Travel Photographer Philippines – The 4AM Chronicles

One common question people ask travelers is this: What is the best place you’ve visited? Time and again, I would always give people an “it-depends” answer, because it really depends. We cannot compare each destination from another, because each has its own pros and cons, good things and bad, and the what haves and have nots.

The question we don’t normally encounter is this? What is the best journey you’ve ever had? Sometimes we dont care about focusing on the journey part of our travels.

photo by mikebaird

And so let me enumerate the trips I remember and call it must have travel experiences. Here we go: Read the rest of this entry »

I was wondering until when Id break my fast with blogging and it was not until I found out that the Pinoy Travel Bloggers is hosting a blog carnival featuring Mindanao.

If there was something I’d like to share about Mindanao, its the stuff that I miss, as it has been months since I last visited. As I reminisce the experiences and all the great things the south has to offer.

1. The First Time . it was in Davao that I experienced a lot of firsts. I was starting out as a photographer back then. On assignment for a travel magazine, my heart raced as I found out that I was going to Samal Island. Research told me that I was going to get a lot of good photos, as the place showed crystal clear waters, vividly blue skies, and real nice beaches. Ive done and seen quite a few firsts in this trip: It was my first assignment as a photographer. It was also my first time to travel with someone I didn’t know (a travel writer whose name I forgot). Come to think of it, it was also my first time to fly local. It was my first time to see four people ride a motorcycle (habal-habal). It was my first time to go diving, and my first to sleep in a small island, in my own little beach hut, with someone serving coconut, waking you up in the morning, and asking you what you’ld like to have for breakfast.

I couldnt find my photos except for this one. That island you see from afar is Island Buenavista. That’s the little Island I was telling you about. Read the rest of this entry »

I love bread. Notice I love everything? Anyway, as I was saying/typing/whatever.. I love bread. from French Poilan, to Chinese hopia, Silver roll bread like the one used in siopao to thin or hand-tossed pizza crust, pandesal, and those tig-piso tig-seis Spanish breads you can get off a local panaderia. There’s just something about bread that keeps me craving for more. Another type of bread that I came to try not-so-recently was the Ilocos Biscocho in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. This bakeshop in Pasuquin doesn’t create biscocho from bread scrap but they make them as if making any type of bread. Biscocho is usually what’s left off the bread mold, but they make it deliberately here. Iloilo is actually the one famous for native biscocho, but Ilocos has its own version, the main difference is that the one in Iloilo is sweet and the one in Ilocos isn’t.

Of course, since we’re inside a bakeshop, I didn’t stop myself from grabbing a few bites of fresh bread. I even got to try semi-cooked raw dough since someone told us it was already baked. Hmmm.. good thing my tummy was as hard as metal.

The smell of oven baked dough is always a treat. Its basically a sure temptation that more probably no one can resist.

So when you’re in Ilocos craving for bread. You know where to go.

Pasuquin Bakery Pasuquin Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte (63-77) 775-0198

Lakbay Norte is brought to you by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau and the Manila North Tollways Corp. Our Ilocos Norte leg would is organized and supported by the Ilocos Norte Convention and Visitors Bureau. Join us next time as we Rediscover the North.

My first ever solo travel was also my first plane ride. I was already working and I was still doing corporate and got burned out from too much work that I needed motivation to live life differently. So, I traveled alone from here, to land of Lakers  and to the Golden Gate Bridge. That trip was a prelude to what was in store for me. I never had the luxury of traveling when I was younger except for the regular trips to our neighbor’s house just to play computer games. Back then, Atari and the Nintendo Family computer was a blockbuster.

There is this love hate-relationship that’s been going on between me and solo travel. I hate the fact that I can be at a moment and enjoy what’s in front of me and a few minutes later I feel bored because I don’t have anyone to talk or share it with.

I was in bohol on my own and got bored.
Good thing I decided to ditch the beach and move elsewhere in the island

Traveling solo is different from watching movies alone, or eating at a restaurant alone. There are similarities but the psychology is different. There are moments and places that can be best experienced when you are with someone. And there are moments and places that are best experienced with love, friends, and family.

There are four things to consider when traveling solo

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An overnight photography tour of Rizal Laguna, and Quezon
with Karlo de Leon

click on the image to enlarge

On May 7-8, I will be joining a photography tour of Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon and giving photography insights and tips on travel photography to participants.

Read the rest of this entry »