A Birthday to Remember: Exploring Taiwan!

As I sat by the airplane window, I remember that it had been over ten years since I last traveled internationally, and now, I am finally on my way to Taiwan with my son. A mix of excitement and gratefulness filled my heart. 

It is a privilege to embark on this journey after Taiwan announced visa-free entry for Filipinos. This opportunity made our trip even more special, as we could now experience the country without the hassle of visa applications. More than that, this trip is a gift to myself—my long-awaited adventure on my birthday. This is also my son's first international trip.

As soon as we landed at Taoyuan International Airport, I was captivated by the blend of modern convenience and cultural richness. The efficiency of the airport and its overall vibe impressed me. I scanned the crowd, looking for my sister. She had been living in Taiwan for work for almost 12 years. Stepping outside, we were greeted by the cold air—it was November 2024.

Our first stop was the bustling streets of Ximending where our hotel was located. Neon lights flashed in every direction, and we wandered through the streets took some photos and look for a cafe where we can eat.

The next day, we explored Pingxi district. We visited Shifen Old Street, known for its railway tracks running through the town and its famous sky lanterns. Walking through the lantern-lit streets, I felt like we had stepped into a scene from a movie. We picked a red lantern, and wrote our wishes before releasing it. After that, we visited Shifen Waterfalls, often called the 'Niagara Falls of Taiwan.' For me, it was one of the best waterfalls I have ever seen.

Of course, no trip to Taipei would be complete without experiencing its food. At Ximending night market, we tasted dishes we had never tried before— juicy xiaolongbao, the infamous stinky tofu, sweet potato balls, and bubble tea. We sat in one of benches and enjoyed everything we brought.

 

On our second day, we visited Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and walked around Taipei to see Taipei 101 before having lunch at Ichiran for ramen.

 

 

 

We went on food trips on our last day in Hsinchu City.

As our trip came to an end, I reflected on our journey. Taiwan had welcomed us with open arms, offering us unforgettable sights, incredible food, and warm-hearted people. We had navigated the metro, and embraced every new experience with an open heart. It was great that my sister was with us during our trip. Even though she was not used to commuting in the city, she can speak broken Mandarin whenever we need directions.

As we boarded our flight home, I smiled to myself. This was only the beginning. I had rekindled my love for international travel, and I knew I wouldn’t wait another ten years before my next adventure with my son, or family.

What They Didn't Tell You About Roty Peaks Ridge Camp

The main challenge is getting to the camp. If you don’t have a car service, the only available transportation is a habal-habal (motorcycle). You will also need a habal-habal guide to accompany you on the way up. It is important to contact the dispatcher in advance to book your ride, tour, or stay. They will not allow you to enter the camp unless your habal-habal driver is affiliated with Roty Peaks.

For contact information, it’s best to visit: https://www.rotypeaks.com/getting-here/

For someone like me, who is from neighborhood CDO, I initially assumed that the journey would be easy. Yes, I'm used to the mountainside, as most of my childhood was spent in Bukidnon, near Impasug-ong. However, I never expected the bumpy ride that lasted almost an hour. The road was steep, muddy in some parts, and covered with big rocks. Then there was the unfinished bridge—left incomplete due to political issues in the province, according to the guide. You could easily fall if you don’t hold on tightly.

 

 

I was glad I only had my sling bag and didn’t have to worry about carrying anything else. Thank goodness I decided not to bring my son or my mom on that trip. That was the part vloggers didn’t share online.

Let’s talk about Insta-worthy photos. There’s no doubt that Roty Peaks is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. The breathtaking view was a welcome relief after a strenuous ride.

 

 

 

 

I spotted the giant swing and sat there for a few minutes to fully immerse myself in the scenery. It was a great spot overlooking Mt. Kulago. I wandered around, checking out the accommodation huts they offer. Since there’s no restaurant in the camp, you’ll need to bring everything you need if you plan to stay overnight.

 

 

 

Four hours later, I decided to head home, as the rider warned me that it usually starts raining early in the afternoon.

It was a short trip, but I was completely exhausted. I wouldn’t go back until the road conditions improve.

Inked by Tradition: My First Tattoo Experience in Kalinga

My solo trip to Kalinga in November 2023 was one of my most unforgettable travels to date. It wasn’t just about meeting Whang-Od, a celebrated Filipino tattoo artist. She is renowned for her mastery of traditional Kalinga tattooing, known as batok, a technique that uses hand-tapped methods instead of modern tattoo machines. At over 100 years old, she's a cultural icon. Getting inked by her is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was also a chance to discover another beautiful province in the Cordillera region.

It was a day after my birthday when I traveled to Kalinga. Of course, it was my first time, and my only guide was some YouTube vlogs of people who had been there. The journey started with an 8- to 9-hour bus ride from Manila to Bontoc, Mountain Province. As far as I know, there’s no direct bus from Manila to Kalinga. From Bontoc, it was another 2- to 3-hour jeepney ride to Tinglayan.

The road to the jump-off point is considered one of the most dangerous roads in the Philippines. It twisted through sharp mountain curves, with sheer drops on one side and unstable cliffs on the other. From there, it was another 30-minute motorcycle ride (locally called habal-habal) to Buscalan. Finally, we reached the end of the road, and it was time to trek. You will need to register and hire a local guide before the trek. The hike took about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your pace, to reach the Butbut tribe village where Apo Whang-Od lives.

 

The scorching heat of noontime greeted me when I arrived but it didn't stop me from my anticipation of seeing Whang Od. 

After I settled and had my lunch, the tattooing session began as I chose another traditional design. This time, it was done by one of the tattoo artists in the village. I was fortunate that Whang-Od was also tattooing that day, so I lined up to get the three dots, her signature tattoo.

 

The tattooing process was both painful and mesmerizing. She tapped the ink into my skin using the same thorn and bamboo stick from the previous session. Each tap seemed to echo with the rhythm of the mountains. The pain was sharp and bloody, but I didn’t mind at all, understanding that her vision had already deteriorated at her age. Afterward, I felt deeply connected to the ancient art and the culture it represents.

 

The trek back to the jump-off point the next morning felt longer than before. However, it was still enjoyable as the morning mist blanketed the beautiful mountains. While on the habal-habal, as the driver was slowing down, we were suddenly surprised by dogs that ran toward us. I tried to lift my legs, but I didn’t notice another dog on the left, and it bit me. I told the driver immediately, and he said he would contact a local healer since there was no clinic or hospital in the area to have my leg checked or administer an anti-rabies shot.

The healer used a small tube to suck the blood above the bite to prevent the rabies from spreading, if any. I knew I needed to go to a hospital quickly, but the problem was that we had to wait for the mini-bus passing through from another town. It took at least three hours before the bus arrived, and it was already full of passengers. I had no option but to sit on the stairs. According to the locals, that was the only trip for the day.

I considered going to Baguio from Bontoc to hopefully get a vaccine there, but by the time I arrived, it was already 7 PM because the bus had many stops in Benguet. I couldn’t find a hospital or clinic in Baguio, so I had dinner and then took a bus back to Manila.

Twenty-three hours later, I received at least ten shots of anti-rabies and anti-tetanus combined. I felt paralyzed afterward but finally relieved.

For me,the journey to Buscalan was more than just about getting a tattoo; it was an experience of immersing myself in breathtaking landscapes, overcoming obstacles, and forging a profound connection with the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines.

Who says SAGADA is only for the brokenhearted?

Many people visit Sagada not just for its beautiful scenery but also for its perceived healing properties, particularly for individuals experiencing heartbreak. However, this wasn't the case for me. I embarked on a solo trip to Sagada in November 2022, shortly after my birthday.

The lengthy 15-hour journey was well worth it, as Sagada felt like a different world altogether. The weather was perfect—neither too cold nor too warm—and it didn't rain at all during my short stay. Of course, I made sure to visit some of the tourist spots I had only seen in YouTube vlogs. The walking tour took me to the old St. Mary The Virgin church, the hanging coffins site, and we even passed through a little river and cave on our way back to town.

Learning about the history of the hanging coffins and the tradition of shouting during burial ceremonies was fascinating. Originally, people shouted to scare away bad animals, but today, shouting with all your heart in the mountains of Sagada has become a way for people experiencing emotional distress or heartbreak to release their feelings. In that moment, I gained a deeper understanding of why Sagada holds such significance for many.

Around 5am in Marlboro hills. 

Kaman Utek or Blue Soil. The soil appears blue due to the presence of copper sulfate, a mineral that gives it its distinctive color.

The Zoom Year

The eruption of Taal volcano in January was already a signal towards a challenging year. Who would have thought? We're all caught off guard with the lockdown announcement due to COVID-19. From merely four patients in March to thousands and people dying every day. Businesses closed, lost jobs and frontliners crying out to STAY HOME.

Zoom became an instant medium for everyone not just for business but more so to move on in our everyday lives. We're able to secure families, learn a new hobby, connect with our loves ones, listen to inspirational stories, attend classes, celebrate milestones, e-meetings and work from the comforts of our home.

While it helped us in many ways to continue our work online, it has given us the ability to connect more in real life. TIME for ourselves and the people who matter to us. 

There's also a realization that each individual is equal whoever you are and wherever you may be. 

We became kinder.

Learn to appreciate the value of health, life insurance and savings. 

The blue skies and each growing plant in our home garden brought us a different joy. 

We've posted a lot of our throwback photos and beach vacations while imagining the day when can finally travel again.

We keep on praying for this pandemic to end. 

Zoom in. Still, 2020 is a Good year. 

I am a Marathoner

A full marathon is every runner's dream. It wasn't for me at first until I saw a random post in IG about the Dream Marathon. The story of each dreamer encouraged me to join and the fact that I will be running along first and second time marathoners.  

A few weeks into the training program, found myself enjoying the journey and always looking forward to Sunday LSDs. Met a lot of new and experienced runners and running buddies turned good friends. Bulls of High Street was born.

Drawing close to race day, Taal volcano erupted. It has surprised everyone. Then, the change of venue to Clark, Pampanga from Filinvest City in Muntinlupa. But, we didn't stop running. 

Twenty two weeks of training, Taal ashfall, plus Covid -19. Still, we showed up.

It is like getting to 21KM through 32KM to realize you will make it.

It is picking yourself back up a hundred times when it feels like someone smashed your feet to smithereens and you're running out of steam.

It is putting a smile on your face and a sigh of relief while you think of what you've been through just to get to the last 200 meters and you can see the banner waiting for you at the finish line. 

February 16, 2020

Clark, Pampanga

Bib# 0515

42.195KM

06:55 

The Bull Runner Sun Life Dream Marathon 2020 finisher