Salute to 2013

2013 has been a good year for me and the family. At the start of the year we  had a long bonding family moments, we were able to travel,yap ALL of us! it was a total blAst specially if our little prince is with us, my one and only nephew Herdie Emmanuell or as we fondly call "Herdz,". He's our sunshine. oOzing with fashion taste. and well just like us, he excels in class, thus making us oh so proud.  :D

It was also a year of wedding bells for my Brother Jorge and Sister-in-law Jessica. aww after 5yrs of being bf/gf and another 5yrs of havin' herdz, finally they tie the knot! :)

love love love! :)

Sibling's overload!

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Last year (2012), I was so frustrated of the fact that I hadn't been to some place new (well aside from visiting Naga). So I told myself that this year, 2013, should be my TRAVEL YEAR either by hook or by crook!. True enough, my itchy feet was able to leave footprints in all these places:

NagaCity in CamSur;        Lucena, Lucban &  Pagbilao in Quezon Province;

 La Trinidad & Baguio City in Benguet;   Candon,Vigan, Paoay and Batac in 

Ilocos Sur;        Pagudpud,Laoag and Burgos in Ilocos Norte;

Tagaytay City in Cavite    and Matnog, Bulusan and Irosin in Sorsogon. 

First quarter of the year, I had my early beach and Island hoping bonding with Wawoy, ateBelle, kaloy, thor and dex in Pagbilao, Quezon. Giving me the chance to appreciate the real beauty of all the islets we visited, I was wowed!

Beach Bums!

I exchanged smiles with the people of Lucena in Quezon as I indulged on their famous resto(Buddy's Resto) and tasted their famous Pancit!

Lechon toppings galore!

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By summer, I revisit the North, this time with Jerald and Brenn. we toured the whole Ilocos Norte and Sur. 'twas blast from the past!

a walk from the past!

we also had a sidetrip to Baguio which gives me shivers literally and figuratively as Nostalgia hits me (ohh missin' college life at UP-Baguio)

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Month of May was extra special, Aldrich and I leave the hustle of the city and headed to Tagaytay in Cavite together with my high school friends Majoy and Lhaze with their little angels (both my Inaanak). It was a whole day of fun,love and kwentohan!

 Girlfriends!

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I was also blessed bein' able to witnessed and be part of the famous and colorful Pahiyas festival in Lucban Quezon. My must-see festival since elementary, Im fascinated with colors! It was a long-exhausting yet fun-filled Pahiyas experienced with my friend Karlo. colorful kiping in flesh, colorful decorated houses, prayed at the century-old church and havin' a taste of ube halaya and the famous lucban longganisa.

colorful shawl for a colorful event :)

joined the parade! wooot! :D

colorful kipings! it's edible, just sprinkle sugar or salt to taste :)

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Middle of the year, I traveled a 12-hour bus ride going to Sorsogon in Bicol. together with wawoy and atebelle, we dip to a soothing hot bath in one of the hot spring in Irosin, Sorsogon.

relaxing hot spring!

I was able to experienced my first time top of the jeepney ride, 'twas soOo fun!

Being a Nature advocate, I was so happy visiting the magnificient lake of Bulusan that sit at the foot of Mt.Bulusan in Bulusan, Sorsogon.

Ending our Sorsogon escapade is an ohh-so-perfect-Matnog's trip in Matnog Sorsogon that includes a visit to the ohhh so fascinating Fish Sanctuary, rosy white sand of Subic beach and taking a dip to the elusive underwater cave was just so perfect!

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Paradise!

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Middle of the year I re-visit Tagaytay with my whole family, 'twas priceless! I paid to be hanged on a zip line that was hundreds feet below.HAHA!

Super yannah! :)

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On the 3rd quarter of the year, my elementary friends paved our way to the majestic Puraran in Baras, Catanduanes. for a first timer like me, a long ride from Virac to Baras was a mix of excitement and it's kinda tiring. but upon seeing the place, it was all worth the long ride. beautiful place with beautiful friends in a beautiful island.

I supah heart Pinas!

Before the year ends, I can truly brag that I have conquered the sky(tagaytay zipline),the land (paoay sand dunes) and the sea (underwater cave). 

Contrary to the what it may seem like, 2013 for me wasn't just all about thrill seeking adventure. On the brighter side, I was able to have a two-session of feeding program for the kids of Balite and Dugui of Virac,Catanduanes, these was made possible with the help of my friends and the rest of the members of Ramosian Care.It may not be as notable but it's still something worth celebrating.

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2013.
Too many happenings, only one adjective to describe it.

BLAST!!!!

Summary:
Film of year: Before Midnight
Soundtrack of the year: Live while we were young
Book of the year: Embraced by the light
Travel of the year: Sorsogon Trip
Event of the year: Jorge and Jessica's Wedding

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2014 is gonna be my career year.
I'll KICK Bigtime in the year of the Horse!


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

 

Nostalgia

I've been checking my blog, i feel sad seeing my backlog/drafts that are not yet published. You see, a lot of things has happened in the past months. I'd like to say that I've been busy as an excuse.

But, Truth is -- Nostalgia -That's the honest reason why I haven't blog for a while. The things this site make me feel when I read through it. The pictures that reminds me of the more possible places I could have gone to. That's why, my blog are nostalgic. But I guess I'll have no choice but to embrace the feelings that comes along with it, for I learned that nostalgia comes hand in hand with being a grown up.

I still got a few stories up in my sleeves that I was just too lazy busy to tell. the Tagaytay weekend with my family, bicol trip, my first two climb in Catanduanes, stories about the majestic puraran in our province and a lot more.

I love to share to you my many awesome travels. ohhh I miss traveling so much. The days of panic booking for cheap fares and ofcourse researching for a great itinerary. The packing,checking in, long painful bus rides, budgeting and getting wowed at that splendor of my destination. The whole process of traveling. The spontaneity of it all. I miss it so so so bad! uh ohh, that reminds me that I have yet to finish some travel stories.

Sagada and Batad  will be coming up. I don't know when but real soon. I hope.

Hello to you again readers! :)

Yannah :)

"Nostalgic. Like an old couple holding hands in their rocking chair staring off into the distant past of good times."

Out of Reach

Knew the signs
Wasn't right
I was stupid for a while
Swept away by you
And now I feel like a fool
So confused,
My heart's bruised..

Out of reach,
Couldn't see
We were never
Meant to be..

LSS with this song. deym. HAHA :)

Baras, Catanduanes (Majestic Puraran)

Coming from Manila via SLEX

 It takes almost 12 hour bus ride from Cubao to Tabaco.

3 hours and 30 mins from Tabaco port to San Andres Catanduanes via ferry

30 mins jeep ride from San Andres to the Virac proper.

About an hour ride to Baras.

then it's....

PURARAN

YOU ARE SOOOO WORTH THE 18 HOUR RIDEsssss! 

 Just look at you!

It's a weekday,  but my friends can't wait for weekend anymore, so kwin, phiw, elrey and I paved our way to the Island's Majestic Puraran .It is home to “The Majestic Wave” and it is one of the top surfing destinations in the country, and yes it is located in our Province, Catanduanes.

Lemme tell you this, it is my first time to set foot here. Being a homegrown Catandunganon--shame on me! It's elrey's first time too, shame on him as well.HAHA :)

For non-surfers like me, I love Puraran Beach because it is not crowded compared to others commercialized beaches in the island, second the whole place was so inviting,  so clean and the view is just so relaxing.

Puraran is about an-hour drive away from the capital town of Virac. You can ride public vans, rent a tricycle or join an organized tour to reach the place. Lucky us, Elrey's with us, and he can't go out without his car. yey!

Im expecting a rough ride goin' to Puraran, but I was so amazed that the roads are paved all the way! so really no bumpy rides going to the paradise. :)

It was quite of a journey but it was worth it. I cannot believe that this is the first time I came here! The scene spelled H-E-A-V-E-N. I regret that we did not get a cottage room here, or even stayed overnight just to wake up in paradise.

 Before the sun bid farewell to a beautiful day.

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 Pancit Canton + Hot coffee + Cigarettes + amazing place + wonderful friends = Perfection!

 Good conversations -- that's what I like the most about my friends, they are loud, honest and full of sunshine! The whole day was filled with laughter, okrayan and brilliant stories. We were ecstatic! We were like owners of a private place and did whatever we want.

This day, I realized that I have awesome friends. I would never exchange this moment for anything else! It's a good thing I decided to push this Puraran escapade.

the ocean

it's the best playground....

We stayed here until the moon came (thanks to the Universe). I really wanted to stay for a couple of more hours but we had to go 'coz it's getting late. 

I'm lucky to be born in this beautiful Province!

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HOW TO GET THERE:

From Manila

Land: RSL Bus Lines has daily trip Manila to Virac. there are other great buses that you can choose to, mostly located at Cubao Terminal
Air:  Cebu Pacific and SkyJets has flights to Virac. you can check their websites.
Sea: From Tabaco City, a RoRo will transports you to Virac or to San Andres Port.

Virac to Puraran: Jeepneys, Tricycles and vans are available for hiring at the Virac pier/Downtown area.