Nature Trip in Caramoan

September 18 2008
This is the day I’ve been waiting for in the past days. It is the start of short vacation. Badly needed to relax and slow down for while. For I greatly want to get away for while from stress, pressure and work. Still remember when ate Ria asked me to join her and her and Jeanet few days ago to join the trip with her I agreed without thinking twice and the only thing that bothered me is the scheduled and the if of the approval of my trip. That’s why I am really happy when ate Terenz gave the go signal to pay the down payment. I knew I made it. And there I go, check the list and prepared the clothes and other stuff I should bring.

So the three of us headed down south to explore as well as escape the city life. Excited, I left the house early to meet ate Ria and Jeanet at the LRT Edsa Station early evening.

me and ate ria resting

I leave the house earlier so I won’t be late though the bus will depart at 8:30 pm from the station. It’s raining a little as we found our way to the bus terminal and it worried us knowing roads are slippery under such condition and the trip from Manila to Naga will take 8 hours without traffic. But we try to relax just not to spoil the boiling thrill. But due to bad weather, the bus arrived an hour late, 9:30 pm. We left the bus stop almost 10:00 pm.

September 19 2008 Friday
We arrive at Naga Terminal at 6 am, 30 minutes late than the expected arrival time of 5:30 am. We meet our guide there and ride a van from the bus terminal to Tabgon port. The weather is turning good as sun peeps in the sky.

First stop is the Tabgon, 30 minutes bangka ride from Caramoan for the first day activity.

The first activity of the day is the climb to the Shrine of Our Lady of Most Holy Rosary. The climb is tiring but it is worth the try once you arrive at the top. The wind is refreshing and the view is breathtaking. Even on the way to the top, you can appreciate the sceneries.

view along the trail

at the top of the shrine

inside the cave

resting plus a little photo op

heading to the island

crab hiding under the rocks

my little foot

jellyfish

some locals cooking

at the Caramaon Church

inside the church

view from the top of the church

bank in Caramoan

its raining!

at CWC

damn issues

’ve heard this story about my two friend’s conversation where once sees a leaflet advertising a condo unit somewhere in Manila and this guy friend of mine said that the units here are low price compared to his country. How I wish he knows how many Juan try to fit their salary to the family’s need for a month. Numerous needs from food, energy as well as apartment rent; and with the school opening next month, another added expense to be shouldered.

Gas price is now 50$ per liter and still increasing. Costs of foods from vegetables to processed ones are already starting to elevate. Schools are also raising the tuitions by a few percent. Yet the basic wage of the people is still the same. No wonder many peeps are eager to work abroad with the promise of higher income and to escape the cruelty of our economy. There where citizens who falls to the pit of 5-6 offers and/or other promos that offer instant money. See the TV shows behold them for this promise. And there are even few who are willing to sell body parts as well as gain money. That’s how bad our economy is! Going stumpy and depleting as of the rest improve.

Another sad thing is the electricity. Yes we are consuming energy as part of our daily lives and do the best to pay the bill on time just to avoid the line to be cut. But if the bill statement is check, the sum is divided to different sections where charges are shown for this and that, some parts shows higher payment other than consumption that is paid for the company. Worst, there is a part that shows consumers paying the lost electricity generated. WTF! Why should consumers pay for this energy that is not use?! Should it be the company who needs to shoulder this? Or they must check why/where/how/ is this so called “lost electricity” is leading or even used?

Another thing, petroleum companies are planning another increase on their gas. Their reason is that for them to cover the loss from the increase of petroleum and gas over the market. Yep, passing the “burden” to their consumers.. a very good idea. The sad thing though is that when the market price of these products decrease the price stays the same, no changes. Very fair, right?

The irony is, there is news that our economy is improving. Is there really be called economic improvement? Can the citizens really feel this claimed improvement? Or the said claim is just use to cover the irregularities? Look around and see if there is such advance.

am happy

Well, just strolling along the beach gives me a happy sense.

Yeah, I am walking a lot on the stretch while my feet dug a little on the sand but the feeling is so light and contented. Never a distressing thought occur to me; not even the depressing state I used to have visited my mind. And on my walk, all I feel is blissful mood. If there are any disturbances that arise, those are the good memories I have.

It is all fun, no sad thoughts, no pains and hurts. I feel so free and tranquil. Fulfilled.

thoughts

life is blissful. life is stunning.
it is filled with vigor as well as enthusiasm.
and there are so many surprises it will bring you.
so, stay away from negative views and welcome changes.
enjoy life… with passion, love and optimism.
be happy.

my post birthday celebration

t might really be a late celebration but I love being with these pips. So last April 19, after nth date of planning as well as choosing activities, the group finally meets up for the post celebration of my birthday. The group consists of Ate Ria, Ate Rio, Milan, Nick, Nico and me.

We meet at RCBC after Milan and Ate Rio’s shift. We went straight to Rockwell to watch movie. There is a bit of voting which movie to watch since most of us is torn between Street Kings and 88 Minutes. At the end, Keanu’s flick won the voting. The movie ticket we had is for the 5:30 pm schedule though we are there early. To pass time we stroll for a while and eat crepes (damn! I remember our vacation and it make me missing the delicious crepe at St. Michael’s). Then we went back to to the movie place, buy more food to feast on (just popcorn and drinks) and head directly at Cinema 6. The movie last for almost two hours. Yeah, 6 of us watch the movie but on our way, then suddenly Nico asked if Keanu Reeves is a cop on the movie, funny isn’t it? Wonder why? Keanu’s role is a bad cop use turn good cop at the end and is used by a higher position cop for killing some elements rather than putting them on prison. We all laugh at it particularly Ate Ria who is chuckles a lot on it.

Anyway, we then feel hungry after watching the movies so from Makati; we head to Mall of Asia at Pasay for dinner. We feast on seafoods, stuffed squid and buttered shrimp, pork sisig and pansit. We are all so full of the food we order with a nice sound on the background. More chit chats we have and story telling since we rarely have such time to spend together.

Ate Ria, Nick and I is not yet done for the night while Milan and Ate Rio went home and Nico headed back to the office to work. The three of us headed to Greenbelt to watch another crime/drama movie titled 88 Minutes starring Al Pacino (see, we don’t like movies right?J). Hey, we are not in a movie marathon! It’s like just passing time for us. Then we drank coffee after movie and hang out there with more exchanging stories and other usual past time we do together until the wee hours of morning. While we stay there, we meet this cute guy named Tomi who join us on breakfast and share a lot of stories while we eat.

Well, it’s been a long time since me and the rest of the group came out just to relax like this though we meet often at work. And it’s sad that Daze was not able to join us that day because of work (miss you, girl). Hope we can spend more time like this guys. See yah soon and chow!