Pico De Loro

First climb.
As I've said, the firsts will always leave a special mark than the rest.

Well, not just the climb experience that was special but also our moment here together.
We climbed together with my cousins, friends and Tita.
But then, he really made sure we had our own quiet and quality time together.
Just us, the two of us.

And so the adventure begins.

We went to Maragondon, late night for an overnight stay at our friend's house.
We are planning to leave very early the following day so that we can finish early as well.
It was already dark when we came to Maragondon.
And happen to sleep and call it a night since everyone was tired, we came from work prior it.

The next morning, the waking up marathon was a head on battle with Trix, my cousin.
Until finally, we started leaving the house, finding a jeepney going to Pico start point.

We have to pay for the environmental fee of 25.00, and sign at DENR's office for our names.
Upon heading up, the first stop was with a coordinator instructing us on climbing 101.
He taught us to greet everyone we pass by, stop picking plants/flowers along the way, follow the trail and to stop throwing our garbages anywhere.
Also, he let us be aware of the projects they've been initiating in order for the place/trail to be clean and peaceful with nature.

The trail was long, sometimes wide, sometimes shallow.
It has steeps and steps.
The nature has a strong vibe here.
The trail was very helpful.

There were a lot of climbers as well.
Everyone has a smile on their face and greeting everyone despite the sweat and heat.
We had laughter and joy all throughout climbing the trail.
It was indeed a very very fulfilling experience for everyone.

We encountered a lot of highs and lows.
Even unreachable and unthinkable marks were done.
We felt one with nature.
Until finally, after such a long journey, we reach the top!

A very uplifting scenery welcomed us.
It was a peaceful view that screams all the beauty and goodness in it.
It was a very rewarding experience for each one of us.

After savoring the moment, taking a lot of photos, we finally decided to cook something.
We ate canned foods and cooked rice.
After eating my man, finally found a spot, somewhere a little away from the other group.
We lay there under the trees and just enjoy the silence and stillness of the trees.

It was our peaceful moment sharing the happiness of our met goal.

Habit vs Routine

Okay, I was updating for three consecutive weekdays.
I was doing such, because I am in deep wonder on what is happening between us for 2 weeks already.
 Batangas
I was so convince of letting things slip away.
Everything just seems normal.
Laguna
I am sure of this.
I want things fair and square.
Boracay
I was being too nice.
I should be getting back on my feet and throw all the things to bag.
Batangas
What's the point?
What's stopping me?
Sorsogon
Actually, nothing's stopping me.
The is no point here at all.
La Union
No matter how much I reminisce.
No matter how solid things went.
Cavite
I just want to draw something for myself.
A bigger picture on things.
Las Piñas
I will do this professionally.
I can outrun and drown all my feelings to the sink.

Some day I will distinguish that my habit becomes a routine.
Without him.

P.S. Every photo was taken by me, guess I miss hitting the beach and being in the waters.

Detoxifying

Since I owe this blog a lot of writing, here I am again.

Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore trip, December 2014.
From the places above itself, it sure sounds like a loooooot of fun, right?

I really regard his presence of mind during our trips, not just this one.
Simply because, he don't just enjoy things, he makes sure I enjoy the trip more than he does.

So, let's start the adventure, shall we?

It was an early morning flight, I remembered keeping my movements very low and silent at our home so not to wake up my parents.
I told them I'll be in Thailand with some girl friends, when in fact, it's not true. sssshhhh

And as usual, he was already there when I got to the airport, at Terminal 3.
We are suppose to arrive at Thailand airport at 9AM, but when we arrived, we were an hour early.
And so as I've checked my phone's time and the airport's time, I notice an hour difference.
And only then, did I understand that Thailand is an hour early from our country.
The whole time zone difference, I know.

So, the first thing we did, was go down stairs to buy tickets going to the famous garden of Thailand, the Nong Nooch in Pattaya!
While waiting for the bus, we ate at the airport's restaurant where we were introduced to Thailand food.

The trip to the garden was around 3 hours via bus.
The ticket was inclusive of the entrance to the whole garden, plus all of its plays/shows.
Ofcourse, the elephant show was the most remarkable one.
The elephants are very smart here, they can play basketball, they flip their big ears to show happiness and they perform very good as main actors of the show.

They also have plays running all day, which showcasts Thailand's traditions and lifestyles.
Afterwards, we stroll the area, the garden itself.
It was magnificent, how all the arrangements of the plants, herbs and flowers fill the whole place in a very fine way.
They even constructed the famous Stonehenge here, using plants of course.
It also has a huge maze of plants and flowers.
And thankfully, I brought my photographer with me. HAHAHHA

Afterwards, we went to Bangkok to check in for a hotel.
We were even planning to go to the famous night market of clothes.
But he was so tired to go there since we arrived at the hotel at around 10pm already via train and so we called it a night and just sleep on it.

The next day we had breakfast at the nearest convenient store from the hotel.
Then started exploring the nearby places, and happen to found a Buddha temple.
We bought tickets in order for us to tour the whole sacred place.
It was like a museum on its first and second floors but as we reached the top floor, a giant Buddha welcomed us. It was extremely big and a lot of people are praying and looking at it.
It was amazing, how the people back then constructed the whole thing.

Before heading to clothes market, we dine at their sidewalk chains for lunch.
We are really trying to live and eat like a local at any place we newly met.
After that, we rode a tuk-tuk going to the clothes market. The vehicle is like a tricycle here but a little bigger.
The place sure does presented new line of clothing at very cheap and affordable prices.
I really would like to shop all day but we have to catch the train going to Singapore.

The whole train thing is a very memorable one for me.
This would be a first time for the both of us to travel from one country to another via train!
We loaded a lot of junk foods, sandwiches and donuts in our bags before riding the train like it was a big field trip thing.
We were both surprised at Mister Donut here, because it is a lot different from what we are accustomed to in our country,
They are selling the donuts in a J.Co or Krispy Kreme way, like freshly baked donuts with different toppings and fillings.

You know what's fascinating about travelling together?
It's knowing that you jive with him like you want the same things and you get along pretty easily.
You get to know the other person on a different level - his travelling bags, gears, food personality.
It will be a lot easier to travel if the two of you work harmoniously in every decision making, small or big.
And that folks, alone, is what happened to this trip.

I really applaud that we didn't get into a fight, thus we really enjoyed the trip.
It was an adventure we both learned at, leaned on and admire in.
It will always be something we will forever treasure.
And the rest of the trip was history.

Enjoy the pictures!
Thailand pictures - Wat Traimit


Pattaya - Nong Nooch Garden



Malaysia airport - duty free.


Singapore - Gardens by the Bay

First out of town

I think, in my opinion, the first times would always be the most cherished moments of all.

First trip, off to Bagac, Bataan, 2012.
I can say the place and beach were not well developed when we arrived.
The semi-gray sand made the salt water to turn black.
The inn, was beach fronted but the moths invaded the room's lights.
It was a kubo type room but it sure does feels creepy during the night.

And despite every negative thing I found at the place, it still marks the fun and adventure we had in the place as one of my most favorite places we've been.

Here, I saw him.
I saw the goodness in him, inside and out.
I saw his carefree self.
His care and concern were bought to a new and different level.
I saw his manhood in motion.
I felt everything in him in perfect sense.
His laughter and smiles. Everything.
Everything just went perfect.

I guess it was difficult to pinpoint the exact ways and gestures he showed these things to me since I am rewinding the moments and it will seem less different than what really happened back then.

We had an early swim at the beach.
We were even guided by the inn's personnel since the waves are too strong that day.
We were told not to go deeper as a storm is likely to hit the place any sooner.
Swimming together was a first. We enjoyed the beach as much as I thought we would.
He was raised in a beach front house at Aklan province, that's why the place was nostalgic to him.
He runned down those moments when he just stay all day at their beach, swimming and playing with his friends. All day. Did I say all day?
The story seems difficult for me to grasp since I never thought I, myself could stay all day in the waters with all the heat and uncertain depth of it.

We ate at a carinderia near the terminal going back to Manila.
Since Bagac is a province, you can't expect a fast food around the area.
And this is a good thing, since we were planning to do this to every new place we go to.

Beach pics upon arrival.


We also went to the Dambana ng Kagitingin.

Updating..

It's been what?
Three years and so.

I never thought I'd ever stop writing on this page.
This page is suppose to entail all the happy memories.

But a lot came.
And fulfilling my vow of composing my thoughts on the events was difficult.

Also, there are huge times that needs constant attention.
That leads me to came up of more reasons not to write here.

Anyways, today, I will impart something from "us" that really touched me.
This is one of the most special days of the three years and so days.

It was Valentines day, 2014.
I chose this day because the previous year's Valentines day was with a bouquet of orange special roses.
It was indeed quite an effort to wake up early in the morning and go to a place full of people and flowers on this special day.
But then, I am really not a fan of flowers.
As much as the effort is so convincing, he needs to know my stand on flowers.
That I am an environmentalist, and pities what happens to the flowers after the said day.
That I am not fond of bringing a huge piece of thing anywhere I go.
And lastly, that it is just a waste of money.

And so, to stop all the negative thoughts I have on flower giving day.
He gave me bouquet of white chocolate roses.

Yes, he is indeed the brightest romanticist I ever met.
For the love of chocolate and flowers, he came with the idea of combining them both.
Please note that they are white chocolates, from an expensive store.

Secondly, he also gave me a book!
Oh hell yeah, he did!
One of the finest authors of the world, Nicholas Sparks writing a very inspirational and spiritually related novel of A phone call from Heaven.

Lastly and not the least of all, he joined my family and I to our traditional dinner celebrating my parents' wedding anniversary.

It was a first time for me to be doing this.
It was a very unexplain-able  feeling when you have all your loved ones surrounding you on a day of love.
It was magical and beyond any words.
I never thought I'll be on cloud nine.

So overall, materially it was a complete package.
Emotionally and socially 100 percent.
A total of endless happiness and love.

Pictures!