Our Masungi Adventure

At last, our Masungi escapade finally happened!

We’re actually been planning this Masungi trip since July however there’s a lot of uhmm should I say hindrances why it was not able to push through right away LOL. There’s the unpredictable weather, our contradicting schedules and unapproved leave. Haha

Since August 20 is my birthday, I filed a week leave ahead of time because I’m really planning to celebrate my birthday somewhere. My original plan was to go to Bicol, Baler or somewhere outside Batangas at least. Unfortunately, it is just two days that got approved and take note, both are inconsecutive days. So obviously, my original plan is ruined. I chatted with Auline right away and told her to have Masungi instead. And that’s when our Masungi adventure came to life. Haha

Masungi Georeserve is located in Baras, Rizal. You can actually log on to their website to book a tour in Masungi. They offered shared trail and night trail for Php 1,800 per pax. If you are on an exclusive tour, you must form a group of at least 7 pax. Since it is just me and Auline, we got the shared trail wherein we pay Php 1,500 each and there’s a snack included on that.

Masungi is also accessible. We rode a bus from SM Lipa Grand Terminal to Cubao. From there, we rode an FX to Cogeo wherein the jeepney route to Masungi was situated. It is around 30-45 minutes from Cogeo and you can reach Masungi.

You’ll need to walk for about 20-30 minutes before you can finally reach the main entrance of Masungi. From here, you can now see different limestone and rock formations. When we arrived, we were greeted by their friendly staff. They also have lockers where you can rent for Php 20 for your bags and other valuable things. Masungi also provides helmets for safety and string bags in which you can put essential things for hiking. And oh, if ever that you forgot your tumbler, you can also buy one from them for Php 50.

Masungi has this Legacy Tree Project wherein you will be given a certificate as proof that they will plant a tree under your name. It will be planted around the Sierra Madre range. As mentioned on the orientation, once the tree grows and bears fruits, you’ll be invited to see the tree that you donated. Amazing, right?

We started our trek at 10AM. Since the weather is kind of gloomy, they have raincoats ready for the hikers, because rain or shine, trekking goes on. LOL

Masungi has nine trail sites or stations namely Duyan, Kubo, the famous Sapot ni Ric, Tatay, Nanay, Kweba ni Ruben, Bayawak and Sawa. I can’t remember the last one though, apologies for that.

I really had a hard time on Bayawak because it is the eight-trail station and for you to get through this, you must cross a rope shaped like an alligator hence it was called bayawak. It’s like you’re doing rock climbing but there’s no rocks haha you know what I mean. And then, I got a little bit scared of Duyan because you are in the middle of the forest and then you have to walk through a huge swing. Fear of heights, dude. For Nanay and Tatay, you can see the whole view of Masungi.

I must say that it was an awesome experience. So much tiredness, but so worth it. I can now check Masungi in my bucket-list. Yaaay!

Masasa Beach 2018

Okay, eto na nga, pagkatapos kong magresign sa UHG last July 2017, wala pa ulit akong matinong gala na as in masasabi ko na nakapag-relax ako. Kasi naman, ang dami kong issue. LOL Nag-apply ako sa Results na tumagal lang ako ng 3 months at nagresigned din, bukod kasi sa medyo hassle yung account, nakaka-stress din ang working environment. Sagaaaaad!! And then, nagbalik- loob ako sa Teletech, pero ibang account na. Dayshift. Mahirap yung account ko ngayon kaya naman talagang sabi ko kailangan ko naman ng break.

Kaya naman nung inaya ako ni Bea na pumunta sa Masasa Beach sa Tingloy, walang pag-aalinlangan, sama agad.

Super na-enjoy ko ang weekend getaway na ‘to. First time ko kasi dito sa Masasa. First time ko din na makasakay sa malakihang bangka na talagang pambyahe. Ang sarap sa feeling.

So pagdating namin, after kumain and all, punta na kagad sa dagat.

Sobrang ganda naman nga pala talaga ng Masasa Beach. Malinaw yung tubig, maputi at sobrang pino ng buhangin.

Kinabukasan, island hopping and snorkeling naman ang pinagkaabalahan namin. Pumunta kami sa Sepoc Island, Sombrero Island (yan lang ang natandaan ko) Hahahaha

Hindi na kami bumaba sa mismong Isla ng Sombrero kasi may bayad na Php 200. Eh ang pag-snorkeling, dun lang din naman sa paligid ng Sombrero Island.

First time ko ding magsnorkeling, ang saya lang. Naisip ko, siguro kung marunong akong lumangoy, mas maeenjoy ko pa lalo yung snorkeling. Ang linaw ng tubig, ang dami ng isda. Tapos may pawikan pa.

Unang getaway ngayon 2018 at sobrang ang saya sa pakiramdam. Parang feeling ko ang dami kong nagawa pero hindi ko ramdam yung pagod. Enjoy talaga.

Our Great North Escapade

My forever soul sisters had our 3-day tour in Ilocos, and I must say that was way too awesome, not just because of the beautiful places we’ve been to while we are in Ilocos but rather it is the moments and the laughter we shared together.

Yung nakakapagod na byahe pero masaya, yung di mo na alam ang posisyon na gagawin mo para lang maging komportable sa byahe (lol), yung mga epic na shots sa sobrang lakas ng hangin, yung jump shots na hindi nyo maachieve- achieve, yung sakit ng katawan nyo dahil sa sand dunes, yung pagkakabagsak ng camera at cellphone nyo, yung paghabol nyo sa tsinelas dahil nadala ng sobrang lakas ng alon sa Pagudpud! Hahaha Really, one of the books!

In this great Ilocos Tour we visited Bantay Church and Bell Tower (St. Agustine Church) and Baluarte ni Chavit Singson. I was totally amazed sa Baluarte, you can find all kinds of animals even the endangered ones. And of course, we had a glimpse to the famous Chavit’s tiger. I just found out that Chavit is one hell of a licensed hunter, so once you got to the museum, you’ll gonna see all the preserved heads of the animals he killed.

We had our breakfast at Jerry’s Restaurant wherein we first tasted their specialty, bagnet.

We also pay a visit to Marcos Museum and Marcos Mauseleum and Malacanang Ti Amianan. Going to Paoay Church is also part of the itinerary.

One of the activities we had is Sand Dunes, it is just optional: 500 per person for the activity fee, and since andito na din naman kami and we’re here for adventure and fun, we grabbed the chance. Sand dunes pa more!! It was a thrilling experience! We screamed, we laughed! Kahit masakit ang katawan namin after, okay lang.

On our second day, we went to Pagudpud, na sobrang lakas ng hangin, sobrang lakas ng alon. We never know na malalas at malaki ang alon sa Pagudpud that time, so mega tampisaw kami, and then bang! Big waves are coming!!! Sa pagtakbo ko, naiwan yung tsinelas ko, and I was like ‘kukunin ko pa ba, sobrang lakas ng alon, mababasa ako’, but I have to get my freakin’ slippers!!! So Tinay and I struggled the big waves for the sake of my precious slipper. Ayun basa! Aliw lang. Haha And yes, I got my slipper back. Lol We also went to Cape Bojedor, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, eto sobrang epic ang pagpunta namin dito, sa Kapurpurawan meron ding mga windmills, so sa sobrang excitement namin sa windmills hindi namin napagtuunan ng pansin ang rock formation. Hahaha And then the Bangui Windmill. Gusto sana naming maachieve ang jump shot dito, pero wala eh, epic fail ang mga jump shots! 😂😂 Before we go back to hotel, the last place we visited on our second day is Bantay Abot Cave. Sobrang ganda ng view. Perfect! Perfect! 👌👌

On our last day, Vigan it is! So oras na para bumili ng pasalubong after roaming around. And we also take our chance for the Kalesa ride. Hihi

So there, sobrang saya ng getaway na to with Angel and Tinay. Sobrang worth it. And this tour is also powered by Triple 8 Travel Agency! Thank you guys for making our Ilocos tour such an amazing and memorable one. Till our next destination!

P.S it should have been posted right after the tour, but the internet connection is not cooperating that time, and then I became busy because of holiday season, kaya ngayon lang sya mapapapost! 😁

My First… … …

Aside from this simple blog of mine, I do have my own little diary, and as far as I remembered, I’ve written that 2015 will be a fearless year, and it’s going to be a braver me. I also written that this year is all about going to places I’ve never been to, it’s about taking risks and taking chances. So far, everything is going fine, I’ve come to experience some things that are really my FIRSTS.

I just achieved my first trekking experience on Mt. Gulugod-Baboy in Mabini, Batangas. It’s kind of tiring but it’s all worth it. You just got to love the view, the whole municipality of Mabini and even Bauan, the wide blue ocean and the cool breeze that just caresses your skin. How relaxing the feeling is. At the top, I feel how close I am to nature. I appreciate the beauty of nature and the beauty of Batangas more. Indeed, God is really a great painter. He’s really a genius.

I’ve been to many beaches and resorts, but this is also my first time to experience this photo op in this amazing rock formation in the middle of the sea. This one’s also in Mabini. See how beautiful Batangas is!! What makes this experience more awesome is because I have Bea with me. (the pretty girl behind me in the photo). She’s just adventurous as I am.

In my twenty-four years, this is really my first time witnessing such a gorgeous sunset. The feeling is just so surreal that I just witness how everything that surrounds me is slowly embraced by a yellow-orange hue.

As I watched how the sun sets in its haven, I just come to realize that God has so many ways to remind us that life always offers new chances and new beginnings.

It is also my first time experiencing the famous Pahiyas Festival in Lucban Quezon. Every house was designed with different Lucban’s products making it colorful. All the people in Lucban really made an effort to make Pahiyas such beauty. In this festival, you can see plenty of fruits and vegetables such as string beans, pineapples, aubergines, lady’s finger and a lot more.

One of Lucban’s pride is their kiping. It is actually made of rice that is molded in a leaf-like shape in different colors. This was really my first time to taste this so called kiping. It can be fried or grilled. Amazing, right?

This was taken in Kamay ni Hesus in Quezon, it is just so humbling and blessed experience to reach the giant image of Jesus at the grotto after climbing the less than 500 steps of stairs on the way to the top.

This is one hell of a ride, the Space shuttle in Enchanted Kingdom, everyone. I’m always saying that I will never ride this one, as in never, I don’t know what’s gotten into us when we just joined those people waiting to have a ride in this thing. As the crew fixes our safety belts, I feel like ‘Noooo, I want out!!’. But at the same time, I feel like ‘This is it!’ As the space shuttle comes to life, I just scream my heart out to the highest level. It feels like you just don’t care at all, you just hang on with your dear life. After that one freaking ride, my world just turned upside down. I felt dizzy and the only way to get my normal self was just a cup of ice cream. Crazy!

This is my first to explore one of the beaches in Sariaya, Quezon, the Villa Prado. We just enjoyed everything, their minions, billiards, slide, the pool, all of it.

Indeed, these experiences really need to be treasured. I just love that I got a taste of these precious moments. Always find time to relax. Always find time to celebrate and enjoy life. Godspeed.