to butuan with a backpack (part 4 of 5)

Beach day! Finally, on our fourth day in the CARAGA adventure we would be going to a proper beach at the Britannia Group of Islands. We woke up really early to be on our way as soon as possible. We grabbed a quick breakfast then rode a bus bound for Tandag and we were to alight at Brgy Salvacion in San Agustin. There weren't clear markers for this junction so people going here should stay on your toes and constantly keep watch through the windows. It would also help to tell the bus conductor where you are heading, and make sure other passengers hear this so they can help you as well! Haha.

 

Be alert for these road signs
(top: going towards Tandag, bottom: going back to Barobo)



to butuan with a backpack (part 3 of 5)

Since we arrived late and exhausted from our roadtrip, we decided to give ourselves a late morning.  The weather was gloomy and there was a slight drizzle. We were scheduled to go island hopping today, but we decided to move it to tomorrow, hoping for a sunnier climate. We had breakfast at 0800 at a carinderia in the terminal, after which we walked to the place where we originally intended to bunk for a night. It turned out that Terazza Viktoria was just a five minute walk from the terminal. It was an old house turned into inn so the walls and floors were all made of wood, and even the beds and cabinets in the rooms were antique. My travel buddy wanted to transfer here for reasons unknown, and I gave in since the place was clean and bright (even if the furniture and structure was old, it didn't feel like a haunted house) and nevermind the shared bathroom as it was as clean as can be. We checked out of The Point Inn and brought our stuff to Terazza, then walked back to the terminal to take a bus that would bring us to the very reason why the tickets to Butuan were purchased.



Terraza Viktoria Rates and Driveway



drab duds

So, another break from the Butuan Trip posts -- I know, I know, I shouldn't be this lazy with my travel post -- for an outfit post. Yey! Hahaha.

This was inspired by this outfit, and was chosen partly because I really wanted to wear the top, which was new. I bought it from ABSCBN's bazaar in the World Trade Center for about Php200. I love the material and the sparkle. It can't be seen in the pictures but it is covered in clear sequince making the sparkle subtle enough to be office appropriate.

Execution wasn't as successful though, and I found out that a studded belt cannot equal the pizzaz of a leather jacket. But who the hell can wear a leather jacket in the Philippines? Well actually, the real question is, how appropriate can a leather jacket be in a conservative office?



Top: ABSCBN World Bazaar
Skirt: FandH (so old!)
Cardigan: Landmark
Belt: CMG
Sandals: Charles and Keith

Oh well, better luck to me next time I try to interpret an outfit. How about you, where do you get your style inspirations?

<3, dee

to butuan with a backpack (part 2.5 of 5)

Before I continue to drone on about my CARAGA misadventure, I would like to show you a map of the region, to better appreciate the posts and also to hone your geography knowledge. I swear if I have had this adventures when I was taking HEKASI in gradeschool, I would've aced my exams.



photo lifted from here

Continuing from our tour of Bucas Grande Islands, we arrived back to Revlun Pension by 1600 and wasted no time to change into dry clothes and gather our belongings before walking to the Claver transport terminal. We were supposed to catch a bus bound for Tandag or Mangagoy (in Surigao del Sur) since both can bring us directly to our next destination, Barobo (violet route on the map). When we got to the terminal several locals asked us where we were going (not being stalkers, they were just the dispatchers in the terminal) so in 10minutes, almost everyone at the terminal knew where we were headed. We learned that the last bus to Tandag/Mangagoy usually leaves the terminal by 1500 but they kept our hope by saying saying that there may be vans going that direction. My friend and I agreed that come 1700 and there was still no bus or van, we could just return to Butuan and from there as the locals informed us that buses operate 24 hours a day.

micah madness

I am obsessed. I am obsessed with the show Emily Owens MD and am pissed as hell with the fact that it was cancelled by its network, The CW (who brought us Gossip Girl and 90210) and only has 3 episodes left. Actually, the way things are going, a part of me is fine with it ending soon, just as long as they finish with Emily and Micah together. But I am getting ahead of myself, so let me start from the beginning.

polishes in a package

I interrupt again, my long over due next installment for my Butuan series with some recent events. I'm back on my mindless-purchasing-of-nail-polishes phase again. I saw Essie's Armed and Ready earlier while browsing through my Pinterest feed and was ecstatic when I found it on Zalora. I browsed the other polishes available and saw Zoya's Feifei and quickly pushed the Add to Cart button. So I ordered this and this and checked out before I add more items to my cart. I paid with my credit card, received the confirmation email, etc. You know the drill. My package was set to arrive on January 7, and when I got home from work that day, wouldn't you know, it was there, waiting for me to tear it open and try out the polishes.

Love the box! :)

to butuan with a backpack (part 2 of 5)

When I told a friend that I was bound for CARAGA, she told me that I should visit Sohoton National Park. I thought that she had geography mixed up since the Sohoton I knew were the caves in Samar that I had visited a year ago. So I researched about it and found that we could squeeze a trip to Bucas Grande in our itinerary.

On our second day, we woke up at 0600 and got ready for our day of exploring the islands of Bucas Grande, including Sohoton National Park. Bucas Grande Islands are located South of Siargao in the province of Surigao del Norte. We took a short walk to the Claver Transport Terminal and had breakfast at a small carinderia. We then took a van going to Hayanggabon Port which took us about 20mins. When we alighted, we proceeded to the Tourist Center and got a bit confused when we saw that it was more of a sari-sari store than an information hub. A very accomodating man, whose breakfast we just interrupted, referred us to the local boatman and asked if we had anything else we need. We assured him that we had enough food and water and walked with the boatman to the port.

Hayanggabon Port