One thing I always look forward to every summer for the past 5 years is the  annual summer trip with my college barkada. Needless to say, I never missed one. This year’s 3day 2 night escapade with 8 of my most ecstatic friends is definitely the most breath-taking.

DAY 1

After a 9 hour bus-ride to Naga City, 2-hour van drive to Sabang port, 2 –hour boat crossing to Guijalo port, and 15-minute tricycle convoy, we finally arrive at Caramoan town, Camarines Sur. Although I managed to sleep for half of the trip, it was still the longest and most exhausting trip ever. I kept thinking: “When the hell will we get there”?  It was nearly 1pm when we arrived and ate a quick lutong bahay lunch at the town proper. It was a little past 2pm, when we went off for our short-trip island hopping. Another 15-minute tricycle ride allowed us to see scenery I only thought were alive in Amorsolo’s paintings: rice fields and nipa huts and mountains. We managed to get a glimpse of 3 islands (I think) Lahus, Matukad and something else. It was white-sandy beaches, aquamarine water, breath-taking stone formations in abundance! We enjoyed swimming, snorkeling and incessant picture-taking to the maximum. We arrived Bikal port worn-out and slightly sun-burnt but satisfied. Another lutong bahay dinner, a frenzy search for alcoholic drinks, and a tanduay ice session was the way to end Day 1.

DAY 2

Our second day started at 4.30 am with a loud and overexcited knock on our door by the innkeeper asking us if we wanted breakfast and/or packed lunch. We were obviously too heavy-eyed to respond properly. So at 6am we were off for island hopping part 2 to some far-off islands. This time though, some of our friends had to leave for Naga to enjoy CWC since they only had time for a 2 day, 1 night weekend. So 6 of us enjoyed another day in paradise. All we could say was: “Ang gandaaahh”. The picturesque

white sand bars of Manlawe and Bugtong islands couldn’t be captured by our mere digi cams. This was the day we burnt our skins to the limit. But we just loved swimming and lounging around on the sand. We finished off our trip with a 500+ endurance testing step trek to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary shrine atop Mt. Caglago, Tagbon island where the most breath-taking view of Caramoan islands could be marveled upon. For dinner, we fed our hungry tummies with laing, bicol express, kinunot, sinigang na baboy and bihon guisado to make up for the lack of a proper lunch and breakfast. Hahaha!

DAY 3

And the highlights continue. We checked out of our inn at 6am to visit Caramoan church since we weren’t able to attend mass the day before. It was an old but beautiful brickstone church indeed. We had to say goodbye to Caramoan and say hello to CWC! CamSur Watersports Complex is basically a watersports playground for wakeboarding. We arrived CWC in Pili Cam Sur around 11 am and immediately registered for our beginner’s wakeboarding session. For me, this was the best part of our trip. The thrill of trying out a new sport, though temporarily enjoyed, was simply fun! My lower extremity balance and proprioception and upper extremity strength was truly put to a test. At last, on my 5^th and final try, I was able to stand on the wakeboard. Contented much! A short swim at the pool to cool down and a shower and we were back in Naga to say our goodbyes to the wonders of Cam Sur. To cap off our awesome fun adventure, we braved ourselves and took the PNR train back to Manila. In fairness, it exceeded our expectations. It was too crazy cold to sleep though but we arrived Manila safe and sound. Cam Sur, you are awesome. Tclub, you are the best company. :)

P.S. No to negative incidents or encounters. Just good vibes all the way.

yeahwriters:

Harry Potter in 99 Seconds

This is amaaazing!

But I can’t tell if this actually is twins, or this kid figured out how to splice two videos of himself and the audio together, one singing and one beat-boxing/whatever it’s called to sing the beats when you’re doing a cappella. I think it’s the latter.

Whatever I love it anyway.

What do you guys think?

justinrampage:

Travel posters are great and all, but why go to a far off land when you can be lazy!? Caldwell Tanner’s group of such posters caters to us online junkies.

Blasting around on the internet, video games, at home and watching television is paradise!

Travel Posters for Lazy People by Caldwell Tanner (Tumblr) (Twitter)

I look at my books. My textbooks, that is. And I realize… I never really stopped studying for a good 7 years now. That’s 5 years of college and nearly 2 years of teaching. Going to school to study PT then teaching it has been the substance that makes me get up in the morning. I jumped from student to instructor in less than a year.  So leaving the college seems to be something I have been pondering on a few days now. I recently watched the viral “Bakit mo mahal ang UST” video. Originally I thought it was cheesy. But then again, I digested the lyrics and thought: Yeah. I love the university because it loved me back. It loved me enough to give me an opportunity to be part of its academe. And I will be eternally grateful for that. I cannot say if teaching is my calling. I am too young to put a period on that. So to take on a new route and explore my profession is this year’s substance. A quarter of the year has gone. But this year’s long and short term goals are still sorting themselves out. I will definitely miss UST CRS, the demanding load, the cramming attitude, the busy atmosphere, but mostly, the people that make up CRS.

#thank you

I heard the news. Suddenly a lump in my throat stopped my breathing for a few moments. A heavy trunk seemed to be pushed against my chest. And my heart broke once again. Last time I checked, the wounds have healed. I guess not. It’s back to square one.

#cliche, feeling adele, love

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Title: Let's Get Out of This Country Artist: Camera Obscura 10 plays

Let’s Get Out of This Country by Camera Obscura. I missed this song. (Edited repost from my previous blog.)

The idea of nonstandard deviant bands don’t really appeal my taste, up until I actually listened to a few. A few months ago, I came across Camera Obscura, this indie-pop Scottish band that sends out songs of warm and personal ballads with a tempo that’s intringuingly sugary but not sickly. The arrangements come with a twist of retro what with the harmonica, trumpet and mandolin to add to the usual guitar and drum typical band make-up.

“We’ll find a cathedral city, so you can convince me I am pretty” from the cover song Let’s Get Out of this Country. Charmingly original. :)

osumelephant:

4. If you really like the person you’re hooking up with and would like them to be your boyfriend/ girlfriend, find a way to tell them, and hope for the best. If you don’t and wouldn’t, stop.

7. Spend less than or equal to the money you earn each month.

16. Volunteer once over the next 90 days.  You’ll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275

20. And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!”

vivalamanika:

The perfect Christmas toast.

Yesterday I tripped

And got a wound for Christmas

The soreness lingers on

And graces my guiltless knee

Oh wound I got for Christmas

Please be gone by January.