Wandering Soul Scamper

Category Travel

Binabaje Hills
Jan, Tue, 2018
Binabaje Hills: A Resplendent Rolling Hills of Alicia, Bohol

 C:\ForDriveD\SD Card Backup\Pictures\2018-01-14_Alicia_Bohol

Have you heard of Binabaje Hills in Alicia, Bohol? Well, maybe you’ve only heard of chocolate hills, right?

Bohol is considered as one of the best Provinces in Central Visayas due to its astounding tourist spots and rich cultural heritage. Bohol is known for its beautiful coral reefs and beaches in Panglao island and the amazingly bizarre geological formations in Carmen Bohol, the chocolate hills. The symmetrical mounds that turn into chocolate-brown in dry seasons making it a grandiose vista of cocoa-brown hills contrasting beautifully to the lush green surrounding forests.

Bohol is known for these tourist attractions for so long now. From the wide arrays of tourism offerings ranging from white sand beaches, caves, waterfalls, old structures, the man-made forests, the luboc river, tarsier sanctuary and the infamous chocolate hills, who would have thought that this province can also offer other breathtaking vista like the Can-umantad falls, Cadapdapan rice terraces and the grandiose rolling hills in Camba-ol, Alicia, Bohol – the Binabaje Hills.

I’ve visited bohol few times already but I haven’t heard of this beautiful rolling hills called Binabaje Hills in the municipality of Alicia. Answering to the wanderlust in us, with no hesitations we responded the invite of a good friend – Marc of @theweekdaytraveler, and hopped into an adventure weekend to quenched our wanderlust thirst. The plan is to trudge Binabaje Hills, bask in the beauty of Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and immerse ourselves to Can-Umantad Waterfalls and Anda de Boracay beach.

The Topsy-turvy Trip

We agreed to depart from Cebu on the Saturday morning but due to some of us has still work until 1PM, we adjusted the itinerary and agreed to board the 1:30PM trip bound to Tubigon, Bohol. It was a win-win situation for us since we usually woke up late on Saturdays. We went to the port at around 1PM and tried to secure our tickets, but fast cat is fully-booked already. Our next best option is to get on board the Star Craft trip at 3PM. 

Given the departure time of 3PM plus the travel time from Tubigon to Alicia, we can’t make it to Binabaje Hills before sun down. So, we prepared ourselves for a possible night trek. We buy our tickets then and boarded the Star Craft at 3PM. Sail time is around 2 hours. The excited souls happily hopped in to the vessel with excitement of the adventure that awaits ahead. The universe seemed to be in our side as the waves of the sea were steadily creeping towards us and crawling gently to the shore. The ebbing tide was harmoniously groaning and the gushing waves are beyond comforting like kindling its own symphony. The metronomic gurgling waves is too hypnotic that put us all into sleep.

Past an hour of sailing, the horizon seemed to be stitched with a gray line. The skies dimmed and the quivering sea unleashed its mighty power. The echo of a raspy rumbling from the enraged sea came to us, and battered the vessel that we are in, tremulousness to fear. The waves were sloshing, slurping and slobbering with their salty lips. They pounded into the vessel we’re in, then paused and pounced again slamming the vessel for several times. A rumor of its malevolence gets into the skin to some of the passengers and cause them to panic. Everyone was watchful after some of the passengers shouted “Jesus! Help us!” as the strong wave juddered us causing our vessel to tilt significantly to the side.

After few moments of experiencing the smacking, smashing and expunging awful rage of the surging waves, the port of Tubigon can visibly be seen from afar to everyone’s relief. The slurpy slapping of the sea was muted, back to the metronomic murmur. The waves were merely snoozing, sluggish and slumbering in their liquid robes. A current of cold electricity passed through the air. We shivered. The wind whipped up. The setting sun appeared beautifully. The once gray horizon became a line of silver and gold. The sea simmered. Thank God.

Upon docking in the port of Tubigon, we disembarked and had our last-minute buying of stuffs for the trip. We bought dinner as we are certain that we have no enough time to cook our meal when we get there at Binabaje hills. After buying our stuffs, we hailed on a van going to Carmen. The sun is about to set already and the skies are getting gray again. After few minutes of van ride, we alighted at the gasoline station in Carmen and wait for a bus bound to Alicia. It is already past 6PM and the skies started to shower its blessings upon us.

We hailed a bus going to Alicia few minutes after but unfortunately the bus is full. We have no choice but to hopped in and stand inside the bus throughout the trip. The rain poured heavily as we travelled to Alicia. We are worried because we might be having a wet night trek to Binabaje Hills but at the same time it sounds very exciting, right?

The Jaunt to Binabaje Hills

We arrived at the Municipality of Alicia past 7 in the evening. We hurriedly disembarked from the bus and proceeded to the tourism office to meet Maam Gode and register. But something funny happened, Marc left the roasted chicken on the bus. Everyone is laughing as it seems that we won’t be having our dinner soon. We are thinking of plan B about our meal like buying something to cook in the market since carenderias or resto in the town are already closed. Odds is in our favor then as one of our guides helped us chase the bus to get our chicken, I mean roasted chicken. 🙂 Good thing, the bus route is just until Alicia and we got our dinner back.

 We met Maam Gode, registered our names and had a quick orientation and introduced ourselves to our drivers. The drivers Maam Gode arranged for us are also riders and are very familiar with the trails, so we are safe on our journey even the rain is about to pour again.

We headed to the jump off immediately 45 minutes past 7PM. Very funny because the chickens, I mean the roasted chicken was left by Marc again in the tourism office. Good thing, one of our companion noticed that it was not with Marc. We asked one of our guides to go back and get the chickens. 🙂

After 30 minutes of a very bumpy ride on a very slippery and rough road, we reached at the jump off, soaking wet as it rained on our way. We took shelter on the house near the jump off, and decided to have our dinner as our stomachs are rumbling for hunger already.

After dinner, while the rain stopped we started our trek. It was already 8:45PM.

The Trails Going Up to Binabaje Hills

We are just chill as we started the night trek, but as soon as we started the ascent, it seems that our lungs would give up any minute. The air is getting thinner, the skies are getting darker, the wind is blowing stronger and the downpour is getting heavier. We had our umbrellas and rain coats ready but our bodies were not. The first hill ascent seemed okay, until the second, the third and until on the succeeding hill ascents, the wind blow is getting crazy, our umbrellas couldn’t stand it. We have no choice but to get ourselves wet.

The trail is too slippery; the soil couldn’t get more loose by the heavy rain downpour. The long perennial grasses (cogon/talahib grass) will be your best friend for a while. But these grasses are not too friendly per se. It won’t let you hold them without cutting your skin like a fruit ninja. But situations like these, leaves anyone no choice but to clutched on the knife’s blade.

Some parts of the trail to Binabaje Hills are too bare that you can’t find anything to hold on to while ascending. You have no choice but to crawl your way up, else you will find yourself down below the hills. Some parts are too steep that when you make one step up, you will find yourself two or more steps down when you’re not careful enough. But these kinds of experience don’t make our adventure less exciting, in fact it added more flavor to it. The adrenaline junkies were more than happy and laugh it out as we approached Labawan peak where we will camp for the night.

After two hours of flounder ascents, we reached to the camp site. The camp site has a small hut built by the local government that serves as outpost to over watch the activities nearby the rolling hills like wild fires, etc. You can take shelter on this hut in times when your tents couldn’t withstand the harsh weather conditions or heavy rains.

We took shelter to the hut temporarily until the heavy downpour subsided. We changed with dry clothes and prepare to set up our tents. At around 11PM, we setup our tents while some of us were not able to set up the tents and decided to take shelter inside the hut. We had an ephemeral social gathering for the night with a bottle of local wine. After, we called it a night.

The Resplendent Binabaje Hills

  We were supposed to wake up at 5AM to watch the river of clouds and catch the sunrise, but the rains didn’t bother to stop until around 6AM. Some of our companions who took shelter inside the hut already called us at around 5AM, but sleep is irresistible given the weather condition outside. It feels too good to stay inside the tent at that time, but we must go by 7AM, so we have no choice but to get out and break camp in a chilly morning.

We then went outside to witness the beautiful vista atop the Labawan peak overlooking the Binabaje hills. The view outside is stunning. The creamy lush greens of unending rolling Binabaje Hills will unleash before your own eyes. The panoramic view of the Binabaje Hills is mesmerizing and hypnotically enticing that you wouldn’t want to leave sooner but enjoy the view as much as you can.

The sight is unbelievably ethereal that you would think that you might be in some parallel universe due to its spectacular scenery, too pristine without any signs of destruction and bunkum. The rolling Binabaje Hills can be mistaken like the Mount Batulao in Batangas. The have a very striking resemblance though except that Binabaje Hills is less known, less trodden and less crowded and almost at its pristine state. With that we can dub Binabaje Hills as the Batulao of Bohol, coz why not? 🙂

At the camp site, you can have a 360-degree view of these rolling hills cloaked in lush green tropical grasses. A mesmerizing scene aside from the overlooking view of the Municipality of Alicia and its neighboring places. One could say that the chocolate Hills is the most beautiful tourist spot in Bohol but for mountain lovers like me, I would say that Binabaje Hills could be the next top tourist destination in Bohol in due time if not sooner.

There is something in these Hills that would make you stop every now and then, take pictures and or just enjoy the beautiful creation unleashed in front of you. Words could not limn how grandiose this Binabaje Hills is, so I would leave it up to you how would you describe this newly found gem, the pride of Alicia, Bohol – the rolling Binabaje Hills. Leave your thoughts about Binabaje Hills in the comment box below.

How to get to Binabaje Hills?

From Tubigon, Bohol
  • I think the fastest way to reach Binabaje Hills when you are from Cebu is through Tubigon. Aside from having a cheaper fare, the travel time is relatively shorter.
  • From Cebu get on board any fast craft bound for Tubigon and from there, hail a Bus or van bound for Carmen, travel time is around 40 minutes to an hour. From Carmen, ride a bus bound for Alicia. Travel time is more or less 30 minutes. Alight at Alicia Municipal Hall. If you are not familiar with the place, tell the bus helper/ driver to drop you off at the Municipal Hall which is just along the Highway.
  • Go to Municipal Hall of Alicia and look for Maam Godelia Lumogdang, the Municipal Tourism Officer. I highly recommend to call or text her at 09338655650. Inform Maam Gode ahead of time that you’re coming to climb Binabaje Hills to avoid possible delays and conflicts with other visitors.
From Tagbilaran City
  • Another alternative to reach Binabaje Hills is via Tagbilaran City (sea Port or Air Port). From Tagbilaran City, you can ride a van or bus bound for Alicia. The travel time is more than 2 hours.
  • Alight at Alicia Municipal Hall. If you are not familiar with the place, tell the bus helper/ driver to drop you off at the Municipal Hall which is just along the Highway.
  • Go to Municipal Hall of Alicia and look for Maam Godelia Lumogdang, the Municipal Tourism Officer. I highly recommend to call or text her at 09338655650. Inform Maam Gode ahead of time that you’re coming to climb Binabaje Hills to avoid possible delays and conflicts with other visitors.

Few Tips:

  • Contact the Tourism Office beforehand so that they can provide guide(s) ahead. It can save you from possible delays in the Tourism office during registration while looking for one.  Contact the Municipal Tourism Officer, Maam Godelia Lumogdang, ahead of time about your plans to climb Binabaje Hills. You can call or text her at 09338655650 for inquiries and other necessary arrangements. She is kind enough to fix everything for you, from getting the local guide and transportation for you. Usually your motorcycle taxi driver will also be your guide.

(During our visit, she arranged the riders to be our transport and guide as well. On dry seasons, these riders can offer you a trail ride to the hills. Sounds exciting, right? But unfortunately, we were not able to experience trail motorbiking since we got there at night with heavy rains. The trail is not conducive for any rides at that time. Maybe next time. :))

  • Wear proper trekking attire and sunscreen if you’re trekking midday or past noon since the trail is very open. Literally you will be trekking on a rolling grassland.
  • Parts of the trail have very loose soil that can be very slippery and muddy especially on rainy season.
  • Remember to waterproof your valuables and other things as the weather nowadays become more and more unpredictable.
  • Bring enough food provision with you, which may include your packed meals, trail foods. Always remember to have a proper meal plan if traveling in a group.
  • Bring enough water and other liquids since there is no water source along the way. If you are trekking in a sunny day, bring with you around 1-2 liters of water. Bring more if necessary.
  • If you are planning to spend the night in the hills, it is advisable to go in small groups. The camp site is just too small to accommodate more tents.
  • There is no enough flat surface ground for camping. Bring with you few things that would make your camping experience a lot comfortable. To know such tips, refer to my previous post, https://wanderingsoulscamper.com/2016/11/05/trail-tweaks-how-to-make-your-camping-experience-more-comfortable/
  • Preserve the cleanliness of the place by observing the leave no trace principle. Whatever you bring in, pack it out. Do not throw garbage anywhere or leave anything behind rather pack it out and dispose it properly. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Practice responsible tourism.

Estimated Expenses:

  • Fast craft [StarCraft] fare [Cebu to Tubigon] – Php 275.00
  • Van fare [Tubigon port to Carmen]– Php 80.00
  • Bus Fare [Carmen to Alicia] – Php 40.00
  • Motorcycle Ride [Alicia Municipal Hall to Jump Off] (to and fro) – Php 200.00
  • Guide Fee [Good for 5 people] – Php 300.00 / Php 500 (overnight)

Note: Food expenses are not included here, as you may have different preferences as ours.

 

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
Philippines , Travel , Trekking , Visayas
Binabaje Hills: A Resplendent Rolling Hills of Alicia, Bohol

 C:\ForDriveD\SD Card Backup\Pictures\2018-01-14_Alicia_Bohol

Have you heard of Binabaje Hills in Alicia, Bohol? Well, maybe you’ve only heard of chocolate hills, right?

Bohol is considered as one of the best Provinces in Central Visayas due to its astounding tourist spots and rich cultural heritage. Bohol is known for its beautiful coral reefs and beaches in Panglao island and the amazingly bizarre geological formations in Carmen Bohol, the chocolate hills. The symmetrical mounds that turn into chocolate-brown in dry seasons making it a grandiose vista of cocoa-brown hills contrasting beautifully to the lush green surrounding forests.

Bohol is known for these tourist attractions for so long now. From the wide arrays of tourism offerings ranging from white sand beaches, caves, waterfalls, old structures, the man-made forests, the luboc river, tarsier sanctuary and the infamous chocolate hills, who would have thought that this province can also offer other breathtaking vista like the Can-umantad falls, Cadapdapan rice terraces and the grandiose rolling hills in Camba-ol, Alicia, Bohol – the Binabaje Hills.

I’ve visited bohol few times already but I haven’t heard of this beautiful rolling hills called Binabaje Hills in the municipality of Alicia. Answering to the wanderlust in us, with no hesitations we responded the invite of a good friend – Marc of @theweekdaytraveler, and hopped into an adventure weekend to quenched our wanderlust thirst. The plan is to trudge Binabaje Hills, bask in the beauty of Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and immerse ourselves to Can-Umantad Waterfalls and Anda de Boracay beach.

The Topsy-turvy Trip

We agreed to depart from Cebu on the Saturday morning but due to some of us has still work until 1PM, we adjusted the itinerary and agreed to board the 1:30PM trip bound to Tubigon, Bohol. It was a win-win situation for us since we usually woke up late on Saturdays. We went to the port at around 1PM and tried to secure our tickets, but fast cat is fully-booked already. Our next best option is to get on board the Star Craft trip at 3PM. 

Given the departure time of 3PM plus the travel time from Tubigon to Alicia, we can’t make it to Binabaje Hills before sun down. So, we prepared ourselves for a possible night trek. We buy our tickets then and boarded the Star Craft at 3PM. Sail time is around 2 hours. The excited souls happily hopped in to the vessel with excitement of the adventure that awaits ahead. The universe seemed to be in our side as the waves of the sea were steadily creeping towards us and crawling gently to the shore. The ebbing tide was harmoniously groaning and the gushing waves are beyond comforting like kindling its own symphony. The metronomic gurgling waves is too hypnotic that put us all into sleep.

Past an hour of sailing, the horizon seemed to be stitched with a gray line. The skies dimmed and the quivering sea unleashed its mighty power. The echo of a raspy rumbling from the enraged sea came to us, and battered the vessel that we are in, tremulousness to fear. The waves were sloshing, slurping and slobbering with their salty lips. They pounded into the vessel we’re in, then paused and pounced again slamming the vessel for several times. A rumor of its malevolence gets into the skin to some of the passengers and cause them to panic. Everyone was watchful after some of the passengers shouted “Jesus! Help us!” as the strong wave juddered us causing our vessel to tilt significantly to the side.

After few moments of experiencing the smacking, smashing and expunging awful rage of the surging waves, the port of Tubigon can visibly be seen from afar to everyone’s relief. The slurpy slapping of the sea was muted, back to the metronomic murmur. The waves were merely snoozing, sluggish and slumbering in their liquid robes. A current of cold electricity passed through the air. We shivered. The wind whipped up. The setting sun appeared beautifully. The once gray horizon became a line of silver and gold. The sea simmered. Thank God.

Upon docking in the port of Tubigon, we disembarked and had our last-minute buying of stuffs for the trip. We bought dinner as we are certain that we have no enough time to cook our meal when we get there at Binabaje hills. After buying our stuffs, we hailed on a van going to Carmen. The sun is about to set already and the skies are getting gray again. After few minutes of van ride, we alighted at the gasoline station in Carmen and wait for a bus bound to Alicia. It is already past 6PM and the skies started to shower its blessings upon us.

We hailed a bus going to Alicia few minutes after but unfortunately the bus is full. We have no choice but to hopped in and stand inside the bus throughout the trip. The rain poured heavily as we travelled to Alicia. We are worried because we might be having a wet night trek to Binabaje Hills but at the same time it sounds very exciting, right?

The Jaunt to Binabaje Hills

We arrived at the Municipality of Alicia past 7 in the evening. We hurriedly disembarked from the bus and proceeded to the tourism office to meet Maam Gode and register. But something funny happened, Marc left the roasted chicken on the bus. Everyone is laughing as it seems that we won’t be having our dinner soon. We are thinking of plan B about our meal like buying something to cook in the market since carenderias or resto in the town are already closed. Odds is in our favor then as one of our guides helped us chase the bus to get our chicken, I mean roasted chicken. 🙂 Good thing, the bus route is just until Alicia and we got our dinner back.

 We met Maam Gode, registered our names and had a quick orientation and introduced ourselves to our drivers. The drivers Maam Gode arranged for us are also riders and are very familiar with the trails, so we are safe on our journey even the rain is about to pour again.

We headed to the jump off immediately 45 minutes past 7PM. Very funny because the chickens, I mean the roasted chicken was left by Marc again in the tourism office. Good thing, one of our companion noticed that it was not with Marc. We asked one of our guides to go back and get the chickens. 🙂

After 30 minutes of a very bumpy ride on a very slippery and rough road, we reached at the jump off, soaking wet as it rained on our way. We took shelter on the house near the jump off, and decided to have our dinner as our stomachs are rumbling for hunger already.

After dinner, while the rain stopped we started our trek. It was already 8:45PM.

The Trails Going Up to Binabaje Hills

We are just chill as we started the night trek, but as soon as we started the ascent, it seems that our lungs would give up any minute. The air is getting thinner, the skies are getting darker, the wind is blowing stronger and the downpour is getting heavier. We had our umbrellas and rain coats ready but our bodies were not. The first hill ascent seemed okay, until the second, the third and until on the succeeding hill ascents, the wind blow is getting crazy, our umbrellas couldn’t stand it. We have no choice but to get ourselves wet.

The trail is too slippery; the soil couldn’t get more loose by the heavy rain downpour. The long perennial grasses (cogon/talahib grass) will be your best friend for a while. But these grasses are not too friendly per se. It won’t let you hold them without cutting your skin like a fruit ninja. But situations like these, leaves anyone no choice but to clutched on the knife’s blade.

Some parts of the trail to Binabaje Hills are too bare that you can’t find anything to hold on to while ascending. You have no choice but to crawl your way up, else you will find yourself down below the hills. Some parts are too steep that when you make one step up, you will find yourself two or more steps down when you’re not careful enough. But these kinds of experience don’t make our adventure less exciting, in fact it added more flavor to it. The adrenaline junkies were more than happy and laugh it out as we approached Labawan peak where we will camp for the night.

After two hours of flounder ascents, we reached to the camp site. The camp site has a small hut built by the local government that serves as outpost to over watch the activities nearby the rolling hills like wild fires, etc. You can take shelter on this hut in times when your tents couldn’t withstand the harsh weather conditions or heavy rains.

We took shelter to the hut temporarily until the heavy downpour subsided. We changed with dry clothes and prepare to set up our tents. At around 11PM, we setup our tents while some of us were not able to set up the tents and decided to take shelter inside the hut. We had an ephemeral social gathering for the night with a bottle of local wine. After, we called it a night.

The Resplendent Binabaje Hills

  We were supposed to wake up at 5AM to watch the river of clouds and catch the sunrise, but the rains didn’t bother to stop until around 6AM. Some of our companions who took shelter inside the hut already called us at around 5AM, but sleep is irresistible given the weather condition outside. It feels too good to stay inside the tent at that time, but we must go by 7AM, so we have no choice but to get out and break camp in a chilly morning.

We then went outside to witness the beautiful vista atop the Labawan peak overlooking the Binabaje hills. The view outside is stunning. The creamy lush greens of unending rolling Binabaje Hills will unleash before your own eyes. The panoramic view of the Binabaje Hills is mesmerizing and hypnotically enticing that you wouldn’t want to leave sooner but enjoy the view as much as you can.

The sight is unbelievably ethereal that you would think that you might be in some parallel universe due to its spectacular scenery, too pristine without any signs of destruction and bunkum. The rolling Binabaje Hills can be mistaken like the Mount Batulao in Batangas. The have a very striking resemblance though except that Binabaje Hills is less known, less trodden and less crowded and almost at its pristine state. With that we can dub Binabaje Hills as the Batulao of Bohol, coz why not? 🙂

At the camp site, you can have a 360-degree view of these rolling hills cloaked in lush green tropical grasses. A mesmerizing scene aside from the overlooking view of the Municipality of Alicia and its neighboring places. One could say that the chocolate Hills is the most beautiful tourist spot in Bohol but for mountain lovers like me, I would say that Binabaje Hills could be the next top tourist destination in Bohol in due time if not sooner.

There is something in these Hills that would make you stop every now and then, take pictures and or just enjoy the beautiful creation unleashed in front of you. Words could not limn how grandiose this Binabaje Hills is, so I would leave it up to you how would you describe this newly found gem, the pride of Alicia, Bohol – the rolling Binabaje Hills. Leave your thoughts about Binabaje Hills in the comment box below.

How to get to Binabaje Hills?

From Tubigon, Bohol
  • I think the fastest way to reach Binabaje Hills when you are from Cebu is through Tubigon. Aside from having a cheaper fare, the travel time is relatively shorter.
  • From Cebu get on board any fast craft bound for Tubigon and from there, hail a Bus or van bound for Carmen, travel time is around 40 minutes to an hour. From Carmen, ride a bus bound for Alicia. Travel time is more or less 30 minutes. Alight at Alicia Municipal Hall. If you are not familiar with the place, tell the bus helper/ driver to drop you off at the Municipal Hall which is just along the Highway.
  • Go to Municipal Hall of Alicia and look for Maam Godelia Lumogdang, the Municipal Tourism Officer. I highly recommend to call or text her at 09338655650. Inform Maam Gode ahead of time that you’re coming to climb Binabaje Hills to avoid possible delays and conflicts with other visitors.
From Tagbilaran City
  • Another alternative to reach Binabaje Hills is via Tagbilaran City (sea Port or Air Port). From Tagbilaran City, you can ride a van or bus bound for Alicia. The travel time is more than 2 hours.
  • Alight at Alicia Municipal Hall. If you are not familiar with the place, tell the bus helper/ driver to drop you off at the Municipal Hall which is just along the Highway.
  • Go to Municipal Hall of Alicia and look for Maam Godelia Lumogdang, the Municipal Tourism Officer. I highly recommend to call or text her at 09338655650. Inform Maam Gode ahead of time that you’re coming to climb Binabaje Hills to avoid possible delays and conflicts with other visitors.

Few Tips:

  • Contact the Tourism Office beforehand so that they can provide guide(s) ahead. It can save you from possible delays in the Tourism office during registration while looking for one.  Contact the Municipal Tourism Officer, Maam Godelia Lumogdang, ahead of time about your plans to climb Binabaje Hills. You can call or text her at 09338655650 for inquiries and other necessary arrangements. She is kind enough to fix everything for you, from getting the local guide and transportation for you. Usually your motorcycle taxi driver will also be your guide.

(During our visit, she arranged the riders to be our transport and guide as well. On dry seasons, these riders can offer you a trail ride to the hills. Sounds exciting, right? But unfortunately, we were not able to experience trail motorbiking since we got there at night with heavy rains. The trail is not conducive for any rides at that time. Maybe next time. :))

  • Wear proper trekking attire and sunscreen if you’re trekking midday or past noon since the trail is very open. Literally you will be trekking on a rolling grassland.
  • Parts of the trail have very loose soil that can be very slippery and muddy especially on rainy season.
  • Remember to waterproof your valuables and other things as the weather nowadays become more and more unpredictable.
  • Bring enough food provision with you, which may include your packed meals, trail foods. Always remember to have a proper meal plan if traveling in a group.
  • Bring enough water and other liquids since there is no water source along the way. If you are trekking in a sunny day, bring with you around 1-2 liters of water. Bring more if necessary.
  • If you are planning to spend the night in the hills, it is advisable to go in small groups. The camp site is just too small to accommodate more tents.
  • There is no enough flat surface ground for camping. Bring with you few things that would make your camping experience a lot comfortable. To know such tips, refer to my previous post, https://wanderingsoulscamper.com/2016/11/05/trail-tweaks-how-to-make-your-camping-experience-more-comfortable/
  • Preserve the cleanliness of the place by observing the leave no trace principle. Whatever you bring in, pack it out. Do not throw garbage anywhere or leave anything behind rather pack it out and dispose it properly. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Practice responsible tourism.

Estimated Expenses:

  • Fast craft [StarCraft] fare [Cebu to Tubigon] – Php 275.00
  • Van fare [Tubigon port to Carmen]– Php 80.00
  • Bus Fare [Carmen to Alicia] – Php 40.00
  • Motorcycle Ride [Alicia Municipal Hall to Jump Off] (to and fro) – Php 200.00
  • Guide Fee [Good for 5 people] – Php 300.00 / Php 500 (overnight)

Note: Food expenses are not included here, as you may have different preferences as ours.

 

Sep, Wed, 2017
Trail Tweaks: Trekking for Beginners

 Malungcay Trail

Getting Started with Trekking

Dying to head into the hills but don’t know how? Well, before you jump in into the activity, there are few tricks and tips that you might consider before you and your fancy gears tackle any of the great sierras on your list. These tricks and tips on trekking for beginners are worth considering before you take on the trail which could mean a little less painful trek and a lot more pleasure. For all first timers, here are a few tips to keep in mind. Trekking for beginners can be of course has a lot of dimension to it and involves detailed planning before you can actually be in the wild. This will be your guide to look through when you decide to get away from all of the chaos in the city life and hop into an enlivening trek in the great outdoors and be one with nature!

Read: 13 Reasons why you should start trekking

Trekking for beginners: Deciding where to go.

When you have decided to start trekking, choosing where to start the activity is crucial. The first trek experience usually is the deciding factor for the many, whether they will continue engaging in this type of activity or drop it in the trash bin.

Mount Mago

  • Choose an Easy Trek First

Don’t rush. You may start with small or medium level treks. Remember that most people who rush to the wild because they’ve been pumped up by few episodes of an outdoor show usually end up badly in the wild. We really need to take it slow. This is not a competition nor a race. You need to take baby steps. Baby steps will bring you to the most treacherous mountains someday if that’s where you want to go. So, if you are new to the trekking scene, ease yourself in.

For beginners, you should not go for the tough treks immediately as they are generally meant for the experts and the experienced. Be wise. Choose an easy trek first. It will be a wise move as you will get experience, enjoy the thrill and can relish a wonderful tour on such trek as a beginner. A tough trek may prove hazardous for you.

Read: How to make Trekking a lot Easier

  • Trekking for beginners needs research

Search for decent trekking spots nearby your city. It is sensible to look up first on the web for information around places you want to go or new places you want to discover. I suggest you choose a spot good for a one-day trek. Although it is ‘cool’ to say ‘Let’s just go for it’, but doing research about the place and getting the general information on the route. Getting lost there then is fun too! But by doing so, can turn the whole experience into a complete disaster.

Trekking for Beginners

Find a place appropriate to you and your group’s capability levels and experience. You may choose common trails initially so you get comfortable with the activity. Then with experience, you can be more adventurous in your succeeding jaunts and maybe chart out new trails!

It is worth noting that planning and research for the trek should be done very cautiously. A proper research is extremely important and its prominence grows even bigger if you are a beginner. Only after you have done proper research on the location and climate that you may encounter during the trek, you can do further planning of your jaunt.

  • Trekking for beginners needs proper scheduling

Make a comprehensive schedule when you are planning for your first trekking activity.  One must deliberate the schedule as per the climate and situation of the destination. Make sure that you have informed a relative or a friend about your schedule, as they can come to your aid if you get into any trouble while in the verge of your activity.

Coordinate with the proper authorities (LGU’s, etc) or the local tourism office, as they will be in the front line when misadventures happened. Register in any registration site when needed.

Trekking for beginners:  What preparations are needed?

  • Make Certain That You Are Perfectly Fit to do this strenuous activity

Get a medical clearance. Medical checkup should be the first and foremost priority before planning a trekking trip. Many trekkers suffer from cold, cough, stomach upset, etc while trekking. These can cause the whole journey less enjoyable and worst case, aborting the entire activity. It is every joiner responsibility to inform the trek organizer or leader if you have any medical problems.

Moreover, while on the trail, you must tell the lead if you are suffering from any discomforts like dysentery, bad blisters, headaches or dizziness, cramps, etc.

Being physically fit for your trek is a must. That way you can enjoy the climb and not get bogged down by sheer fatigue of walking and make the whole experience fun. Easier said than done right?  Trekking requires practice and getting used to carrying a backpack on ascent and descent.  So how to master and get used to with it?  Well, a good way to start off is jogging and eventually increasing the tempo steadily to build stamina.

A good trekker going on major ascents needs not only strong legs but good core strength. Always remember that there are no short cuts to this kind of activity and a little exercise like jogging or going to the gym never killed anybody. It is very important to keep in mind that different treks may require different training regimes. So make necessary adjustments.

  • What is the Budget?

One of the important factors to consider when starting this kind of activity is the budget. Expenses for food, accommodation, etc, should be given enough consideration while planning a budget. It is wise that the money you will be carrying should be a little more than the estimated. It is because there are many unforeseen expenses that may come up on the trekking trip.

Trekking for beginners:  What to wear?

Here is a rule of thumb – When starting on your flirting affair with trekking, wear too much rather than too little. It is always better being too warm and be able to take off a layer than being too cold and not having anything to wear on top. The mountains you choose may have very cold winds that can froze your bones. So, always carry a change of clothes that can help you in the rain and as an extra layer on top. An extra pair of socks and windbreaker or poncho may be of great help to shield you in case of rains.

To protect yourself from the fiery heat of the sun, wear a cap or hat. These can keep you warm also when in the cold. As much as possible, wear dri-fit shirts (wool or fleece). Wear protective accessories like arm sleeves or leg sleeves/guards. Scarfs can be a better alternative too. However, if you are like me, you can use an umbrella as protection from heat. Yes, you read it right. (Payong mountaineer here 🙂 ). But do not use umbrella when trekking on trails that need you to free your hands.

Footwear is one of the most crucial and important thing to consider when trekking. Wear comfortable hard-soled trekking or walking shoes for off-road or unpaved trails. Most outdoor enthusiasts suggest that the best trekking shoes are the ones that keep your ankles stable. If you are buying a new pair of shoes for the trek, break-in those shoes so that shoe bites do not ruin your trek.

For river crossing, hiking sandals are recommended or you can just remove your socks when crossing rivers. One can wear boots too, but boots are not advisable to wear during cold weather.

What not to Wear?

Keep in mind that sneakers are not recommended when trekking. Avoid cotton clothing as it does not dry quickly and does not keep you warm in the rains. Go for wool or fleece instead if you have one. Never wear cotton socks either as much as possible. Thick synthetic or woolen socks  can help prevent from getting blisters when wet or sweaty.

Trekking for beginners:  What to pack?

  • Pack All the Essentials Carefully

People have different views on this and it does depend on how long and where you are going. Pack the less required heavy stuff like the medical kit, cook sets, burners, or change of clothes at the bottom. Food in the middle and quick energy bites, water and other needed stuffs while on the trail at the top.

Trekking for Beginners

As you are a beginner, you must know that the foodstuffs and clothes are something that may not be available during the trek. Hence, you must carry food and clothes in sufficient amount. Please consider the quality of the clothes you will be wearing and bringing in, as there will be a possibility of clothes being torn while on the trail.

While packing your stuffs, you may follow these sub-divisions:

  1.  What you are going to wear on the trail?
  2.  What are the things you have to carry in the day pack?
  3.  What you are going to pack in the duffel bag?
  • What are the Trekking Essentials?

Being well equipped with essentials is mandatory for a pleasant and enthralling trekking activity. Here is the list of suggested items you may bring along with you on your trekking:

* Waterproofed trekking boots /Trekking shoes (Running shoes will do but no sneakers please)
* Jacket or something that has a hood
* A sweater as the weather may get chilly
* Extra shirt / shorts
* Pairs of underwear as you may need to change while on the trek
* Wind-gear and rain-gear * Sun hat
* Gloves / socks
* Personal first-aid kit including medication for common ailments such as headaches, dysentery etc., moleskin, antiseptic cream, surgical tape, band aids, sun cream and medicines
* Water bottle that can hold sufficient water
* Trash bags
* Day pack

  • Optional Accessories that You May Carry

* Camera  / fully charged batteries / Power bank
* Binoculars / Umbrella
* Extra water bottle

How to be safe?

You must be Familiar with Your Limitations. If you have no habit of walking very long distances, you should try covering short distances first. Fatigue is a general problem that the beginners usually face while engaging in this activity.

Make your own decision. You are one who best know about your capabilities. Be aware of your physical strength and endurance. Keep your limitations in consideration always.

You should keep up your confidence while trekking. As a beginner, you will feel the ultimate thrill on the trekking tour. If you follow all the tips and guidelines properly, you will complete a memorable jaunt that you will never forget in your entire life!

Mount Mago

What you need to know?

  • Camping Etiquette

Respect fellow trekkers by not being too loud and leaving markers alone is an unsaid rule. Remember to follow the etiquette always. Enjoy the adventure, click pictures and don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers!

Read: Camping Etiquette

  • Leave No Trace Principles

There are no trash pickers in the countryside, no one to clean away your waste. So take away what you take in – plastics, packets, food (and of course that toilet paper too if it is not biodegradable!)

Read: Leave No Trace Principle

  • Responsible Tourism

Pay attention to keeping our nature pristine and untouched. Avoid much impact to the place you are visiting.

Here are some useful trekking tips for beginners:

* Water. Carry enough water depending on how long your trek is. Water is an essential thing that everyone must carry because it is easy to get dehydrated while it’s warm. Do not rely on finding drinkable water along the trail unless there is a safe water source with drinkable water. Natural spring water is sometimes potable but discretion is important. Bring enough water if you have a very sensitive stomach.

* Food. Trekking can take up a lot of energy. Carry lightweight high-energy food. For short day treks, carry energy fruits like bananas. Avoid bringing perishable foods when in long treks. Instead, bring with you some dry fruits, energy bars or biscuits. You can bring also trail snacks like jelly ace, salted peanuts, etc.

* Sunscreen. Bring protection from the scorching heat of the sun especially when your destination is an open peak. Scarfs, hats, umbrellas can be very useful. When crossing swampy areas or bushes, you might want to apply some insect repellant especially if you have the sweetest blood. J

* First aid kit. Pain relievers, antihistamine, and bandages may be useful. Avoid bringing in your Med cabinet.

* Miscellaneous. Bring pocket knife, flashlights with extra batteries / torch.  Bring navigation tools if you are heading a little deeper into the woods. And don’t forget biodegradable toilet paper (you don’t know when shit happens :))

* Carry IDs and money in case of emergencies.

* During the trek, keep a lookout for potential dangers. Don’t touch suspicious looking flora. Poisonous plants are another hiking hazard.

* Do not use strongly scented skin/hair products. It can ignite the strong senses of animals around. Protect yourself against scrapes, plants and insects by wearing full-length garments.

You may want to read other tips here:

Trekking Like a Pro?

How to make your Camping Experience more comfortable?

How to stay clean and fresh on multiple day trekking?

There you have it, a basic guide in trekking for beginners. This is a long read but it maybe helpful when you are really serious about pursuing this activity.

Trekking is more enjoyable with a fellow adventurer. Going in groups means being able to help each other along. With the companionship, you can have a better shared moments and an exciting adventure. Before you head out in your adventure, always inform friends and family about where you intend to go. Inform them when they can expect you back.  Enjoy the adventure and keep in mind that when you’re in the mountains, every day is Friday!

When engaging in this physical activity, chances are that not all will go as per plan. But, that is the fun part though. Don’t forget to tag along some of your friends for the trek if still you are not sure to go all by yourself. The easiest way is to contact any local trek club. Cheers and Enjoy!

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
Tips , Travel , Trekking
Trail Tweaks: Trekking for Beginners

 Malungcay Trail

Getting Started with Trekking

Dying to head into the hills but don’t know how? Well, before you jump in into the activity, there are few tricks and tips that you might consider before you and your fancy gears tackle any of the great sierras on your list. These tricks and tips on trekking for beginners are worth considering before you take on the trail which could mean a little less painful trek and a lot more pleasure. For all first timers, here are a few tips to keep in mind. Trekking for beginners can be of course has a lot of dimension to it and involves detailed planning before you can actually be in the wild. This will be your guide to look through when you decide to get away from all of the chaos in the city life and hop into an enlivening trek in the great outdoors and be one with nature!

Read: 13 Reasons why you should start trekking

Trekking for beginners: Deciding where to go.

When you have decided to start trekking, choosing where to start the activity is crucial. The first trek experience usually is the deciding factor for the many, whether they will continue engaging in this type of activity or drop it in the trash bin.

Mount Mago

  • Choose an Easy Trek First

Don’t rush. You may start with small or medium level treks. Remember that most people who rush to the wild because they’ve been pumped up by few episodes of an outdoor show usually end up badly in the wild. We really need to take it slow. This is not a competition nor a race. You need to take baby steps. Baby steps will bring you to the most treacherous mountains someday if that’s where you want to go. So, if you are new to the trekking scene, ease yourself in.

For beginners, you should not go for the tough treks immediately as they are generally meant for the experts and the experienced. Be wise. Choose an easy trek first. It will be a wise move as you will get experience, enjoy the thrill and can relish a wonderful tour on such trek as a beginner. A tough trek may prove hazardous for you.

Read: How to make Trekking a lot Easier

  • Trekking for beginners needs research

Search for decent trekking spots nearby your city. It is sensible to look up first on the web for information around places you want to go or new places you want to discover. I suggest you choose a spot good for a one-day trek. Although it is ‘cool’ to say ‘Let’s just go for it’, but doing research about the place and getting the general information on the route. Getting lost there then is fun too! But by doing so, can turn the whole experience into a complete disaster.

Trekking for Beginners

Find a place appropriate to you and your group’s capability levels and experience. You may choose common trails initially so you get comfortable with the activity. Then with experience, you can be more adventurous in your succeeding jaunts and maybe chart out new trails!

It is worth noting that planning and research for the trek should be done very cautiously. A proper research is extremely important and its prominence grows even bigger if you are a beginner. Only after you have done proper research on the location and climate that you may encounter during the trek, you can do further planning of your jaunt.

  • Trekking for beginners needs proper scheduling

Make a comprehensive schedule when you are planning for your first trekking activity.  One must deliberate the schedule as per the climate and situation of the destination. Make sure that you have informed a relative or a friend about your schedule, as they can come to your aid if you get into any trouble while in the verge of your activity.

Coordinate with the proper authorities (LGU’s, etc) or the local tourism office, as they will be in the front line when misadventures happened. Register in any registration site when needed.

Trekking for beginners:  What preparations are needed?

  • Make Certain That You Are Perfectly Fit to do this strenuous activity

Get a medical clearance. Medical checkup should be the first and foremost priority before planning a trekking trip. Many trekkers suffer from cold, cough, stomach upset, etc while trekking. These can cause the whole journey less enjoyable and worst case, aborting the entire activity. It is every joiner responsibility to inform the trek organizer or leader if you have any medical problems.

Moreover, while on the trail, you must tell the lead if you are suffering from any discomforts like dysentery, bad blisters, headaches or dizziness, cramps, etc.

Being physically fit for your trek is a must. That way you can enjoy the climb and not get bogged down by sheer fatigue of walking and make the whole experience fun. Easier said than done right?  Trekking requires practice and getting used to carrying a backpack on ascent and descent.  So how to master and get used to with it?  Well, a good way to start off is jogging and eventually increasing the tempo steadily to build stamina.

A good trekker going on major ascents needs not only strong legs but good core strength. Always remember that there are no short cuts to this kind of activity and a little exercise like jogging or going to the gym never killed anybody. It is very important to keep in mind that different treks may require different training regimes. So make necessary adjustments.

  • What is the Budget?

One of the important factors to consider when starting this kind of activity is the budget. Expenses for food, accommodation, etc, should be given enough consideration while planning a budget. It is wise that the money you will be carrying should be a little more than the estimated. It is because there are many unforeseen expenses that may come up on the trekking trip.

Trekking for beginners:  What to wear?

Here is a rule of thumb – When starting on your flirting affair with trekking, wear too much rather than too little. It is always better being too warm and be able to take off a layer than being too cold and not having anything to wear on top. The mountains you choose may have very cold winds that can froze your bones. So, always carry a change of clothes that can help you in the rain and as an extra layer on top. An extra pair of socks and windbreaker or poncho may be of great help to shield you in case of rains.

To protect yourself from the fiery heat of the sun, wear a cap or hat. These can keep you warm also when in the cold. As much as possible, wear dri-fit shirts (wool or fleece). Wear protective accessories like arm sleeves or leg sleeves/guards. Scarfs can be a better alternative too. However, if you are like me, you can use an umbrella as protection from heat. Yes, you read it right. (Payong mountaineer here 🙂 ). But do not use umbrella when trekking on trails that need you to free your hands.

Footwear is one of the most crucial and important thing to consider when trekking. Wear comfortable hard-soled trekking or walking shoes for off-road or unpaved trails. Most outdoor enthusiasts suggest that the best trekking shoes are the ones that keep your ankles stable. If you are buying a new pair of shoes for the trek, break-in those shoes so that shoe bites do not ruin your trek.

For river crossing, hiking sandals are recommended or you can just remove your socks when crossing rivers. One can wear boots too, but boots are not advisable to wear during cold weather.

What not to Wear?

Keep in mind that sneakers are not recommended when trekking. Avoid cotton clothing as it does not dry quickly and does not keep you warm in the rains. Go for wool or fleece instead if you have one. Never wear cotton socks either as much as possible. Thick synthetic or woolen socks  can help prevent from getting blisters when wet or sweaty.

Trekking for beginners:  What to pack?

  • Pack All the Essentials Carefully

People have different views on this and it does depend on how long and where you are going. Pack the less required heavy stuff like the medical kit, cook sets, burners, or change of clothes at the bottom. Food in the middle and quick energy bites, water and other needed stuffs while on the trail at the top.

Trekking for Beginners

As you are a beginner, you must know that the foodstuffs and clothes are something that may not be available during the trek. Hence, you must carry food and clothes in sufficient amount. Please consider the quality of the clothes you will be wearing and bringing in, as there will be a possibility of clothes being torn while on the trail.

While packing your stuffs, you may follow these sub-divisions:

  1.  What you are going to wear on the trail?
  2.  What are the things you have to carry in the day pack?
  3.  What you are going to pack in the duffel bag?
  • What are the Trekking Essentials?

Being well equipped with essentials is mandatory for a pleasant and enthralling trekking activity. Here is the list of suggested items you may bring along with you on your trekking:

* Waterproofed trekking boots /Trekking shoes (Running shoes will do but no sneakers please)
* Jacket or something that has a hood
* A sweater as the weather may get chilly
* Extra shirt / shorts
* Pairs of underwear as you may need to change while on the trek
* Wind-gear and rain-gear * Sun hat
* Gloves / socks
* Personal first-aid kit including medication for common ailments such as headaches, dysentery etc., moleskin, antiseptic cream, surgical tape, band aids, sun cream and medicines
* Water bottle that can hold sufficient water
* Trash bags
* Day pack

  • Optional Accessories that You May Carry

* Camera  / fully charged batteries / Power bank
* Binoculars / Umbrella
* Extra water bottle

How to be safe?

You must be Familiar with Your Limitations. If you have no habit of walking very long distances, you should try covering short distances first. Fatigue is a general problem that the beginners usually face while engaging in this activity.

Make your own decision. You are one who best know about your capabilities. Be aware of your physical strength and endurance. Keep your limitations in consideration always.

You should keep up your confidence while trekking. As a beginner, you will feel the ultimate thrill on the trekking tour. If you follow all the tips and guidelines properly, you will complete a memorable jaunt that you will never forget in your entire life!

Mount Mago

What you need to know?

  • Camping Etiquette

Respect fellow trekkers by not being too loud and leaving markers alone is an unsaid rule. Remember to follow the etiquette always. Enjoy the adventure, click pictures and don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers!

Read: Camping Etiquette

  • Leave No Trace Principles

There are no trash pickers in the countryside, no one to clean away your waste. So take away what you take in – plastics, packets, food (and of course that toilet paper too if it is not biodegradable!)

Read: Leave No Trace Principle

  • Responsible Tourism

Pay attention to keeping our nature pristine and untouched. Avoid much impact to the place you are visiting.

Here are some useful trekking tips for beginners:

* Water. Carry enough water depending on how long your trek is. Water is an essential thing that everyone must carry because it is easy to get dehydrated while it’s warm. Do not rely on finding drinkable water along the trail unless there is a safe water source with drinkable water. Natural spring water is sometimes potable but discretion is important. Bring enough water if you have a very sensitive stomach.

* Food. Trekking can take up a lot of energy. Carry lightweight high-energy food. For short day treks, carry energy fruits like bananas. Avoid bringing perishable foods when in long treks. Instead, bring with you some dry fruits, energy bars or biscuits. You can bring also trail snacks like jelly ace, salted peanuts, etc.

* Sunscreen. Bring protection from the scorching heat of the sun especially when your destination is an open peak. Scarfs, hats, umbrellas can be very useful. When crossing swampy areas or bushes, you might want to apply some insect repellant especially if you have the sweetest blood. J

* First aid kit. Pain relievers, antihistamine, and bandages may be useful. Avoid bringing in your Med cabinet.

* Miscellaneous. Bring pocket knife, flashlights with extra batteries / torch.  Bring navigation tools if you are heading a little deeper into the woods. And don’t forget biodegradable toilet paper (you don’t know when shit happens :))

* Carry IDs and money in case of emergencies.

* During the trek, keep a lookout for potential dangers. Don’t touch suspicious looking flora. Poisonous plants are another hiking hazard.

* Do not use strongly scented skin/hair products. It can ignite the strong senses of animals around. Protect yourself against scrapes, plants and insects by wearing full-length garments.

You may want to read other tips here:

Trekking Like a Pro?

How to make your Camping Experience more comfortable?

How to stay clean and fresh on multiple day trekking?

There you have it, a basic guide in trekking for beginners. This is a long read but it maybe helpful when you are really serious about pursuing this activity.

Trekking is more enjoyable with a fellow adventurer. Going in groups means being able to help each other along. With the companionship, you can have a better shared moments and an exciting adventure. Before you head out in your adventure, always inform friends and family about where you intend to go. Inform them when they can expect you back.  Enjoy the adventure and keep in mind that when you’re in the mountains, every day is Friday!

When engaging in this physical activity, chances are that not all will go as per plan. But, that is the fun part though. Don’t forget to tag along some of your friends for the trek if still you are not sure to go all by yourself. The easiest way is to contact any local trek club. Cheers and Enjoy!

Malubog Lake
Jul, Sun, 2017
Malubog Lake and Malubog Falls: Toledo City’s Serene Hideaway and Reflections
Malubog Lake
Malubog lake is located in Barangay General Climaco, Toledo City. This is by far one of the biggest lakes in Cebu Province. It is fascinating and the air is fresh and overwhelming with cool gushes of wind blowing past, provoking the trees around to dance.

My mind has been in the state of turmoil on the thought that why humans, we humans has the hunger for adventure and the urge to be in trendy places? I can’t really figure out why most of us seem to always be in the pursuit of what is “in” that we often forget to appreciate what’s really in our backyard and often overlook the underlying beauty of the things in front of us.

Well, it is human nature I guess that most if not all, often go with what is in trend. Humans usually chase fame no matter what it takes, go to popular places no matter how overrated it is, stay in a five star hotels, eat in luxury restaurants, etc. For what? Maybe for social media posts or what not… I don’t really know the answer. Maybe, I’m not human after all. LOL. Of course, they have their reasons and we should respect that. But one thing is for sure, it’s none of our business. “Walang basagan ng trip ika nga”.

But there are few that would rather choose the off-beaten path. Strive to be on the opposite side of what is usual and does not always go with the flow. Always try to do things differently. Do things in a crazy way. And guess what? I am one of these few. We only live once, right? So, we might as well have the craziest, out of this world, fun-filled roller coaster and adventure driven life. It’s not a crime to be different and weird after all. So let us live our lives the way we wanted and be happy with it.

The off-beaten Road to Malubog Lake:

It was a gloomy weekday afternoon in the office that I got an invitation to visit the western city of Cebu Province, the City of Toledo. The plan is to explore the hidden treasures that this copper capital of Cebu has to offer. I barely know the places in the suggested itinerary except for the Biga Pit that is making rounds in the social networking sites because of its exquisite panorama of the turquoise-teal waters forming an enchanting lake amidst the monotonous rocks from copper mining.

I got other adventure invites at that time too. But I don’t know, maybe because of my personality and a strong preference of opting to be in less crowded places than those with tourist-frequented places, I responded the invitation with a YES. It’s not that I am anti-social, but I do love visiting the less known places or are yet to be explored. Maybe it’s because of the thought that less known places are usually still in their almost pristine form.

Toledo City humbly offers these pristine gems that are mostly not known to tourists yet. It proudly offers the Malubog Lake, Malubog Falls, the mining tunnel, the Biga Pit, and not to mention its mesmerizing Sta Ana Maze Garden and astounding hills/mountains that offers a breathtaking vista too.

The Pursuit to Malubog Lake and Malubog Falls

Every place has its backstory. Every truth has a tale. And every tale can never be the truth but merely a legend. Malubog Lake in Toledo is not an exemption.  It has been long believed that paranormal happenings took place within the vicinity of the lake. It has been said that there are unexplained disappearances of people in the lake. Some believed that there is a mythical creature “mantalaga” living in the deepest part of the lake. “Mantalaga or mantaga” is a mythical creature commonly transliterated in folklores as a creature with resemblance to giant octopus but lived in bodies of freshwaters like lakes, rivers, waterfalls, lagoons and the likes.

Malubog Lake

It has been told that the creature will show its rage to those people who doesn’t pay respect to the place. And to avoid its wrath, we must not provoke it in any way like producing boisterous and loud noise, or superfluous puns about the place. But in all honesty, there is no such thing as a true tale nor an authenticated legend, for the truth has many faces, it really depends mainly on how we perceive things with our own will and thoughts and that are properly documented.

All these tales made us more curios and interested to visit this uncanny place as they say. So we took the early bus to Toledo City. The ride was a bit bumpy. Lacking some sleep the night before, most of us felt bleary. But that didn’t stop or lessen our excitement as we drew nearer to our destination. Our jubilant souls hurdles out of delight like a carefree child that is going to get a new toy. A couple of hours later, we arrived at the junction going to Malubog Lake in Barangay General Climaco.

We took another ride going to Barangay General Climaco by hired motorcycle (habal2x). The road is a bit rough and not concretely paved. We jaunt to the wet, desolate roads that rested in silence as the bright sky smiles over it. The water in the road portholes shimmered by the glow of the bright, yellow rays of the sun. The small, green trees on the roadside swayed as the strong breeze hit them. The cool monsoon air carried a sweet moist scent like a candy shop kept inside a refrigerator. I personally felt goosebumps all over as the wind chills down my spine.

Malubog Lake

Above a faded horizon from afar, amidst the bushes in the sidelines, the beautiful rays of the sun pierced through it as it frantically changed colors, a color spectra seemingly mesmerizing rather like a disco light. The scenery of community we passed by shows how vibrant life in a place away from the bustling and chaotic city. The vista gratified my soul driving it inside in an ecstatic potion induced world of euphoria. The view simply depicts life in its simplest form.

My stomach growled and I squirmed in my seat to try to silence the rumbling. I glanced at the clock; there were only few more minutes before we will arrive at our destination. Then I’m slowly losing my attention to the vista around as my head was preoccupied; my eyes glazed over as I imagined a sumptuous breakfast ahead. I was salivating at the thought of it. Only few more minutes as the driver said. I watched the clock again but the slower it seemed to go. My stomach rumbled again. Finally, I heard the driver saying we’ve arrived and stopped few meters away from the barangay hall.

Yay, we arrived at Barangay General Climaco where our friendly and pretty host patiently waited for us – Miss Beth Dacuma of the Teacher Traveller PH.

Malubog Lake

The Almost Hushed Trek at Malubog Lake

We had a quick self-introduction with Miss Beth. Then, we had our breakfast in the nearby eatery. We also bought packed lunch and snacks for the day. We had a quick orientation from our host. She told the tale about the paranormal happenings and unexplained disappearances and deaths near the lake. I am not a 100% believer of any tale but we need to respect that. And I must agree to her 100% that we need to respect the place. We are the visitors and we need to respect whatever the beliefs and cultures in the places that we are visiting. After all, tale or truth, there’s no harm on being cautious. This is not only applicable to Malubog Lake but to every place that we are going to visit. Let us be responsible.

Malubog Lake

We say our prayers before we commenced our trek. We went straight to the Lake as our first destination of the day. Malubog Lake is just few meters away from the Barangay Hall. We walk down. Careful, mindful and seemed like everyone has fever or something. Everyone was silent on the trail. No loud talks, etc.

The trail experience seemed to bring me to a harmonious resting place. Alongside the tortuous trail, gardeners grew trees and shrubs along the path. Trees with numerous branches. They had oval-shaped tree clowns and summer turned some of the leaves into the color of dusk. While looking at the branches, I noticed a leaf falls in front of me like a flying butterfly. It died. No matter how hard it struggled, it still couldn’t escape the inevitable, just like human.

The Promising Malubog Lake

Glancing at the sky, the sun has already risen. Continued with the trek. Few steps and the magnificent Malubog Lake came into sight. Not a single word was spitted from our mouth, but we both wore smiles like the new moon. Miss Beth then told us to do our stuffs. We took photos of the place. Enjoying the once man-made Lake that looks like naturally formed now. Malubog lake is fascinating. The air is fresh and overwhelming with cool gushes of wind blowing past, provoking the trees around to dance.

Malubog Lake

It was a lovely day and perfect for picnic at Malubog Lake.  The grass on the side of the lake was soft and green, reserved for those who wanted to lie down or sit. A sweet aroma of fresh air overflowed nearby like a shining light, but was hidden by the untrimmed bushes and wildly growing trees. Hesitating to proceed anywhere, further, I took a few minutes to treasure the moment of silence and peace like the defunct floating restaurant floating silently in the lake. Cherishing everything in life no matter how simple it could be should probably the recipe of happiness, shouldn’t it?

Abstract Simplicity

Despite the hesitation to leave Malubog Lake sooner but time ticked so fast and we need to keep moving. We need to move to another destination of the day. But each step we took was like an imprint in my heart, a fossil that would always remain the same and special inside me forever. A day that I would probably remember for a long time.

Malubog Lake

The boat going to other side of the lake left already so we opted to trek to the other side though it will take some time. We are trekkers anyway. As we trekked towards the other side, the scenery along the trail is simply at its best. From river crossing, vegetable plantations, the water buffalo on the grassland, the nipa huts, the lush bushes around, the ecstatic children playing their simple toys, etc. These scenarios are irresistible to not be captured on lenses. And these simply depicts a simple life, a life that could barely be seen in the city. A life that I have been forgetting for a while. A life of no complications and all which made me contemplate on few things.

Malubog Lake

The greatest step toward a life of simplicity is learning to let go. Letting go of the things that make our life complicated. Life is really simple, it is us that insist on making it complicated. It is ourselves that hold on to something that made our life complicated. We often forget that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Essentially, we are free to choose how to simplify our lives. Some things we must consider include developing a work-life balance, embracing the good life, living mindfully, savoring the moment, spending quality time, and slowing down. Whatever we choose, the decisions ought to result in improving our well-being and peace of mind.

Malubog Falls

We will live a life of peace and not chaos, a life of essentials and not complication. We will slow down and stop living the frazzled life, a lifestyle of stress. We’ll live mindfully, in the present moment, and not ruminate with worry of the future or regrets of the past. We will live a balanced life— have time for work, love, family, leisure pursuits, fitness, and spirituality and not on petty things that will ruin our mood almost every waking day of our life.

We will have freedom from those conditions, commitments, responsibilities, and let go of people who prevent us from living the good life. We’ll have the freedom to live as we desire—authentically. No masks, pretentions, wrong perceptions and or grudges.

Malubog Lake

 

Incredulity

Passing through the off-beaten path, the refreshing colors of the crops enthused our eyes. Circling around the other side of Malubog Lake is quite a trek but the team was slowly gaining back the momentum eventually. Started joking again and started to have more fun. We then reach to the Malubog falls. The view is appealing to the eyes due to it’s oddly different color. By just looking at it, you would be tempted to take a dip. But the water in the waterfall seems not clean. The color is turquoise-teal, a bit close to aqua. And yes, do not bath in this waterfall, it might not be safe at all.

Malubog Lake

The color simply suggest that it contained copper compound residue or copper sulfate. But it’s not really copper sulfate that’s making the color into turquoise-teal but the presence of copper ions absorbing the bluey or green light and reflects back to our very own eyes. We took few snaps of the place and headed to the next stop – the tunnel and Hinulawan River.

Malubog Lake

Unfortunately, the tunnel was restricted to tourists at that time due to recent incident. The guards from the mining company told us that they are only allowing residents to pass through and even warned us to not go to Biga Pit. We understood that it is a private property but Manong guard could have spoken to us in a professional way. He was a bit rude by the way.

Malubog falls

We proceeded immediately to Tagaytay Hills to have an overlooking view of the lake instead. We rode the outrigger boat back to other side of the lake for P10 each to save time, then trekked up to Tagaytay Hills, passing through communities in the area. Above us was the beautiful, high noon blue sky with fluffy, white clouds. Exhaustion and the fiery heat of the sun didn’t stop us to go uphill. The view of the lake slowly revealed right before our eyes as we gained altitude.

Few more minutes and we’re at the top of the hill. The vista below is like an energy bank reloading our almost depleted energy reserves. The water was calm and beautiful in every aspect. Malubog Lake seems mystical and have a spellbinding foliage shielding around. Out to the arms of Malubog lake, we can’t help but stared and admired in every manner to cherish and remember it like a picture that never change.

The Sweet Goodbye

Enjoying the vista below that Malubog Lake revealed, we almost forgot that our bellies need to be stuffed. So we took shelter on the nearby Mango trees and ate our lunch. The heat of the sun is still scorching so we decided to have a quick werewolf game. We got to know a bit with each one of us and was able to socialize. At around 2 in the afternoon, we decided to proceed. We bid our last goodbye to the magnificent view of the lake.

Malubog Lake

We can’t thank our host enough for a wonderful day, we can’t thank enough of Malubog Lake’s breathtaking beauty. A beauty that seems too alluring and quite interesting to let go. But as much as we wanted to stay, we really need to go. We must go. It’s a bit heart-pinching but we must leave. Goodbye. You will always be in our hearts and may our paths cross again soon.

Malubog Lake

Heading back to the city of Toledo, we couldn’t miss the top-loading experience so we did it anyway. It was a fun ride though the skies were slowly turning into gray warning us that heavy rain is coming. We arrived at Toledo City few minutes before 4PM. Unfortunately, we crashed out our last destination of the day – the Sta Ana Maze Garden as it will close at 4PM. So we decided to go home early instead. And the rest is history.

Have you been to Malubog Lake and Malubog Falls? How was your experience?

Refer to Wandering Feet PH’s travel guide here.

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
BackPacking , Travel , Trekking , Visayas
Malubog Lake and Malubog Falls: Toledo City’s Serene Hideaway and Reflections
Malubog Lake
Malubog lake is located in Barangay General Climaco, Toledo City. This is by far one of the biggest lakes in Cebu Province. It is fascinating and the air is fresh and overwhelming with cool gushes of wind blowing past, provoking the trees around to dance.

My mind has been in the state of turmoil on the thought that why humans, we humans has the hunger for adventure and the urge to be in trendy places? I can’t really figure out why most of us seem to always be in the pursuit of what is “in” that we often forget to appreciate what’s really in our backyard and often overlook the underlying beauty of the things in front of us.

Well, it is human nature I guess that most if not all, often go with what is in trend. Humans usually chase fame no matter what it takes, go to popular places no matter how overrated it is, stay in a five star hotels, eat in luxury restaurants, etc. For what? Maybe for social media posts or what not… I don’t really know the answer. Maybe, I’m not human after all. LOL. Of course, they have their reasons and we should respect that. But one thing is for sure, it’s none of our business. “Walang basagan ng trip ika nga”.

But there are few that would rather choose the off-beaten path. Strive to be on the opposite side of what is usual and does not always go with the flow. Always try to do things differently. Do things in a crazy way. And guess what? I am one of these few. We only live once, right? So, we might as well have the craziest, out of this world, fun-filled roller coaster and adventure driven life. It’s not a crime to be different and weird after all. So let us live our lives the way we wanted and be happy with it.

The off-beaten Road to Malubog Lake:

It was a gloomy weekday afternoon in the office that I got an invitation to visit the western city of Cebu Province, the City of Toledo. The plan is to explore the hidden treasures that this copper capital of Cebu has to offer. I barely know the places in the suggested itinerary except for the Biga Pit that is making rounds in the social networking sites because of its exquisite panorama of the turquoise-teal waters forming an enchanting lake amidst the monotonous rocks from copper mining.

I got other adventure invites at that time too. But I don’t know, maybe because of my personality and a strong preference of opting to be in less crowded places than those with tourist-frequented places, I responded the invitation with a YES. It’s not that I am anti-social, but I do love visiting the less known places or are yet to be explored. Maybe it’s because of the thought that less known places are usually still in their almost pristine form.

Toledo City humbly offers these pristine gems that are mostly not known to tourists yet. It proudly offers the Malubog Lake, Malubog Falls, the mining tunnel, the Biga Pit, and not to mention its mesmerizing Sta Ana Maze Garden and astounding hills/mountains that offers a breathtaking vista too.

The Pursuit to Malubog Lake and Malubog Falls

Every place has its backstory. Every truth has a tale. And every tale can never be the truth but merely a legend. Malubog Lake in Toledo is not an exemption.  It has been long believed that paranormal happenings took place within the vicinity of the lake. It has been said that there are unexplained disappearances of people in the lake. Some believed that there is a mythical creature “mantalaga” living in the deepest part of the lake. “Mantalaga or mantaga” is a mythical creature commonly transliterated in folklores as a creature with resemblance to giant octopus but lived in bodies of freshwaters like lakes, rivers, waterfalls, lagoons and the likes.

Malubog Lake

It has been told that the creature will show its rage to those people who doesn’t pay respect to the place. And to avoid its wrath, we must not provoke it in any way like producing boisterous and loud noise, or superfluous puns about the place. But in all honesty, there is no such thing as a true tale nor an authenticated legend, for the truth has many faces, it really depends mainly on how we perceive things with our own will and thoughts and that are properly documented.

All these tales made us more curios and interested to visit this uncanny place as they say. So we took the early bus to Toledo City. The ride was a bit bumpy. Lacking some sleep the night before, most of us felt bleary. But that didn’t stop or lessen our excitement as we drew nearer to our destination. Our jubilant souls hurdles out of delight like a carefree child that is going to get a new toy. A couple of hours later, we arrived at the junction going to Malubog Lake in Barangay General Climaco.

We took another ride going to Barangay General Climaco by hired motorcycle (habal2x). The road is a bit rough and not concretely paved. We jaunt to the wet, desolate roads that rested in silence as the bright sky smiles over it. The water in the road portholes shimmered by the glow of the bright, yellow rays of the sun. The small, green trees on the roadside swayed as the strong breeze hit them. The cool monsoon air carried a sweet moist scent like a candy shop kept inside a refrigerator. I personally felt goosebumps all over as the wind chills down my spine.

Malubog Lake

Above a faded horizon from afar, amidst the bushes in the sidelines, the beautiful rays of the sun pierced through it as it frantically changed colors, a color spectra seemingly mesmerizing rather like a disco light. The scenery of community we passed by shows how vibrant life in a place away from the bustling and chaotic city. The vista gratified my soul driving it inside in an ecstatic potion induced world of euphoria. The view simply depicts life in its simplest form.

My stomach growled and I squirmed in my seat to try to silence the rumbling. I glanced at the clock; there were only few more minutes before we will arrive at our destination. Then I’m slowly losing my attention to the vista around as my head was preoccupied; my eyes glazed over as I imagined a sumptuous breakfast ahead. I was salivating at the thought of it. Only few more minutes as the driver said. I watched the clock again but the slower it seemed to go. My stomach rumbled again. Finally, I heard the driver saying we’ve arrived and stopped few meters away from the barangay hall.

Yay, we arrived at Barangay General Climaco where our friendly and pretty host patiently waited for us – Miss Beth Dacuma of the Teacher Traveller PH.

Malubog Lake

The Almost Hushed Trek at Malubog Lake

We had a quick self-introduction with Miss Beth. Then, we had our breakfast in the nearby eatery. We also bought packed lunch and snacks for the day. We had a quick orientation from our host. She told the tale about the paranormal happenings and unexplained disappearances and deaths near the lake. I am not a 100% believer of any tale but we need to respect that. And I must agree to her 100% that we need to respect the place. We are the visitors and we need to respect whatever the beliefs and cultures in the places that we are visiting. After all, tale or truth, there’s no harm on being cautious. This is not only applicable to Malubog Lake but to every place that we are going to visit. Let us be responsible.

Malubog Lake

We say our prayers before we commenced our trek. We went straight to the Lake as our first destination of the day. Malubog Lake is just few meters away from the Barangay Hall. We walk down. Careful, mindful and seemed like everyone has fever or something. Everyone was silent on the trail. No loud talks, etc.

The trail experience seemed to bring me to a harmonious resting place. Alongside the tortuous trail, gardeners grew trees and shrubs along the path. Trees with numerous branches. They had oval-shaped tree clowns and summer turned some of the leaves into the color of dusk. While looking at the branches, I noticed a leaf falls in front of me like a flying butterfly. It died. No matter how hard it struggled, it still couldn’t escape the inevitable, just like human.

The Promising Malubog Lake

Glancing at the sky, the sun has already risen. Continued with the trek. Few steps and the magnificent Malubog Lake came into sight. Not a single word was spitted from our mouth, but we both wore smiles like the new moon. Miss Beth then told us to do our stuffs. We took photos of the place. Enjoying the once man-made Lake that looks like naturally formed now. Malubog lake is fascinating. The air is fresh and overwhelming with cool gushes of wind blowing past, provoking the trees around to dance.

Malubog Lake

It was a lovely day and perfect for picnic at Malubog Lake.  The grass on the side of the lake was soft and green, reserved for those who wanted to lie down or sit. A sweet aroma of fresh air overflowed nearby like a shining light, but was hidden by the untrimmed bushes and wildly growing trees. Hesitating to proceed anywhere, further, I took a few minutes to treasure the moment of silence and peace like the defunct floating restaurant floating silently in the lake. Cherishing everything in life no matter how simple it could be should probably the recipe of happiness, shouldn’t it?

Abstract Simplicity

Despite the hesitation to leave Malubog Lake sooner but time ticked so fast and we need to keep moving. We need to move to another destination of the day. But each step we took was like an imprint in my heart, a fossil that would always remain the same and special inside me forever. A day that I would probably remember for a long time.

Malubog Lake

The boat going to other side of the lake left already so we opted to trek to the other side though it will take some time. We are trekkers anyway. As we trekked towards the other side, the scenery along the trail is simply at its best. From river crossing, vegetable plantations, the water buffalo on the grassland, the nipa huts, the lush bushes around, the ecstatic children playing their simple toys, etc. These scenarios are irresistible to not be captured on lenses. And these simply depicts a simple life, a life that could barely be seen in the city. A life that I have been forgetting for a while. A life of no complications and all which made me contemplate on few things.

Malubog Lake

The greatest step toward a life of simplicity is learning to let go. Letting go of the things that make our life complicated. Life is really simple, it is us that insist on making it complicated. It is ourselves that hold on to something that made our life complicated. We often forget that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Essentially, we are free to choose how to simplify our lives. Some things we must consider include developing a work-life balance, embracing the good life, living mindfully, savoring the moment, spending quality time, and slowing down. Whatever we choose, the decisions ought to result in improving our well-being and peace of mind.

Malubog Falls

We will live a life of peace and not chaos, a life of essentials and not complication. We will slow down and stop living the frazzled life, a lifestyle of stress. We’ll live mindfully, in the present moment, and not ruminate with worry of the future or regrets of the past. We will live a balanced life— have time for work, love, family, leisure pursuits, fitness, and spirituality and not on petty things that will ruin our mood almost every waking day of our life.

We will have freedom from those conditions, commitments, responsibilities, and let go of people who prevent us from living the good life. We’ll have the freedom to live as we desire—authentically. No masks, pretentions, wrong perceptions and or grudges.

Malubog Lake

 

Incredulity

Passing through the off-beaten path, the refreshing colors of the crops enthused our eyes. Circling around the other side of Malubog Lake is quite a trek but the team was slowly gaining back the momentum eventually. Started joking again and started to have more fun. We then reach to the Malubog falls. The view is appealing to the eyes due to it’s oddly different color. By just looking at it, you would be tempted to take a dip. But the water in the waterfall seems not clean. The color is turquoise-teal, a bit close to aqua. And yes, do not bath in this waterfall, it might not be safe at all.

Malubog Lake

The color simply suggest that it contained copper compound residue or copper sulfate. But it’s not really copper sulfate that’s making the color into turquoise-teal but the presence of copper ions absorbing the bluey or green light and reflects back to our very own eyes. We took few snaps of the place and headed to the next stop – the tunnel and Hinulawan River.

Malubog Lake

Unfortunately, the tunnel was restricted to tourists at that time due to recent incident. The guards from the mining company told us that they are only allowing residents to pass through and even warned us to not go to Biga Pit. We understood that it is a private property but Manong guard could have spoken to us in a professional way. He was a bit rude by the way.

Malubog falls

We proceeded immediately to Tagaytay Hills to have an overlooking view of the lake instead. We rode the outrigger boat back to other side of the lake for P10 each to save time, then trekked up to Tagaytay Hills, passing through communities in the area. Above us was the beautiful, high noon blue sky with fluffy, white clouds. Exhaustion and the fiery heat of the sun didn’t stop us to go uphill. The view of the lake slowly revealed right before our eyes as we gained altitude.

Few more minutes and we’re at the top of the hill. The vista below is like an energy bank reloading our almost depleted energy reserves. The water was calm and beautiful in every aspect. Malubog Lake seems mystical and have a spellbinding foliage shielding around. Out to the arms of Malubog lake, we can’t help but stared and admired in every manner to cherish and remember it like a picture that never change.

The Sweet Goodbye

Enjoying the vista below that Malubog Lake revealed, we almost forgot that our bellies need to be stuffed. So we took shelter on the nearby Mango trees and ate our lunch. The heat of the sun is still scorching so we decided to have a quick werewolf game. We got to know a bit with each one of us and was able to socialize. At around 2 in the afternoon, we decided to proceed. We bid our last goodbye to the magnificent view of the lake.

Malubog Lake

We can’t thank our host enough for a wonderful day, we can’t thank enough of Malubog Lake’s breathtaking beauty. A beauty that seems too alluring and quite interesting to let go. But as much as we wanted to stay, we really need to go. We must go. It’s a bit heart-pinching but we must leave. Goodbye. You will always be in our hearts and may our paths cross again soon.

Malubog Lake

Heading back to the city of Toledo, we couldn’t miss the top-loading experience so we did it anyway. It was a fun ride though the skies were slowly turning into gray warning us that heavy rain is coming. We arrived at Toledo City few minutes before 4PM. Unfortunately, we crashed out our last destination of the day – the Sta Ana Maze Garden as it will close at 4PM. So we decided to go home early instead. And the rest is history.

Have you been to Malubog Lake and Malubog Falls? How was your experience?

Refer to Wandering Feet PH’s travel guide here.

Apr, Sat, 2017
Travel Inspiration : What inspires me to travel?

Let us have a break from the usual travel post about mountains, waterfalls, beautiful spots, etc. This time, I will be talking about my travel inspirations, how I become a travel junkie (well, still a wannabe) and how travel inspires me.

Disclaimer: This is a long post, so if you are not in the mood of reading much today and totally have zero interest on knowing about this, worry not, I’m totally okay with that.

So what inspires me to travel?

“We wander for distraction and travel for fulfillment” – Hilaire Belloc

Do you have a wandering soul? Did it come to the point that you always have an itch to go for the next trip? Do you have the urge to go places and always looking forward for the weekends and long holiday breaks to have that another adventure? If so, then welcome to the club!

As a traveler, I was in a constant awe at the sheer numbers of people itching to hit the outdoors, chase the next waterfall, climb the next mountain, explore the caves below or even dive the deepest seas. I wondered what their motivation is for traveling. Are they just tourists who like to hit the well-known spots, or are they seasoned travelers who long to experience the “real” culture and beauty of a local place? Either way, every person I encountered on my travels had this insatiable appetite to witness the grandiose beauty of world.

When I was thinking and pondering about my travel inspirations, I came to realized that my urge to travel came at a very young age. Although I didn’t have the chance to fulfill those aspirations during my childhood until I graduated college, I can proudly and happily say that I am living out one of my dreams now.

So the question is when I became inspired to travel?

I first felt the urge and have the itch to go places when I was 12. It was due to one of the history projects that we have wherein we need to watch a documentary of an old version of the place and compare it to the new vista of the place. I can still remember the feeling of excitement how these places have transformed into a magnificent landmarks nowadays. I’ve always known at that time that I wanted to go places and experience and appreciate the beautiful creations that the world can offer.

Where I was Inspired to Travel?

It took me a little while to figure out where I want to travel. I’ve always known that I wanted to travel to places but I have no clue what kind of places inspires me the most. It was after my studies that I realized that I’d love to travel somewhere in the world that seemed mysterious, remote and isolated. I wanted to go somewhere to where few people have travelled. It was only then I realized that I was looking for an experience of a lifetime and share it with the people closest to my heart.

What inspires me to travel?

I am actually inspired by the idea of travel itself. It is actually the travel that inspires me to travel more. It is the adrenaline rush that keeps my wandering soul hyped for the next travel / adventure. The experiences from the previous travels are the main reasons why I crave for more! It is really humbling to say that I am happy for myself, knowing that I was living the kind of life that I thought would just be a dream. It was in this moment, I sworn to myself that I will see more of the world, against all odds.

To this day, I’m not entirely sure what or who inspired me to take that first step outside the four corners of my room and explore the great outdoors. The inspiration may have come from travel guides, stories from other travelers, friends or family. Maybe it was the adventures promised along the jaunt that entices me. Or maybe, just maybe I was just born with the need to travel.

So without further ado, I shortlisted my personal list in what ways travel have inspired me.

  1. Travel reinforces my senses and makes me more appreciative

Traveling is unquestionably a feast for the eyes, but do you ever feed your other senses?  No matter where you are in the world there is always an exciting panorama to gape upon.  Whether it be the grandiose Sierra in Asia, the stunning vivid emerald green rice paddies in Banaue, the cottony sea of clouds in Mount Pulag,  or the crystal clear waters of our own beaches, we all gasp at breath taking scenery that leaves us in a jaw dropping awe of what nature or man has created, in a visual sense.

It may sound absurd but I don’t think I’ve ever fully appreciated the beauty of nature until I started traveling. I don’t know about you and other travelers, but for me travel do heighten my senses every time.

The saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” maybe the reason why so many travelers linger too long in one place, whether it be the beauty and grace of the local people, the unforgettable stunning scenery or the overwhelming size of intricately carved ancient temples that have stood for ages, you simply can’t tear your eyes away let alone stop snapping photographs.

We are all a product of our upbringing and once I had children of my own, I wanted them to appreciate the fact that even if you cannot see, your other senses really do become heightened as I had learned. Not being able to see, heightened every other sense and almost gave a clearer picture in your mind of where you were, without needing the pleasure of actually seeing what was in front of you.

Maybe it’s because of the environment that we are into, that we tend not to appreciate and pay much attention of what is around us. But when I’m ‘on the road’ I find myself paying so much more attention to my surroundings. Traveling, especially to a new and unfamiliar place has that effect on me. Whilst I’m trying to immerse up everything around me, new experiences along these jaunts heighten my senses and draw me into this new environment.

While traveling, it made me more aware of what is happening around and seems like I am more connected with the environment. Whether waking up outside, in the midst of the forest, near the riverbanks, in an open field surrounded by trees, with the sound of birds singing in the morning, or taking in the awe-inspiring view of a dramatic landscape, travel makes me love and appreciate nature, in a way I never knew before.

  1. Travel broadens my perspective

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” ~ Marcel Proust

Traveling gives me new perspective. Sometimes, we need to take a step back to see things differently. Oftentimes, it’s effective for me to take a few steps back whenever things really get messy and complicated. A quick travel or a vacation can do a little magic here.

One of the reasons why vacation is called that is due to its obvious meaning. The root word vacate means to leave wherever you are and whatever you’re having behind. We need that at least for a while.

With that said, we need to leave everything behind when we travel – stress and issues in life. Many times it’s easier for us to discern other people’s real issue and help them to move forward than our own. Why is that we can address other’s issues quickly than our own? It is probably because our issues and challenges are too closed to us that we are consummated and had limited thinking about it.

To address our own issues, we sometimes need to be away to have a fresh look. We need to be shifted and see our own issues from a different perspective to gain new insights. For me, traveling is quite perfect instrument for that!

Most often, people associate travel with therapy and I for one would agree a hundred percent with this. Why? Travel is therapeutic in a sense that you will have a quick reset and see the things in a different angle. It is certainly therapeutic to abandon a particular issue or a challenge and dilemma which has been ‘eating’ thyself from within. Dwelling on the thought of our issues can be painful at times. So, by physically leaving a familiar place, people, and daily routine can have an immense change in the way we see things.

One way for traveling to be therapeutic is to not think about your issue at all. Just let it rest for a while. As the saying goes, “learn to rest not to quit”. Have that needed rest, find your strength and contemplate while you’re away. And when you return, you may find your issue differently.  You can even tell and realize that it is not really as big as you initially thought. This will work most of the time, well at least for me.

  1. Travel clears my mind

Sometimes it is hard to stay in one spot for so long. The same old routine could bring on boredom, which could turn into anxiety and frustration. Nobody likes to be in the same place, doing the same thing for a long period of time. Are you?

While a schedule is good to have, it can become something you are so dependent on that when it changes, you too could begin to change in unsafe ways.

Some people do not have the opportunities that others have when it comes to traveling. Other people may go their whole life without witnessing other cultures and learning from their traditions. Some people might stay within the four corners of their rooms. Some do not have the capability to see any. However, if the opportunity does come, jump on that adventure.

Why we should travel? Why should we go for an adventure? Because that travel could be just what you need to clear your head. It might be that adventure that can lead you to start a safer life for yourself and avoid self-harm.

We’re all different when it comes to finding the right coping skills that help get us through our urges to self-harm. However, traveling could be a coping skill you’ve never really thought of before. Sometimes, we even have to have that quick afternoon walk to get away from the chaos of life. A walk in the park and watch the passers-by could help us realize that everyone carries some kind of baggage. Even if we didn’t know exactly what that baggage was, but it can help us realize that we are not the only one carrying the world.

It might seem obvious, but the most precious gift of all that travelling gives you is time. Time to be in your own thoughts and time to think, clearly.

By switching off from my routines in daily life, such as stern office work, daily chores, to-do lists or even just the normal distractions of the TV and phone, one can think more clearly, especially about the goals and passions in life. What do I want to achieve this year? How am I going to do it? What do I want to make more time for?

Whether it’s riding the bumpy 8-hour bus to our next destination, lying on a tropical beach with beautiful palm trees swaying above my head, or trekking through a scenic rice paddy in  Banaue, traveling gives me a lot more time, and therefore a room to breathe, reflect and dream.

Simply by changing our environment, I feel inspired and new thoughts and ideas seem to spark into life.

  1. Travel teaches me a lesson

We don’t stop learning after we graduated. Every day is a school day, as they say! Travel constantly teaches me something new every day, may it be history and geography of the place or the culture. From how noodles are made, or rice is harvested, or how the clay pots are moulded, and the tale tales of those mystic places we’ve been visiting, every travel offers something new aside from the precious experiences that we can cherish.

It’s not just things or people we learn about though, travel teaches me about myself too. By being constantly thrown into new environments and situations, every day is a lesson in self-development! I’ve feel like I’ve learned more about myself when I started travelling than when I am not in my previous years.

I have always believed that travel teaches us lessons without a scorecard. It enriches ourselves gently. The moment we step out to see the world to meet people, to get acquainted with different cultures, taste different and exotic cuisines or simply breathe in an unfamiliar city, we learn a lot!

The lessons that we learned while traveling just happens naturally. We don’t have to try too hard for it. It’s all about totally losing ourselves into the arms of a new environment. But first, we have to first shrug off the ‘safe’ and ‘tried and tested’ syndrome. We need to go beyond our comfort zone and delve into the unknown with a wandering soul.

Also, our companions or buddy teaches us a great deal of lessons while traveling. They are the ones who we interact during the happiest and tragic moments during our jaunts. They are the ones we considered as our extended family sometimes. And they are the ones who we argue and make peace with, for at the end of the day, they are the ones who stood beside us during our most undesirable state while traveling.

Travel has taught me a lot. It has taught me so much that I am even keener to learn more through it.

  1. Travel teaches me to be patient

It cannot be avoided that few of our travels didn’t go as planned, isn’t it? Sometimes a well-planned vacation can still go wrong. It could be during the trip, accommodation problems, etc. we might lose our luggage, gotten hopelessly confused with directions, have taken the wrong train or bus. In general, life doesn’t always go according to plan, even when you’re on vacation. Learning how to deal with the curve balls traveling throws your way teaches you how to be a more patient person in your everyday life. Trust me, after you’ve talk to a non-English speaker local in another country asking directions when you’re lost, you’ll be a lot more patient when it comes to dealing with your average, everyday problems back at home.

One of the most important things I’ve learned and will continue to learn every day whilst travelling is the value of patience. Something you realize quite quickly when you start a new adventure, is that as soon as you step into that airport terminal or bus station to take your first journey, you’re no longer in control of everything, and the best thing you can do is accept your new reality as quickly as possible, and go with the flow. Be flexible and adapt quickly and be ready for a backup plan.

After all, what’s the point in getting annoyed if your flight is delayed by 5 hours, or your trip is cancelled due to bad weather? There’s nothing much you can do about it! And so being patient is the best way to handle it – something we’ve learned after numerous delays and extra-long bus journeys! Rather than get annoyed, just shrug it off, find another things to do to entertain yourself. Read a book, play some game, grab another coffee, or enjoy chatting with your companions, or make friends. These things are to be to be expected occasionally along the way, and is usually not a major issue. Delays and relinquishing control will only spoil your adventure if you let them get into your nerves!

Something that is admirable to witness about the locals and other travellers would be the incredible patience and ability to not get frustrated or annoyed easily in tricky situations. We can always try to take a leaf from their book and inculcate this in our own system.

  1. Travel help me realize that there’s no place like home

Traveling in a foreign land is a deeply rewarding experience, and I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a place I’ve been to. The cultural immersion, the experience, and the people I got to know and be friend with are all worth remembering and a great memory to live by. With all that being said, and as much as I enjoy a good vacation, there’s nothing like coming home. Traveling to other places reminds me that other countries like Japan and Singapore are absolutely awesome. The adventure, the beautiful spots, the amusement parks, the food, unfailingly good service, and an efficient transport system are just some of the little things that you come to miss once you leave the country.

When you live in your own country, it gets easy to overlook some of the amenities you’ve grown up with, and how beautiful the place is and how hospitable and loving the people are, but once you spend a few weeks any place outside of your own country, it’s hard not to realize just how fortunate you are to be with those simple things regardless it is only a third world country.

  1. Travel encourages respect and cultural understanding

The best thing about travel for us is the people we meet along the way. From igniting a simple conversion or showing thanks to a local who helps us along our way, it enriches our experience and helps us get to know and understand the local culture better.

Learning about other cultures in school is one thing, but actually experiencing a culture yourself is completely different. Whether you’re visiting art museums, looking at grand architectural landmarks, enjoying the amusement park, visiting temples, or even just stopping for a coffee break in a happening café, traveling exposes you to people and lifestyles that are completely different than anything you’ve probably encountered back at home. Before you know it, you’ll be picking up on local customs and falling in love with food you can barely even pronounce. Well, I’m referring to a Japanese and Singaporean / Malaysian Cuisine here. 🙂

When traveling, we need to go taste the local food, listen to their music, smell the fragrance, engage into full sensory experience and see what defines the culture there. Understand the practices and where they come from. But most of all, we should give our utmost respect to their cultures and traditions. If possible we should live like them to better understand them.

Meeting people from different cultures, languages, backgrounds and mind sets, and immersing into their world, can often give fresh insights and new perspective into the same old issue. Your thinking can alter to see what can be different about your issue, and more importantly, what can be possible!

We’re all part of the human race, yet so diverse and similar at the same time. We’re different, but not that different. We learn from each other, if we’re open to fresh ideas.

Regardless of culture, skin color, geographical location, or language, everyone in the world strives for the same things. We all want to be safe, we all want to be successful, we all want to live lives that we can look back on and be proud of. By never leaving your comfort zone, it’s easy to begin thinking in terms of “us vs. them”, but nothing can be further from the truth. Once you travel, you realize that the entire globe is all striving towards the same goal: happiness.

  1. Travel takes me out of my Comfort Zone

The world isn’t as scary as you’ve been lead to believe. If you watch the news that much, it’s hard to not start thinking that the entire world is a scary, dangerous place, but in all honesty nothing could be further from the truth. Even our own country is currently tagged as dangerous. Granted, it’s important when traveling to keep your wits and take special precautions, but in general, the average country is just as safe as the one you live in now. Danger is always out there, but you have just as likely of a chance of having something bad happen to you in the perceived safety of your home as you do abroad, so why let your fear inhibit you?

One of the favorite things to do when we travel is to try as much of the local cuisine as possible, even when we’re not too sure about it. We absolutely love discovering great local food and it’s especially exciting when we discover a delicious new dish!

Finding good food when traveling is important as much as discovering the unexplored spots. It’s one of the main reasons why travel is incomplete without food. Well at least for me. 🙂

However apart from trying new foods, I love the fact that travel constantly takes me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to try new things and experiences. For example, I would probably never have tried the King of coasters in Japan – the coaster with the longest track (2 KM) and a speed of 120kph of have never hiked one of the coldest mountain in the Philippines (Mount Pulag). Travel has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone and with it, travel provided the most rewarding experiences!

  1. Travel encourages me to be true to myself

It may sound a little cheesy, but traveling definitely makes you find your true self – there’s no shying away from it.

All of us have our own individual journey to travel, our own race to finish. But it’s incredibly powerful and joyful to share your journey with a companion, a comrade, a supportive partner, people who value and accept you as you are, who can empathize the mountains and valleys that you’d go through, and don’t underestimate people who have a wild sense of adventure and fun!

Build parallel tracks with those you want to enlist onto your journey. Have your own individual space without forgetting the power of traveling together. You may travel faster alone, but you can go further together.

Provide encouragement as much as you receive, if not more. Get on that adventure together. By that, I do mean life’s journey and also that wonderful vacation in exotic places.

When planning an adventure, sometimes the huge range of choices and decisions to make can be overwhelming. Should we book a tour or travel independently? How long should we stay there? Should we book an activity or just relax? It’s hard to know how you’ll feel in the moment, but the best way to answer all these questions is to be honest with yourself. Do you enjoy trekking enough to book a 5 day trip or would it be better to book the 1-2 day option? Do you really want to spend 6-10 days touring all of a city’s beautiful spots like theme parks, museums, beaches, etc or would you prefer to grab a coffee and watch the world go by in a local cafe? Or stay inside the four corners in the comfort of your own room.

I love the fact that travel gives us these choices. However, when in doubt, we always revert back to asking ourselves what we enjoy most, and ultimately, what makes us happy. Personally, we love a great adventure, and get a great buzz and sense of achievement from a dangerous scenic trek, or roughing it a little to camp under the stars, but we also know how much we enjoy a little comfort and relaxation. Especially after an adventure. So we’ll ensure our adventure is based on these preferences. By being honest with ourselves, we know that a mix of adventure and relaxation is how we like it, and will make us most happy.

  1. Travel makes me appreciate what I have

Travel has opened my eyes to small, ordinary things of life- things that are undervalued, but have great significance. Now I am more conscious towards waiters, cashiers, train personnel, florists, vendors and any random person whom I come across on my vacations. I have a deeper sense of respect for them, because they are the ones who make our travels smooth for us. I often make it a point to interact with people, and that makes my travel experience even more rewarding.

When traveling abroad, you will meet people that live under all kinds of circumstances. You will see just how different things are compared to your own country. I believe that traveling to countries where you will face poverty or where people are not able to enjoy the same rights or freedoms like you back home, will make you appreciate what you have more. That is the point where I consider myself lucky and I try to be grateful and thankful every day.

It’s easy to take what you have for granted, and travel reminds me of this constantly.

We regularly witness the struggle and hard times of living in a developing country, and it’s a humbling reminder of how lucky we are. It makes us appreciate what we have, and reminds us that we were simply lucky to have been born where we were.

  1. Travel inspires me to be more creative

I find myself more creative now as a person. By creativity, I don’t mean that I have mastered or learn some kind of art. I simply mean that I have become more creative in my day-to-day living. Travel opens our mind so much that we begin to see something interesting in everything – it could be something as simple as preparing a meal or arranging our things in our office desk in an interesting setup.

Travel inspires me to be more creative, it unlocks skills I forgot I had. Away from the burdens of modern life, and with time to think and reflect, my inner creativity is awakened. Sometimes I feel like traveling takes me back to my childhood creativity. To skills that were somehow lost or buried in the maelstrom of ‘growing up’, or perhaps pushed aside when spending too much time memorizing facts for exams.

There’s a chance that you think you aren’t creative, or that’s a skill other people have. But travel gives you the head space to explore your creative mind, and you may just find yourself writing, or drawing as you sit on that bus, or on that beach. Travel gives you the chance to reawaken those skills and desires. Believe me, I’ve experienced it. And whilst I love to just sleep or watch a movie, I get even more enjoyment out of creating something of my own (such as this blog post) and travel inspires me to do so.

  1. Travel gives me wisdom

Ever since I have started traveling and mainly started writing about my experiences, I have also been able to improve my world-wide knowledge. Now I read a lot about destinations, different cultures, traditions, cuisines and other things. Now I find myself more equipped with knowledge, which has eventually made me a wiser person.

People always say that travel is a trans-formative experience, and I think that all stems from realizing that you are capable of far more than you ever could have imagined. As an introverted person and a homebody (now turned into an ambivert and a bit outgoing person), it seems nearly impossible that I’ve done some of the things I’ve done. Whether I was standing up for myself in a foreign language, making friends with complete strangers, dealing with unruly crowds, or even efficiently planning a vacation, when I look back on my travels, I feel a sense of pride akin to finishing a marathon. Travel truly changes me, but in the absolute best way imaginable. Now, no matter what’s thrown at me, I know I am capable of rising to the challenge. Most importantly, accomplishing it, mistakes and all.

Travel touches my soul in a way I never expected it could. It might sound a little cheesy but it’s true. By seeing and experiencing other cultures and ways of life, travel opens my eyes and makes me question life in a good way. It inspires me to aspire for more from life.

Travel helps me put insignificant tasks or routine into perspective. It makes me want to complete them quicker or abandon them altogether if they don’t really matter. Hell, does that dress really need ironed or can you just hang it outside for an hour to let the wind blow out the creases naturally? Yes it might not be perfect, but I could spend that few minutes doing something that will actually fulfill me or better still, make that phone call or chat to a friend or family that I’ve ‘not had time for’.

  1. Travel encourages me to do what makes me happy

Travel taught me that it’s fine not to have the perfect travel plan. If not everything is going according to plan, missing the flights, got lost in the mountain trail, delays due to bad weather, got lost in the concrete jungle, or got sick while traveling, it is totally okay. Travel teaches us that we can’t control everything that happens and that’s alright. These are the things that our out of our control, so we better know how to handle it well. We should not stress over these matters and remember that it’s all part of the journey and those are the ingredients that adds flavour to our journeys.

Despite all the mishaps that we may encounter along our travels, we need to keep in mind that even the worst situation can be turned into an awesome one if we just know how.

If you love to travel, tricky situations, failures and misfortunes won’t stop you to continue. This is probably the most important life lesson: “Do what makes you happy!”

As long as we are happy on what we are doing, nothing can hold us back to do it all over again and again and again. Life is short and there is no need to wait around until you might find happiness. We should pursue our happiness now! If traveling makes you happy, then do it now. You are responsible for your life, so make the most of it.

So that’s it, these are the things that inspires me to travel and the reasons why I shall keep on traveling! Hopefully this list provided a catalyst into your inner wandering soul to keep on traveling and enjoy life. See you in the outdoors.

 

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
Special Posts , Tips , Travel
Travel Inspiration : What inspires me to travel?

Let us have a break from the usual travel post about mountains, waterfalls, beautiful spots, etc. This time, I will be talking about my travel inspirations, how I become a travel junkie (well, still a wannabe) and how travel inspires me.

Disclaimer: This is a long post, so if you are not in the mood of reading much today and totally have zero interest on knowing about this, worry not, I’m totally okay with that.

So what inspires me to travel?

“We wander for distraction and travel for fulfillment” – Hilaire Belloc

Do you have a wandering soul? Did it come to the point that you always have an itch to go for the next trip? Do you have the urge to go places and always looking forward for the weekends and long holiday breaks to have that another adventure? If so, then welcome to the club!

As a traveler, I was in a constant awe at the sheer numbers of people itching to hit the outdoors, chase the next waterfall, climb the next mountain, explore the caves below or even dive the deepest seas. I wondered what their motivation is for traveling. Are they just tourists who like to hit the well-known spots, or are they seasoned travelers who long to experience the “real” culture and beauty of a local place? Either way, every person I encountered on my travels had this insatiable appetite to witness the grandiose beauty of world.

When I was thinking and pondering about my travel inspirations, I came to realized that my urge to travel came at a very young age. Although I didn’t have the chance to fulfill those aspirations during my childhood until I graduated college, I can proudly and happily say that I am living out one of my dreams now.

So the question is when I became inspired to travel?

I first felt the urge and have the itch to go places when I was 12. It was due to one of the history projects that we have wherein we need to watch a documentary of an old version of the place and compare it to the new vista of the place. I can still remember the feeling of excitement how these places have transformed into a magnificent landmarks nowadays. I’ve always known at that time that I wanted to go places and experience and appreciate the beautiful creations that the world can offer.

Where I was Inspired to Travel?

It took me a little while to figure out where I want to travel. I’ve always known that I wanted to travel to places but I have no clue what kind of places inspires me the most. It was after my studies that I realized that I’d love to travel somewhere in the world that seemed mysterious, remote and isolated. I wanted to go somewhere to where few people have travelled. It was only then I realized that I was looking for an experience of a lifetime and share it with the people closest to my heart.

What inspires me to travel?

I am actually inspired by the idea of travel itself. It is actually the travel that inspires me to travel more. It is the adrenaline rush that keeps my wandering soul hyped for the next travel / adventure. The experiences from the previous travels are the main reasons why I crave for more! It is really humbling to say that I am happy for myself, knowing that I was living the kind of life that I thought would just be a dream. It was in this moment, I sworn to myself that I will see more of the world, against all odds.

To this day, I’m not entirely sure what or who inspired me to take that first step outside the four corners of my room and explore the great outdoors. The inspiration may have come from travel guides, stories from other travelers, friends or family. Maybe it was the adventures promised along the jaunt that entices me. Or maybe, just maybe I was just born with the need to travel.

So without further ado, I shortlisted my personal list in what ways travel have inspired me.

  1. Travel reinforces my senses and makes me more appreciative

Traveling is unquestionably a feast for the eyes, but do you ever feed your other senses?  No matter where you are in the world there is always an exciting panorama to gape upon.  Whether it be the grandiose Sierra in Asia, the stunning vivid emerald green rice paddies in Banaue, the cottony sea of clouds in Mount Pulag,  or the crystal clear waters of our own beaches, we all gasp at breath taking scenery that leaves us in a jaw dropping awe of what nature or man has created, in a visual sense.

It may sound absurd but I don’t think I’ve ever fully appreciated the beauty of nature until I started traveling. I don’t know about you and other travelers, but for me travel do heighten my senses every time.

The saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” maybe the reason why so many travelers linger too long in one place, whether it be the beauty and grace of the local people, the unforgettable stunning scenery or the overwhelming size of intricately carved ancient temples that have stood for ages, you simply can’t tear your eyes away let alone stop snapping photographs.

We are all a product of our upbringing and once I had children of my own, I wanted them to appreciate the fact that even if you cannot see, your other senses really do become heightened as I had learned. Not being able to see, heightened every other sense and almost gave a clearer picture in your mind of where you were, without needing the pleasure of actually seeing what was in front of you.

Maybe it’s because of the environment that we are into, that we tend not to appreciate and pay much attention of what is around us. But when I’m ‘on the road’ I find myself paying so much more attention to my surroundings. Traveling, especially to a new and unfamiliar place has that effect on me. Whilst I’m trying to immerse up everything around me, new experiences along these jaunts heighten my senses and draw me into this new environment.

While traveling, it made me more aware of what is happening around and seems like I am more connected with the environment. Whether waking up outside, in the midst of the forest, near the riverbanks, in an open field surrounded by trees, with the sound of birds singing in the morning, or taking in the awe-inspiring view of a dramatic landscape, travel makes me love and appreciate nature, in a way I never knew before.

  1. Travel broadens my perspective

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” ~ Marcel Proust

Traveling gives me new perspective. Sometimes, we need to take a step back to see things differently. Oftentimes, it’s effective for me to take a few steps back whenever things really get messy and complicated. A quick travel or a vacation can do a little magic here.

One of the reasons why vacation is called that is due to its obvious meaning. The root word vacate means to leave wherever you are and whatever you’re having behind. We need that at least for a while.

With that said, we need to leave everything behind when we travel – stress and issues in life. Many times it’s easier for us to discern other people’s real issue and help them to move forward than our own. Why is that we can address other’s issues quickly than our own? It is probably because our issues and challenges are too closed to us that we are consummated and had limited thinking about it.

To address our own issues, we sometimes need to be away to have a fresh look. We need to be shifted and see our own issues from a different perspective to gain new insights. For me, traveling is quite perfect instrument for that!

Most often, people associate travel with therapy and I for one would agree a hundred percent with this. Why? Travel is therapeutic in a sense that you will have a quick reset and see the things in a different angle. It is certainly therapeutic to abandon a particular issue or a challenge and dilemma which has been ‘eating’ thyself from within. Dwelling on the thought of our issues can be painful at times. So, by physically leaving a familiar place, people, and daily routine can have an immense change in the way we see things.

One way for traveling to be therapeutic is to not think about your issue at all. Just let it rest for a while. As the saying goes, “learn to rest not to quit”. Have that needed rest, find your strength and contemplate while you’re away. And when you return, you may find your issue differently.  You can even tell and realize that it is not really as big as you initially thought. This will work most of the time, well at least for me.

  1. Travel clears my mind

Sometimes it is hard to stay in one spot for so long. The same old routine could bring on boredom, which could turn into anxiety and frustration. Nobody likes to be in the same place, doing the same thing for a long period of time. Are you?

While a schedule is good to have, it can become something you are so dependent on that when it changes, you too could begin to change in unsafe ways.

Some people do not have the opportunities that others have when it comes to traveling. Other people may go their whole life without witnessing other cultures and learning from their traditions. Some people might stay within the four corners of their rooms. Some do not have the capability to see any. However, if the opportunity does come, jump on that adventure.

Why we should travel? Why should we go for an adventure? Because that travel could be just what you need to clear your head. It might be that adventure that can lead you to start a safer life for yourself and avoid self-harm.

We’re all different when it comes to finding the right coping skills that help get us through our urges to self-harm. However, traveling could be a coping skill you’ve never really thought of before. Sometimes, we even have to have that quick afternoon walk to get away from the chaos of life. A walk in the park and watch the passers-by could help us realize that everyone carries some kind of baggage. Even if we didn’t know exactly what that baggage was, but it can help us realize that we are not the only one carrying the world.

It might seem obvious, but the most precious gift of all that travelling gives you is time. Time to be in your own thoughts and time to think, clearly.

By switching off from my routines in daily life, such as stern office work, daily chores, to-do lists or even just the normal distractions of the TV and phone, one can think more clearly, especially about the goals and passions in life. What do I want to achieve this year? How am I going to do it? What do I want to make more time for?

Whether it’s riding the bumpy 8-hour bus to our next destination, lying on a tropical beach with beautiful palm trees swaying above my head, or trekking through a scenic rice paddy in  Banaue, traveling gives me a lot more time, and therefore a room to breathe, reflect and dream.

Simply by changing our environment, I feel inspired and new thoughts and ideas seem to spark into life.

  1. Travel teaches me a lesson

We don’t stop learning after we graduated. Every day is a school day, as they say! Travel constantly teaches me something new every day, may it be history and geography of the place or the culture. From how noodles are made, or rice is harvested, or how the clay pots are moulded, and the tale tales of those mystic places we’ve been visiting, every travel offers something new aside from the precious experiences that we can cherish.

It’s not just things or people we learn about though, travel teaches me about myself too. By being constantly thrown into new environments and situations, every day is a lesson in self-development! I’ve feel like I’ve learned more about myself when I started travelling than when I am not in my previous years.

I have always believed that travel teaches us lessons without a scorecard. It enriches ourselves gently. The moment we step out to see the world to meet people, to get acquainted with different cultures, taste different and exotic cuisines or simply breathe in an unfamiliar city, we learn a lot!

The lessons that we learned while traveling just happens naturally. We don’t have to try too hard for it. It’s all about totally losing ourselves into the arms of a new environment. But first, we have to first shrug off the ‘safe’ and ‘tried and tested’ syndrome. We need to go beyond our comfort zone and delve into the unknown with a wandering soul.

Also, our companions or buddy teaches us a great deal of lessons while traveling. They are the ones who we interact during the happiest and tragic moments during our jaunts. They are the ones we considered as our extended family sometimes. And they are the ones who we argue and make peace with, for at the end of the day, they are the ones who stood beside us during our most undesirable state while traveling.

Travel has taught me a lot. It has taught me so much that I am even keener to learn more through it.

  1. Travel teaches me to be patient

It cannot be avoided that few of our travels didn’t go as planned, isn’t it? Sometimes a well-planned vacation can still go wrong. It could be during the trip, accommodation problems, etc. we might lose our luggage, gotten hopelessly confused with directions, have taken the wrong train or bus. In general, life doesn’t always go according to plan, even when you’re on vacation. Learning how to deal with the curve balls traveling throws your way teaches you how to be a more patient person in your everyday life. Trust me, after you’ve talk to a non-English speaker local in another country asking directions when you’re lost, you’ll be a lot more patient when it comes to dealing with your average, everyday problems back at home.

One of the most important things I’ve learned and will continue to learn every day whilst travelling is the value of patience. Something you realize quite quickly when you start a new adventure, is that as soon as you step into that airport terminal or bus station to take your first journey, you’re no longer in control of everything, and the best thing you can do is accept your new reality as quickly as possible, and go with the flow. Be flexible and adapt quickly and be ready for a backup plan.

After all, what’s the point in getting annoyed if your flight is delayed by 5 hours, or your trip is cancelled due to bad weather? There’s nothing much you can do about it! And so being patient is the best way to handle it – something we’ve learned after numerous delays and extra-long bus journeys! Rather than get annoyed, just shrug it off, find another things to do to entertain yourself. Read a book, play some game, grab another coffee, or enjoy chatting with your companions, or make friends. These things are to be to be expected occasionally along the way, and is usually not a major issue. Delays and relinquishing control will only spoil your adventure if you let them get into your nerves!

Something that is admirable to witness about the locals and other travellers would be the incredible patience and ability to not get frustrated or annoyed easily in tricky situations. We can always try to take a leaf from their book and inculcate this in our own system.

  1. Travel help me realize that there’s no place like home

Traveling in a foreign land is a deeply rewarding experience, and I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a place I’ve been to. The cultural immersion, the experience, and the people I got to know and be friend with are all worth remembering and a great memory to live by. With all that being said, and as much as I enjoy a good vacation, there’s nothing like coming home. Traveling to other places reminds me that other countries like Japan and Singapore are absolutely awesome. The adventure, the beautiful spots, the amusement parks, the food, unfailingly good service, and an efficient transport system are just some of the little things that you come to miss once you leave the country.

When you live in your own country, it gets easy to overlook some of the amenities you’ve grown up with, and how beautiful the place is and how hospitable and loving the people are, but once you spend a few weeks any place outside of your own country, it’s hard not to realize just how fortunate you are to be with those simple things regardless it is only a third world country.

  1. Travel encourages respect and cultural understanding

The best thing about travel for us is the people we meet along the way. From igniting a simple conversion or showing thanks to a local who helps us along our way, it enriches our experience and helps us get to know and understand the local culture better.

Learning about other cultures in school is one thing, but actually experiencing a culture yourself is completely different. Whether you’re visiting art museums, looking at grand architectural landmarks, enjoying the amusement park, visiting temples, or even just stopping for a coffee break in a happening café, traveling exposes you to people and lifestyles that are completely different than anything you’ve probably encountered back at home. Before you know it, you’ll be picking up on local customs and falling in love with food you can barely even pronounce. Well, I’m referring to a Japanese and Singaporean / Malaysian Cuisine here. 🙂

When traveling, we need to go taste the local food, listen to their music, smell the fragrance, engage into full sensory experience and see what defines the culture there. Understand the practices and where they come from. But most of all, we should give our utmost respect to their cultures and traditions. If possible we should live like them to better understand them.

Meeting people from different cultures, languages, backgrounds and mind sets, and immersing into their world, can often give fresh insights and new perspective into the same old issue. Your thinking can alter to see what can be different about your issue, and more importantly, what can be possible!

We’re all part of the human race, yet so diverse and similar at the same time. We’re different, but not that different. We learn from each other, if we’re open to fresh ideas.

Regardless of culture, skin color, geographical location, or language, everyone in the world strives for the same things. We all want to be safe, we all want to be successful, we all want to live lives that we can look back on and be proud of. By never leaving your comfort zone, it’s easy to begin thinking in terms of “us vs. them”, but nothing can be further from the truth. Once you travel, you realize that the entire globe is all striving towards the same goal: happiness.

  1. Travel takes me out of my Comfort Zone

The world isn’t as scary as you’ve been lead to believe. If you watch the news that much, it’s hard to not start thinking that the entire world is a scary, dangerous place, but in all honesty nothing could be further from the truth. Even our own country is currently tagged as dangerous. Granted, it’s important when traveling to keep your wits and take special precautions, but in general, the average country is just as safe as the one you live in now. Danger is always out there, but you have just as likely of a chance of having something bad happen to you in the perceived safety of your home as you do abroad, so why let your fear inhibit you?

One of the favorite things to do when we travel is to try as much of the local cuisine as possible, even when we’re not too sure about it. We absolutely love discovering great local food and it’s especially exciting when we discover a delicious new dish!

Finding good food when traveling is important as much as discovering the unexplored spots. It’s one of the main reasons why travel is incomplete without food. Well at least for me. 🙂

However apart from trying new foods, I love the fact that travel constantly takes me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to try new things and experiences. For example, I would probably never have tried the King of coasters in Japan – the coaster with the longest track (2 KM) and a speed of 120kph of have never hiked one of the coldest mountain in the Philippines (Mount Pulag). Travel has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone and with it, travel provided the most rewarding experiences!

  1. Travel encourages me to be true to myself

It may sound a little cheesy, but traveling definitely makes you find your true self – there’s no shying away from it.

All of us have our own individual journey to travel, our own race to finish. But it’s incredibly powerful and joyful to share your journey with a companion, a comrade, a supportive partner, people who value and accept you as you are, who can empathize the mountains and valleys that you’d go through, and don’t underestimate people who have a wild sense of adventure and fun!

Build parallel tracks with those you want to enlist onto your journey. Have your own individual space without forgetting the power of traveling together. You may travel faster alone, but you can go further together.

Provide encouragement as much as you receive, if not more. Get on that adventure together. By that, I do mean life’s journey and also that wonderful vacation in exotic places.

When planning an adventure, sometimes the huge range of choices and decisions to make can be overwhelming. Should we book a tour or travel independently? How long should we stay there? Should we book an activity or just relax? It’s hard to know how you’ll feel in the moment, but the best way to answer all these questions is to be honest with yourself. Do you enjoy trekking enough to book a 5 day trip or would it be better to book the 1-2 day option? Do you really want to spend 6-10 days touring all of a city’s beautiful spots like theme parks, museums, beaches, etc or would you prefer to grab a coffee and watch the world go by in a local cafe? Or stay inside the four corners in the comfort of your own room.

I love the fact that travel gives us these choices. However, when in doubt, we always revert back to asking ourselves what we enjoy most, and ultimately, what makes us happy. Personally, we love a great adventure, and get a great buzz and sense of achievement from a dangerous scenic trek, or roughing it a little to camp under the stars, but we also know how much we enjoy a little comfort and relaxation. Especially after an adventure. So we’ll ensure our adventure is based on these preferences. By being honest with ourselves, we know that a mix of adventure and relaxation is how we like it, and will make us most happy.

  1. Travel makes me appreciate what I have

Travel has opened my eyes to small, ordinary things of life- things that are undervalued, but have great significance. Now I am more conscious towards waiters, cashiers, train personnel, florists, vendors and any random person whom I come across on my vacations. I have a deeper sense of respect for them, because they are the ones who make our travels smooth for us. I often make it a point to interact with people, and that makes my travel experience even more rewarding.

When traveling abroad, you will meet people that live under all kinds of circumstances. You will see just how different things are compared to your own country. I believe that traveling to countries where you will face poverty or where people are not able to enjoy the same rights or freedoms like you back home, will make you appreciate what you have more. That is the point where I consider myself lucky and I try to be grateful and thankful every day.

It’s easy to take what you have for granted, and travel reminds me of this constantly.

We regularly witness the struggle and hard times of living in a developing country, and it’s a humbling reminder of how lucky we are. It makes us appreciate what we have, and reminds us that we were simply lucky to have been born where we were.

  1. Travel inspires me to be more creative

I find myself more creative now as a person. By creativity, I don’t mean that I have mastered or learn some kind of art. I simply mean that I have become more creative in my day-to-day living. Travel opens our mind so much that we begin to see something interesting in everything – it could be something as simple as preparing a meal or arranging our things in our office desk in an interesting setup.

Travel inspires me to be more creative, it unlocks skills I forgot I had. Away from the burdens of modern life, and with time to think and reflect, my inner creativity is awakened. Sometimes I feel like traveling takes me back to my childhood creativity. To skills that were somehow lost or buried in the maelstrom of ‘growing up’, or perhaps pushed aside when spending too much time memorizing facts for exams.

There’s a chance that you think you aren’t creative, or that’s a skill other people have. But travel gives you the head space to explore your creative mind, and you may just find yourself writing, or drawing as you sit on that bus, or on that beach. Travel gives you the chance to reawaken those skills and desires. Believe me, I’ve experienced it. And whilst I love to just sleep or watch a movie, I get even more enjoyment out of creating something of my own (such as this blog post) and travel inspires me to do so.

  1. Travel gives me wisdom

Ever since I have started traveling and mainly started writing about my experiences, I have also been able to improve my world-wide knowledge. Now I read a lot about destinations, different cultures, traditions, cuisines and other things. Now I find myself more equipped with knowledge, which has eventually made me a wiser person.

People always say that travel is a trans-formative experience, and I think that all stems from realizing that you are capable of far more than you ever could have imagined. As an introverted person and a homebody (now turned into an ambivert and a bit outgoing person), it seems nearly impossible that I’ve done some of the things I’ve done. Whether I was standing up for myself in a foreign language, making friends with complete strangers, dealing with unruly crowds, or even efficiently planning a vacation, when I look back on my travels, I feel a sense of pride akin to finishing a marathon. Travel truly changes me, but in the absolute best way imaginable. Now, no matter what’s thrown at me, I know I am capable of rising to the challenge. Most importantly, accomplishing it, mistakes and all.

Travel touches my soul in a way I never expected it could. It might sound a little cheesy but it’s true. By seeing and experiencing other cultures and ways of life, travel opens my eyes and makes me question life in a good way. It inspires me to aspire for more from life.

Travel helps me put insignificant tasks or routine into perspective. It makes me want to complete them quicker or abandon them altogether if they don’t really matter. Hell, does that dress really need ironed or can you just hang it outside for an hour to let the wind blow out the creases naturally? Yes it might not be perfect, but I could spend that few minutes doing something that will actually fulfill me or better still, make that phone call or chat to a friend or family that I’ve ‘not had time for’.

  1. Travel encourages me to do what makes me happy

Travel taught me that it’s fine not to have the perfect travel plan. If not everything is going according to plan, missing the flights, got lost in the mountain trail, delays due to bad weather, got lost in the concrete jungle, or got sick while traveling, it is totally okay. Travel teaches us that we can’t control everything that happens and that’s alright. These are the things that our out of our control, so we better know how to handle it well. We should not stress over these matters and remember that it’s all part of the journey and those are the ingredients that adds flavour to our journeys.

Despite all the mishaps that we may encounter along our travels, we need to keep in mind that even the worst situation can be turned into an awesome one if we just know how.

If you love to travel, tricky situations, failures and misfortunes won’t stop you to continue. This is probably the most important life lesson: “Do what makes you happy!”

As long as we are happy on what we are doing, nothing can hold us back to do it all over again and again and again. Life is short and there is no need to wait around until you might find happiness. We should pursue our happiness now! If traveling makes you happy, then do it now. You are responsible for your life, so make the most of it.

So that’s it, these are the things that inspires me to travel and the reasons why I shall keep on traveling! Hopefully this list provided a catalyst into your inner wandering soul to keep on traveling and enjoy life. See you in the outdoors.

 

Mar, Fri, 2017
Trail Tweaks: Leave No Trace Principles

Leave No Trace Principles

“Leave nothing but footprints, Take nothing but pictures, Kill nothing but time, burn nothing but calories”. – Leave No Trace Principles

With the rising popularity of backpacking and trekking as a trend, the beautiful places, the mountains around the world are being flocked by numbers of people all year round. Tourists are drawn to the mountains for their pristine beauty, purity, remoteness, ruggedness, and the unique challenges they present.

These beautiful earth is our home, and it can sometimes be challenging to practice the Leave No Trace Principle. The ever difficult challenge is to maintain the natural beauty of the wilderness and the areas that are yet to be explored. As an advocate of responsible tourism and as an LNT Warrior, we should be willing to sacrifice even little deeds for the preservation of these places that we can call our home.

We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Spending time spreading and teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices can really be a fulfilling objective. There is nothing more beautiful than working hard to get high into the mountains, lay eyes upon on a pristine campsite, witness the breath-taking views and have the feeling that no one has been there before.

There is nothing more disappointing than working hard, beating your ass off to climb a mountain, endure a leg-breaking trek just to reach a site and all you can see are trash, food waste and/or toilet paper. So it is my turn now to spread the awareness by letting you read the seven Leave No Trace Principles below.

These are the 7 Leave No Trace Principles

1. Plan ahead and prepare.

Before your trip or wherever you will be going, define your itinerary beforehand. Not necessarily a super detailed one, but at least have a draft. Trust me, this will save you from a lot of trouble.

For mountaineers, plan ahead your route, determine the possible dangers along the trail, and know the forecast and the regulations to be followed in executing your planned trip. Prepare yourselves for extreme weather and always strategize. Know ahead what the essentials to bring are based on the itinerary drafted. Be prepare to call the trip off when uncontrollable circumstances occurs.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.

This is one of the principle that will be overlooked by few. It is really important that when having activities like trekking / camping, everyone should focus the activities on durable surfaces. These includes but not limited to, established trails and inorganic soil, etc. It is also important to practice not to trample vegetation.

For everyone’s safety, the group must establish a route map when trekking taking into consideration the safety of everyone. This route map should incorporate the Leave No Trace principle. Also, it is really important that the planning of this route map is with the idea that others will follow.

When at camp, use established campsites and minimize your impacts in pristine areas.

3. Dispose of waste properly.

Pack It In, Pack It Out. Pack out everything you brought in with you. These includes garbage, trash, and extra fuel. Please do remember that trashes left at high altitude or in ravines does not biodegrade. Whenever possible, remove others’ superfluous waste from the mountain.

4. Leave what you find.

Leave all what you’ve find that belongs to the mountains. These includes but not limited to rocks, plants, animals and historical or cultural artifacts as you find them.

5. Minimize campfire impacts (be careful with fire).

Always carry a lightweight camp stove. Making fires in the mountains and during expeditions are generally inappropriate.

6. Respect wildlife.

Never feed wildlife or leave food behind for them. Do observe them only from a distance. Do not approach or try to follow them. It is everyone’s duty to protect wildlife. Do not let the wild animals eat your food by storing  supplies and trash securely.

7. Be considerate of other visitors.

It is best to communicate and cooperate with other teams even if you don’t really know each other. Take rest breaks off the route, away from other campsites, and on a durable surfaces.

Give way to other few climbers or trekkers especially when you are in a large group.

More importantly, let nature’s sounds prevail. Keep your voices to a minimum and avoid unnecessarily clustering campsites whenever possible.

That’s it! Now you know the 7 Leave No Trace Principles . It is up to you now. It is for you to decide whether to practice these principles by heart wherever you’ll go. It’s up to you what would be your decision, whether you’ll be part of the problem or be the solution.

Have you been practicing these Seven Leave No Trace Principles? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
Tips , Travel
Trail Tweaks: Leave No Trace Principles

Leave No Trace Principles

“Leave nothing but footprints, Take nothing but pictures, Kill nothing but time, burn nothing but calories”. – Leave No Trace Principles

With the rising popularity of backpacking and trekking as a trend, the beautiful places, the mountains around the world are being flocked by numbers of people all year round. Tourists are drawn to the mountains for their pristine beauty, purity, remoteness, ruggedness, and the unique challenges they present.

These beautiful earth is our home, and it can sometimes be challenging to practice the Leave No Trace Principle. The ever difficult challenge is to maintain the natural beauty of the wilderness and the areas that are yet to be explored. As an advocate of responsible tourism and as an LNT Warrior, we should be willing to sacrifice even little deeds for the preservation of these places that we can call our home.

We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Spending time spreading and teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices can really be a fulfilling objective. There is nothing more beautiful than working hard to get high into the mountains, lay eyes upon on a pristine campsite, witness the breath-taking views and have the feeling that no one has been there before.

There is nothing more disappointing than working hard, beating your ass off to climb a mountain, endure a leg-breaking trek just to reach a site and all you can see are trash, food waste and/or toilet paper. So it is my turn now to spread the awareness by letting you read the seven Leave No Trace Principles below.

These are the 7 Leave No Trace Principles

1. Plan ahead and prepare.

Before your trip or wherever you will be going, define your itinerary beforehand. Not necessarily a super detailed one, but at least have a draft. Trust me, this will save you from a lot of trouble.

For mountaineers, plan ahead your route, determine the possible dangers along the trail, and know the forecast and the regulations to be followed in executing your planned trip. Prepare yourselves for extreme weather and always strategize. Know ahead what the essentials to bring are based on the itinerary drafted. Be prepare to call the trip off when uncontrollable circumstances occurs.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.

This is one of the principle that will be overlooked by few. It is really important that when having activities like trekking / camping, everyone should focus the activities on durable surfaces. These includes but not limited to, established trails and inorganic soil, etc. It is also important to practice not to trample vegetation.

For everyone’s safety, the group must establish a route map when trekking taking into consideration the safety of everyone. This route map should incorporate the Leave No Trace principle. Also, it is really important that the planning of this route map is with the idea that others will follow.

When at camp, use established campsites and minimize your impacts in pristine areas.

3. Dispose of waste properly.

Pack It In, Pack It Out. Pack out everything you brought in with you. These includes garbage, trash, and extra fuel. Please do remember that trashes left at high altitude or in ravines does not biodegrade. Whenever possible, remove others’ superfluous waste from the mountain.

4. Leave what you find.

Leave all what you’ve find that belongs to the mountains. These includes but not limited to rocks, plants, animals and historical or cultural artifacts as you find them.

5. Minimize campfire impacts (be careful with fire).

Always carry a lightweight camp stove. Making fires in the mountains and during expeditions are generally inappropriate.

6. Respect wildlife.

Never feed wildlife or leave food behind for them. Do observe them only from a distance. Do not approach or try to follow them. It is everyone’s duty to protect wildlife. Do not let the wild animals eat your food by storing  supplies and trash securely.

7. Be considerate of other visitors.

It is best to communicate and cooperate with other teams even if you don’t really know each other. Take rest breaks off the route, away from other campsites, and on a durable surfaces.

Give way to other few climbers or trekkers especially when you are in a large group.

More importantly, let nature’s sounds prevail. Keep your voices to a minimum and avoid unnecessarily clustering campsites whenever possible.

That’s it! Now you know the 7 Leave No Trace Principles . It is up to you now. It is for you to decide whether to practice these principles by heart wherever you’ll go. It’s up to you what would be your decision, whether you’ll be part of the problem or be the solution.

Have you been practicing these Seven Leave No Trace Principles? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Mar, Fri, 2017
Trail Tweaks: How to practice Camping Etiquette

Cebu Top Mountains || Chalet Hills || Camping Etiquette

What is Camping Etiquette?

Have you been into a camping activities? Camping in the woods can be really fun to outdoor lovers. There’s no other that can beat the billion star hotel accommodation right? Well, for mountaineers and campers, this is so common. Sleeping in a billion star accommodation with no fancy lights or whatsoever.

The satisfactions of camping offer every one of us the great outdoors, freedom from daily routine, and the incredible the joy of sleeping as one with nature. However, without appropriate Camping Etiquette, the campground experience can be one of noise, dust, and invasion by thoughtless acts, which can spoil the experience considerably.

The fundamental essence of campground etiquette is to leave no trace and can be boiled down to a single statement: “Leave nothing but footprints, Take nothing but pictures, Kill nothing but time, burn nothing but calories “. This would really adhere to the Leave No Trace Principles.

As a camper / trekker / mountaineer, I for one is an advocate of LNT. We should know and follow some of the best practices when outdoors. So here are my short-listed things that I think everyone should practice when having camping activities, the so called Camping Etiquette.

  1. Law of the Land

Everyone should respect the regulations where you’re camping. Be sure to check posted signage or chat with the ranger or camp host. Honoring the leash law in places where pets are invited and dispose waste properly is one of the best things to practice. Do not just make camp fires, ask the authorities if it is allowed or not. If burning is allowed, make sure to equip yourself with any necessary permits. This is one of the most important component in Camping Etiquette

  1. Be considerate when turning up to the camping site.

When arriving at the campsite late. Be considerate to other campers. Turn your voices down. Avoid boisterous noise. You may be joyously relieved that you’ve finally made it to the camp site at midnight but think about your neighbors that won’t be so happy if your tent-raising whoops of joy wake them up in the middle of their goodnight sleep.

  1. Treat the campground as your own home

The campground can be considered as the home away from home. So consider every campground and should be treated as such. Even where the campers are not regulars, there is still a sense of community built up immediately from the fact that everyone is pursuing their love of camping. Everyone should know the campground rules and must respect them. Some commonplace concerns to be aware of include: proper waste disposal, cleanliness (avoid clutter), rules in washing the dishes and where to take showers.

  1. Be considerate to other campers

  • Unless you know one another, avoid pitching your tent right up next to your neighbor’s tent. Allow for tent privacy at all times and avoid peering into other’s tents.
  • Avoid shining your flashlight into anyone else’s tent but your own.
  • Don’t play flashlight games over someone else’s tent either! Keep flashlights down to the ground when walking about
  • Don’t walk through other people’s sites; always walk around them.
  • If changing clothes in your tent, keep your tent door zipped up so that others don’t get an eyeful of more than they bargained for.
  • Be extra considerate of campers near busy facilities such as the bathrooms, toilets, or food areas. The constant foot traffic is to be expected but it should be quiet.
  • If cooking food that has a particularly strong odor, be thoughtful of your downwind neighbors. If there is a central cooking place, choose that over cooking near other tents, to keep the strong odors away.

  1. Be friendly to other campers.

When you are part in a camping community, even though you may not know the other people, give them your modest smile. After all, you all have a common goal of enjoying the camping experience. Offer help when others need it. Share your shelter when others need to. Share a tent and win a friend. Who knows, siya na ang forever mo bes. 🙂

That’s it! It is basically the few of the important things to observe when camping. let us all keep in mind these Camping Etiquette whenever we go on camping. Camping Etiquette is not limited to camping itself, we can practice these Camping Etiquette whenever we go traveling. Stay tuned for the next Trail Tweak!

How about you? Have you been practicing these things (Camping Etiquette) when camping in the mountains, parks, etc? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
Tips , Travel
Trail Tweaks: How to practice Camping Etiquette

Cebu Top Mountains || Chalet Hills || Camping Etiquette

What is Camping Etiquette?

Have you been into a camping activities? Camping in the woods can be really fun to outdoor lovers. There’s no other that can beat the billion star hotel accommodation right? Well, for mountaineers and campers, this is so common. Sleeping in a billion star accommodation with no fancy lights or whatsoever.

The satisfactions of camping offer every one of us the great outdoors, freedom from daily routine, and the incredible the joy of sleeping as one with nature. However, without appropriate Camping Etiquette, the campground experience can be one of noise, dust, and invasion by thoughtless acts, which can spoil the experience considerably.

The fundamental essence of campground etiquette is to leave no trace and can be boiled down to a single statement: “Leave nothing but footprints, Take nothing but pictures, Kill nothing but time, burn nothing but calories “. This would really adhere to the Leave No Trace Principles.

As a camper / trekker / mountaineer, I for one is an advocate of LNT. We should know and follow some of the best practices when outdoors. So here are my short-listed things that I think everyone should practice when having camping activities, the so called Camping Etiquette.

  1. Law of the Land

Everyone should respect the regulations where you’re camping. Be sure to check posted signage or chat with the ranger or camp host. Honoring the leash law in places where pets are invited and dispose waste properly is one of the best things to practice. Do not just make camp fires, ask the authorities if it is allowed or not. If burning is allowed, make sure to equip yourself with any necessary permits. This is one of the most important component in Camping Etiquette

  1. Be considerate when turning up to the camping site.

When arriving at the campsite late. Be considerate to other campers. Turn your voices down. Avoid boisterous noise. You may be joyously relieved that you’ve finally made it to the camp site at midnight but think about your neighbors that won’t be so happy if your tent-raising whoops of joy wake them up in the middle of their goodnight sleep.

  1. Treat the campground as your own home

The campground can be considered as the home away from home. So consider every campground and should be treated as such. Even where the campers are not regulars, there is still a sense of community built up immediately from the fact that everyone is pursuing their love of camping. Everyone should know the campground rules and must respect them. Some commonplace concerns to be aware of include: proper waste disposal, cleanliness (avoid clutter), rules in washing the dishes and where to take showers.

  1. Be considerate to other campers

  • Unless you know one another, avoid pitching your tent right up next to your neighbor’s tent. Allow for tent privacy at all times and avoid peering into other’s tents.
  • Avoid shining your flashlight into anyone else’s tent but your own.
  • Don’t play flashlight games over someone else’s tent either! Keep flashlights down to the ground when walking about
  • Don’t walk through other people’s sites; always walk around them.
  • If changing clothes in your tent, keep your tent door zipped up so that others don’t get an eyeful of more than they bargained for.
  • Be extra considerate of campers near busy facilities such as the bathrooms, toilets, or food areas. The constant foot traffic is to be expected but it should be quiet.
  • If cooking food that has a particularly strong odor, be thoughtful of your downwind neighbors. If there is a central cooking place, choose that over cooking near other tents, to keep the strong odors away.

  1. Be friendly to other campers.

When you are part in a camping community, even though you may not know the other people, give them your modest smile. After all, you all have a common goal of enjoying the camping experience. Offer help when others need it. Share your shelter when others need to. Share a tent and win a friend. Who knows, siya na ang forever mo bes. 🙂

That’s it! It is basically the few of the important things to observe when camping. let us all keep in mind these Camping Etiquette whenever we go on camping. Camping Etiquette is not limited to camping itself, we can practice these Camping Etiquette whenever we go traveling. Stay tuned for the next Trail Tweak!

How about you? Have you been practicing these things (Camping Etiquette) when camping in the mountains, parks, etc? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Mar, Fri, 2017
Why Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 is a perfect outdoor gadget protection?

Why Capdase Armor Suit Combo?

Staying outdoors and on the continuous pursuit of adrenaline pumping activities are few common routines for adrenaline junkies like me. We tend to have that spontaneous trip most of our adventures for the reason that the adrenaline rush on packing up the things needed and rushing to the bus station or port to catch the last trip add more fun and excitement. Isn’t it?

More often than not, there could be some confusion and disorientation that comes with spontaneous travelling when you are not used to it. One, we are not always as focused on what are these personal possessions that we brought especially when in a hurry in the transport queue. The rush that means we’re more focused on actually getting to our destination as opposed to keeping our things safe.

As we all know, technology has become smaller and lighter nowadays, basically it’s become easier to carry and travel with, so more and more of us are taking away our smartphones, tablets, cameras so that we’re not without our digital home comforts whilst we’re away.

As a traveler and mountain hiker, I always bring with me my smartphone and camera. So, having established that our favorite outdoor gadgets are exposed to increased risk when travelling, what should we do? Leaving them at home is sometimes an option, but for others who are reluctant to enter a digital detox, you can take out specialized gadget protection against the unthinkable.

I usually bring my iPhone during my adventures and it really needs investing in accessories like shock-proof case just to protect against it being dropped. I always make sure that it fit snugly and securely into the protective case.

The Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 with the Rider Jacket and Newton Cover Experience

During our last Bantayan Island escapade, I got to try this new protective iPhone case from Capdase. It is the Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 with the Rider Jacket and Newton Cover. I used the Rider jacket all throughout our trip going to the Island and also during our whole day biking activity visiting the beautiful spots in Bantayan Island.


On the course of our muscle straining activity, I had my phone in my pocket most of the time. The case is really durable and really not easily breakable. A nearly military grade protective case. My friends use the same protective casing too and they really tried to let the phone with the Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 ran by a bicycle.

That was one of the moments when it seemed my heart stops beating for few seconds. Intentionally doing that was insane. After that test, my friend checked the phone and the case. Thanks goodness, there were no damages on the phone. On the case, it was not broken. Only minor scratches on the edges.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo
I must say that the Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 with the Rider Jacket and Newton Cover can really deliver as expected. It is a shockproof case with utmost slim and smart design Rider Suit that is composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane case. It really has a military grade protection standard of shock absorbance.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

So here is the list of reasons why Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 is a perfect outdoor gadget protection:

1. Shockproof, tough and durable.

The Capdase Armor Suit Combo case handles well in terms of impact resistance. The skid padded corners enhance the internal shock dispersion reducing impact to the device.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

2. Slim and lightweight

Despite being thin, Capdase Armor Suit Combo case is made from a strong material, accurately molded to achieve both maximum protection and slimness.

3. Easy installation

The cover can be easily attached or detached from the case providing structural rigidity.

4. Accessories Compatible

Worry not if your phone has tempered glass screen protector as the Capdase Armor Suit Combo case can fit precisely on the boarders of the screen protector.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

5. Newton Cover

The additional skin provides an anti-gravity surface with tiny suction material. It can be stick on most of the flat surface such as windows, mirrors, metal, cabinet and more.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

As a traveler and outdoor enthusiast, we should invest on protecting our gadgets. This is to avoid the unthinkable as accident do happen even when we are cautious. Prevention is a lot better than cure. There’s no harm in trying out the promising Capdase Armor Suit Combo case for iPhone 7.

How about you? What protective care have you done to your gadgets while travelling? Leave your thoughts on the comment section below.

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
Reviews , Tips , Travel
Why Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 is a perfect outdoor gadget protection?

Why Capdase Armor Suit Combo?

Staying outdoors and on the continuous pursuit of adrenaline pumping activities are few common routines for adrenaline junkies like me. We tend to have that spontaneous trip most of our adventures for the reason that the adrenaline rush on packing up the things needed and rushing to the bus station or port to catch the last trip add more fun and excitement. Isn’t it?

More often than not, there could be some confusion and disorientation that comes with spontaneous travelling when you are not used to it. One, we are not always as focused on what are these personal possessions that we brought especially when in a hurry in the transport queue. The rush that means we’re more focused on actually getting to our destination as opposed to keeping our things safe.

As we all know, technology has become smaller and lighter nowadays, basically it’s become easier to carry and travel with, so more and more of us are taking away our smartphones, tablets, cameras so that we’re not without our digital home comforts whilst we’re away.

As a traveler and mountain hiker, I always bring with me my smartphone and camera. So, having established that our favorite outdoor gadgets are exposed to increased risk when travelling, what should we do? Leaving them at home is sometimes an option, but for others who are reluctant to enter a digital detox, you can take out specialized gadget protection against the unthinkable.

I usually bring my iPhone during my adventures and it really needs investing in accessories like shock-proof case just to protect against it being dropped. I always make sure that it fit snugly and securely into the protective case.

The Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 with the Rider Jacket and Newton Cover Experience

During our last Bantayan Island escapade, I got to try this new protective iPhone case from Capdase. It is the Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 with the Rider Jacket and Newton Cover. I used the Rider jacket all throughout our trip going to the Island and also during our whole day biking activity visiting the beautiful spots in Bantayan Island.


On the course of our muscle straining activity, I had my phone in my pocket most of the time. The case is really durable and really not easily breakable. A nearly military grade protective case. My friends use the same protective casing too and they really tried to let the phone with the Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 ran by a bicycle.

That was one of the moments when it seemed my heart stops beating for few seconds. Intentionally doing that was insane. After that test, my friend checked the phone and the case. Thanks goodness, there were no damages on the phone. On the case, it was not broken. Only minor scratches on the edges.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo
I must say that the Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 with the Rider Jacket and Newton Cover can really deliver as expected. It is a shockproof case with utmost slim and smart design Rider Suit that is composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane case. It really has a military grade protection standard of shock absorbance.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

So here is the list of reasons why Capdase Armor Suit Combo for iPhone 7 is a perfect outdoor gadget protection:

1. Shockproof, tough and durable.

The Capdase Armor Suit Combo case handles well in terms of impact resistance. The skid padded corners enhance the internal shock dispersion reducing impact to the device.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

2. Slim and lightweight

Despite being thin, Capdase Armor Suit Combo case is made from a strong material, accurately molded to achieve both maximum protection and slimness.

3. Easy installation

The cover can be easily attached or detached from the case providing structural rigidity.

4. Accessories Compatible

Worry not if your phone has tempered glass screen protector as the Capdase Armor Suit Combo case can fit precisely on the boarders of the screen protector.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

5. Newton Cover

The additional skin provides an anti-gravity surface with tiny suction material. It can be stick on most of the flat surface such as windows, mirrors, metal, cabinet and more.

Capdase Armor Suit Combo

As a traveler and outdoor enthusiast, we should invest on protecting our gadgets. This is to avoid the unthinkable as accident do happen even when we are cautious. Prevention is a lot better than cure. There’s no harm in trying out the promising Capdase Armor Suit Combo case for iPhone 7.

How about you? What protective care have you done to your gadgets while travelling? Leave your thoughts on the comment section below.

Mar, Sat, 2017
The mighty Inambakan Falls will make you splash

Inambakan Falls

Cebu south is blessed with beautiful beaches and majestic waterfalls that are still in its pristine conditions. Aside from Samboan that has several waterfalls, the neighboring town boasts also its own waterfall with a slightly different characteristic and grandeur.

Waterfalls and beaches are popular among Cebuanos especially during summer. Most of the adventurers and trekkers or mountain climbers often have side trips on these waterfalls and beaches too to cool down from a tiring and leg-breaking treks.

Inambakan Falls

Inambakan falls is one of the waterfalls in Cebu South that has slowly gaining popularity among local and foreign tourists. Most often than not, Inambakan falls serves as the starting point to trekkers going to Mount Hambubuyog in the highlands of Ginatilan.

Most trekkers like us, have a quick dip on this waterfall before commencing the strenuous and kind of death defying trek via calvary trail going to the summit of Mount Hambubuyog.

During our last trek in Mount Hambubuyog, we started the trek by cooling down ourselves in the cold waters in this beautiful waterfalls and spending few moments admiring its natural beauty.

The jaunt to Inambakan Falls

It will took around 15-20 minutes from the Town proper to the jump-off going to the falls. On the jump-off, be prepared for the muscle straining trek down the cemented steps that will lead to the river. Be amazed by the river as the waters are so clean and clear that you can still see the stones down below the riverbed.

Inambakan Falls

The trail is a bit slippery, so be extra cautious. But the vista that would welcome you is quiet mesmerizing. The water from above the source that cascades down through those boulders below is just simply an eye candy to nature lovers like us. As you go on the trek towards the falls, the buzzing sound of the waters is just awesome and it will become louder and louder every step you make. The crashing sounds of the waters become more prominent until you can see a glimpse of the majestic and the mighty Inambakan falls.

Inambakan Falls

The Mighty Inambakan Falls

Inambakan Falls

Near the falls are few cottages that locals built. There is an entrance fee to be collected. Few steps and you can see the full beauty of the mighty Inambakan Falls. Along with the main waterfall are some small waterfalls right below the falls lagoon.

Inambakan Falls

Inambakan Falls

Inambakan Falls is estimated to be around 100 feet high. Around the falls, you can feel the mist everywhere. Surrounding the falls are rocky area and bit slippery. Having a quick dip on the falls lagoon is quite refreshing before starting a trek right?

Inambakan Falls

We spent few moments bathing in the falls lagoon then proceeded with the trek. Also, after our trek, upon our descent, we had another dose of Inambakan falls as we can’t get enough of its splendor, cold and refreshing waters.

Inambakan Falls

How about you? Have you been to Inambakan Falls? How was your experience? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

How to get there?

Going to Ginatilan is relatively an easy one like on my previous chasing waterfalls posts.

From Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), take a bus bound to Samboan or with the sign Bato via Barili. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the Municipal Hall of Ginatilan. If you don’t know the place yet, proceed to Ginatilan’s Tourism Office to ask for assistance. You can still opt not to go to tourism office and just ask the locals and habal2x drivers instead. Mode of transportation to the jump off is through habal2x or motorcycle taxi. Most habal2x drivers know where Inambakan falls is located.

 Tips:

  1. Waterproof your things / valuables. Better use dry bag if you have one.
  2. Be prepared for the fiery heat of the sun if you’re going there on mid-day. The trail going down to the waterfalls is an open one and you will be exposed to the scorching sun.
  3. Pack light but don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen protection, waterproofing bags for gadgets, swimming attire, slippers or sandals.
  4. If you are not a swimmer and wants to enjoy the falls, better bring your own life vest.
  5. Don’t forget to bring extra food or snacks just in case.
  6. Always take extra precautions when going down to waterfalls as the trail can be a loose soil, slippery or mossy, rocky and might involve steep descent.
  7. If you are not sure how deep the waterfalls lagoon is, do not attempt to dive immediately. Know how deep it is first.
  8. Practice LNT. Do not leave your trashes behind. Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.
  9. To maximize the places in your list if you have multiple destinations, be mindful of the time spent in each spot as they can be far from each other. Taking travel time into consideration would be of great help in your fun-filled adventure.
Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
BackPacking , Falls , Travel , Trekking
The mighty Inambakan Falls will make you splash

Inambakan Falls

Cebu south is blessed with beautiful beaches and majestic waterfalls that are still in its pristine conditions. Aside from Samboan that has several waterfalls, the neighboring town boasts also its own waterfall with a slightly different characteristic and grandeur.

Waterfalls and beaches are popular among Cebuanos especially during summer. Most of the adventurers and trekkers or mountain climbers often have side trips on these waterfalls and beaches too to cool down from a tiring and leg-breaking treks.

Inambakan Falls

Inambakan falls is one of the waterfalls in Cebu South that has slowly gaining popularity among local and foreign tourists. Most often than not, Inambakan falls serves as the starting point to trekkers going to Mount Hambubuyog in the highlands of Ginatilan.

Most trekkers like us, have a quick dip on this waterfall before commencing the strenuous and kind of death defying trek via calvary trail going to the summit of Mount Hambubuyog.

During our last trek in Mount Hambubuyog, we started the trek by cooling down ourselves in the cold waters in this beautiful waterfalls and spending few moments admiring its natural beauty.

The jaunt to Inambakan Falls

It will took around 15-20 minutes from the Town proper to the jump-off going to the falls. On the jump-off, be prepared for the muscle straining trek down the cemented steps that will lead to the river. Be amazed by the river as the waters are so clean and clear that you can still see the stones down below the riverbed.

Inambakan Falls

The trail is a bit slippery, so be extra cautious. But the vista that would welcome you is quiet mesmerizing. The water from above the source that cascades down through those boulders below is just simply an eye candy to nature lovers like us. As you go on the trek towards the falls, the buzzing sound of the waters is just awesome and it will become louder and louder every step you make. The crashing sounds of the waters become more prominent until you can see a glimpse of the majestic and the mighty Inambakan falls.

Inambakan Falls

The Mighty Inambakan Falls

Inambakan Falls

Near the falls are few cottages that locals built. There is an entrance fee to be collected. Few steps and you can see the full beauty of the mighty Inambakan Falls. Along with the main waterfall are some small waterfalls right below the falls lagoon.

Inambakan Falls

Inambakan Falls

Inambakan Falls is estimated to be around 100 feet high. Around the falls, you can feel the mist everywhere. Surrounding the falls are rocky area and bit slippery. Having a quick dip on the falls lagoon is quite refreshing before starting a trek right?

Inambakan Falls

We spent few moments bathing in the falls lagoon then proceeded with the trek. Also, after our trek, upon our descent, we had another dose of Inambakan falls as we can’t get enough of its splendor, cold and refreshing waters.

Inambakan Falls

How about you? Have you been to Inambakan Falls? How was your experience? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

How to get there?

Going to Ginatilan is relatively an easy one like on my previous chasing waterfalls posts.

From Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), take a bus bound to Samboan or with the sign Bato via Barili. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the Municipal Hall of Ginatilan. If you don’t know the place yet, proceed to Ginatilan’s Tourism Office to ask for assistance. You can still opt not to go to tourism office and just ask the locals and habal2x drivers instead. Mode of transportation to the jump off is through habal2x or motorcycle taxi. Most habal2x drivers know where Inambakan falls is located.

 Tips:

  1. Waterproof your things / valuables. Better use dry bag if you have one.
  2. Be prepared for the fiery heat of the sun if you’re going there on mid-day. The trail going down to the waterfalls is an open one and you will be exposed to the scorching sun.
  3. Pack light but don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen protection, waterproofing bags for gadgets, swimming attire, slippers or sandals.
  4. If you are not a swimmer and wants to enjoy the falls, better bring your own life vest.
  5. Don’t forget to bring extra food or snacks just in case.
  6. Always take extra precautions when going down to waterfalls as the trail can be a loose soil, slippery or mossy, rocky and might involve steep descent.
  7. If you are not sure how deep the waterfalls lagoon is, do not attempt to dive immediately. Know how deep it is first.
  8. Practice LNT. Do not leave your trashes behind. Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.
  9. To maximize the places in your list if you have multiple destinations, be mindful of the time spent in each spot as they can be far from each other. Taking travel time into consideration would be of great help in your fun-filled adventure.
Mar, Wed, 2017
Alegria’s wonderful Cambais Falls can make you bathe

Cambais Falls

It was during our Mega Trek event that we got to visit some of Alegria’s tourist destination. Few of which were Silay Cave, Cambusay Cave and of course the nearby Cambais Falls.

Cambais Falls

The mega trek is a three-day trek hosted by NCR Trekkers Club, with the starting point at Mount Kandungaw then traverse to Alegria. The exit point will be at Mount Lanaya. It was really a tiring activity, staying in the mountains for 3 days. We were not even sure who will be trekking until the finish line. We gave options to the trekkers also to go home on the second day.

Cambais Falls

On the second day of our mega trek, we headed to the Silay and Cambusay caves then to Cambais falls in Alegria. Unfortunately, Cambusay Cave was closed at that time. So we headed directly to Cambais falls and spend few hours.

Cambais Falls

Due to exhaustion from the treks, we spent most of our time in the falls resting, eating our lunch and just enjoying the vista around. We then took some pictures and later on have a quick dip in the cold waters on Cambais. The water was not that cold, it was just enough to cool down our tired bodies.

Cambais Falls

Cambais falls is a wonderful creation that was like made for trekkers and adventurers like us. The vista is so refreshing and the waterfall is too enticing that you could not resist but to take even a short dip.

Cambais Falls

Cambais Falls

Around 3 PM, we then decided to proceed to our next destination which is to the jump off point to Mount Lanaya in Lumpan while the rest of the team decided to go home. We arrived at Lumpan Jump off at around 6 PM. And then proceeded with our night trek to the camp site.

Cambais Falls

Few minutes of swimming and photo ops, we decided to proceed to Mount Lanaya while the others went home already. Only 14 trekkers braved to continue the challenge to trek for another day despite the exhaustion. We even called it as the death trek.

Cambais falls is a bit small and would be easily got overcrowded. Cambais falls has few huts in the area but it seems few of them need fixing. There are comfort rooms and dressing rooms also but of course, you still need to line up if there are a lot of visitors. So it is recommended to bring your own towels or malong, just in case you’re in a hurry of changing into dry clothes.

Have you been to Cambais falls? How was your experience? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

How to get to Cambais Falls?

Going to Alegria is relatively an easy one.

From Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), take a bus bound to Alegria or with the sign Bato via Barili. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the Municipal Hall. If you don’t know the place yet, proceed to Alegria Tourism Office to ask for assistance. Mode of transportation to the jump off is by habal2x. Don’t worry, most habal2x drivers know the place.

 Tips:

  1. Waterproof your things/valuables. Better use a dry bag if you have one.
  2. Be prepared for the fiery heat of the sun as the trail going to the falls is an open parched field during summer.
  3. Pack light but don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen protection, waterproofing bags for gadgets, swimming attire, slippers or sandals.
  4. If you are not a swimmer and wants to enjoy the falls, better bring your own life vest.
  5. Don’t forget to bring extra food or snacks just in case.
  6. Always take extra precautions when going down to waterfalls as the trail can be a loose soil, slippery or mossy, rocky and might involve steep descent.
  7. If you are not sure how deep is the pool below, do not attempt to dive immediately. Know how deep it is first.
  8. Take nothing but pictures.
  9. Leave nothing but footprints. Do not leave your trash behind.
  10. To maximize the places in your list if you have multiple destinations, be mindful of the time spent in each spot as they can be far from each other. Taking travel time into consideration would be of great help in your fun-filled adventure.
Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
BackPacking , Falls , Visayas
Alegria’s wonderful Cambais Falls can make you bathe

Cambais Falls

It was during our Mega Trek event that we got to visit some of Alegria’s tourist destination. Few of which were Silay Cave, Cambusay Cave and of course the nearby Cambais Falls.

Cambais Falls

The mega trek is a three-day trek hosted by NCR Trekkers Club, with the starting point at Mount Kandungaw then traverse to Alegria. The exit point will be at Mount Lanaya. It was really a tiring activity, staying in the mountains for 3 days. We were not even sure who will be trekking until the finish line. We gave options to the trekkers also to go home on the second day.

Cambais Falls

On the second day of our mega trek, we headed to the Silay and Cambusay caves then to Cambais falls in Alegria. Unfortunately, Cambusay Cave was closed at that time. So we headed directly to Cambais falls and spend few hours.

Cambais Falls

Due to exhaustion from the treks, we spent most of our time in the falls resting, eating our lunch and just enjoying the vista around. We then took some pictures and later on have a quick dip in the cold waters on Cambais. The water was not that cold, it was just enough to cool down our tired bodies.

Cambais Falls

Cambais falls is a wonderful creation that was like made for trekkers and adventurers like us. The vista is so refreshing and the waterfall is too enticing that you could not resist but to take even a short dip.

Cambais Falls

Cambais Falls

Around 3 PM, we then decided to proceed to our next destination which is to the jump off point to Mount Lanaya in Lumpan while the rest of the team decided to go home. We arrived at Lumpan Jump off at around 6 PM. And then proceeded with our night trek to the camp site.

Cambais Falls

Few minutes of swimming and photo ops, we decided to proceed to Mount Lanaya while the others went home already. Only 14 trekkers braved to continue the challenge to trek for another day despite the exhaustion. We even called it as the death trek.

Cambais falls is a bit small and would be easily got overcrowded. Cambais falls has few huts in the area but it seems few of them need fixing. There are comfort rooms and dressing rooms also but of course, you still need to line up if there are a lot of visitors. So it is recommended to bring your own towels or malong, just in case you’re in a hurry of changing into dry clothes.

Have you been to Cambais falls? How was your experience? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

How to get to Cambais Falls?

Going to Alegria is relatively an easy one.

From Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), take a bus bound to Alegria or with the sign Bato via Barili. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the Municipal Hall. If you don’t know the place yet, proceed to Alegria Tourism Office to ask for assistance. Mode of transportation to the jump off is by habal2x. Don’t worry, most habal2x drivers know the place.

 Tips:

  1. Waterproof your things/valuables. Better use a dry bag if you have one.
  2. Be prepared for the fiery heat of the sun as the trail going to the falls is an open parched field during summer.
  3. Pack light but don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen protection, waterproofing bags for gadgets, swimming attire, slippers or sandals.
  4. If you are not a swimmer and wants to enjoy the falls, better bring your own life vest.
  5. Don’t forget to bring extra food or snacks just in case.
  6. Always take extra precautions when going down to waterfalls as the trail can be a loose soil, slippery or mossy, rocky and might involve steep descent.
  7. If you are not sure how deep is the pool below, do not attempt to dive immediately. Know how deep it is first.
  8. Take nothing but pictures.
  9. Leave nothing but footprints. Do not leave your trash behind.
  10. To maximize the places in your list if you have multiple destinations, be mindful of the time spent in each spot as they can be far from each other. Taking travel time into consideration would be of great help in your fun-filled adventure.
Mar, Wed, 2017
Cebu Waterfalls : Samboan’s unspoiled Kandayvic Falls

Don’t go chasing waterfalls.
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to – TLC

Should we stop chasing waterfalls? I bet not, and never will!

Well, maybe…. But not soon enough. 🙂

After our challenging and memorable experience from the Mount Hambubuyog camping under the harsh and antagonistic weather, we headed to the less known waterfall in the municipality of Samboan.

The waterfall is called Kandayvic. Kandayvic was coined from the name “ Kan inday Vic”. The place is said to be named after the wife of former mayor of the town. There are many variations of the spelling. Some spelled it as Candayvic, but the most common spelling used is “Kandayvic”.

We hired the habal2x going to barangay Canorong and alight at the jump off. From the jump off, the falls can be reached by walking/trekking through an open corn field. Be careful as during summer, this field can be really parched. It is advisable then to bring protection from the fiery and scorching heat of the sun. Unless you are aiming for a charcoal skin. HAHA 😛

The trail going to the falls is a narrow path of loose soil. You need to be extra cautious on your steps as one wrong footing and you’ll find yourself tumbling down below.

On the remaining part of the trail is a shady part. It was under some bushes and trees as the path leads down below the valley. The path going down can be a challenging one, especially on rainy days. The path could be very slippery. Slippery when wet mga bes!

Upon going down to the waterfall, you will pass through a bit steep descent. But fret not as the trail/path was aided with bamboo railings. But still be extra cautious!

Kandayvic Falls

Few more minutes of walking down the aisle, este walking on a steep path, Kandayvic falls welcomed us with open arms. Kandayvic falls is one of the waterfalls in Samboan that is less frequented by tourists as the waterfall was not quiet known to most tourists yet. At the time of our visit, there were only a few visitors of the place.

Kandayvic Falls

Basically, the waterfall encompasses tiers of small waterfalls. Below these tiers is an elongated lagoon. A pool of turquoise waters in between rocks. Anyone can jump and swim in the said lagoon.

Kandayvic Falls

The waters that supplied Kandayvic was the same as the one flowing to Dao Falls. They belong to the same river system. In fact, Kandayvic was just right above Dao falls.

Kandayvic Falls

Above the basin/lagoon, was small tiers of waterfalls that were streamed into one infinity pool of bliss below it. From it, the last spillway flowed, as smooth and fluvial as silver dew. It spilled over the gravelly bed with the honeyed sensuality of a lover’s kiss.

Kandayvic Falls

I was not convinced to take a dip or jump on the swimming lagoon. Well, I am no swimmer, so diving into the deep swimming lagoon is not my thing. My companions were busy swimming below and diving. Me? Just took a lot of snaps and had a quick river trek on the small tiers of waterfalls above.

My companions kept asking me to join the fun, but I was not into the mood of joining them. Maybe, due to due to exhaustion or kandingon ra gyud ko bes! 🙂

Kandayvic Falls

The sound of the waters as it flows on the rocks was chiming. As the waters gently slid, gracefully and slinky past my feet. The chinking, tinkling sound was caused by its indolent slickness echoing from the rock. It looked like the sleek robe of a water witch as its glassy brilliance sounded and plinked. Its edges were seamed in silver and sparkled in the aureate light. Bottomline, Kandayvic is a great potential tourist spot and for canyoneering.

Kandayvic Falls

Few minutes of swimming (excluding me) and snaps taking, we decided to proceed to Dao Falls. The trek to Dao falls, took us around 30 minutes.

Kandayvic falls is a bit small and would be easily got overcrowded. But given that it is not very known to most tourists, it is safe to say that the place can be a better place for chillaxing. It is a place where you can connect with mother nature. A place where you can be alone with nature! But Kandayvic falls has no huts or cottages or any stores nearby. So it is recommended to bring extra provisions, etc, should you decide to stay a bit longer.

Have you been to Kandayvic falls? What can you say about the place? Would you agree that this place will be developed further for a better tourism? Or should the LGU keep it that way to at least preserve the pristine condition of the falls? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

How to get to Kandayvic Falls?

Going to Samboan is relatively an easy one.

From Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), take a bus bound to Samboan or with the sign Bato via Barili. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the Municipal Hall. If you don’t know the place yet, proceed to Samboan Tourism Office to ask for assistance. Mode of transportation to the jump off is by habal2x.

Tips:

  1. Waterproof your things/valuables. Better use a dry bag if you have one.
  2. Be prepared for the fiery heat of the sun as the trail going to the falls is an open parched field during summer.
  3. Pack light but don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen protection, waterproof bags for gadgets, swimming attire, slippers or sandals.
  4. If you are not a swimmer and wants to enjoy the falls, better bring your own life vest.
  5. Don’t forget to bring extra food or snacks just in case.
  6. Always take extra precautions when going down to waterfalls as the trail can be a loose soil, slippery or mossy, rocky and might involve steep descent.
  7. If you are not sure how deep is the pool below the falls, do not attempt to dive immediately. Know how deep it is first.
  8. Take nothing but pictures.
  9. Leave nothing but footprints. Do not leave your trash behind.
  10. To maximize the places in your list if you have multiple destinations, be mindful of the time spent in each spot as they can be far from each other. Taking travel time into consideration would be of great help in your fun-filled adventure.

 

Wandering Soul Scamper Wandering Soul Scamper
BackPacking , Falls , Visayas
Cebu Waterfalls : Samboan’s unspoiled Kandayvic Falls

Don’t go chasing waterfalls.
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to – TLC

Should we stop chasing waterfalls? I bet not, and never will!

Well, maybe…. But not soon enough. 🙂

After our challenging and memorable experience from the Mount Hambubuyog camping under the harsh and antagonistic weather, we headed to the less known waterfall in the municipality of Samboan.

The waterfall is called Kandayvic. Kandayvic was coined from the name “ Kan inday Vic”. The place is said to be named after the wife of former mayor of the town. There are many variations of the spelling. Some spelled it as Candayvic, but the most common spelling used is “Kandayvic”.

We hired the habal2x going to barangay Canorong and alight at the jump off. From the jump off, the falls can be reached by walking/trekking through an open corn field. Be careful as during summer, this field can be really parched. It is advisable then to bring protection from the fiery and scorching heat of the sun. Unless you are aiming for a charcoal skin. HAHA 😛

The trail going to the falls is a narrow path of loose soil. You need to be extra cautious on your steps as one wrong footing and you’ll find yourself tumbling down below.

On the remaining part of the trail is a shady part. It was under some bushes and trees as the path leads down below the valley. The path going down can be a challenging one, especially on rainy days. The path could be very slippery. Slippery when wet mga bes!

Upon going down to the waterfall, you will pass through a bit steep descent. But fret not as the trail/path was aided with bamboo railings. But still be extra cautious!

Kandayvic Falls

Few more minutes of walking down the aisle, este walking on a steep path, Kandayvic falls welcomed us with open arms. Kandayvic falls is one of the waterfalls in Samboan that is less frequented by tourists as the waterfall was not quiet known to most tourists yet. At the time of our visit, there were only a few visitors of the place.

Kandayvic Falls

Basically, the waterfall encompasses tiers of small waterfalls. Below these tiers is an elongated lagoon. A pool of turquoise waters in between rocks. Anyone can jump and swim in the said lagoon.

Kandayvic Falls

The waters that supplied Kandayvic was the same as the one flowing to Dao Falls. They belong to the same river system. In fact, Kandayvic was just right above Dao falls.

Kandayvic Falls

Above the basin/lagoon, was small tiers of waterfalls that were streamed into one infinity pool of bliss below it. From it, the last spillway flowed, as smooth and fluvial as silver dew. It spilled over the gravelly bed with the honeyed sensuality of a lover’s kiss.

Kandayvic Falls

I was not convinced to take a dip or jump on the swimming lagoon. Well, I am no swimmer, so diving into the deep swimming lagoon is not my thing. My companions were busy swimming below and diving. Me? Just took a lot of snaps and had a quick river trek on the small tiers of waterfalls above.

My companions kept asking me to join the fun, but I was not into the mood of joining them. Maybe, due to due to exhaustion or kandingon ra gyud ko bes! 🙂

Kandayvic Falls

The sound of the waters as it flows on the rocks was chiming. As the waters gently slid, gracefully and slinky past my feet. The chinking, tinkling sound was caused by its indolent slickness echoing from the rock. It looked like the sleek robe of a water witch as its glassy brilliance sounded and plinked. Its edges were seamed in silver and sparkled in the aureate light. Bottomline, Kandayvic is a great potential tourist spot and for canyoneering.

Kandayvic Falls

Few minutes of swimming (excluding me) and snaps taking, we decided to proceed to Dao Falls. The trek to Dao falls, took us around 30 minutes.

Kandayvic falls is a bit small and would be easily got overcrowded. But given that it is not very known to most tourists, it is safe to say that the place can be a better place for chillaxing. It is a place where you can connect with mother nature. A place where you can be alone with nature! But Kandayvic falls has no huts or cottages or any stores nearby. So it is recommended to bring extra provisions, etc, should you decide to stay a bit longer.

Have you been to Kandayvic falls? What can you say about the place? Would you agree that this place will be developed further for a better tourism? Or should the LGU keep it that way to at least preserve the pristine condition of the falls? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

How to get to Kandayvic Falls?

Going to Samboan is relatively an easy one.

From Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), take a bus bound to Samboan or with the sign Bato via Barili. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the Municipal Hall. If you don’t know the place yet, proceed to Samboan Tourism Office to ask for assistance. Mode of transportation to the jump off is by habal2x.

Tips:

  1. Waterproof your things/valuables. Better use a dry bag if you have one.
  2. Be prepared for the fiery heat of the sun as the trail going to the falls is an open parched field during summer.
  3. Pack light but don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen protection, waterproof bags for gadgets, swimming attire, slippers or sandals.
  4. If you are not a swimmer and wants to enjoy the falls, better bring your own life vest.
  5. Don’t forget to bring extra food or snacks just in case.
  6. Always take extra precautions when going down to waterfalls as the trail can be a loose soil, slippery or mossy, rocky and might involve steep descent.
  7. If you are not sure how deep is the pool below the falls, do not attempt to dive immediately. Know how deep it is first.
  8. Take nothing but pictures.
  9. Leave nothing but footprints. Do not leave your trash behind.
  10. To maximize the places in your list if you have multiple destinations, be mindful of the time spent in each spot as they can be far from each other. Taking travel time into consideration would be of great help in your fun-filled adventure.