CDO-Camiguin-Bukidnon Outing (Part I)

CDO-Camiguin-Bukidnon Outing
Aug 23-27, 2010 

(same week ng application sa prc!)

with the Katipuneros

at the airport (Terminal 3, I think?)

 Day 1: Took the first flight out from Terminal 3 (I think, it was the old Centenial Airport), and arrived at CDO. Since there were 5 of us, we just hired a taxi to Balingoan Port, which costs PhP500 I think. We reached roro just in time, and sailed to Camiguin. 

In Camiguin, we hired a mini-jeep there, and checked in at Enigmata. It was nice with lots of things to explore and have pictures taken. Unfortunately, we were lacking in time, so we have to go and do some sightseeing.

We went to Cold Springs (had lunch-afternoon snack-early dinner there). It was really cold! There were fishes below, but maybe my skin was thick, but I didn't really feel them biting me! Haha But then again, maybe they were just wary of any form of movement. The pool was about 5 feet deep, with the center getting deeper. There were some of us who don't know how to swim, and there are available rubber tubings for rent for PhP 50 for the whole stay.

 Then, we watched the sunset at Sunken Cemetery. Supposedly, the old church ruins and the station of the cross was on the way, but it was getting dark, so we were going to do that tomorrow instead.

panoramic view of sunken cemetery (ooh, we're at the side!)

Ardent Hot Springs was open until 10 or 11 PM, so we went there and it was nice. Since it was already cold, the hot spring was great. It was divided into several pools with the general "river" going through a lot of them. There were kids and people below, so we opted to stay in the highest pool with the "cleanest" part of the river, as well as have some privacy.

 

Day 2: We have to get up very, very early, so we could go to Kabibe beach. It's not on the usual tour itinerary of Camiguin, but Loi really wants to go. And I believe we could as well. I'm not a big fan of usual "tour itineraries" either. I believe in the road less travelled (I suddenly remembered my Sagada adventure...)
Anyway, Kabibe beach was cool and worth the wait and hassle with the negotiations with the driver from the previous day.

 

After spending the morning in Kabibe beach (I think we spent 3-4 hours there), we went to Bura Soda Spring (lunch). Entrance is about 20 pesos. Bura Soda Spring supposedly tastes like spring soda, and there's a fountain there, where you could taste it. And it does taste like spring water.

the rocks in the middle of the pool is where the bubbles come from

 We then went to visit old Church Ruins and Walkway, which we passed yesterday. A few photo-ops, then actually, we just went shopping at the Walkway. We don't have time to go up and explore anymore, since we have to leave by 4 pm for the ferry back to CDO, and we still have to visit Katibawasan falls.

At Katibawasan falls, we paid an entrance of about 20. We just took pictures of the waterfalls, but didn't bother for a swim anymore. We saw some natives eating this fried lumpia-like wrapper with some sauce (caramel, I think?), so we bought some and tried it out for ourselves.

So we checked out of Enigmata, unable to take pictures of the rest of the place. (Boo!) Back to Beloni port to sail Paras (I think it was 400/1-way for 2 hrs), straight to CDO port. Checked in at Budgetel. Dinner at Butcher's Best. The place was packed for a weekday, with most of them ordering sisig and BBQ.

waiting at Budgetel

Dinner at Butcher's Best (best-seller sisig and BBQ, I think?)

Whew! I think this is enough, to be continued on another day.

For more photos:
1st trip to Mindanao Multiply Album
Camiguin-CDO pics by Louie
Postboard Rewards/Adventure by Loi

Tuguegarao-Pagudpod Outing with D-Mates

Tuguegarao-Pagudpod Outing
August 16-18, 2010

(while awaiting board results para bumilis ang panahon)
D-mates with CP, Robert, PG, John Paul

It was two-three long months after ending internship, and D-mates and I made a study group, which we called SRC (aka Self-Review Center, headed by teacher Mace and Principal Moi hehe). As part of our program, it would end with a much-promised outing out of town. And since Charee's been inviting us for some time to visit Tuguegarao, we went! There was a promo, so off we went! We scheduled it after the boards, while awaiting the results of the board exams. To make the time pass easier, and at least to help us forget about things. Actually, for teacher Mace, it's supposed to be in "eternal state of drunkenness" to forget about the boards...

Thank you to our wonderful hosts, Charee, her family and friends (PG, JP and Robert) for the hospitality and the memories!

Day 1: Arrived at Tugue via Cebu Pacific. Callao Caves agad (masama si PG!). Night out at Kufon (thanks Robert).

Welcome to Callao Caves

D'Metalbenders at the Chapel part of the cave

Pagod after caving in jeans...

1st drinking session (of the trip) at Kufon

Day 2: Visit a Church with real-life-size stations of the cross. Breakfast on the road. Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte. River near the farm. Beach. (forgot the names, sorry!)

Life-size Stations of the Cross

The Resurrection

Breakfast on the Road

Suspension bridge

Stop-over for some view

lunch at our resort

river-trekking at a nearby farm

thinking about the future in the beach

Day 3: Munisipyo (para sa empanada). Bangui Windmills. Watch tower. Grocery where we learned about the results of the boards! (Jumping up and down the aisle, while people where staring at us!)

with the resort owner

munisipyo for the empanada

Bangui windmills

Watch Tower Ruins

Congratulations D-mate doctors!

Day 4: Thanksgiving at Church of Piat, I think. Ate the special pansit ng Tugue for lunch.

thanksgiving at a Church of Piat (?)

almost didn't made it! haha

Thank you D-Mates for the fun-filled adventure all year round.

For all the support and understanding!

For the very good team that I believe we are!

Thank you so much for being my groupmates (though I didn't really know you in med school).

Congratulations, D-mates! 100%!

Now, go and conquer the world! And remember us for referrals! Hehe

More photos in myTuguegarao-Pagudpod Outing Multiply Album

Katipuneros Road Trip

Do you know why I love this trip? Because I missed my friends! To me, this represents old college days with spontaneous urges and things.

Since it was still Tin's break, despite that we were studying for the boards, we were supposed to go to CDO by this time. Unfortunately, most are not allowed because we have to study for the boards, so we opted for an overnight trip in Laguna instead. We have no specific destination in mind, just that we'll go there for a day trip then sleep at Louie's afterwards! (I really like the part with "no destination in mind".)

my first road-trip with my NXO

We went first to this first-class Villa Escudero, thought about checking it out, and if we're going to spend our day trip there. It was nice and very classy, but we saw from the brochure that we don't think the facilities aren't worth PhP 1000, even if it includes lunch. So we went there, had our bathroom break, then went. We were too shy to have our pictures taken in front of the resort! Haha

So we just looked around. We drove around. And we saw some sort of resort. (Sorry, it was kind of a long time ago, so I forgot the name! Haha sometime in June 17-18, 2010) We rented an aircon room with our own bathroom (costs about 400-500/head), where we could leave our things while we explored the resort.

the swimming pool

exploring the cool rivers

gutom na si loi

one of the accommodations in the resort (kasya ba 15 diyan?! grabe!)

inside the aircon cottage, that's good for 4

There was a swimming pool with artificial waterfalls, and several um, natural waterfalls and riverbeds.
Picture-whores that we are, we explored first, took pictures, scheduled what we're doing first! We just had lunch first, some of us wanted to take a nap or have a massage (but the masseuse was out) and we had to get back at around 5pm so we can have dinner in Nuvali.

natural waterfalls

emmersing in the cool river

posing by another river

in the pool with the artificial waterfalls

In Nuvali, we arrived a little before sunset, so more pictures... Then we shopped and walked around... I didn't know the place was a boutique outlet. I wasn't planning on buying anything, but my friends were big fan of Havaianas, and other things. Instead, I bought Mark & Spencer jeans which was a steal, with the only size available in my size! Ha! It must have been meant for me! Hehe

Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna

fooling around with the lights

Then we had dinner in Kanin Club. We ordered Sinigang Rice, Krispy Dinuguan, and some seafood that I forgot hehe It was yummy, and we were all stuffed afterwards! Hehe

Dinner at Kanin Club

menu: pinakbet, lemon chicken, krispy dinuguan, sinigang rice

Then we went to Louie's place in Binan, where we drank some light drinks, and swam in their swimming pool... just like the old times. We slept at around 4 am. I miss the old times! (Parang nasa condo ko lang sa Katipunan during first year.) Just old plain fun without complications!

light drinking

Anyway, when we woke up, we were looking at our yearbooks, and albums of Louie, reminiscing the good old days!

in Louie's pink bedroom with the yearbooks and photo albums

Well, it was fun to go back there for a while. I miss you guys! I don't realize how much I missed my Katipuneros!

More photos Katipuneros Roadtrip Multiply Album