2012: A Year of Planning, Moving, Slowing Down and Change of Plans
At the end of the year 2011 I had this strong feeling that my 2012 would be more awesome than the year before. I did not know how it would be more awesome but there’s that irrational sense of optimism within me that is ready to burst when 2012 arrived.
How did things go with my 2012? Here’s a month by month summary of the journeys I embarked upon.
January
With my irrational sense of optimism I launched my 12 for 2012 Travel Project which aims to document a place each month throughout the year around the Philippines to help travellers explore our country.
The first location for my travel project was Bolinao and Alaminos in the Province of Pangasinan where I was accompanied by Laiza of AzialBatangGala.com. We visited 3 caves with freshly cool water inside, a lighthouse, the white-gold colored beach of Patar, an old church, a marine laboratory and the Hundred Islands National Park.
Laiza at Patar Beach in Bolinao, Pangasinan
Then I boarded a plane to the longest travel I will be doing away from home. It’s pursuing my dream of establishing a farm in Palawan.
When I arrived in Palawan I heard that my friends were going to visit Alimanguan in San Vicente, Palawan which I hesitated to invite myself but eventually did due to my itchy fit. I did not know then that Alimanguan was on the northern end of the Longest Beach in the Philippines.
February
Since I wanted to start a farm, an organic farm to be exact, I needed to equip myself with the proper knowledge and skills. I inquired at the Department of Agriculture on where they could provide training for Organic Farming and they said it would be in the off-the-beaten path baranggay of Caruray in San Vicente, Palawan! So for the following weeks I had to go back and fort riding the truck that looks like a jeepney through the bumpy road to Caruray which passes by a steep road that the locals call Ay Dios Ko (Oh My God in English).