No Filter Needed : Coron Islands

I had an opportunity to explore the Calamian Group of Islands last week. A 45 minute-flight from Manila took us to paradise.

The Calamian Islands or Calamianes is a group of islands in the Philippine province of Palawan. Amongst its numerous Islands, we visited the following major ones:

• Busuanga Island
  • This is where the airport is located. It’s 40-min drive to Coron Town
  • It is the largest Islands in Calamian and the second largest island in Palawan
  • It is known for recreational diving, this is where you will see WW11 Japanese Ship Wrecks
  • Beautiful Coral Reefs are also seen here
• Coron Island
  • This is where you see Kayangan lake
  • Twin Lagoon
  • Beautiful rock formation
  • The pristine white sand of Banol beach
• Calauit Island
  • It is a wildlife sanctuary and game preserve area
  • Known as Safari park

We also did the town tour which includes climbing the freaking 721 steps to Mt. Tapyas summit- the second tallest mountain in Palawan. This mountain has its own story to tell too.

Our trip was made convenient by Be Cool Travels and Tours. Our Agency was all accommodating and thoughtful of our needs. We traveled with kids and they made sure to book us in a hotel with swimming pool.

There was a little adjustment to be done because of overlapping schedule at the hotel due to cancelled flights because of heavy rain the day before we came, but everything was handled accordingly. So much of my talking, please enjoy snaps from my trip.

All these pics were taken through my mobile phone only. Natural lights and clear waters made the difference. As they say, #nofilterneeded!

Feeding these big guys at Calauit

Big Cross at Mount Tapyas with the best bru

 

Shameless Pose at pass Island – my favorite place

Breathtaking Pass Island

View From Kayangan View Deck

 

planning to get on the plane and travel to Coron yet? wait, there’s more:

View From the Hotel – not a bad view to wake up to

I hope you had fun!

As for me, I went home with a burnt skin, happy heart and a renewed spirit!

-Simplymesmc

Art Appreciation Sunday at Pinto Art Museum!

Fact: I know very little about Art, but I appreciate a good art piece when I see one.

I decipher art piece on my own and appreciate those relatable ones. I , furthermore, respect those that I cannot identify with. I guess that’s the beauty of Art. It is subject to one’s interpretation. I have been to a couple of Art Exhibits in the past due to some friend’s invitation and I had my way of enjoying every piece that I saw.

Last weekend was another Art Appreciation day for me. Me and my friends visited the famous Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, Rizal.

This Art Museum is not only famous for its art displays but also of its relaxing nature vibe. This 1.2 hectare property houses a vast collection of Art works that one could enjoy.

Worried of getting hungry or thirsty? No problem, the museum has a few restaurants inside where you can have your refreshments and even your full meals.

 

Details: Pinto Art Museum

Opens -9AM–6PM

Tuesdays – Sundays

Grand Heights Rd, Antipolo, 1870 Rizal

Entrance Fee: 200.00 PHP

 

Taken from the website of Pinto: http://www.pintoart.com/museum

Pintô Art Museum is a private museum dedicated to the exhibition and study of Philippine contemporary art. Its name, Pintô, comes from the Filipino vernacular word for door or doorway and signifies the role of the institution as a threshold of the mind to aesthetic consciousness and cultural awareness. The museum’s philosophy is defined by its founder and patron, renowned Filipino neurologist and medical educator Joven Cuanang, who began collecting the pieces from the early 1990s to the present. Later his extensive collection was formally presented to the public with the opening of the museum in 2010.

Please take a moment to enjoy some snaps:

My favorite

Outside view – on of the many White buildings at the museum

Kambal ( Twins)

News paper-covered furniture

 

Hope you had fun!

One Artsy Sunday

As Thomas Merton said: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time“. 

On Sunday, end of May 2015, I let lose and I found myself amidst gigantic paintings all over me.

My ‘lil and I visited Art In Island. An interactive 3D art museum in Quezon City. We have experienced art at its finest.

For those who are wondering, here’s the museum’s complete address:

175 15th Ave., Brgy. Socorro, Cubao, Quezon City, 1109 Metro Manila
(02) 421 1356 ( Inside Cubao Expo) 

admission fee: 500 php 

operations time: 9:30 am – 9:30 pm

Let the photographs tell the rest of the story , Enjoy!

Life’s Best: Travel and Girlfriends

Traveling is one of my hobbies. It gives me a bizarre experience, a feeling of independence and a chance to appreciate world and its beauty.

When I’m not travelling, I love spending time with my friends. Being with them makes me feel happy, at peace and our time together could take us down memory lane. – remembering everything that we went through as kids, as teeners, asstudents, being adults, and for Joan, Motherhood.
I recently got the chance to hit two birds In one stone – an out of town vacation with two of my treasured girlfriends, Annalyn and Joan.

I practically grew up with these ladies, along with other childhood friends. 10 years of being classmates, a lifetime of being friends, and now, travel buddies. What else could I ask for ?
In an ordinary blog, I would probably be sharing with you my travel itinerary, budget breakdown and practical tips on exploring Bohol island, but now, I will give you a snap shot of my treasured moments with my girlfriends of 24 years at the beautiful island of Bohol.
This is just a start of our travels together.

The next time I reminish with them, this travel is surely a part of of wonderful memories that we will always go back to.

beautiful and fashionable hats in streets of tagbilaran

Lunch by the floating restaurant in Loboc River

what’s a trip to bohol without a visit to our little friends?

Butterfly sanctuary

Driving an ATV

chocolate hills which we jokinlgly call Pandan Hills because it was green when we were there

Joan and Me on snorkeling DAy

With Annalyn : this girl has been here a couple of times already but for us, she didnt mind going again.

Man-made forest at the background

Shell Museum

I love these girls

just like the old times

being in a beautiful place with eautiful people

Love and Time

Adopted from: http://www.andrews.edu/~mtse/love.htm
——————————————————————–

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived:

Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others including Love.

However, one day it was announced to the feelings that the island
would sink, so all prepared their boats and left. Love was the only one
who stayed.

Love wanted to stay until it started sinking. When Love was almost
sinking, he decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a beautiful boat. Love said,
“Richness, can you take me with you?”

Richness answered, “No, I can’t. There are a lot of gold and silver in
my boat. There is no place here for you.”

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by, “Vanity, please
help me!”

“I can’t help you Love. You are all wet and can probably damage my boat,”
Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, “Sadness, let me go with
you.”

“Oh…Love, I am so sad that I prefer to go alone!”

Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not
listen when Love called her!

Suddenly, there was a voice, “Come Love, I will take you.” It was an
elderly. Love became very happy that he even forgot to ask the name
of the elderly.

When they arrived to the other side , Love asked Knowledge who the
elderly was. “It was Time.”

“Time? But why did Time help me?”

“Because only Time is capable of understanding you…… Love.”

My “Magayon” Experience

It was just a spur of the moment invitation and I didn’t let it pass, I immediately said yes. An invitation from my friend/ housemate has finally crossed out one of the many things in my bucket list:
• Visiting Bicolandia specially seeing Mayon Volcano. —– Checked 🙂

I’ve only read it from my geography books back in grade school that this Mountain is known for its perfect cone. I at last came face to face with what Bicolanos call “Magayon” – (Bicol word means beautiful).
Mayon last erupted in 2010 but it has maintained its perfect cone.

I was lucky it was not foggy during my visit and I Was able to see “her” in full. The 12 – hour bus ride to Bicol was all worth it.

Mount Mayon- known for its perfect cone

Ilocos- 2012- Preserved Structures