On top of my Dream
I have been active in climbing just last year, 2010. I have climbed mountains and explored caves in the pass years but it was only in 2010 that I have dedicated most of my time to climbing. After my Mt. Lanaya climb in Alegria, one of the toughest mountains that I have climbed in Cebu, I had the desire to explore other mountains as well. But Mt. Apo was not in in the list yet. Because I know I have to train and climb more mountains before I conquer Mt. Apo. But never the least it was my dream to conquer Mt. Apo.
It was not until the second half of the year that I was invited to climb Mt. Apo, I was hesitant. I have heard a lot of stories from my fellow mountaineers about how difficult it is to climb Mt. Apo. And I do not want to do it until I’m not prepared. I know I have to be prepared emotionally and physically. But even with my doubts and as impulsive as I am, I bought my plane ticket going to Davao. I started buying climbing equipment including 
waterproof jackets to mention a few which can be purchased at outdoor shops like R.O.X. . I jogged the farthest distance and tried to convince myself that there is no turning back. Thinking about my climb did send my heart beating faster. I have to admit I was afraid. And to counter that, I tried reading articles on tips on climbing Mt. Apo. That way I know what to expect.
Time has come for us to climb Mt. Apo and 
the excitement of conquering Philippines' highest mountain was greater than my doubts and fears. I know that I’ll be expecting beautiful scenery, discover things that are not in the city. But everything surpassed my expectation.
The beauty of the mountain was beyond any words can explain. A lot of the time it left me speechless. It was such a beauty. I could not even justify the beauty of the mountain 
in my pictures. I was stunned. Everything was picture perfect, the sunset, the sunrise, the plains below, the clouds surrounding us from time to time, the wild berries, the forest, the falls, the peak, everything! All the hardships that we experienced during the climb, the cold, the swollen muscles, thorny bushes along the way, the knee deep mud, was all worth it! It was really tiring but it was also the most rewarding thing that I have done for the year.
Such beauty can't be experience in the comforts of our own homes or in the convenience of the city. Such splendor needs to be experience in the outdoors where fear needs to be conquered, going the extra mile, and taking the less traveled roads. Because such adventure pushed us to our limits but at the same time makes us realize that we can always make our dreams a reality. And it all starts in one small step to the R.O.X. outdoors.
Thank You 2010
The year 2010 has brought me a lot of interesting things, places and people. I have made my goals into a reality and have added some that was not on my list but I am still very glad that I did.
I have climbed the tallest mountain in the Philippines, and the second tallest in Asia (coming blog), I have jumped the Plunge and ziplined at Danao Bohol, discovered the remote island of Camotes and conquered the urban jungle of Metro Manila alone . I have devoted my time learning the basics of Photography and started capturing moments that are memorable to me. These are some of the things that I have listed on my bucketlist before I turn 30, and 3 years earlier I have accomplished it.
The coming year promises more adventure and discovery for me. I have already booked a flight for Cagayan de Oro and hopefully I will be able to experience the white water rafting and explore Camiguin Island. I have committed in studying more and taking lessons in Photography too. And as the saying goes that life is a box of chocolate, we never know what we can get,I look forward to whatever things life will offer this 2011, may it be a bitter dark chocolate, I will still savor every bite of it. Because I will, and still am living life to the fullest.
No challenge will be turn down, just let me take it one day at a time. To us all, Happy New Year and start planning out your adventures, because life is short, you deserve to enjoy and live every minute of it! Happy New Year Everyone!
At the tallest peak of Cebu, Osmena Peak
I've heard a lot about
Osmena Peak and seen a lot of beautiful pictures of the place. And from then on, I started wishing that someday I can experience the beauty of Osmena Peak first hand. For someone who wants it that bad, nothing is impossible. So I spearheaded an event to climb Opeak with the help of course from my mountaineering friends,
Bagtaks and
Chupacabra. It was also joined by our guest who made the event more fun.
We arrived at our jump off point at around six in the evening so it turned out to be a night trek. It was an hour trek from the jump off point to the camp site. And after arriving tents were pitched and we started cooking our dinner. Socials follow though there's no need to really introduce the participants since we only have a few new faces. Both groups have always been together in most of their climbs and so the night was spend giggling, sharing stories and some boze. Or maybe for myself, got to much of it.
It was cold and the fog has surrounded us most of the time, glad I was wearing two layers of clothes and a really effective warmer. So there I was, spared from the cold.
Morning came and slowly the fog started to disappear and the beauty of the mountains was slowly revealed. It was spectacular! Can't explain how happy I was seeing the valleys and the seas below. I could have sit there in the cliff all day and still I couldn't 
get enough of it. Feels like I'm in heaven... (or is that a song?) But really, it gave me peace of mind, not that I am troubled but deep in my soul I felt the peacefulness of the place. Its like, all the worries has been wiped off, changed with a more enlighten spirit.
I felt the goodness of our creator seeing the beauty of the place. Can't say more but to bow down to his greatness.. It's not an exaggeration, because it really is very beautiful.. I wish to be back there again, and I won't be promising that it will be my last. The scenery is addictive, you'd wish for more and that's what's happening with me... I'd like to go back and I will be going back...
The Milk Station at Barili
When traveling the west side going south, you can pass a Milk Station somewhere in Barili. It's a small park that has a store selling homemade products. These are ice cream, fresh milk, white cheese and other dairy products.
The main ingredient which is milk, came fresh from their farm. It taste good and is very affordable. The ice cream comes in different flavors such as strawberry, ube, chocolate and vanilla. And I love all the flavors.
There's also white cheese which is really tasty. It is rarely found in the city nowadays even in market place where we used to buy some. I haven't eaten white cheese for quite a long time and I don't know where to buy it until I discovered that in Barili. These are either from a cow's or carabao's milk. And yes I did ate the white cheese raw. Eating it with crackers is also a nice way of enjoying white cheese but 
there was no crackers available.
The best part of this milk heaven is the price and the ambiance. It doesn't cost much and it gives a quick break after traveling the south west national road of Cebu. There are tables and chairs under the shade of the trees that surround the area. So if you're on a road trip and on a milk food trip then this is the place to go.
photos from Raymond Lazaro
Talaba Food trip, anyone?
Enough for those adventures, either climbing peaks or exploring beaches because it's time to enjoy some food trip. Oyster or
Talaba in the
Cebuano language has been very abundant lately in Cebu. Though I guess that not everyone is a fan of this.
I don't like the taste and the slimy feel the very first time that I've tasted it. Then I got a chance to taste a baked talaba and that's how my addiction started. From baked talaba I began to love the raw or half cooked talaba 
with just a squeeze of lemon juice or kalamansi.
We flocked to Consolacion, a town north of Cebu. Its just after you crossed the bridge connecting Mandaue City and Consolacion. Its situated near a fish pond that doesn't only offer fresh talaba but also fresh milk fresh or bangus.
Both can be cook over charcoal, right from the fishnets. There was approximately 15 of 
us and we were able to consume 29 kilos of talaba. We actually bought our own home made spicy vinegar, butter and cheese to add flavors to our talaba, but eating it raw is just fine, because fresh talaba taste sweet with some salty feel.
The place may not be a class A destination but its enough to give you a feel that you are away from the city, its very relaxing and gives you a breath of fresh air, sea breeze that is. And the food doesn't cost that much, 35 pesos for every kilo of talaba consumed. Not bad, right?
I am Back!
Its been a long time since I have updated this blog, for the reason that I have bought my own domain and was planning to work on it. Unfortunately, I miss my
skimchix blog. Just writing the things that interest me and not just the pictures (my plan for my own domain).
I love to capture beautiful pictures but I love to share tips and advises in going places, share my experience to all my adventures and inspire you to find your own adventure. So here I am again!
To all my coming adventures, bring it on, because I'm blogging it!
White Sandy Beach of Casay
Casay Beach is not new to people in the south side of
Cebu. But for me, it was my first time to enjoy the white sand beach in the boundary of Argao and Dalagute. It's a very nice place to spend a peaceful and relaxing time at the beach minus the crowd.
It is managed by the Local Government unit of Argao, so entrance and cottage rate are very affordable. You can just bring marinated pork, chicken or fish to broil in one of their broiling site or ready to eat 
foods for your meals.
Its also a good spot for skimboarding especially during high-tide because the sand is fine and has sufficient wave big enough for gliding the shores. Though during low tides when the corals or rocks will start to surface, skimboarding is not a good idea because the rocks are sharp and can cause some serious injuries.
Going to the resort is easy. You can ride the bus bound for Dalaguete and beyond route 
(that's the southeast side of Cebu) and ask the bus driver to stop you at Casay junction. From there you can either walk approximately one kilometer or ride a 3 wheeled bicycled(the trisikad) going to the place.
For our Casay escapade, it was a fun filled day with good food and some boze. Or maybe not some, because the boze was overflowing that even on our way home, they were still consuming the drink in the bus. But never the less it was a very fun day with my mountaineering friends. Spending the weekend together but not on any peak, just under the sun and the sand.
On top of my Dream
I have been active in climbing just last year, 2010. I have climbed mountains and explored caves in the pass years but it was only in 2010 that I have dedicated most of my time to climbing. After my Mt. Lanaya climb in Alegria, one of the toughest mountains that I have climbed in Cebu, I had the desire to explore other mountains as well. But Mt. Apo was not in in the list yet. Because I know I have to train and climb more mountains before I conquer Mt. Apo. But never the least it was my dream to conquer Mt. Apo.
waterproof jackets to mention a few which can be purchased at outdoor shops like R.O.X. . I jogged the farthest distance and tried to convince myself that there is no turning back. Thinking about my climb did send my heart beating faster. I have to admit I was afraid. And to counter that, I tried reading articles on tips on climbing Mt. Apo. That way I know what to expect.
the excitement of conquering Philippines' highest mountain was greater than my doubts and fears. I know that I’ll be expecting beautiful scenery, discover things that are not in the city. But everything surpassed my expectation.
in my pictures. I was stunned. Everything was picture perfect, the sunset, the sunrise, the plains below, the clouds surrounding us from time to time, the wild berries, the forest, the falls, the peak, everything! All the hardships that we experienced during the climb, the cold, the swollen muscles, thorny bushes along the way, the knee deep mud, was all worth it! It was really tiring but it was also the most rewarding thing that I have done for the year.
