Why we Travel by Pico Lyer
We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.
We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed.
And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again -- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more."
We "need sometimes to escape into open solitudes, into aimlessness, into the moral holiday of running some pure hazard, in order to sharpen the edge of life, to taste hardship, and to be compelled to work desperately for a moment at no matter what."
I like that stress on work, since never more than on the road are we shown how proportional our blessings are to the difficulty that precedes them; and I like the stress on a holiday that's "moral" since we fall into our ethical habits as easily as into our beds at night.
Few of us ever forget the connection between "travel" and "travail," and I know that I travel in large part in search of hardship -- both my own, which I want to feel, and others', which I need to see. Travel in that sense guides us toward a better balance of wisdom and compassion -- of seeing the world clearly, and yet feeling it truly. For seeing without feeling can obviously be uncaring; while feeling without seeing can be blind"
(by: Pico Lyer on Why we Travel, March 18, 2000)
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sierra Verde Inn (Charles Inn)
Enjoy your stay in Baguio...
'more than just outdoors"
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Delicca 4WD Van for 6 persons for cool rugged travel
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Day Trip Pinatubo Trek from Manila backt to Manila
(Pampanga, Zambales & Tarlac)
Jump-off point: Brgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas
Elevation: 960
MASL Level and days required: Level 1,
1 dayITINERARY
0230 ETA Manila for Capas, Tarlac via NLEX (P140)
0500 ETA Capas, Tarlac. Breakfast
0600 ETA Brgy. Sta. Juliana; finalize priorarrangements (usually P2500/4x4/5pax)
0700 Board 4x4 vehicles; adventure begins!
0800 ETA end-of-the-road; start trek
1000 ETA crater of Mt. Pinatubo. Explore the crater
1130 Lunch
1200 Start return trek
1400 Back to the 4x4s parked1445 Back at jump-off point
1500 Return to Manila
1900 ETA Manila
Source: Michael Odiongan
Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines member
mfpi yahoo group
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Sagada Tour
Where to Stay in Sagada
1. St. Joseph Rest House / 0918-559-5934/ Dormitory P150 /
Cottages P1,200 good for 4 pax;
2. Map-ya-aw Pension House / 0921-390-0560
3. Masferre Inn and Café / 0918-341-6164
4.Ganduyan Inn / 0919-729-8679
5. Ruby’s Place
6. The Green House
7. Travelers’ Inn
8. Mabbay Hotel
9. A Seven Café’
10. Igorot Hotel
11. Olahbinan Resthouse
12 Sagada Guest House / 0918-560-0849
12. Rocky Valley Inn / Best Service
Rates: P110/ per pax or 2 per room to P1,000 (for 2 pax)
Camping: Saint Joseph = P50 per tent;
School Grounds = P25 per tent
Mount Pulag DIFFICULT TRAIL (Akiki-Babadak) via public transportation
FIRST DAY :
9:00 a.m. Bus Ride at the Norton Bus Lines, Slaughter Compound, Magsaysay Ave.
2:00 p.m. Drop off @ Doakan Elem. School - Mount Pulag National Park - DENR Rangers' Office;
3:00 p.m. Start hiking the trail towards Camp 4, Eddet River Camp Site (5 kilometers);
4:00 p.m. Arrive at the Camp Site and Set up Camp... rest for the next day...
SECOND DAY:
5:00 a.m. Break Camp / Breakfast and prepare for the hike;
6:30 a.m. Start hiking the steep trail of Akiki towards the Pine Tree Forest Cow Country etc;
12:00 nn Lunch at the usual pit stop at the mossy, oak forest1:00 pm Start hiking again towards the grasslands
3:00 p.m. Rest at the grasslands and wait for the sun to hide
3:15 p.m. Start hiking towards Camp 3/ Saddle Camp
4:30/5:00 ETA Camp 3 - set up camp
You may even summit for a sunset or just go to the other hill ... the summit is about 20 minutes away...
THIRD DAY:
4:00 am. Coffee / breakfast
4:30 a.m. ETD for the summit
5:00 a.m. Summit
6:30 a.m. Descend
7:00 am. Break camp / breakfast
7:30 a.m. ETD towards Ranger Station
10:00 a.m.ETA at the Ranger Station Break
10:15 a.m.ETD for Ambangeg
12:45 noonETA at Ambangeg
01:00 pm ETD for Baguio
05:00 p.m.ETA in Baguio
Costs:
Guides' fee here is P1,800 : 7 persons
Bus Ride: P180 (?) or less (for updating... my memory slipped)
Entrance: P100 for Filipinos and $15 for foreigners (if you look asian, don't talk :-)
Green Fee: P 25 Camp Site Fee: P50/night/pax
Park Ranger Assigned: Ruben, 09195382119
Reservation still to Park Superintendent, 09196315402 - Ms. Emerita Albas
Should you need Baguio Adventure Guides as tour coordinators/guides:
get in touch with us at 63-928-737-1208:-)
Mount Pulag EASY TRAIL via public transport
1 NIGHT/ 2 DAYS via the Ambangeg-Babadak Trail:
FIRST DAY :
9:00 a.m. Bus Ride at the Norton Bus Lines, Slaughter Compound, Magsaysay Ave.
1:00 p.m. Drop off Ambangeg, Bokod - Mount Pulag National Park DENR Office;
2:00 p.m. Start hiking the 10 kilometer dirt road to the ranger station hitch ride with the vegetable trucks/ jeeps passing by;
6:00 p.m. Arrive at the Ranger Station (perhaps later, depending on your speed) Stay overnight at the ranger station....
SECOND DAY:
2:00 a.m. - Start trekking for the summit in time for the sunrise view;
5:00 a.m. - ETA at the summit;
7:00 a.m. - ETD for the ranger station;
9:00 a.m. - ETA at the ranger station; Full Breakfast
9:30 a.m. ETD towards Ambangeg - catch up the 1:00 p.m. Norton Bus (last trip)
12:30 p.m. ETA at the Highway - lunch while waiting for the Norton Bus
01:00 p.m. ETD towards Baguio
5:00 p.m. ETA in BaguioCosts:
Bus Fare: P100 x 2 = P200
Entrance: P100 for Filipinos and $15 for foreigners (if you look asian, don't talk :-)
Green Fee: P 25
Guides: P500 : 7pax or less
Donation for maintenance / camp site fee: P50 2NIGHTS / 3 DAYS via Akiki Trail, Doakan, Kabayan, Benguet
Should you need Baguio Adventure Guides as tour coordinators/guides:
get in touch with us at 63-928-737-1208:-)
Easy Trail, Mt. Pulag via private transportation
(1ST NIGHT FROM MANILA)
22:00 - Assembly at Cubao (Victory Liner)23:00 - ETD for Baguio City
(1ST DAY IN BAGUIO-PULAG )
05:00 - ETA Baguio City/ Breakfast06:30 - ETD Baguio City for Ambangeg, Bokod Benguet
10:00 - ETA Ambangeg, Register at DENR / Briefing
10:30 - go straight to Babadac Ranger Station
12:00 - ETA Ranger Station. Lunch
14:00 - Start Trek
17:00 - ETA Camp
2. Set Camp
(2ND DAY IN PULAG)
04:30 - Wake-Up Call, Breakfast0
5:00 - Start Trek towards Summit
06:00 - ETA Summit !!
08:00 - Start Descent
11:00 - ETA Ranger station
12:00 - lunch
17:00 - ETA Baguio ( pede pa mag ukay )
22:00 - ETD for manila (Victory liner)
USUAL BUDGET: Php 3,000 php per head for a group of 15 pax minimum Inclusive of:* Transportation (Back and Forth) (bus and jeep up to ranger station)• Food• Registration• Local Guide• Some Equipment
Should you need Baguio Adventure Guides as tour coordinators/guides:
get in touch with us at 63-928-737-1208:-)
Mout Pulag Costs of entry
Entrance Fee P100 -
Guide Fee P500:7 persons
c/0 Larry at the Ranger Station
cp numbers: 0919-504-7173P50 -
Camping Fee P25 - Green Fee
For park/ camp reservation. .. please send SMS or call 09196315402 to Ms. Emerita Albas - Park Superintendent
Transportation for Mount Pulag
Jeep for Baguio to Mount Pulag ranger station: P8,000 this is a front front wheeled drive.
Capacity: 15 pax per jeep - P533.33
Wrangler: P7,000
This is a 4 wheeled drive vehicle
Owner Roger Adiwang: 63916-877-7410
Capacity: 7 persons with backpacks and 2 persons without backpacks
Pajero / SUV's : P10,000 = 4wd4 passengers only
Should you need Baguio Adventure Guides as tour coordinators/guides:
get in touch with us at 63-928-737-1208:-)
Transportation from Banaue to Baguio
Parking: Bus unloading / loading station where the Banaue landmark stands/
below the Banaue Museum and/or Banaue View Inn is...
Time of Departure: 5:00 am / 6:00 am
Transportation from Bontoc to Manila
Bontoc, Mountain Province
Departure from Bontoc: 3:00 p.m.
Contact Information for Coordination: (to follow)
Terminal Drop Off: St. Lukes, Quezon City
Transportation from Banaue to Manila
Tam-an Barangay, Banaue
Departure: Daily at 5:00 p.m.
Fare: P350
Distance: About 250kilometers to Manila
Travel Time: 9 to 10 hours
Terminal Drop Off: Espana / G. Tolentino Sts., Manila
Tel: 02-735-8096
Van Transportation plying Lepanto, Mankayan
Dangwa Station, Baguio City
Regular Trips: 9 am, 10 am
and then for the rest, you wait till the van fills up...
Fare: P145 and minimum trip is P90
For special arrangements:Get in touch with Christopher D. Dupingay - Dispatcher
Transportation from Sagada to Baguio
Departure: 7:00 am; 8:00am; 9:00 am; 10:00 am; 11:00 am; and 1:00pm.
Fare: P220
Terminal Drop Off: Dangwa Station, behind Center Mall
Transportation from Bontoc to Sagada
Parking: Beside Bontoc Municipal Hall
Departure: Daily from 8 am to 11 am
Fare: P45
Where to Stay in Bontoc
Bontoc Hotel 0918-746-0044
Churya-a Lodge 074-602-1553
Mountain Hotel 0919-429-9813
Pines Kitchennete 0919-429-9813
Ridge Brook 0918-738-1760
Archogs’ Hotel 0918-345-2463
Zanders 074-603-8221; 0919-225-4795
Windival Hotel
Walter Clapp Inn;
Chayapan Hotel;
Banaue to Bontoc transportation
Departure: Daily from 7:00 am to 11:00 am
Fare: P100
Transportation from Baguio to Banawe, Ifugao
Buses: (non-air-conditioned)
KMS Bus Lines Daily Departure: 8am
North Burnham Park, Baguio 8pm
(Near Rizal Park) 9pm
OHAYAMI TRANS Daily Departure: 8am
West Burnham, Baguio 8pm
(Behind West Burnham Park Place 9pm
And Benguet Tourist Inn
Fare: P360 (regular) P295 (student)
Route: via Marcos Highway-Carmen, Pangasinan-Nueva Ecija, the Maharlika Highway.
Distance: About 250 kilometers
Travel Time: 8-9 hours (sometimes 10 hours because of traffic or other reasons)
Should you need Baguio Adventure Guides as tour coordinators/guides:get in touch with us at 63-928-737-1208 / basecamp.baguio@yahoo.com :-)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Bus Schedules from Baguio City
Kibungan - Dangwa Station - 6/11 am daily - P - ordinary
Tabuk - Dangwa Station - 7&8 pm daily - P418 / regular fare - aircon
Tuguegarao - Dangwa Station - 6 pm daily - P500 / regular fare - aircon
Van Transportation List Servicing from Baguio City
1. Oliver Manzano -
2. Grace Edoc -
3. Ceasar
(please e-mail basecamp.baguio@yahoo.com for a referral. Apologies but there are about 6,000 van transport in Baguio and I will recommend based on your needs)
Baguio's 24-hour restaurants
2. Mang's Cuisine, 074-442-1052, Dangwa Station, Baguio City - specializes in filipino & chinese specialties;
3. Good Taste Restaurant, near Dangwa Station, Baguio City
4. Sab-atan Restaurant, Dangwa Station, Baguio City
5. Volante (Pizza Resto), Middle Session Road, Baguio City
Monday, January 14, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Where to Stay in Banawe, Ifugao
Transportation from Sagada to Bontoc to Banaue
Jeepney: 6:00 am to 9:00 a.m.daily at least every 20 minutes for a
Sagada-Bontoc trip, transfer to a jeepney or bus towards Banaue;
Jeepneys 8a.m. to 1a.m. daily for a Bontoc to Banaue trip;
Buses that goes from Bontoc to Manila via Banaue: CABLE TOUR BUS leaves 3pm, Air-Conditioned. This can also be an option, however expect the fare to be a lot more expensive than the jeepneys because it is intended for a longer trip.
Distance: 18 kilometers, (Sagada-Bontoc)
About 60 kilometers, (Bontoc-Banaue)
Travel Time: About 30 minutes ride (Sagada-Bontoc);
About 2.5 hours ride (Bontoc-Banaue)
Fare: P45 pesos (Sagada-Bontoc) - jeepney
P100 pesos (Bontoc-Banaue)- jeepney
Friday, January 4, 2008
Mount Pulag General Information link
Mount Pulag is has been trekked for different reasons, curiosity, nature trip, the sunrise with or without the sunset, serenity and many other reasons. Whatever they are, the fact still stands, people want to go and visit the playground of the gods.
Please find out more in my other site where tour packages are listed down... http://baguioadventures.blogspot.com/
Should you need Baguio Adventure Guides as tour coordinators/guides:
get in touch with us at 63-928-737-1208:-)
Baguio-Sagada-Baguio
The buses departs daily from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm from Baguio to Sagada, every hour. Towards Baguio: the buses departs from 6:00 am to 1:00 p.m. every hour except 12:00 noon.
Travel Time is 6hours to 8 hours depending on the traffic and road conditions
Road is Halsema High-way; Fare: P220/person
Environmental Fee per person = P10 (to be paid at the municipal hall)
Sagada Environemental Guides Rates = from P200 to P350 per guide depending on the number of people and the destination
Fare: P220