Quick Guide to Onse Islas, Panubigan, Zamboanga City

A random invitation to visit Onse Islas soon gained some interest from friends and family online as I posted our photos on socmed (social media). I put together a quick guide to answer the questions you left through comments on my feed and of course, more photos of the Eleven Islands.  

In front of Panubigan Barangay Hall

How to Get There

On a Sunday morning, we went all the way to Panubigan for breakfast at our family friend's place in a shack on the hill overlooking a beautiful view. In the highway once reaching Panubigan, there’s a huge sign by the highway that says Eleven Islands, some parts of the road going in isn’t concretized yet, so be ready to encounter a dirt road still in its construction phase. Some parts are already concretized, be patient as it will be completed soon. It also pays to have a careful and good driver with your party. 

Onse Islas Activity Map 

Do's and Dont's Onse Islas Guide

Registration and Orientation

The local government monitors all tourism activities in the area, so it’s mandatory to register all visitors and attend a brief orientation of the islands (islets rather). Visit the Barangay Hall, sign up and attend a brief orientation on the Eleven Islands, Do’s and Dont’s. The barangay will assign your guide for the day and a corresponding boat for your party. Our host paid a total of Php 5,000 for our party of eleven people (coincidentally) consisting of family and friends.

Ferry Terminal, Panubigan

After the orientation, it’s a short walk to the port where all the bancas are tied to. Vehicles can be parked near the barangay hall. All visitors are required to wear life jackets during boat rides, provided by the bancas themselves. Safety first, folks!

Speaking of safety, even if there are shortcuts through other routes, let me take the opportunity to remind everyone that protocols are there for a reason. Each person has to log in and register so that the local government can monitor, regulate and manage the visitors and the sites properly in case incidences occur. 

Experience Onse Islas

Eleven Islands is a group of islands in the barangays of Panubigan and Dita, Zamboanga City. Activities allowed in the area are island cruising (with a guide), kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, and also trekking.

Bisaya-Bisaya Island's Powder White Beach, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City

In the first island called Bisaya-Bisaya, there are beautiful, weathered rock formations that one can walk to. Be careful to walk on the black rocks, I slipped and landed on my butt. Luckily I didn’t sustain any wounds. It turns out that the black surface on the rocks are caused by algae dried by the sun that turned black on the rocks.

White Rock in Bisaya-Bisaya Island, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City

Natural Pool in one of the islets, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City

During low-tide, it’s easy to cross to the other islet and visit the natural pool but it’s hot and we jokingly called it the solar-powered, hot spring infinity pool. There’s also the sand bar that appeared in the last island we went to, Sirommon Island where a family of starfish emerged just also enjoying the sun and sands.

Starfish Colony in Sirommon Sandbar, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City

I like that the place is quiet, not crowded with too many tourists, there was only another group visiting the islands apart from us on the day. After all, Sunday is meant for relaxation.

Powder white sand beach, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City

Be Responsible Visitors

It’s a good thing that the local government was able to straighten out the solid waste management program before tourists soiled the environment. There are huts to have picnics in. What lacked from the facilities was a good changing room and its corresponding amenities.

If you ask me though, I’ll have none of those souvenir stalls that are commonly seen in selling shirts, keychains or ref magnets. It just gives off a too-commercial vibe. I would rather have those on dry land and away from the islands. It’s also a good thing that no food vendors were allowed on the islands, minus the barbecue sticks and plastic that can be thrown away in the water.

Keeping the area clean is top priority and it’s emphasized in the orientation. No matter how small, it’s important to dispose of trash properly. Clean oceans is a plus, so let’s do all that we can.

Sandbar at Sirommon Island, Eleven Islands, Panubigan, Zamboanga City

At the end of the day tour, I have a collection of beautiful photos that look like I teleported to the Caribbean from Zamboanga City. I told an officemate that the only sighting missing is Captain Jack Sparrow. I went home with sunburn, but I do have stories to tell about how beautiful the place is. Looking at the islands, I’m grateful to have spent the weekend with people close to me and in such a beautiful place.

I’ve received inquiries and reactions from people in my socmed feed, so this quick guide was put together to share some information to those interested to visit Onse Islas. May you find time to experience and enjoy our beautiful sites in Zamboanga City and do be mindful of keeping them clean. 

Check out my video below. See you soon!

What’s On My Gears Packing List -August 2018 Edition

My upcoming travel is only a couple of weeks away, and as soon as August hits, you know I’m all about the excitement already. I’ve thought about what I will be needing, and here’s a few of them, since I already have a new replacement luggage on the way, that’s crossed off my things I need list. In the meantime, here are some stuff that I should never forget while on travel:

1. Good Walking Shoes 

Alright let me tell you something about good walking shoes for traveling. I was in China this year for a two-week long training and at the end of it, our organizers have arranged for visits to Beijing and Shanghai, and of course, what visit in Beijing is not complete without going to the Great Wall right?  Some well-seasoned travelers in our group were smart packers and pulled out good walking shoes for the Great Wall visit. Luckily, I found a pair of good shoes in the SciTech Outlet Park in Beijing the night before and bought myself the Nike Flex Training 7 for Women for just RMB 299 (Chinese Reminbi) approximately Php 2,392 that time and in my size too. All I had with me at the start of the trip were a pair of slippers and black loafers.

Lesson learned, be prepared for long distance walking and running and hiking and invest in good shoes to bring with you, even airports can be vast and cold. So I’m bringing the same pair with me to my escapade next month. 

2. Powerbank

Not a lot of people know this, but my Asus powerbank got confiscated in Guangzhou airport  before my connecting flight to Tianjin, because apparently, powerbanks are not allowed to be checked in and in China, inspection and security can be tough. I feel dumb that I didn’t pull out my Asus pink powerbank because it’s a convenient size to carry around, (only the size of a credit card, but still, as I took pretty good care of it to last me a couple of years). 

Asus Powerbank 10050 mah in Pink (credit card sized) 

A couple of weeks ago, C told me that he bought me a replacement and it’s not just any powerbank. It’s the Romoss Sense 6 LED 20000mAh Power Bank and oooh does it pack power. This is just what I need for our upcoming tour and it’s time to put it to the test. Imagine days of walking around and having to take all those photos and having to recharge when the need calls for it. How convenient! And I’m lucky to have a travel partner as thoughtful as C. 

Romoss Sense 6 LED 20000mAh Power Bank 

3. A Hat

And finally, this may sound so simple but yet, the last time I was out and now that I think about it, I had more than enough space in my luggage, I just didn’t bother to bring a hat for those day excursions. You see, I’m fond of ancient, historical and architectural sites, and a hat is just the most basic thing I could have brought along. Luckily there were souvenir shops in the Great Wall’s Beijing Station, which was also one of the most famous stations of the ancient landmark. I bought one at only RMB 30 or Yuan and brought it with me to all the other visits such as Tiananmen Square and all throughout Shanghai.It ended up on my father’s wall collection of all black hats. 

My RMB 30 souvenir hat from the Great Wall Beijing Station

The Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China

Even while on travel, it’s still important to battle the heat and a hat is just one simple thing that I simply overlooked. Don’t mind me if I help myself to something similar like a gray or pink one.

And so, folks, these are some lessons that I’ve learned and can share with you. As of now I'm already excited so I'll be daydreaming about the attractions I'd want to visit too. See you soon! 

Unboxing Déco Art X Crafts Delight Tara Viaje Kit

It’s been a while since I’ve done an unboxing of a stationery kit, but this is sure one way to break the monotony of my blog and you know me, anything travel is always worth turning a head to.

For this month, Deco Art and Crafts Delight decided to launch a vintage travel themed stationery and crafts kit and boy oh boy, did it arouse my curiosity. Another reason why I raised my hand to this edition is because I have another leisurely travel scheduled next month (hello, long weekend) and it’s definitely going to be very useful for me.

I always prep a traveler’s notebook every time I leave, whether it’s standard or pocket sized, what’s important to me is preserving the memories, writing down thoughts and experiences while in transit especially if they involve the significant people I’m traveling with.

So…. On to the unboxing….

Burnt edges of Chinese Newspaper add a nice touch to the package

The packaging alone is a nice surprise, the twine and burnt edges of the Chinese newspaper ties up  with the vintage travel theme nicely. 

What's inside the wrapped package

Onto the other additions in the kit are two washi tapes, a wooden stamp and a crystal pen in a beautiful copper-ish color. Mental note: test it out later. The washis are a constant in any Deco Art and Crafts Delight subscription kit but the pen and stamp are a new addition to this set. Still a welcome touch. 

Vintage travel themed washi

Here’s a close up look of the washis.

More paper goods

A peak into some more of the goodies in the kit, there are doilies, ephemera, stickers and journal cards.

Journal cards 

Looking at the journal cards, my favorites are the vintage map, Say Yes to New Adventures, and My Goal Is To Run Out Of Pages In My Passport. That’s not far from the truth, sista!

Sticker ephemera 

Now the ephemera stickers are small, so I didn’t take them out of their little plastic pouch because I’m afraid to lose some in case. This reduces the need to bring a good glue during travel next month so it’s easy to just write away all the thoughts and experiences. 

Loads of vintage travel stickers

Lastly, there are the functional stickers that come with almost every monthly kit. But I think the newer additions are the washi strips and larger boxes. I'm not really a fond of the icon stickers but I guess I can find some use for my daily planner at work. 

It’s the first time that Deco Art and Crafts Delight launched a full kit and with the unboxing of this one, I can say that so far, so good. I hope that they can continue the vintage theme, like café, or fashion. But in case a mermaid kit comes up, you can expect that I’ll be one of the first to also sign up for it.

Would you care to get a box of this kit too? Simply reach out through Insta! As of this publication, there are only 2 kits left so you better hurry!

Deco Art Instagram

Crafts Delight Instagram

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. All opinion are the blogger’s own. 

2018 Mid Year Updates

And there’s so much to report since the last time I have posted.

I must have left town at least thrice since then.

School 

It’s not that I’m procrastinating, but thinking about school lately makes me feel overwhelmed. Now I’m wondering if enrolling this semester was a good idea. Though I sort of feel consoled knowing that I'm not the only feeling this way since most of us in class are trying to keep up with the demands of researches and also discussions in class. For my part, I also have to keep up with midterm requirements. 

ADZU LRC Building

Travel

We took advantage of the Holy Week and went on a road trip to Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin Island. CDO is my mother's family's hometown so it's always great to catch up with family and also partake in scrumptious meals in cowboy country. Baby back ribs always brings up beautiful, delicious memories. 

Mantigue Island, Camiguin

Naked Island, Camiguin

As for Camiguin Island, it's a place for leisure and island hopping for the summer. Because of beautiful and preserved places like Mantigue Island and Naked Island, it creates a sense of pride and joy in me discovering nature's beauty and grand design. It also pays to have family in the island to enjoy local life. 

The Great Wall, Beijing Station

For the last half of May, I went to China to attend a training and had the opportunity to visit major cities and famous sites such as The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the gates to the Forbidden City while in Beijing. I also went to Shanghai and toured around, indulging in crowds of tourists and savouring all the sights and sounds. The rest of my photos and videos are in Instagram and it just only fed my need to travel and see places all the more. 

Tianjin Eye

Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai

Also in May, I turned three decades old. It was a beautiful day for me having been surrounded by friends and family who celebrated with me. I did say that this is my year. I'm keeping an eye on major milestones up ahead, such as finishing school and also completing projects. In the meantime, looking back the past six months, I can say that I've been blessed and feel so grateful for all that's come my way. 

Still, I have so many dreams and I'm slowly working towards them. 

I may be coming on here on and off, but I believe that I'm growing in other aspects. In the meantime, I'll be working on finishing school, investing and improving on myself. Who knows where I'll be a few months from now (sans the acne which appears when I'm stressed out). 

Another international travel is in the works, but will be revealed as some of them are in place. As of now, it's time to hustle and then look forward to an opportunity of relaxing as soon as all the work is over. Knowing work, it sure has a way of not going away. 

I'll see you when I see you. 

February’s Happy Mail: Vintage Washi and Glitter Pens

I couldn’t help myself and went on a splurge last week. Disappointing, I know but arts is life. So now I have to contain myself and also remind myself that March is for our Holy Week escape so there will be no more extra expenses.

Tim Holtz Cling Stamps

And I gave in.

I long wanted to add my Tim Holtz stamps, I currently have two: Freshly Brewed and Treats (see how I’m fond of good food…) and since I started school, I’ve long wanted Schoolhouse. Now I have it thanks to Berry’s Treats.

But with the arrival of my nephew, I’m tempted once more with Baby and Childhood. Of course, I can still aim for Travel and Vintage Things by the time my birthday rolls in.

Tim Holtz Washi

And there’s an addition to my Tim Holtz washi.

I did tell myself that I’ll only get the designs that are relevant to me. And I did. So that’s that for my Tim Holtz washi in the meantime…. 

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens

I love the colors in the Sakura Gelly Roll Galaxy set. There’s five: pink, lavender, green, blue and black. The ink gives off a gold shadow and it’s great for different paper varieties. It’s a perfect match for glitter washi and even galaxy washi. I like that it’s affordable at Php 250 per set. I’m now seriously thinking of getting the metallic set. No seriously, I am.

Deco Art Washi

I received my package with freebie stickers, (I love panda bears because I call C panda lol). But of course, I went ahead and got myself travel-inspired and vintage washis that I’ve been stalking for quite some time. So this is all going in my traveler's notebook and what's good about traveling by land is that I don't have to get in trouble with airport security confiscating a pair of tiny scissors for my crafts. 

All these new craft goodies make me want to look forward to some quiet time to write quietly in my corner and process my thoughts. It’s also my way of coping, unwinding and playing with colors for my art therapy.


Do you see something you like? You can get them at Berry's Treats and Deco Art respectively, drop them a message in Insta and they're going to definitely reply. =)