January 2015: Puerto Galera, Mindoro

I'm this kind of person who cannot live without my everyday To-Do lists, life and travel bucket list, food trip list, things-to-do-before-graduation, 30-things-before-30, and all other kinds of checklists! This year, included among my To-Do's is to travel at least once a month! It doesn't necessarily need to be a lavish vacation or anything fancy, so this should probably be attainable (or not). I just want to visit different places and learn to appreciate their culture, tradition and food!

Love Homer's bucket list, btw! Haha!

For the month of January, I went to Puerto Galera, Mindoro with my high school friends Lala and Judel during the long weekend (due to the Papal Visit last 15-19 January 2015). We originally planned an overnight trip since we just want to have a quick dose of Vitamin Sea (lelz, cliche) and because my birthday is on the 20th, I want to spend the rest of the weekend with my family! But due to a storm warning, we got stranded and extended for another three days making our trip a 4D3N adventure/ slumber party!! Haha.

Me, Judel and Lala :)

16 January 2015 (Friday)
During our first day, not knowing that we'll get stranded the day after, Lala and I bathed long enough at the White Beach and did some pictorial for our instagram posts. (HAHA sorry not sorry) With that kind of heat from the sun, who would have thought that there's an incoming storm?? Anyways, We spent mostly our day bumming and strolling by the seaside. It was a well rest, which was what we really wanted! (And of course, we had a lot of pictures taken already!!)

At night, we watched fire dancers do their acts while having dinner by the beach. We then hanged-out at a reggae bar still within the premises of the White Beach. Of course, there was a reggae band playing, coupled with a cold beer and spicy nuts for 'pulutan', which were the perfect formula for a chill night! The relaxing ambiance of the bar was a plus!!

The bar/hut has a second floor (where we stayed at) with 2 hammocks! :))

Chillax-ing!

17 January 2015 (Saturday)
The next day, when we finally confirmed that we can't go home due to the storm threat, we just hanged-out again by the beach. There were no other activities to be done since locals said that the waves were relatively huge, and boats were not allowed to coast. For us three, this wasn't a problem since we really want to just rest and chill. Judel even stayed at the lodge and watched cartoons! Lels. HAHAHA. Lala and I just read books and took quick series of naps, lying on the sand!! *ahhh. life!

Our yummy breakfast!!! We weren't able to finish this, tho!

Bumming by the beach.
I read "All the Bright Places" by Jennifer Nieven; while Lala read "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn

In the afternoon, feeling recharged and full from all the beach siesta and food trip, we decided to go on a hike. According to Judel and his relatives who live there, Aninuan Falls found in Barangay Aninuan at the foot of Mt. Malasimbo is the most common and nearest place to hike and trek. Just a 10-20 min tricycle ride from White Beach, we were off to trudge the falls!

Aninuan Falls

The hike was not a joke, if you would ask me!! It was even harder since we're just wearing slippers, plus all the binge eating from the past 2 days! But overall, it was fun especially when we reached a hidden hut/house owned by a military foreigner. We hanged there for a bit and dreamt of having our own atop a mountain someday *now added to my bucketlist!!!* #LifeGoals

With the 2 makulit 'tour guides' who shared their life stories with us during the whole hike! Haha!

Judel chilling at the 2nd level of the hut!!

Lala picking-up an instagram-worthy yellow flower! #hipster

Panoramic shot of the view after going down from the hut/house.

18 January 2015 (Sunday)

We woke up extra early to ascertain if we can already book our boat trip back to Batangas. Un/fortunately, boats were still not allowed to leave port (even though there's no rain at all). We then went back to sleep for just a few hours and then hanged by the beach. This time, we were convinced that we had fully de-stressed from all the strains from work (and school in Judel's case), and were ready to go back to reality.

But while still stranded, I lived in the moment and took the time to use Lala's ukulele to learn the basics. She gladly put up with my aspirations and taught me some, in exchange of filming her cover while she sings and plays the uke. Haha! Talk about supporting each others dreams! HAHA #feeler

Do I look like a pro?? :)) #not

All of us three chose to spend our last afternoon in Puerto (hopefully) by watching the sun set. It was indeed spectacular and the best way to unwind. You can see in our photos that we really had all the relaxing we needed! (And now that I'm typing this, I wanna go back to this moment and feel this kind of chill!)

The deep blue sky as the sun sets. Ahhh. Perfect!

 19 January 2015 (Sunday)
At 5am, we're already up hoping that we could finally go home. I was beginning to think that I'm gonna celebrate my 21st birthday in Puerto Galera but fortunately enough, there were already boat rides going to Batangas! We booked on the earliest ride and we're home by 8 am.

**

I was really thankful that I got to rest (literally A LOT) before my birthday and before getting back to work. The storm warning was a blessing in disguise for us three, since we all needed to loosen up because life's turning us into old maids. Chos. Hahaha. And as I phrase this event, we experienced the perfect kind of chill. B) <3