What traveling can do to you.

If you want to go in a trip,  go.

Be the "I do have a vacation trip on weekend" in this world full of "still have loads of work this weekend or gotta end my week in bed"

Your life doesn't only revolve in front of your office computer and working table or in your cozy bed and comfy pillow. It doesn't only consisted of those two.  Sometimes,  you need to go out of your comfort zones and to try new things that you have never been tried before.  Don't settle for what is in there but instead look for something that is worth remembering until the end.  Life is short and you will never know until when you'll keep on fighting on the battle you've created and started.  If you won't travel and aim for more places to go since when are you going to stuck yourself in your working chair at the office or in the four-corner of your room at home?

If someone ask you to go out of town over holidays, go. You deserve to relax away from the chaos of life. Every person deserves to recollect themselves to think about the happenings in their life recently.  If, we are still in the right track or had we chose to take the different route we planned beforehand. Let your body recharge and rejuvenate your mind at weekend. To help us ponder what we really wanted to be in the future, what we really aiming for and to reset our goal if it is really necessary. To think deeply if we are still happy in the situations we are currently in. Because if not, don't hesitate to cut out the chains if it is choking you already and figure out another way how to be genuinely happy as you used to be.

Yes,  you work your as* off hard over weekdays so let the weekend be the only time for you to shut down all the worries and negativies that life throws on your way.

 I bet you do have a bucket list waiting to be crossed out. This is the perfect time for you to check the unchecked list you do have. Go on and be brave. You are not alone on this battle, he is with you all the time. Eventually, you will going to realize what is the true meaning of life if you took the risk of uncertainty.

Here are some tips you can do and what travel can do to you:

CLIMB A MOUNTAIN. Go to the mountain wherein you can shout out loud all the frustrations you felt. It will surely be fulfilling how those refreshing wind can cheer a dreary mind, how the rustling of leaves can provide nothing but relaxation, how those chirping birds want to inform you that you are not alone in your journey and how the mountains can tell you that you have strength. Strength to carry on with your life no matter how tough it is.

BEACHES. Go to the beach wherein you can temporarily ceased the fight of your life.  This time let the waves wash away all your botherations, let the salty wind be your new air freshener, let those aquatic animals be your silent companion.  Nothing bad will happen or could happen so enjoy every moment and just think of yourself, be selfish even just for once or even just for a day or two.

BOOK A FLIGHT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. ALONE.  Traveling alone in a foreign country is definitely terrifying but it is always worth a try. The fact that you don't have to rely on someone else anymore except to your instinct and research, makes your heart race into its abnormal level and your guts and self-confidence will be tested. You will stand by your own and let your self- independent skills be the pilot of your trip. Just think how amazing it can be.  At the end, you are standing proud on your own feet because you made it, you are no longer the same person you used to be before you left. Something changed, positively.

It is not too much to ask to make it up to yourself.  Let me tell you that life is a journey worth discovering,  be free,  be brave and live the life you  truly wanted.

Mt. Agua Colonia, Bato Dungok

It’s amazing how the beautifully made swaying trees can heal my tired mind, how the mountains can tell me that I have strength, how the rays of the sun can lift my eyes and briefly, how nature captures my brain and my heart.


Nature can always makes our heart at peace and  our mind at ease.  It brings happiness and contentment to our soul that no other material things ever could.  It can easily makes any negative thoughts fade away. 

Iloilo is located in Panay Island of the Philippines.  It's known to have old Spanish  colonial churches, white beaches, deliciously made native foods, old mansions and most of all,  picturesque mountains that are 1,000+ meters above sea level.

I am just starting my blog and I would like to share with you my recent experience. I did climb a mountain. Yes, I did.... in fact not just once but twice already.

Courage.  Positive mind.  Determination. Faith. Passion. Patience.
These are the traits you need to have when you would like to do mountain trekking or even just a simple hike.



Friday night while I was just browsing through my social media accounts,  a friend sent a message informing and inviting me to join them on their day hike trip on Sunday that week. It has been exactly a month ago since my last hike in Mt.  Lingguhob (I guess I need to make another blog about this trip) without a second thought,  I said yes and cancelled my prior trip with my other friend on the same day. I only got one day of preparations before the hike and I am pretty sure that my body was not in good condition.  I wasn't prepared at all.  I haven't got a chance to do some jogging and to exercise my legs for a long walk and trek.

 Our meeting time is 5:00 in Jaro Big market- that is where we are going to ride a jeepney going to Alimodian.

February 10, 2019, Sunday, I went to a day hike with my friends in Mt. Agua Colonia in Alimodian, Iloilo.

We arrived in  Barangay Lico where we will register and pay for environmental fee of 25 pesos.  Our tour guide is also a resident of that town.  Luckily, a two mountaineers joined us- Sir Mark and Sir Jess.  They really do have a passion for hiking and somehow shared some of their experiences in other mountains that they have been to already like Mt. Madjaas which it requires a 3 days hike.

We started to jump off around 8 am, so the adventures began.

And,  the adventures begin. 

 As we ascend everyone is excited and thrilled. The trail will never be easy and no one said it is.  It has a sloppy and rocky trail that gives a challenge to each one of us.  We haven't reached the one-fourth of the trek yet everyone was tired that includes me.  As I recall, I didn't hear anyone complaining and ranting how tired they are, how they wanted to go back and how they regretted to be there. We may look all sweaty and haggard outside but our mindset to be in the summit is strong enough to continue the hike.

They are my companion for the entire trek. 

As we ascend more, it became harder. There were times that we need to climb in the rock formations, we need to hold tightly in vines surrounding the trail and crawl into the muddy route. Aside from rocky and sloppy trail,  we also passed by on dense and mossy forest of Mt.  Agua Colonia. I was very thankful on those vines and trees that help us go through the entire hike.

Mossy Forest of Mt. Agua Colonia. 

It should be 3-4 hours trek going to the summit but in our case since almost of us are beginners,  it took us 5 hours until we finally reached it.  It was really foggy at the top and I thought this day were not for us because there is no sign of clearing.  

After couple of minutes of catching our breath and taking pictures, the fog started to vanished.  Everything is beautiful.  You can see the entire town of Iloilo and the seven cities of Alimodian,  on the east side you can see the beautiful mountains of Antique. Everything is beyond perfect and it astonished me how this is perfectly done by our heavenly father. 

This is the summit of Mt. Agua Colonia.  It is approximately 1,300+ meter above sea level.  

Overlooking the seven cities of Alimodian and the nearby town.  The rock in front is the famous "Puting Bato " or most commonly known as "Batong Dungok".

To make this trip highlighted, we also climb at the famous "Bato Dungok". It may be the highest point of the municipality. Other people said that it is broadly similar to the Pico de Loro's Monolith in Batangas, Philippines. Finally, I was able to hold the stone tablet carved the name of the scenic place. It is really heavy, never anticipated it to be. 

 I am very grateful that we all have the glimpse of the entire Iloilo and have the opportunity to witnessed how striking it can be. It can rarely be seen because of the fog consuming the whole place every time. 

Leave no traces, just footprints. 


Watch the video below.