Unwind

I hide my pain like the rest of them
That's why I'm always laughin'
I need to unwind, yes,and
I Want all the time 

To be loved, to unwind

- UNWIND, Pink

GUIMARAS ISLAND ~ 

                                        REVIVING ITS HIDDEN TREASURE

Who said that beaches are just for summer enjoyment only? Some may tend to stereotype that island destinations are merely for hot season, but then, they may be wide of the mark. Regardless of the weather, in my own point of view, beaches are the perfect places to unwind, to relax, and to release all the burdens that one may experience in life, which is almost applicable to every human being situation. Two years ago, after taking the licensure examination for nurses, I was once invited to explore the pristine Island of Guimaras. Well, it may not be as pristine as before the oil spill few years ago, but the island after almost 3 years has finally revived its once lost marine treasures. 

Guimaras Island, is a small island located between the large islands of Panay & Negros. Tourists can reach the place via motor boats that travel the Iloilo-Guimaras route and vice-versa. The travel time would take about 15-20 minutes. For foreigners who wish to discover the island, they can take the flights from Manila-Iloilo. From the Iloilo International Airport, it would take about an hour to reach the port.

I love this place so much, for it reminds me of a lot of unforgettable experiences from my teenage life. I've been in this island several times already, but I never lose my interest and excitement every time I stepped into the sands of this hidden paradise. 

Pump boats used for Island hopping. The cost of renting this during that time was Php 600 per hour. The capacity of it would range from 6-8 persons.

Marine Sanctuary.

It was mid-September of 2010 when we had our island hopping adventure here together with the staff of DBP Makati. I accompanied them after their convention in Iloilo. It was an overnight stay, limited, but it helped me through a lot from my struggles of emotional detachments. Post board examination worries, heartbreak issues, separation anxieties with closest friends, college life hangover - these were a bunch of things that I carried heavily after I graduated from my degree and took the licensure examination. Everything was just new to me, being in the real world full of complications on how to succeed in a career that I chose to take. Thank heavens for my Tita for the invitation. :) I  was able to relax my mind and reflect on the thoughts that were bothering me during that period of time.

 White sand shores of the islets.

"So near, yet so far" ~ I was stunned by this view of the two islets.

The clear waters of Guimaras Island enrich with different aquatic creatures.

                     Inside a cave in one of the islets.

Seeing and enjoying the beauty of this pristine place, my inner self finally came to the realization that God always finds a way to keep me on the right track of my life. This island adventure helped me to appreciate things more on the positive way rather than thinking of the negative side of life. Nature indeed is the best relaxation therapy if we lose side track of who we are and what we want to be. :)

Everything We Were Has Become What We Are

So here's to your heart
Here's to your name
Here's to the stone that broke you once again
You've crossed every line
Worn out your stay
This is the last chapter of our fading days.
                                                         
       ~ Everything We Were Has Become What We Are, Amber Pacific

Summer season is finally over. Unluckily, I never really had the chance to travel afar lately, but thanks to my high school friends. They made my summer worth remembering. :)

I rarely update my blog due to some diversion of my interests for the past summer. I've been hooked in watching TV series and reality shows and getting addicted to Twitter. >_<

You may wonder what the lyrics of the song may mean in relation to what I will be posting today. So, to spill the curiosity, I will feature my adventure in a place where I have been caught off guard. (emotionally) ~.~

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL ADVENTURE

Two years ago, I had my first ever visit at Negros Occidental Island. Ironic it may seem, for it's just an hour away from our province and for my twenty years of existence, I never stepped into the grounds of this island. I traveled together with my closest friend, S. It was actually an unplanned vacation after we took the board examination for nurses. From Iloilo City, you could reach Negros Occidental through fast crafts that travel daily via Iloilo-Bacolod and vice versa route. Travel time could be as fast as 45 minutes up to an hour depending on the weather. If you want an economical trip, one may take RoRo via Dumangas, Iloilo Port which is 30 minutes away from the heart of Iloilo City. For travelers from the different parts of the country, various airlines offer flights from Manila-Bacolod.

With my friend, S at THE RUINS.

Our first stop, THE RUINS located at Talisay City. It was actually an old mansion of the Lacson Family, which was destroyed by fire hundred years ago. Despite its damaged state, the place remained to be a marvelous sight. Located in the middle of sugarcane plantation, verdant beautiful garden greet the visitors with its fountain surrounded by lilies.

Tourists usually shouldn't miss to take a shot with the reflection table to view the perfectly-made structure of the mansion. This picture was taken together with my two closest friends :) Hahaha. Spell AWKWARD. :P 

The RUINS inside has a restaurant and the site is known to be a popular location for pre-wedding pictorials and other occasions. 

.So here's to your heart

Fountain shot :)

Verdant surrounding of the mansion.

The front view of THE RUINS.

The mansion during the night offers a romantic ambiance due to its lights that silhouettes its European-inspired structure. We dropped by the area during the middle of the day, so I really didn't have the chance to appreciate the night view. 

We then headed to Balay Negrense, a famous ancestral house at Silay City after we had enough of The Ruins. We were accompanied by our closest guy friend, who happened to be a resident there. Luckily, we had our own tour guide for free. We arrived late in the afternoon, so, we only had limited time to explore the house/museum.

BALAY NEGRENSE.

DAY 2

MAMBUKAL RESORT at Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Negros Occidental is famous for its Mt. Kanlaon, the only active volcano in our region. Located at the base of the volcano is the Mambukal Resort popular for its Hot Spring and Falls. We visited the place just for lunch. The resort offers various food stalls which serve the best Negrense specialty. Mostly, they serve sea foods, which are mouth-watering.

I tried to have a sneak peek at the Sulfur Spring. It was HOT! Literally, boiling hot! 

Hanging by a moment - This was the perfect song during our short visit at Mambukal Resort. I never had the opportunity to climb the seven falls, try the "Slide for Life" or go boating at the lagoon because of one certain reason -- It rained! :(

This was taken somewhere outside Bacolod City when we were looking for a perfect view of the beach. I can't remember the place. >_<

 My first Negros Occidental adventure was fun. I bonded with my close friends who happened to be living there. Even though it was  partly an emotional torture for me, I still managed to enjoy my vacation and savor the feeling of finally finishing my degree. It was a memory worth cherishing and remembering. <3

Negros, too many FIRSTS and LASTS.

[After my first Negros trip, three months later, October 2010, I stepped into the grounds of the island again for an unplanned Masskara Festival escapade. It was also a blast since 'twas my first time to experience the famous City of Smiles annual festival. Negros Occidental has so much to offer.]

For more information just visit their government website: 

negros-occ.gov.ph/ 

xoxo

Here's to your name
Here's to the stone that you broke once again
You've crossed every line
Worn out your stay
This is the last chapter of our fading days

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/amber-pacific-lyrics-everything-we-were-has-become-what-we-are-vcdf3lk#ixzz1yJJ61B4P 

LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community 

So here's to your heart
Here's to your name
Here's to the stone that you broke once again
You've crossed every line
Worn out your stay
This is the last chapter of our fading days

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/amber-pacific-lyrics-everything-we-were-has-become-what-we-are-vcdf3lk#ixzz1yJJ61B4P 

LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community 

So here's to your heart
Here's to your name
Here's to the stone that you broke once again
You've crossed every line
Worn out your stay
This is the last chapter of our fading days

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/amber-pacific-lyrics-everything-we-were-has-become-what-we-are-vcdf3lk#ixzz1yJJ61B4P
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community 

Over the Hills and Far Away

It's been quite a while since my last post. -_- I was too busy this past few months worrying about my future and some personal stuffs and issues. But despite of my predicaments, I was able to wholeheartedly enjoy my summer vacation with my family and friends. :) And as promised from my previous posts, I'll continue sharing my travel experiences to places perfect for a summer getaway. My top three in the list is Bohol. I just love this place so much, and I didn't even know the reason why it's the closest to my heart. Well maybe because the moment, I stepped into this island, I felt like I was in a different world, far away from the stressors in life.

Over the hills and far away, she prays he will return one day As sure as the rivers reach the seas, back in his arms she swears she'll be
                          - Over the Hills and Far Away, Nightwish

BOHOL : God's Little Paradise

Bohol is one of the largest islands of the Philippine archipelago out of the 7, 107. If you're looking for a complete summer vacation package, then this may be the perfect island experience that you'll not surely miss for the rest of your lives. You can reach the island either by plane or by boat. Manila to Tagbilaran flights are offered daily by various airline companies, or you may take connecting flights to Cebu and travel by ferry which would take about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

PORT OF TAGBILARAN

Our Bohol experience was our year-end blast last 2011. We took the Iloilo to Cebu flight and headed to Tagbilaran via fast craft. The island has a lot to offer for tourists - white sand beaches, mountain experience, hilltop adventures, old churches, historical landmarks and many more.

Our first stop, the oldest church in Bohol--- Baclayon Church

WISHING CANDLES.

 Natives of the island believed that the Baclayon Church have proven to have answered the prayers of Catholic devotees by lighting the miraculous candles and saying their wishes.

I tried to light one of the wishing candles - Green for Career :) 

The candles come in different colors. Each color represents the different aspects of human life - Love, Family, Career and Money.

Souvenirs and gift shops - Tarsier-ispired! :)

 The Python area was one of the spots in Bohol that marked in my travel memories, for that was the time when I conquered my fear of snakes. The new and braver me!

We should conquer our fears! And luckily, I overcame mine!
A pose with the Python.

Bohol Island is the home of the smallest monkey - TARSIER.

 Bohol is synonymous to tarsiers, for every tourists who come to visit the island never missed to view this world wonder animal. Known as the smallest monkey, which can only be found here in the Philippines, Bohol tarsiers can be considered as one of mother nature's greatest gift which could serve as a proof that #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines.

Pasalubong area at the Tarsier Conservation Area.

MAN-MADE FOREST.

Over the hills and far away,
she prays he will return one day
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
back in his arms she swears she'll be

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/nightwish-lyrics-over-the-hills-and-far-away-cm65131#ixzz1tsZaVeqs
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community 

Over the hills and far away,
she prays he will return one day
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
back in his arms she swears she'll be

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/nightwish-lyrics-over-the-hills-and-far-away-cm65131#ixzz1tsZaVeqs
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community 

What I appreciated the most in Bohol was that the government was able to preserve its natural environment.As what I have observed, they rarely embraced urbanization, which I think could be a great advantage in maintaining the island as a natural wonder.

The famous CHOCOLATE HILLS at Carmen, Bohol

Your Bohol getaway would never be complete without viewing the famous Chocolate Hills. Getting there would take about four hours from the Tagbilaran Port. I was really astonished when I saw this  kisses-like hills from its top view. These are certainly the proofs that Bohol is worthy to be named as God's Little Paradise.  The hills are a thousand in numbers and stretches over the whole town of Carmen.

Clear waters of Bohol Tropics Resort

If you want the best accommodation during your stay in the island I strongly recommend Bohol Tropics Resort. It has facilities and amenities which offers the greatest comfort for their guests.


Year-end vacation in Bohol was indeed a blast before we closed the year 2011. It became an opening for more upcoming adventures for the year 2012. Unluckily, we only spent 2 days and 1 night in the island. It was a hanging adventure, but we were able to maximize our  travel experience by not missing every minute to savor Bohol's finest. I would definitely visit this place again in the future and by that time, I would surely try the island exploration, the clear waters and white sand beaches. xoxo


Vacation in Bohol? Try to discover more of the island at :www.bohol.ph

Summer Fever

"Winds may come and winds may blow, but there's no wind can cure me of my fever, summer fever." - Lyrics from the Donna Summer's      Song "Summer Fever"

People have different moods and some may vary depending on the season of the year. As what I have learned from my psychiatric nursing education, there's this disorder called SAD, an acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder, where an individual experiences depressive moments during season changes, it may be during winter or summer, spring or autumn. But with the cases in tropical countries like the Philippines, it varies during the rainy or summer seasons. 

If you have this type of personality and you need a place where you can marvel at something for you to easily adapt to seasonal transitions, then my top 2 on the list would be the perfect place for you this summer. 

BAGUIO CITY - SUMMER CAPITAL, CITY OF PINES

 Baguio City is a great place for non-beach lovers during this hot summer days. The high altitude location and its mild climate are the main reasons why it’s well-known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. A 6- hour drive from Manila, travelers could reach the city either by public buses which ply the Manila-Baguio route or by private vehicles.  Baguio City has been considered as one of the top tourist spots here in the Philippines for it offers a variety of bravura places, which attract sightseers to visit over and over again. 

We took a bus while we headed to Baguio last year, a tourist bus specifically since we scheduled our trip through a travel agency. For those who are planning to visit Baguio, I advice that you should facilitate with one if you’ll be going with a group of thirty or more. It’s more economical and at the same time stress-free.  They also offer tour packages and they bring along their tour guides during the entire duration of the tour. With our case, luckily our TG’s were very entertaining and they even added spice to our boring bus trip.

Here are some of the must-see and must-experience tourist spots in Baguio.

THE MANSION.

The MANSION. The official summer residence of the president. This was built during the American Colonization here in the Philippines. This has been considered as one of the top attractions in Baguio because of its Spanish-inspired guesthouse architecture and the Buckingham palace-inspired main gate, which is the most photographed part of the place. Across this is the WRIGHT PARK with a pool surrounded with Pine trees. 

Wright Park long pool which reflected the pine trees surrounding the place.

. This photo was taken at the grounds of the Philippine Military Academy.

The mild climate of Baguio made it a perfect place for a wide variety of species of colorful and attractive flowering plants to grow.

A lot of tourists who are visiting Baguio City usually never missed to drop by the Philippine Military Academy campus. The environment inside the campus  should be set as an example to all universities and colleges here in the Philippines. With its humid atmosphere, colorful grounds and majestic pine trees surrounding the academy, these factors added to the interest of tourist to visit and discover the wonders of PMA.

I stroke a pose with one of the PMA cadets. :) Well-disciplined indeed!

I had the chance to taste the Bulalo or beef bone soup, the Baguio style. It was appetizing! :)

Bulalo or beef bone soup at Mines View Park.

If you are looking for affordable souvenirs and gift items, hit your shoes to Mines View Park. Shirts, delicacies, bags, and other items ideal for pasalubong or gifts for your loved ones can be bought and grabbed there at a much lesser price.

Souvenir and gift shops are located everywhere at Mines View Park.

My favorite part of our trip was during the time when we headed to the Strawberry Farm at La Trinidad, Benguet, a 30-minute ride from Baguio City. Since I am a strawberry lover by heart, I really grabbed the chance to walk and clearly view how the natives plant and harvest the fruit. It may look a bit sunny in the picture, but the temperature was very cool. 

Strawberry farm at La Trinidad, Benguet

Strawberries everywhere! I loved this!

I can't explain the feeling while looking at these bright red strawberries. It was like getting back to my childhood years where I used to imagine eating a lot of these. One small basket of berries costs at about seventy-five pesos (PhP 75.00). They also sell jams which could be bought by 3 bottles for a hundred.

Baguio City has a lot to offer for its tourists. If given another chance for a perfect getaway, I would surely visit the City of Pines again. Similar to our Vigan tour, we only had a short period of time to explore the wonders of the place. It was a hanging moment for all of us, since one day and a half is not enough to explore all the must-see spots of the city. Vacation in Baguio for a week would be the most suitable span of time to enjoy and to have the best summer ever that you'll never forget for the rest of your life. xoxo

Want more about Baguio City? Just click on their webpage :www.baguio.gov.ph/