The Traveling Kit

For a poor swimmer like me, the big waves of Dahican, Mati Oriental sound and look furious. Ironically, every time I visit the place, I enjoy the fright. I feel that the tiny voice mocking the weakling in me is the same voice that dares me to stand on a surfboard. In the future. At least once before I die. Skimboarding at sunrise My silent struggle for bravery is why I give the Amihan Surf and Skim Team two thumbs up. It's exciting to see a sharp-eyed skimboarder observing the sea, running towards the perfect wave, and gliding with it as it breaks. It's incredible to watch a pro surfer teaching a newbie how to paddle, stand and balance on a surfboard. Plus, most of them have six-pack abs.  The group shows me... how beautiful our bodies can be,   that water, wind, and man make a great combination, that engaging in a water sport is an effective bait to attract a person and I can never outshine a skimboarder's jump shot. I, fortunately...

Dumaguete Boulevard is a place to visit when you want to ponder on brighter, more positive ways of living life, talk a walk with buddies who have always been two steps behind you, run until you become so thirsty you realize the value of water, sit and think aimlessly, freely and creatively, watch people pass by and live on their own, and kick away the negative energy consuming your body. * Photos taken by Tristelle, my handed-down phone. Brought Iko that time without any SD card. Oh, did I just say I'm forgetful? 

My close friend, Agnes and her hubby, Jun booked a plane ticket for Davao City last March, and she asked me to come up with a three-day Samal itinerary. With my interest in travel management, I agreed provided that we:  explore the island as backpackers spend enough time for every place we visit  sleep in our tents make the trip as economical as possible Since they happily agreed, I did some research, consulted a few people, and used Google maps for the geographical location of the best places in the island. Fortunately, the Samal itinerary below turned out to be just what we wanted. The weather was also on our side, so we could follow the schedule as planned.  Samal Itinerary  I'm sharing our adventurous Samal itinerary with you (with minor edits). Hope you'll get an idea on how to spend your holidays in the island. Time Activity Budget (as of March 2013) Day 1 7:00 - 7:15 p.m. Take the barge from Sasa Wharf, Sasa, Davao City to ...

I've always considered Paradise Island Beach Resort as Samal's most convenient place for a beach outing with family and friends. Until today, I didn't realize it's a marine sanctuary that houses schools of colorful and friendly fish. If you just explore what's behind the bamboo boundary, you will adore what you will see.  We went there to meet a co-teacher from Bohol and practice using our fins. I didn't expect I'd be astonished with these creatures:  Look, Nemo's swimming with them! A couple of hours later, the clown fish enjoyed the company of small orange swimmers. A bunch of black and sergeant major fish dominated the area A few jelly fish, cornetfish, Moorish idol (also known in Hawaii as kihikihi), and sandfish loitered freely, too. A couple of pufferfish went out on a date at the grassy area These little sky blue fish weren't trapped, but they couldn't get through because of the net...

Marex Beach Resort in Barangay Tambo, Babak District, Samal Island has a small area of pebbly, white beach. It’s about 10 minutes away from Babak wharf by habal-habal , a motorcycle used for public transit. When we visited it last March 2013, the road wasn't paved yet, so our driver had to stay away from rocky humps. It’s not the postcard-pretty resort you can ever imagine, but its simplicity attracts laid-back individuals like me. It’s an ideal place for gatherings with family or friends; an affordable pick for folks who want to simply laze around at the beach on a weekend. Here are other reasons why Marex Beach Resort has become a popular destination for Samal guests: 1. It is the get-off point for Samal’s vanishing islet. About 10 minutes away from the resort by boat, you will reach the tourist spot that is only visible during low tide. The resort staff can arrange your ride if you’re planning to visit the island. 2. It is a 250-meter hike away from ...