Sunday, December 13, 2015

Get inked by the living legend, Apo Whang-Od: How to get there

This guide covers a trip to Buscalan via Banaue-Bontoc. (Photos at the bottom)

0900 – Be in Sampaloc: Ohayami Bus Terminal
0700 – Arrive in Banaue
0800 – Get a jeepney to Bontoc, you may ride topload but it would be very cold
1100 – Arrive in Bontoc
1330 – Get to the ONLY trip per day to Buscalan, just ask locals for directions
1400 – Jeepney leaves Bontoc
1600 – Arrive in jump-off, trek to village 
It's up to you on how many nights to stay. You may get a tattoo on Day0 (arrival) or Day1 depending on the crowed of people. I suggest 2 nights. Don't be in a hurry, enjoy the environment and the people in the village.
One of the ways out: Descend to jump-off at 6am or arrive before 8am, take the jeepney to Bontoc that leaves 8 or 9 am.  Once you are in Bontoc, you may have a Sagada or Baguio trip.  

How to get there:

  1. Reserve a Manila-Banaue ticket in Ohayamitrans.com, though it is not mandatory it is advised to do so especially in peak seasons.
  2. The bus terminal is located in Sampaloc. Get there before 09:00 PM to be sure.
  3. Arrive in Banaue, immediately transfer to a jeepey for Bontoc which leaves at 9am
  4. Upon arrival in Bontoc, buy food supplies especially canned goods; Rice is provided in Buscalan along with accomodation. Eat your lunch in Bontoc.
  5. Ask for directions to get to the once-daily jeepney trip to Buscalan, be there before 2pm
  6. Arrive in Buscalan jump-off. At the end of the jeepney route, meet your guide and trek to the village. It will take 30min-1hr depending on your ability to confront a flight of stone stairs. You may contact Charlie as a guide (09981888697). Cellular signal is scarce in Buscalan, he may not reply immediately. Contact him days before your trip.

Expenses
  • Ohayami bus ticket with online reservation – P470; no online reservation – P450
  • Banaue to Bontoc jeepney fare – P150 
  • Bontoc to Buscalan fare TOPLOAD – P100
  • Tattoo – P200 to P2,000 depending on the size
  • Accomodation – P250/person/night, with free coffee and rice for all the time in your stay
  • Food expenses
  • Returntrip expenses (I do not know the schedule as I went to Sagada afterwards)
  • or Sidetrip expenses for wherever you want to go
The photos below are what you are going to see.

Wild sunflowers
Wild sunflowers and a majestic view
Waterfall encounter
Beneath the stars
Get inked

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Follow me on instagram @edlimsanity or search up #edventuresph to see Philippines and its treasures! 

© All photos are taken by me unless stated otherwise. Use or modification of these photos maybe allowed with my permission. Message me on fb/pakinimo (Ed Lim) or DM me on instagram for suggestions/comments/requests/whatever ;)

Camera used:Fujifilm X-Pro1 with XF18mm f2
Photo post-processing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, get your 30-day trial for free! 


Saturday, December 12, 2015

Why Travel Now while You're Young, Broke, and Able

You know what's the difference between travelling now and travelling in your 40's after "earning"?
Money will give you a 5-star hotel, a famous restaurant, a taxi ride or a private van, a complete set of gears, a tour package. In short, money can always buy you a comfort zone.
But by having less of it, you won't miss this opportunity. This photo was taken in a hidden village within the Mountain Province just after our dinner with free local rice and home-brewed coffee amongst good people.

This accommodation was illuminated by the billion stars above the cozy clouds, sitting with new friends who have crossed paths with me, and will, again.
Fujifilm X-Pro1 with 18mm @f/2, 30sec, ISO 1600
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Follow me on instagram @edlimsanity or search up #edventuresph to see Philippines and its treasures! 

© All photos are taken by me unless stated otherwise. Use or modification of these photos maybe allowed with my permission. Message me on fb/pakinimo (Ed Lim) or DM me on instagram for suggestions/comments/requests/whatever ;)

Camera used:Fujifilm X-Pro1 with XF18mm f2
Photo post-processing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, get your 30-day trial for free! 

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

The Beautiful Graveyard: New Beginnings in the Sunken Cemetery, Camiguin

In Brgy. Bonbon of Catarman lies one of the gems of Camiguin Island. During the volcanic birth of Mt. Vulcan that lasted from 1871 to about 1875, some areas in the town of Bonbon subsided, sinking the cemetery of the town to below sea level. 


OTW to the huge landmark of the Sunken Cemetery

You have 3 options:

1. Get a small boat + guide in the entrance for P100.00 per boat or P20/pax for more than 5 people and the guide will paddle your way to the monument across.
2. Snorkelling from the monument: Across the entrance gate is the tourism office. P150.00 rent for a set of diving mask, snornel, fins, & life jacket. You will be paying small additional fees and a guide fee, and the P100.00 boat fee.
3. Snorkel your way to the monument! Pay only the snorket rent and guide fee and you're good to go. You start from the shore :O This might give you the best experience.

We had option 2 due to limited time; we still had places to go to. And surely we would never take option 1; I'm a freediver and always want to explore the world beneath the surface!But before going into the water, we took some time taking pictures in and of the huge cross.


The giant cross, the landmark of the Sunken Cemetery of Camiguin

Time to go! Equip yourself with what you need. 


Getting ready for the snorkelling; No diving unfortunately, the water is not deep enough.

A lot of people come here and just come to the giant cross. What they don't realize is that what they're standing on is not really the Sunken Cemetery, but only the recreation of it, as a landmark that can be seen from a far.But what this beautiful graveyard is hiding is something more than piles of monuments; it has transformed into..


  

..what has been protected for 15 years, a marine sanctuary! The place is so rich in corals that almost no empty patch of sand can be seen. Found beneath the surface are the collection of clams in just this shallow water.. and Nemo!


Snorkelling with clams

the biggest of them

What is lost can always be found!

Further away is what awaits this main expedition. The giant cross was not made for the sake of a landmark, but it was a tribute, a representation, a recreation, of what was here in its time. Behold, the original cross of the famous Sunken Cemetery lying on the shallow sea!


on the way to the original cross

The original cross of the sunken cemetery

Before leaving, we explored the other side and found more beauty of it.


Oops! No picking of flowers!

Going to Camiguin? This is what awaits you! 



Travelling is beautiful, but without a little curiosity there is only so much you're going to miss. Explore, take risks; you don't know what mystery lies behind that rock. It may be life or death. How do you find out? You look at what's behind. It's your call.

Follow me on instagram.com/edlimsanity to see more of the beautiful Philippines! ;) 

Camera used: GoPro Hero 4 SE, no red filter, just post-processing
Photo post-processing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC, get your free trial now!

© All photos are taken by me. Use or modification of these photos are allowed only with my permission. Feel free to contact me just about anything: fb.com/pakinimo (Ed Lim).

Suggestions/comments/questions down below, or PM me on facebook. *I am willing to advertise any product that could aid my future expeditions! x

Monday, November 2, 2015

Chasing waterfalls in Camiguin: Katibawasan Falls, Mambajao

(image taken from Google Maps)
Located in Mambajao, Camiguin is a natural marvel we are about to reveal and you are about to see through our eyes far away. 



We had a short drive from our stay in GV Hotel in Mambajao which is one of the nearest to where we were going. The location of the place you'll be staying wouldn't really matter significantly as, I would say, you will be exploring the entire island! All the attractions can be visited in just 2 to 3 days. What I like about Camiguin is that it is not yet highly developed. 

For transportation, you may rent a van which is ideal for a group. A habal2 for 1 to 4 people, perhaps. I was fortunate that her mom brought their car so we were able to use it to our best convenience. Having your own vehicle has an advantage specifically being able to decide where to stop when you see a nice view just right off the road. 

We arrived in the jump-off point before 12nn (left at 10-11am). We didn't have lunch but I was not hungry for food, but for adventure! The waterfalls is just a short walk from the entrance; no trekking whatsoever.

Camiguin's delicacy "Kiping" for your coins, fragile and delicious!

They were selling this delicacy called "Kiping" which looks like a pure thin crust poured with chocolatey syrup! Most Filipinos might have eaten these already but it is a must-try for those who haven't. 

We paid a small entrance fee and went on to..

The elevated view behind the trees
Walking towards the final point, we heard the sound of shallow waters, dropping in tranquil sounds that soothes your mind and tells you, be ready for what awaits you is your final destination. It was difficult for me to capture a big picture due to the size of this beauty which was standing really tall! 



You look up and see the heavens, the bright light. You experience the painful glare of a white sunny cloudy day. Get your sunglasses and prepare to see it toe to head, the cold dropping leaking paradise...


I took this not-your-average-selfie after going through slippery steps that could have seriously injured me. This point is the closest possible possible that you are able to stand away from the water basin; this is behind and below. 




...boasting 250 feet of natural disaster, you are looking at Katibawasan Falls of the island province of Camiguin. Such beautiful chaos is a must visit in your collection of #ChasingWaterfalls!

Where to next? Exploration is just around the corner. Get your map from the tourism office and start your nonstop adventure. 

Katibawasan Falls
Mambajao, Camiguin Island
Located in Bohol sea, 10km off the coast of northern Mindanao (wikipedia)
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Follow me on instagram @edlimsanity or search up #edventuresph to see Philippines and its treasures! 

© All photos are taken by me unless stated otherwise. Use or modification of these photos maybe allowed with my permission. Message me on fb/pakinimo (Ed Lim) or DM me on instagram for suggestions/comments/requests/whatever ;)

Cameras used: GoPro Hero 4 SE, Fujifilm X-Pro1 with XF18mm f2
Photo post-processing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, get your 30-day trial for free! 

Tags: waterfalls, #chasingwaterfalls, chasing waterfalls, adventure, philippines, camiguin, #whenincamiguin, #camiguin, #ph, ph 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Tinuy-an Falls: Philippines' mini Niagara Falls

Tinuy-an Falls, located in Bislig City, is divided into three levels. Standing at 180 feet (55m) high and 312 feet (95m) wide, level two (2) is definitely jaw-dropping and one of Philippines' best waterfalls to see for yourself.
Behind a tree is a shot of level 2

Coming from Butuan City, we rode a bus to Mangagoy, Surigao del Sur and told the driver to drop us in the corner to Tinuy-an Falls. After a roughly 6-hour trip, we got ourselves a habal-habal motorcycle for P100/pax for our 25-minute ride to the destination.

Inside the bus to Mangagoy at 6am
We prepared ourselves by having lunch in a small karenderya just near the waterfalls. We were also greeted with a cute little girl in the store! 

Small karenderya (restaurant) 
In reality, there is no such thing as a single waterfall in one place. There is just no such thing in nature. The chaos of geographic and climate transformation leads to the magnificence of a waterfall in a chaotic manner that still tells the tale of beauty. 

This is level one:


And from level one, you can see the raging waters dropping from 180 feet above the ground. Go several steps for a better angle and stop, take your time as you stand in awe! 

Tinuy-an Falls level 2: The great drop
We climbed to the top the see the horror of heights. Get yourself a local guide who is just staying near level 2. The guides are temporarily volunteers so there isn't a fixed amount to give them. It's up to you. We gave our guide P100 because my friend took more than an hour having him taking pictures. ^_^

This is the view from the top of level 2.

This is where I was standing when I took the previous photo.
Now this is where it gets exciting.
I climbed down to take a photo in such a way that level 2's drop and level 3 can be seen in one photo. I had to do it. I could not help myself, the urge of adrenaline! 

Do not imitate this. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to serious injuries. This is actually not allowed. In fact, the guide came to get me after I managed to take a few shots.


"Your comfort zone is a beautiful place. But nothing ever grows there." -unknown
Now, rest your beating heart as we prepare to cool down in level 3: the heart of this beauty.
There is no clear path so watch your step. 




Level 3 is a great spot for water massage.
Don't do it at level 2; you will simply be demolished by the mighty waterfall.
Level 3 is the best place to relax; there are no heights to fear falling and the water velocity is just right. Enjoy many spots of level 3 as it is very wide. I took a moment behind the water curtain and listened to the sound of flowing waters. 

Tinuy-an Falls is a naturally engineered marvel of both beauty and devastation mixed with fear and relaxation. Need a different angle? Come see it for yourself! 

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Name: Tinuy-an Falls
Location: Mangagoy, Bislig, Surigao del Sur
Cameras used: Fujifilm X-Pro1 with 18mm f/2, GoPro Hero 4 SE
Photo post-processing: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 

© All photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated. Use or modification of these photos is allowed only with my permission. 
Contact me at fb/pakinimo, ig/edlimsanity, edlim93@gmail.com for questions/suggestions/anything or just hit me at the comments below

Thanks for reading :) SHARE!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Kabang Falls: Lost and Found (with trek to Sirao Peak)

This is the thing with us, travellers and adventurers, – we can't stay home for long! My feet were itching but I did not have enough money to go to south of Cebu. So I decided to go to within-city places to see which is Kabang Falls, which had been ringing on my hears from people around for quite a while already. 

Three days later I'm at the dropoff point with my buddy, Jobelle. I asked a local which way to the falls and he pointed, then we went on. 

I really thought it was a direct clear path with many people along! Oh dear I have never been so wrong. We encountered split trails quite a few times and heard flowing waters to disappointment of going the wrong way. My buddy and I were taking chances and arguing which way to go! 





And then.. finally; a louder sound of flowing waters. Could it be? YES! I saw the waterfall from an elevated trail. We were looking for a way to go down. We realized we've taken the wrong way but it was too late to go around. So we took the muddy, slipper, and quite dangerous slope that no one ever would take. 


Our way down to the waterfalls
Out of the suicide trail appears the magnificence of Kabang Falls! I felt hope, more than fear... adrenaline, more than worry. It was like finding a civilization. There were people, and not just ordinary people, but adventurers wild at heart.


Just outside that suicide trail

Kabang Falls: Level 2

Elevated view of Kabang Falls level 2

Kabang Falls Level 1

View from the top of Kabang Falls Level 1
We met and greeted used-to-be strangers that are now good friends with whom we joined for a stronger force towards Sirao peak. 

The trail was worse but fun. 





It took some time but we were not completely exhausted because of the views nature provided, as always. 





After 2 hours of fun and pain, we reached Brgy. Sirao, stopped for a cold and refreshing drink of Sparkle and few shots of Tanduay, which I do not recommend to do during a trek! 

I've noticed a small circle crowd so I went to check it out. Oh my, one of favorite my childhood games and hobbies – fighting spiders. I asked the guy how much the bet is and he told me, "just a small bunch.." They were gambling and he also added that it gets serious when the other Barangay comes for a battle! 




It was fun meeting additional people in Brgy. Sirao, even for only a short time. That's what travelling is all about. Travelling isn't about places or outdoor adventures. Travelling is about growing and learning indefinitely with different people and culture. 

During the second half of the trek, I went through physical trials as my body isn't used to trekking for long hours; I had cramps on one leg, and then the other, and then both! I could barely walk but I had no choice but to chase the setting sun before darkness closes in. 



A hudred steps or two beyond, we reached relief: a sight of the peak.




When we reached the peak, there were already climbers there wearing a smile. No words. No need for it, we all knew the feeling of exhaustion and hardship. 

We set foot on the flat ground and our eyes on the setting sun! 




The adventure literally destroyed me physically as I am not used to long hours of trekking, especially uphill. But that's not something to be afraid of. It's something up for a challenge! I will be going back, in a better shape and in a better perspective. 




How to go to Kabang Falls


  1. Go to Talamban and dropoff in Sunny Hills
  2. Get a habal-habal ride to the dropoff point of the short trek to the waterfalls
  3. Get yourself a guide, or be lost like us, in a fun way



Necesarry costs


  • Habal-habal ride to dropoff point (Budlaan) - P25 (one way)


* I did not provide any how-to's for Sirao Peak as I cannot remember the trail as it was very confusing and unclear. Maybe next time.