Heroes Before The Maps - a 200th Article Special Tribute to our Local Guides

Two years ago, we have reached our 100th post, celebrating it with some of the people behind the maps we use. As we reach another hundred, on our 200th post, we celebrate it with some of our tour guides who had been with us through the dangers, excitement and adventure of placing "uncharted" roads and trails on the map. These are our local guides, the boatmen, hike guides who knew the roads; whether safe and perilous, yet decided to remain with us to ensure that a Filipino would not be a stranger to his own motherland.

Natural Hot Springs in the Philippines

During the months of December to February, the "habagat" or the northwest monsoon is being replaced by "amihan" or the northeast trade winds. The amihan is a line of cold winds from the northern extra-tropical countries of Asia that goes down to the Philippines as the northern hemisphere cools down by December and as ice melts by February. And where is the best place to hang out during this time? Well, it would be in a cozy dip on a natural hot spring.

Windows Photo Viewer Icon and the Philippines

Are you using Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating system on your computers? More likely you have used the default photo viewer of these operating systems, which is the Microsoft Photo Viewer. I was working on an 8-year-old DVD archive of my photo shoots last night and my DVD-ROM could hardly read the DVD and so the images' thumbnails were not yet loaded as I look at them at the windows file explorer. And so the default Photo Viewer icon is shown.  The program's icon kept me thinking. I think I saw this before. Have you?

Camiguin Island Roadtrip - discovering the best of Camiguin for four days.

February 27- March 2, 2013

Camiguin Island is known as the island born of fire in the Philippines; as this island came up as a result of volcanic eruptions of its seven volcanoes. The island is known for its magnificent volcanoes that mountaineers are eager to conquer and with various tourist spots such as waterfalls, cold springs and hot springs. Add to it its diverse flora and fauna whether on land or under the sea. The island is in the middle of Bohol Sea thus dive sites are everywhere, add to it the friendly and honest people around. The following is Schadow1 Expeditions' coverage of Camiguin as we stayed there for 4 days and 3 nights; mapped the island and then later on, enjoyed it!

Paguia Cottages, a budget resort with big hotel-type rooms

February 27, 2013

When staying on a budget in Camiguin, you would be looking for the most affordable yet cozy place to stay; while the places you would like to check out must be accessible. Being at the heart of the town of Agoho where other famous resorts in Camiguin is located and an arms' throw away from the White Island, Paguia Cottages must be the place you are looking for to stay.

Ardent Hot Springs - relaxing dip after an H2 Traverse

March 1, 2013

Camiguin is an island with 7 volcanoes. And as expected, there will be natural hot springs. Ardent Hot Springs is a natural hot spring at the foot of Hibok-Hibok Volcano and is accessible 4.2 kilometers from the main road at Mambajao town, Camiguin's capital. Temperature is ranging from 36-38 degrees Celsius, this one of the most relaxing hot spring you can dip in.

Sto Nino Cold Springs, Camiguin

March 1, 2013

Camiguin is a volcanic island and so there will always be hot springs. But this one is different.. a cold spring! Hot springs are concentrated at the east side of Camiguin while at the opposite side, the west side are filled with cold springs. One of them is Sto Niño Cold Spring that can be found at Sagay Town and is about 2.5 kilometers from the main road.

Ostrich Farm, Camiguin - The only ostrich facility in the Philippines

March 1, 2013

If you talk about seeing ostrich in the Philippines, one would say it is not possible. Well it is. And it only happens to be in the island of Camiguin where ostriches are bred and taken care of. A few kilometers away from Benoni port, head north for 3.3 kilometers and you will reach the Ostrich Farm.

Katibawasan Falls, grandeur with the waterfall flowing from Mt. Campana

March 1, 2013

Right near Camiguin's capital town of Mambajao, a magnificent waterfalls flowing from Mt. Campana attracts local and foreign tourists.
Situated at 265 meters above sea level and flowing all the way up from Campana's peak at 500 MASL. One of the testaments that this island is blessed with natural wonders. This can be used as a picnic area or you may stop by for a swim through its clean and cool water.

Sunken Cemetery, a cemetery turned Coral Reef

February 27, 2013

The Sunken Cemetery or also known as the Pasil Reef in Camiguin is a result of the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vulcan and Mt. Hibok-Hibok that pushed the cemetery below sea level. by 1982, a cross was erected by the Department of Tourism. The site possesses a great scenery which is attractive to photographers and even a movie in the Philippines used this location for filming.

Gui-ob Church Ruins, a reminder of Mt. Vulcan's eruptive past

February 27, 2013

Gui-ob Church Ruins

The Gui-ob Church ruins is a Spanish colonial era Church which was over-run by lava from Mt. Vulcan's eruption last 1875. Similar to Cagsawa Ruins at Albay which was destroyed by Mayon, Gui-ob church of Camiguin maintains its bell tower and pillars in tact and reminds the people of today the destruction of a volcanic eruption.

White Island, A majestic solitary sand bar at Camiguin

February 27, 2013

The White Island is a small solitary sand bar located about 1.5 kilometers off shore from Agoho, the northern side of Camiguin Island. The area is well-known for its very fine white sand, clear and shallow seas and is the best viewpoint for the Hibok-Hibok and Vulcan volcanoes as well as a best place to watch both the sunrise and sunset.

Mt. Vulcan Trail 580 MASL

February 27, 2013

Mt. Vulcan

Mt. Vulcan is a volcano that erupted furiously during the 19th century and has dramatically changed the land feature of western Camiguin Island. Before the eruption, the area was one of the thriving settlement during its Spanish colonization not until it was completely buried and is a part of the Bonbon town of Camiguin presently.  Schadow1 Expeditions went out for about an hour trek to map the path of this 580 MASL inactive volcano.

Conquering Hibok-Hibok Volcano 1337 MASL

February 28, 2013

Camiguin is known as the island born of fire as it is an island formed due to volcanic eruptions of its 7 volcanoes. The latest activity of which is from Mt. Hibok-Hibok that erupted 1951 that shaped one of its local attraction, the Sunken Cemetery. Schadow1 Expeditions climbed this volcano to map the Yumbing trail and extend it for a traverse trail to Ardent Hotsprings. A total of 14.7-kilometer traverse hike. The following is the account of climbing this 1337 MASL volcano... the H2 Traverse.