A Sweet Escape to Calaguas - The Ultimate Beach Camping Experience

have you ever felt the need of leaving everything behind and not care about anything at all??

sometimes we get so lost in leading our busy lives that we badly need an escape from all of it.. that feeling where you just want to walk away from things that you usually do.. you needed to have that chance of breaking your routine.. where a bit of solitude is much needed once in a while so that you may enable yourself to reflect and even more magnify your focus..

we all felt this way. so what was your escape plan?? here's mine: http://melvicbrinas.multiply.com/

from Cubao, it was a nine-hour (9pm to 6am) bus ride to Daet, Camarines Norte.. we slept over the whole trip and upon arrival, a minibus fetched us from the terminal and brought us to a fastfood for breakfast..

we then went to a ferry terminal for a two-hour boat ride..

it was quite a long travel to the much-awaited island..  there came a point where we almost felt like we were a pirate in the middle of nowhere since there is no nearby island and our boat battles alone in the raging waves of the sea.. a typhoon had just passed, and we are still experiencing its remnant rainfall.. such an awesome nerve-wracking experience.. we were almost unsure if we could ever come back.. 

by the time we finally reached the island, like in movies, we were so overjoyed! we had this unexplainable feeling that our feet couldn't even wait to touch the sand.. everyone almost jumped to the shore..

and yeah, like pirates we were crazy like hell! geez, it was a treasure island! a paradise indeed..! 

what else to do? of course, to do the thing you've been wanting the most.. 

la dolce far niente

bags were unpacked and a tent was setup.. 

lunch was served..

and the beach was enjoyed..

the moments of solitude were savoured.. 

this is a place where you can leave all your worries behind..
indulge yourself into doing nothing..

lay down and just forget the world..

this is the kind of relaxation wherein you enjoy the moment just as it is.. a time to reflect about how life was and how life would be.. and when you get tired from of all of it, just doze it off to sleep.. when you wake up, it would be another moment different from how it was just a while ago.. being at peace with yourself is a best way to battle stress.. loosening up a little bit by creating space from what fills up your mind is a road to tranquility..

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Wandering Kesh ©

Guide to First Time Traveller

Planning Your Itineraries

in planning your itineraries, the first thing you should do is of course, like Dora the Explorer, check the map.. you dont need to memorize every corner, but this will give you an idea of the place's land orientation so that you may know where you are in that certain place.. it will also guide you in the direction you would take, being north, south, east or west.. you may use the airport and your place of stay as your point of reference, since going back is twice as risky as going out there.. and being lost is not included in the itinerary..

line up your itineraries according to its location and time you will spend on each place. the nearest place may go number 1 or vice versa.. this one's up to you.. prioritization is the key in maximizing your travel experience.

Choosing Your Place of Stay

the place of stay need not be near the airport since most tourist spots are situated far from it.. though some prefer it, this may limit your chance of wandering around and exploring the certain place because you are tied up to the idea of it's easy accessibility.. you may just choose an accommodation that would include round trip airport transfer so that you would not have any problem going back home..

your place of stay need to be near the places you would want to visit.. this not only saves travel time and money, but also keeps you well-versed about the area.. 

and yes, if you get tired or something urgent just came along, you can just go home immediately.. always prefer having the accessibility of your comfort zone since this is your second home in a land that is not your own..

also, if possible, choose an accommodation that includes the most important meal of the day.. a free breakfast.. this would help you jumpstart your day with vigor and accomplish your plans for the day enthusiastically.. 

Gauging Your Financial Standing

it's very important that you don't go out of budget.. book your flight and accommodation early.. make sure that everything is paid in advance so that all you have to worry about is the expenses you will incur while you are already there.. allot a big amount of money for food and transportation expense.

have a cash on hand that is a bit enough for your budget.. do not bring exact amount as certain things may go out of the way.. have your ATM card ready, and withdraw only when necessary.. having a credit card gives you an advantage since not everything is payable in cash.. be disciplined enough to not overspend by following your budget strictly without compromising your travel experience..

Packing Your Luggage

the type of bag that you would use depends on the nature of your trip.. luggages are popular for tourists that would spend days or even weeks in a certain place.. for faster mobility, buy a luggage that is four-wheeled or what they commonly call a spinner.. this enables you to make turns without difficulty.. this one is more convenient when climbing up/down stairs as well as moving up/down any slope.. believe me, this is waaay better than the conventional two-wheeled luggage.

for adventure or nature trips, it would be better to use a backpack so that your hands would come out free.. this is also good for short-time travellers who pack light..

so there you go.. we all differ in prep styles, and these are things i learned along the way.. remember, there are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign so equip yourself as much as you can and enjoy the journey. ^__^