who cares

its 1:24 am and im still wide awake. tv is on, but im not watching. quick glance – its home shopping network. tunes on my ipod – opm playlist. for now, this will do as my sleep inducer (reminder to self – create new playlist). i’ve just readjusted my position to be able to type. kinda hard to blog when ur in bed, and the laptop is sitting on a chair. gary v is now belting “i will be here”. for some reason, i liked the part when he sings ” i will be here when you feel like being quiet…” 

I’m deciding if im gonna transfer my fone (which is beside me on the bed) to the table. as im writing, a text message alert appears. nothing important. quick glance at the tv – still home shopping. where’s the remote.

Wires got tangled up. Gotta get myself a decent speaker. earplugs should be for travel only.  i just got asked why im still awake. good question. got me thinking actually. i haven’t even tried.. i think, after a long day, i wanna do something, something other than work.. well, this should qualify as something..

so far, this is the most fun ive had blogging. still deciding if its the mood, or if this is the kind i should blog.

anyway.

Paradise in Quezon

Yep, there’s white sand in Quezon province. I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first (ignorant me). The waters are as cool and clear as any you will find anywhere else. The virgin island is called Kwebang Lampas.

 

 

 

How to get there:

1. Bus ride to Lucena City, Quezon province.

This will take around 3 to 4 hours. Best time to travel would be in the wee hours of the morning – no traffic!

You should get off at the GRAND TERMINAL. If you fail to do so, don’t worry. The driver will force you to ’coz this is the last stop.

JAM Transit

     Taft Avenue, Pasay City, Manila  OR  New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City.

     Telephone: (2) 924 7712, (2) 831 4390 (Good luck calling these numbers)

     FARE: around 216 pesos

JAC Liner

     Taft Avenue, Pasay City, Manila  OR   EDSA corner Kamias, Quezon City

     Telephone: 682-5750

     FARE: around 216 pesos

             buses leave every 30 mins if im not mistaken.

2. Jeepney ride to Pagbilao Market

At the grand terminal, ride a jeep to Pagbilao. Get off at the wet market. There’s a small jeepney terminal where you can get a ride to Ilayang Pulo. Fare is 37 pesos. Just to make sure, ask the driver to drop you off near the back of the Hopewell Powerplant. This will take around 25 to 30 mins.

3. Tricycle ride to Hopewell Powerplant.

This is the jump off site to Kwebang Lampas.  Ride will take around 5 to 10 mins. After which, you will embark on a 30 min trek to the actual site – Kwebang Lampas. Fare depends on your negotiation skills.

4. Kwebang Lampas Trek 

I actually read on another blogsite that you won’t get lost, and that the hike is very easy. I beg to differ. After being dropped off at the Hopwell Powerplant, we trekked a little, got lost, got tired, then had the tricycle driver pick us up (good thing we got his number before getting off).

The much easier way

Check in at a resort which has island tours as part of its service. We stayed at Silangang Nayon (located at Brgy Bantigue in Pagbilao). To get there, take a jeepney ride to Pagbilao. Then, take a “special” tricycle ride to Bantigue. Most drivers know the Silangang Nayon Resort. Cheapest accomodation is 2,500 for 4 persons, with free breakfast for 2. Aircon, cable tv, fridge, bath tub, toiletries, hot & cold shower are also included. They have good food and GREAT service. However, the waters in the surrounding are not for swimming.

Telephone no: (042) 731 1924 716 0077

Cellphone no: 09194420042

www.silangangnayon.com

 For 700 pesos, the bangkero will bring you to the paradise that is Kwebang Lampas. You can also request to be taken to the SANDBAR, at no additional cost. The ride, depending on the speed of the boat, will take around 30 to 45 mins.

WORTH MENTIONING

- Quezon folk are helpful and friendly. So don’t be afraid to ask for directions. They are some of the nicest people I’ve met.

- Silangang Nayon is such a beautiful place (with great service to boot) that you will tend to overlook the fact that they don’t have a swimming area (not even a pool!). But as mentioned earlier, they do provide island hopping services.

- The Kwebang Lampas does not have a resort or overnight accomodations. No tent-pitching. 

- Make sure to visit the other paradise site – the SANDBAR. This is just a some 15 to 30 mins away from Kwebang Lampas.

As for the rest, I’l let the pictures do the talking…

yep, its that clear

 

yep, its that white

 

silangang nayon dining area

 

 

something

what makes us happy? i don’t mean the short-term, temporary, flingy types – the ones that just come and go. i’m talking about those “things” that (1) make an indelible mark on our being, (2) positively impact our outlook, and  (3) refresh our soul. yes, people do change; but still, more or less, i believe we are already set in our ways. they say attitude is everything, but i can’t stop thinking we may be just kidding ourselves when going that route. to emphasize my point, what makes us TRULY happy? one thing i’m sure about is it is not a decision. it is a feeling. to reiterate, again, none of those short-lived, momentary types.

i guess being truly happy is feeling a wave of contentment for long periods of time? and/or when the day arrives that you stop thinking and start feeling? i have no answers. otherwise, i’d be too happy to even think of writing this stuff. yeah, we all know life’s a journey and all that, but you feel what you feel. you think what you think. (what you actually do is another topic for another time). for this post, its what goes on inside that counts.

i’m not depressed, just sleep deprived. eureka. maybe that’s it.

or not.

my life is a comedy sitcom

its amazing, and sometimes downright depressing how some sitcoms reflect my emotions – my well being in general. its as if the writers know exactly how i have been feeling lately. its scary how much i can relate; so much that i can identify with the characters. yeah, most of the scenes make me smile. but inwardly, it only reinforces what i have been going through. i’ve just recently realized that how i enjoy or appreciate a show is directly related whatever is going on in my life. when things are not going so well, watching makes me feel like i’m being silently scolded or  given a lecture. when all is good, i can’t wait to put on that dvd.

one thing i learned: if you can relate too much, you most probably won’t enjoy or have fun as you usually do.