My Travelogue to amazing lighthouse edition 3 : Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

I have always loved lighthouses, I found each one to be different and fascinating and my quest to visit more lighthouses started.

The Cape Bolinao Lighthouse at Patar rises 351 feet (107 m) above sea level atop Punta Piedra Point, a towering hill of solid rock which is the sharp point of Cape Bolinao itself. It was built by the Americans in 1903 on a 351 feet (107 m) high promontory at the western part of Cape Bolinao, the lighthouse still sends signals to vessels passing by the area.

The lighthouse provides a panoramic view of a portion of the 1,269 hectare Cape Bolinao Dendro Thermal Ipil-Ipil Plantation on a land area where archaeological excavations have revealed relics from the 14th to the 15th centuries. Filipino, British and American engineers constructed the lighthouse in 1905.

Fast facts that may help you on the trip:

1.Coming from Manila you have to travel to Bolinao, Pangasinan.

2.From Abrac Beach in Patar you can walk to the lighthouse (though the walk is a bit long ).

3.Or, you can get there by getting a tricycle tour in Bolinao.

Chasing Waterfalls Series : Captivating Majayjay Falls

Majayjay Falls is all about cold water, and when i say cold it means the water is like freezing cold.

To get there from Manila, you first have to travel to Sta cruz, Laguna, then another ride going to Majayjay town proper and lastly going to Taytay or Brgy. Gagalot. And, you need to register as well to the Barangay Hall before you can proceed.

Then, you have to hike for another 15 minutes to reach the falls. 

Once the Falls has been seen up close then it's time to go behind the falls. Its so amazing experiencing the crashing of the water to the catch basin. 

We all know how amazing and rewarding a visit to majayjay Falls is, but there are a handful of other gorgeous and jaw-dropping waterfalls in laguna which worth a visit. I hope one day i will be able to visit all of them. 

It's an absolutely soaking good time.

How to get to Majayjay :

From Metro Manila, ride any bus from Buendia or Cubao Stations to Sta. Cruz. Then from Sta. Cruz ride a jeepney to Majayjay. In Majayjay town proper, you need to take another jeepney bound for Gagalot - the jump-off point to Taytay falls.

Bus ride (Cubao - Sta Cruz) - 150.00 PhP
Jeepney ride (Sta Cruz - Majayjay) - 35.00 PhP
Jeepney ride (Majayjay - Taytay) - 16.00 PhP
Registration Fee - 20.00 PhP

Chasing Waterfalls Series : Enchanting Buntot Palos

Like many mountaineers, when I was starting, Buntot Palos Falls was on my MUST DO list. Wayback 2004 i joined a group of mountaineers taking BMC at the "hidden Falls", local people call it “The Hidden Falls" and after 9 years im taking a second look of what this hidden treasure offers.And i must say 2nd time is sweeter. I've been here in Pangil and Pakil several times now and have been collecting a bit of information and photos of some of the best and grandest churches not only in laguna but in the Philippines. I'm staying up the top end of the path, so I'm just writing about this hidden falls and what it offers. Also, the locals are really friendly and laid-back - very warm, and not tourist-jaded.

About a month ago I receive some invites post on FB on where the poster described Buntot Palos as a kind of backpacker haven. So, yes, it does feel like a bit of a backpacker haven in that way (reminded me a little of Famy ). But, the setting is just so beautiful, with the forested area and the falls, that the similarity to Famy ends pretty quickly. Especially up the top,near the falls .. it is so peaceful there - the noise from the falls is like music to my ears, the towering cascade of the waterfalls that i admire once is more beautiful to my eyes the first time i been here. At the catchbasin below the falls the freezing water is inviting so i and jackie quickly took a dip at the flowing water, and all I hear is the falls and the sounds of the water - it's just gorgeous.

Fallsineering 101

The Philippines is blessed with so many waterfalls  but the question is what is the most beautiful waterfalls in the country?

To make it easier, I gathered my TOP 12  list of the Most Beautiful Waterfalls in the Philippines that i been to..

12. Buruwisan , Batya-Batya and Sampaloc falls in MT. Romelo

Been here twice but my last visit is not enticing to my eyes, basura ang sumalubong at nakakalungkot isipin na unti-unti ng nasisira ang natural na ganda ng romelo at ang tinatagong mga talon dito. 

11.  Naambon falls in Mt. daguldol

Na amaze ako sa talon na ito kahit konti na alang ang tubig.. nasubukan kong akyatin ang taas kahit walang lubid.. memroable ang climb na ito at ang talong ito kaya nasa listahan ko.

10. Matabungka falls in Mt. Humarap

Gorgeous. This is how i will describe this Falls. Kahit hindi ganun kalakas ang tubig that time may kakaibang ganda ang talong ito sa mata. Mahinang lagaslas ng tubig , malamig na simoy ng hangin at mga huni ng ibon ay sadyang kabigha-bighani.

9. Bunga Falls in Nagcarlan

Naway ang natural na angking ganda ng Bunga falls ay maalagaan at hin di mapabayaan. Maganda ang talong ito kahit hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong maligo dito. 

8. Batlag and Daranak Falls in Rizal

Ang mga talong naghimok sa aking interes na maglakbay at makarating sa ibat-ibang talon sa bansa.

7. Hinulugang Taktak falls 

Naway maibalik ang ganda ng talong ito, grade 4 ng akoy unang makarating dito , subalit ng magbalik ay basura at bula na lang ang makikita sa ibaba. 

6. Bomod-ok Falls in Sagada

kahit anong lamig ng tubig ay sinuong maranasan lamang ang tubig sa talong ito.

5. Kabigan Falls in Pagudpud

Ang talong aking paulit-ulit na binabalik-balikan at hindi magsasawang balikan.  

4. Tamaraw Falls in Mindoro

naligaw sa mindoro at napadpad sa talong ito.. sulit pa rin ang pagkaligaw dahil sa ganda ng tanawin.

3. Buntot Palos in Laguna 

halos walang pinagbago ang talong ito, patuloy pa rin akong pinapahanga sa angking ganda ng talong ito.

2. Mahayhay Falls in Laguna 

Ang Talong saksi ng pag-ibig.

1.  Tappiya Falls in Batad

nakakapagod puntahan subalit sulit talaga sa mata.. kelan kaya kita mababalikan??

on being solo

I love the beginning of September.The seasons of weather in the philippines change (drastically, i think due to climate change).And, i always felt much more like christmas is on the next day (well,pinoys is known having long christmas celebration). Chrismas songs starts to play on the radio and i'm excited to get a taste of bibingka again. Well, aside from i love September because of Mama, Rochelle, Waki and some close friends birthdays it is also my favorite month for travel. 

I never have people express so many opinions about my travels , especially when I decided to go solo. Aside from hearing,"Oh thats amazing! " or "You're going there alone ? ", as if they questioned my decision of going alone. Which for me is a challenge and that is what i imagined.

Every solo trip i had, i made sure my direction sense is working ( i believe it has improved tremendously). And with the help of some info's from the net i think it redefined my strategy.

There are many questions about my solo travel, and it seems that they also want to try it but i think they are somehow apprehensive or somewhat intimidated. I may give out some insights and my reasons on why SOMETIMES travelling solo is great. I hope this will help you planning your own solo trip.

Traveling alone is an amazing experience but it is also demanding. Most importantly to those who said that "travelling alone is lonely", i beg to disagree, this mentality is not true. So, if you plan to travel solo i suggest you ask yourself first. Why do you want to travel? Are you looking for relaxation, adventure, or you just want to explore. Think about what you want to get out of the travels you plan.  Then, planning a budget is very much needed for solo travel. So i suggest you make sure or you have an idea of what the basic expenses will be during your trip. Solo Travel forces you to meet people, you'll have a chance talking to them, especially locals and really experience another city or province.So best thing you can do is do a research of your chosen destination first, then try to make more effort to learn a few words of their language and take in what the locals are doing.

I hope you enjoy your solo travels as much as i do. Good luck. Happy travelling.

Like always, I can only note my opinions based from my understandings. I am sure there are many of you out there who might not agree with me, and since we are a free country i'm free to give my opinion.

Mt. Maranat with the Tres Lakwatseros

When I visited Licao-Licao in 2010, I only have 1 thing in mind, to finally complete the Balagbag trek.Returning in july 2013 while on my not so good condition is a different story. , I vowed not to leave Licao-Licao without experiencing its supposed sensory-overloading sights, This time im taking the maranat trek instead of the usual Balagbag views.

Taking the time to fully explore Maranat on a dayhike is not enough , I took Maranat with thunderstorm and saw quite a bit, not everything, but enough to make me happy and think of doing a comeback again 1 day... thanks jackie, kenet and ariane (especially for the photos ) for this marvel experience ... see you in the mountain again... off to buntot palos and solo again... this time it will be sweeter...