Kwentong Kaladkarin #49: Captivating Coron – The Trip's Travel Tips

Da Where: Coron, Palawan, Philippines

Da When: September 9-12, 2012

Da Who: me and Vin to celebrate our golden monthsary. ;D

They say Coron is the 'cheaper' Palawan experience, comparing it of course to El Nido or worse, Amanpulo. Maybe it depends on who's spending. Haha! I'd rather call it possible than cheap and just like any other trip, the decision lies between 'need-to-have' and 'nice-to-have'.

I, for one, is fine sleeping on a cot or even a tent as long as I can experience a new place. Good thing we didn't have to do that as we were able to snag a room from the often-fully-booked Patrik and Tezz Guesthouse. It's a well-known backpackers' place in Coron and currently Tripadvisor's #1 recommended inn.

PTG's hallway. A good book or your laptop and this would be just perfect. :)

Kwentong Kaladkarin #48: Captivating Coron – Touring the Town Part 2

Da Where: Coron, Palawan, Philippines

Da When: September 9-12, 2012

Da Who: me and Vin to celebrate our golden monthsary. ;D

A ray of sunbeam was tugging at my closed eyelids and I smiled in my half-asleep state. Finally! The gods smiled on us on our last day. We will get to do what we missed on our first day in Coron - completing our town tour.

More than A-OK! :D

Kwentong Kaladkarin #47: Captivating Coron – Beach Bums Away!

Da Where: Coron, Palawan, Philippines

Da When: September 9-12, 2012

Da Who: me and Vin to celebrate our golden monthsary. ;D

I opened my eyes and instantly knew something was wrong. I heard patter on the roof above the hum of the electric fan. I turned slowly and peeked at the curtain-draped, jalousied window and saw gray skies and big, fat raindrops falling.

Noooooo! Today is our 'beach' day in the itinerary! :(

Egzoited! :D

Kwentong Kaladkarin #46: Captivating Coron – Behold, Bikini Bottom!

Da Where: Coron, Palawan, Philippines
Da When: September 9-12, 2012
Da Who: me and Vin to celebrate our golden monthsary. ;D

If I knew how much swimming/floating/paddling this day involved, I would've backed out pronto. But then, I would've regretted it. Big-time.

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

Kwentong Kaladkarin #45: Captivating Coron – Touring the Town Part 1

Da Where: Coron, Palawan, Philippines
Da When: September 9-12, 2012
Da Who: me and Vin to celebrate our golden monthsary. ;D

As I fastened my seat belt inside the ATR-720 (yet again!) plane bringing us to Busuanga, I wiped my clammy hands on my denim shorts and uttered a silent prayer. It's no secret I hate plane rides and though I'm ecstatic to finally see one of my dream destinations, getting on a turbo-prop plane crossing the West Philippine Sea (in your face, China!) is definitely not doing wonders for my aerophobia.

Lovebirds in the air. Pun intended. :D

Kwentong Kaladkarin #40: Davao Delights – Soaking Up the Samal Sunshine

Da Where: Isla Reta Resort, Talicud Island, Island Garden City of Samal
Da When: August 13-14, 2012
Da Who: me and Deej, on our Davao Duo trip

Serenity and the sea

 The past two weeks before this trip, Manila was once again drenched in heavy rains brought along by the southwest monsoon or habagat. Several colleagues even experienced flooded homes and landslides in the northern mountainous areas became news on the nightly programs.

Save for a few minutes of heart-thumping turbulence before landing in Davao, it felt like Deej and I were in a whole different continent. It actually made feel a little guilty to laze around in sunshine while my Facebook news feed filled up with woes of never-ending rain, flood and horrible traffic. I was sending virtual sunshine to friends, hoping that helped a little.

Kwentong Kaladkarin #35: A Night in Not-The-Same Nagsasa Cove

Da Where: Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales
Da When: May 19-20, 2012
Da Who: me, Deej, Jam, Zee, Adam, Leo, Mark, Iggy and Ron
Da Word for Da Day: 'Gullible's Travel!' :D

0330 MNL, Thursday, At Work

Jam: Mel, want to join us on a trip to Zambales this weekend?
Mel: Uhh.. Uhm... Sure! Magkano budget?

In a span of a one-minute conversation, I agreed to go on a weekend adventure without much thought. Kaladkarin talaga. Lol! :D

Saturday late morning after shift found us snoring on a 20-minute cab ride from Eastwood to the Victory Mall terminal in Caloocan. I'm sort of getting to be an expert on this power naps enroute to my weekend destinations after Friday graveyard shifts. Ah, the life of a nocturnal laborer. :D

Hitting the sack and the road. :D

Kwentong Kaladkarin #29: Come South, Cam Sur! – Islands, Islands and more Islands in Caramoan!

Da Where: Caramoan Islands, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Da When: October 20-23, 2011
Da Who: Me and my partner in crusade and crime, Vin! It's his birthday! :)
Da Trivia: Sea travel and a hangover do not really mix well. #triedandtestedfact

They say the Philippines is an archipelago of about 7, 107 islands. In the past, its hard to imagine how one small country can have that many islands. After the island-hopping activities we had for the day, I'm a non-believer no more.

We were here! And no, we're not that tanned. Had to adjust exposure so the sand writing pops out. :)

Kwentong Kaladkarin #23: Bewitching Bohol – Life's a Beach

Da Where: Bohol, Philippines
Da When: July 4, 2011
Da Who: Vin and me! :)
Da Trivia: Cheesy. Mushy. Corny. Old-fashioned. Call it what you may but this trip was to celebrate our 3rd year anniversary together. ;D

Tatlong taong gala ng dalawang tao na makakati ang paa. ;D

I've been dragging my feet to finish my Cebu-Bohol posts. Work has been crazy the past couple of weeks after getting back from our short reprieve. Or maybe I didn't want to let go of the memories of the trip just yet because I feel that hitting Publish Post button would be to say goodbye to some of the best fun I've had this year. :)