A New Home

A few months ago, I sort of announced here that my little blog will be moving to its new home soon. And I’m happy to say that…

the time has finally arrived! 

This would not be possible without these people, who have made this transition a relatively easier experience for me.

• AC, an awesome WordPress developer and website designer, former officemate and good friend helped me with basically EVERYTHING tech-related. I have no experience in building a website from scratch and anything IT-related really, and she was more than willing to help me set up. She even showed me how things are done from her end, and taught me how to do a few steps on my own, so that I’ll learn. Thank you technology for Skype and its screen sharing function. 🙂 I am still not well-versed in the whole process and I might even bug AC from time to time, which is why I’m very thankful for all her help and support. I recommend you contact her (her name is linked to her homepage) for your website needs.
• Kat is one of my most artistic friends. She knows how to draw, paint, doodle and is now dabbling into photography. I had asked her to create my header (which I’m ecstatic to see) and she said yes, without any hesitation. I am in no way artistic, so have a really good friend do amazing things with paper, colored pens and paint really helps. She’s also a great writer! 😉
• The many travel blogs that I’ve been stalking and commenting on since my extreme wanderlust started kicking in. Sole Sisters Lois and Chichi, Chyng Reyes, Gay of Pinaytraveljunkie, Edcel of Soloflighted, Journeying James and Nina Fuentes of Just Wandering, are among those who really inspired me to get up on my feet and start traveling more. An extra boost was even given by the Sole Sisters, when they featured my blog on one of their posts. I hope I get to meet all of you, as well as other travel bloggers in the future. 🙂
• To my friends for the unending love and support, for letting me link-spam their news feed, dashboards and Twitter timelines with blog posts and travel-related announcements, thank you. You are all awesome people.
• To the random viewers of this blog, thank you as well. I do hope you still do so on my new home. Hihi. 😀

I’m very excited to continue my journey in my new home. I’m banking on this to really push and encourage me more to not only travel, but to write and take great photos of my trips as well.

So friends, please join me at

http://littlegirlgoesplaces.com/

See you there! 🙂 ❤

More Information: La Union

Accommodation

As mentioned in my La Union post, my friends and I stayed at San Juan Surf Resort, located in San Fernando City. It’s pretty accessible as it is located along MacArthur Highway, which most buses ply on. For those riding public transportation, you can just ask the bus conductor to drop you off here.

From Google Maps

San Juan Surf Resort

I never learned though. 😀

Here are the published rates, taken from their official website:

    Standard Aircon
Good for 2 people: P1600.00
For 2 w/ hot water: P1760.00
Good for 4 people: P2200.00

Bungalow
Good for 2 people: P1760.00
Good for 4 people: P2360.00
For 4 w/ hot water: P2460.00

Deluxe
Good for 2 people: P1760.00
Good for 4 people: P2360.00

Villas
Good for 2 people: P1600.00
Good for 4 people: P2360.00
For 4 w/ hot water: P2740.00
For 4 people w/ 2 rooms: P4240.00
For 6 people w/ hot water: P4240.00

Fan
Good for 2 people: P890.00
For 2 people w/ CR: P1240.00

Ground Floor (for Standard Aircon only)
Good for 2 people: P1760.00
Good for 4 people: P2360.00

Family Room
Good for 12 people: P6000.00

To contact them, click on this link.

Landline:
(072)720-0340 / (072)242-0389
Mobile:
+639178803040
eMail:
sanjuansurfresort@yahoo.com

Transportation

We decided to take a Partas bus bound for La Union. The bus liner has terminals based in Cubao, Pasay and Sampaloc here in Metro Manila.

Buses leave on an hourly basis, so make sure you get to the terminal with enough time to purchase tickets. There are two stop-overs on the way to La Union (and my apologies, I forgot where they are -_-).

More information can be found on their Facebook page (they actually have one!). Click here or you can contact (02) 727-82-78 for more information.

Partas bus (Image credit: http://www.roamingronos.com)

(Not) Surfing in La Union

The title’s a bit surprising, isn’t it? It seems like this combination of words don’t belong in one sentence, no?

When people speak of La Union, the first activity that pops in their mind is surfing. They can’t be blamed though as people from the Philippines and tourists from other parts of the world travel specifically to La Union to catch the waves. And again, because of my inability to stay afloat and swim, I decided not to try this sport. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t have a blast in this awesome place.

City Travels: Feeling Festive at the Ayala Triangle Park

It was literally a few days before Christmas, and just like a number of young, working adults, I was not feeling its spirit. It wasn’t that I wanted to become a female Grinch or anything. Because of the stress at work (both at the day job and freelance), figuring out what gifts to give to my loved ones and the financial chaos that goes with it, I have yet to be as giddy and excited for Christmas as I was when I was 10. Signs of aging, I suppose?

Add the fact that I was working in the busy streets of the Makati Central Business District. Sure the streets are filled with lights and decor, but the people remained the same: all rushing about, probably trying to get to the office/home the soonest.  It seemed like the days during the Christmas season are no different.

Plus, I’ve been feeling down lately because of the tragedy brought by Typhoon Sendong to my beloved hometown. Though I am here in Manila, I can feel the worries, fears and sadness in Cagayan de Oro.

Washed Up in Mabini, Batangas

My friends went on another Bgy. Malimatoc escapade last December, in time for the barangay fiesta. I wasn’t able to tag along this time because of my work schedule. (First time I didn’t join in. *sad*) This prompted me to try to squeeze in and write another post on Bgy. Malimatoc. 🙂

In my own world, every out of town escapade is not complete without a trip to the beach. I may not know how to swim and the idea of death by drowning terrifies me, but I still love the beach. I feel calm and collected when I laze about in the sand, like all the problems in the world are going away as I hear the waves crash to the shore. Come to think of it, most of my travels have involved a trip down to the beach. And my escapades to Bgy. Malimatoc are no exception.

Help for the Victims of Typhoon Sendong

For those who read the about me section of this blog, you may remember that I was born  and spent a good number of years in Cagayan de Oro City. I’ve also mentioned in a previous post that I had a sort of homecoming last November to my hometown (which I have yet to write about, apologies for the delay).

I’m also pretty sure you’ve heard or read about the recent tragedy that struck my beloved hometown, and other neighboring areas in Mindanao. I knew about the heavy rains as early as it was reported, but never in my wildest dreams did I think something that grave would happen to the city. Typhoons don’t pass by the city and in Mindanao in general, so this really came as a surprise to those living there (or who have lived there).

The gravity of the situation didn’t sink in right away for me. Last Monday though, my parents and sister told me that I was lucky as I had scheduled my trip in November. I had originally planned to travel to CDO in December, but there weren’t seat sale flights available when I booked in February. A blessing in disguise, probably?

Then I saw the photos, photos of familiar places, places that I was at or passed by just a month ago. Where there used to be a thriving community, the area is now covered by mud, puddles of water and pieces of debris. Then I read stories of children drowning, parents and family members missing, friends dying. That death came like a thief in the night and everyone was caught off-guard.

I immediately contacted my friends who live in the area. Thankfully they are all alive and safe, although the same can’t be said for their homes and belongings. A family friend had lost everything they had, but they were all thankfully alive and still complete.

So here I am, trying in the best way I could to help the devastated areas in Mindanao. I may not be there physically, and how I wish I could be there to volunteer and help. But we can all do something to help, wherever we may be.You don’t need to be incredibly rich to extend a helping hand to our friends in Mindanao.

There are a number of posts on the internet, and I found this to have the most comprehensive list. Please click on THIS.

Basically the survivors need Blankets, mattress/banig/cardboard boxes, clothes, underwear, soap, tissue paper, rubbing alcohol/hand sanitizer, toothpaste, timba/tabo, bread/biscuits, first aid medication, slippers, milk in tetra packs for kids, ready to eat food (as there is no electricity/fuel to cook raw food).

You can donate in cash or in kind, whichever is your preferred method. The easiest way is through SMS donations, which are sent directly to Red Cross.

Let’s all extend a helping hand. A little help can go a long way to make their situation better, especially since it’s almost Christmas.

Daghang salamat (Many thanks)!

Something Exciting

Hello again! I received awesome, awesome news and I’m just giddy with excitement that I have to share! 🙂

One of my best friends, ex-officemate/big sister, is giving me one item on my Christmas wish list, this early! And it has everything to do with this travel blog.

Littlegirlgoesplaces will have a new home soon! 😀

I’m just really, really thankful for the opportunity to let this little blog grow. And to the awesome people surrounding me, who believe in me and help me make my goals and dreams come true. I love you guys. *cheesy moment*

Dear self, let’s make this happen! 🙂

A Little Note-to-Self

Hello there! I apologize for the lack of blog entries. I got back from my trip to Cagayan de Oro City last weekend and have been swamped with work from the day job and freelance gigs. While this will be good for my pocket and savings account (more travel money, yay!), I am a wee bit worried that my being busy will limit the time that I will spend writing about my travel adventures.

So here I am, making this little note-to-self. When I’m determined to do/continue doing/finish something, I usually put that into writing and make it visible for everyone to see. I am more of a visual person, so seeing these with my own eyes help in making me more motivated.

So to the few readers of my little travel blog, watch out for my write-ups on a few Batangas beaches, my CDO weekend and many more! 🙂

All the Way Up Mt. Gulugod Baboy

Don’t let the title of this post fool you – in no way am I a mountain climber. While I am quite intrigued with hikes because of the many blog posts and pictures I’ve read and seen, I know that it’s not really in me to go up a mountain.

Although, I lived for seven years near one of the country’s highest peaks, Mt. Apo. I may have thought about climbing it and drafted a few plans here and there, but I never really got the courage to push through with any.

Here are the few reasons why:

• I have bronchial asthma. I’m not dependent on any medicines yet, thankfully, but I still bring a stash of anti-histamines and -asthma wherever I go. I also have a handy inhaler, which my friends call my choice of drug as it’s white and powdery. (It’s real medicine for quick relief for asthma attacks, promise.) I get really awful attacks once a year and these really make me feel like I’m dying. But most days, the asthma’s manageable.
• Because of the above reason, I’m in no way physically fit. The most I can do is walk long distances, but with short breaks in between. I can’t run even if my life depended on it (well maybe I can, when I get an adrenaline rush or something). I even find it hard to lift myself up to a certain height because of my poor upper body strength. I skipped PE classes that required too much running way back in elementary. (It doesn’t look like it, yeah?)

So you could probably imagine the look on my face when my friends thought of going up Mt. Gulugod Baboy on the second day of our Mabini, Batangas escapade this year. You can click on the link above for more info on this mountain that’s gaining popularity among hikers in the Philippines and tourists as well.

The typical jump-off point of most travelers is in Anilao, Batangas. However, Kuya Sande told us that there was a way from Bgy. Malimatoc II up to the mountain. I think it’s a trail opposite that of Anilao’s.

Hello Kuya Sande, Jhoann's cousin and our forever tour guide! He's actually very camera-shy. 🙂

We also asked him if the trail was okay for first-timers like us. He said it was okay, but the path would be slippery and muddy because of the recent rain showers. We said it’s okay, we’ll just be extra careful and he agreed to accompany us! So everyone got excited and decided to go up Mt. Gulugod Baboy the next day.

I didn’t tell him about my medical condition though. Wrong move on my part.

A Refreshing Dip in a Barangay

In my past three visits to this quaint barangay in Mabini, Batangas, the first destination of the group would always be the cumba, as the locals would call it. It’s a small waterfall located below a vast area of trees that I think are only seen in jungles/forests. You would have to go down a dangerous (well, it was and still is very life-threatening to me) 10 to 15-minute trail just to reach this hidden wonder of nature.

And whenever we’d go there, either it finished raining or it’s about to rain. Maybe Mother Nature was playing tricks on us and wanted our trip down her slope extra special (read:difficult).

This is the starting point of the trail. Told you it was a jungle/forest.

2008 photo. I was trying to look relaxed and happy. Also, that was the year of me doing the "peace sign" pose. Refer to other pictures for further proof.

There were relatively easy parts, and there were areas of the trail where I had to pray for my life and safety.  After going down that trail three times, I still cannot perfectly go down without having to trip, slide down or almost fall.

This was one of the hardest parts of the trail. You would either have to jump (and hold on to someone/thing) or slide down. It's really steep, plus it had rained in the morning so it's all muddy and slippery.

This was from this year's escapade. I would always slip and slide down this part of the trail in the first two visits. But lo and behold, I survived this time! 🙂