adventure Archives | Meghy Was Here

Life’s Little Adventures

Meghy — Fri, 17 May 2019 07:36:11 +0000

When I am still studying and used to attend private school, I would have classmates who would happily tell stories of their holiday and summer break adventures. They would tell how they happily spent holidays on their provinces, swim their hearts out on the white sands of Boracay or even enjoyed the culture they found in Dubai. My role would always be the listener since I barely have any adventures to tell. I just spent most of my time at home during the holidays. I would usually spent time in front of a television crying and laughing towards a local TV shows, do laundry every weekends, cooks food from breakfast to dinner and the cycle repeats the next day. I don’t came from a well off family who affords to go on a yearly vacation trip but teaches me to be happy whether how small or big the blessings that would come along the way.
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As time passes by, my thought of having an adventure would always depend on money and air trips, changed. I realized that small trips will always be a life changing escapades. I realized that it is okay to have a long distance walk just to enjoy a beautiful view for free. It is okay to attend a class getaway with an exact fare on your pocket two towns away from your home. It is okay to hitch a ride for free to lessen your expenses. It is okay to skip unnecessary meals for a month and save some penny from your school allowance to have a taste of a beach experience. A five thousand peso trip can be equally happy on a three hundred peso trip. A good adventure will always depends on you and the people you spent the time with and on how you let those little adventures change your life little by little.
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Life is not always meant for travelling and escapades but it is meant for having a first hand experience of life’s unexpected wonders.

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Dingalan Travel Guide: What to do and What to expect in Dingalan, Aurora

Meghy — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 00:26:43 +0000

After I graduated college, It’s been my yearly tradition to treat myself with a travel trip during my birthday. I always think that a gift of a travel experience is more worth it than buying myself a material gift or treating myself on a fancy restaurant.

So for this year’s celebration of my another year of existence, I decided to explore the hidden beauty of Dingalan, Aurora!

Dingalan, Aurora:

Dingalan is one of the most scenic place I’ve ever been in the Philippines. It is often tagged as the “Batanes of the East” because of its views and hill-like scenery that resembles those found in more famous location, Batanes. But this silent town of Aurora has its own beauty waiting to be discovered.

It is a perfect place to fill in your adventurous heart. From trekking the high mountains, to discovering the hidden caves, to chasing waterfalls or to simply swimming on its blue waters and playing with its waves, I can say that this is worth the visit.

Located on the southernmost part of the Aurora Province, facing the Philippine Sea on the east, has a montainous landscapes because of the Sierra Madre Mountains and has big waves flashing on the scenic cliffside where the green grass meets the blue waters. What a must view to catch!

Going to Dingalan:

From Manila:

There are bus terminals that offers a ride to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija from Cubao, Pasay or Caloocan. Fare is P185 and ride may took 2 hours.

Upon arriving in Cabanatuan City Transport Terminal, catch a van going to Dingalan, Aurora. Vans are parked near 7/11 and fare is P120. It may take another 2 hour ride.

Getting Around Dingalan:

To go places in Dingalan, you can ride a tricycle and fare may be around P20 depending where you are heading to. There’s a lot of tourist attractions to visit but for this trip we only decided to go on its iconic spots, the Dingalan View Deck and Dingalan Lighthouse. As much as we wanted to go on other tourist spots, we are already tired from our Baler trip prior going to Dingalan.

Start of our journey:

Upon arriving on Dingalan Transport Terminal, we ride a tricycle going to the Feeder Port located in Brgy. Paltic (fare is P20). Feeder port is the starting point of your Dingalan Tour. From here, you need to register and pay for the Environmental Fee of P50. A tour guide is required to go on any desired Dingalan destination. No worries, it won’t be hard for you to look for a registered tour guide since they flock on the port area with their uniform and IDs. Tour guide rate is P200 per location. If you wish to eat first before starting your Dingalan activities, there are few food stalls or “karinderya” on the Feeder Port area that offers food for cheap prices.

Going to the White Beach:

White Beach is the drop off point to Dingalan View Deck and Lighthouse. You have two choices going to the White Beach from the Feeder Port. First, you can rent a boat for P800 good for 10 persons or second, you can trek from the Feeder Port to White Beach for 30-40 minutes. On our case, we decided to take the second option.

We started our trek at 6:30am. Trekking might be easy but tricky at times. You have to walk on the sea shores with big rocks while big waves are coming your way. At times, we have to wait for the waves to calm down before crossing the big rocks and do it as fast as possible before catching the next big wave.

The tour guide will require you an additional P200 if you choose to trek instead of renting boat. Upon arriving on White Beach, there are open cottages available where you can rest for some time before trekking the mountain.

Going to Dingalan View Deck:

Trekking from the White Beach going to Dingalan View Deck may take arond 30 minutes. Most part of the way to the top is covered with trees so trekking is a bit easy but still tiring at times. The path is well guided, there are posts and ropes that you can rely on.

Upon reaching the top you will be fascinated with the beauty that you will be seeing. It’s much like looking on a masterpiece of an artist on a painted canvass. The view is really jaw-dropping that won’t stop you from staring and taking pictures.

Going to the Lighthouse:

After you’re done with the View Deck, you have to trek down for 30 minutes. Once reached the jump off point on the White Beach area you have to climb again on the other side for another 30 minutes to reach the lighthouse. Unlike the path on the View Deck, there’s no shade or trees on your way but instead, you will be seeing tall grasses along the way.

Upon reaching the top, another beauty awaits you. It’s windy on the lighthouse area compared on the View Deck which will be a good place to relax and scream your heart out. I actually enjoyed lying on the grass and feel the fresh air coming.

Note: Climbing the lighthouse itself is prohibited

Going back to the Feeder Port:

Once you are done with the trekking, it’s up to you if you want to stay on the White Beach for swimming or head to other Dingalan spots. On our case, since we only decided to visit the lighthouse and view deck we decided to head back to the Feeder Port.

You can trek back to the port for another 30-40 minutes but since we are a bit tired of all the trekking we’ve done we chose to rent a boat for a cheaper price of P400. (You will only pay half the boat rental fee if you will be coming from the White Beach)

Going Back to Manila:

You have to ride a tricycle from Feeder Port back to the transport terminal and ride a van going to Cabanatuan. By this time, the travel time to Cabanatuan only took 1 and a half hour. It’s much faster than our travel time from Cabanatual to Dingalan.

On Cabanatuan Terminal, we looked and ride a bus back to Cubao for P185.

Other Tourist Spots you can visit in Dingalan:

Tanawan Falls
Lamao Caves
Matawe Beach
Laktas Falls

Breakdown of Expenses (for 2 pax):

Expenses	Fares/Fees
Fare from Cubao to Cabanatuan	P185
Fare from Cabanatuan to Dingalan	P120
Tricycle fare to Feeder Port	P20
Environmental Fee	P50
Tour Guide Fee (2 locations and additional fee for trekking)	P300(P600/2)
Food	P45
Tricycle fare to Dingalan Terminal	P20
Fare from Dingalan to Cabanatuan	P120
Fare from Cabanatuan to Cubao	P185
Boat Rental	P200(P400/2)
Total	P1245

Expenses will be cheaper if you will be coming on big groups

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SandBox Pampanga: Travel Guide 2018

Meghy — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 05:01:02 +0000

SandBox is an adventure park located in Porac, Pampanga that will give you various selection of outdoor fun. It is a perfect place for outdoor activities that will excite your inner adventurous self. This is the house of the first roller coaster zipline and tallest giant swing in the country.

They offer various activities for all ages making it a perfect place for family bonding or barkada getaway.

How to get there?

From Cubao, there’s a lot of bus companies that offers a ride to Dau such as Victory Liner, Five Star etc. Just simply pick among them and tell the conductor to drop you off on Dau Terminal (Fare is P139)
Once you arrived in Dau Terminal walk to Sogo Hotel and on the other side of the street, ride a jeepney going to SM Clark (Fare is P9)
On SM Clark, you have to walk on the other side of the mall and look for jeepneys going to Porac, Pampanga. Just let the drivers knows that you are going to SandBox so they can drop you off in Alviera (Fare is P30)
Upon arriving in Alviera, there are tricycles that offers a ride to SandBox but on our case, we chose to walk instead. It’s just about a 10-minute walk.

How to get back to Manila?

From SandBox you have 2 options going back to SM Clark:

You can ride a tricycle going to the jeepney terminal and look for jeepneys going to SM Clark or
You can ride the SandBox shuttle for P70 that will drop you on SM Clark. Shuttle’s schedule is 1pm, 3pm and 5pm

On SM Clark, look for the transport terminal and ride a jeepney back in Dau Terminal
From Dau Terminal, ride a bus bound to Manila

Attractions:

Roller Coaster zipline

Not your ordinary zipline but it will give you a zigzag ride in the 180 meter course and said to be the first one in the Philippines.

Giant Swing

This is the country’s tallest swing. You can try it by solo or with a friend. As per them, this can accommodate up to 3 persons.

Aerial Walk

This is an adventure course of high ropes and obstacles that will challenge you and give you impulsive heartbeat. The circuit can be done within 30 minutes or more.

Wall Climbing and Free Fall

On the park you will be seeing the adventure tower which is a 5-storey tower serves as home of activities such as Wall Climbing, Free Fall and serves as a view deck as well of the area. Free Fall is an activity that will make you fall 15 meters from above while Wall Climbing is an artificial wall that requires right body position to get on the top.

Splash Tab

This is SandBox newest attraction. It is an inflatable water park that has obstacle courses.

They offer as well other fun outdoor activities such as Rappel Wall, ATV or UTV riding, Archery and Go Karting.

Rates and Packages: (All packages includes the P100 entrance fee)

Package A (P750)

Giant Swing
Aerial Walk
Roller coaster zipline

Free Fall
Rappel Wall
Wall Climbing

Package B (P500)

Giant Swing
Roller coaster zipline
Rappel Wall

Wall Climbing

Package C (P450)

Giant Swing
Roller coaster zipline
Free Fall

Package D (P700)

Giant Swing
Roller coaster zipline
Aqtiv Archery

Outdoor Archery

Package E (P600)

Roller coaster zipline
Giant Swing
Rappel Wall

Wall Climbing
Splash Tub

Things to know before going:

The park is too hot so better to apply sunblock to avoid sunburns
You must wear proper activity attire. You must be wearing a rubber shoes and if you will be trying the Splash Tub activity you must not wear clothes with buttons
There are few cute container-like stalls on the park that offers foods of various selection and can serve as great spot for IG-worthy post

Bring extra clothes especially if you wish to try the Splash Tub. There’s shower room near the Splash Tub area
SandBox is open Thursday to Sunday 9am-5pm
During a rain, operation of the activities can be stopped due to safety reasons so better check the weather before going

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