Sorry for being away for a year!

Heeeeeeeey! Sorry guys, i have been in hiatus in this food and travel blog site for a year or so, just because i was really busy with my professional work.

But do not worry! I'll be back the soonest :)

Wait for it!⦽

Mt. Pinatubo - Botolan, Zambales trail. Rain or shine we go!

28th May 2016 - 2:30 am. Me and my three travel folks (Jeff, Cheenee and Meve) traveled by bus to Metro. We opted to get a tour package so we will not be of hassle.

Our tour group almost did not make it to the tour that day as there is a cut off at base camp because our bus' tires got burnt during the 4 hour trip. Thankfully, the 4x4 vehicles were sent to us at the area. So yeah, we were able to have a 4x4 ride for 2 hrs instead of 1hour and 30mins.

1 hour and 30 minutes - a very bumpy and dusty ride. All i can say is it was more tiring than having to trail the crater. I promise. 

It was also a wet ride. Hehe.

We had a stop over at the sea of ​​lahar (probably 30mins away from the basecamp).

 Our trek started around 9:20 am that day. The sun was up. It was hot. Our pace during the trek was a slow one as we were on a big group (39 head count).

After an hour or so, we were able to reach the entrance to the crater. This was a few walks past the small aeta village.

The weather started getting moody around 10:30 am. We felt raindrops and the sky was all gloomy.

We reached the final point before going to the crater at around 11am. So there's this post that we had to take a picture at.

Where do you think we belong? Young age? Middle age? Or senior citizens? None of those three. Haha. We were already zombies probably as it took us 30mins to reach the crater.

Ohh yeah. We conquered Mt. Pinatubo .

Magestic landscape right there.

Not even lahar can stop us reaching the crater. hehe

Selfie of Achievement

Selfie of achievement # 2 lol

We had our lunch after those picture taking. We stayed atop for around 30mins and had to go down earlier than expected as the weather started to go bad. Dark sky was all over the place and a very strong rain may hinder us from traversing back.

30mins at the traverse, the rain fell. It was really strong. We all got soaked. Thankfully I had an umbrella with me (I am always on the go. Hahaha).

We reached the basecamp at around 3:30 am, all wet. We had to change outfits before leaving for the 4x4 ride again.

The bumpy and dusty ride was again experienced by us. 

We were able to reach the pick-up / drop-off point of the 4x4 vehicles at around 6pm already.

Proof of purchase. Este, of completion. Haha.

Special thanks to TRIPINAS for the whole trip. We may not be able to experience this one without you guys, especially Mr. Tee.

For complete itinerary and details of our group's trip, just go to tripinas.com.ph.

And I quote from my FB profile pic, "Not even lahar can stop me." Hehe.


Thanks for reading! Till the next.

El Nido on a Budget

Are you finalizing and achieving your El Nido trip but would want to spend less so as to save money for your future? Here's a guide that you'll surely be printing out anytime soon.

El Nido, Palawan: 3-days Itinerary (Mnl-Pps-Mnl)

 

➢ Day 1. Travel from your place to Puerto Princesa.  Then,

 

• Flag down trike for P50.00 to the bus terminal.

• Travel to El Nido via Ord. Bus (P450.00)/AC Bus (P550.00)/Shuttle (P600.00). Buses travel time is 6 hours while shuttle is 5 hours. Negotiate to get cheaper fare.

 

➢ Town Hopping.El Nido, Palawan (DAY 1)

 

• Hire trike for a day tour around the place for P1500.00 (1000.00)

• Morning hike at a hill near Nacpan Beach.

• Back to town to eat lunch. Check-in at OMP Hostel(P350.00/head a night with breakfast) or El Taraw Inn ( P500.00 a night good for 2 w/o breakfast).

• Swimming until sunset at Marimegmeg Beach. (We may rent Kayak for P500.00/day or P350.00/half day).

•  

➢ Island Hopping – El Nido, Palawan (DAY 2)

 

• Grab an island hopping tour. Standard package is 1200-1400 per tour plus 200.00 environmental fee. Alternative: private tour. (P3000.00 for tour A or D; P4000.00 for B or C – best tour. Secret Beach and Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine and Star Beach)

 

 

➢Travel back to Puerto Princesa (DAY 3)

 

• Tour around Puerto Princesa until it's your time to go back home.

 

 

Estimated Expenditure (worst case scenario)

​​

Trike travel	120.00
Bus Travel	1200.00
Island Hopping	1000.00
Land Tour	350.00
Kayak	500.00
Food	1000.00
Lodging 2 days	1000.00
TOTAL	5170.00

Estimated Expenditure (budgeted)

Trike Travel	120.00
Bus Travel	900.00
Island Hopping	500.00
Land Tour	250.00
Food	1000.00
Lodging 2 days	1000.00
TOTAL	3770.00

*Airline ticket not included.

So what are you waiting for? Hop on the backpacker's wagon and see the world you dream of.

Christmas Recipe: Freestyle Cheesecake (No Bake)

So, it's about time I post this recipe. After all, it's christmas! Christ is coming and a good food to celebrate it isn't something unjustly.

Presenting, the no bake Cheesecake!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pack Crushed grahams

1/2 butter (big size. I used Magnolia)

1 whole cream cheese (big size. I used Magnolia too)

1 pack gulaman powder (i used colorles. No flavor)

2 pcs egg

3 pack Nestlè cream

1 small can condensed milk

1/2 can evaporated milk (small Alpine)

Any topping (i used ube halaya. It's great if you use blueberry preserves)

Utensil to use:

Non-stick removable-bottomed pan

Some spatulas

Bowls

How to!!

1. In a small bowl, mix gulaman with evaporated milk. 

2. In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese, condensed milk and nestle cream. Mix until smoothen.

3. In another separate bowl, combine crushed grahams with butter. For easy mix, heat up the butter so it would melt.

4. Relax, and pull out your non stick pan. Press the crushed graham mixture into the pan - as it will be the base of your cake.

5. In a cooking pan, open your stove and heat it up with moderate fire. Put slowly your nestle cream and cream cheese mixture. Never stop mixing to avoid getting it burnt. After 3 minutes, put in the gulaman mixture. Heat up until it's bubbling. Then, pour in the eggs. Then mix thoroughly for 30 seconds then remove from the pan. Set aside for 1 hour for it to cooldown.

6. Pour the mixture in #5 into your cake pan. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

7. Pour your toppings. Then refrigerate for 10 hours.

Enjoy and have a sweet christmas!

30 day Pre-christmas weight loss challenge

Christmas is in the air again. Alongside, christmas parties will be everywhere by the time December comes in. Everybody, in my honest opinion, is pretty excited to attend one party or two - to be able to wear amazing and impressive outfits that will really look good on you. Tight skirts, boddy hugging tees, slim-cut jeans, leggings, crop-top, long-sleeve polo and more. However, there are times when these outfits does not look good on you, especially when you get in touch with buffet parties / "inuman" (hard drinks) sessions every week or you wanted to eat anything you have not tasted yet, hence, adding up pounds on you making you look bulgy and big. 

I say no worries, because it's not impossible to lose enough weight for you to look more amazing on those outfits in just 30 days.

5-RULES-IN-30-DAYS-FOR-A-SLIMMER-YOU PLAN (that's hella long. lmao.)

These are just simple rules you had to follow  in order to get the desired result.

1. NOT MEANT FOR YOU, BUT IT WILL BE.

- This is really the first step so I had to make it the first rule. Buy the outfit you want to wear (on next month's party) which you could not wear because it is too small for you. This will be your motivation along the way. You won't waste money on something you cannot use, so cope with the differences by doing the next four rules.

2. FORGIVE AND FORGET.

- Sodas, beers, burgers, fries, instant coffees, cakes and desserts, extra rice - these things are really tempting that will help us gain weight abnormally (and it isn't a good way too). Forgive these things for adding up pounds on your body. Then, forget them all. Avoid eating any of these within 30 days (you will surely have to eat or drink any of these on christmas parties).

3. ONE CUP IS ENOUGH FOR A RICE, MAN. 

- I know this line is a bit corny but I will put it anyway (lol). Always set the bar for carbs intake. A cup of rice a day is what is ideal. Anything more of that is subject to rule # 2. You can have a cup of rice only during lunch, or you may have half a cup on breakfast and also half a cup at lunch.

4. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.

- Health is life. Good health means good life. Bad health leads to death (scary! 😱). Getting into a diet scheme is good, but adding up exercise into it is way much better. Instead of watching TV during night time, or getting up late in the morning, put on your running shoes and have a walk or run. This way, you will shed off fats stored beneath your skin.

5. PLANS ARE MEANT TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

- You don't plan just because you want a plan. It won't be a success unless you implement or apply it. Implement the four rules prior to rule # 5 and you will surely have a great and fit christmas!

This way, you will enjoy more the yuletide celebrations! 🎅🎉❄️⛄️🎁

Penned by: Eric Generalao Tandog

Pico De Loro: No Pain, No Gain

March 28, 2015 -  The most rewarding trek I have been through so far.

I know for myself I am no fan of mountain climbing or anything alike as I grew up in a place where you can see mountains almost anywhere – Bohol. At our place, going to the top of the mountains are not new to us. Hence, when my officemates decided to hike at this specific place, I was like “okey, I’m in”. I was wrong. It was greater than I expected.

Our itinerary on print.

We have checked a few reviews on the said mountain so we may find a day tour travel – as most of my companions were girls. Security is our priority.

Then that day came.

Sorry Mat! Haha.

We travelled to Cavite via a (AC) bus going to Ternate from Pasay (cost us 120 pesos each). After arriving at Ternate, we rode a trike (100 per person) going to the DENR campsite of Pico De Loro. (by the way, Pico de Loro is also known as Mt. Palay Palay).

We paid for the entrance fee of 20.00 pesos at the base. Changed clothes. Put some sun screen lotion – the fulfilling journey commences.

As for going up, we did not get ourselves a guide – as suggested. Thankfully, it was not that difficult trekking the 2-hour climb mountain ranges of Pico De Loro.

We left a mark though. 

After almost 3 hours of walking and climbing (and stopping for food and to catch some air), we reached the plateau of the mountain – just a few kilometre away from the “Monolith”.

The Monolith at our back.

Past the plateau before reaching the monolith is still one mountain to climb – where there was  basically nothing to hold onto – unless you trust the tiny plants and all other confusing stones scattered. It was like a steep mountain of sand (this was one of the two scary moments of our adventure. Thank God everybody survived!).

After all the struggle going up, we saw and sow our reward – a breath-taking scene at the summit.

We we’re planning to climb the monolith as it was really fantastic and amazing to look at – but my body said no. My legs were too tired to do the walking, might as well the rappelling. Good thing, everybody agreed to not climb it anymore – again for safety purposes.

It’s been 4 hours and I have not yet talked about our lunch, haven’t I? Yes, because we never did eat lunch. We stayed for a few moments atop and took our rest (and some snacks, too) so that we can traverse going to Nasugbu, Batangas early.

The real struggle was never going up – it’s when you are going down. We got ourselves a guide – to lessen the difficulty in looking for our exit – as we opt for the Nasugbu traverse. (we got one guide for a package deal of 100 per head, supposedly, but gave 1,500 pesos instead).

The traverse was really unimaginable – it was too hard and too risky for beginners like most of us but you can still see us enjoying things and smiling. It's all about teamwork! Another “THANK GOD!” because everybody survived.

This is one of the few moments in my life where I can say, “NO PAIN, NO GAIN”.

Estimated hours to complete traverse: 8 hours

Estimated expense per individual : P1,000.00

Level of difficulty: 3/9

Rating: 4.5/5

Would like to acknowledge the following people who are with me during this adventure: Apple, Lyca, Kier, Mat2x, Kevin, Ms. E, Ate Cons, Sir Bri, Jhing, Cha and Emil.

© wanderlustyik