#in paraiso every thing is truly 'just a little bit more'

[notmoreflippingelves]

It's really a shame that I've only really seen Valentina shipped with Prince Alonso or (more occasionally) with Elena. Don't get me wrong, those are nice enough ships. But oh my god, I cannot be the only person who sees that the Shining Light of Paraiso™ goes perfectly in every possible ship I can think of.

[squidproquoclarice]

So, uh, I--and it was totally me and not someone whispering their ideas to me--had this idea for a prompt--Dido the cat interrupting Sadie and Arthur while getting busy?

Inspired by joking that Sadie and Arthur are going to unfortunately learn the lesson of all parents/pet parents that closing your bedroom door for some privacy is essential.Also because Queen Dido makes no apologies and will always get what she wants.~~~~~~~~~~September, 1901 Barranca, Nuevo ParaisoHe’d admit he’d been a late bloomer on some things.  Didn’t learn to read or write until he was fourteen, nearly fifteen.  Learned to ride that same year.  Learned to shoot when he was seventeen and Dutch finally deemed his temper and patience sufficient for it.  Been an indifferent hunter until circumstances forced him to pay hard attention on that at nearly thirty-six.  Hadn’t much learned to think for himself, to give loyalty where it was truly earned, until that same time.  Love–well, learning that took him even longer.  He was still learning that, truth be told.  But if he’d give himself credit for something, it was that once he got going, he made for one determined and fast learner to make up for where he’d lacked.And Sadie, she was one damn powerful motivation.  He sometimes still woke wondering how it could be that he was alive, that she’d chosen to be with him of all the men in the world, even to the point of marrying him.  But that ring on his finger was tangible proof that it wasn’t some dream.  This was his life, and those bleak moments of doubt and wondering, they came on less and less.This was some tangible proof too, made on the regular in this bed.  Wheat-blond hair spread across the pillow, hazel eyes intent on him.  The clutch of her hands on his shoulders, the press of those strong thighs on his hips, urging him on.  The golden glow of her skin cast in lantern light, the rosy blush spreading across her throat and shoulders.  The way she said his name, and that soft, low little sound she made she usually made soon before she came.  The look of her, the sound of her, the sheer incredible feel of her–every time he thought it couldn’t get better between them, somehow it did.  Maybe he still had some things to learn.He liked it fierce and wild as much as anyone, but tonight, it was slow and sweet between them, and were he to be honest, that was probably how he liked it best.  He leaned down to kiss her, needing that as much as anything else about this.Just at that moment, he got a bit of a shock realizing that there were three in this bed when he felt the sudden weight on his back, the silken brush of fur, and the pressure of those big paws kneading against him, a low rumbling demand for attention.Sadie noticed the sudden hitch in things, and looked up at him.  She reached up, one hand touching his cheek.  “You go somewhere else there?”  That happened sometimes, in him or in her, dark memories of far less pleasant things taking the reins for a moment.  Maybe it always would.  But they got by.He shook his head, admitting sheepishly, “Nah.  Ain’t nothing like that.  It’s–ah–Dido sneaked in.  She’s sitting on me right now.”  She’d been married before.  If there was some kind of notion of how one dealt properly with this kind of thing, he’d truly love to hear it.  Sadie’s eyes went wide, and she let out a whoop of laughter, burying her face in the crook of his neck to muffle the sound, and for a moment he had her laughing and Dido purring, and trying to not just crack up himself, but losing that battle and starting to laugh.  It startled Dido enough that she gave an irritated mrrrp and hopped down off his back.  Sauntered up towards the pillows and gave them both a very annoyed look with those big green eyes. Sadie reached out and gave Dido a pat.  “Guess you’d better focus on the other pussy for now.”That did it, and he ended up laughing so hard it almost hurt.  God, it felt good to be able to laugh without worrying about hacking up a lung.  That was a feeling that would never lose its wonder for him either.  “Well,” he said, when he could breathe again, “just about.”  He kissed Sadie one more time and reluctantly pushed away from her, settling down beside her with one black-furred miscreant cat between them very visibly pleased with herself, thank you very much, for having gotten the attention she’d demanded.  “After all, yours ain’t got claws.”Sadie gave him a knowing smile, brushing her hair from her eyes.  “No, but like this one, she does get upset at being neglected.”He gave her back a smirk of his own.  “Oh, does she?  I promise I’ll make it up to her later.”  Reaching out, caressing Dido under the chin while she rubbed up against his side, he sighed.  Yeah, he still had some things to learn, and here was one of them.  “One thing I do know for damn sure.  We gotta remember to close the door next time.”

[ofinkandpapers]

For those who haven’t read my Day 1 Ilocos adventure you can read it HERE.

As much as I wanted to finish my Ilocandia series in one sitting, but sorry I cannot, due to duty schedule and the bed weather seems to be so inviting for such laziness. Anyway, here’s the next installment for my Ilocos Travel Tour.

When I thought I’ve seen beauty enough to leave me breathless and captivated, Pagudpud surprised me and took me to places I would remember forever. Travelling for hours may be boring and a bit tiresome but not when you’re entertained with a scenery too alluring, you’ll never get tired of. In this article, let me take you to other wonders Pagudpud has to offer.

FIRST STOP: Patapat Viaduct

When traveling to Ilocos, don’t ever miss the Patapat Viaduct! It crosses the slopes of the mountain ranges while providing the best view of the open sea. As we are keeping traces from the south to this northern part of Ilocos we finally reached Patapat Viaduct. It is one of the major project during the regime of President Marcos. It is considered as the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines having a total length of 1,300 meters. It connects Maharlika Highway from Laoag to Cagayan Valley Region. It rises along the town’e coastal mountain, which is the starting point of Cordillera Mountain Range that snakes throughout Northern Luzon. People usually stops here just to take photos of the bridge. The lush Patapat Mountains, blue skies and the blue waters of South China Sea was breathtaking.

A common sight on the bridge are parked vehicles equipped with tourists eager to capture photos. No wonder why, because the entire view is just so amazing! The long white and winding bridge, with the views of the ocean, the rock formations, the sound of the big waves, the magnificent sunshine and the tall mountains at the backdrop just seems to be a perfect synthesis.

SECOND STOP: Paraiso ni Anton (Calvario de Patapat)

Paraiso ni Anton is one of the few stops of the Pagudpud Tour Cycle, a local tourism project of the municipality that aims to bring visitors to Pagudpud’s top-notch destinations. Tourist take photos while locals take a sip of the waters dripping from the hill.

I couldn’t help but wonder why is this place called Paraiso Ni Anton. And who is Anton anyway? Was he the one who discovered the place? Was he someone who has died and was somewhat buried in this paradise hence its name? Then, Kuya Romy our tour guide told us that these waters uphold some sort of mystery. Some other locals came with containers and filled them with the water flowing from the small stream. Then I found out that locals believe that the water that drips down to the hillside of Paraiso ni Anton contain some healing energy. They believe that drinking the water will cure their mild ailments and in some cases, even the severe ones.

There is also another story circulating among frequent travelers in the area. A white lady seemed to appear within the vicinity scaring drivers. So to pay respect, drivers slow down then blow their horns when passing Paraiso ni Anton. Whether these stories are legend or not, as long as they don’t get harmed, there is nothing wrong about it.

Oh well no matter who Anton is, this place is undeniably a paradise, with a small grotto for the Blessed Virgin, a stream and luscious trees as the backdrop, this surely deserves a minute of your time. Also, on the front of the hill there are souvenir shops where you can buy Ilocos native pasalubongs.

THIRD STOP: Timmangtang Rock 

This rock formation is covered with lush green vegetation which makes it look like a huge sea turtle’s shell left by its owner on the shores of Pagudpud. There’s actually nothing special to be done in Timmangtang Rock but shoot photos. According to kuya Romy, the Timmangtang Rock formation appears like a bell from a distance. But, no matter how much I look at it from any angle, I couldn’t be convinced that it resembles as a bell.

Before reaching the rock formation, I stepped on a number of things that hurt my feet. Pebbles and seashells are everywhere so make sure to take extra precaution when you go here. The path that leads to the rock formation is very slippery since it is touching the water. So, again be very careful.

Aside from the rock formation, I couldn’t help but admire the calmness of the water. As the cool breeze touches my skin, I marveled at the thought that I’m lucky to experience something as relaxing as that.

FOURTH STOP: Bantay Abot Cave

It is totally safe to say that Pagudpud is truly one of the most scenic places we’ve ever visited.

The Bantay Abot Cave is a favorite stopover for tourists and a favorite hangout of the locals due to the striking surroundings.

Contrary to its name, Bantay Abot Cave isn’t really a cave. It’s a huge rock with a hole in the middle. And yes, the fertility folklore continued here because it’s the second place to visit after Timmangtang Rock. If you are smiling now, then you are probably getting the picture. Am I right? This hole is the “passage” – the vagina. We climbed up to the hole and gasped at the sight.

One needs to go down a stairway and cross a short trail of shallow waters to get inside the cave. The path to the cave is a bit dangerous; you have to watch your step all the time. The entire place looks so serene and relaxing. In reality, it is quite challenging to capture great photos. The shore is filled with sharp fragments of rock formations. The limited pathways are steep. The waves of the sea are too powerful. In effect, expect strong winds everywhere. I remember climbing a steep elevated area to secure some photos. I had a hard time going down, so my steps were slow and careful. Fortunately, I’m with my boyfriend who takes care of me and hold my hand while climbing down. And the whole place offers breathtaking views of the waves flashing through the rocks and the cool breeze coming from around the mountain sides.

However, the place is not advisable for swimming because the waves are really strong in this part and they might just sweep you away towards South China Sea. Me and my boyfriend enjoyed taking a lot of photos here and we even climbed up on the rocks for souvenir photos.

We only had a few minutes to explore Bantay Abot Cave. Despite the short visit, I can say that Bantay Abot Cave is one of the best places I’ve seen. It’s no doubt, one for the books!

FIFTH STOP: Kabigan Falls

Aside from the beautiful beach in Pagudpud, everyone should also visit Kabigan Falls. “Kabigan” was derived from the Tagalog word “Kaibigan” which means friend. The falls was given that name because the water from the river and the falls are magkaibigan. It is just 10 minutes away from Pagudpud. The visit to Kabigan Falls was listed in our itinerary and so when we reached the drop off point and was informed that the trek will took about 30 minutes one way and it would be an approximately 1.8km walk, some in the group, I know, were having second thoughts if we will still push it through. Well me, as the one who has this insatiable appetite for adventures would definitely not want to miss out this opportunity to visit it (andito na ako eh! Sayang naman!). So I insisted that we should go give it a try and I believe its gonna be worth it.

A tour guide was assigned to accompany us. Tour guides do this voluntarily and its up to you to give them any donations. Of course, its always a kind gesture to give them something after the tour, after all they were working hard for it and the trek back and forth just to guide tourists isn’t a comfortable one. There is already an established trail going to the falls hence you may dismiss having an official guide. Know that, however, that the tour guides double as caretakers wherein they clean the entire and falls every day after the tourists are gone. Hats off to these locals and hey, this is their main livelihood and your only way to contribute! Half of the earnings of these guides actually goes to their local cooperative while the other goes to their local government.

Kabigan Falls is tucked inside a forested area at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. It became famous because of its natural concave pool protected by tall trees abundantly growing in one of the few remaining virgin forest of the Philippines. One has to literally cross the rocky trails, with rice fields, wooden bridges, creeks, slippery rocks and loads of trees.

I really didn’t care about the long walks, you will be entertained by lovely views of farmlands, and water streams, animals and the mountains. There are a few stand by points where you can rest for a while and enjoy some buko juice, but because we are in a hurry to finish the tour due to a lists of itineraries for that day, we kept walking and walking till we reach the falls.

The trail is actually an easy one, Half of the trail is an open field with water streams on the side and trees are very rare. But as you get closer to the middle of the forest, the trek is more likely to get bearable and becomes a little cooler because of the trees and shaded areas while crossing some wooden and bamboo bridges.

After 30 minutes we finally saw a miniature version of the falls connected to the river with the tall dropping falls at the background and i can hear the dashing sound of water from it. Just a few more tumbling away and there we saw the whimsical Kabigan Falls with a towering height of 120 feet. It was indeed a very rewarding sight with such a revitalizing allure.

The water was blue green and really clear that you can see in close encounter the bottom of the waterfall basin. There are swimmers during our time of visit  and they were enjoying a lot. I was able to test the waters by dipping my hands while in the shallow part of the river before climbing up for photographs. Mind you, the water is so cold – what a great way to cool down after drenching yourself in a sweaty hike.

If you are a nature junkie, you will surely fall in love with the falls, the locals and even the remoteness of the place. After a few minutes, we started trekking again going back to the drop off point where our lunch is already waiting. T’was a tiring experience but was all worth the leg cramping walks. Never miss the opportunity to visit this natural wonder when in Ilocos. It was truly worth your time and efforts!

SIXTH STOP: Maira-ira Beach (Blue Lagoon)

Ilocos is not only blessed with rich history, picturesque landscapes and old buildings and structures but it also has pristine and drop dead gorgeous water. The beautiful cove named Maira-ira Beach lies in Maira-ira Point, the northern tip of Pagudpud. Maira-ira Beach for which popularly known as Blue Lagoon is one of the most visited spot in Ilocos when looking for water adventures and beach bumming. It has a long stretch of white sands kissed by clear, turquoise blue water. It  is one of the destinations usually included in the tour package offered in Pagudpud.

The Blue Lagoon, a small deep-water cove, gives Hannah’s Beach Resort its bright, glowing star. The warm, sparkling aquamarine water looks awesomely magical. Coupled with a shore made of talcum-fine sand, it is easy to understand why this particular patch of water is a favorite place to swim and have fun.

When we got there the beach waves are strong, the shoreline has sudden deep hollows. My boyfriend kept on telling me not to get far. He got scared I’d be washed away by the big waves. I wondered if the water gets tranquil sometimes. The water wasn’t blue as I expected because of the gloomy weather. Nevertheless, we still enjoyed the beach but when the rain started to pour hard, we had no choice but to leave.

So, there you have it that’s our last destination for our second day tour. Watch out for more wonders of Ilocos on our last day 🙂

When in Ilocos: Day 2 For those who haven’t read my Day 1 Ilocos adventure you can read it HERE.

[envirotravel]

Out On the Dunes: ATV Adventures in Jericoacoara

You’ve already read how in just one week, I fell deep under Jericoacoara’s spell. While the tiny, remote Brazilian beach town had charm in spades, most people were drawn to what lay beyond its borders — miles upon miles of endless, untamed sand dunes, their shapes changing with the whims of the wind.

To explore them, you’ll need a set of wheels. From what I discovered, the tourism industry in Jeri is still quite underdeveloped and most “tours” are arranged on a whim. If you’re traveling solo like I was, you’ll need to form a group of your own before approaching a tour operator or they are likely to shrug you off.

Thankfully, I was adopted by a group of a dozen Israelis who arranged two separate days exploring on ATVs for us. The first day we had a slightly smaller group than the second, and each paid 140R ($40US), while for our second outing we each paid 115R ($33). My newfound travel tribe were excellent negotiators, I should note — I have no doubt we would have paid more had I been the one in charge of setting a rate.

In general, it appears there are two general routes the guides will lead you on — one to the east, and one to the west. You could also tackle either of these routes in a buggy with your guide behind the wheel, if you didn’t feel like self-driving. In our case, the guides zoomed ahead on monster-sized dirt bikes, leading the way for our caravan of ATVs.

On our first day, we went west. I have to admit that I’m not the most comfortable behind the wheels of an ATV — I’ve had a few friends get in serious accidents in the last few years and well, I just feel vulnerable bouncing around on this big ‘ol hunk of metal that could flip over and crush me any second.

So I was more than happy to be a passenger on this little excursion, though within moments I could tell that at the speeds my crew was driving, I was going to spend a lot of the day screaming with my eyes clenched shut.

Our first stop was in the hamlet of Mangue Seco. It’s not every day you get to use the word hamlet, but in this case it seems the only descriptor appropriate for the blip on the map that Mangue Seco was.

Water levels were high in the area at the time, and so we eventually reached a standstill where our ATVs had to be loaded onto precarious rafts and pushed across the water onward. On the other side, our guide asked us if we wanted to take a short boat trip for another 10R to see the “Cavalo Marinho.”

We puzzled over what this could possibly be, my Israeli friends turning to me and asking if my Spanish knowledge might reveal any clues. “Well… caballo means horse in Spanish,” I said with a shrug. “Could they be talking about… sea horses?”

I said it with incredibly trepidation. After all, we were crossing a freshwater lake, right? But shortly after we loaded into the boat, the new guide leaned over the hull and scooped into a mason jar, yup, three tiny little seahorses. It was my greatest moment of communication victory in all of Brazil. Six weeks, and I finally was able to accurately predict what sea creature I was about to see.

After exiting through a surreal, jumbo-sized mangrove forest that we unfortunately didn’t stop to photograph, we were back to the dunes.

We soon spotted a crowd in the distance, and paused as we pulled up next to them to see what all the commotion was about, out here in the sand-filled middle of nowhere. We found an enterprising group of locals selling rides down into a rainwater lake for a mere 5R. After watching a few groups face-plant in the sand, I grabbed a board and took my own turn publicly humiliating myself. It was wonderful.

Finally, a chance to relax after the super stressful day we’d been having (ha!) Looking back at a map, I can’t say for sure if we were at Lago Grande or Laguinho da Torta Tatajuba, but I can confirm that it doesn’t really matter. The dunes surrounding Jericoacoara are surrounded by scenic lagoons dotted with in-water hammocks and fringed by palm trees. I wouldn’t get too picky about which one you end up in.

This was the best part of the day. It was incredibly windy, but we didn’t mind. Hours melted away as we lounged in the sun, watched kite-surfers work their magic, and marveled at the paradise we stumbled upon in what felt like the end of the earth. Seafood and beer were offered every time we so much as looked at a hammock; and my travel companions were all too happy to take one for the team with a few orders.

All good things must come to an end, and eventually we packed up and prepared ourselves for the long drive back to Jericoacoara. Now, all day, I’d been lightly teased for my clear discomfort with our driving speeds. As our guides geared up, one of the boys, Eliko, approached me and asked what was making me so nervous. “These things flip over all the time,” I pointed out. “No, no,” he assured me. “You are very safe. We all drove in much more difficult circumstances in the army. You are safe.” Who can argue with a man who just dedicated three years of his life to compulsory military service?

I hopped on the back of another ATV and braced myself when the adrenaline-loving driver started taking it in tight circles. Maybe now would be a great time to ask him to stop doing this, I thought to myself, and in that exact moment I felt the left two wheels of ATV lift off from the ground as we both were launched into the air. Somehow, time really did go into slow motion, enough for me to push off with my feet to get as far away from the vehicle as possible, and enough for me to lock eyes with Eliko, who was looking on in horror. If I didn’t know better, I might even recall that I had time to shake my head with disapproval mid-air. When we hit the ground, time resumed at a normal pace, and I was quickly surrounded by a dozen faces of concern.

We slowed down a bit after that. Eventually, the girls teamed up and I hopped on the back of Maude’s ATV for a bit, where we happily enjoyed the view from the back of the caravan. Never a dull moment, as they say!

A few days later, when my bruises and memories of the crash had faded, I was talked into doing it all over again (sorry mom.) This time, we went east.

Our first stop was the famous arch called Pedra Furada. It was quite the scramble to get there after we parked our wheels, but it was worth it for the gorgeous geological formation that awaited us. Here, I wowed everyone with my remote shooting capabilities to capture a group photo with my dSLR balanced on a rock and triggered from an app on my iPhone. Stick with the travel blogger, I assured them. They always have the best selfie tricks.

Next up was Arvore da Preguica, a truly amazing tree shaped by years of wind and harsh desert conditions. We didn’t have it to ourselves for long though before the next group rolled up next to us — this route was far busier and far less remote and wild than the one we’d taken the previous day, when I wondered how the guides knew which way to go into the endless dunes ahead of us.

This was a much more subdued journey, a balance I was more than a-ok with.

Again came my favorite portion of the day, the one in which we lounged in Instagram-ready water hammocks. This time, we ditched the local beer shacks in favor of the upscale beach club (or should I say lake club?) Alchymist at Lagoa Paraiso. As the fanciest of its kind in the area, stepping into Alchymist felt a bit like stepping into a portal to a European beach club — and I didn’t hate it.

That said, we didn’t spring for beach chairs or expensive cocktails. After splurging on a late lunch, we happily spent the rest of our time splashing around in the lagoon and enjoying our last day in Jericoacoara together.

Simply put, you’d be crazy to come to Jericoacoara and not spend at least one day out on the dunes exploring the wild west of the desert. These were some of my greatest adventures in all of Brazil — I loved them almost as much as the town we went home to.

Are you an ATV wimp like me or an adrenaline-loving daredevil like the rest of my crew?

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Out On the Dunes: ATV Adventures in Jericoacoara posted first on http://ift.tt/2k2mjrD