My 2014 Travels: Less But More

2014 was not really a big year for me for travelling because if I compare them to my previous years, I can call this sparse in comparison. But, these few trips that I had last year were very note-worthy and definitely hit a spot in my memorable trips list.

So here they are:

MONTH: January
1. BACOLOD 

Hello, King Kong! I can see your cavities!
This was taken at the Campuestohan Highland Resort. Fairly new but was getting positive nods by local Bacolodnons and tourists because this was something different. Clouds are literally level with you at times, weather is fine and attractions here are fun. Family-oriented getaway for sure.

A lot of picture-worthy moments when you visit here. Visiting here is encouraged. You may also spend the night, they have cute cottages with reasonable rates.
TIP: If you will go on a day trip only, be sure to leave the resort before dark because the roads leading back to the city are not lighted yet (when I was here last January) and it was kind of scary, but exciting. Hehe! Our transpo was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint and seeing their rifles/guns were a bit unnerving. 

MONTH: March and April
2. MANILA

The newly-opened Manila Cathedral after a 2-year hiatus due to massive renovation efforts. It was worth the wait. It is now more beautiful than ever!

Luneta Park and Kilometer 0 marker.

Revisiting National Museum every now and then is good for us. A reminder of our historical past never ceases to surprise me. Exploring the two buildings will give you quite a walking workout. Highly recommended!

Facade of the Manila City Hall and the crochet exhibit of a friend at the Museong Pambata.

Paco Park will take you back in time.
 And it's a great place to just sit down and unwind. This is also the place where our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was interred after his execution.

For love of beautiful sunsets.
You need not go far because one of the spectacular sunset views can be witnessed at the Manila Bay area. 

MONTH: August
3. TACLOBAN, LEYTE

Revisited the Leyte Landing Memorial Park.
 Last time I came here was way back 2007. This trip was a memorable and touching one because this was post-Typhoon Yolanda. We got to hear stories of survival and also saw how the locals are coping after the devastation.

Hello Samar! Hello Leyte! I've stepped on both provinces! I still was not able to do my plan which was to walk the entire length of the bridge but still, this recent walkathon was much farther than my last attempt. 

New landmarks.
The fallen ships that were swept onshore by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. 

MONTH: August
4 PALOMPON, LEYTE

Kalanggaman Island.
3 hours away from Tacloban. The island was devastated by typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan and locals feared that the two sandbars would not return to normal but it did. So beautiful! This is one of the sandbars. We were not able to go to the other one because we were fully satisfied with this beauty already.

MONTH: September
5. TAIWAN

At the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
 The heat did not deter us from enjoying ourselves. 

Taipei 101.
 This building houses the world's fastest passenger elevator, per Guinness World Records.

Taipei Zoo.
The largest zoo in Asia. Of pandas, koalas, elephants and hippopotamuses. 

Touring the city.

Epic lunch at Din Tai Fung.

Ampalaya shake, anyone? Once is enough for me though.

Food tripping at the Shilin Night Market and Ximending Night Market. Top reason why I would come back to Taiwan is because of their street foods. So good and so cheap!

Hoping for big time travels for 2015! I'm claiming it! =)


~Lovelee~


Check out my 2012 and 2013 travel summary here:

2012 Travels

2013 Travels

Leyte 2014: The Beautiful Kalanggaman Island

It is a known fact that our country has lots of surprises when it comes to scenic gems and fantastic beaches, after all, we are included in the list of countries with the longest coastlines.

Boracay, Palawan, Davao, and more others are known for pristine white sand beaches but who would've known that there is a small island, in the province of Leyte, that has that also and what's more, they have two magnificent sandbars!

Kalanggaman Island is a pristine beach with fine white sand and oh-so-crystal-clear waters. It is the most beautiful beach that Leyte has to offer. It is located off the shore of the Palompon, Leyte municipality. The island takes the shape of a bird if you see it up in the air. And a piece of trivia, the Cebuano term "langgam" means bird and that's why the island was named as such. 

So here it is!

An hour trip going to paradise.

Landed!

Weary from the long travel but pumped up for a few hours of sun and sand!

Threats of  rain scared us for a bit but we were so thankful that the dark clouds and rain moved the opposite direction. The entire time that we were there, it was just dry land for us. 

Cottages are for rent for a minimal cost

There was just a sprinkling number of people that day. It was truly a haven for relaxation that day.

Activities at the island includes:

- Swimming

- Kayaking

- Snorkeling

- Aqua-biking

- Scuba diving

- Camping

There's the SANDBAR! Amazing! When we arrived, it was high tide so this sandbar was not that visible. But we were so lucky that after an hour, low tide came and we were rewarded with this sight. We were able to walk all the way to the end.

I did say crystal clear water, right? =)

The happy jump!

Sunburned but happy and satisfied nonetheless.

Kalanggaman Island will always have a special place in my heart. #cheesy

The small port just right outside the Palompon Tourism Office. We rode in the pump boat together with the tourism police who were stationed at the island. 

We were told that during typhoon Yolanda, the locals thought that they have seen the last of the sandbars but good thing, it went back to its former glory.

Entrance fee to the island is at Php125-150 and will be paid directly to the Palompon Tourism Office. Pump boat rental is for a minimum of Php3,000 for a maximum of 15 pax. But on the day that we went here, we were given a discount of Php500 so we were happy with that because there is only four of us who will split the costs. Maybe they gave us a discounted rate because the Tourism Police came with us, all 3 or 4 of them. But that was fine,

If you commute coming from Tacloban City like we did, ride a van. There is a van going directly to Palompon, however, we missed the first batch so we had to do a sudden plan B which was to ride a van going to Libungao (you will be dropped off at the Libungao junction) then take another van there going to Palompon. Upon settling yourselves in the second van, inform the driver to drop you off at the Palompon Tourism Office. Total travel time is around 2 hours. Fare each way is around Php180-250, if I remember correctly.

This experience is truly great and I am so happy to experience this particular gift of nature. Big sigh!


~Lovelee~

CHECK OUT MY OTHER LEYTE 2014 POSTS:

Tacloban Foodtrip - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/09/leyte-2014-tacloban-city-food-trip.html

Tacloban City (after typhoon Yolanda) - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/10/leyte-2014-tacloban-city-after-typhoon.html

Leyte 2014: Tacloban City After Typhoon Yolanda

The anniversary of the day that typhoon Yolanda (international name, Haiyan) devastated the province of Leyte is coming near, and we can't help but think back of what it has done to the country and how it united the Filipinos to help out our fellow "kababayans' who were stricken victims of the great typhoon. 

Per Wikipedia, Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, which devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. Yolanda is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed.

I got the opportunity to visit the province of Tacloban 2 months ago and for me, I can say that the people are definitely back in their feet, though they say that a lot are slow in doing so. Why? Because they are not properly being assisted by our government in their rehabilitation. Lots of donations from all over the world came in but why is it not being felt by the victims. Who is to be really held accountable for this? The answer is a given. I don't want to say it anymore. 

Through my recent journey there, I would like to share what I have seen:

THE TACLOBAN AIRPORT

Upon going down the plane, you will be greeted with a plain sight. Plain meaning I don't see trees or structures that were previously there. I have been here in the province twice already in the past back in 2007. Sadness is the feeling that will immediately welcome you. But there is hope because the airport is being fixed, both inside and outside. Inside was a bigger mess.

SANTO NINO SHRINE AND HERITAGE MUSEUM

It looks very rustic from this point of view but when up close, you will see the damages that it has sustained because of Yolanda

LEYTE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL

It seems untouched by the natural disaster and hope it stays that way for a long time. 

Tourist-y shot!

The view in front of the provincial capitol

THE DOWNTOWN

Hard to imagine that high flood water and very strong winds was experienced by this place

SHIPS WASHED ASHORE

SHIP #1
I just had to take a picture. Hard to imagine that the storm surge washed these big debris far ashore. That's how powerful it was!

SHIP #2
Now, they are part of the "attraction" to tourists. 

SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

Now this is a very welcome sight! Last time I walked here was way back 2007 or 2008. The bridge was color grey back then, now it's red.

Hello Samar! Hello Leyte! 

Still was not able to walk the entire length of the bridge. But at least it was more than my last time. The bridge is a bit shaky when vehicles pass by but that's just it. No fear!

MCARTHUR LANDING

So nice to see them still standing up despite being in the waterfront when the typhoon hit. 

The calm after the "storm".

We stayed in Go Hotels and we enjoyed it. It was right beside Robinsons Place so it was very convenient.

We all bounce back from trials and hardships and that's what matters most. It's how you go on after that experience that will define you for what you truly are. So for Tacloban, or any other place that was devastated by typhoon Yolanda, just keep on living and soon this will just be a memory that you will reminisce that made you stronger. =)


~Lovelee~


CHECK OUT MY OTHER LEYTE 2014 POSTS:

Tacloban Foodtrip - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/09/leyte-2014-tacloban-city-food-trip.html

Kalanggaman Island - http://thisislovelee.blogspot.com/2014/11/leyte-2014-beautiful-kalanggaman-island.html