A Wishlist item achieved (Laptop)

At long last, for ten years, one of the item in my wishlist was already achieved. That item was a laptop. It is a Lenovo Ideapad Z400. It has the following specifications:

* Intel Core I7 3rd Generation
* 4GB DDR3 Ram
* 2GB Nvidia GeForce video card
* 1TB Hard drive
* Camera, Bluetooth, Optical Drive, and a WI-FI

I was so happy that I already have this item. I really wish it since I was a freshmen student and planning to be a Software Developer. Though it's not the first item that I got from my wishlist but it is one of the top item that I should have when time comes.

I bought it last October 14, 2013 at NGenius Ayala Center Cebu. The price is more cheaper than the value I got. With the specification, I expected to have it more expensive than the actual price, and I also got a free 16GB USB Flash Drive and a Lakwatsa voucher worth Php 1,200.

The next top item that I targeted to achieved is a DSLR Camera a Nikon brand, probably a D71 or D90. Both their prices are higher so I need to save more to achieved it.

Camiguin Island Escapade Day 2

this is a continuation of my Camiguin Island Escapade...

Day 2

On our second day in the island, the weather is still not good to us. There are light rain showers around the island.

We went first to Katibawasan falls to reminisce the mountainous ambiance and the breeze of the waterfall and the coldness of the water, but sad to say, the waterfall was full of colored brown water due to flash floods caused by the heavy rain the last night.

So, we change our itinerary for the day, we went straight to Benoni to take our lunch and also to try their 700+ meters superman zip line.

Entrance of the Cafe Restaurant at the Benoni

Going to the platform of the 700 meters superman zip line

Preparing ourselves for the adventure

Final preparation for our flight.

A picture capture during my flight going to the second platform of the Zip line

First part of the Zip line adventure

Second part of the Zipline adventure

The Big Give: Tree Planting

Plastic Bags or Paper Bags? Which do you prefer?

Many shopping malls, fast food chains and other establishments had taken an initiative that they will use paper bags instead of plastic bag for once a week. When I went to National Bookstore a few weekends ago to buy a new Sudoku puzzle booklet. I was surprise that when I checkout, they put my purchases in a paper bag instead of their usual plastic bags. I ask the cashier if this will be forever and she said yes but only on every Saturdays they use paper bags.

I first encountered this type of initiative in SM Supermarket in SM City Cebu. They have it every Wednesday. Every checkout counters uses colored brown paper bag to packed customers purchased items. This initiative is very good to lessen the plastic waste. Plastic waste was lessen with this initiative even for a day only.

Plastic wastes can lead to drainage overflow if not disposed properly because plastic does not decompose immediately. So instead of plastic bags, they use paper bags.

Paper can be easily decompose with water unlike with plastics. By using papers there is also a disadvantages can also lead to many disasters like flood and landslides because there be a huge amount of trees will cut if its not handled properly with the authorities.

With this, a question flash right thru my mind which one should I prefer, plastic bag or paper bag? Both of them had also their advantages and disadvantages.

Change of theme

Starting this day, month and year, this blog will turned into a personal blog instead of a purely travel blog. All my travel escapades will be written into this blog.

This blog will be my online and public diary where my personal thoughts and everything I want to share are all written. Though I may still write a summary or overview of my travel experiences here.

All travel post that was written here will be transferred to its new home the The Straying Juan.

Please support by blog.

A visit to S&R Membership Shopping

I and my family make a visit to S&R Membership Shopping in North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City. Originally, the planned was just to look around the warehouse for goods and compare prices with our traditional grocery store. Luckily the prices are more cheaper than the local grocery stores.

They also have a dining area where you can order food and eat. They have Fried chicken, Roasted Chicken, Pizza's, Breads and Sandwiches and an unlimited drink of your choice from juices to soft-drinks (Coca-cola products only).

Inside the grocery area are divided into sections; Appliance area, kitchen ware, house ware, Apparels for all gender and ages and Upholstery; they also have perishable items section like meat products, fruit and vegetables. They also have Body care section and a Health care section where lots of vitamins are displayed.

With our original plan, we ended up in purchasing detergent powder, personal sanity care and some canned food items.

Camiguin Province Escapade Day 1

Day 1

After we arrived at the airport, a local guy approach us to offer a tour package around the island. We just said to the driver his name is Micheal; that just sent us to Cabua-an resort in the town of Mambajao. But Micheal tried again to negotiate a tour package for us. After we deal with  Micheal, we prepare ourselves for the whole day tour. But first we should take a breakfast as most of us have not taken a breakfast while we were in our homeland Cebu.

Old Volcano Trail

After we took our breakfast, we stopped first at the Old Volcano. Unfortunately, the peak was covered with thick fogs.

This is the stairs going to the Old Volcano and along the way, there's a Stations of the Cross, there are 15 stations according to Kuya Micheal. We haven't try to go upstairs because the steps are wet and slippery.

Sunken Cemetery

Underneath the sea is a cemetery in the town of Bonbon. After the eruption of the Mt. Vulcan during the time it is still active, sinking the towns cemetery below sea level. This huge cross was erected to mark the cemetery that was swept underwater during the eruption. Now, this placed was one of the attractions in Camiguin.

Old Catarman Church Ruins also known as Gui-ob Church

This old church was ruined and partly submerged during the eruption the Mt. Vulcan. Only the ruins of the church and bell tower remains of the old town. 

Sto. Niño Cold Springs and Bura Soda Water Park

Sto. Niño Cold Spring is a good place to take a relaxing dip in the island. Only I has the courage to dive into the spring. The water is very cold already plus the coldness produced by the rain and the forest trees above.

In Bura Soda Water Park, none of us able to take a dip in this Nature Soda Swimming Pool. According to the locals, the water they drink came from the source where the water of the pool came from. I saw an old gentleman grab a tube beside the pool which filling the pool with Soda water and he take a sip in the water coming out from the tube. I was shock by it because I don't if this water is clean. Ask him about it and he said that it is clean because it came from the spring and I was curious on how it taste like, it taste like an Alkaline water but strong Alkaline water.

Ardent Hot Spring

We end our first day at Ardent Hot Spring, you can really see the vapor coming out in the water(though it's not visible in the image above). Long ago, the temperature was really high that to the extent that you don't have to dip your whole body right away because it may cause you heat stroke and to the extreme circumstances death. But now, the temperature was maintained at 36 degrees Celsius. It is so relaxing, perfect combination with a cold weather.

  


To be continued...

Getting there in the Paradise Island

Camiguin is a very wonderful place to unwind. It is indeed a Paradise for a city person like me. Camiguin is very abundant with water; there we're lots of water. It is surrounded by sea water. Though it is surrounded by sea water, there are lots of springs in the island. They have Hot Spring coming from Mt. Hibok-Hibok and so many to mention Cold Springs and white beaches.

Getting there is not now difficult compared from several years ago. It can be by plane or by boat from Misamis Oriental, Bohol or Cebu.

By Plane via Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air offers a daily flight from Cebu to Camiguin, departing Cebu at 6:45am and arriving in Camiguin at 7:25am in Mambajao Airport. The return flight will depart in Mambajao Airport, Camiguin at 7:45am and arriving in Cebu at 8:25am.

As of this posting, only the Cebu Pacific Air operates at the airport.

By Boat

The most common means of transportation going to Camiguin is through the Balingoan Port in Misamis Oriental bound to Benoni and Guinsiliban Port, Camiguin which only takes about an hour. But, Benoni has the most schedule because it is more nearer in Balingoan Port compared to Guinsiliban Port. There is also a Cebu-Camiguin-Cebu trip via Super Shuttle Ferry, departing Cebu every Friday at 8:00pm from Pier 8 and departing back to Cebu every Sunday at 8:00pm. There is also fast ferries from Jagna, Bohol to Benoni, Camiguin

Once in the island, you can take jeepneys, multicabs or tricycles going to your desired destination. Multicab or jeepney is the advisable going to each tourist attractions especially in the mountainous attractions like the Cold Springs, Ardent Hot Spring and Waterfalls because they are stronger than tricycles. But, a motorbike will do going to the mountainous attractions. This is advisable if you are travelling alone to save extra cost in renting a van or a cab.

Team Outing at The Ranch Resort

As the title says "Team Outing", it means that the people involves are all be a member of one team; not with a member of the team.

One of their member, invited me to join there "TEAM" Outing, I was hesitant to join in since I'm not a member of their team but they said that the more the merrier, so I agreed to join in. They planned to have a Team Outing in The Ranch Resort at Bato Toledo City

First flight - 20 minutes flight

12th March 2013, it was the day when I first booked a plane ticket bound for Camiguin on 28th June 2013 - 1st July 2013. I feel excited as this is my first ride on a plane. As the days passed by, I feel more excited.

I hardly able to sleep the night before our flight; I was afraid that I might not woke up early and missed my first ever flight. I forgot to set my phone alarm. I was lucky because I managed to wake up early, but I only have 3 hours sleep. :( I prepare myself and my things to bring.