Costa Pacifica in Baler, Aurora

Beach View At the Viewing Deck of Costa Pacifica

The Pool is so beautiful. The water is a bit warm too. It wasn't really summer yet so it was a bit raining in the mornings (stayed there 3 days 2 nights). We were greeted by showers in the morning. 

Pool Photo for adults (about 4 ft) at 2PM. 

No one was taking a dip. It was a Friday. But look at the heavy and thick clouds. 

Photo Take below from the Clubhouse, facing the sea. The view is breathtakingly beautiful. :D 

The path towards the Rooms, these are Beach Front Rooms (entrance is at the back) The resort is really clean. 

This is our room, it connects to another room with kitchen and living room. Its very spacious!!! 

So I took a few minutes walk from the resort to the beach. And this is the path / viewing deck path fronting the resort. Getting down from it will lead you towards the beach. 

Its a nice 10 minute walk the whole of this Beach. Its windy too so you won't feel the heat so much. 

The Beach is clear of trash, its clean with a lot of space to run and walk around.

Welcome Board. If you are coming from the public access "deck". 

Inside of the Clubhouse / Restaurant. This is their ceiling. Took a photo while waiting for our food to be served. 

So We attended a wedding and this was the set up on Costa Pacifica's Garden. :D 

Dinner is served plated for us.  

The next day, we ordered at the Restaurant, called Beach House. Its a triple cheese ham sandwich. 

Their potato fries is good. We loved it. =) But the sandwiches are so-so.  

Buko Lychee Shake is good too. =) 

Breakfast is buffet at Costa Pacifica. There are a lot of choices, breads, bacon, pasta, pizza, waffles and hotcakes. There are also the typical filipino breakfast like salted egg and tomato, tuyo, tapa and tocino. They also have omelettes and champorado.

Suddenly, We're in Bohol!! =) (Part 1)

It came to us like a flash, really. an email received of an offer for a cheap flight, trying out some days if it could work out for us and so it did. Booked a flight and searched for a resort and so we're on board. First time flying on Airasia, and it was a pleasant flight after all. There was even a provision for self check in and your boarding pass will be printed by the self check in machine for you. Works well especially when you do not have any luggage to check in.

We booked a resort/hotel near the alona beach... actually a few minutes walk. The resort's name is Alona42. We asked the owner himself, who is by the way very nice and accommodating why its Alona42 and he said because the number 42 is "the answer to everything" 

Our Room, for two. Its spacious and quite comfortable, two separate single beds, with a lamp to each one of us. There was a tv set (with no cable though), an electric fan, even if we do have an air-conditioned room! 

Our bathroom, I took a picture, seeing that it was also this nice. Clean, and the toilet papers being refilled as soon as they go out. The water heater works well too, sometimes the hot water would ran out a bit especially if most of the guests are probably taking a bath at the same time.

The resort is not very huge, its got a few rooms to it, probably no more than 20 rooms, there was no swimming pool however but the "restaurant" area was situated near the lobby / receiving area. We always stay here to get some fresh air as well. The restaurant has got a few menus to them, but they do not really allow for orders other than the usual breakfast meals.

The usual cup of coffee

The Hotel staff were all very accommodating as well. They even went up earlier than usual to prepare for our food early in the morning so we could be ready for the boat ride.

Every day, the breakfast served to us is quite nice, we did not expect it to be a lot! it was indeed a breakfast made for tourists with big appetite. 

Last Day Breakfast - Omelette

Resort at Night

Resort Premises

Coffee, Juice, Bacon and double eggs, two slices of bread, a jam and a butter all in one plate. As if these weren't enough, they would serve us with another cup of fruit. Usually sliced mangoes! Enough to get you going for the day and not be hungry until your next tour meal! =) 

724 Steps Above: Mount Tapyas, Coron Palawan

Now that we are done with the Island Tours, Let me now share with you the step by step journey towards the peak of Mount Tapyas. So much have been said about how beautiful Palawan is, but not many has experienced this much talked about place. Well, we have, and will surely be glad to share the feelings, and pictures of course. * Thank God we did went up the hill. It sure does not look promising when you are at the town proper, looking at the almost barren mountain - but you can never be prepared at how beautiful the place truly is when you see it for yourself.

Well, it was said that Mount Tapyas is called this way because during the world war, a bomb was dropped and caused the other half of the mountain - tapyas is a tagalog term meaning "ripped off".

Quite a number of villagers await you from this starting point on your way up. Most mineral water sellers accompany you as you go up the mountain - yes we have been accompanied by two kids who where in their highschool. It was summer vacation and they have thought of selling mineral water here at the site to the mountain climbers wannabe like me. =)  

The steps have no markers, but the kids who went up with us confirmed that there are 724 steps to the cross!  The above 200th marker is the last identifier of how much more steps you have to go through.... Barely making it to the half of the steps, i am a bit exhausted, and catching for my breath! I am excited though of what is up there! so up we go - my friends, and I.

There is the cross, it looked so near from our view... But we have a couple of hundred more steps to make to get to the top. We have to go up as fast as we could, it is almost sunset and we need to be up there in the summit before we lose the chance of sunlight seeing the whole town, and the Coron islands view from the top.

Taking the steps one at a time, hurrying at some points... the villager kids have told us that it was really beautiful up there... and there is the mountain range they call the "Sleeping Giant".  It is reflecting as a man lying on his back - with a very obvious head and body form.

We are very close to our successful climb uphill. I am now smelling what true nature is! The air is much colder now, the view whilst still in the working our way up the steps is getting even better, the beauty is slowly unfolding itself. This is one way you are to feel God's manifestations and love! I think I could go over and over raving about the wonderful feeling as you go high up the ground.

Finally! I can see quite a number of people running around the site, obviously mesmerized by the view they are seeing from there! Now im much more excited than I was before the climb!

Now with all these, I am really lost for words - no better adjective can describe the beauty and the wonderful things that we have in our country, there can be no other place i want to be at the time! It was perfect timing! Witnessing sunset from the top of the mountain is truly an experience worth every step.

 

We give tribute to all those who have worked hard for the cemented steps up this mountain, for the villagers who have kept the place safe for tourists, for the two boys who have served as a guide as we go up the mountain.... and to God who is magnificently manifesting his love through these wondrous works of art everywhere - not only in Palawan, in the Philippines but all over the world!

CDO Adventures - Conquering the Water Rapids and Strong Winds

The trip to Cagayan de oro was surely unexpected and was a quick planning one. An officemate just asked if we can go and everyone else was just confirming and planning and before we know it, we were already booked! 

Staying overnight in Camiguin Islands (as a side trip) we sure did went to a lot of places. Going to hot springs, cold springs, seeing the mount hibok-hibok, the old  church ruins, and the sunken cemetary... it was really a good place to relax and unwind. They also have a nice cool white island (literally an island coming out of the sea when its low tide and disappears on high tide. My favorite place in Camiguin, is the very majestic Katibawasan falls. =) I would give up any other places to be here as much as I can, if you ask.  More of Camiguin Islands in this  LINK 

Leaving Camiguin with a heavy heart(wishing to have more days in the island, of course) we took a fastcraft to Cagayan de oro port. Travel wasn't so fast, anyway. we were rather disappointed as we were travelling on the sea no less than 2 hours! =( I had to take two no travel tablets so i won't feel dizzy. 

Camiguin - Done! Now we are on to the next challenges. We were so ready for the Zipline and the white water rafting in the Cagayan De Oro River. Oh my palms were so cold and a bit sweaty though when i was about to be let go to have that 850 meters worth of travelling from one point to another in the Dahilayan Park. 

When you are scheduled for a trip to the Dahilayan Park, bring jackets, it was soo cold up there! The air is so thin, it's given me chills that I have to wear two of my shirts. :D 

Our last day in Cagayan De Oro is probably one of the best that marks our CDO trip - a very nice to remember is our 3 hour White Water Rafting! Thank God the day was calm and  sunny. The water rafting was worth noting as it was one of a kind experience. Going through more than 20 rapids in those hours of being in the "Raft" paddling, singing, laughing, taking a dip and jumping in the river... it was really a great experience I would love to have all over again! 

 Above photo was the orientation before the RIDE!!

Below are the Rapids one after the other. It is a team sports! :D 

After surviving the crashing, the endless paddling, back paddling, and more... when the river is deep and peaceful, you can request for a "capsize" treat below... 

or have that jumpshot from the raft to the river! Just make a request to have multiple shots so you'd see yourself disappear into the water. haha

Warning: You'll almost touch the bottom of the river if you jump high enough. hehe Just wish your life vest does its job and to pull you up and save you.

 

And, of course! After every rapids your raft have succeessfully survived, there's that wonderful High five! All paddles in up!!