Sky Lanterns: 11.11.11 at 11:11 PM (Pasig, Philippines)

When I first heard of this event, one thing that flashed to my mind is the article that I've read about the sky lantern festival in Chang Mai, Thailand (Northern Thailand) that originally and traditionally used there, also last week, I saw the Lonely Planet Guide Book, Thailand at National Bookstore also that it covers the lantern.

That night was a blast. Went to Banchetto in Megatent, Ortigas Center, Pasig City with some college friends. Went there to try the foodtripping they offer. The food was a little bit pricey compared to the normal price of goods outside, but not much. Let's say the Isaw (Chicken Intestines) on stick costs 25 pesos /per stick. The juice on plastic cups costs 30 pesos. It's actually my first time at Banchetto. Heard many good feed-backs about Banchetto from some of my friends back in highschool. We went there actually to see the said Sky Lantern - Wishing Lantern"Event" which you can put your wishes on a wishing paper and you can attach it with the lantern; they will light up all of the 1,000 lanterns altogether at exactly 11:11 PM in the same date, 11.11.11 which happens once in a lifetime. Unfortunately, the said event was cancelled due to some 'safety reasons' daw. But, yeah. they lighted up one sky lantern for testing and for media exposure.

One of few sky lanterns they light up.

An, it goes up. The normal sky lantern goes up to maximum limit of 500 meters, as they said.

Food-tripping, puto bumbong, anyone?

Tired. The whole group, except me. L-R: Karla (Lovely's cousin), Lovely, Lesyl, Frenniel, Marx and Mik.

Went to Metrowalk after, chilled at Starbucks. Banchetto is full-packed that night.

There's this one group who light up their sky lanterns at the parking lot near Banchetto.

Capturing low lightning shots is hard, you know? Haha. Forgive me, I didn't brought my tripod.

Yeah. With flash on.

It's magical when you see these lanterns up above the skies.

Went to Starbucks Metrowalk after 11:11 PM.

Those wiring-look-like is actually sky lanterns, it's magical.

Mikhail and I, look at the crowd at our back.

Yeah! Sky lanterns. Up close.

Tired. 

Exhausted. Going home that time. 

The kid who appreciates the sky lanterns when together above the skies,
Aaron.

Revisiting Banaue With Batad Sidetrip (Ifugao, Philippines)

Second time in Banaue has never been this good. Booked our bus tickets day before our journey. Thanks to my good friend, Frenniel for helping me to find the Florida Bus ticketing office. The time of the trip to Banaue is usually Midnight. So, it's a night trip. The bus usually arrive in the morning. Florida Bus doesn't have a website, you can try to contact and locate them here. 

Banaue View Point. This has the perfect rice terraces in Banaue. But, yea. There's more!

Before checking in to the inn. We had breakfast at Las Vegas Restaurant. 

 It was considered as one of Banaue's Must Try! as written in Lonely Planet Philippines Guide Book. The food was great! Lovely Banana Pancakes. I always love to try Banana Pancakes in any place. And, listen to Banana Pancakes By: Jack Johnson.They serve wide variety of foods. From Filipino to American foods.

While waiting for our breakfast to be served, a woman uproached us and offered us some tours.

 She didn't gave that map, so we took a picture of it instead. Anyway, we contacted her and tried her tour to Batad.

We rode a tricycle to reach Ilob Village Inn. We were supposed to stay at this native ifugao house. But, we assumed that too much cold weather might make us uncomfortable to sleep.

The room is nice. Good for 4 persons. We were charged 800 for the whole overnight stay at the inn.

After resting for several hours, we contacted the lady who offered us the sidetrip to Batad and meet her up outside the Las Vegas Restaurant where we met her first.

The native ifugao house. I stayed in this house when I first visited Banaue in 2007, I think.

The skull of a carabao outside an ifugao house. I just took one photo. They're many! They have some beliefs and explanation why they're hanging these outside their houses.

The road to Batad.

We weren't able to try the top load on our forward trip. 

The sidetrip to Batad were joined by old Italian couples, a Chinese and an Irish backpacker. And the four of us, my cousin Roch, her boyfriend, Jason, my goodfriend, Janie and I.

Muddy trekking!

That was a long trek. I didn't notice that I'm overcoming my fear of doing these kind of activities. I was overwhelmed. But, tired. Anyways, it's all worth it!

Notice what I'm wearing. Slippers again. I always fail in bringing trek shoes. Anyway, all of my treks are unexpected.

The Italian couple decided to go to Tappia Fals. Our group decided to have our ate lunch at a restaurant downhill.

On our way to the start of the saddle, we took short cut. This 34678613746895483473 steps is just tiring but much nearer.

Yes! Topload, baby! Like a boss. Priceless experience, you guys should not miss this when you visit Banaue-Batad or to Bontoc-Sagada. v.v.

We saw this cool local who even offered us to drink some beers and wine with their group. Rice wine, it is! Had dinner at Las Vegas Restaurant again, and went to the inn. The brownout that time was around the whole town.

We were bored that time. It's cold. Then we decided to play cards, much some chips and some beers! My cousin Roch and Jason, teach us a new card game. 'Gin Rummy'. It was an epic night, indeed. Went sleep after. 

The morning after, we hired a tricycle to tour us. We went to different view points to see the  rice terraces and to have an up close encounter. Hahaha.

Banaue Tour Map. We also stopped at the Banaue Tourist Information Center.

Went to Banaue Museum also. The culture of the indigenous Ifugao tribe were brilliant and abundant.

My good friend, Janie. To Banaue Museum?

With mg 1000 peso bill, showcasing the actual site. The fog that time was getting heavy!

This is the site. 1000PHP.

Outside the Banaue Museum. Truly, an educational trip also. Hahaha.

Posing with an old ifugao man.

The old ifugao ladies.

With the two Old Ifugao Native Woman. Happiest persons I've met. They produce the sound "Ahihihihi" when you take pictures with them (Facts: the Old Woman on the left is 100 years old.)

Bought some pasalubongs, what can you expect? Wood materials. Hahaha.

The kid who never miss Banana Pancakes in a certain place,

Aaron.

Reaching The Taal's Crater (Luzon, Philippines)

The itinerary of this trip was originally staying in Tagaytay only. We rented a 15 seater van for the day, while we're waiting for our friends who tried the zip lining at Picnic Groove in Tagytay we were approached by Manong who offered us a day trip to see the peak of Taal Volcano. We were somewhat hesitant at first because it was almost past 12 in the afternoon and our stomachs are empty. Manong said that we can have lunch at the resort. My college friends are adventurous so we gave it a try. Apparently, we're not prepared to do some hiking and stuff.  Actually, we weren't able to bring anything for hiking, take note: What we're wearing for a day tour in Tagaytay is all we have and an extra shirt. So here it goes:

This how we looked like inside the van, I'm at the last seat.

Some of us were sleeping because we departed in Manila at around 7am in the morning.

While waiting for the van, we paid some entrance fees and other fees.

Some of my adventurous classmates tried the Tagaytay Ridge Zipline. 

Saw this little insect at the railings of the stairs. "Life's hard, y'know.?"

Creepy abandoned old structure.

On our way to Batangas. We're getting ready to conquer Taal's trek.

We rented two Bancas. Yes, we're getting close to the volcano. 

We always thought that this is the Taal Volcano. The Taal Volcano is actually the Volcano beside that. That is active.

Yeah! Almost there.

And yeah. We finally reached the start of the saddle.

Let the trekking begins. Notice our outfits: slippers, shorts, ect.

The trek would normally consume 40mins. to 1 1/2 hour. Depending on how fast you are. I was dead tired at the first half. Thanks to the people who sells bottled water at the start of the saddle. Note: Don't rent hats. It's sometimes useless. The stick or tungkod is better.

We reached the mouth. We were on the peak of Taal Volcano. Magnificent!

Our good friend, Mik. Took us some group pictures.

The actual peak/mouth of the Taal Volcano. It's actually look like a big lake surrounded by islets.

My good friends, Vanessa and Sexy (Rose Anne). On our way down, we rented the horses for 100 pesos /per one way. Horseback riding, baby!

The kid who have been astounded by the magnificent Taal's peak,
Aaron.