tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801888759133888892024-03-09T03:32:10.230+08:00Ivan Lakwatseroivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.comBlogger339125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-45048826417698643442019-05-30T15:51:00.000+08:002019-05-30T17:17:50.741+08:00Lakwatsero Notes: The First Time Hiker<i>The feeling of doing things you long wished for for the first time, that's priceless! It will only happen once, so cherish every moment.</i><br />
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It was December 28, 2011 when I first tried hiking a mountain. It was in Mt. Daguldol, San Juan, Batangas. I can still remember the excitement as we boarded the bus bound for Batangas. I can still feel the joy as we arrived and registered at the jump-off point of Brgy. Hugom. All the pain and sweat that my body had gone through as we went along the trail, I can still feel it. And the very moment I set foot at the summit of my first mountain, it's one of my most treasured moment, forever in my heart. <br />
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Surely I am forever grateful to the people who got me into hiking. Because of that first hike, a lot of doors opened for new learning, experiences, and opportunities. I met plenty of people, some just went by, a handful made huge impact, and there's one that totally changed me.<br />
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It was about 8 years ago, but everything seemed so fresh, as if it was just yesterday. <i>I will forever treasure that moment!</i><br />
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Follow the story of my first climb: <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2011/12/mt-daguldol-my-first-climb.html" target="_blank">Mt. Daguldul 2011</a><br />
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<br />ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-89263412231073237262018-09-23T12:29:00.000+08:002018-09-23T12:29:02.366+08:00Hiking Goals | Achieving "Pilipinas 1-2-3"The year was 2013. I was only 21... young, spirited, full of passion and carefree. I had a decent job, but earning too little, maybe just enough to fund the daily needs of a corporate slave. But who would have thought? That the young, spirited, passionate and carefree me would be able to complete the so called "Pilipinas 1-2-3".<br>
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For those who are not familiar, "Pilipinas 1-2-3" is the term coined by the Philippine mountaineering community to collectively name the three mountains, highest in each island group in the Philippines. We have Mt. Pulag (2,922 meters above sea level) for Luzon, Mt. Kanlaon (2,435 meters above sea level) for Visayas, and of course, Mt. Apo (2,956 meters above sea level) for Mindanao.<br>
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Given the beauty and prestige in hiking the three mountains, it is very likely for many, especially the budding hikers or mountaineers who look forward to explore all the mountains of the Philippines one day, to really aspire for the summit of Pilipinas 1-2-3. <br>
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So how did I achieve it? I was only 21, earning too little, <i>passion at energy lang 'ata ang puhunan ko</i>.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSS-eywIEr3PMGuCqRQhg_STEtCpEb_XtNL-HnifFzTWnprUct_HBkStnNNazFmN-LjvuKJ0IKec8nV2xI34JH6fWSLhVNurdC9uGzhA1Sjod093lYYSWK7InskZazDars7EYxuxIGphA/s1600/10922685_947189181958415_8428112891625300263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="960" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSS-eywIEr3PMGuCqRQhg_STEtCpEb_XtNL-HnifFzTWnprUct_HBkStnNNazFmN-LjvuKJ0IKec8nV2xI34JH6fWSLhVNurdC9uGzhA1Sjod093lYYSWK7InskZazDars7EYxuxIGphA/s640/10922685_947189181958415_8428112891625300263_n.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">location of Pilipinas 1-2-3 on the map of the Philippines. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2018/09/hiking-goals-achieving-pilipinas-1-2-3.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-57997249865924374882018-08-08T21:35:00.002+08:002018-08-08T22:14:59.963+08:00Making the Most of Being a Full-Time Adventure BloggerAs
you know, being a full-time adventure blogger can be a lot of fun. From
climbing the highest mountains and exploring the lowest caves, to
travelling around the country and making amazing new friends, there are
few more enriching and fun ways to spend time. On top of it all, you get
some amazing opportunities sent your way, being able to make money and
travel for free whilst pursuing your hobbies.<br />
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However
maintaining a blog like this whilst living an incredibly active and
physically demanding lifestyle can be challenging, and it's important to
approach your life with a sense of balance and the right attitude. Here
are some tips on how to make the most of being a full-time adventure
blogger.<br />
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<b>Set Your Routine</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="960" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-P5qoeVJkelP93ADwecX0Bk7rOdNGQE7yu9jHRMpW7Vx1FckG4oMMx0QGepToUzEPGY0LeoMnsgH3L5iecNqmxj7FNoPNFFSmzlxGBDyfhjNFms0COr3f5oBAKaTethTwEdUqv5vvgw/s640/checklist-2077024_960_720.jpg" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Source: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></td></tr>
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When you're blogging your adventures full-time, it's easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you have a lot planned (and a lot of mountains to climb). Although this blog can make the life of a dedicated mountaineer seem pretty carefree and spontaneous, <a href="https://thetravelhack.com/blogging/20-truths-full-time-blogger/" target="_blank">it really is anything but</a>. It's best to break everything down into a proper routine well into advanced, like anyone else with a full-time job would do. Schedule in the right times and dates for your climbs sure, but also remember to schedule in writing time, photo editing time, emailing time and of course, downtime.<br />
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<b>Make the Most of the Freebies</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="960" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4pcYx-WbEtTSKCvkEL7tQL59wpugfM6xRQV_PisRrU2T38ewB84FxfP1nuXGZwK60UdsSRqKFn2OcIjYq7_bXpXeIeF9xKYk2K1Kwqw6HQl6zSZ2ecxqKcAGM_3Q6GNDmZKOE116Kjw/s640/desktop-1985856_960_720.jpg" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Source: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=280188875913388889" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=280188875913388889" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=280188875913388889" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=280188875913388889" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=280188875913388889" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=280188875913388889" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=280188875913388889" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Anyone who has aspired to be a full-time blogger will be well aware of some of the freebies and bonuses you can get if you do it well. Don't be afraid to embrace these as a fun perk of the job, whether it's free climbing products, plane tickets or even snack boxes! In the digital age, most websites offer bonuses to just about anyone, from shopping sites offering free accessories, to <a href="https://www.oddschecker.com/casino-bonus" target="_blank">online casinos offering free spins</a>, so get into the habit of snatching up all the freebies you can! Don't be afraid to reach out to companies and people and see what they can offer you, as you might be pleasantly surprised.<br />
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<b>Learn to Switch Off</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="960" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvTJW8BFfqyQY89sCk0nSD0XgPJ6JEsSGSW202UjxKwYkx_XlGCjyPATxDNWKWxzDJKxCNVg8B5Uj126KGm-SWT6Y7s7yWn-pDa08oNma9SdpSwxm1L84kXOM4xF8ij-oDfomj8Q3wQk/s640/legs-434918_960_720.jpg" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Source: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">Pixabay</a></td></tr>
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The full-time blogger lifestyle can be pretty hectic, but learning to say no as an essential part of the craft. Especially when your content regularly involves physically-demanding treks, you need to make sure you're getting plenty of downtime, as us adventurers don't exactly live on a 9-5 schedule like normal people do. Sometimes you just need to remember to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/mind/how-to-find-your-brains-off-switch/" target="_blank">switch your phone off</a>, lay back and forget about it all for a bit. ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-61604755390797060212018-07-21T15:23:00.003+08:002018-07-21T15:23:48.047+08:00Top Hiking Tips for CouplesDo you know which part of the body is most important for the traveler? It's his legs! After all, our legs bring us to meet new impressions and unforgettable adventures. If we treat them casually, our entire "tourist life" will quickly end. And if you go hiking with your beloved (you can find her here: <a href="https://romancecompass.com/muslim-dating-site/">romancecompass.com</a>), you need to be twice as attentive and tidy. A joint hike is the best time to get closer and get to know each other better. This is a kind of meditation - during the campaign you do not think about anything annoying, but only about the world around. If you have the opportunity to share this magical moment with your loved one, be sure to use it.<br /><br />Today we have prepared a small selection of tips on how to protect your legs during a hike and not spoil the impression of adventure. Use this information as a memo before every hiking campaign!<br /><br />1. Choose the right shoes for the hike. It should be good trekking boots (or even mountain boots) for the appropriate categories of routes: for trekking you can take a softer and lower, even special sneakers, and for mountain hikes you need something more serious.<br /><br />2. When buying shoes in the store try them on the socks in which you will travel. The longer you are in the store, the better it is: you need to walk for at least 5-10 minutes to understand that you really are comfortable with them.<br /><br />Shoes must be worn, especially hard shoes. Let you look silly in the city in trekking boots, especially in summer, but this way you will really save your trip: your feet will get used to new shoes, and the chance to rub the calluses or knock down your legs will be much lower.<br /><br />3. Choose the right socks, and try to walk in them before you start your adventure. In the last route, it was because of my socks that I almost rubbed myself a callus, but I managed to change them in time, and it was just a band-aid. Do not use cotton socks. Special socks for trekking remove moisture from the foot and support the thermal climate inside the boot.<br /><br />4. Use at least two pairs of socks throughout the day, changing them: the legs should remain dry. Wet feet greatly increase the risk of calluses, as the skin of the legs becomes softer.<br /><br />5. Properly lace up the shoes: do not overtighten the laces, squeezing the blood circulation, but do not let the shoes hang on the leg. The boot should fit tightly on the leg. This, first, reduces the friction between the legs and shoes and, as a consequence, the chance to earn corn during the campaign, and secondly, saves your ankle from injury, in case of incorrect placement of the foot. Especially often you start to stumble or tuck your foot at the end of the day, or descend from the top, for example, when fatigue begins to affect your attention.<br /><br />6. Rest your feet. Even at short stops during the passage of the route, remove your shoes and socks, remove the insoles, allow your feet to cool and breathe. Well, at least untie your shoelaces.<br /><br />7. Check the accessories for the shoelaces on the shoe: sometimes it can press on your feet or rub even through the boot material. At home, before the hike, you can bend or adjust the fittings with pliers, if you feel uncomfortable.<br /><br />8. In the first appearance of signs of corn, glue on this place perforated patch, try to replace the sock, insole, if corn appears on the foot or heel, tighten, or, conversely, slightly disperse lacing.<br /><br />9. If the callus continues to grow, use special plasters for calluses: with a soft pillow and a cut under the callus, or plasters "second skin". Personally, I want to recommend Compeed plaster company Johnson & Johnson.<br /><br />10. You can not pierce the corn to avoid infection because a wet callus is, in fact, an open wound.<br /><br />I hope that the information I have shared with you will help you get through the whole route according to the traffic schedule, and you will pay attention only to the delightful nature that will surround you. ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-60851894782807028352017-05-28T15:37:00.001+08:002017-05-28T15:37:27.196+08:00Tanay Adventure | Cave, Waterfalls, and a LighthouseAmid my self-imposed hiatus from hiking mountains (<i>kinailangan ko talaga magpahinga sa pag-akyat matapos ang napaka-habang dayhike sa <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2016/06/mt-pinatubo-via-sapang-uwak-long-way-up.html">Mt. Pinatubo via Sapang Uwak</a></i>), a friend invited me to join their day trip in Tanay, Rizal. She told me they were planning to visit a cave, a waterfall, and a lighthouse, all in one day. <i>Pinag-isipan ko itong mabuti</i>. Then I realized, I am a mere mortal with an adventurous soul, so how can I ever decline such opportunity to go outdoors and be adventurous.<br>
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<u><b>Sunday - April 27, 2014</b></u></div>
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Tucked in the shadows of the Great Sierra Madre is the humble town of Tanay. A place that is home to many outdoor adventure destinations which are fast becoming popular recently, especially in the social media. Among those attractions frequented by visitors are Calinawan Cave, and Daranak-Batlag Falls - happens to be our destinations for the day. <i>Actually, matagal nang kilala ang mga destination na ito, even way before facebook conquered our lives, pero ngayon ko lang sila mapupuntahan</i>.<br>
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So our group of spontaneous travelers, upon the invite of Ms. Dezzy, showed up at our meeting place somewhere in Shaw Boulevard-EDSA Crossing one Sunday morning. The town of Tanay is pretty much accessible from Manila via the public transpo parked at EDSA-Shaw Crossing. There are vans, FX and jeepney, <i>pili lang kung alin ang gusto niyo</i>. But for us, we opted to ride a van (P70) and alighted at Tanay Public Maket.<br>
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Since it was still quite early, we had our breakfast first in a karinderya somewhere at the town center then hailed tricycles to bring our group of 9 to Calinawan Cave, our first destination for the day. And as usual, I was extremely excited.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7481/27503192564_cc00a3a97f_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7481/27503192564_cc00a3a97f_c.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">this way to Calinawan Cave</span></td></tr>
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</div><a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2017/05/tanay-adventure-cave-waterfalls-and.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-13192849069498057192016-06-26T22:45:00.000+08:002016-12-06T09:23:31.461+08:00Mt. Pinatubo via Sapang Uwak | The Long Way Up Because reaching the crater of Mt. Pinatubo via the famous Capas trail is too mainstream, we decided to take the much longer, and more physically demanding route (via Sapang Uwak Trail). <i>Para maiba lang</i>. Who would have thought, this unpopular trail offers not only a brand new experience of Mt. Pinatubo, but also a total different perspective of the crater lake. Up to this date, that view of the Pinatubo lake from the crater rim is one of the best sceneries I ever witnessed in my life. <i>Totoo yan, peks man! </i><br>
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Being a common site for many trail running events, Sapang Uwak trail is actually more popular to trail runners than regular hikers. Its 28-km trail length has long been a challenge to all sorts of adventurers. Usually, hikers would give it one day up to Patag Campsite, spend a night there, continue to the crater the following day and descend the mountain that same day. Giving it a total of 2 days of an adventure.<br>
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But not so very long ago, I participated in an event arranged by Sabit-Sabit
mountaineers, which aims to hike Mt. Pinatubo via
Sapang-uwak trail in just one day. I know, that 50+ kilometer (balikan) in a day sounds a bit absurd, but the fact that a few groups have already done it in the past encourages me to bite this crazy idea. <i>Bahala na si batman</i>.<br>
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<u><b>Sunday - April 6, 2014 </b></u><br>
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A van full of adventurous souls left Manila at around 12 midnight. The catch is, if we want to finish early, we must as well start very early. Organizers of the hike have made the necessary arrangements with the Sapang Uwak Tourism prior to our hike so getting to the jump-off point went pretty smoothly. <i>Meron kasing check point en route to Sapang Uwak Village.</i> <i>No permit would mean illegal entry, thus bawal tumuloy</i>. <br>
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It was 3 in the morning when we arrived at Sapang Uwak Village, and right away we began hiking. Accompanying us were 2 aeta guides from the village. By the way, Sapang Uwak is an aeta village. <br>
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The trail was rather friendly during the first few hours of our hike. It was a long open dirt road with a seemingly never ending series of uphills and downhills. The sun hasn't pierced the dark sky just yet so I was kind of clueless how the environment looked like on the early parts of the trail.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two hours into trekking, the sun finally showed up, revealing the distinct contour of Mt. Arayat.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2016/06/mt-pinatubo-via-sapang-uwak-long-way-up.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-59518393392254005792016-06-04T14:13:00.002+08:002016-06-04T20:53:05.157+08:00Pawikan Conservation Center | Free, turtles, free! To live in a tropical country like the Philippines, especially during the season of summer, is like spending every hour of the day inside an oven. Super hot! And for this very reason, many wishes bum in a beach just to ease that feeling of heat. Luckily, with a coastline of more than 22 thousand miles, the Philippines is just so blessed with plenty and different kinds of beaches (white sand, black sand, grey sand, pebbles, name it, we have it!). <br>
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Oddly, Dawn and I visited a beach in Morong, Bataan last March not for the same reason others go to beach. The deal here are the turtles! Yes, we went to the beach just to see turtles.<br>
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<u><b>Day 1 - March 1, 2014</b></u><br>
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Just so you know, a total of 7 species of marine turtles swim
across oceans in different parts of the world. And from these seven
species, five are found in the Philippines. <i>Ang cool di ba?</i> The 5
species that swim in this beautiful country are the Green Turtle, the
Hawksbill Turtle, the Olive Ridley, the Loggerhead, and lastly and the
biggest of them all, the Leatherback Turtle. Interestingly, the shores of Bataan, particularly along the coastal towns of Bagac and Morong, is a nesting hotspot for 3 of these 5 turtle species.<br>
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The itch to see these gentle creatures gave Dawn and I an idea to spend a weekend in Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan. By the way, to those who aren't familiar, Pawikan Conservation Center is a local initiative whose aim is to conserve and protect the marine turtles or pawikan who found their way to the shores of Bataan. Turtle eggs laid in the area are also under their protection.<br>
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Getting into the conservation ceneter is actually easier than I thought. From Manila, we took a bus to Balanga City. We asked the conductor to drop us anywhere we can take a ride to Morong town. When we arrived at the central terminal of Balanga City, he directed us to the lined up mini bus with "Morong" signboard. What followed was a 1-hour ride on the winding but scenic road to Morong Town. It was almost lunch time when we got in town so we ate first in a karinderya before finally taking a tricycle up to our destination in Brgy. Nagbalayong.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7415/12928768915_9dbd40f238_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7415/12928768915_9dbd40f238_z.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All in all, it took us roughly 6 hours to reach Pawikan Conservation Center from Manila via Balanga route. <i>Sensya na sa tabingi na piktyur, marami ako hawak eh</i>.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2016/06/pawikan-conservation-center-free.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-2930155403279585102016-03-22T16:52:00.001+08:002016-03-22T16:52:08.259+08:00Silanguin Cove | The Prize After A HikeThere's a prize at the end of the trail. There is Silanguin Cove at the end of Cinco Picos. Read the story of our Cinco Picos hike in this link: <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2016/01/mt-cinco-picos-from-mountain-to-sea.html">Mt. Cinco Picos</a>.<br>
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<u><b>Day 1 - February 8, 2014</b></u><br>
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Tired and drained from our hike, we quickly dropped our bags and lie down under a tree upon reaching the grey sand of Silanguin cove. At that moment, we wanted nothing but the comfort of a shaded area, and an ice cold drink, and an aircon room, and a halo-halo, and many more. Lahat na ng bagay na makakapagpa-refresh sa amin ay hindi ko talaga palalampasin. <br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3730/12481028594_873a399d2b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3730/12481028594_873a399d2b_z.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">But it was a secluded beach after all. So no ice cold drinks, no aircon room, and no halo-halo... there's just us, beach trees, and a kubo right there. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2016/03/silanguin-cove-prize-after-hike.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-3462500380325573842016-01-08T22:09:00.002+08:002016-03-21T17:44:11.415+08:00Mt. Cinco Picos | From Mountain to Sea Mountain and sea always make a perfect combination. I've done many hikes in the past, but those that go together with a beach destination, whether an island paradise or a crystalline cove, more often than not, are the most rewarding. A perfect example of this and probably the first to come in mind when talking about mountain-sea combo trip are the mountains of Zambales, particularly the ones located in the coastal towns of San Antonio and Subic.<br>
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A traverse hike of Mt. Cinco Picos (or literally, Five Peaks), in combination with the secluded Silanguin Cove at the end of its trail is among those popular Zambales mountain-sea destination. <br>
<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2016/01/mt-cinco-picos-from-mountain-to-sea.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-13651988141961726352015-11-16T16:45:00.000+08:002015-11-16T17:01:45.987+08:00Mt. Maculot | Changes and Updates 2015It's been a while since I last hiked this "infamous" mountain, it was December of 2013. Back then, guides weren't mandatory, and yeah, the summit was not bald as it is right now. So much has changed in past 1 year and 11 months.<br>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday - November 15, 2015</span></b></u><br>
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I've managed to hike Mt. Maculot several times before, from doing the easy day hike to Rockies to doing a traverse from Grotto. Check out my blogs in the following links:<br>
<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2013/01/mt-maculot-mactrav-from-grotto-to.html">Mt. Maculot Traverse: Grotto to Summit to Rockies 1.</a><br>
<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2013/11/mt-maculot-traversing-once-again.html">Mt. Maculot Traverse: Grotto to Summit to Rockies 2.</a><br>
<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2012/01/mt-maculot-rockies-dayhike-with.html">Mt. Maculot Rockies via Old Trail </a><br>
<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2013/05/mt-maculot-new-trail.html">Mt. Maculot Rockies via New Trail</a>.<br>
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But now that I'm back after almost 2 years not hiking Mt. Maculot, I've noticed changes in the mountain.<br>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/11/mt-maculot-changes-and-updates-2015.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-86712921715538255042015-11-13T11:18:00.002+08:002016-01-15T01:09:51.941+08:00Tech solutions for the modern mountain climber<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Although I think one of the greatest things about going mountain climbing is feeling free and far away from the trappings of modern life, there can definitely more than a few occasions when a little technology can come to the modern mountain climber's aid.<br />
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Whether it be the latest mapping app, an online gaming tool, or even a fun camera gadget, it seems that there's a limitless supply of tech that can help supplement a mountain climber's exploits.<br />
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<b>Navigation tools</b><br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Kompas_Sofia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Kompas_Sofia.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Obviously it's incredibly important for anybody going up into the mountains to know how to navigate with just the bare essentials of a map and a compass. But there is an increasing range of tech solutions that have helped me find the most magnificent vistas too.<br />
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I've found that one of the hardest things to overcome in this regard is the lack of mobile signal in remote locations. Although many of the world's most famous mapping apps such as <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34770966">Google Maps have recently released an offline mode</a>, they aren't best suited to mountaineering.<br />
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This is where apps such as <a href="http://gps.motionx.com/">Motion X</a> step in to use GPS technology to provide an incredible amount of accurate information regardless of what kind of terrain you are climbing.<br />
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<b>Tech for downtime</b><br />
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Of course, mountaineering isn't always about being out on the go. It's also essential to gather a little time to recuperate. If you're lucky enough to find yourself in a mountain cabin with an internet connection, then the <a href="http://blog.luckynuggetcasino.com/games/lucky-nugget-hero-slots/">Lucky Nugget Casino site can provide hours of entertainment</a> playing slots games with a range of attractive bonuses that can all be accessed from a mobile device so that it should liven up even the most intense snowstorm.<br />
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And I've found that it's always good to have lots of entertainment options whilst I'm waiting for my legs to recover from the last hike, which is why the <a href="https://www.sandisk.co.uk/home/mobile-device-storage/connect-wireless-stick">Sandisk Connect Wireless Stick</a> is perfect as it can hold hundreds of movies and TV shows. And more importantly, it can be accessed via Wi-Fi so that anyone can enjoy their chosen media from a mobile device, rather than carrying a bulky laptop up and down a mountain.<br />
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<b>Documenting your adventures</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAKILHuIQbZbe6a48wu0Ly5ie-tFo791CtCJ1AJ1cBrWgcY2OfG6ZBSTzCO0ctC_bXN76ZzanJ-qb7mmLZAQ4WI9YQ-zJkEY1iIYo-L-lKWG7-cYm22qbN_i14LF02lMRFgyOTBmUVZQ/s1600/documenting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAKILHuIQbZbe6a48wu0Ly5ie-tFo791CtCJ1AJ1cBrWgcY2OfG6ZBSTzCO0ctC_bXN76ZzanJ-qb7mmLZAQ4WI9YQ-zJkEY1iIYo-L-lKWG7-cYm22qbN_i14LF02lMRFgyOTBmUVZQ/s400/documenting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm sure I'm not alone loving to share my mountaineering exploits with friends and family when I get back home. And whilst there has been a plethora of gadgets that can take photos and video via a body-mounted camera, few are as instantly usable as the likes of the <a href="https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/action-camera/action-camera/products/tomtom-bandit-action-camera/">TomTom Bandit that can provide pixel-perfect footage</a> that I've even managed to edit on my mobile.<br />
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And finally, I'm always hyper-conscious of making sure that all of my tech is fully charged up. So rather than carrying round an endless supply of power adaptors, I've streamlined the whole operation with the likes of the <a href="http://www.powermod.biz/shop/all-in-one-travel-charger">Power Mod All-in-one Travel Charger</a> that has the bonus feature of being 75% faster than most chargers – and therefore gives me much more time for the mountains!ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-80755321355704797662015-09-23T01:34:00.001+08:002015-09-23T01:44:58.062+08:00Mt. Sicapoo | Catching the Penguin of Ilocos Norte <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't really fully recovered from the jam-packed Ilocos trip we
just had one week ago, and yet, here I am again, aboard a bus bound for
Ilocos Norte.<i> </i>(<i>Kung may spare time kayo, please do check out my blog about our Ilocos trip in this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/03/ilocos-norte-pagudpud-all-day.html">link</a></i>).
But I won't be visiting any touristy beach nor an aged heritage
building, for in this episode of my life, I will be on a mission to
reach the highest peak in Ilocos Region.<br>
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<u><b>Day 1 - January 31, 2014</b></u><br>
<u><b>Gasgas River to Balbalitok Campsite </b></u><br>
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It was still very dark, and everyone seemed still sleeping when we arrived in Laoag City. <i>Masyado pang tahimik</i>. We were to meet with our hired jeepney somewhere there but we can't get through his phone. <i>Tulog pa ata si kuya</i>. So for the meantime, we had breakfast and bought our packed lunch as well in a well-known fast food chain, <i>bilang siya lang naman ang bukas sa mga oras na iyon</i>.<br>
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By 6 o'clock, our jeepney service finally arrived. We're all set and excited. Solsona here we come. <br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Welcome to Solsona. Who would've thought that this humble town in the outskirts of Ilocos Norte is the gateway to Mt. Sicapoo, the highest in the whole of Ilocos Region. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/09/mt-sicapoo-catching-penguin-of-ilocos.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-20254725020550224942015-06-29T19:59:00.004+08:002015-06-29T22:00:30.681+08:00Ilocos Sur | An Accidental Fiesta in Vigan and A Big Big Church in Sta. Maria<br>
On the last leg of our Ilocos Adventure, the two of us found ourselves in the old districts of Vigan. Not only did we see the aged houses of Calle Crisologo, but we also witnessed, accidentally, a fun and colorful local fiesta.<i> Swerte!</i> Aside from that, we also passed by a huge church in the nearby town of Sta Maria.<br>
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<i>This post is the 4th and last part of my Ilocos Blog Series. For the Pagudpud leg of the trip check this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/03/ilocos-norte-pagudpud-all-day.html">link</a>, for Burgos-Bangui leg of the trip click this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/04/ilocos-norte-gems-of-burgos-and-bangui.html">link</a>, and lastly, for the Laoag-Paoay-Batac part of the trip follow this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/06/ilocos-norte-old-stuffs-from-laoag.html">link</a>.</i> <br>
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<u><b>Day 3 - January 22, 2014</b></u><br>
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After three days of going through and around the well known places and not very well known places in Ilocos Norte, we finally came to Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur. Sa wakas, we entered the southern leg of our Ilocos backpacking trip.<br>
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It was past 6 in the evening when we got in the central plaza. There were so many people, loud sounds were being played, and colorful lights illuminate almost every aged structure around the place. It appears that something was going on, and we're totally clueless about it.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/12172949315_cccd5a457c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/12172949315_cccd5a457c_z.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">City Hall of Vigan</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/06/ilocos-sur-accidental-fiesta-in-vigan.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-79391922664147197112015-06-12T00:51:00.001+08:002015-06-29T20:03:06.649+08:00Ilocos Norte | Old Stuffs from Laoag, Paoay and BatacDuring the first two days of our Ilocos trip, we indulged ourselves mostly to nature's wonders. But this time, as we reach the third day of our trip, our country's great and dark past shall be rekindled. Not only natural gems do Ilocos Norte keep within its boundaries, but also rich history that survived the test of time. <br>
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<i>This is the third part of my Ilocos travel series. Follow the wonders of Pagudpud in this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/03/ilocos-norte-pagudpud-all-day.html">link</a>, and the marvels of Bangui and Burgos in this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/04/ilocos-norte-gems-of-burgos-and-bangui.html">link</a>. </i><br>
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<u><b>Day 2 - January 21, 2014</b></u><br>
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After seeing and experiencing so much of Bangui and Burgos (<i>you better check out my blog about our trip in those places, see this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/04/ilocos-norte-gems-of-burgos-and-bangui.html" target="_blank">link</a></i>), we decided to travel south to Laoag, the province's capital city. I've been to this place maybe a couple of times already, in fact my grandma (mother's side) is from this side of the planet, but honestly, I still haven't seen or toured around the place.<br>
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Unlike the bustling Metro Manila, Laoag is still pretty much a laid back city. Not a hint of a hectic life can be observed from the locals. The atmosphere was friendly, and most people would smile, especially to us who obviously look like outsiders. There was no language barrier as well since the people here speak Tagalog fluently. <br>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/06/ilocos-norte-old-stuffs-from-laoag.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-74104180788193106162015-04-19T23:38:00.001+08:002015-05-10T17:57:45.631+08:00Ilocos Norte | Gems of Burgos and BanguiAfter our Pagudpud trippings, we headed south for some more adventures. A day with a waterfall, a rock formation, an old lighthouse and some wind turbines... and of course with her. hehe. Day 2 of our 4-day Ilocos tipid trip coming right up.<br>
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For the first part of our trip, kindly check out this link: <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/03/ilocos-norte-pagudpud-all-day.html" target="_blank">Pagudpud All Day. </a><br>
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<u><b>Day 2 - January 21, 2014</b></u><br>
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We began day 2 of our Ilocos Trip with a morning hayahay walk at Saud beach. It was our last chance to savor the white sand beach of Pagudpud since we're scheduled to leave the place that morning. <i>Buti na lang, ok na ok ang weather nung umagang yun</i>. <br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/12145651794_a9b3623185_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/12145651794_a9b3623185_z.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good morning Pagudpud!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/04/ilocos-norte-gems-of-burgos-and-bangui.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-19534691439971238722015-04-19T19:53:00.001+08:002015-04-20T20:58:00.481+08:00Faro de Cabo BojeadorFaro de Cabo Bojeador, or Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, is the light station built during the Spanish times in the province of Ilocos Norte, specifically on a hill in the town of Burgos. Its purpose is to guide vessels faring through the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) from Babuyan Channel to the busy ports of Luzon's western seaboard, which includes the ports of Manila and Subic.<br>
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The light house of Burgos has an octagonal tower that is 20 meters (66
ft) tall and attached to a brick single-story keeper's house. Its construction was overseen by engineers Magin Pers y Pers (the same guy who worked on several lighthouses in Luzon) and Guillermo Brockman until it was completed in 1892. Since then, the light station has been fully operational for years until it was reduced to a dilapidated state over time. It was only in 2003 that the old structure was refurbished for continuous maritime service and for tourism as well.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/17170295096_48b047fd63_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/17170295096_48b047fd63_z.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ongoing construction of Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. <a href="http://www.accioncultural.es/media/Default%20Files/files/publicaciones/files/catalogo_el_imaginario_colonial.pdf" target="_blank">Photo source</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/04/faro-de-cabo-bojeador.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-61749718953152617762015-04-07T02:10:00.000+08:002015-04-19T23:40:41.181+08:00Tanap-Avis Falls | The Unpopular Waterfall of Ilocos NorteThis waterfall adventure is part of my 2014 Ilocos Birthday Trip. I just decided to create a separate post for this because it deserves one. Click in this link to read our Ilocos Birthday Adventure. <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/04/ilocos-norte-gems-of-burgos-and-bangui.html" target="_blank">Gems of Burgos and Bangui</a>.<br>
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<u><b>Tuesday - January 21, 2014</b></u><br>
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Being the nearest and most accessible of them all, we opted Tanap-Avis Falls from a handful of waterfalls being featured in Burgos town's tourism brochure. I never heard nor saw this destination from any sources so I was only basing my prejudices of this waterfall from the brief description and a nice image found in the brochure.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/12145850885_4be09dbe2b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/12145850885_4be09dbe2b_z.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">yup, we were the only ones visiting the place</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/04/tanap-avis-falls-unpopular-waterfall-of.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-25441882836211340372015-03-22T23:32:00.002+08:002015-04-20T12:14:09.632+08:00Ilocos Norte | Pagudpud All Day<i>The Original Plan</i>. I was hoping that on my 22nd birthday, I will be celebrating it in the province of Batanes, together with the cows, and the hills, and the rock houses, and the Ivatans with their vacul. It's a dream destination so I see no reason not to be so excited. At first, everything just went smoothly—I already got a round trip ticket, an approved full week vacation leave, a well tailored itinerary, and a bunch travel buddies. <i>Naghihintay na lang kami ng travel date namin.</i> But two weeks prior to our trip, I received an email from the airline company saying that our flight is cancelled. F*ck.<br>
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<i>The Plan B</i>. Still recuperating from the cancelled Batanes trip, I turned my eyes to Mt. Guiting Guiting (G2) in Romblon. I told myself, G2 would be the perfect substitute. So I fixed everything. At first, everything went smoothly—I had contacted guides and porter in Romblon, supplies were bought already, and our little team is all geared up and ready. <i>Naghihintay na lang kami ng travel date namin.</i> However again, on the week of our hike, a typhoon entered the vicinity. Consequently, all ferry trips got cancelled. F*ck.<br>
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<i>Plan C</i>. On the 19th of January 2014, as I mourn for the doomed travel plans, my girlfriend suggested an Ilocos backpacking trip instead, just for the two of us. Although it's unplanned, it felt like I was destined to travel to Ilocos with Dawn on my birthday, so I readily agreed. <i>Tatanggi pa ba ako?</i> That very night, we left Manila to begin our spontaneous 4-day journey in the Ilocandia. <i>Woohoo, para sa b-day trip ko 'to!</i><br>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/03/ilocos-norte-pagudpud-all-day.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-16324548362693163622015-01-12T19:06:00.000+08:002018-06-13T21:53:55.440+08:00The Beach that is Puerto GaleraPuerto Galera is one of those super famous beaches we know in the country. As a matter of fact, it is one of the only two beaches I knew (<i>the other one being Boracay</i>) when I was still an innocent child. How pitiful, <i>akala ko dati Boracay at Puerto Galera lang ang beach sa Pilipina</i>s, I was so clueless that we got so much more, even better beaches to choose from. <br>
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Despite being tagged as an overrated beach by many blogs and write
ups online, I actually still want to feel and experience Puerto Galera. And this interest to visit this beach is heightened by the presence of Mt. Malasimbo, the highest and prominent peak in the area. <i>Para sa mga ngayon lang nagawi sa blog ko</i>, there's an intimacy going on between me and the Philippine mountains, so don't be surprised if I would express my fondness to mountains all of a sudden.<br>
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For some reason, it was only January of last year (2014) that I finally decided to see the beach for myself in the hope of climbing Mt. Malasimbo as well. A mountain-beach combo trip has always sounded a very good plan to me.<br>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/01/the-beach-that-is-puerto-galera.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-14553237861600034082015-01-04T22:45:00.001+08:002015-01-05T18:38:27.485+08:00Mt. Purgatory | An Endless Moss and Pine Trail 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is not difficult to fall in love with Mt. Purgatory range, especially that it will let you experience what a Cordillera mountain has to offer. The balance between intense mossy trails, and paths lined with tall pine trees makes it one of the best hiking destinations in the Cordilleras, let alone its trails, which are mostly very manageable. No wonder, there was no second thoughts when I got invited to hike again the Purgatory range. I was too excited, almost one year, I came back to do the exact same thing—a Mangisi Traverse, aka Purgatory Mountain Range traverse via the six peaks. <i></i> </div>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2015/01/mt-purgatory-endless-moss-and-pine.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-48964092489374097252014-12-30T01:11:00.000+08:002014-12-30T01:48:48.173+08:002014 Throwback TravelsSince new year is just around the corner, it's the perfect time again to share a rundown of all the travels and hikes that happened in this outgoing year. That's right! This post will mainly be all about throwback sheez of my travels this 2014. Here it goes...<br>
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<i>Disclaimer: I have been microblogging all my travels and hikes in my facebook page for the past year so yeah. You'll be linked to my FB posts if you click on photo posts below.</i></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2014/12/2014-throwback-travels.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-88682446574554021382014-12-27T20:31:00.001+08:002014-12-27T20:31:28.053+08:00Pag-ahon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sa pagyao ng kahapon, at pagkahimlay ng kaligayahan,</div>
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binubulong sa sarili't lubusang inaasam</div>
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pag-ahon sa kabunduka't paghimbing kasama ng kalikasan. </div>
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Nais nang mapakinggan muli, mga kuliglig at paghuning kagiliw-giliw, </div>
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lagaslas ng batis, at maging pagsipol ng hangin. </div>
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Mga mumunting tinig na kailanma'y 'di magmamaliw.</div>
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Nais ding muli, masilayan ng mga matang nangungulila</div>
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tayog ng punong kahoy, at lawak ng luntian, </div>
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mga banging matatarik at nakalulula. </div>
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Anumang sukal ng kagubata'y buong tapang na tataw'rin, </div>
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kung kapalit nama'y kagandahan, </div>
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at husay ng Kanyang likhain.</div>
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Anumang tayog ng kabunduka'y pilit ding maaabot</div>
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kung kapalit din nama'y tagumpay,</div>
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kaligayahan ang maidudulot.</div>
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At nang makitang lubos ang ganda ni Inang Kalikasan</div>
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Sa sarili'y ibinulong, "bakit pa babalik sa mundong kinagisnan,</div>
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kung dito nama'y nahanap na ang tiyak na kapanatagan?"</div>
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<i>Pag-ahon</i></div>
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<i>-IBC </i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/11420128104_9afd39acf0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/11420128104_9afd39acf0_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Takipsilim sa Bundok Maculot</span></td></tr>
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<br />ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-28034517786322795182014-12-22T01:20:00.004+08:002014-12-22T01:20:52.438+08:00Taal Heritage Town | A Museum of MuseumsBefore I became the free-spirited nature-lover, I was a heritage hunter... <i>or maybe, I still am</i>. Actually, I realized that I still have that side of me when my better half has expressed desire to visit Taal Heritage Town in Batangas. Yup, the old quaint town famous for the balisongs, old houses, and that one big church said to be the biggest in Asia. <i>At tulad pa rin ng dati, excited pa rin akong makakita ng luma!</i><br>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2014/12/taal-heritage-town-museum-of-museums.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-92184340786507256632014-11-29T21:01:00.001+08:002016-07-02T14:03:31.532+08:00Mt. Napulauan | The Mountain of Moss and LimatikOn the day that followed our Benguet-Ifugao border crossing (read in this <a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2014/11/tawangan-tinoc-hungduan-trekking.html">link</a>), our kickass team that includes the likes of Dr. Gideon Lasco and the great Koi Grey hiked up a kickass mountain. Gosh, I still can't believe I hiked with these great people, woohoo! And guess what, with these awesome people, we've accomplished a traverse of Mt. Napulauan in just a single day, instead of the usual 2-day itinerary. Bragging aside, Mt. Napulauan is indeed a kickass mountain,with its dense forest trail, where 80% is moss-covered and has a mystical atmosphere, I probably won't think twice for a second go. <br>
<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2014/11/mt-napulauan-mountain-of-moss-and.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280188875913388889.post-36699330168665796642014-11-23T21:55:00.002+08:002014-11-23T21:55:48.418+08:00Tawangan-Tinoc-Hungduan | Trekking Benguet-Ifugao ConnectionFor the wrap up adventure of 2013, I joined <a href="http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/">PinoyMountaineer</a>'s team in an attempt to complete the Grand Cordillera Trail (GCT), a long and continuous hiking destination comprising a series of foot trails, mountains and villages found at the very spine of the great Cordillera mountain range. Pinoy Mountaineer has already done a couple of segments for this GCT expedition, first is the Ugo-Pulag connection followed by a traverse of Mt. Pulag via Akiki-Tawangan trails. This time, on its third leg, Doc Gideon intends to connect the village of Tawangan in Kabayan, Benguet (<i>where he previously ended his GCT expedition</i>) to Hunduan, Ifugao using only the old, some forgotten, local foot trails. To put simply, the goal of the 3rd leg was to complete a Benguet-Ifugao connection just by foot, whew!<br>
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It was a great year-ender, which also served as my 2nd year anniversary hike (<i>Batang Lakwatsero has been hiking for 2 years already, yey!</i>). <br>
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<a href="http://www.ivanlakwatsero.com/2014/11/tawangan-tinoc-hungduan-trekking.html#more">Continue reading...</a>ivanlakwatserohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614957359991352444noreply@blogger.com0