Philippine Travel Notes

I was still busy looking (watching out) for resorts and hotels as we drove away from Sta. Ana when I noticed that not hotels, but old ugly vehicles were the common view. As we passed by that plethora of cars in one compound, I said "ang dami naman nyan". My driver said "car expo sir, mura ang sasakyan dyan, ito (referring to the van we were riding on) galing ito dyan. I did not respond but in my mind I was saying "obvious ba?"! What you see in this photo is just a very minute part of that sea of junk vehicles. This compound is about 500 meters long parallel to the highway, and about the same measure of depth going way back there. I have known about this for some time now... that the Subic used-vehicle business has been a losing venture because of this 'competition' in Sta Ana's economic zone. Whatever that is, I do not like them all. Why the hell are we importing junk vehicles from other countries? Oo pera sa basura, but then, naman, why do we t

Off I went (from the previous story )! As the van sped southwards thru the highway, exiting the town of Sta. Ana, I suddenly had this "curiosity" about big and beautiful structures imposingly standing amidst rice fields and farms in this remote rural province. Why the curiosity? Because of the 'intrigue' that titillated my lowly brain when I saw the Cagayan Holiday and Leisure Resort INSIDE the San Vicente Naval Airfield, which is part of Naval Base Camilo Osias - one of only 3 naval bases in/of the country. First sighting! Not even far from where we took-off along this highway (Dugo-San Vicente Road?), I saw this building. Hazy picture as I did not ask driver to slow down lest he start thinking I might be some kind of an "Investigative Documentaries" ek ek hehe. Mahirap na, baka maharang pa ako somewhere. Y'know... politics... politicians... I asked "ano ang compound na yun, ang gaganda at ang lalaki ng buildings ah"! Driver casually sai

Also called Country Inn Hotel, this was my final choice after browsing thru many online reviews of accommodation places in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. And I did not regret it. Nice place. The direct booking was a bit tedious - I had to call, pay at the bank, scan the receipt, send via email, and call again. Still, I have never regretted going thru all those things! My room? A bit on the "dungeonic", yeh, the "dark side" hehe. I love windows. But it looked like, in this hotel, only the big rooms for many people have big windows. Nevertheless, the eclectic colorful (almost 'mexican') feel was sleepable enough! That air conditioner though may need to be hushed, or be decommissioned hahaha. It snores as loud as I do! Then again, I only showed-up at bed literally during bedtime? If sleeping at the open cottages was allowed, I could have snubbed my room! Why? Because the surroundings are so serene. No unnecessary noises out there. Only the gentle lapping of waves on

No this is not one of their available tour packages hehe. I just had nothing more to do since I was done with the boat tour in the morning, remember? After lunch, I had spare time. So, I went out of the hotel, hailed a tricycle and told the driver "tara ikot tayo"! The startled trike driver asked "saan tayo pupunta"? I jokingly said "aba, ikaw ang taga-rito, saan tayo pupunta"? Seriously, I told him I just wanted to see more of Sta. Ana, and if he can tell me places worth seeing and take me there. So, off we went! Yey! He drove northwards on this earthen road in front of Country Inn. The street here, parallel to the beach is not concrete yet, but not bumpy. So fine lang! We turned right at a corner, on to the highway where driver showed me my first "things to see in Sta Ana"! Jaja's Resto Grill. We did not enter, driver just wanted to show me an alternative, in case I went looking for a dinner place tonight. He said this is the most sou

Alrightie folks! I said in the previous post I'll show you my views while at the lighthouse area on top of that hill, right?! I'll include views from 'along the way'. So, here we go: My view from somewhere halfway into the climb! [click each pic to enlarge] A lot of tourists also climbing the hill! And the makeshift "fence" starts appearing! My able and well informed guide Mr. Isabelo Gagote, Jr. Call him "Jun" daw, para bagets! Can you see the boats where the beach curves? That is where I came from lang naman. And we were just halfway up the hill. Notice the "very sturdy" makeshift fence made of tree branches hehe! Notice too, that's a deep ravine behind Manong Jun and that "fence"! The other side of the hill. to the left (not in photo) are the 'Dos Hermanas Islands" There they are! The "two sisters" (Dos Hermanas) Coming from Anguib, my boat passed there (in between this hill where the lighthouse