8 Waterfalls of Maynoba

The highlight of the Maynoba Circuit trail are the descent to the 8 waterfalls that offers trekking on rocks which adds to the challenge and therefore increasing the difficulty which is comparable to 4/9 scale of hike. During rainy season, rocks becomes slippery and can get really muddy that can be an additional consideration during the exploration of Maynoba's 8 waterfalls. 

Nagtatagong Paraiso Falls is the first among the eight and is considered to be the grandest among the waterfalls which also has the clearest water. Then there is Gugulong na Bato Falls where a huge boulder is situated near the falls, thus it was named after. The other falls are Maynoba Falls, Katmon Falls, Maybangka Falls, Lantay Falls, Gintuan Falls and the eight or last falls which is Gintuan Falls.

The water is very cold which makes it a perfect place to dip and cool down amidst the heat and after an arduous day of hiking.

Maynoba Falls

Gugulong na Bato Falls

Nagtatagong Paraiso Falls

Katmon Falls

Maybangka Falls

Lantay Falls

Magpantay Falls

Gintuan Falls

** I joined an event organized by Traveling Adventure

Mt. Cayabu

The province of Rizal has become a playground for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiast. Part of the newly opened Maynoba circuit is Mt. Cayabu (1800 ft. above sea level) which is usually hike together with the much higher Mt. Maynoba and is considered to be a subsidiary peak of the latter where it features a breath-taking view of grassland ridges, nearby mountains like Mt. Batolusong, Mt. Daraitan, Mt. Irid, Mt. Tukduan Banoi and other Sierra Madre ranges.

The trail is a fairly easy trek that passes through vegetable gardens, woodlands and an exposed grass land on the way to the summit. There are two steep points in the trail, it's a good thing that the locals have managed to place ropes and bamboo handrails to help the newbies in the assault trail.

How to Get There:

1. From Cubao ride a jeepney bound to Cogeo

2. Once in Cogeo, ride a jeep bound to Sampaloc then alight in Batangas/Batangasan (tell the driver to drop you off in Maynoba jump off)

3. Then ride a trike bound for Brgy. Cayabu (Mt. Maynoba Registration)

** I joined an event organized by Traveling Adventure

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas is a unique Spanish-Philippine heritage site located in the town of Bagac, Bataan which features mansions from the Spanish colonial period dating back from 17th to the 19th century. "Casa" which means houses in Spanish word were delicately dismantled brick by brick and were carefully transported to Bagac to preserve the antiquity. Each went a rigorous process of reassembling the door, window, tiles and even all the bricks.

My sister who went on a Las Casas tour narrates her experience. She said it was like being transported back in time where the streets are made up of cobblestones which is comparable to Vigan except that Las Casas has so much more to offer because the houses came from different parts of the country. The site has 55 different heritage houses spread across a 400 hectare park owned and developed by Gerry Acuzar.

How to Get There:
1. Ride a bus bound to Balanga, Bataan (Bataan Transit & Genesis Transport).
2. Once in Balanga, ride a bus bound to Bagac. And from the town proper of Bagac, hire a tricycle that will take you to Las Casas.
3. For more information and reservation you can visit their website Las Casas de Acuzar

Lee Hak: The Legendary Korean Restaurant

Since our office is located in Pioneer, Mandaluyong we've decided to celebrate our team's Christmas party lunch in Lee Hak, known as the Legendary Korean Restaurant (thanks to our team lead for her generosity). Nothing can be much better than a Korean buffet which is only 329 as food lovers considers Lee Hak as the "affordable" version of Yakimix, truly a worth it promo deal. 

The food is quite good for it's price, there are a lot of Korean and even Japanese viands to choose from which includes: soups, fried chicken, fried vegetables, fruits, beef, seafood, squid, kim chi, potato salads, dumplings and pork strips and slices, and there is also a DIY Bibimbap Bar where you can prepare your own Bibimbap. 

What I did not like are the drinking cups which were not properly cleaned and rinsed, thus giving the drinks an added "detergent" flavor.

Rating:

7 out of 10

Vertical Running: The Ultimate Cardio and Leg Workout

According to the American Council on Exercise - Vertical Running is an effective high-intensity workout that builds speed, power, agility and cardiovascular fitness. It involves actual ascension whether it is trail running, uphill run, stair mill, stair running, incline treadmill and more. As a runner and a mountaineer I use vertical running to prepare myself for major hikes and running competition.

There are several reasons why I incorporate stair running into my strength and conditioning routine. The muscles are forced to resist gravity and move in a vertical pattern. Thus, it increases aerobic activity by using muscle groups that are not utilized when running. Vertical running targets the gluteal muscles and quadriceps. Hence, by strengthening these muscles, it also increases the leg's power and strength for running or hiking.

What I like about with this kind of workout is that it lets you burn twice the calories in half the time compare if you run and is likely three times more than walking. An intense stair running exercise will produce more aerobic benefits in a shorter amount of time than running or walking. 

The blogger usually do a 15 set of Repetition (20 minute - vertical run) which is more arduous than a 12 km run.

Gumbo Restaurant

After our visit from Manila Ocean Park, we decided to have our dinner/ post birthday celebration at Gumbo Restaurant in Mall of Asia. According to the manager and staff of the resto, the term "Gumbo" is a stew that originated from southern Louisiana during the 18th century. It is primarily consists of strongly flavored meat, shellfish or any variance of sea foods, a thickener and what Louisianians call the "Trinity" of vegetables, namely: celery, bell peppers, and onions. The dish is the official cuisine of the state of Louisiana.

We were happy with their service and with the quality of the food but nonetheless the food is a bit expensive if you ask me, there also no drinks included in their combo. Serving sizes are usually for sharing so you need to confirm with the waiter before placing your order.

Rating:
7 out of 10

Ayala Triangle Festival of Lights

Christmas is indeed the season that never fails to delight everyone even the busiest people, who are all delighted to witness Ayala Triangle's Festival of Light. 

The festival of lights and sounds has amazed thousands of Filipinos each yuletide season which is organized by the Ayala Land and co-presented by  HSBC and partners MasterCard, Coca Cola, Sun Life and Oishi. It is the centerpiece of Ayala Land’s 2 months-long Christmas spectacle that aims to bring holiday cheers to everyone. It runs daily from mid November to mid January 2017, every 30 minutes from 6PM to 10PM.

The sounds of Christmas songs and other favorite hits fill the air while the Christmas lights on trees and field lights on the ground simultaneously dances to the tune.  The lights flashes and changes colors to the beat of the music, bringing the amazement to the crowds.

How to Get There:
1. Ride a bus with signange Ayala, then alight in Unloading zone - you can just walk to the Ayala Triangle. Light and Sound Festival is every 6pm to 10pm.