The Art of Letting Go

Year 2017 started rough but ended on a good note. Today, on International Women's Day, I am reposting the blog I wrote two years ago about letting go and living simpler. A lot has changed for the better since. Just thought it's worthwhile sharing my thoughts about it again.

**** Originally published in June 2016

For the past 6 months, I can say that I have mastered the art of letting go. Just recently, after talking to a friend who had influenced and inspired me in most of the changes I have made in my life beginning of this year, I went through an exercise. When I moved to the US six years ago, I only have two luggage with me. I gave up everything in the Philippines and just brought with me personal items that would fit in those two luggage. It was hard to sort which ones to bring and which ones to give away. But I made it happen. Six years after, I was looking at my closet and realized that I have accumulated so much clothing, shoes, and other items that I have probably just used a couple of times. For those who have been at my place, I've always gotten the same reaction as to how ridiculous the number of shoes I own. No exaggeration, I have clothes enough for me to not repeat the same outfit for a month. I mix and match for sure. I even have a few items that still have the tag on it and some that I have forgotten I even own. Not many people know, but it has a been a struggle for me adjusting financially to my new life. So I thought, I really don't need all of these and maybe I can make some money selling them. I can live my life simpler and only have the things I really need. Aside from the prospect of me making extra bucks from selling some stuff, going through the items and deciding which ones to sell or not was a liberating experience. There were times when I would justify to myself why I needed to keep the item but felt proud when I finally list them in my "sell/give away bucket". I kept repeating to myself, these are just material things. These things made me happy when I got them but they didn't define who I am and what I have become. I can always replace these things when I need to. Just like my hair will grow long again, in a few months, after I cut it short. I was proud that I felt at peace letting go of those material things and move forward.

Today, I got a notification that one of the items I listed on Ebay was purchased. In fact, it was one of the items I was hoping no one would buy so I can keep it (I know, LOL). But even to my surprise, I gladly packed the item, printed the shipping label, and dropped it at a USPS box during my break. Instead of feeling sad letting go of something I treasured for a time, I felt a feeling of fulfillment and joy.

Through the years, I have had to let go of people who's been part of my life, things I have owned, or my comfort zone when I uprooted myself and moved to another place. We are constantly ending chapters in our life and starting a new one. As we get older and gain more experience, it makes it easier for us to let go and move forward. Although in the past, I have probably not given myself enough time to process everything hence finding myself a little lost and confused when I was starting anew. This time though, I feel that I am really embracing the healing process and that I have given time for myself to be emotionally, mentally, and physically ready to tackle my new chapter and move on. Despite some of the challenges and difficult times I am going through, I can still say that I am happy at this stage of my life. I've read a few literature about letting go and one of the most valuable lessons I got from it was that there will be times that I will feel sad because I miss the people I lost and the life I used to live. I learned that it is perfectly okay to be sad and to just let it all out.

After allowing myself to go through the sadness, I would have to go back to focus on the present and start building the life I want to live.

For those who are going through the same situation, I wish you the best of luck. I hope that someday you will find true happiness by loving yourself and not basing your happiness from other people and with how much material things you have in your life. ****

Conquering Mt. Pinatubo (Laharlandia)

Conquer Mt. Pinatubo! by Travel Factor
When: Jan 25, 2009

I was drained and stressed from work and some personal matters the past weeks. So when Tricia (my kaladkaring amiga) mentioned about the trip to Mt. Pinatubo, I signed up with Travel Factor right away.

We met up at McDo El Pueblo at 2AM. It was a big group of 40 people. Our "Pretty Girls plus 1" group was composed of yours truly, Trica, Anielle, Gina, Di and her fiance Emman. We were supposed to leave at 3AM but we had to wait for the others.

The trip was covered by Sports 37 of UnTV cable channel. We got to Capas, Tarlac (our jump-off point) at around 6AM. It was freezing cold when we got out of the bus. I tried to pack light so I only brought a windbreaker which really didn't work. After the registration, we got to our assigned 4x4 vehicle with Manong Marvin behind the wheels. He drove like a crazy race car driver but made sure we had ourselves seen on the Sports 39 camera ...LOL


It was an easy one hour trek to the crater. I would suggest though that you wear your most worn-out (but still comfortable) rubber/trek shoes. No matter how hard you try not to soak your feet in the water there will be one time that you'll get them wet. I had to say goodbye to my ever reliable 6-year old Nike ACG on our way back from the crater. It was painful for me to let go of it as it has been part of all my adventures the past six years. I guess it just goes to show that there really is nothing permanent in this world....opps, wait, I guess it's for another blog..ahahaha.




The view was magnificent. It seemed like I was in the "Lord of the Rings" set. It's a photographer's paradise. I've got to learn to maximize my camera functions next time. We swam a bit and the water was really cold. We had to deal with stiff hair after though. It must be the mineral content of the water.

Kudos to Travel Factor for organizing this trip. Thanks Tricia for the company. I was tired from the day trip and tons of work waited for me the day after but it was all worth it. Will really try to do it again.

click for more photos: http://angelfish5877.multiply.com/photos/album/65/Trip_to_Laharlandia_25_Jan_2009_

For some interesting trips: http://thetravelfactor.multiply.com/

Wild Over Water in Cagayan (repost)

At last, after so many postponements and fickle-mindedness of some of the supposed participants, we finally pushed through with our trip to the province of Cagayan to experience an adventure of a lifetime…..rafting our way through Chico River. But little did we know that we will be getting more than what we have expected. The 10-hour freezing bus ride from Manila to Tuguegarao was worth it. I was sure glad I bugged Anton Carag every so often to accommodate our group. You can’t be assertive enough right?

We departed Manila on January 21 at 8:30 PM, with a 30-minute delay from the original schedule. We took the Executive bus of EMC Bus line in Roosevelt Ave. I would say the bus was surprisingly better than the other provincial-bound air-conditioned buses. It has a wide leg room, seats can be comfortably reclined, adding to that a leg rest. They even have a toilet on board. Everything seemed to be fine until we left the terminal. Geez, it was freezing cold in the bus and we thought we came prepared for it, bringing our jackets and bonnets, but they seem to be not enough. However, all of us were looking forward to this trip and nothing can spoil it for us.

We arrived in Tuguegarao at 6:30 AM. We, together with the other group from Soluziona consisting of 12 nice people, were met by Anton and Argel at the terminal. We then proceeded to Hotel Elina’s as Casa Carag does not have enough rooms to accommodate us. We dropped our bags, got changed, and walked to Casa Carag, which is just a few meters away from the hotel. When we entered the gates, we saw the rafts and other rafting equipment kept at the storage. I was getting more excited seeing all these. We had a hearty breakfast, then we made our way to Pinacanauan River, a 30 minute jeepney-ride from the city. The day’s activity schedule for the two groups was alternately done. While we do kayaking in morning, the Soluziona group will explore the Callao Cave and Sierra Cave and vise versa.

We took a wooden boat to the campsite along the riverbank. The view was just spectacular. We can’t help but be in awe as we cruise Pinacanauan River. We felt so lucky to have seen this part of the Philippines that most of us take for granted. The mountains of limestone served as a backdrop to the clear water of the river. As we head towards the campsite, we passed by an area where water falls from the mountain through the hanging vines and into the river. As newcomers, the boatman felt we needed some kind of an initiation. The boatman intentionally passed under the mini falls and we got an early cold shower.

We arrived at the campsite around 9:00 AM. We relaxed a bit while we wait for them to set-up the site. A bit later, Anton gave us the basic kayaking clinic. We were taught the different types of paddling, the differences of kayaks, the varied types of rapids, safety measures, and how to fully enjoy the experience. After making sure that we understood everything, well, okay almost everything, we rode the wooden boat to take us upriver. As we headed to the jump-off point, Anton gave us techniques on our approach to the rapids as we passed them. The rapids we encountered were Class 1 to Class 2+ max.

After a 30-minute boat ride up of Pinacanauan, we finally reached the jump-off point. We chose our kayak and paddle and positioned ourselves into it. We took advantage of the 50-meter calm waters to practice our paddling strokes. Here goes the first rapid, we are 20 meters away from it, I thought I was going to fall off from the kayak. But, and I proudly say, I got through it smoothly. Was it because of my rowing exposure? Well, what mattered was that we all got through it except for Bryan who fell off from the kayak. There must be a greater pull of gravity on his abdominal area…LOL. We passed through a number of rapids and they were quite challenging for a Class 1 to Class 2 rapids. One winning moment of the activity was when Chechu passed through this tree branch with mosquitoes, disturbing them from their sleep, and went straight to another tree branch on the side of the river and got stuck there. We thought that was funny until Bryan outdid her. Just as we were about to reach the campsite, we were asked by Anton to be as far away from each other as we passed through the last rapid for the photo op. It was after this rapid that Bryan fell off his kayak again and appeared to be chasing his kayak until he was caught by the safety kayak guide and brought him to the riverbank. It was a refreshing experience for everyone. As the other group arrived from their spelunking adventure, we had our lunch with a menu consisting of barbequed chicken, grilled pork and squid, and pinakbet (a local vegetable dish).

Shortly after lunch, it was our turn to explore the caves. We took the boat to go to the entry points of the caves. We registered and headed to the Callao Cave. Argel was now our guide. We had to take 180 steps up to get to the Callao Cave entrance. The cave was not really amazing given the condition of the inside brought about by the abuse of its visitors. It was just a 30 minute walk-through then we went down the steps and made our way to the Sierra Cave. Unlike the Callao Cave, the Sierra Cave is protected and guarded by DENR, and monitored by Anton’s group. To get to the entrance, we had to hike a trail covered with trees and loose soil. When we got to the entrance, it was really dark. Flashlights are really a must for this cave. Inside Sierra Cave are stalactites that are alive, a trail of mud in most areas, and a number of cave spiders. Another objective of exploring this cave was to be able to get through Celica’s Pass. Celica’s Pass is approximately a 20 meter passageway that is 1 ½ high and 2 feet wide. How on earth can we get through that? That was the challenge. Hya and Mac entered it first while we wait at the passageway’s mouth. We can hear Hya, the loud mouth that she is, giving instructions to Macky as they go through it. According to Argel, once we see the coins, we should head back. Normal time inside the passageway is 10 minutes. I felt the thin air inside the cave while we were waiting for Hya and Macky to come out, so I just couldn’t imagine how scarce the oxygen will be inside Celica’s pass. Hya and Macky finally got out but Macky was sweating a lot. It was BQ and my turn to enter. BQ got in first doing a snake-like motion to move through the passage while I was on an all four position behind him. We were doing okay until we reached this point where there was little room for our body to crawl. BQ worked his way through the slim opening gassing off in the process. Geez, a small amount of oxygen in addition to BQ’s gas……(I got through it by the way, the reason why I was able to write this one). I slid through the small gap and tried to motivate myself that I can do it. And so I did! Just a few more feet from there were the coins. We then headed back. It was Bryan and Chechu’s turn. We could hardly hear them from outside so we started wondering if they were able to get through, after a few minutes, we can hear their voices echoing and we cheered for them. Bryan was so proud and so was Chechu although Bryan buried some of the coins when he accidentally kneeled on it.

We went back to the campsite and took a much needed dip in the river. The water was cold but we didn’t mind, nothing can beat a nice dip in the water after a tiring but exciting day. But the adventure did not stop there. We packed our things and made our way to another area along the river where we will be watching the circadian flight of the bats. It was around 5:15 PM when we got to the area. We were waiting on the boat for more than 10 minutes and even made a joke that the boatmen are getting ready to don their batman suits as it seemed that the bats were not in the mood to be seen today. We waited patiently and kept our eyes on the hole on the limestone mountain on top of the river. Until suddenly, a throng of bats flew out from the hole, maybe thousands of them, and headed towards the trees to get their food. More bats followed continuously flying out of the hole for about 55 seconds and it was just AMAZING.

We took a quick shower at the hotel, had some rest and made our way to Anton’s place. Wine and cheese were on the table waiting for us. What a way to end an exciting day. We also had a chance to get to know the other group’s members better. As much as we wanted to stay longer after dinner, we seem to have drained our energy and were ready to hit the sack at 9:30 PM. That was definitely not so us but we have to get energized for the white water rafting the next day.

Wake up call was at 5 AM, breakfast at 5:30 AM, and we were ready to depart by 6:15 AM. It was a 2-hour jeepney ride from Tugeugarao to Tabuk. The morning breeze was cold but could not help but be amazed with the magnificent view of the plains and hills along the way. The mountain of Cordillera was also a sight to behold. After one restroom break and a lot of zig-zagging on the mountain, we reached the jumped-off point in Pasil River. We took with us only those that are essential and left our things on the jeep. The jeep will leave us there and meet us at the end of the river run. As usual, we took photos of ourselves and the view, and started to get our safety equipment like our vests and helmets. Anton gave us the basic rafting clinic discussing to us the varied paddling strokes, commands, right positions, responses to possible circumstances during the activity, rescue techniques, and safety measures. Then we were asked to group ourselves into five. As the rafts can only accommodate five persons plus two guides. So we decided to split our group based on gender. All the three girls in one group while the three boys on the other. We had on our boat Raddo and Tonio from Soluziona, while the boy’s group had to use the smaller raft, as they say the Ferrari among the rafts, and had Anton and another guide with them. There were a total of four rafts and two safety kayak guides. The kayak guides also served as the photographers as the rafts passed through the rapids. We were informed to expect a Class 3 to 4 rapids.

We were all set, Raddo and Tonio on the front row, being the heaviest, Chechu and I on the second, and Hya on the third, then our guides, BJ and Art (Temyong) at the back to maneuver the direction of the boat. We reviewed some of the commands and paddle strokes then we were off to the first rapids. The boys’ group was the first boat, our raft, then the next rafts were of the Soluziona group.

It was important that we listened to the commands of our boat guide whenever we pass a rapid to avoid flipping over from the raft or capsizing it. We were only on our second rapids when we saw the first boat pulling Bryan from the water. Our group really broke into laughter when we saw that. After two rapids, we passed by the Pasil River-Chico River Confluence. It was pure adrenaline-rush all throughout the way. We would make some stops to watch the other groups get through the rapids. And whenever our group got through one, we would have these high-fives of our paddles. Most of the rapids we got through on the first half were challenging. After almost 1 ½ in the water, we took a break and parked our rafts along the riverbank with two small waterfalls. We sure had a fun time talking about Bryan’s misadventure.

After a 40-minute break, we were back in the water again. As we would expect calmer rapids on the next few stretch, Raddo and Hya were allowed to take the kayak. After a few rapids more, there was a swimmers area when you get off from the raft and allow the current to take you downstream in a speed of 20 to 30 kph. I tell you, it was one hell of an experience. Then, after that stretch, we were requested to get back on our respective rafts, Hya and Raddo returned the kayaks to the professionals as the next three rapids were difficult and challenging. And so it was true indeed. There are holes in the water and these holes have the capacity to take you under and drown you eventually if you panic. These holes make a “washing machine” effect on the water. The lead boat came first, that was the boys’ group. Just as they were getting through the rapids, their raft was engulfed by the strong current. BQ fell from the boat and did not surface for awhile. He got caught in a hole, the worst that could happen, but thanks to his water skills. He did not panic and he said his vest saved him. He just curled himself, as previously instructed, and let the water take him up. When he surfaced, he was taken by the current and was taken from the water a few meters from the rapids. We thought that will be it, the next rapids was a little calmer than the previous one but has so many protruding boulders that made maneuvering harder. This was where Hya fell from the boat as she tried to adjust her footing but was caught off-guard when we hit a boulder. BJ, our boat guide was able to pull her out from the water immediately. We were on our last two rapids and had probably burnt all our energy but we crave for more. We can’t seem to get enough of it.

Our jeepneys were waiting at the riverbank when we arrived from the 4-hour river run. We headed for a late lunch at a kitchenette along the boundary of Tabuk. It was another hour ride back to Tuguegarao. We were dropped-off at our hotel. We started to pack our things as we will be taking the 8 PM trip to Manila that same night. We had a sumptuous dinner at Anton’s and all of us felt like staying another day. The bus left on time and we arrived in Manila at 5:15 AM on January 24. This gave us enough time to go home and get ready to go to work…..sniff.

It was an experience of a lifetime I can never trade for something else. Anton and his well-trained staff made the experience fun, adventurous, and safe for us. The equipments were also well-maintained and have passed international standards. Again, we learned new things along the way and gained new friends.

The Philippines is filled with so many wonders and I hope that other fellow Filipinos and our foreign friends take time to enjoy them. We should not be afraid to have a taste of what life has to offer. Make the most out of it. LIVE LIFE!


Ging Masinda
26 January 2005

for more photos: http://sports.webshots.com/album/260228255TFPzpJ

WOW Donsol

The idea of doing another trip to Donsol came out in January this year. I have done it twice already in the past and have had several whaleshark encounters, as well as manta sightings in Ticao, but what makes me want to go back. I guess, I just find it amazing to see the gentle giants of the sea gracefully cruising the waters of Donsol where planktons are abundant. Swimming with them is overwhelming. Though it takes a certain level of comfort in the water for the participant to really maximize the encounter. I wanted to share that experience with other people and help them understand the importance of being responsible to protect these creatures from near extinction.

I sent the email in January and got a good number of responses from people who’s interested to join. Then came March, additional people confirmed and PGMA declared a holiday on the Monday of the weekend we chose. It then became a challenge to me how to book 28 people given the limited number of resorts in Donsol. Getting the bus tickets was also a challenge as I originally reserved for 20 pax only. I had to divide the group into two to accommodate the others. After a 101 phone calls and email messages, all were set for the trip (and so I thought). Resorts had been booked, itinerary was confirmed, meals had been pre-arranged, bus tickets were purchased, and travel tips and reminders were sent out.


Our group took the buses of Cagsawa Travel and Tours. One group went to its Cubao Terminal while the rest of the group, including me, were picked up from its Ermita office. The Ermita group left at 715PM, 15 minutes delayed from the original schedule due to some complaints from the passengers. We were supposed to take the Royale Elite line but was given the business class instead. The Cagsawa staff explained that the Royal Elite line schedule for Ermita broke down and didn’t make it to Manila. After heaving sighs of frustrations, I resigned to the fact that we were really taking the business class bus. After 11 hours of land travel, we finally arrived in Legazpi. The vans I hired were waiting for us at the Satellite bus terminal. The other group from Cubao, missed their stop so they had to be picked up by the van from where they got off.

It was a winding and scenic one hour and a half ride from Legazpi to Donsol. We arrived ar Amor Resort at 8:30AM. The courteous and accommodating staff of Amor Farm Resort were there to welcome us. Agnes made sure that breakfast was ready when we got there. Agnes also helped us with the registration for the whaleshark encounter. Due to the volume of visitors for the whaleshark encounter, we had to wait for the Butanding Interaction Officers (BIOs) to return from a previous encounter trip. Visitors are not allowed to do the whaleshark encounter without a BIO on board. Our group alone occupied 4 boats. We started at 11 AM already and I was not really expecting to see as much as it was already late. Whalesharks thrive in the morning. Our boat had 2 whaleshark encounters while the rest had 5 and 6. Two years ago, I had 16 sightings. But it’s okay, though we only saw two, it was really up close and got to swim with them as well. We went back to the resort to have lunch and the rest of the group checked-in at Harong ni Lola Erna’ and Lopez Castillo Traveller’s Inn.

After the tiring 11-hour bus trip and whaleshark encounter in the morning, I finally had my much needed shower. The group met up again at 6PM to do the firefly watching along Donsol River. The river was dark and our boat was only guided by a tiny flashlight. It was enjoyable to see the fireflies light up the trees. My friend, Mythel, was awed like a child to see so many stars in the sky. You rarely see them in Manila because of the smug and lights in the city.

The next day, one group decided to do the whaleshark encounter again, another group did the boat trip to San Miguel Island for snorkeling, and the rest did the Manta Bowl dive in Ticao. The second timers for the whaleshark encounter were luckier and had several sightings. Our group who went to San Miguel Island enjoyed snorkeling. San Miguel, located in Masbate off Ticao, has a lot to offer its visitors. We took a side trip to the falls at the side of the limestone cliff. On our way there, we passed by the bird sanctuary where herons nest on trees. I felt guilty disturbing the birds in their sanctuary when the boatmen lighted some 5-star firecrackers to create a noise forcing the birds to come out of their nests. After the trip to the falls, we intended to have our lunch on the white sand island but when we got there, there were many locals having their picnic their. Manong said that it’s a usual Sunday practice of the locals there. So we ended up eating our lunch o the boat and did some snorkeling as well.

As much as we wanted to stay longer, we have a 645PM bus trip to catch at Legazpi City. We left the island at 1:45PM hoping to be back by 330PM. But the waves going back were bigger and our boat could not go faster. It was like riding the Jungle Log Jam going back. Water kept splashing at us and the boatmen were forced to remove the tarpaulin roof to prevent the wind from capsizing our boat. After the thrilling boat ride, we were back at the resort by 4PM. Took a quick shower and settled our payables. I was worried that the divers has not come back yet but decided to let the non-divers group leave for Legazpi already. The van ride to Legazpi city reminded me of Amazing Race as we were not sure if we were going to make it on time. Fortunately we made it to the station just before the bus was about to leave. I begged profusely to the driver to allow the divers group to be picked-up at the Banyag point. The driver agreed only to find out that the tickets of the divers were left at Donsol. We had to purchase new tickets for them but we were assured that the tickest we purchased in Manila may be refunded.

This Donsol was packed with a lot of adventures and (mis)adventures. I have never been tired from a trip but it sure was a lot of fun. Wouldn’t mind doing it again and again. I’ll probably just have to fine tune the schedule next time. It is advisable to do it on a weekday to avoid the volume of tourists. This will guarantee more sightings as the whalesharks will not be stressed by the number of people who keeps jumping in and out of the water just to see them.

It was great spending the weekend with my sister, friends, and the person I cared about the most, James. I also met new friends whom I am hoping to see again.

Amor Farm Resort (Agnes): (0917) 6941687
Rico Calleja (dive shop operator): (0918) 9252996
Edwin Ala (van for hire): (0918) 7293699
Cagsawa Travel and Tours: 5248704

Je t'aime Paris

Paris, France has always been one of my "must-visit" places. Aside from the many sights I would see, it will also be an opportunity for me to practice French. So when James asked me to tag along with him when he goes there for business, I really got excited. Then came the visa application. As I recently resigned from my work at the Embassy, getting my Schengen pass was a challenge. I initially got refused but got a reconsideration a few hours before our departure on October 29, Monday. Whew! You could just imagine the anxiety I felt during the weekend while waiting for the office to open on Monday morning. Everything was so positive that morning. I even had a chat with Ms. Pilita Corales (yes, the Ms. Pilita Corales) at the waiting room of the French Embassy. I felt more than happy when I got my visa.

When I got into the plane, it finally sunk into me. My dream trip to Paris became a reality. Allow me to walk you through the 5 days I spent in Paris with James and his associates. These were as much as we can do during our stay as the boys got some work to do.

Day 1 October 30, 2007

6:10AM (local time): The group arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport via Cathay Pacific. It was a 12-hour flight from Hong Kong. We encountered slight delays with the random questioning from some French Immigration staff. The CDG airport was not that big and organized as the one in Hongkong.

We were picked-up by Antoine, our host company's representative. Antoine is a Vietnamese who migrated to France with his family several years ago. When the group got out of the airport, it became clearer to us that we were actually in Paris already. The temperature was at 6 degrees. We got into the van provided by the hotel and got a taste of French driving. Who said that Filipinos are not disciplined drivers? We were amazed as how our driver suddenly swerved from the 4th lane when he almost missed an exit.

After a 16-hour trip from Manila, we can't wait to freshen up. Unfortunately, we had to wait for another 4 hours before we could check-in. Some of us strolled along the neighborhood while waiting. It's interesting to see how the locals live their life. Working parents bring their children to school before going to work while we have school buses in the Philippines. They also walk in a faster pace appearing to be always in a rush to get so many things done in one day.



After the much-awaited shower and late lunch, we had our money changed to euros. The group decided to go to Pantheon. We took the metro going there. The French metro system appears complicated with the many loops and transfers, but once you get the hang of it, taking the metro is the easiest way to move around.

Pantheon: The crypt of Pantheon, which occupies the highest point on the Left Bank, houses the tombs of Louis Braill, Victor Hugo, Jean Jaures, Jea-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, ad Emile Zola. The building's other attraction is Foucault's Pendulum, which proves the rotation of the earth.

We had dinner at Chinatown then some of us proceeded to Eiffel Tower. It was amazing to see the Eiffel Tower with its many lights. It was a romantic sight to see. We got there at 915PM and the last trip going up is 9PM. I don't think we would want to go up still with the cold wind catching up on us.

Day 2 October 31

The boys went to do the plant visit and attend a series of meetings while the girls went to Cathedrale De Notre Dame De Paris. The 12th to 14th century cathedral is one of the world's most famous and beautiful examples of medieval architecture. The miniature version of the cathedral in wood carving placed inside a glass case in the cathedral is amazing. The cathedral grounds is also a sanctuary for pigeons. Amariz and I enjoyed feeding them with bread and kernels with the help of an old French guy who seems to be a regular of the cathedral grounds. We had some drinks at one of the cafes and went shopping for trinkets and hats at the shops surrounding the cathedral. Across the Cathedral grounds is a quaint street where more souvenir shops and cafes thrive. We had a 4.50 euro worth gyro from Maison de Gyros.




We then proceeded to Champs Elysees where most of the designer shops are located. The Arc De Triomphe at the end of the long street added a distinctive look for Champs Elysees distinguishing it from the others. Napoleon commissioned the Arc to honor his Grand Armee.

In the evening, we were treated by our host to a sumptuous dinner at the 54th floor of the La Fayette Tower where we had a good view of the Eiffel Tower.

Day 3 Nov 1

Like most countries in the world, November 1 is a holiday in France. There were a lot of tourist and locals in the city so we decided to go to Euro Disney. To go there, we had to take the metro and the RER to Marne-la-Valee-Cheesey. Total travel time to get there was almost an hour by train. We didn’t know that we should purchase a different ticket for the RER, so when we got there, we could not exit using our cards. Filipinos are known to be resourceful so we found a way to get out without the required tickets. Our three companions who followed were fined 24 euros each for not purchasing the right tickets.




It was my first trip to Disneyland and I hate to admit but it was by far one of the most enjoyable things I did in Paris. I have always wanted to go to Disneyland when I was a kid. When most of my classmates spoke about their trip to Disneyland at the start of classes after summer vacation in grade school, I settled to listening to their stories. Mickey Mouse and the rest of the gang were characters I only see on TV at that time.

It must be the child in me that made me teary eyed as I watched the “Once Upon a Dream” grand parade. The whole place exuded a happy and childlike aura. It seems to me that all my problems drifted away as I entered the park. Very superficial as it may appear, but that trip to Disneyland reminded me that dreams do come true and that it’s a small world after all.


Day 4 Nov 2





Our day started early and we were brought by our host to Versailles by bus. Louis XIV, the Sun King, built and held the court at Versailles’ extraordinary palace. The chateau embodies the extravagance of the Old Regime. The place is filled with grandeur. We took the mini train to see the vast palace garden but due to time constraints we were not able to explore the garden more. It was interesting to know that the petit trianon was given by King Louis VI to Marie Antoinette in these terms: “Since you love flowers I am offering you a bouquet”. I wonder if there are still men out there who could profess his love in that manner.

It was already past 3PM when we left Versailles. We dropped by Eiffel Tower for some photo ops and then headed to Louvre. We had our late lunch at a Japanese Restaurant in the area as most of the people in the group craved for rice. I didn’t realize that I had been eating bread since Day 1. Some opted to shop after diner, while some of us opted to go to Louvre, the Da Vinci Code’s setting. The museum houses many masterpieces and allotting a few hours is not enough. We entered through I.M. Pei’s stunning glass pyramid. There are four areas to explore but we headed straight to the Denon side where the Mona Lisa is housed. I have not seen so many paintings and sculptures in my life. All the pieces have a distinct beauty of its own. Judging from the number of people in the hall where Mona Lisa is located, I would say that it is really one of the famous paintings in the world. But I would also admit that I was disappointed to see that the famous Mona Lisa is only a 3 by 4 feet painting enclosed in a glass. People are not even allowed to see the painting closer. It must be the story behind the painting and the identity of the model used for the painting that made it one of the most viewed paintings in the world.

We got out of the Louvre at 830PM and Coy, Tess, James, and I headed to Champs Elysees to do some last minute shopping. When we got there, most of the shops were closed already. We settled for the shops that were open. After an hour, we decided to go back to the hotel. At the taxi stand, we saw this new Mercedes Benz taxi in queue. We thought that since we will be spending anyway, might as well spend it at a nice cab. The Benz was the fourth in line so we stayed at a bench near it. When it became available, a couple got there ahead of us. We proceeded the to another taxi stand and saw another Benz that was available. Since there were four of us, we were charged extra for the fourth person seated in front. Paris is really very expensive place to go to. Everything you do has a fee. Bottled water that costs 20 pesos in the Philippines would costs 120 pesos there. We planned to try the Parisian night life but was so exhausted to even lift a leg.

Day 5 Nov 3

I woke up early as James promised to spend early breakfast with me at a street café before we depart for the airport. That was our only time spent alone and it was also the first time we met a very friendly and accommodating French café staff. I enjoyed our petit dejeuner at Pasteur Café. We walked back to the hotel at 9AM and almost everyone was ready.




I was not able to explore Paris as much as I would want to. I know that Paris has a lot to offer to its visitors that are worth seeing but I had conditioned myself that this trip was not purely for pleasure and that I had to “work” as well. Aside from the sights I saw, it was the company of the people I was with that I enjoyed. I know that I will have another opportunity to visit Paris and other cities in Europe next time. When that time comes, I will make sure that I would have sufficient time and money to spend to explore what Europe has to offer. Like most of my travels, I learned a lot from this trip. But the most important thing I realized is that nothing is impossible if you work hard to make your dreams a reality.

A bien tot!

Ging Masinda
05 November 2007

(http://angelfish5877.multiply.com/photos/album/15/La_tour_de_Paris for more photos)

I came, I saw, I conquered Mt. Kinabalu

When my dragon boat team decided to compete in the 22nd Sabah Dragon Boat Race in Kota Kinabalu held on June 17, the idea of climbing Mt. Kinabalu came up. I was able to climb some of the mountains in the Philippines in the past and reaching the summit of the tallest peak in Southeast Asia would be something else. I brought up the plan to James, as usual he was hesitant as he insists that the trip to KK is supposed to be for the dragon boat race and not to climb mountains. Nonetheless, he was convinced to join. Two other teammates, Bimbo Andrade and Edsel Segovia, informed me that they are doing the climb as well. With barely a month before the scheduled trip, getting a booking at the Laban Rata Resthouse was a challenge. We tried every trick but Sutera Sanctuary Lodges were elusive. Reservations are usually made at least 6 months before the scheduled trip. Thanks to Bimbo’s persistence, he was finally able to get a booking when he mentioned about the Ministry of Tourism’s recommendation.

Sabahan’s Hospitality

Our team arrived in Kota Kinabalu on June 15, 2007 at 7PM. The race organizers were there to welcome us together with some Sabahan dressed in their colorful national costume. We felt really special. A fancy bus took us to our base hotel for the next days in KK, the Kinabalu Daya Hotel. Our bus marshall and number one fan, Philip, gave us some historical info about the places we saw along the way. The next day, we had our team practice at the posh Sutera Harbour Resort and had a feel of the heavy paddles provided by the organizers. Water was rough and any extra movement on the boat would make it capsize. Though the paddles were heavy, the boat is lighter than the ones we use here in Manila. We were able to move the boat but since most of us are not used to the heavy paddles, there is added effort in lifting the paddle. The oversized life jackets also caused blisters on our skin surrounding the armpit area. That’s when we decided to use the sleeved top to lessen the friction effect on our skin during the race. A cocktail dinner, sponsored by Sabah Tourism Board, was held at Tanjung Aru for the participants in the late afternoon. A cultural show that highlighted the participation of the guests in some of Malaysia’s traditional dances was showcased. We headed back to the hotel for the much needed rest for the race the next day. Some of our teammates who were not able to join us on the Friday flight arrived past midnight as their afternoon Saturday flight was delayed for five hours.




A Well-Fought Battle

The 22nd Sabah Dragon Boat Race was held at Likas Bay, KK. Traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese Calendar, the race is also held in conjunction with the Duanwu Festival, a time to honor the spirit of the dragon, which represents unity and working together as a team to one common purpose. Our team competed in the men’s and mixed crew category. We would have had big chances in the mixed crew category if not for the heavy paddles and miscommunication. The go signal was relayed in Malay language and some of the teams started to paddle even without the starting gunfire. There was confusion during the finals that cost us the trophy. We ended up placing fifth in the mixed crew category. For the men’s category, there was only one heat as there were only seven teams including Brunei Darussalam’s National team. It was a disappointing finish but the team accepted the fact that training harder is the key to bringing back the old Drago glory. Despite the not-so-good results, Drago still managed to party back in the hotel. Room 904 was transformed into a bar. Everyone had a great time and the pictures would clearly show it.


Climbing the Majestic Mt. Kinabalu

The cab driver we arranged to bring us to Kinabalu Park was on time. The four of us left the hotel at quarter to 8 and arrived at Kinabalu Park around 10 AM. We didn’t expect that climate would be cold in Kinabalu Park. I started to worry as it might be colder up the mountain and I did not bring enough warm clothes. We registered, got our climbing permit, bought our 16RM packed lunch, met our guide Mercel, and was driven to Timpohon Gate. We initially felt a little uncomfortable with the assigned guide as he seemed to be indifferent. But Mercel eventually loosened up after a while. The game plan was to climb up to Laban Rata Resthouse, which will be our base camp, then do the summit assault early dawn the next day.




We started the trek up the mountain at 12 noon. Every step seemed to get heavier as we went higher. I started to doubt the reliability of the trip advisory about Mt. Kinabalu as I do the climb. Information on the net mentioned that you need not be an experienced climber to be able to climb Mt. Kinabalu. I beg to disagree. Mt. Kinabalu is not for the weak and unfit. Rain shower started to pour as we reached the 2-kilometer mark. I regret having brought my 10-kilo backpack. It never occurred to me that I would not be needing my vanity kit and other non-essential clothes when I get to the top. I forgot my Mountaineering 101, that is to pack light. Despite the heaviness I felt, I refused to succumb to having my bag carried by Mercel, our guide. Powered by pride, so to speak. But with 1 kilometer left to goand another hour or so, the hell with pride, I can’t take a step further with my backpack. I finally gave in and asked for Mercel’s assistance. Mercel obliged but of course for a fee. Porters are common in Mt. Kinabalu and it is amazing when you see them carrying four to five bags at a time. I wonder how they do it but at the same time pity them looking at their bent backs as they ascend the mountain. Soaking wet from the rain and mist, we finally arrived in Laban Rata after six grueling hours of climbing. The resthouse was filled with noisy tourists of different races and background sharing their experiences with fellow climbers. We shared the room, with six bunk beds, with two English girls, Chrissy and Michelle. The common bathroom for the gentlemen became a unisex bathroom as the ladies room was not working. The water heater seemed to be not working but we didn’t have much of a choice. After a cold shower, we gorged into the buffet table. The food was not superb but we need the nourishment for the next day’s summit assault. You would understand why food are priced as they are in Laban Rata when you see the locals trek up the mountains with LPG tanks and cooking materials on their back. James expressed his intention of not joining the summit assault the next day. His lower back is killing him already and the chilling climate might make it worse. I told him to think about it as we are almost there. We hit the sack early that night given the fatigue from the day’s climb.



The Summit Assault

We woke up at 2AM and got ready for the early climb. At 8.7 Celcius registered in the thermometer, we left the hut at 2:45AM. James was still hesitant to join but came with us anyway. It was freezing cold. We were not prepared for it and tried to make do with the clothes we brought. I put on several layers of clothes. Almost forty climbers trekked to the summit at early dawn. Each equipped with a torchlight and warm clothing, the ascent was easier for the others while it was a challenge for us as we dealt with the cold and inadequacy of a light source. An hour passed and James informed us that he is going back and would not want to continue anymore. I tried to convince him but he said that he made up his mind already. Disappointed, I gave him the other bottle of water and some energy bars for his trek down to the base huts. Edsel, Bimbo, and I continued with the ascent. I really felt disappointed with James’ decision as I pictured us holding our hands together up high in the air when we reach the summit. I was feeling low already when suddenly Bimbo said that James was just a few steps behind us. Yes, James followed us. I don’t know if it was the darkness and the thought of going back alone that made him continue with the climb (LOL) or he was merely motivated to proceed. I felt so happy seeing James again. I stayed with him and saw how he struggled going up. He was feeling really cold already and went down a few times due to pain in his lower back. We reached the 8KM (3,994 meters above sea level) and decided to stay there. James was already chilling and on the verge of suffering from hypothermia. We could see Low’s Peak from there as we were only 700 meters away. The view from where we were was magnificent. The fulfillment of getting that far elated us. As the cliché goes, nothing beats the natural high of reaching the top of a mountain. It was simply amazing. We didn’t stay long as it was really cold. We started the descent and reached Laban Rata at 8:30AM. We had breakfast, rested a bit, and started the descent to Timpohon at 10:30AM. Naturally, the trek going down was faster but it was harder for our legs and knees. In my case, I lost a toenail….sniff. I guess, it’s about time to retire my six-year old ACG shoes too. I should really have gotten one size bigger when I bought it.





We came, we saw, we conquered….

As Edsel put it, we may have lost the battle at the dragon boat race but we have conquered Mt. Kinabalu. We accept the fact that we underestimated the mountain. We went there exhausted from the race and dehydrated from the after-race party. Our gears were also not meant for Mt. Kinabalu. Climbing Mt. Kinabalu requires serious physical, mental, and emotional preparation. Nonetheless, we were still proud of what we have accomplished and experienced. Mt. Kinabalu have a lot to offer the climbers, from its diverse flora and fauna to extreme adventure for thrill-seekers. The next time we climb Mt. Kinabalu, we’ll make sure to be prepared. On that note, let’s continue to explore the depths and heights of our abilities. Life is short, make the most out of it.

Ging Masinda
22 June 2007

(http://angelfish5877.multiply.com/photos/album/6/Kota_Kinabalu_Adventure for more photos)

Amazing Cordillera!

April 1, 2007, 6PM, James arrived at my place. We’re off to do our much-awaited Cordillera road trip. Traffic flow in EDSA, northbound, was fast moving. We were already at the Shell Gas station along NLEX after only 40 minutes. That trip would normally take an hour and a half from Makati. We were supposed to grab a bite but could not fin any decent resto at Shell. I grabbed a road map of the Philippines and of Baguio from the Select store and we were set to go.

We exited at Sta. Rita and used the Nueva Ecija/Vizcaya route to Banaue. We were supposed to stop in Cabanatuan to rest and start traveling again the next day. But we decided to proceed as it was still early. It was only 10PM when we reached Cabanatuan. We arrived at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya around 1:00 AM and found a relatively decent hotel, forgot the name, where we spent the night. It was cold and windy in Nueva Vizcaya, a refreshing change from the warm and humid climate of Metro Manila. With only five hours of sleep, we drove again and finally arrived in Banaue around 7:45AM. Our game plan was to leave the van and travel by jeepney to Batad junction. We found a safe spot for the van in front of a carinderia where we had coffee. James talked to the owner and asked permission to park the van in front of their store. The owner agreed without asking anything in return but we insisted on giving her a hundred peso. Manang gladly accepted the amount.

Looking for a ride to Batad is a bit of an adventure as most of the drivers we asked said that they’ll have to wait for the jeepney to be filled with passengers before they leave. That would be around 11AM already. We couldn’t wait that long so they suggested that we just hire the jeepney and pay Php 1,000 for the trip. Hmmmm, I knew there was another option. We tried to look for other passengers who would share the rental fee with us but there were no tourists bound for Batad at that time. We went to the tourist information center and there we met Mang Caloy, a man in his sixties who is into running marathon. He is there to check out Batad as he would have guests coming in the next few months. I would say, Mang Caloy is fairly fit for his age. He was also waiting for the regular trip to Batad junction. The lady at the center suggested that we take the tricycle instead. But she warned us that it would be a bumpy one-hour or so ride. We waited for a little while until a driver approached us and offered to bring us to Batad saddle for 100/person. He said he will be picking up some guests from the saddle so he might as well get passengers on his way there. So after almost 30 minutes of waiting at the Tourist Center, we are finally off to Batad.

It was a dusty, bumpy, and scenic one-hour jeepney ride to Batad saddle. It was a good decision not to take the tricycle or we will have to deal with sore butts and head at the end of the ride. Mang Caloy decided to join when we trek to Batad Village. It’s a 45-minute trek to the village. The trek was downward and while walking, I was already worried of our trek back up to the saddle the next day. But I couldn’t just ignore the magnificent view of the mountains and of the green rice terraces. Although the sun was up, the cold breeze kept us going.



We arrived at the village and had the most magnificent view of the rice terraces. I have never seen the terraces like that before. The villagers call it the ampitheater. We registered at the tourist center and made a donation to the Batad Tourist Guides Association. We headed to Rita’s Inn. Nothing really fancy but the modest hut provided us a basic room, and a spotless common toilet and bath for only Php 150/head. We took the room fronting the ampitheater. Veggie rice became our staple and had a taste of the infamous Batad pizza. We trekked to Tappi-yah Falls walking on the rice terraces’s trail and passing by some traditional Ifugao houses. The trip to Batad would have been perfect had James not lost his one-month old Rudy Project shades when he left it at the falls. Our guide, Mang Romy, went back from it only to be told that the guy tending the store there had not seen it. We felt bad but we eventually let go realizing there is really no chance for us of getting it back. We woke up the next day with an amazing view of the terraces. After a hefty breakfast of veggie rice and sardines, we trekked back up to the saddle trying to catch the 9AM jeepney back to Banaue. We made it to the saddle just before the jeepney left.




Mang Caloy hitched a ride with us to Sagada. The road from Banaue to Sagada suffered so much from a number of landslides from recent months. It took us 5 hours and a half to get to Sagada from Banaue. I can’t wait to be in one of my favorite places in the Philippines. Sagada never failed to amaze me. The place, although very basic, has a number of interesting things to offer its visitors. We arrived in Sagada on a Holy Tuesday. We were fortunate to have made a booking at George’s Guest House a month before our scheduled trip. Getting an accommodation could get really tough on a Holy Week. The building is relatively new so the rooms are clean. All rooms have a veranda and a private toilet and bath. The guest house do not have its own restaurant so we really have to walk in order to eat. Good thing Yoghurt House is just a five-minute walk from our place. We were supposed to do the exploration of Sumaguing Cave with our friends but they arrived in Sagada seven hours delayed of their scheduled arrival. They were supposed to arrive at 1PM on a Holy Thursday but due to a long queue of tourists headed for Sagada at the bus terminal in Baguio, our friends arrived at 8PM. They stayed at Gecko Inn, a new place located almost 2 km away from town. They charged higher than George Guest House but you really don’t get value for your money. Aside from it isolated from the main town, they charge you for every single thing you request (i.e. towels, cellphone charging). Our four-day stay in Sagada couldn’t be any better. We were there just before the huge volume of tourists arrived. I would never really recommend going there on a Holy Week.





We headed for Baguio and stayed there for two days. I liked the bed and breakfast place where we stayed at. It’s called PNKY Home. The artsy-fartsy place is operated by the owner of PNKY Collection so we expect it to have a wide array of antique collections on display. The café also offers good gourmet food. The room is big and has one king size and one double bed. Traffic was bad and at that point our only consolation is our escape from the Manila heat wave. Since it was Black Saturday when we drove back, the trip back to Manila was a breeze.

This travelogue is two weeks delayed. And at the time of writing, an unfortunate event occurred in Batad Village. An American member of the US Peace Corps, Julia Campbell, was reported missing since Aprill 8. Her dead body was found on April 19 when a team of volunteers saw a set of female leg sticking out while most of the body was buried with soil. Forensic experts reported that she died of head injuries. I would say that this is an isolated case and should not discourage tourist from visiting Batad. When traveling, I suggest you travel with a companion and should keep your guards up at all times. Read about the place you are visiting and get a certified guide if you are not familiar with the place.

I learned a lot from this trip. James and I got to know each other better and found out that he could be one of my fave travel buddies. The adventures and (mis)adventures we had from this trip only made our relationship stronger.

The magnificent view from above the mountain gave us the natural high. Couldn’t get enough of the fresh air. The culture of the people from the Cordillera is very rich and I am hoping that they preserve it. I pity the old Ifugao folks who dress up in their traditional clothes for the benefit of the tourists’ camera. They should not be regarded as a tourist commodity but we as visitors to their land should accord to them the respect that they deserve.

Living the life as usual, until my next adventure.

(check-out: http://angelfish5877.multiply.com/photos/album/8/Cordillera_Road_Trip for more photos)

Ging Masinda
22 April 2007


Contact numbers:

George’s Guest House, Sagada: (0918) 480406 c/o Ate Dora

PNKY Home bead and Breakfast: Leonard Road, Baguio City
www.pnkyhome.com ; (+6374) 446-7094
(+6374) 444-5418