It is always a good feeling when you are that kid in the block who discovered something new or did the first of something. For us, mountaineers, discovering a new trail or mountain is our Holy Grail. And in 2011, we had our Grail. Together with my outdoor buddy Sir Ruel and a small team of mountaineering friends, we made an exploratory expedition and found a way to the summit of a relatively unknown but beautiful mountain in Ginatilan, Mt. Hambubuyog.
Aside from beautiful sandy beaches, Southern Cebu is a haven for some of the country’s most magnificent and pristine waterfalls, each with its own unique characteristic and grandeur. Many of these natural wonders are left in their pristine state even if they have become quite popular among Cebuanos. The mighty Inambakan Falls in the municipality in Ginatilan is one of these must-visit natural treasures. The waterfall is our jump-off point and our first destination in this early-year adventure.
According to renowned food critic and culinary adventurer Andrew Zimmern, Filipino food is the next big thing in global cuisine. And it’s true; during our trips and adventures, we have talked to foreigner travelers who have wondered why Filipino cuisine is so underrated when in fact, every meal is actually a unique and amazing dining experience.
The Coral Triangle is a 5.7 million square kilometer, roughly triangular area of tropical marine waters that encompass the Solomon Islands, Papa New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and our very own Philippines. With 500 species of reef-building corals and innumerable species of marine organisms that call these corals home, the Coral Triangle is dubbed the Amazon of the sea. Its rich resources are more than enough to sustain the 120 million people.
As avid rock climbers, we have people whom we look up to and emulate—world-renowned climbers like Alex Honnold, Chris Sharma, Adam Ondra, Sasha DiGuilian, and more. Now, how would you feel if you knew these people will be actually visiting your place? Better yet, how would you feel if you knew that their primary purpose of their visit is to improve the rock climbing scene in your place?
Our beautiful Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands surrounded by thousands of square kilometers of sea. We are also an integral part of the Coral Triangle, which means that our country has rich marine resources. It’s no wonder then that seafood has always been in our menu. In fact, we are one of those few nations who have perfected the art of seafood preparation.
Even though we backpack most of the time (we rarely carry check-in luggage), we often want to spend the entire day exploring new places without lugging all our stuff on our backs. When we travel to a destination, we simply want to leave the bulk of our stuff inside our room or tent. Indeed, there are many times when all that is needed for us to carry around is just a few sets of extra clothes, a bottle of water, a camera, and some travel essentials. After all, traveling light means a more enjoyable adventure.
Adrenaline Romance 