A 3-day Travel with my Buddies from Butuan (TBKK)

After weeks of hard work and dedication to provide humanitarian service to the community of Butuan, I was with TBKK’s select leaders when we embarked on a 3-day all-expense paid travel of pure rest and recreation. Joining along me was Mayetster (the President), Woody, Jhun, Noy and my girl Pett; it was one of the best travels I had for many years. We missed Lyn who was on bed rest due to a delicate pregnancy, but she was ably represented by her animated husband Noy, though. After a nitty-gritty planning, the group ventured in what eventually became an unexpected journey filled with much laughter, eating, picture taking, occasional drinking and a little of lover’s quarrel . Thanks to our benevolent sponsor who provided all the expense (I know you do not want to be mentioned but thanks anyway) for the travel.

The buddies just landed

Amontay Beach Resort

It was already past six in the evening when the group left Butuan en route to Amontay Beach Resort in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. The moment we set foot at the place, the ever usual picture taking started to sway. Given a choice of staying in an air-conditioned room, we opted to check-in in a Bali-inspired cabana just along the sea shore. The place was cool. We got two cabanas to accommodate all the six of us in the group. After sorting out our stuff, we immediately buckled down to a sumptuous dinner. We feted ourselves with pork adobo, “Kinilaw” (raw fish sauté with vinegar and spices), and roasted chicken (litson manok). After eating, we sang our hearts out at the resort’s videoke bar. Adding glitter to the singing was of course a couple of bottles of RH Beer and Gilbery’s Gin. My girl, Pett decided to take an early off as she slept early, a thing she seldom does with her work being on a graveyard shift. We didn’t finish the night after our time was off at the videoke bar when we decided to transfer at the sea shore and continued chatting, laughing and drinking till dawn. While we were drinking, there suddenly appeared the beautiful Rosie. We were stunned by her hugeness and beautiful body. She was so friendly and amiable. We were all attracted. Yes, we, all of us. What a beautiful deer.

Mayetster on the Mic

Noy Singing his heart's out

Baby eat na, later na pose

Tsibugan Time

Me and My Girl

Noy and Woody with the "L" sign

Drinking and chatting at dawn

My Pretty Girl, Pett

The group with "Rosie"

Woody, for the love of TBKK

For my personal review on Amontay Beach Resort please click this link: http://pinoyleisure.blogspot.com/2012/01/amontay-beach-resort.html

The “Call” and the “Marang”

Early morning the following day, after taking our coffee, the group suddenly decided that we proceed to Gingoog City, the place of Pett. With everybody feeling so excited, we immediately packed our stuff and boarded the van and went off the road. While still on the road, somebody called up Woody, it was….hmmmm we all wondered. Why the sudden call? Is it something really very important? Ahh…it was nothing pressing after all. We just took a big….LAUGH. Probably some “L” of it .

We were about twenty kilometers from Gingoog when we saw people selling “Marang” (a native fruit) beside the road. Suddenly, everybody craved for it. Woody immediately stepped on the brakes and there we were at the roadside gnawing our hearts out with the sweetness and juiciness of the fruit. After our “Marang” cravings, we went back to the van and went back on the road.

Gnawing the "Marang"

Lollipop: Marang flavor

Gingoog City and “Mama Malay”

We finally got to the place of Pett in Gingoog City past eleven in the morning. And there was Pett’s Mom who feted us with a very sumptuous lunch. I have been a great lover of native food all my life but this time it was different. The kind of taste that “Mama Malay” prepared was truly awesome and tasteful. Her “Kinilaw” was sauté not only with vinegar but was marinated at first with soda; this resulted in the fish becoming sweeter than the usual. The grilled fish (a tail of a big “Bareles” fish) and pork (belly part) was even more special since it was mixed with syrup usually sauced for pancakes. Truly, a masterpiece recipe of “Mama Malay.” Everybody just “gluttoned” to the very tasteful food “Mama Malay” prepared for us.

Welcome to Gingoog City

Mayetster in Action

The group with "Mama Malay" standing

Ready to Eat

The Grilled Pork

The "Kinilaw"

The Grilled Tuna Tail

Tiklas Falls

After the very sumptuous meal feted by “Mama Malay,” it was time to go for more adventure. We then boarded the van and went off to Tiklas Falls. It was about a 30-minute ride from Gingoog City proper in going to the place. When we arrived at the area, I could already sense the beauty that lies with it. Indeed, we were astounded with nature’s beauty. As Woody would put it, he could compare the scene it with the virgin-forest scenery of the movie Predator. Several meters from the actual falls, you could already hear the massive drop of water into the river bed. While Jhun and Woody could not resist dipping into the water where the falls actually fell, I, Mayetster and Pett contented ourselves with the pool for which the source of water is also natural coming from the mountain. Pett was patient enough to teach me have my body afloat the water but to no avail. Gosh, I was a poor leaner . Mayetster was just sitting at the stairway leading to the pool as according to her she could not swim (a former winner of swimming lessons in college at that ). Later, Woody, Noy and Jhun would join us at the pool. But what was more special in the place is the face of nature at its best. Truly refreshing.

The Gang at Tiklas Falls

Tiklas Falls: We were There

Mayetster by the Bridge in Tiklas

Mayetster with the massive water fall

Mayetster by the natural pool

For my personal review on Tiklas Falls, please click on this link: http://pinoyleisure.blogspot.com/2012/01/tiklas-falls.html

Gingoog Tatak Center and “Pahayahay sa Pantalan” (City Wharf)

After our trek at Tiklas Falls we went back to Pett’s place at about five in the afternoon to refresh. We did some wash up of our wet clothes while the others had coffee. At about a little over six in the evening, we went off to Tatak Park and the old wharf of the City dubbed “Pahayahay sa Pantalan.” Very artistic and funny photo shoot would then take place. Grahe Sidewalk Grill with “Papa Eton” After the photo shoot, we were treated with a dinner by Pett’s awesome Dad, “Papa Eton” at Grahe Sidewalk Grill at the heart of the City. The food was heavy and I couldn’t say more. Of course the photo op would not be absent as everybody was very eager to pose at their behest. “Papa Eton” was so generous enough to treat us with a dinner. Since singing was one of our passion (frustrated singers, all ), we followed the dinner with a videoke singing marathon. Little did we know that a song would further bind us more as we are about to unwind our “concert.” And that song later be “Salamat” (Thank You) sung by the group The Dawn. I know everybody in the group would agree that first and foremost, we dedicate it to a friend who we consider to be very dear, Ms. Daff . And to everybody as well, thank you We called the day off at already dawn the following day. We stayed at Pett’s place. No blankets, No air conditioned room, not enough pillows. What we have are just ourselves. And it made our sleep even more comfortable.

Winding up the photo shoot

Notice the person at the back

TBKK

Grahe Sidewalk Grill with “Papa Eton”

After the photo shoot, we were treated with a dinner by Pett’s awesome Dad, “Papa Eton” at Grahe Sidewalk Grill at the heart of the City.  The food was heavy and I couldn’t say more. Of course the photo op would not be absent as everybody was very eager to pose at their behest. “Papa Eton” was so generous enough to treat us with a dinner.

Since singing was one of our passion (frustrated singers, all :-) ), we followed the dinner with a videoke  singing marathon. Little did we know that a song would further bind us more as we are about to unwind our “concert.” And that song later be “Salamat” (Thank You) sung by the group The Dawn. I know everybody in the group would agree that first and foremost, we dedicate it to a friend who we consider to be very dear, Ms. Daff J. And to everybody as well, thank you.

We called the day off at already dawn the following day. We stayed at Pett’s place. No blankets, No air conditioned room, not enough pillows. What we have are just ourselves. And it made our sleep even more comfortable.

Jhun and Mayetster savoring the food at Grahe Sidewalk Grill

Mayetster with the burning "Grahe"

Chicken skin and "Isaw"

"Sisig" at Grahe

"Kinilaw" Grahe version

The Gang with Pett's Dad, "Papa Eton"

Me at the "burning" Grahe

Busy looking for Songs

Capistrano Beach Resort

Early morning we took our breakfast. Well, I only had coffee as I was used to it. After breakfast we immediately embarked the road and headed towards Medina in the Province of Misamis Oriental. Our destination: Capistrano Beach Resort. When we reach the place, the plan was actually to just take some pictures as we were only planning to spend more of our time somewhere. However, the beach was so inviting with its off-white sand that everybody could not resist dipping into the water. And there we were, myself, Woody and Jhun racing to get to the water as fast as we can. Although, nothing compared to Boracay’s as party capital, it still reminiscent of my previous travel to the island resort some years back with its serene water and white sand shore. Though short of time, we enjoyed our brief stay in the resort.

Woody and Jhun: Gone with the Wave

Jump shot

Mayetster: Day dreaming along the shore

My Pett and Me: Pre-nup?

The TBKK Gang of Four

Bye bye Woody

For my personal review on Capistrano Beach Resort, please click on this link: http://pinoyleisure.blogspot.com/2012/01/capistrano-beach-resort.html

Alibuag Cold Spring

Just about two hundred meters of a little uphill climb from Capistrano Beach Resort, we proceeded to Alibuag Cold Spring. The spring was chilly-cold as I could no longer bear it . But Woody and Jhun were unstoppable. They dove and enjoyed its freeze-cold, crystal clear water. Another nature trip for us and we truly enjoyed the place.

Mayetster taking a dip

At the Cottage in Alibuag Cold Spring

Woody's own adventure

Woody under the clear crystal water of Alibuag

For my personal review on this link, please click on this link: http://pinoyleisure.blogspot.com/2012/01/alibuag-cold-spring.html

Marcos Park

After the 3-day travel, I thought that it would just end there. We were en route to Butuan City when we reached the Municipality of Carmen in the Province of Agusan del Norte and decided to pass by Marcos Park. It was top hill view of Butuan Bay and Butuan City itself. The scenic view of mountain ranges as well as the broad view of the sea was so invigorating. We would not miss the photo op with this kind of view, we surmised. And there we were as cameras roll alternately for all of us.

The Buddies

Proclamation Rally at Marcos Park?

Incredible Pett

I love you baby <3

Me and My Pett: Pre-Nup II?

Overall, I can declare that it was one of the best travels I ever had in my life. The beautiful places and food was complimented with the wonderful people I was with throughout. We owe it to our unnamed matron and sponsor. Thank you so much for the trust and confidence in all of us. Thank you for giving as an unparalleled joy of traveling with everyone. To Mayetster, Woody, Jhun, Noy (and that includes you, Lyn) and my girl Pett, thank you for being part of the journey. This does not end here; we shall trek, climb and surmount whatever lies ahead. Together we will make TBKK big and bold!