Travel Year 2015 : Taking it Slower

My 2015 travelling life is a very muted one compared to earlier years. For one, I have mainly traveled to nearby provinces. I have also not been able to update my blog for almost half a year, and hasn't shared any travel-related posts to my Facebook page, San Josenyong Gala. My twitter account must be lonely now for even I haven't visited it for a long, long time.

But it doesn't mean that I have a very boring 2015 travel year. I still travel and in addition to many nearby provinces I have visited before and visited again this year, I was also able to visit three new provinces: Catanduanes, Masbate and Bohol!

My visit to Catanduanes and Masbate happened in February/March. It was a 5-day backpacking trip that also includes visit to Albay and Camarines Sur. I had a blast touring the province of Bohol in August for 5 days and was able to visit 32 of its towns. My whole year travels are definitely worth of a look-back and a monthly rundown of what happened that year is a must!

Travel Year 2014 : The Year I Learned to Slow Down

When I started travelling the Philippines in 2012, I already told myself that I should be able to finish visiting all the 81 Philippine provinces before I turn 30. Now, I'm turning 31 but I haven't done that yet, and still, I am so much happy.

The very beautiful Batanes!

The year 2014 taught me to take it slow. This year, I realized that I am racing with no one so I should try to savor the joy brought to me by travelling by taking it one at a time. The old me who wants to be in different provinces in every different weeks and months is no more. It's now just once a month. ;) 

Travel Year 2013 : Blessed. Bold. Awesome!

Thank God for the year that was!

Year 2013 has been a very good travel year for me. Compared to 2012, when I just started my travels halfway through the year, 2013 is a whole year round travel adventure for me. I met many new friends, most of them travel bloggers. I've got to taste many food I am not familiar with before. I've got to visit many places I was worried to visit alone. I've got to experience many adventures for the first time, some I would like to try again, some I would rather be happy I have tried just once. :)

The first half (January to June) of my 2013 travel year has brought me to my 42nd province (as related through this post) while the second half (July to December), as adventurous but actually more jam packed than the first, led me to my 54th province! It leaves me now with only 27 provinces to visit and I would try my best to visit them all this 2014.

The Backpacker : Get to know San Josenyong Gala!

Since I was a kid, I have always been dreaming of riding a bus and just let it bring me to any place in the Philippines. I just want to look out of the bus' window while mentally taking shots of the places I see. But I wasn't able to do that then until recently because of many things: studies, budget, work. Besides, my parents won't allow me.

Inside the Davao Museum

And then the year 2012 arrived. I'm no more a kid, have a stable job, and now owns a simple digicam... Voila! I am now trying to fulfill my childhood dream, and I can say I will brave even Sulu, Basilan and Maguindanao just to reach that dream... (No offense meant to those who live in Maguindanao, Basilan and Sulu. It's not me but those people around me who wouldn't want me venturing into those provinces).

Now, let me introduce myself before we continue going on to the the different trips I have made within the Philippines.

After a year and a month: I'm halfway 'round the Philippines!

Yes, it's true. More than half the number of the Philippine provinces has already been covered by my personal project. And I am so happy to announce that in just a span of a year and a month, I managed to visit my 42nd province just as June 2013 is coming on its end.

I started the year 2013 with my "Ultimate January Tour". It was a 5-day backpacking which covered the provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya. I also got to visit the cities of Balanga, Olongapo, Alaminos, Dagupan, Urdaneta, San Carlos as well as the famous resort town of Sagada and Bontoc.

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Operation Tour de Philippines : After 6 Months

Here I am now, after 6 months.

Towards the end of July, same month as my successful La Union Tour with fellow forumer HugoLeRoi of SkyScraperCity, I decided to see for myself the beauty of Aurora Province. I was not disappointed because Aurora left me in awe on the abundance of nature God has bestowed it. After just one day, I was on tour again, this time in Tarlac with other fellow forumers of SkyScraperCity : William, 296619, Tarlaqueno-ako and Santa Maria. 

I finally managed to visit the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan and their amazing and massive churches for the month of August.

My Own Kind of Travelling : City and Town Hopping

Every place that I visit is always a new place for me... I find it impossible to compare each place with another because I always find some beauty in it which I can't explain.

All I know is I love the place. And I do love to visit places.

Be it a bustling center, a sleepy town, a grandiose church, a skyscraper, a mountain, a beautiful plaza, an artful town hall, everything... I love them all.

My project? To visit all the Philippine provinces and cities of the Philippines. And I have started this project this year (though I have visited some of the provinces and cities before 2012).