How To Get There? This is the most common question asked by some travelers who wanted to visit certain tourist destination in the Philippines and other parts of the world. General Arze had already tried the different modes of transportation from land, sea and sky. "The journey is the destination" will be the theme of the 14th Pinoy Travel Bloggers - Blog Carnival hosted by Kara Santos. This will be a great way of sharing to other travelers, how we do travel in our own way.
A motorcycle is the most common means of transportation when I am traveling with my friends, office mates and co-backpackers. I have even tried driving a motorcycle, whereas I was the habal-habal driver; I used a Honda Wave with 3 passengers on our way to Balakayo Hills, the most elevated part of General Santos City. I had also drove in other municipalities like Alabel, Malungon, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum, Polomolok, Tupi, Tampakan, Lake Sebu, Tboli and Marbel to experience the adventures and sights the budget friendly way. The habal-habal ride was also the means of transportation of some of my mountain climbing from the city/municipality proper to the jump-off point. It's really a super bumpy ride, with your foot hanging on the side of your backpacks or stepping in the backpack. My most beloved motorcycle ride was during our journey to Lake Sebu, I love the curves and as we glide sometimes our shoes get contact on the road. It's best also to use all terrain vehicles in hillside travel. The best thing about driving a motorcycle is that it's cheap and you could stop anytime and anywhere you one.
If I don't have the budget I just grabbed my mountain bike and pedaled to any destination to where my mind and heart desires without having the worries of how much I will spend on the transportation itself. With mountain biking I have discovered some places which I have never gone trough even in my hometown - General Santos City. I have tried biking from Gensan-Alabel-Malungon-Glan and enjoyed the pristine white sand beaches with the view of the Sarangani Bay. In one of the photos you could a sign that shows "GS 45" (45 kilometers), which only mean that I am halfway thru with my mountain biking from Gensan-Maasim-Gensan. This route was just a newbie route for those professional bikers. I just enjoyed the trail and the serenity of the place which I visit. I had even brought my mountain bike in Samal Island and explored the island by biking to the different tourist spots such as the Hagimit Falls and resorts. I love the downhill and I hate the uphill but no choice the uphill is the fastest way to burn calories.
Mostly of the mountain climbing destinations here in Mindanao we used dump trucks or Sadam to transport the climbers from the meeting place to jump-off point. The best thing on this kind of transportation is that you have a great 360 view of the environment. But you have to hold tight on railings, chains or someone beside you to avoid being injured and bumped other person’s head especially when you are between 50-75 persons per truck with the big backpacks on the floor. The most thrilling part, especially when the driver do not care bout his passenger treating us sands, gravel or sometimes pineapples on rough muddy and uphill terrains. The transportation itself is already a contributory to the muscle pain.
Another common mode of transportation for the mountaineers / backpackers is the topload especially when you are visiting far flung places. The ride is very thrilling and sometimes dangerous because you have to observe the electrical wiring, the branches of trees but still being on top of the jeepney is the most preferred way by backpackers especially me because of the great view.
For me this is the most boring type of transportation, you could not stop to any destination unless it's a terminal, checkpoint or pick-up and dropped some passengers. I had tried riding the fastest bus operators, the most common bombed bus operators and the carefree bus operators. From new buses with wifi to old buses that looks like ready to be part of the museum. From mabuhay class, de-luxe and ordinary. I had even tried riding buses during holy week where the most numbered passengers are present and thus you really have to run your way to the buses and even tried jumping from the window just to get in the fastest way, sounds cool but on the contrary there's no time to take photos on this occasions. There are also buses bound here in South and North Central Mindanao where it stops anywhere it likes, making it a tiring and long journey and not only that they don’t care for the overloading, sometimes the number of passengers seating has the same count to those standing. There are times also that buses are not that much occupied, so you are free to use the extra space free of charge.
Hmmmm my not so ideal means of transportation. Why? Simply because I do not know how to swim, first I thing I check is the presence of a life vest. If there are, then it's a cool ride for me. I had tried riding the small boats and big boats used in inter island hopping. My most beloved part is on the most front’s part where I sometimes stand or played around only on shallow portions, hahahaha :). I sometimes lie down also, then placing my hands on the sea creating a mini waves. I had tried paddling boats but unfortunately I really don't have the talent of properly navigating it. Motorized or paddled, it does not matter as long as it will drop us to the destination safely.
Private vehicles, you have the option to stop anywhere and anytime you like but sometimes expensive especially if it's a 4-6 passenger vehicle only. The only time I could ride this type of vehicles if it's a sponsored trip or invitational trip. I had tried riding a private truck then we stopped on the arc which says welcome to Banaue. I tried also riding an L300 van with 4-6 bikes beside me. When you are on private vehicles, it is very relaxing as if you are a king or a queen. But then for me, I preferred less this type of transportation because there's not much sense of adventure.
I had only ride roro (roll on roll off) twice from Davao to Samal and vice versa. It's very slow and frightening for me knowing that we are floating on a water surface. In Roro, there are a lot of transport vehicles carried like buses, private vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles. Sometimes horses, pigs, carabao are also transported beside you.
I had tried riding cabs, pedicab, tricycle, trains, airplane, passenger boat and calesa but I have no photos of it. I am looking forward for more transportation mode like a carabao pulling the bamboos; to ride on a carabao, horse, elephant or any other animals which allows someone on his protection and care; to ride on battle tanks, helicopters, fighter planes, hot air balloons and other unique transportation modes.
How about you what's your memorable modes of transportation? How does it feel? Please share some of your experiences on how you get there? Please share also other modes of transportation you have tried which is not written here.
This is my first entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers - Blog Carnival for the month of December year 2011 with the theme 'The Journey is the Destination'. Hosted by the lovely Kara Santos of travelingup.
