2012 Year-End Review

A little bit of everything... is how I sum-up my 2012. Some were stricken-off my bucket lists while some, because of work and other matters, remain to be elusive. But all-in-all, while I do scrap some of my planned trips during the year, I could say that 2012 is a pretty good year travel-wise.

Of course, I am anticipating some big changes to happen in 2013 so traveling, health and life will no longer take the back seat. But for now, here is a look-back of some of the travels and other things that transpired in 2012:

I always have this love affair with Waterfalls and I have visited more than half a dozen of them in 2012. I particularly love Bigaho Waterfalls in Port Barton and the Buruwusin Falls in Laguna. I also had a great time with Bugtong Bato Falls in Antique, Papuwayan Falls in Port Barton and Lanzones Falls also in Laguna. I also visited Imugan Falls of Nueva Vizcaya for the second time this year. If someone will ask you what is the best way to have me surely say yes on a trip - just say the magic word - Waterfalls.

Amabeach and amalayket. The highlight of my beach experience this year would have to be my motorcycle-riding experience in the longest white beach in the Philippines in San Vicente, Palawan. And for good measure, I also took some time in the country's most popular party beach, that is, Boracay. Of course, for some quiet time, the Laiya White Beach in Batangas and Poctoy White Beach in Marinduque provided the balance.

The trek-up in the mountains provide some "me"-time where I commune with nature while conquring obstacles along the way. And this year, the obstacles would be the knee-deep mud in Mount Romelo, the searing heat of Mount Sembrano, the lahar-laden path of Mount Pinatubo, some wild cows in Tabuk and the eerie fogs in Malico. But all these obstacles will turn into an accomplishment once you reach the summit for nothing will compare to the feelings I got once I am on top.

Visiting the multi-chambered Callao Cave in Cagayan should be experienced by everyone at least once in their lifetime. The stalactites and stalagmites in that cave is so enormous and they still continue to grow. And while in the area, a short boat ride will enable you to witness thousands of bats flying out of a cave opening in Pinacanauan River. Also this year, I was able to visit Secret Cave, Cathedral Cave and Python Cave in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.

The Philippines has some of the best sunsets from the famed Manila Bay to the daily sky shows of Boracay. I truly enjoyed my feature 30 days of Sunset in this blog where I shared 30 photos of sunset taken in Boracay. Although some of the best sunsets I witnessed this year happened without me holding a camera, still I was lucky enough to captured some in Port Barton, Poctoy and Cagayan.

Every Christian love his church and I am no different. But I always gave century-old churches second look, well make it second shot. I was lucky enough to visit the heritage Boljoon Church in Cebu and see the magnificent facade of Tumauini Church and Boac Cathedral. Also worth mentioning from the churches I visited this year are the Jaro Metropolitan Church in Iloilo, St. Williams Cathedral in Tabuk and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Puerto Princesa.

What is travel without tasting their local dishes and delicacies? It is always a must to try local food when traveling, from the Bulalo of Batangas to the Batil Patong of Tuguegarao, from Arrowroot Cookies of Marinduque to the Chicken Binakol of Antique - all worth tasting. The foodtrip doesn't stop in the Metro too because some of the best finds from Binondo to Makati were also explored with friends below.

Although I love traveling solo, sometimes, I get by with a little help from my friends. From my regular travel buddies Dong, Ferdz, Erick, Oggie and Allan, my circle of traveling friends immensely widened this year mainly because of the PTB Bagets. Traveling with them in Pinatubo was a worthy experience for I got the chance to see the faces behind the blog, and as I expected, although we come from different background and profession, the passion for traveling bind us all together.

Atbp stands for all other things that I have experienced for the first time this year. From seeing the Moriones Festival in Marinduque to visiting the first Rizal Monument in Daet. And who would ever thought that I will cook myself in a kawa in Antique. Also, this is the first time that I was able to host some of my office mates on a trip to Cabanatuan and nearby Dingalan so that I could share my passion of traveling with them.

A little bit of everything. Sakto lang! Enough to satiate that crave for traveling but not enough for a person with wandering feet like me. Hope 2013 would be a good year for all of us. Good Bye 2012 ans Welcome 2013!