Love thy own. It is indeed more fun in the Philippines.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

-Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It

I’ve always wanted to travel the world. I’ve got my top 5 countries to visit and In my enthusiasm, to see these foreign cities, immerse in their culture I have forgotten to look at my own home, at my own country , the Philippines. I have forgotten how wonderful and amazing our own country is! What a shame!

Just last week, I have had the opportunity to be reminded how beautiful our country is. My brother invited me to join him, his girlfriend and their friends to one of their escapades. To an island in Camarines Norte that boasts of clear blue sea, hues of greens and a colorful sunset. The journey is absolutely worth it. 8 grueling hours by land and 2 serene hours by boat to reach the island of Calaguas.

I was awed by the sheer raw beauty of the island. On how clear and blue the sea is. How green the foliage surrounding the island is. People are milling around all their cameras out. All clearly admiring and trying to capture even a small part of the whole island. It is so serene, no mobile signal. You all you can do is swin to your heart’s content, do a little trekking. See the whole island up the peak of the hill.

touchdown! View from our cottage.

close to sunset :)

A panoramic view from the top. (Excuse my obviously crappy photography skills)

Going home but definitely coming back.

There’s a fire in me that is ignited by these picturesque views. A fire that propulsioned me to go on my first hike. I’ll let you know what happens on my next post. ☺️

“Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.”

-Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt

Steem on!
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