Apayao - Cagayan 2nd Part; Short Visit to Claveria

Holy Week 2016 Road Trip to Northernmost Mainland of the Philippines

March 23 to 27, 2016

Apayao - Cagayan 1st Part; Morning at the Lussok Caves

Note: This get-away was supposedly a Babuyan Islands triangle tour from Calayan Island, Babuyan Island to Camiguin Norte. Due to strong wind and continuous rains, it was not advisable to pursue the original route. The group organizer decided to take the Apayao and Palaui Island as alternative plan for this road trip. The fixed amount of PhP8,000 (Mar23-28) from the original trip became PhP4,800 (Mar23-27) excluding food trips.

Claveria lies on the northwestern part of Cagayan. It is 185.3 kilometers from Tuguegarao, the provincial capital, and 613 kilometers from Manila via Ilocos Norte. Claveria today is one of the cleanest towns of the Philippines. It has many scenic spots like the famous Lakay-Lakay Lagoon, Mabnang and Kilkiling Falls, and beaches.
http://www.cagayan.gov.ph/index.php/about-cagayan-home/10-city-and-towns/44-claveria

APAYAO - CAGAYAN HOLY WEEK ROAD TRIP 2016 ITINERARY

March 23, 2016 Wednesday
2000H ETD EDSA (picked-up in Centris Walk)
March 24, 2016 Thursday
0900H ETA Lunch in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
1100H ETA Claveria
Claveria Afternoon Tour (Portabage Falls, Blue Lagoon)
March 25, 2016 Friday
Breakfast and morning road trip to Apayao
Lussok Caves, Luna, Apayao
Road trip to Sta. Ana
Sta. Ana Afternoon Tour (Poso Robo Beach, Nangaramoan Beach)
March 26, 2016 Saturday
Morning Boat Tour to Palaui Islands
Palaui Island Day Tour (Punta Verde, Baratubot Falls, Mabolbol Shore, Cape Engano Lighthouse)
2000H ETD Sta. Ana
March 27, 2016 Sunday
1200H ETA Quezon Avenue, EDSA

Apayao - Cagayan 2nd Part; Short Visit to Claveria

Apayao - Cagayan 1st Part; Morning at the Lussok Caves

Holy Week 2016 Road Trip to Northernmost Mainland of the Philippines

March 23 to 27, 2016

Note: This get-away was supposedly a Babuyan Islands triangle tour from Calayan Island, Babuyan Island to Camiguin Norte. Due to strong wind and continuous rains, it was not advisable to pursue the original route. The group organizer decided to take the Apayao and Palaui Island as alternative plan for this road trip. The fixed amount of PhP8,000 (Mar23-28) from the original trip became PhP4,800 (Mar23-27) excluding food trips.

Luna's most popular attraction is the Lussok Crystal Cave and Underground River, a picture of natural wonder that is fast becoming a hotspot! Perched in the rocky slope of Brgy. Dagupan is this seven-chamber cave adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, navigable through an underground river that flows freely from end to end.
http://lunaapayao.gov.ph/index.php/45-about-luna/publications/97-lussok

APAYAO - CAGAYAN HOLY WEEK ROAD TRIP 2016 ITINERARY

March 23, 2016 Wednesday
2000H ETD EDSA (picked-up in Centris Walk)
March 24, 2016 Thursday
0900H ETA Lunch in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
1100H ETA Claveria
Claveria Afternoon Tour (Portabage Falls, Blue Lagoon)
March 25, 2016 Friday
Breakfast and morning road trip to Apayao
Lussok Caves, Luna, Apayao
Road trip to Sta. Ana
Sta. Ana Afternoon Tour (Poso Robo Beach, Nangaramoan Beach)
March 26, 2016 Saturday
Morning Boat Tour to Palaui Islands
Palaui Island Day Tour (Punta Verde, Baratubot Falls, Mabolbol Shore, Cape Engano Lighthouse)
2000H ETD Sta. Ana
March 27, 2016 Sunday
1200H ETA Quezon Avenue, EDSA

Apayao - Cagayan 1st Part; Morning at the Lussok Caves

2016 Philippine Pyromusical Competition

19-March-2016 Saturday 1930H in Mall of Asia Seaside, Pasay City, Philippines

My 18th family trip initiated, countless city trip and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. 

The spectacular Pyromusical Competition at SM MOA paint the Manila Bay skies with the much-awaited pyromusical displays. Eleven participating countries will fight head-to-head in this competition: Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom, USA, The Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Australia, China, and France, with opening and closing exhibitions by Platinum Fireworks, Inc. Philippines.

Silver Ticket for P100, Gold Center Ticket for P300 and VIP Ticket for P600. I purchased a discounted ticket from Metrodeal. On March 19, we watched France's representatives, the Brezac Artefices and the closing exhibition of Platinum Fireworks, Inc. Philippines.

After France showcased their fireworks and an intermission number, winners were announced. China for 2nd runner-up, Germany for 1st runner-up while United Kingdom won 2016 Philippine Pyromusical Competition.

2016 Philippine Pyromusical Competition (France)

A Day Tour in Magalawa Island

2016 1st beachbumming trip in the Philippines

After around 3 times of planning to visit this place, finally it happened with the same travelers invited since the 1st plan. Magalawa Island is located in Palauig, Zambales.

HOLIDAY DAY-TRIP TO MAGALAWA ISLAND ITINERARY 

February 25, 2016 Thursday
0100H Transportation from Home to Victory Liner Terminal Cubao Station 37
Breakfast 65
0445H ETD Cubao, aircon bus to Olongapo 207
0730H ETA Olongapo
0745H ETD Olongapo, aircon bus to Palauig 140
1015H ETA Palauig, tricycle terminal to Magalawa Island (Radio Veritas) 100 / pax
1045H port to Magalawa Island; lunch 103
island beach bumming, photo-ops and socializing
entrance fee + boat service roundtrip 200 / pax (cottage use free since lunch bought inside)
1630H tricycle back to main road 100
1730H ETD Palauig, jeep to Iba bus terminal 23
1815H ETA Iba; dinner 137
1845H ETD Iba, aircon bus to Cubao 350
0015H ETA Cubao, transportation back home 35
TOTAL: PhP 1,460

A Day Tour in Magalawa Island

Final Kuwait Get-Away; Solo Adventures across Western to Eastern Asia

Winter Solo Trip from Kuwait to Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Brunei back to Philippines

November 08, 2015 to February 20, 2016
Extreme Ultimate Journey as Farewell Tribute being OFW in Kuwait  

1st OFW Vacation; Comeback to my Homeland (Aug. 2012)

2nd OFW Vacation; Pinoy Backpacker China Invasion (Jan. 2013)
3rd OFW Vacation; Summer Solo Tour from Malaysia to Japan (May 2013)
4th OFW Vacation; Ultimate Solo Trip from Central Europe to Promised Land (Oct. 2013)
5th OFW Vacation; Winter Birthday Get-away from Georgia to Myanmar (Jan. 2014)
6th OFW Vacation; 2nd Ultimate Backpacking across 3 Continents (Jun. 2014)
7th OFW Vacation; From Winter Northeastern Asia to Summer Homeland (Feb. 2015)
8th OFW Vacation; 3rd Ultimate Journey across Summer Europe (Jun. 2015)

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." - Into the Wild

"Travel is rebellion in its purest form. We follow our hearts, we free ourselves of labels, we lose control willingly. We trade a role for reality, we love the unfamilar, we trust strangers. We  own only what we can carry, we search for better questions and not anwers. We truly graduate, we, sometimes, choose never to come back." - The TripRebel Manifesto

My final get-away (serves as my 4th Ultimate Backpacking also) as an Overseas Filipino worker for almost four years of stay in Kuwait. The map below shows the destination of my entire almost 4-months farewell journey. The countries included were Iran, Malaysia, Nepal and Brunei, my 56th to 58th new countries visited. This farewell journey served as my extreme ultimate adventure and purely self-guided solo trip from arrival to departure.

Final Kuwait Get-Away; Solo Adventures across Western to Eastern Asia

Kampong Ayer (Water Village) Afternoon Visit

3 Days Solo Tour in Summer Sultanate of Brunei

February 17 to 19, 2016

Brunei River Speed Boat Cruising to Temburong

How to go to Kampong Ayer (Water Village);

Kampong Ayer is just infront of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque with average fare of $1 one-way. Photography and video taking is permitted.

Kampong Ayer, or the Water Village is an area in Bandar Seri Begawan that is situated over Brunei Bay. All of the Water Village buildings are constructed on stilts above the Brunei River. Built entirely of stilt houses and wooden walkways, this cluster of 42 villages housing more than 30,000 inhabitants is the world's largest water village.

Kampong Ayer (Water Village) Afternoon Visit

Brunei River Speed Boat Cruising to Temburong

3 Days Solo Tour in Summer Sultanate of Brunei

February 17 to 19, 2016

Bandar Seri Begawan Walk Tour and Trekking

My aim for this trip was to visit Ulu Temburong National Park at a cheapest way. I just knew only that there was a cheap speed boat travel to Temburong after lunch. In addition, Ulo Temburong Park Resort can provide day trips but you have to inform them in advance. When I arrived in Temburong ferry, there was no public transport going to the park.  Because of this I decided to stroll the area outside the port. Ulu Temburong National Park highlight is the canopy walkway where you can see the green forest from over 60 meters above.

How to go to Temburong;

Daily speed boat departure from Kianggeh Jetty for only $6 one-way at 45mins travel. Last boat departure from Temburong to Bandar Seri Begawan is 1630H.

Brunei River Speed Boat Cruising to Temburong

Bandar Seri Begawan Walk Tour and Trekking

3 Days Solo Tour in Summer Sultanate of Brunei

February 17 to 19, 2016

Arriving from Brunei International Airport in the Afternoon

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is magnificent mosque especially at night when it ‘glows in the dark’. This mosque is built in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River, has marble minarets and golden domes, a courtyard and is surrounded by a large number of trees and floral gardens. Royal Regalia Building is the highlight of any trip of Brunei, has a profusion of exhibits related to the commemorations of the 25 years of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's rule of Brunei. Tasek Lama Recreational Park is a forest trekking area that looks a bit like a civilized jungle, and the beauty is that it is located in a short walking distance from the city. James ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, locally known as the Kiarong mosque, is the largest mosque in Brunei. 

How to go to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Royal Regalia Building, Tasek Lama Recreational Park and  James ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque;

Saifuddien Mosque, Royal Regalia Building and Tasek Lama Recreational Park are just waling distance to each other. FREE ADMISSION to this places, photography and video taking is permitted outside. Bus #01 to James ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.

Bandar Seri Begawan Walk Tour and Trekking (Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque)