Punta Bunga - Another Face of Boracay

This is my second time in Boracay. This travel was paid by my company as I was chosen as one of those to attend the Summer Camp for Append Party-List. At first, it was not something that made my heart jump since this would be my second time. However, our location was situated far away from where I stayed during my first time. So, here, I was able to explore another area that is quite different from those frequented by the crowd of tourists. In fact, I realized that I was almost facing the five star hotels from where I can walk around smooth and soft sand that is only at Boracay :)

 

A little walk from where I stayed, by going down a stairway, and I would see this place. 

So here, I'm at Punta Bunga :)

How fine is the sand?! I'm so fond of this island :)

I can't understand the negative side of what people are saying about Boracay.  No matter what they claimed it to be. My heart is always full, when I'm here :)

Wide and the place looks just meant for a few people and me ;)

I can tell, the real tourists are still relaxing from the hotels near this place. I wonder if eventually, some Security personnel will shoo us away. Until I finished swimming there, it did not happen, so I'm thankful :)

Enjoying the place even if I was surrounded by local kids. 

Local boys were able to capture this picture of me. Traveling solo has its own challenges. And the tough one is having remembrance photos, when I don't have tripod to use for self. Thankful for the kids who made it possible.

Boracay, I will see you AGAIN, for sure :)

Quarantine Diaries 4/19/20 - Ginger Tea

There is so much time to do the things that I have been wanting to do. One of it is to choose to be healthy. During this quarantine period, I decided to make ginger tea.
Yes!
I accomplished it!
I gave three mugs for my Aunt and my two cousins.

In the end, what's funny was that, my Aunt decided to add oatmeals to her tea, LMAO :D

Oh well. But I really meant well. You know that Lord. 
And that is all that matters ;)

Tawi Tawi - You Are Not That Scary

It has been my dream to see Tawi Tawi for a long time.
Yes, I know what you are thinking: 

"Why Tawi-Tawi?"
"It's dangerous there!"

That is what the mainstream media has been telling us, since the day we were born.  The good thing is, flights going to this place has been very cheap, from Zamboanga City. So I don't want to pass up the chance. All work for the whole year makes me sick, so, out of the blue I visited Tawi-tawi without telling anyone ;)

Before reaching Tawi-Tawi province, I have to stop by at Zamboanga City.  And took another flight to Tawi-Tawi. 

I was able to find a place to stay through someone else's post at FB.
This is where I stayed in Sanga-Sanga, Tawi-Tawi. This village is closest to the airport. One of the advantage of staying here is that, it will just take one minute walk to the Airport. Yes, you are right - I said ONE MINUTE!

This is where I can sit the whole day if I want to, while enjoying the breeze. Overlooking the sea :) Homestay Accommodation. 

Food is also part of what I pay for. My lunch :) I love that they always put on turmeric in their dish. It produces the yellow color and is very healthy too. 

My mat is very colorful :)

My dinner is this yummy sinigang. The good thing with staying with a Muslim family is that you will be served a lot of seafoods. As a pescatarian, this is heaven for me :)

So what are the places that I have visited in this province?

Here they are:

Bolobok Cave. Yes, from underneath this place is a cave. From here, you can see the BLUEST ocean of Tawi-Tawi. 

Morgan, the brother of the my Homestay owner accompanied me to these three beaches and the trek to Bud Bongao.

The second beach near Bolobok Cave where Morgan took me to see.

Cove and Rock Shelter. 

The Climb to Bud Bongao started. 

Almost there? 

How many minutes more? I almost fainted ;)

At the top of Bud Bongao. Why it's worth it. 

Homes of the local people in this area. The water is clean though. 

Near the Airport.

The market at Batu Batu, Panglima, Sugala every Saturday where people still practice the Barter System. 

Strolling around, watching what each boat has brought with them. 

Just one of the home-cooked food that local people are selling or offering at barter. Some of the vendors would have a fish in exchange of this snacks. I really find this amazing. 

Dried Stingray was also readied for barter and sale. 

The mosque that I decided to check after visiting the market, on the way back to my Homestay :)

Lapid-Lapid Bridge is breath-taking :)

As someone from Bohol, how  to reach Tawi-Tawi?

My trip was Bohol to Cebu at night via Lite Shipping for a cheaper rate of ferry. Then on to Mactan Airport for my Cebu to Zamboanga City flight. From Zamboanga City, take another flight to Tawi-Tawi . 

Trip happened last October 26-28, 2018.

If you think you would like to stay at where I stayed, you may contact:

Melchor Graces or

Shiela Tiannok - Garces to reserve.

For assistance of possible motorbike transport, you may ask assistance from Morgan. He can possible refer you to another person who can do it for you or he can do it himself and be your tour guide. As this guy is still a student, please be generous with a fee or tip :)

What's All The Buzz Behind Bohol Bee Farm!

I can't remember when I first heard about the place, but certainly BOHOL BEE FARM is a name that will arouse one's curiosity.

Meet Bohol Bee Farm ~

First ever visit to this place was when we had our Organization's Anniversary in 2010. 

During CEVI's 10th Anniversary ~

Followed by a lunch with our guest from Kiva. 

With colleagues and visitors

Third was with Sir Jonar (our previous CEO) as a team. 

Fourth was with my Couchsurfing Meet-up guest Nana. 

Fifth was when Jubelyn, my friend from Davao invited my family for a dinner, and the last one was with my Aunties from Agusan Del Norte.

With Irving.

5/1/2019

With Saycon Family.

With Dara.

With Lourdes.

With Estrada Family. 

Not to kid you, going to this place is not easy since this is quite far from the Capital of Bohol which is Tagbilaran City. Unless you have a car, you should have at least enough money to pay for a special trip to Bohol Bee Farm via a tricycle. The location is in Dao, Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines (yes, of course I would like to make the address complete).

What is more endearing is knowing that they get their fresh vegetables from their garden :) 

Still, no matter the inconveniences, I will come back to this place again and again. Not because of good food alone, but because of its ambience and gorgeous location.

They do have a variety of yummy treats that they alone can offer.

To Be Loved Like Leah!

Cebu is one of the famous province in the Philippines. It is one of the "must-visits" for most backpackers.

Even with quite a number who explored this province, there are still places being built everyday to add to its grandeur.

One is the Temple of Leah in Cebu City. The place was built in memory of Leah, a wife, treasured by her husband. While we were there, many portion of the building were still being built. It seems like it was not even ready for tourists yet, but people were already allowed to tour the place.

One thing that was clear to me was the overwhelming feeling of BEING LOVED LIKE THAT!
For a man to do that, you must be really his queen :)

You are one lucky woman Leah. Extraordinary, may even be an understatement :)

Can't Shake Off That "creepy" Feeling In Cambodia

Cambodia.

Before even visiting the country, I have already read many articles and some of its history. Most are not pleasant, to say the least.  Scary, some would say perhaps. But then it happened many years ago.

Cambodia is not a country that I intentionally plan to visit.

Simply because, unlike most bigger cities, I can’t see promo tickets from Manila to Phnom Penh.

Nevertheless, it is one of the easiest country to stop by once one is in Thailand, Malaysia, or Vietnam.

I can’t help it, but because of Cambodia’s past, it has a dark side in my subconscious that never go away. 

Still, I can't imagine that these atrocities lasted until two years before I was born. So this, I can consider as not something I cannot relate to. This is fairly new, compared to most of what were written in History books.

To say that I was excited means I'm lying too. I was apprehensive. 

After arriving at Phnom Penh, we went directly to Choeung Ek Genocidal Center. This place was preserved in memory of those executed by their dictator leader Pol Pot.

While already there, I got scared.  It seems to me that the place itself is full of souls begging for justice of what happened to them during Pol Pot's time.  

"Killing Tree Against Which Executioners Beat Children" - it says

We were offered a headset with a map and the direction on where to go and to listen to the testimonies of those who live to tell the tale.

"MASS GRAVE OF MORE THAN 100 VICTIMS CHILDREN AND WOMEN WHOSE MAJORITY WERE NAKED"

I had goosebumps, I thought I would eventually throw up from fear. 

Bones are stored in this glass box.

I wanted to run as fast as I can after me and my friend was already many meters apart. 

PIECE OF BONES REMAINING AFTER EXCAVATION IN 1980 

Treading this part with my heart beating so fast. (Scared!)

I wonder if from this place, were they buried when they were already dead or even when they were still begging for their lives?

It was close to night time (almost 6PM of Philippines time). This really brings out the kid in me. 

These trees are witnesses of many lives lost. 

This is one of the places that they used as mass graves where many human bones were exhumed.

Sleng Tree "Poisonous Tree"

At the front of the center.

The building behind me, stores so many skulls of the victims of the genocide.

The temples made up for all the dread I felt.

The visit to Cambodia may not be a pleasant one if FUN is what you have in mind. But for me, it was NECESSARY. I have seen the remnant of Cambodia's dark past.

See it for yourself, Boholanos! :)