Foot and Fire

The White House. We headed to the most popular residence in the USA and sure enough, a lot of people waited because SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF LEFT together with the convoys and the traffic was stopped.  Eventually, we saw the back of the white house and from there heard the Ukrainians in the US expressing their gratitude and plea for continued support in the Ukraine- Russian war. Not far from it, protesters built their "home" by the park.  The Washington Monument. Beating the sunset light, we proceeded to the other side to see the obelisk called Washington Monument. We enjoyed photographing the tallest monument in the world at 555 feet.  And on my back, the front of the white house in night light dazzled me. It was one cool cozy night in DC. #Mydccool story.

 After the Tinagong Dagat trek, 2009 This is how I looked after traversing the Bacolod to Talisay route using the trail via Tinagong Dagat.  No hiking experience, fresh from 8-5 desk job, no gears (not even a raincoat), I ended up like a Vietnamese finding refuge anywhere in the Mekong River paddies. If you can picture that, you know what I meant. Meanwhile, the expert hikers have raincoats, as pictured below. In short, my first travel tip is: Be prepared to look ridiculous!

I call our trip as an introduction to Mindanao Tour because we took the easiest places to navigate: Samal Island, Koronadal City, Lake Sebu and Davao City during our one-week vacation. Here is our itinerary as it actually happened and I inserted some more suggestions to make your trip better than ours! Enjoy... Nov 22 -- From Bacolod City, arrival to Davao Airport and headed to Samal Island (nightswimming at resort, bat cave and holiday view deck) Nov 23 -- joined a brgy fiesta, White house, Haguimit Falls, Maxima Aquafun and tried Langka delight at a pasalubong center Nov 24 -- traveled to Davao City Overland Terminal and rode yellow bus going to Koronadal/Marbel, South Cotabato. Checked in, checked out Koronadal. Commercial Center (KCC) Mall and dinner at basilio's and visited Lantaw Marbel Nov 25 -- traveled to Lake Sebu where we did the dressing up, zipline, and sight seeing. Don't forget to enjoy tilapia. (Back in Marbel, one should see The...

We arrived at the Moncado's White House after braving partially unpaved, stony and steep road via motorcycle rides since it is located in the central hilly area of Samal Island, a fitting location if one has to look for a house built for spiritual purpose. While I expected that the White House is still inhabited by the followers of Moncado, locally known as Moncadista, the house turned out to be unoccupied, and served only as an imposing historical and religious structure amid the serene skies of Samal Island. The property is fenced and has been circled with warning that the same is subject to a quieting of title case pending in the local court. *** Who is Moncado, byt the way? According to Samalguide.com , Hilario Camino Moncado (1898-1956) was the founder and supreme commander-in-chief of the Filipino Crusaders World Army (FCWA). At the age of nine he graduated with honors from the College of Mystery and Psychics in Calcutta, India. Multi-talented, he was...

The pool is on the left while the beach is on the right. Just choose your swim, and if you can't figure out, try both. 1. Camp Holiday, located in Babak district, is just near the Ferry going to Samal. A Holiday Bus is also available from Magsaysay Park up to Penaplata District in Samal island. It is highly recommended as home-base while one is in Samal. One can hire tricycle or motorcycle to bring one in his places of interest. Aside from kiddie pool, Camp Holiday has a pool for check-in guests and the fenced beach which can be enjoyed with day trippers. Weekend nights feature a band and fire dancing too which can be enjoyed while one is dipping in the pool or in the beach. *** Fruit bats abound in the area, hence the Guinness Certification! This is just in the mouth of the Fruit Bats colony 2. MONFORT BAT SANCTUARY. For an entrance of P100 one can tour the fruit bat colony. The foundation maintains the natural habitat of the fruit bats. Expect foul smell...