for four days (PhP16,000 inclusive of drivers’ fees, gas, toll, drivers’ accommodations and food). The cost was split among five people and our individual share was only 1thou more than what we would have paid if we had taken the bus. The convenience was worth the added cost. Prepare a playlist. You don’t want to leave it to the driver to choose your music for 24 hours’ drive (back and forth).

Hotel: St. Joseph Inn. We got a charming little cottage. It had two rooms and an attic. 4 double beds. A toilet with a heater that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t. It has a table with 4 chairs and a double-seater sofa. . All furniture and the cottage itself were made from pinewood. It was clean and I’d go back there again. Heaps better than being in those other inns where you are in a concrete box. If they could add an electric pot to boil water, coffee cups and teaspoon so guests can just make their own coffee.

The Sumaguing Cave: This is what a non-hiker has to say: it is not for the faint-hearted and those with no sense of balance. Guides tell you it’s difficult, you have to go down slippery rocks. What they don’t tell you is that half of the time you will be going down (and up on the way back) an almost 90 degree cliff with no safety lines and you hold on to rocks for your dear life. One misstep and you are done for. But the other half of the time is also priceless. The most common phrase you’d hear from those who have been there: “I won’t do this again but it was worth it.” (Request for a guide at the inn you are staying at- not all guides is experienced or will inspire confidence)

(This is trip no. 6 of the 37 for 37 Challenge )