Caloy

Here's a time lapse video I made on the streets of London, rains included. Taken first week of November, 2008. ... read more

One of the time lapse movies/photos I made on the Philippines.... read more

Ow, its been many months since I last visited this and posted a blog. I actually made another blogsite (travelcentralph . blogspot, well you know the routine here). For the comments and questions unanswered, sorry, guys. Will try to make it up through another way. I got an email from travelblog reminding me of my absence. SO here it is, I copy-pasted a post from my other site. Its all about backpacking. ********** Geez, its been almost 20 years when I officially became a true-blue backpacker. I was a wide-eyed (actually, I have chinky eyes) 20-year old, lanky, nerd-looking, jologs, single, and hoping-for-a-blind-girl-to-notice-me- kind of dude then. It was late in the 80's when I started to venture into it. Back then, backpacking was, in a true sense, actual backpacking. You see the few brave foreigners ... read more

Only a few days ago, we made a very good discovery. We actually saw and bathed in a beautiful waterfall whose cascades flow down several cataracts and eventually to the sea. Yep, Its how beautiful that site is. Apparently, we were the first "tourists" to the site and we selfishly named it "Voltes V Waterfall." The Gen-X readers would have an idea about my age on this one, ha ha! Well, it seemed appropriate, there were five visible falls and basins, the last one being a pool that formed by the sea. It was really a great, great moment. We (there were almost 10 of us including the boatmen who also saw the waterfall for the first time) acted like kids. Some went on impromptu yoga under the water, some jumped to the lowest basin, the ... read more

Just thought that I could share this itinerary for Palawan. Enjoy your trip! PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN Always touted as the last frontier of the Philippines, the island province of Palawan holds true to that reputation. This area is considered as one of the few dream destinations for many seasoned and would-be travelers. With more than a thousand islands, islets, cays and shoals and matched by impressive limestone cliffs, excellent coral reefs, cultures and other interesting natural treasures, I recommend that you allot at least three to four days of your entire lifetime to visit the attractions in Palawan. For a great taste of the destination, you can try this already-proven itinerary. DAY 1 6:00 A.M. ETD Manila 7:00 A.M. ETA Puerto Princesa City Take a tricycle or get to a service vehicle C... read more

Got to travel to some great areas in Batangas province. As usual, I was not really a tourist but more of a tourism researcher. So here goes... We were promised a great colony of giant fruit bats in the municipality of San Juan. First, the drive towards the jump-off point was almost new to me. I actually had the same experience of going through a dry river bed, but this one was quite unerving. We could actually get stranded when it starts to rain. We drove for what seemed like 30 minutes. I kept asking my companions how the locals in the area cope with their situation. Its very simple, they said. The locals just bulk up on everything before the rains come and they have nowhere else to go but stay in their remote ... read more

It was in the afternoon and the sky was hued with gold As the boat neared the port The staff greeted me with warm smile A cold welcome drink was handed to me Every refreshing drop sliced down my throat Palm trees made gentle sways and the surf made rhythmic sounds The emerald water embraced the white grains of the sand Buffet dinner was ready And I made it my first business I sinned that night From all the delightful food I had A few talks and a round of beer And I had to call it a day I was ushered to my cottage While someone carried my stuff And there it was A luxurious room With all the “to die for” amenities There was even a bathtub in the shower room And the bed! ... read more

This one is not yet in the tourism list of the Philippines. But I had a nice travel and some good stories shared by the locals The lake is of volcanic origin and the diameter is only about 20 hectares. There used to be some fish cages in the lake until fish kills happened many years ago. Now, its about ten years since the lake was cleared of the fish cages and the sight has gone back to the natural ambience. What made the trip to the lake more interesting is that a hill that was quarried in past has now become a major nesting site of thousands of blue tailed bee eaters! Then had a talk with the locals and asked them why it was called Enchanted Lake and Crocodile Lake in the past. ... read more

First, a caveat - this event took place many years ago. …. It was like I was transferred into the movie called “Fern Gully”. All the plants around me were of all kinds of ferns and that they seemed to fill my whole vision. That moment was so magical that I wished I could take it all in. I found a big rock and sat on it, and with a half smile filling my lips, I scanned the whole area. I felt like I was in the middle of God’s lovely creation. Then they started coming. I saw one on my boots. My chinky eyes widened. Then another suddenly jumped on my wrist! Leeches! Lots of them! That panic-filled moment made me realize that I was in the middle of a leech country. The one on ... read more

This trip was actually done about three years ago when I was still a tourism professor in UP-AIT. I had some students experience the beauty and adventure of Mt. Pulag National Park with me. If I had it my way, I would have brought with me about 35 young souls, but the trip was a voluntary one, just open for those who are interested to climb the highest mountain in Luzon and experience the cold and refreshing views of Mt. Pulag. The nature of the mountain is a combination of mossy forests and grasslands dominated by dwarf bamboos. You either camp on a grassland or in the forest edge which actually looks like a well-landscaped garden filled with colorful wild flowers. We made the good decision to camp in the latter and saved a lot of ... read more