PALAWAN SUBTERRANEAN RIVER CAVE - Descending into darkness

UNESCO has recognized it as a World Heritage Site and it has a reputation of being the world's longest underground river. The Subterranean River Cave is one of the most visited national park in the Philippines. It is now being managed by the government of Puerto Princesa under a program of development centered on environment.

The Subterranean National River Park is also known as the Underground River in Palawan. It is a must see and it is worth it to visit. 

BORACAY Escapade Part 2

Boracay's attractions do not stop at its natural beauty. A wide range of accommodation serving every visitor's lifestyles is available on the island. To satisfy every palate and for the night-lovers, Boracay's beachfront is lined with varied international restaurants, open-air bars, karaoke bars and discos. During the day, tourists having a soothing massage under the shade of a coconut tree beside the shoreline is a common sight. And from dusk to dawn, Boracay turns into one big party place where everyone is welcome to join in.

Boracay indeed boasts of sugary white sand beach and azure blue waters. The best part of the island is the four-kilometer White Beach known to be the " finest beach in the world ". The surrounding water is shallow and the sand is finer and brighter than most beaches in the archipelago.

BORACAY Escapade Part 1

The beautiful island of Boracay has much to share to its guests and visitors. This island is not only for people who love to bask under the sun in white sand beaches and those who love to swim in the island's sparkling waters. It is also for those who love adventure ( like me ) as well. People who go to Boracay do not only enjoy the island's white sands and crystal blue waters; they also enjoy doing different activities in this enchanting island in the Philippines.

If you are one of those people who are thinking of visiting Boracay but do not know what it awaits you there, this article will give you an idea of what to expect in the island. Here are a few things you can do in Boracay Island.

SUNSET SAILING aboard VIVALDI at Manila Bay

I was invited by some friends to go on a sunset sailing around Manila Bay aboard VIVALDI.... it is a 36- footer sloop. It can accommodate 6 people plus the captain and 2 skippers. The Vivaldi is smaller than the Shibumi ( the one I sailed on when I was in Subic a few months ago ). I love sailing on a sailboat... so whenever I get a chance to sail.... I always go!!

BATANES - THE HIDDEN PARADISE ( Part 3 )

Before coming here to Batanes---- I had no inkling at all that such a paradise existed in the Philippines. I was not prepared for what I would experienced. The beauty, ambience and the totally refreshing atmosphere of the place matched the amazing and breathtaking scenery I saw when I toured the island.

If you  want to escape the hustle and bustle of the overpopulated cities in the Philippines, Batanes is the perfect place.  Its distance from Luzon is an indication of what to expect. Being in Batanes is like being in another country in the sense that the sights are not the typical sunny, white sand beaches you usually see in the archipelago. Being there also feels like you are intruding in a secret place where majority of the towns have been untouched by the changing times.

BATANES - THE HIDDEN PARADISE ( Part 2 ) Home of the Winds

Ask a Filipino if he had been to Batanes. More often than not, his answer will be no. Due to the remoteness of Batanes from the capital city of Manila, not too many Filipinos have had the chance to visit this enchanting islands. Batanes is about 660kms from Manila but it is ONLY about 190kms from Taiwan.

Being in Batanes is like being in another country. The landscape and even the weather is very distinct from the rest of the country. A leisurely trek on the grassy hills rewards hikers a grand view of Basco Bay. Batanes is the place to commune with nature, to soak a few moments of solitude and to get away from the hustle and bustle of Manila. A refreshing contrast to other city centers, Basco ( capital of Batanes ) has neither a mall or Starbucks coffee shop ---- yet. The pseudo- commercial center is a small lane filled with tiny groceries , supplies stores and ukay-ukay stores. Only a couple of jeeps and automobiles exist here. Tricycles, bicycles and scooters are the main transport mode within the town.

BATANES - THE HIDDEN PARADISE ( Part 1 )

I love to travel the beautiful islands of our country because " nature tripping " has become one of my outlets. I dreamt of going to Batanes for the longest time. Having traveled to many countries in Asia,  I think Batanes outshines many tourist destinations.

So much has been said and written about Batanes. Opportunities for magnificent photographs abound. It is the dream destination of shutterbugs because anywhere you look at there is a perfect photograph just waiting to be captured. Almost half of Batanes is made up of hills and mountains enveloped in breathtaking seascape. Batanes holds such magical mystery.

Today --- let me take you to the beautiful place called Batanes.

Rediscovering the North - Part 5 -the amazing BANAWE SUNRISE and BANAWE MUSEUM.

Iggy and I were up at 4:00am today... hoping to catch the famous Banawe sunrise at the Banawe View Point # 2. This view point is 20 minutes from the place we were staying. We arrived at the view point around 5:00am. Set up our cameras and waited for the sun to come out....

Rediscovering the North - Part 4 BANAWE- Then and Now

I have always loved this place although it was very inaccessible in the late 90's. I still braved the bad roads and the long hours on the road ( it took us almost 10 hours just to get here ) to Banawe.... but the trip was really worth it!!!!! This is my third time visiting Banawe and I never got tired of the place. I keep on looking forward in going to Banawe all the time. This time I was with my son, Iggy on a photo shoot assignment.

Rediscovering the North - Part 3- BANAWE - Answering the call of the gods

MAPHOD TA IMMALI AYU AD BANAWE !!

( " Welcome to BANAWE ! " )

( this is the map of Banawe -- it shows you where you can go while you are there..feel free to download it... )

The Banaue Rice Terraces of the Philippines have been said to be like the 8th wonder of the world. They were carved from the hillside by the tribes of Ifugao about 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. These people did this using their bare hands and crude implements, without using any machinery to level the steps where they plant their rice, which is what makes this wonder so attractive, aside from the fact that these rice terraces are still used today.

In 1995 the Banawe Rice Terraces were  declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Rediscovering the North - Part 2- TUNGNGOD, LAGAWE - home of the HUDHUD singers

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I was up at 4:00am.... actually I did not have any choice but to be up early.. I was awaken by the crowing of the roosters which served as my alarm clock. They sounded like there were more than 500 roosters crowing at the same time with a sprinkling of ducks quacking, dogs barking as their chorus. And another thing that also woke me up that morning.... there was an earthquake at 4:00am. Vangie and Iggy slept thru the earthquake. I prepared my coffee and stayed by the balcony to wait for sunrise... I wanted to take a photo of Lagawe at sunrise.

Rediscovering the North - Part 1- LAGAWE, IFUGAO

This is my first trip out of town after 4 weeks of being sidelined due to a freak accident which resulted in a fractured foot. After getting a go-signal from my doctor... I was raring to go!!!! My son, Iggy, asked me to join him on his trip to Northern Luzon. Our destination?? LAGAWE, IFUGAO. Iggy was commissioned by the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts ( NCCA ) to make a video/ documentary on LAGAWE, IFUGAO and the Hu'dhud of Aliguyun and Hananga. I will talk more about this on my succeeding blogs.

We were going to be with Floy Quintos - director, Gener Caringal - choreographer of Philippine Ballet Theater, Jesse Lucas - musical director/ composer, Bert Delvo and Leo Diaz- asst. videographers of Cinematiconcepts, Del Cayetano, project manager  and Nasser Lubay - Filipino artist. This is in connection with the upcoming event----- PHILIPPINE HERITAGE MONTH 2010 for the whole month of May. I am going to be with them as we celebrate the Philippine Heritage Month 2010.

Valentines Day in Subic aboard the SHIBUMI for a sunset cruise.

I together with Ernie and Lulu Kamatoy wanted to experience the SHIBUMI sunset cruise. This was my second time aboard the SHIBUMI and the first time for Ernie and Lulu. I have been telling them all about my experience on the SHIBUMI last new year's day... it was fantastic!! They should try it!!!

Iggy dropped us off at the Subic Yatch Club to meet up with Jeremy Simpson, owner of the SHIBUMI, for another sunset cruise around Subic Bay. This time we came early.... We set sail at 4:00 pm that afternoon... the water was calm. But it was overcast that afternoon... I was scared we might not be able to have a beautiful sunset....

Jeremy had invited another couple Tony and Au... to help with the sails.

Lulu and Ernie tried their luck in sailing the Shibumi.....

When we got out in the bay... the weather cleared up..... the sun started to shine.... a good opportunity for me to take some photos while waiting for the sun to set.

and have some wine perhaps??

after an hour..... the time we were waiting for has arrived..... Jeremy positioned his boat towards the mountains ( called cinco picos ).... and we got our cameras ready......

You can hire SHIBUMI.... for the sunset booze cruise. You can charter SHIBUMI and its skipper, Jeremy Simpson. It costs 8,000 PHP ( for the boat ) and 500 PHP per person for the booze and chips.... Usually it takes 2 - 3 hours long.... The maximum number of people that can board this 42 footer sailboat is 10 people. You will have to book in advance if you want to do this.

as the advertisement goes... " YOU MIGHT GET HOOKED and fall in love with sailing the SHIBUMI and SUBIC BAY.... but then there is nothing wrong with that!! "

 I would reccommend this sunset cruise..... SHIBUMI is the perfect place to spend the afternoon sailing!!!!  You won't regret it!

Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Valentines Day to you all!!!




SHIBUMI SUNSET CRUISE


contact person : Jeremy Simpson
tel. nos.   +63 918 903 4226

Destination.... SUBIC BAY, Zambales ..... Sunset Cruise aboard SHIBUMI....

" Glittering sun, stretches of aqua-blue waters and a magnificent sunset ....."  a combination that is awe inspiring and mind boggling!!!

 I woke up early just to check what the weather was like... I was happy that the weather was still cooperating ... bright sunny day and the water was calm... THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY!!!! I started to prepare .... packed my camera, tripod and an extra lens ( just in case I might be needing it )...

... today is the day I was waiting for..... SUNSET CRUISE on Subic Bay!!!!

To tell you frankly, THIS is the first time I was going to ride a sailboat... I have taken cruises when I travel abroad... but... never on a sailboat !!! I was so excited and anxious at the same time.. I did not know what to expect... all I had in my mind was.... to take a photo of the SUBIC SUNSET...

We were at the Subic Yatch Club at our scheduled departure time which was at 3:30 pm... I thought it was quite early to sail for a sunset cruise... but after talking to our skipper, Jeremy Simpson, the reason for this was it would take at least another half hour to get out there in the Bay itself. Jeremy, who is an Englishman, was an ex-Royal Navy officer. He is a passionate environmentalist and sailing enthusiast. He has joined a lot of boat races here in the Philippines and have organized some of these boat races in Subic Bay.

We met his crew ( actually they were his friends who are sea lovers like him)... He introduced BOB --- who I found out later.... crossed the Atlantic 8 times .. ON A SAILBOAT which took him a month each time ...  and his first time to do his amazing adventure--- he was only 18 years old!!... I was IMPRESSED !!

 Iggy tried helping in putting up the sails...

Jeremy gave us some instructions..... like where we could sit to be able to get the photos we wanted, how to keep out of the way when the sails go up, what to do when someone falls overboard and lastly when the boat tips into a 45 degree angle.. which actually happened when we took off....   I had my hands on my camera trying to get a shot ...  while balancing myself !!!

Somewhere out in the Bay... the wind did its job... it was smooth sailing all throughout ...  "Nice breezy day ..." I said to myself...  We had time to enjoy some drinks, take more shots and patiently waited for the sunset.

little Una trying to help out too... she seemed to enjoy the whole experience...

Finally the time has come... SUNSET!!!!!!! Iggy and I immediately positioned ourselves on the boat so we can take photos.. Iggy was going to take a video of the sunset while I was going to try and take the sunset with my camera.

                                            

                             

here are some photos of what I took...

                           

                           

All of a sudden..... I saw.... IT WAS FULL MOON TOO!!!! WOW!!! I turned around and tried taking the full moon too....... I had the sunset and full moon at the same time !!! I learned later what I thought was the full moon was actually the BLUE MOON.... which means there are two full moons in a month. It was  mind boggling !!!!!

Jeremy's boat, SHIBUMI, can be chartered for 8000 PHP for 2 hours and a maximum of 14,000 PHP for 8 hours. He also charges 500 PHP for each person.... and also provides drinks ( like wine, soda and beer ) and chips too.. That is why he called it the SUNSET BOOZE CRUISE.... The maximum number of persons that can fit on his boat is 10 persons.

It was NEW YEAR'S EVE also that day... so here are some photos of the fireworks display.

To sum up my wonderful experience..... I would recommend this SUNSET CRUISE aboard SHIBUMI... I'd like to think that Subic Bay offers a wonderful ambience for travelers seeking for a place where they can unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature. If you have been spending your week working really hard amidst a very busy city, Subic Bay would be a great place for you to relax and spend time with your loved ones.

Go out there and enjoy the sunset.... have FUN and I would like to wish all of you ... a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


Shibumi Sunset Cruise


Contact person : Jeremy Simpson
Tel. nos.       +63918 903 4226