Preview of "Allura's Philippines Journey"

*** To the lovely other half of DibaDaba, I submit my preliminary travel report and debrief.

Here are snippets of what's to come from my Philippines Journey movie which I will upload soonish.

Places I visited:

- (Bicol) Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon 

- (Mountain Provinces) Banaue . Sagada . Baguio 

- Manila 

- (Palawan) El Nido . Sabang . Puerto Princesa 

- (Bohol) Panglao . Tagbilaran 

- (Cebu) Cebu City . Mactan Island . Badian 

- and Boracay

We stayed in this native thatched hut in Uhaj (about 30-45mins by car from Banaue proper)

My super-cool travel buddies [from L-R: Janet, Bethanie, and Moi].

Good thing I had them...  I knew from the get-go that this journey was going to be exhausting and emotional ---- sure enough, the inevitable happened...

I had a panic attack when I was leaving Bicol (the day before this photo was taken).  It was the first time it ever happened to me...  I think it was the combination of leaving something I was becoming familiar with all over again and leaving that for something that's totally unknown. 

In retrospect, I think I was a bit overwhelmed by the scope of my itinerary.  

For the next leg of my journey I wasn't sure if my companions were going to show up or flake on me.  Plus, I was feeling sooo homesick [and lovesick] and exhausted.  

I am super lucky that I had Mikey-Ike to call and cry on.  

Seriously, the tears wouldn't stop streaming, no matter how hard I tried to stop them.

  

This is in Batad, where the famous amphitheater Rice Terraces are located.

This is Tappiyah Falls.  

I don't know what it is... but I've always had this fascination with waterfalls.

Next destination: Sagada.

One of our many hikes through the rice terraces --- so surreal.

Thinking twice about the 'jump' (wait for the movie).

Local Kids swimming in Bomod-Ok Falls in Sagada.

3rd destination: Baguio.

Tourist sight: Lourdes Grotto.

I had to have a Balot - sorry Miss E.  

I don't eat the *you know what*.

From this point on, I was solo.

Sunset in El Nido, Palawan right behind my lodging.

I like El Nido: small town, clean, and quiet.  

Those limestone cliffs are part of the Bacuit Islands; where I went island hopping and snorkeling. 

 

  I've been practicing and I am now a better swimmer =))) Lol!

The local beer - San Miguel Pale Pilsen.  Pretty Good, I must say.

One of the many secluded beaches in El Nido.

Beyond is the South China Sea.

Locals fishing.

Sabang, Palawan.  This is also where the Underground River Cave is located --- nature is amazing.

Next: Bohol.

This was the ferry to/fro Cebu and Bohol.  The boat travel was about 2hours.

I was a bit nervous traveling by boat in the Philippines because of what I had heard and read in the news (ferry accidents), but during summertime the water is not rough and these boats are pretty modern, comfy, and clean.

This is the altar of Baclayon Church, which I will show more photos of later in the movie.

This is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, built by the Spaniards in the 1500s.

My other fascination -- rivers!

This is Loboc River.  

Tourist sight in Bohol.  I was taking this photo from a floating restaurant  

Tourism like in many other parts of the world, has been the primary source of income for the locals here.

Cebu City, the second largest city in the Philippines.  

I came here to see the historic sights: Magellan's Cross, Lapu Lapu's Shrine, etc... (which will be featured in the movie) 

Lapu Lapu's Shrine in Mactan Island.

The famous White Beach in Boracay.

Lol!  To be honest, this reminded me of Waikiki.  

Tons of restaurants and hotels just a few steps away from the beach.  Tons of tourists.

But the water is clean... 

The Philippines have sooo much to offer.  I wish and hope its locals would take care of it and know that they have a gem.

I didn't know these places I visited existed in the Philippines.  So naive.  

But there it was...

 

Now back to editing my movie...