Palawan, Philippines
December 2013

A day trip to the province down south.

Bulacan, Philippines
December 2012






The one thing that you shouldn't miss out when you're in Bulacan is their sweet delicacies and goodies such as Eurobake's famous inipit (little chiffon rectangles made from eggs, sugar, butter and usually filled with custard) and their ginromous ensaimada (a pastry product which originated in Majorca, Spain. Usually topped with grated cheese, melted butter, sugar and salted eggs).

Eurobake's sweet delicacies along MacArthur Highway
(369 MacArthur Highway, Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 3100 Bulacan, Bulacan)

First stage of backpacking – Choosing Destinations

For the past few days, I've been doing a lot of research for my first backpacking trip right after the last day of my national service. I'm not sure how long it'll take but I think it's a case to case basis kind of thing. I'm not really sure where to go yet but I've already quite a few ideas in mind. Thanks to self help travel guide books and the library which is just a couple of blocks away.

1. North Luzon Loop (Philippines) – Using Manila as a starting point, I will venture northwards all the way to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, passing through a handful of beautiful provinces along the way (will stop over for a day or two if need be). Once I hit the northern most tip, will then continue on eastwards to the the Cagayan Valley for some cave exploring. A long trip down, southwards, back to Manila will then end the journey.

2. Singapore – Malaysia – Thailand via KTMB train route(Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) – I thought of taking the KTM train/express to travel northwards all the way ti'll southern Thailand (Hat Yai) and probably taking a bus from there to venture around. From Woodlands (starting point) as a starting point, the train will then pass through known locations of Malaysia; Kluang, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Butterworth (gateway to penang and langkawi) and eventually, Hat Yai (Southern Thailand). This trip can get pretty costly though, I think?

3. The Java Expedition (Indonesia) – I saw this idea on Lonely Planet Guide, Indonesia. The journey starts in Jakarta followed by Bogor, Cianjur, Bandung, Pangandaran, Yogyakarta, Borobudur, Prambanan, then Solo. I believe Yogyakarta and Borobudur will be the highlights of the journey; having Yogyakarta as the cultural capital of Java and Borobudur for its famous temple.

The First option is void for now as June is the start of the monsoon season in the Philippines. I wouldn't want to get caught in the middle of a thunderstorms and Typhoons while I'm on a bus venturing the outskirt mountains of the South East. Might postpone it to November instead.

I'm still trying to widen my options at the moment. Hopefully I came up with something.

random street shot from the hip

Paranaque, Manila, December 2012

Paranaque Catholic Cemetery

Paranaque Catholic Cemetery, Manila
December 29 2012

Manila, July 2011

short-term vagabond, full-time nomad.

Taal Volcano, December 2010

It'll be 8 months more ti'll my National Service term (Military service) ends and I've already thought of the next most possible thing that I'm gonna do. That is, to go backpacking! I was thinking of at least a month. I haven't really thought of which continent yet, either Europe or Asia but never both. There are some friends who proposed to go together in a group but I've always thought of going solo. It'll be the no reservations kind, spontaneity at its best, releasing my inner nomad. I haven't done much research yet but I want the trip to be as fun as hell but for as little cost that I can afford (I still need to save up for my overseas uni in 2014!). I hope posting it out here don't get the backpacking idea jinxed. Oh god no.

It'll be friggin' awesome if I can get tips/stories from those who've went before.

Caleruega, Philippines, January 2011

7th flight this year

I'm having mixed feelings for my first "all by myself" trip to Manila this coming friday.