Puerto Galera Travel Diary: Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism Area

Every time I hear the word "mangrove", I think of "mandrakes". You know the ones that shriek so loud they could melt your earwax? Ew. (If you're a muggle, you won't get that reference. Oops!) The Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism Area was the second stop in our Puerto Galera day trip and for some reason it brought me back to my high school days when we'd go on mangrove planting trips as a class. That and I got to pretend I was in a real life version of Temple Run sans the scary creatures.

Puerto Galera Travel Diary: Mangyan Village

We didn't pre-plan out trip to Puerto Galera down pat. We just kind of winged it and hopped on a boat. (Looking back I think this is the most YOLO-ing I've done in my life. LOL. I've always been a planner but I wanted to let loose sometimes and here's the chance.) We thought we'd figure things out when we reach the island. If not, we can always waste our time by the beach which is already pretty inviting on its own. Luckily, Ate Tessie, the caretaker of the unit we rented, was one jolly fellow and she told us about the different places we could go to. She even helped arrange a land tour for us. It included a jeepney that can fit around 20 people and a driver who'll take us to 5 destinations we choose and we can spend as much or as less time on each as we please. Our first stop? Puerto Galera's Mangyan Village!

Puerto Galera Travel Diary: White Beach

I have never traveled so far to see the beach. Growing up in Cebu, it was always just a half or an hour away by car. Moving to Manila made me realize that it was something I apparently missed. I've always said I was no beach bum and maybe perhaps I still am more of the mountain lover but there's a certain charm that the salt water brings especially when it presents itself in various shades of blue. Puerto Galera's White Beach was 3 hours away by bus and another 2 hours by boat. Was it worth the trouble? Definitely.

7 Must-See Places in Puerto Galera + Vlog, Itinerary, Budget and Lodging

One thing's for sure. The tropics never disappoint and Puerto Galera is no exception. I can barely remember the last time I went on vacation and recently I was reminded of how travel can nurture the soul and the mind. Would you believe that I even managed to write a poem on a boat? But that's not what this is about. That'll be a post for another day. I'm here to share something I've been wanting to go back to for so long: videos!

Blue Jersey

Out of the blue, I dreamt of you.

What could it be? A vision maybe?

It was all a blur. It feels slightly obscure.

I remember a jersey. It was all I could see.

10 Signs Anne Curtis is Your Long Lost Unnie

"Daebak". An entire book of adjectives can be used to describe Anne Curtis, the Philippine's award winning princess of all media, but nothing quite encapsulates her better than this Korean slang word. The fact that she's relatable and very "makulit" makes her even more endearing to her fans. In fact, she could be your big sister! (Or mine. Hey, we have the same name!) Not sure? Check out the following signs. She might just be your long lost unnie.

Word Vomit: On Turning 4

Four years ago, this blog was born out of sheer thirst for creativity. I was fresh out of college. After some memorable years of burrowing my nose in accounting books and burning my bushy eyebrows, I needed a creative escape. What I initially intended to be a platform for my poetry and short stories ultimately became a diary of sorts.

How to Bring Your Clothes Back from the Dead

In with the new, out with the old. Trends come and go. But this doesn't mean that you'd have to throw all your old clothes away. That's just not practical. So what's a girl got to do? Resurrect departed (read boring) clothes back from the dead! To help you out, I’ve rounded up some DIY ideas that’ll breathe life into your lackluster wardrobe. Transform them from blah to bam with these five tricks!