Puerto Galera Travel Diary: Tamaraw Falls

In a country where it's almost always hot and humid and you can sweat buckets just by literally sitting down for a whole day, I've come to adore the relief that cool fresh water brings. And for a ₱30 entrance fee, you can enjoy this perfect respite alongside a majestic view of the Tamaraw Falls in Puerto Galera. Not bad huh?

Word Vomit: 25 and Perfectly Imperfect

I used to think that I'll have things figured out by adulthood. (Read 20's post-university.) Surprise! I don't. While 10 year old me would be disappointed and my 16 year old self would definitely panic, present Anne would be totes okay with it. Wow, I never thought I'd say that. Time apparently changes a lot of things. Even people. Even me.

Puerto Galera Travel Diary: Virgin Island

The best thing about living in an archipelago is that you never really run out of beaches. They're pretty abundant and one lifetime isn't enough to see all of them. That and they come in many forms too. The powder white sands are no doubt a tourist favorite but for some reason I like the ones where black and white sands meet. They look so magical to me. But Virgin Island in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro serves up a different charm and one that satisfied me nonetheless.

How to Travel Without a Passport

Itching to travel but don't have the bucks to get your passport tattooed? Me too! *ugh* But as what I'd like to tell my friends, you don't have to burn through your bank account to have an adventure of a lifetime. There are ways for us to travel without having to cross continents or carve a gaping hole on our wallets. Curious yet? I've got some tricks! (Stay till the end for a surprise.)

Spotlight: Nicole Angeles aka Riyokki

Some girls are made of sugar, spice and everything nice but Nikki, known to the internet as Riyokki, is full of sarcasm, sass and pastel class. Her art is the perfect juxtaposition of sweet and sassy. With illustrations that depict pop culture, online trends and to some extent teenage angst, it's no surprise why a lot of her works went viral on Facebook. They're relatable, current and hands-down humorous. I can't help but wonder what goes into this artist's head. Luckily, she's glad to let me (and you) in.

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!