Dec 31, 2011

Mt. Balatukan : Itinerary

View from Sitio Civoleg: Pamalihi peak (false summit) to the rightmost

Mt. Balatukan forms one of the gargantuan ranges that pillars Misamis Oriental. This strato-volcano has an estimated elevation of 2,450masl (Wikimapia) and is considered as the highest peak in Misamis Oriental looming over the whole Gingoog City and nearby towns along the National Highway. The summit is called Rosas Pandan Peak, and there is an adjacent prominent peak the locals refer to as Pamalihi peak.

Dec 28, 2011

The Inner Traveller of a Mountain Climber


A: Age you made your first international trip
Four I think, to see a cousin in Japan… visited Disneyland. That trip became an adventure for all of us (TNT, deportation and all). That Japan trip lasted for a month, and costed me two notches down in the honor roll. And had I known that I would be this mountain climber hoolabaloo, I would have insisted climbing Mt. Fuji since at that tender age of 4, I was already mesmerized by Mt. Arayat.

Tokyo Disneyland, 1986?

Dec 27, 2011

Mt. Mayapay : Itinerary

highest peak in Butuan City, Agusal del Norte (Mindanao)

Mount Mayapay is one of the lesser known peaks in the Philippines, but well renowned in its home in Butuan City. Standing approximately 675masl as per Butuan Tourism or 719masl per article in a newsflash (http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/ht/ht006118.htm), Mt. Mayapay is one proud local of Butuan City.

Dec 25, 2011

Timeline of My Hiking Footwear


To those persons who knew me better as a hiker, they would probably tell you that I prefer trekking with slippers, crocs, or no footwear at all. In my 4 years of climb experience, I had only two hiking shoes.

Dec 17, 2011

Wanted : Postcard Recipients

It just hit me that I want to experience the feeling of sending postcards. In our times where communication is just a matter of a touch of button, sending snail mails is becoming a thing of the past. Before this practice becomes long forgotten, I will try to send 9 postcards in total during my upcoming Christmas trip. This is also my way of thanking my readers. :)

If interested, please leave a comment stating your name and desired mailing address. I will not publish your comments. If there are more than 9 interested parties, then I will try to select just 9 through a raffle.

I will fly on the 25th, and will return on the 31st. Please have your entries in before my flight so I could have the list ready before I leave.

PS: this was also an idea sparked when a blogger from Oz asked for my mailing address so she could send me a postcard for Christmas.

Happy Holidays!


Update:
Since there had been a low turn-out of interested parties, this is going to be on a first-come first-served basis. Here is the list of the future recipients of the postcards, divided in 3 batches since I will be in 3 provinces in my 7 days of backpacking.


Dec 10, 2011

Kota Kinabalu: How Much I Spent on the 8D7N Trip

Malaysian Ringgit

PLANE FARE
We got a deal last year for the Kota Kinabalu flight from Manila. Cebu Pacific who regularly holds a Piso Fare seat sale every now and then offered seats for only Php150.00 per head, baggage not included. My friend Liz booked for the two of us, without return flight.Last August, I booked a return flight to Manila for RM114.89 under a Piso Fare (what a difference, right?).

Dec 9, 2011

Get Me Out of Here!: Kota Kinabalu International Airport (Terminal 2)

KKIA 2

Kota Kinabalu City in Sabah, Malaysia has 2 main international airports….one is Terminal 1 which mainly serves Malaysian Airlines (there are other carriers though), and Terminal 2 which caters mostly to Air Asia and Cebu Pacific. Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminal 2 or much popular as KKIA2 or Terminal 2 is much smaller than its counterpart, and is located opposite of the KKIA Terminal 1.