off to Buruwisan Falls~

Buruwisan Falls, a photo by A Broken Flame on Flickr.

Will not forget the mud, the hurt, and the serene reward.
/November 16, 2011

"Beginner's Mountain" but heck the muddy trail got me all tired up. Still no regrets though, the end point was fantastic. Almost 4hours to finish the trek but seeing Buruwisan falls really was rewarding.

Komikon2011

Komikon2011, a photo by A Broken Flame on Flickr.

wheeeeeew, a year has passed since my last journal entry on DeviantArt? Silly me, just when I said I'll be more active O.o

What an amazing event that was! I never thought there are soo many Filipino indie artists out there! Felt like I've found the haven of talents! Took home lots of good stuff. ^^

and of course..I wont let next years convention pass without me on it! Not just an attendee but hopefully a participant. ^^

ThenAndNow

ThenAndNow, a photo by A Broken Flame on Flickr.

Two of them?? Meeeeeeoooowww! O.o
Catwoman /Then and now /Toycon 2011 <Robinsons Ermita Midtown Wing>

Boracay~

 First time to fly, grabbed a promo tix and flew to heaven.
                                                              /July 13-16 2011

U.P. Diliman Acrylic Painting Workshop~

Our model

My original plan was to take up Fine Arts in UP Diliman this year but I didnt make it to their enrolment schedule, fortunately I stumbled upon their acrylic summer workshop post and decided to take that instead while waiting for the next school year to arrive.

UP Diliman is m-a-s-s-i-v-e! I even got lost when I was looking for their Fine Arts department.



It was a 4day workshop from 9:00A.M.-4:00P.M. with my work shift at night (9 P.M.-6 A.M.) I experienced sleeping 30mins max for four days and still managed to live. ^^

Well "Less sleep = More fun," though I think "No sleep = Lotza learning" is more appropriate.

I wanted to improve my painting skills so much, even the hectic schedule <including the very tiring travel routine from house to UP> didn't stop me from attending the workshop. No regrets since I learned many new stuff and techniques from the great Fine Arts director Sir Jamelo. Four days were not enough for me to totally finish my piece. My body protested for sleep, I was not able to stay longer on our last day to complete it.

Meh...lolz ^^

Diva~

and yet another addition to Blizzardstrike kennel: DIVA
a maltese of champ line.

Blizzardstrike kennel and a new friend~

Lux, my female Miniature Poodle gave birth to 4 healthy pups last November 23, 2010. I transferred Lux's ownership to my name and had the puppies registered to PCCI (Philippine Cannine Club, Inc.) Weeks later my kennel name arrived with my membership card, making me a certified dog breeder. "Blizzardstrike" was the kennel name that got approved, nice since that term has been associated to me for the longest time. I am now at the start of seriously pursuing my breeder career. My first objective is to maintain a good standard on the breed. With that said I have searched the whole net trying to find the perfect pomeranian as my new pet. That breed is the cutest for me and I have wanted one since I first discovered my love for dogs. After days of searching, I found her!!!

S-M-I-L-E!!

I named her Zaharra, an orange female pomeranian. I can say that she is the best of all those that are currently being sold in my country. Her face for me is perfect, her stand and fur are amazing. She also came from the line of Champions which I think is very nice. It's just so astounding that I found her!

I thought I can only have a pomeranian in my dreams, because of how they costs, but now I'm wide awake and I have Zahara beside me.

February 20, 2011~

This was a love that no one I know could explain
And I wish I could press reset and feel that feeling again
I sit and press rewind
And watch us every night
Want to pause it but I cant make it stay

We went round for round
Til' we knocked love out
We were laying in the ring
Not making a sound
And if thats a metaphor of you and I

  ....Why is it so hard to say goodbye?



Sorry the frustrations got me feelin a way-

2nd Trip for 2011: Cagbalete Island~

Cagbalete Island attracted a myriad of travelers already and its popularity is well increasing. I have high hopes on this trip, due to the massive number of beautiful pics scattered through out the net showcasing what the place has to offer. Cagbalete here I come!

This DIY getaway  was planned for almost a month [thanks to a colleague who bugged me everyday with questions]. Meet up point was in Buendia Taft (Jack Liner station) and we took the 3A.M. ride. The bus took off at exactly 3:15. It was raining when we arrived at Lucena City Grand Terminal. Definitely not a good sign. After another one-hour ride, we reached Mauban. That was around 8A.M. and the boat going to the island usually leaves by 10 A.M. We had plenty of time to buy foods in the market. There is a talipapa (small market) just on the mini-bus drop off point, but we opted to go to the main market to have more product choices. We need not to worry for our food for the second day since I requested my dad to cook Adobo (with potatoes and eggs as extender). Unfortunately it started raining hard when we were in the market. I know how a bad weather can ruin an escapade, still it didn't stop us from going forward with the trip.

Mauban Port

It was past 10 A.M. when we got in the boat. We shared it with people from all walks of life and merchandises that should be brought to the island too.

The waves got really angry after the first 15 mins boat ride. People started getting nauseous and some threw up. So much for the excitement we hoped for. The rain stopped when Cagbalete island was already within our sight. We were not dropped off in Sabang port and we had to take another mini boat ride to reach our main destination (Cleofas), since one of the boatmen said trekking is not advisable because of the rain they experienced the other night. That's something we didn't expect, locals also said it was intensely hot the past few days.

The villa was like a ghost town when we arrived. Dried leaves are everywhere and sea weeds can be found washed ashore. The place is just gloomy and unattractive, probably because of the rain. It's still not nice to swim because of the strong waves, so we headed to the kitchen to cook first.

The water still showed no sign of calming after lunch, so we just decided to visit the nearby lake.



Bonsai Island

Ate Perly (the caretaker) told us that every afternoon is low tide even during rainy days, and we will be able to get to the bonsai island. A spot reached by a 20 minute walk where a remarkable bonsai sits steadily. We started walking late afternoon when the water was below knee high only.

The sky was already a bit dark when we reached the Bonsai Island. I think it's still best to be there when the sun is up for you to see the real beauty of the place. Night came and the wind froze us, my bad, I didn't bring my own jacket. More dismay when I found out that the Adobo my father prepared got spoiled because of the eggs!!! TT

<sigh> Showed how novice we are when it comes to DIY travels, we didn't even realize eggs will spoil real fast.

The next morning, I arranged a boat ride for snorkeling. We paid P600 but the spot really was way beyond fulfilling. I was so upset I wanted to go home already. It was just like the way to Bonsai island with waters in chest height, soo lame. The bangkero told me that the true snorkle spot is far and the current waves won't let his boat reach it. I just focused my attention on taking pictures of my colleagues under water to forget my disappointment.

After lunch, we decided that we will trek on the way to Sabang (port going back to Mauban). We walked for around 30 minutes to reach the locals place. What struck me was the beauty of the water in that port! Bummer, if I had known the difference, I would have stayed there than on the villa.The port is behind the direction of the wind so the water was totally calm and clear. I was surprised by its fine sand too (with no sea weeds being washed ashore,again because of the absence of the current). I thought that spot could be a better vacation place if there are no residents there. I asked one of the friendly locals if there is an available space or hotel I can rent on my next visit, and she told me yes. I now know what to do next time. Sad I didn't anymore have the time to swim there due to the strict departure schedule of the boat.

To sum this up, my first Cagbalete trip was an epic fail full of lessons. I felt like I've been cheated. I know Cagbalete Island still has more to offer, unfortunately I only got a glimpse of it's breathtaking side. Eer no one saw that sudden heavy rain anyway. Lemme try to have real fun next time I come back. ^^



Here is the Cagbalete shell I picked for my future sea water aquarium!



How to get there:

1. From Buendia taft, ride a Jac Liner bus going to Lucena. There will be hourly trips with 2:00 A.M. as the first trip. (Php210.00)

-travel time: 3 hours

2. Drop off at Lucena City Grand Terminal and catch a mini-bus ride going to Mauban port. First trip at 7:00 A.M. (Php50.00)

-travel time: 1hour

3. At Mauban port, look for a boat ride going to Cagbalete island. (Php40.00)

note: Trips during summer are based on the number of passengers and only two trips during off-season:

-10:00 A.M. off to Cagbalete island

-1:00 P.M. trip back to Mauban port

-travel time: 30-45mins depending on the waves.

Expenses:
Fare: Php 600
Food: Php500
Other:
     -Snorkeling gear rental (Php100/per person)
     -Boat fare (Php600 for snorkeling/7 persons max)
     -Kitchen/Condiments (Php50 per use)
     -Small Room (Php1,500/overnight) 
TOTAL: Php 1,650.00

Unparalleled Spelunker~

Year 1997 when I first saw the girl of my dreams. That was when Tomb Raider II was released and the year I first held a PlayStation controller . I was an 11 year old kid back then who instantly fell in love with Lara Croft. She's the perfect game character ever. Effin attitude and looks (dang I love her braid BRING IT BACK!!) that kill.

I can still remember playing The Great Wall demo a thousand times and not getting  tired of it. 14 years later, everything is still the same. She still never ceases to amaze me, entice me and inspire me. Still my favorite subject to draw. I can be alone and unafraid, she's the reason behind my "adventurer" side.


Lara Croft -I hate the undead
9"x 12"

This fan art is a tribute to all those years that Lara has inspired me and continues to do so. Happy Birthday Ms. Croft. ^^ I am your greatest fan.

Someday I'll create my own comic book of you.

First Trip for 2011: Lemery Batangas

2011 came with new goals for me. To let my mom experience new things, and as for me: travel, travel and travel. I promised myself that whenever there's a chance for me and my mom to get out of town, I'll definitely grab it. I just hope there are many wheelchair friendly places available so mom can come with me.

First on my list is Batangas. That province is known for it's many resorts and beaches. Only few hours away from Manila for you to be away from the busy streets of the city. I originally wanted to go to Laiya, but I was invited to a group vacation by my previous co-workers in Lemery instead. I know that part of Batangas would be less fascinating, but hey its still within the province so I gave it a shot. Off to my very first trip for 2011!!!

This getaway was planned by a previous colleague and a resort was already chosen by them. Meeting place was in Market Market, Taguig and our van left at around 9:45 A.M. Travel time took more than 3 hours, and we arrived at the resort at around 1:30 P.M. For commuters, vans going to Lemery Batangas are stationed at StarMall (Shaw MRT) with a fee of 170 per head. From Lemery, you can then ride a tricycle to go to your preferred resort for around P20-P30 only.



A. Santos Paradise Swimming Pools and Beach Resort offers variety of rentables from comfortable rooms to cottages. We stayed at one of their executive rooms. A bit small but the bathroom is well maintained and clean. There are three pools for different ages but the deepest is I think 5 feet only. Rates can be found at the bottom of this post.

My new goggles. ^^

We immediately went to check the beach. I didn't expect much but I have to be honest I was still disappointed. Sand color is somewhat umber to wenge though the texture is still fine. I saw litters here and there too. Good thing we were approached by a bangkero (boatman) and offered a trip to other islands, including dive spots for snorkling. Hell, yeah. I wouldn't dare miss it. I know that's what will make our trip a remarkable one. Price for Island hopping is P150/each (some might charge you P200 so prepare your haggling abilities lol), including the snorkling gear.I told him I will first let my  friends know and we'll probably go tomorrow. We spent the evening playing at the pool which closes at 12 midnight.

We prepared at around 10 A.M. for our island hopping. The boat departed while the sun is burning hot, but the sky was darker in our destination. We went past Ligpo island, a cave and the place for snorkling which all will be visited later. We directly headed to a place they call Anilao white sand beach (shares the same name but not the famous diving spot in Batangas). Boat ride took around 25 minutes to reach that destination. We arrived and were surprised with an additional P30 entrance fee albeit the sand in there is whiter with a shade of Fallow to Fawn.

We headed next to the snorkling area called "Dive and Trek". That for me was the best part of my Lemery trip. I was first acquainted to the coral water world when we went to Puerto Galera few years ago. I was greatly amazed with my first snorkling experience and I felt the zenith of happiness cause of the view of the ocean deep. Words never can explain. I was soo glad I experienced it again in Lemery. I can say that the underwater world I saw there was better than the one in Puerto. It seemed more calm and magical.  At first I was still wearing a life vest, but I removed it to properly take a dive. It really was captivating. I almost forgot reality, I didn't wanna leave.

                                                    <Thanks Apple for this pic>

As we go away from Dive and Trek, we were able to spot few non-Filipino tourists in scuba. I realized, I was immensely amazed already just with snorkling, it made me ask myself how much more if I were to scuba dive?!?! Now I found another ultimate goal, and that is to experience  more the feeling of being one with the ocean...to scuba dive!!!! I want to learn it right away but knowing myself, I would rather take it slow and save this best for last. Maybe learning it next year on my brthday will do, for now I'll focus first on snorkling.

Unfortunately we didn't take a dip anymore on the other dive spot (which I think is better than Dive and Trek-totally regret not taking a swim in it) called the Ligpo island. A very small island with clearer water separated only by few kilometers from the main land. I think my friends are already too tired because of the long time we spent in Dive and Trek. Well that gave me a reason to come back to the place. I would love to go there again, even alone.

Within ten minutes of boat ride, we reached the place with a cave they simply call "Kweba". The place best for picture taking. Lots to capture including a mini falls. Bad thing, the sky already turned darker when we were there. It rained when we got off the place.

It was past 3 P.M. when we arrived back at the resort. Kudos to our nice bankeros. I have their contact number if anyone would want their service. That boat trip was what made that vacation worth it. Some of us
including me had to commute back to Manila because of our job schedules. We left the resort at around 5:30 P.M by tricycle and we were dropped off at the market place where vans going to Manila can be found. Got back in the city at around 9:30 P.M.

Expenses: Sorry I cannot break it down properly since our payment was sorta like in a package state.
P1,500/each (group of 16 persons)
Including transpo(Van) fee
Foods for 2days 1nyt
Room accomodation
P150/each (group of 16 persons/2 boats) -Island Hoping
P30 -entrance to Anilao white sand beach
TOTAL: Php 1,680

For DIY transportation:
P170 -Manila to Lemery (Van stationed at Starmall Shaw)
P20 - Tricycle (Lemery to resort)

Few current rates in  A. Santos Paradise Resort
Executive Suite:
Accomodation
2 Family rooms, 8 beds, 2 air condition, refrigirator, chairs &
tables, private bathroom
P5,000/Unit = Overnight
P4,000/Unit = Daytime

Bamboo Suite
1 room, 2 beds, air condition, private bathroom, veranda
P2,000/Unit = Overnight
P1,500/Unit = Daytime
Beach Side Cottages - Good for 15 pax
P500/Unit  = Overnight
P400/Unit = Daytime

Videoke
P1,000/Unit = Overnight
P800/Unit - Daytime

You can also visit their website form ore info:
http://www.asantosparadiseresort.com/location.php

Tour Plan for 2011

Anawangin changed my life. It made me discover more the part of me that has long wanted to totally break free- my traveler side. My love for nature has always been present especially for the ocean, I know I need to get out of my comfort city more to fulfill my desire.

So here I am with my travel list for year 2011. Places that are not that hard to go to, that requires minimal budget, but surely are stunning based on my research. That's to ensure that I will be able to visit them even in my current state, financially and travel time wise.

1. Laiya Batangas
2. Cagbalete, Quezon
3. Calaguas, Bicol
4. Manila Ocean Park
5. Zoobic Safari, Subic
6. Magalawa Zambales
7. Boracay, Aklan

Also I've always wanted to have a mini-sea in my house. I dreamt of having a sea water aquarium ever since I saw one on my trips to Cartimar (a pet place here in Manila). From now on, I will be getting a piece of shell/coral on each of my every visit to a beach, and I will colate all of em to build the coral landscaping of my own future salt water aquarium. I think I will be documenting my every progress in here, so wish me luck!! =)