Caption This Adventure: Featured

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We are imagining Sagada as the place where hanging coffins stacked in the boulders, cool-vibe temperature, hot traditional mountain tea and coffee, and the place where the broken hearts go and shout out loud "walang forever" in the sea of clouds in Kiltepan peak. Well it might be however, there are stories you don't want to miss while visiting the place.

We settled down in Sagada Homestay with a woody character in the interior built by polished pinewood and boasts an overlooking view of the town square and Cordillera mountains. Considerably with an affordable rooms which can house up to five guests, a shared bathrooms with hot shower and a reliable wifi connection.

St. Catherine's Church by @eyesbucks_the_adventurer

Few meters further dwon the road from Sagada Homestay will lead to the town center. Where the municipal building, police station, tourist information center (with a working ATM), market place and the bus and jeepney departure point are located. Also, do not miss ate Remmy's staple sticky-rice "puto" with a twist paired with a hot coffee in a small roadside stall just along the municipal building. She also sell rice wine, wild honey, mountain tea, a bit elusive Sagada's lemon pie which sold out most of the time and Sagada brewed coffee among others.

with Ate Remmy by @eyesbucks_the_adventurer

Sagada's town center by @eyesbucks_the_adventurer

One more thing, do not forget to try their "Binatog" it's a malagkit na mais mixed with brown sugar and condesed milk. While most of the inns and guesthouse has their own cafe's, there are also stand alone cafes which offer good food where you can fuel up from an hours of caving and hiking. Well, some tourists are craving for the home made oatmeal cookies while we were dying to taste the Sagada's lemon pie.

"old and new generation" captured by: @eyesbucks_the_adventurer

One of the most visited tourist attraction in Sagada is their hanging coffins especially in Echo Valley, Hanging Burials. The people in Sagada are called Igorot, which is derived from the word "golot" meaning mountain. Their ancestors practiced the old method of burying the dead. Because they were the only Filipinos who weren't influenced by Spanish invaders, they didn't know the conventional funeral practice for the deceased. Most of the coffins are small for a full grown person because their ancestors placed their dead in a fetal position due to their belief that a person should exit the world with the same manner that he/she entered into.

After preparing the coffin it will be carried to its final resting place and it was believed that the person who smeared with the blood from the deceased will allow to possessed the skills of the deceased. During the ceremony women are not allowed to go beyond the deck of Echo Valley; only men can go near the corpse who will then nail and hang the coffin to the side of the cliff. Although this practice is seldom being used today (with the latest burial of this kind was on 2010) by the Igorot people, it will remain part of their rich culture and tradition as Igorot people.

Echo Valley view deck

Another activity in Sagada that every tourist should not miss to is caving or spelunking. Apart of having the hanging coffins, caves were also the place where their ancestors put the coffins as their resting place. Coffins dated hundred years old (if not thousand) will greet tourists at the entrance of Lumi-ang cave where cave connection activity usually start. It will take couple of hours wandering inside before reaching Sumaging cave and another couple of hours to end. It is interesting that guides know how to make their guest enjoy during spelunking. They have a unique way of telling the story about the different rock formations inside.

Guided with alcohol powered lamps, it was fun knowing how these guides came up with the story about the "king and queen" and probable the entire kingdom was there. Some of these rock formation are pigpen, elephants, pregnant queen, giant footprint, turtle, king's organ, cake, mermaid, the prince, king's curtain, anaconda, fossils, natural painting and the princess - the penis and vagina rocks are here.

Caving in Sagada is absolutely a must-do when visiting the place. Great chambers and stunning rock formations will amaze and test your imagination.

King's curtain at the back.

Be a responsible visitor and respect the place. Do not bring your noise inside the cave if you don't want to disturbed them.

People come up to this look out point called Kiltepan peak and take a photo overlooking the mountain ranges of Cordillera and the beautiful sea of clouds - it pretty much something you've seen in your dreams; the land of Avatar "Ang" the last air bender. This point gets overcrowded during peak season but if you're looking for Instagram likes go there and snap an Instagram worthy pictures.

The food is pretty standard. You can have your meals for 90-120 pesos. Cafes and restuarants can be found at every blocks of the road. A talk of the town food specialty in Sagada is Pinikpikan, it's a local soup from battered chicken actually. We went in Sagada without trying this, yeah we're loser. Drop by in in Pinikpikan Haus for this kind of recipe and please tell me what it taste like.

Okay enough with the battered chicken. Let's head to the picturesque view for our "blagiir pose" aaannnd snnnaaap!!. There!

Sagada once a sleeping small town atop of Mountain Province but now she can hardly rest from the the flock of tourists together with the discriminating and preying eyes of social media. Sagada can offer so much about the mother nature if we know how to take care and respect her.

Share your Sagada moments by linking it below the comment section. Cheers!

Featured Travel

8:47:00 PM

photo by: Madayawwowdagway

Mindanao notoriously subject to different travel warnings from different countries because of the current conflicts and inhuman acts that instill fear to every tourists and travelers which deeply concealed the beauty of Mindanao. As a way of promoting the island, I compiled some of the best travel destinations from different travel bloggers who visited the "Land of Promise"- Mindanao.

1. Lake Sebu

photo by: Windowseat Ph

Settled at 1000-meters above sea level and is sandwiched between Roxas-Matulas and Daguma Mountain Ranges, the municipality of Lake Sebu is unsurprisingly temperate and abundantly vegetated. Springs and rivers from these rolling hills provide continuous water supply to the three important watersheds of the town, namely; Lake Sebu, Lake Lahit, and Lake Seloton. Read more. Blog post by Freedom Wall

2. Asik - Asik Falls

Alamada‘s bizarre Asik-Asik Falls has intrigued travelers across the country which led to a drastic increase in tourism influx since its discovery in 2010. Getting to Asik-Asik Falls requires a challenging habal-habal ride on Brgy. Dado’s uphill roads composed of rock, dirt, and clay. From the jump-off, a trek on a steep concrete staircase, lies between you and the reward of charming curtain falls that will make the uncomfortable journey worth the effort. Amid the difficulty, the waterfalls receives an average of 500 visitors daily which doubles during weekends. Read more. Blog post by Biyaherong Barat

3. White Island, Camiguin

photo by: Adrenaline Romance

Have you ever marveled at the breathtaking beauty of an elegant ring, earring, or pendant? You would probably realize that it’s not the shiny setting or the intricate design that mainly draws your attention to it. It’s the gem, the heart of the ring—be it a ruby, diamond, emerald, or pearl—that makes the jewelry come to life. In the beautiful island of Camiguin, that gem is the idyllic White Island. Read more. Blog post by Adrenaline Romance.

4. Maria Cristina Falls

Also known as the “twin falls” because of a large rock at its brink that seems to split the falls into two, Maria Cristina Falls is truly a marvel of nature. Its water comes from Agus River, the only outlet of an ancient lake (the Great Lake Lanao). The waterfall continues down through the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant operated by the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR). This power plant was commissioned on May 31, 1953 and has provided power to Mindanao to this day. Read more. Blog post by Traveling Morion.

5. Dahilayan Forest Park

photo by: Kim Roel

Dahilayan Forest Park Resort has a refreshing take on adventure, leisure, and nature. Situated in the cool mountains of Bukidnon, surrounded by epic scenery, Dahilayan Forest Park Resort is definitely a go-to place for an all-day casual weekend adventure, a quick getaway from the city, or an exciting family day. Read more. Blog post by Fueled by Caffeine.

6. Enchanted River, Surigao

photo by Angelo the Explorer

Hiding in the rocky mountains of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur, lies a river that is something you've never seen before. A river so enchanted, very little is known about this mysterious river and it's unexplored cave. Yet, it's beauty and crystal clear waters make people from all over the world visit this place. Read more. Blog post by Angelo the Explorer.

7. Golden Mosque in Cotabato

photo by Out of Town Blog

Traveling to and from the Golden Mosque is a bit exciting. To reach the Mosque, we rode an Awang bound jeepney from the City center to Sinsuat Avenue in Barangay Kalangan (near the Husky Terminal) then had a habal-habal ride to the Grand Mosque. Im still not used to riding habal-habal but thanks to the paved road and scenic villages along the way, it helped me forget how scary the habal-habal ride was. Read more. Blog post by Out of Town Blog.

8. White Water Rafting, CDO

The ONLY thing that keeps people from moving forward and achieving their dreams is FEAR. It enslaves us and prevent us from becoming who we really want to be or do whatever we want to do. We fear FAILURE. REJECTION. FALLING DOWN. Being HURT. BROKEN. Being ALONE. We fear DEATH. The list is never-ending that even Science has listed phobias one by one from A to Z. Read more. Blog post by Awanderful Sole.

9. Samal Island

photo by Philippine Get Away

The airfare to Davao is always expensive and it's very rare that you get to catch it in a really low rate, so when I did it's a no-brainer. Another impromptu lucky seat sale booking led us to the paradise of Davao. Read more. Blog post by Monique de Jesus.

10. Asia's Latin City

Located at the tip of Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga City is one of the most progressive cities in Mindanao. It is labelled as “Asia’s Latin City” because of its Spanish-influenced Chavacano dialect – dating back to the Spanish era in the 1600's. Today, Zamboanga City continues to attract travelers who want to experience the city's interesting dialect, Spanish inspired dishes offered in may restaurants, beautiful beaches, and many other historical and natural attractions. Read more. Blog post by Escape Manila.

Undoubtedly, Mindanao is beautiful. It might be off the beaten path, but the high, rugged, faulted mountains; almost isolated volcanic peaks; high rolling plateaus; and broad, level, swampy plains; marvelous seascapes and colorful festivals make it worth the trip.

Visit Mindanao - adventures are waiting to happen.

8:43:00 PM

Malapascua Island is part of the municipality of Daanbantayan situated northeastern cost of Cebu and lies 8 kilometers from Maya port. Malapascua island described by many foreign visitors as the way "boracay looked like before" because of its pristine surroundings and the long stretches of unspoiled coastline.

Getting there:

**From the city take a bus from Nort Bust Terminal bound for Maya-Bagay or Kawit-Maya; a small port in the northern part of Cebu. Bus fare for AC is now 200 pesos while non-AC is 163 pesos

**Bus will leave as early as early as 12:30 am but I recommend you to take the 3:00 am bus. It will take 4-5 hours trip before reaching Maya port.

**Avoid riding a van with no "GT Express" written in the body. These are colorum vans with no proper authority to operate.

**Upon arriving in Maya port, ride a boat for 100 pesos going to Malapascua island. The boat ride usually takes 40 mins. There will be available boat as early as 6:30 am and the last trip will be at 3:00 pm. The boat usually leaves when there are enough people on board.

**When it is low tide, the boat cannot drop tourist on the Logon beach village, tourist needs to transfer to a smaller flat boats for 20 pesos each.

What you should know in Malapascua Island

The locals:

**Locals are dependent on fishing and tourism as a source of livelihood. One I love about the locals is that they do not take advantage on you, they are hospitable and friendly and a very good English speaker.

What to do:

**Diving is popular in the island. Most of the resort in the island offers diving packages and diving shops are lined up in the long stretch of Bounty Beach. Monad Shoal is the number one dive site of Malapascua. I asked one of the fisherman in the island why divers flock in the island because in Monad Shoal, Thresher sharks can be seen regularly although its not guaranteed. And if you're lucky enough you can spot Manta rays and hammerheads too.

**Island tour can be arranged through the resort you are staying. Among the activities during your island tour are: cliff diving, snorkeling, a visit to a Japanese ship wreck site and sunset viewing among others.

**Walk around the island usually takes 3-4 hours. A good way to get along with locals and know some of their stories in life.

**Kalanggaman Island day trip. Negotiate with your resort if you want this trip or you can ask friendly locals if they know someone that can take you there. It will cost you roughly about 800 pesos with one meal/snacks.

**Or simply seat, unwind and relax away from the buzzing city life and feel the island vibes.

photo by Xyzsa of treasuredwanders.blogspot.com

Money:

**The currency is in Philippine peso. No ATM machine in the island. Better bring ample amount of money if you're staying longer. Major credit cards are accepted in some resorts and restaurants.

Where to Eat:

**There are few dining options to choose from. Amihan and Angelina Restaurant located in the southern part of the island. In Bounty Beach, Mabuhay restaurant started the line of good dining options.

photo by Atty. Kris Andales

Best time to go:

**You will find lots of beach lovers flocking to Malapascua during summer season (March-May). If you want to relax, the best time to go is during the low season (June-November) - expect more rains during/between these months. Remember that most of the resorts price will go high during peak season and expect everything will follow.

Accommodation:

**Book the best accommodation in Malapascua from the simple cottages to middle class and high end resort in the island. If your looking for a simple place to stay in, White Sand Bungalows (<-- click this) can accommodate you with the best deal of your money.

Final Note:

**Malapascua Island attracts tourists around the world entirely because of its lovely beaches and world class diving spots. The charm and warm-hospitable locals, white sand and turquoise waters, seafoods and a great view of sunset made this tiny island a paradise to stay. But like any other islands, dynamite and cyanide fishing still a serious treat to the marine ecosystem. Conserve water during your stay. Most of the underground wells are getting dry because of climate change. Be a responsible traveler and tourist. And I would like to borrow the line from Oscar 2016 winner Leonardo de Caprio, "Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It's the most urgent treat facing our entire species.....Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take this planet for granted."

Thank you for the time reading this Malapascua Island 101 post. Enjoy your stay.

Beach Featured Travel Travel Tips and Guide

9:51:00 AM

Mt. Naupa in City of Naga, Cebu became more popular to trekkers and adventure seekers today most probably because of the help of social media; towering at the height of 584 meters above sea level. It can be reached through a motorbike ride from Tungkop Minglanilla (Tinong's bakeshop) for 35 pesos to Cogon Naga chapel.

We reached Cogon Naga Chapel at around 4:00pm and started our ascend going to the top. Some kids offered their service to guide us but we declined. The trail starts at the left side of the chapel; a very straight forward trail I may say.

Just remember to keep right whenever you see this fork along way. After 15mins of walking we reached the small community in the foot of Mt. Naupa. There is a small sari-sari store where you can buy basic goods - Empi light, beer, and sodas too.

keep right

From there we were able to reached the camping site for about 30 mins. Yes it was only a short walk from the chapel - very ideal for beginners or those not used to walk/trek long way. If you want a challenging way, you may take the path via Balirong or Lanas and passes through valleys before reaching Mt. Naupa.

We were amazed by the numbers of campers who were already there settling down before us. The large pack of campers were composed of the members from QBE Cebu Outdoor Club and Qualfon Adventurers who had their camping retreat in Mt. Naupa, joined by Fr. Steban and Sr. Agapia and together with other trekkers and adventure seekers.

We immediately found a spot to put our tents in place just at near end. It was overwhelming seeing campers in one ground - sharing stories and laughters and enjoying the night staring at the sky. That's why I love camping; you can find a better connection.