A Week in Coron, Palawan, Philippines

The second of the yearly SCAMMERS February trips, this could be one of the best (if not THE best) beach trip for me so far.  Pristine beaches, unspoiled local spots and fresh seafood-- just a few reasons why Coron is one of the most popular destinations for Filipinos and foreigners alike.  When you're taking a vacation here, be sure to visit the hot springs at night for a relaxing dip.  Take a boat to the small "survivor island" and isolate yourself from the ever-busy town.  Rent a motor boat to go snorkeling on the well-preserved reefs or go resort-hopping if that's your kind of thing!


This is the first time I brought a companion to Lucille, my D90.

Our plane.

Touchdown at the Francisco Reyes Airport in Busuanga (USU)

We arrived with a bit of time to spare before our first tour activity, so we decided to walk around the seemingly endless resort.

We walked too far, i guess, and we had to hitch back to our resort. haha!

The hammock.

The first part of the tour was a visit to the highest point in Coron, where a giant cross is standing.  The goal was to arrive at the top and catch the sunset from there-- and so we did.

A photo of the port from the hill we were climbing right before the sunset.

The next days were all sun, sand and seafood!

Yep, sea urchins.

This was the house of the caretaker of a reef.

Shaggy from Scooby Doo. XD

A Rather Different Excursion, Punta Carles, Iloilo, Philippines

"We cannot banish dangers, but we can banish fears. We must not demean life by standing in awe of death." -David Sarnoff

Double Rainbows, Caliraya Recreation Center, Lumban, Laguna, Philippines

"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist." -Schumann

God, the great artist, showing His handiwork. Not only did I get to see double rainbows, I saw what seemed like the 'end of the rainbow'.

Weekend Backpacking, Cebu, Philippines

Do you miss those days when you come out of the church after mass and there's a horde of street food and balloon vendors waiting for you?  Dirty ice cream, fishball, manggang hilaw, singkamas, etc.  Don't you just wish you could experience that again?  I don't.  Because I've never had that kind of experience.  Haha.  I've always seen it in Filipino movies or heard my classmates' stories and it seemed like a fun experience.  It's not that common in Manila anymore, but Cebu's churches are very much like old Manila's.  Except the balloons are more complicated nowadays.

Anawangin Cove, Zambales, Philippines

Sea, sand and friends.

Chill Trip, Laiya, Batangas, Philippines

I am the adventurous, keep-it-cheap type of traveler.  But once in a while I look for that trip that does not include catching flights or buses, sweeping the sidestreets searching for good cheap food, running around asking for directions to the bus or train stations, or haggling tour prices.  This was that trip.  A weekend inside a resort with the shortest itinerary-- check in, relax, check out.

Mayon - A View from the Top, Albay, Philippines

Mayon Volcano, sometimes called Mount Mayon, is famous for its near-perfect cone.  It is an active volcano located in the province of Albay in the Bicol Region of the Philippines.  If Albay was a pizza pie, this volcano would be right at the middle.  Its cone is divided among 8 municipalities and cities.