Here they are, in no particular order and this is a working list. I have checked those that I have done. Yey! I will probably add more if some things come to mind.
1. Swimming with the dolphins, whale-sharks and false-killer whale
I have swam with the dolphins and a false-killer whale named Tonka in the Ocean Adventure in Subic, Pampanga. We paid about PhP3,000. It was a very exhilarating experience. We were asked to touch the teeth of Tonka as a proof that he is indeed a false-killer whale.
Swimming with the whale-sharks in Oslob, Cebu as a my birthday treat to my family. It has been a tradition for me to spend my birthdays with my family and bring them to places they haven't been to. It was a very surreal encounter with these gentle giants.
2. White-water rafting
I want to ride the rapids in the Colorado River and the Rio Grande. I have done white-water rafting in Cagayan de Oro. It was very exciting. I plan to take my family there to let them try it, too.
3. Snow and Winter
I have spent winter in the US twice. First was in St. Louis, Missouri and it was where I first touched snow. We made snowballs, got into a snowball fight and built snow angels. The second time was in Dallas, Texas. No snow but it was still very cold. Right after we left, there was a strong snowstorm that resulted to thick inches of snow and a wide blackout which lasted for a week. Snow or snowstorms barely happen in Texas.
4. Ice-skating in Central Park in Winter
I have tried skating in a local mall's skating rink just this weekend. I suck and my feet were aching. I had to rely on a bear which they call skate aid to not fall on my bum. I want to go around the Central Park and then skate in the ice skating rink and of course it has to be in winter.
5. Visit Angkor Wat
I have visited the City of Angkor or more popularly known as Angkor Wat. Very impressive works of architecture and feat of engineering knowing they do not have the heavy-equipment during those times.
6. Get on a Cruise
I have been on a cruise in Halong Bay. It was a short one but nevertheless, it was a cruise. We were just about 20 people in the cruise, about 5 groups. It felt like we own the boat and we were big bucks.
7. Eat Something Exotic
My stomach is not so strong but I wanted to try exotic food too. The few that I have tasted which were really good and I would eat them again are deep fried frog legs in a Chinese restaurant in Shenzhen, China and freshly-caught sea urchin in Borawan, Quezon. I want to know how a crocodile tastes. There was a restaurant in Coron, Palawan which offer crocs on their menu but we did not try it. Probably, some other time when my travel buddies are more daring. Maybe try the bugs and other street food in Bangkok?
8. Climb Mountains
I have climbed Mt. Batulao in Batangas.
9. Mt. Everest
I have no ambitions of joining the ranks of Leo Oracion (first Cebuano to reach the summit of Mt. Everest). I just want to reach the base camp.
10. Extreme Adventures
I do not have a death wish. I am just an asthmatic wannabe adrenaline junkie. I would like to do these extreme adventures.
Canyoneering. The most famous nowadays is the Badian-Alegria route, but I think the provincial government of Cebu has temporarily stopped the canyoneering in Alegria due to a fault found on one of the large boulders near the falls. The fault was caused by heavy rains and since La Nina is here, it may take a while for the ban to be lifted. I hope to try this soon, even if it would just be the Badian one.
Skydiving. I will have to save for this one. This is costly though I need not travel far since they have this in Bantayan, Island, Cebu.
Bungee-Jumping. I almost tried it in Clarke Quay. Almost. I wanna do it for real.
Cliff Diving. I have done this in Esoy Hot Spring but I think it was not a very tall cliff and I had a life-jacket on. I want to do it without one and from a very tall cliff and fall into the ocean just like what Bella did in New Moon.
Surfing. I have not gone with my friends in Baler, Aurora because I suffered an asthma attack.
Helmet-Diving
Ride a hot-air balloon
Tree-top Adventure. This is in Subic, Pampanga. This includes a Superman-zipline ride, a 100-foot rappel (Australian-style) and a canopy ride.
Parasailing. I have tried this when we were in Boracay. 11. Diving
12. Chase Waterfalls
Lately, a lot of waterfalls in Cebu have become popular. I want to visit them all before I plan to visit the other falls within the country and then off to the mother of all waterfalls: Niagara Falls, New York/Canada, Iguazo Falls, Argentina and Angel Falls in Venezuela.
13. Explore Famous Sites in the US
Grand Canyon
Yoshemite Park
Hoover Dam
Washington, DC - Smithsonian, Lincoln's statue, White House, museumsPCT - Pacific Crest Trail. I want to hike this trail just like what Cheryl Strayed did in the Wild.
Yellowstone National Park. Get mermerized by the geysers.
Aurora Borealis in Alaska. I want to see the most amazing light show.
New York City. I have been there twice. I have gone up the Empire State Building; visited the Museum of Natural History and the Wax Museum; seen the Statue of Liberty really close while on a cruise on the East River; had chills at the 911 memorial and got lost in Times Square; I have been inside the Washington Square Park where a replica of the famous Arc de Triompe stood at its entrance; Stood outside the Serendipity Cafe since it was still closed;Offered prayers at St. Patrick's;Watched an ice-skating show outside the Rockefeller Center; Rode the free Staten Island ferry.Washington State. I have gone to Seattle, Washington. I have seen the Seattle Needle; was amazed at Dale Chihuly's glass-blown exhibits; been to Puget Sound and the Pike Place Market. Yes, I have seen the first Starbucks store.I have been to Texas too. I have seen the Reunion Tower. I have visited the Sixth Floor Museum. This is the building where the gunman shot JFK from. He was in the sixth-floor and they turned it into a museum. I stood in the actual spot where JFK was shot in Dealey Plaza. I visited the cenotaph which is a memorial to JFK. I have explored the Pioneer Park. I have seen the long-horns in Fort Worth up close but far enough that they can't poke me with their horns. I have seen the replica of the first settlers in Dallas.Massachusetts. Been to Boston also; Walked the Freedom trail; visited Harvard University; had dinner in Newburyport; had lunch in Quincy Market; was at the site of the Boston Massacre which was actually just a Boston Misunderstanding, blame it all on Paul Revere; Strolled the Boston Commons where most protests are held; got inside King's Chapel, the old cemetery next to it and Park Street Church.I have been to the Windy City too. We visited the following sites in Chicago: Navy Pier, Millennium Park, museums, watched a basketball game of the Bulls vs. the Nets, bought souvenirs at a Disney store and walked the whole length of Madison Avenue. The buildings in Chicago are not as modern as the ones in New York. The buildings architecture and designs were older but had more character. 14. Natural Phenomena
Cherry blossoms in full bloom. Had this experience in Seoul, South Korea, April 7 and 8, 2019. The feeling was so surreal. I felt like I have enough anesthesia for all the aches and pains that are about to come. See full story here.15. Beaches and Summer-getaways
I want to spend a summer in Maldives and Bora-bora and spend my honeymoon in Hawaii.
16. Must-See Places
Taj Mahal, India
Great Wall of China
Machu Picchu
Underwater Museum in Cancun, Mexico
Ride the Trans-Siberian Rail
17. Shrines and Holy Places
Pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain
St. Peter's Basilica
Our Lady of Lourdes
18. Countries
Bhutan
China
France
Hong Kong. I learned that it was a feat to eat a mantis shrimp using chopsticks. Disneyland was indeed the happiest place on earth. The Ocean Park was very vast and there were a lot of rides we didn't get to enjoy because time was so short. One day is not enough. Visited the Giant Buddha, Victoria Peak and walk of the stars; rode their water taxis; watched the light show by the harbor and sampled their noodles.Italy
Japan
Malaysia. We were there for one day only. We went inside the Petronas Twin Towers but was not able to go up to the top since it was closed. We went to Acquaria, which is a large aquarium on the basement of the Petronas. A lot of sea life exhibits.
Morrocco
New ZealandNepal
Singapore. I have been to the Merlion City 3x. If I were to live somewhere else, aside from New York City and California, I would like to live in Singapore too. It's a very clean and safe city though the cost of living is very high.Taiwan. I was in Taiwan in 2014. I was really astonished to find out that just within city limits you can find a hot spring, a waterfalls, a natural park and a lot of hiking trails. They are also fond of themed restos. The people are the nicest so far, of all the Chinese-speaking countries I have been to.Thailand
Turkey
Vietnam. I have been to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and Hanoi (northern Vietnam). Their traditional bread (Banh Mi), which is a baguette, is very delicious. All their food is seasoned with mint. North Face, Kipling and Crumpler bags are very affordable since they have factories there. Hanoi is the country's education hub where most universities and schools are. You can find jackets and coats in their markets but the sizes are very small. They only sell for slim people. I did not see any fat person in Vietnam. They have a fetish for their hands and feet. There are over 2M motorcycles, it will drive you crazy.
19. Pyramids
Mayan
Giza, Egypt
20. Experience Home-stay
It is one of the fast emerging ways of budget travel. Travelers stay at a farm, vineyard or hotel and help in the chores in exchange for a few nights stay and food.
21. Autumn
I have experienced Spring in the US also but not Autumn. I want to see the golden leaves fall and the trees go bald.
22. Learn Another Language
23. Learn to Play an Instrument
I have started on the guitar and the keyboard that have not really mastered it. I can play Happy Birthday, Mary Had a Little Lamb and One Love on the keyboard but not anything more complicated. I have not played a full song on the guitar. I got to as far as the playing the individual very basic chords only.
I always want to learn new things. I don't think myself as too old to do anything that is also probably why my nephews and niece would want me to do the things they do like back flipping on the pool. I didn't know I can until I tried it. Same goes for all other things. We'll never know unless we try them. It's never too late to learn a new hobby. Like this blog, I am new to this, though I have been thinking of starting one a few years back. I only got to finally do it just a few months back.
My travel goal is to always start within Cebu, the city where I was born. Then, travel around the Philippines and then the world. My mission in life is
To travel the world and get paid or get on an expense-paid trip.
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