CAM SUR...

Being around a group of professional wakeboarders can be very intimidating. I have always had this "try anything once" attitude, but when I saw how the Pros do it, I must admit, I kinda thought twice. 

 First time boarders are encouraged to do kneeboarding first, doing it standing can be rather difficult and pretty dangerous. I have done long boarding in Siargao but given the number of people around the 4.5 hectare lagoon, I wanted to do it as recommended. I saw some people who have been doing it for a few days and they cant get past 5 meters from the starting ramp standing. LOL.

There is actually a beginner's lagoon you can go to but I figured it was boring there so I decided to do it where the Pros are. PAK!

The thing about doing it where the Pros are is that the cables drag you so fast. Strong arms and legs really useful in this activity. My running and biking training helped me a lot.

I managed to do a full circle of the 4.5 hectare area on my second try. It is not just boarding around the area, you have to pass through a certain route and navigate your way to make sure you are in between two parallel buoys in certain points of the lagoon. This is where most people fall off the board.

This is my after boarding peg. PAK! 

And yes, a can of COKE was waiting for me after a few rounds of boarding...

 

Some of the rather interesting personalities while I was in CWC.

Food was good. I had this Chinese Pork Adobo for around Php 200.00. It had the Bicolandia taste of Chili and Coconut Milk. I finished the rather big bowl in a few minutes. 

I still can't locate the data cables for the camera I used during the trip. All photos here are from Kent. 

 DIOS MABALOS, Cam Sur! 

See you again soon!!!!

The Great Bicol Experience...

What started out to be a rather distressful trip turned out to be one of my happier and spontaneous expeditions. Yes, my Bicol experience was all about firsts. 

My first time to travel without a check in luggage and depend on my dependable "Charlie", that's how I call my backpack to take care of all my needs. This was the most challenging part of the trip. To those who know me, travelling light was never my skill, but this time around, I managed! 

It was my first time to go to Cam Sur... I have always wondered what got this place the top tourist destination spot for 2010 and check out the famous Camarines Watersports Complex.

My first time to travel to a destination, without knowing or having connections with any local and of course go, BACKPACKING. Yes, I have always been a safe and comfort traveller. I have always utilized the services of hotel transfers, guided tours and other means to make my travels as convenient as possible. This time, I made use of Google and my charm. From getting my flight rerouted to the next trip possible, to finding my way to the stop point that would take us to Bulusan, this trip was all about the experience of trying to live and travel like a local.

In the next few days, I will be sharing with you that experience, the places to go, the things to do, and the delicious Bicolano dishes to check.

 I will try to take you to that great Bicolandia experience in my next posts and show you why I am giving BICOL a “Thumbs-Up”! 

Thanks you Kent for the pictures! :) 

REAL STEEL...

Pardon my absence for the last few days, I just got back from a backpacking trip which I promise to blog about in the next few days but meantime I just would like to share my feedback on Dreamworks new film release "REAL STEEL". As usual, Hugh Jackman doesn't disappoint his audience and gives a noteworthy action packed performance. 

In the tradition of Artificial Intelligence, and other feel-good-sci-fi movies, I would say this is one of those you shouldn't fail to watch. Dakota Goyo, Hugh Jackman's son in the movie proves he deserves to stay side by side Mr. Jackman in this film.  

No Other Woman... Not a movie review.

The ongoing blockbuster performance of "No Other Woman" spoke a few facts about the Filipinos way of life. Infidelity sells and the mistresses are here to stay. 


I'm sure that everyone of us have at some point had a dinner conversation where we spoke about somebody's separation because of another woman. The "Kabit" is a subject always close to home. To the young generation, this is who one of your friends lost her family to when you're Tito decided to go all out with that beautiful gold digger . To the young professionals, this is one of your officemates, rekindling an old flame and trying to reconnect with an ex-boyrfriend to prove that ones first love never dies. Or a tired single woman a few desks away, who decided to stop searching and hit on an unhappily married co-worker. To our parents' crowd, the mistress is the person they will never understand. They may have or know someone who at some point have lost to this woman and their existence still spells fear of losing their marriage, broken families and losing family money that they want them to die by slowly pinching them with a pair of tweezers. 


While at some point, it has become acceptable for men to do so, it still is an interesting discussion. And just like the movie, such discussion always bring a nice exchange between the conservative and the open minded. We have seen it happen too many times that we always have something to say. The conservative argues based on labels and morals; while the open minded argues on reason. 


I guess what I really have to say is, Marriage is not everything. Some people choose to stick to that decision, while others think they know better. I am all about protecting marriages, but sometimes the only way to make it fair is to be honest and make a choice. And yes, just like a happily married friend always tells me when I get confused, it always helps to Pray.