Hong Kong is For The Lost

My life choices seemed to be screwing up on its own so I decided to head to Hong Kong to unwind. When I posted this up on my Facebook account a year ago, a lot of people told me that they haven't seen these structures when they were there. I also have no knowledge of these places but I downloaded the Discover Hong Kong App and got the walking tour guides for each district that's why I ended up finding these structures.

The "Turtle Lake" hidden deep in Kowloon Park

Duddell Street Gas Lamps -- I found it while I was on the way to Lan Kwai Fong

St. Andrew's Church, Kowloon

Hong Kong Clock Tower

Sometimes, all you have to do is to look at things in a different perspective whenever you're in a familiar place. This photo of Salisbury Road that I took right on the edge of the balcony of 1881 Heritage, got comments asking where was it taken. People got surprised when I said that it was just the street behind Hong Kong Cultural Center, just a short walk from the Avenue of the Stars.

Street view from 1881 Heritage

Methinks that getting lost in an unknown territory makes you find something and makes you see things on a different light. Yes, may halong hugot yan. Lol.

Five Days in Region Five - Part Five

Day 4 (continuation): Bulusan, Sorsogon to Iriga City, Camarines Sur

From Bulusan, we rode with Kei to her meeting to Gubat, Sorsogon and that's where we rode a jeep to Sorsogon City to the van terminal going to Iriga City in Camarines Sur. That's the last leg of our trip before I'd go back to Manila.

Suzette took me around the neighborhood where she grew up in. I also met Suzette's Ate Kathleen and Kuya Rjay, who are established dentists in Iriga City.

View from the grotto

Suzette, Me, ate Kathleen and Kuya Rjay

Day 5: Camarines Sur to Manila

For my last day, Suzette met up with Howard, her high school friend who's on vacation from the Middle East and we went to Camarines Sur Watersports Complex. It was my first time there. Yes, I'm that jologs, TBH. Haha.

Me, Suzette and Howard

After gazillions of wipe outs, we called it a day so I can catch the last bus back to Manila. I would like to extend my thanks to the Babagay and Carranza family for adopting me. 

Looking back, it was a fun adventure for me. Being used to travel alone, it is also fun to travel with your friends because it is a different experience and in that way, you get to meet more people and learn from them. I'm proud to say that I have conquered Bicolandia in the best possible way: with good friends. I would definitely do this again.

Follow my five-part Bicolandia adventure by clicking on these links:

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four

Five Days in Region Five - Part Four

Day 4: Bulusan, Sorsogon to Iriga City, Camarines Sur

Being the busy MHO that she is, Kei couldn't come with us in exploring the other sights of Bulusan so we hired Baby Direk to take us around. Baby Direk is our moniker for Direk's son. Hrhr. First stop is Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, wherein Bulusan Lake is also located. Too bad there is some volcanic activity so the hiking trail is off limits.

It was a 10 minute drive to the lake. Some scientists say that Bulusan Lake may be a crater of another volcano.

Five Days in Region Five - Part Three

Day 3 (continuation): Matnog, Sorsogon to Bulusan, Sorsogon

I would say that Bulusan, Sorsogon would be the cherry on top for this trip. After coming from Matnog, we dumped our things at the health office in which our friend Kei is the municipal health officer. We then proceeded to Bayugin Falls, accompanied by Kuya Ricky. It is a 20 minute ride from the municipal health office and a short hike from the drop off point. Be careful of the steep and slippery trail because it is covered with moss.

Hike starts now!

Some parts of the trail aren't covered with moss

...but the hike is worth it.

Five Days in Region Five - Part Two

Day 2: Sorsogon City to Matnog, Sorsogon

From the city center, we walked a few yards to Savemore to buy our food and eat at Bigg's Diner. Bigg's Diner is a popular food shop in the region so I was told that I have truly been to Bicol because I have already eaten there. From there, we rode a trike to the jeepney terminal wherein we'd ride a jeep bound to Matnog. It was a butt-numbing ride because for an hour, you'd be squeezed into the seats in order to fill the jeep to more than its capacity. It was not the first time I heard of top loading but placing a wooden plank to the jeep bars near the exit is just so foreign to me. Hahaha. I have never seen anything like it. Jeep fare costs Php100 and you'll alight at the last stop, Matnog Port. It is only a short walk to the boat dock to Calintaan Island where Subic Beach is located.

For documentation purposes, please have yourself registered at the Tourism office, just before the wet market. They will also be responsible for assigning you the boat because there is a cooperative of pump boat operators, which ensures equal distribution of  clients among the members. Boat fee costs 2,800 and environmental fee costs 175 pesos if I remember it correctly. The fee includes an island hopping activity and a round trip service to and from the mainland. Not bad, eh?

Boat dock

Subic Beach

Campsites