Day 1 of 5 : North Luzon Roadtrip Adventure

DAY 1

SHRINE OF VALOUR,BATAAN

Mount Samat National Shrine (Tagalog pronunciation: [samat]) or Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valour) is a historical shrine located near the summit of Mount Samat in the town of Pilár, Province of Bataan, in the Republic of the Philippines. The memorial shrine complex was built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who fought during World War II.

Facts about the Shrine

Side View of the Shrine

Front View of the Shrine

The Path to the Top

View from the top

View from the top (2)

Going Down

                                   

Sculpted on the shrine

some sculpture on the shrines

The Shrine 

Another sculpture on the Shrine

MT. SAMAT ZIPLINE

The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of 60,000–80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war from Saisaih Point and Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, via San Fernando, Pampanga, where the prisoners were loaded onto trains. The transfer began on April 9, 1942, after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II

Death March Memorial Stone

The Zipline is 540 meters long and will travel to 60 seconds from the main point to the finish point. 

Once arriving on the site, gears and helmets will be given to you to wear. There is two options to choose from Superman and Sitting. It's better to try superman because it is more thrilling and fun. The finish point is the tree house on the other side and still have a breath taking view. The path you will take is quite rocky but fun nonetheless. It is said that the zipline is the longest in Central Luzon. The prices are affordable and is worth paying for. 

The ride to the zipline site

Long way up!

Breath taking view

View on the top

SUPERMAN!

The End?

Beautiful View

Hey Superman~ How are you?

Sitting Position (She was honestly scared at first and even beg someone to come with her but she said it was fun)

Once you are nearing the end of the zipline, you have to grab the rope that was attached to the zipline to stop you. If you did not grab it on time, you would be sent back in the almost mid part of the ride and has to wait for them to get you. 

After going down the tree house, this is the place you would see.

Family (2)

Family (3)

SUBIC BAY

Subic Bay is a bay on the west coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northwest of Manila Bay. An extension of the South China Sea, its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, which is now the location of an industrial and commercial area known as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone under the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Subic Bay

Dock in Subic Bay

Zambales

Sunset in Zambales (1)

Sunset in Zambales (2)

Sunset in Zambales (3)

For more information about the places:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Samat_National_Shrine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subic_Bay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Death_March

Visited: May 25, 2014

The Wonders of Bohol, Philippines

Have u ever wondered what tourist spots you can visit on your adventure that is worth remembering for? From low priced travelling to high priced?

Bohol, Philippines is just one place in the Philippines that contains a lot of tourist spots that are worth visiting for. Churches,Farms,Hills and even Man-Made Forests can be seen. Bohol is located in the Central Visayas Region consisting of the islands itself and 75 surrounding islands. Bohol is considered as the tenth largest island in the Philippines.

Chocolate Hills is one of the most known tourist spot in Bohol. The name was given to it because of the color changing whenever it rains. When it rains the hill will turn into brown and if it dries up it turns back to green. Chocolate Hills was declared as the country's Third Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List

Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines

Dauis Church or also known as Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Dauis Church is known for its Healing Well. The church was built in 1769 and is one of the oldest church in the Philippines. The church is located in Dauis Bohol and one of the municipalities that are located in Panglao island. Dauis Church was built using solid rocks or stones.

Dauis Church

With Family

View from the Dauis Church

Baclayon Church or also known as La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church (The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Parish Church). The church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. It is one of the oldest church in Bohol located in Baclayon. It was founded in 1596 and was elevated as Parish in the year 1717. The structure was completed in the year 1727. The church is made of coral stones,cross shaped (cruciform) church with its juncture or crossing surmounted by a pyramidal wall. 

                               

Baclayon Church

Loboc River is one of the attractions that you must try. Loboc River is a river cruise in a floating restaurant. The river cruises start in the Town of Loboc and travel upstream to the Busay Falls because of its green and peaceful river environment along with the local foods served, the place is now widely known across the country.

Loboc River

Bohol does not only contains such attractions but Bohol is also the home of the Philippine Tarsiers. The Philippine tarsier measures only about 85 to 160 mm (3.35 to 6.30 in) in height, making it one of the smallest primates. The small size makes it difficult to spot. The average adult is about the size of a human fist. One danger of captivity is the creature's tendency to commit suicide because the tarsier is often shy and nervous, many activities associated with captivity (such as camera flashes, being touched, and being kept in an enclosure) stresses the animal. Such stress leads to the tarsier hitting its head against objects, thus killing it because of its thin skull.

Philippine Tarsier

Bee Farm in Bohol is also one of the places that must be visited. The bee farm is located in Panglao, Bohol. The bees are well behaved unless it was taken out of the hive without the help of an expert.

Bees in Bee Farm Bohol

With Family at the Bee Farm

Bees in its hive

Hinagdanan Cave is a cave in the municipality of Dauis on Panglao Island, in Bohol Province, in the Philippines. It is a naturally lighted cavern with a deep lagoon and many large stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is lit by sunlight which filters through holes in the ceiling. The underground lake is a popular swimming spot, but it has been known to test for high levels of various pollutants, since it is fed by ground runoff. Hinagdanan Cave is made of limestone. The entrance of the cave is a hole of about 1 metre wide in diameter, visible from a limestone hill. Cemented steps lead to the interior of the cave. The cave is slippery, but there's a railing made of rope to hold on to avoid accident due to slippery stones of the cave. The cave is filled with sleeping birds in small holes in the ceiling. The sunlight that permeates is unsuitable for bats.

Hinagdanan Cave Sign

With Family at Hinagdanan Cave

With Family (2)

With Family (3)

'These are just some of the tourist spots that can be visited. There are more tourist spots in Bohol than you can imagine.  These experiences are worth remembering for. From churches,to hills,to beaches and hotels. It is more than enough to spend a 3 days and 2 nights vacation on. It is more fun if you are with your family. All i can say is, this is one memory i can never forget.

St. Anthony of PADUA

Hanging Bridge

Man-Made Forest

View from our hotel room

Last Day of Tour (taken in front of the hotel)

Visited: May 20-22 2013