Author: Jeffer

The Four Lakes of Mystical Kabayan

We might not realize it, but we all have our “no-fail-places-to-go-to”. It’s the kind of place that you can go to repeatedly and never fail to be satisfied, awed, or amazed. You just want to keep coming back, no matter what the circumstances because it just never fails to make a positive impact on you. It’s probably a coffee shop, a restaurant, a certain beach, or a specific town you always go to for a quick getaway. I, too, have a shortlist, and on it is mystical Kabayan. Continue reading “The Four Lakes of Mystical Kabayan” →

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Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 3)

At this moment, a group of adventurous spirits have started their 2-day Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse in Bokod. A~ah. If not for certain circumstances, we’d have likely been part of that group. Maybe next year? Anyhoo, this post is all about Day 3, the final day, of our very own traverse last October 20, 2013.

(This is the last installment of my series of posts about the Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse.)

Continue reading “Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 3)” →

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Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 2)

“I’ve been to Purgatory, and I had a lot of fun”. Not a lot of people could say that; and I’m willing to bet that not a lot of people would even WANT to say that. But I’m referring to Mt. Purgatory, which we’re about to pass through later on.

Day 2 of our Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse, and we set off with full stomachs, heavy packs, and light hearts.

Continue reading “Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 2)” →

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Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 1)

Some may say that every mountain is like all the others; climb one and you’ve climbed them all. Not so. From the few that I’ve gone to, each mountain has a story to tell, each experience stands out, and all the memories are a joy to go back to.

This weekend, November 8-9, 2014, is the Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse. This climb, so close on the heels of the Ambuklao Adventure 3 (which you can read about here and here), is part of the 114th celebration of the anniversary of the province of Benguet, thru Adivay (in the local dialect, it means “gathering” or “coming together”). Hence, the tagline “Pan-aadivay Tayo’d Kashontogan” which is Ibaloi for “our gathering/coming together in the (lit.) hills”. Continue reading “Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse 2013 (Part 1)” →

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La Trinidad Eats: Dinawis Cafe & Restaurant

I first caught wind of this place when I saw it featured on local (then national) television for their coffee, which is a mix of arabica coffee (Benguet’s version of the barako) and chili or capsicum (sili). To say that I was intrigued would be an understatement, but the place is not the most accessible (or practical) for someone like me since it is alllll the way in Shilan. See, I work at Km. 0, I live at Km. 6, and the Dinawis Cafe and Restaurant is located at Km. 11. See my predicament?

Continue reading “La Trinidad Eats: Dinawis Cafe & Restaurant” →

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Ambuklao Adventure III: The River Trek to Pinagjan Waterfalls

We travel so far, and spend so much, just to be witnesses to nature’s bounty and beauty when some of the best ones are right in our own backyard. This is one of the many times that I am grateful for being in, and from, Benguet. Its situated perfectly, giving us, i-Benguets, the best of both worlds: the conveniences of urban living, and the sheer grace and magnificence of nature. Is it any wonder, then, why it never occurred to me to live anywhere else?
Continue reading “Ambuklao Adventure III: The River Trek to Pinagjan Waterfalls” →

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Ambuklao Adventure III: "The Adventure Lives On"

When I hear the word “Ambuklao”, what comes to mind is the Ambuklao Dam, the wide lake we pass by along the way to, say, Kabayan, and tilapia. Recently, I’ve heard about the place being opened for several adventures, such as kayaking. Then came the opportunity to join the 3rd run of the Ambuklao Adventure series, and me and my friends grabbed it. Continue reading “Ambuklao Adventure III: "The Adventure Lives On"” →

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J-Drama Review: Border (JPN, 2014)

When I went on Twitter and asked for recommendations of a jdrama that will relight that torch I always had for the genre, there were a lot of recs that came my way. One of them is TV Asahi’s Border.

I picked up Border after Bitter Blood (which I wrote a recap-slash-review of here) for two reasons: first, it came recommended by a friend WHO KNOWS her jdramas, and second, it has Oguri Shun in it. And, all right, I already have a soft spot for Aoki Munetaka after his memorable turn as Sanosuke Sagara in the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film series.

And the third reason is the storyline: a cop that can see dead people. This ought to be interesting.
Continue reading “J-Drama Review: Border (JPN, 2014)” →

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Roarin' at the Dinosaurs Island in Tuba, Benguet

Walking on the Dino Trail at the Dinosaurs Island at the Baguio Eco-Park in Tuba, Benguet may not actually make you feel like you’ve been transported to prehistoric times, when these huge creatures really walked the earth (but then again, I doubt there is anyone alive who knows how the real thing actually feels). It does, however, successfully make you feel like you are transported on a movie set, with animatronic dinosaurs at every turn.

I have to say, though, that I was in awe of the scale of the place. And the imagination that went behind it.

Continue reading “Roarin' at the Dinosaurs Island in Tuba, Benguet” →

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J-Drama Review: Bitter Blood (JPN, 2014)

I had a long dry spell with respect to Japanese dramas, or “jdoramas”, as we fondly call them. It is only now that I am starting to ease back into it and, to quench my jdorama thirst, I decided to rekindle the flame with “Bitter Blood”, or “Partners by Blood”, starring Sato Takeru and Atsuro Watabe.

And I am shamelessly admitting to the fact that 80% of the reason I picked this up was because I was having major Sato-Takeru-as-Himura-Kenshin withdrawal symptoms. The other 20%… well, because friends recommended it, and it was easily accessible/downloadable. Continue reading “J-Drama Review: Bitter Blood (JPN, 2014)” →

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Echoes of the Past at the Mt. Kalugong Eco-Park

If I were to choose key phrases to describe my high school years at Benguet State University-Secondary Laboratory School (BSU-SLS), they would include “solid work”, “4-1”, “Pomology”, and “Mt. Kalugong”. It has been more than 15 years since the last time I set foot on Mt. Kalugong. Which is a shame, really, considering how it is on my doorstep (heck, the side of the mountain greets me each morning I wake up!) and how it is now more accessible to everyone as the Mt. Kalugong Eco-Park. Continue reading “Echoes of the Past at the Mt. Kalugong Eco-Park” →

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La Trinidad Eats: Health101 ReSTOREant

I’m not a vegetarian, nor do I ever plan to be one. (That’s a huge “HELL, NO!” right there.) I love meat just as much as the next meat-loving person.

To be honest, I was one of those who used to equate “healthy eating” with “settling for so-so tasting food and being miserable about it”. That was then. Fortunately, we are now given more options on sumptuous yet healthy eats. And if you are from La Trinidad, you are even luckier, since you are practically in the heart of vegetable and fruit country. Hey, it ain’t the capital of the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines” (Benguet) for nothing! So this time, I’ll be sharing a little about Health101 ReSTOREant.

Continue reading “La Trinidad Eats: Health101 ReSTOREant” →

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South Korea Pt 20: Droppin’ "JAWS" at the Busan Aquarium

There is something to be said about going to a large aquarium: it effectively shoves in your face the reality that there is an entirely different universe under the water that you never knew existed. No, not even if you read about them in books or see them immortalized on celluloid and rendered on film. You realize how there are sooooo many species in this world, and Homo sapiens is ONLY ONE of them. I find that quite humbling.

Continue reading “South Korea Pt 20: Droppin’ "JAWS" at the Busan Aquarium” →

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