HomeAmbot-ah Season 2011 Finale: a year of memories By Marcos Detourist on January 7, 2012I’m filled with mixed emotions when I reminisce about my experiences during the last 12 months. Everyday I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to do the things that I loved: traveling, taking photos, and blogging. Okay, I haven’t been blogging as much as I should.So what did happen to me in 2011? I’ve slowed down my travels … at least not as much as I did in 2010. Here’s a recap of my travels in 2011.Ambot-ah.com Season 2011 recapIn 2010, I wanted to experience the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. One year wasn’t enough to visit all of them, so I extended the momentum until the first half of 2011. I spent January witnessing two of the biggest festivals: the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo. Mactan Island and Cebu Sinulog 2011 (7 days)At the end of February I flew to Luzon and spent the next eight weeks traveling to destinations within a bus ride from Manila. Mt. Pulag Summit Trek and Sagada (8 Days) Mindoro and Batangas Roadtrip (6 days) Zambales and Bataan Back-to-Back Visits (2 + 6 Days) Camarines Norte and Quezon Province (4 days)I promised myself one last major trip for the first half of 2011 (in Mindanao) before taking a long rest back home. Fortunately another trip came up thanks to AirPhil Express‘ new flight to Singapore and cruise tour package to Malaysia. Southern Mindanao: Davao, SOCSARGEN, Zamboanga and Basilan(10 days) Singapore and Malaysia Cruise (4 days)My travels didn’t stop while “resting” in Iloilo. My hometown is a great base to explore the provinces of Western Visayas. I realized I just couldn’t stay put in one place for a long time :p My travels were usually 2-3 day visits to the undiscovered destinations in the region. Western Visayas Backyard TravelsOne the latter part of 2011, I made my way to Cebu for the 2011 edition of the Visayas Blogging Summit. I had a revisit of Palawan in December. I was so hung up with the beauty of El Nido (during my first solo trip) that I’ve been craving to get back. Fortunately, my travel buddy who I met on the road during the same trip felt the same. It was really awesome traveling with friends this time round. Cebu Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 (5 days) Palawan: Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Quezon (11 days)I finally spent the last days of 2011 in the peaceful shores of Carabao Island. Carabao Island, Romblon (3 days)New Year’s ResolutionsEnding 2010 with little savings on my back account opened my eyes to work towards sustaining my travel blogging lifestyle on the long term. Now that I’m already in my mid-20s (yikes!) I realized that I needed to be responsible and take care of my financial stability. I would love to spend every penny I have to travel and enrich my perception of the world’s cultures but it’s also important for me to be able to sustain it and still be able to contribute enough to my family.I’m very thankful that I was able to accomplish my 2011 new year’s resolution of building up my savings. With the unstable nature of making a living online, it’s important to have money saved up to prepare for ineventualities. I also needed to have money in the bank so I can work on bigger goals.I love traveling the Philippines but I also want to see the world. Unfortunately, the world includes a lot of expensive countries … so my 2012 new year’s resolution is to figure out how I can accomplish my life long dream of a “round-the-world travel.”Hopefully, the opportunity will come this year :)What’s in store for Ambot-ah Season 2012?so far… more “off the beaten path travels” in the Philippines.More of South East Asia. I’m planning on spending a third of the year doing backpacking trails in Malaysia-Indonesia and Indochina.My first foray into a non-tropical country (fingers crossed that my first ever tourist visa application will be accepted).Thank you to everyone who shared this experience with me. A happy new year to all!Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Anti-thesis in Wanderland, a Photo SeriesJack's Ridge DavaoChangi International Airport: Singapore to Manila…Corong-Corong Beach: Chasing the Sunset in El Nido, PalawanSingapore's Super Trees: Man-made Concrete and Metal…Ambot-ah Major Redesign for 2010Comments Hancel saysJanuary 9, 2012 at 8:31 pmany plans na magsama sa mga readers ng blog mo sa mga travels mo? :) Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:02 pmpwede! will post my travel plans later. If you guys would like to join me, very welcome talaga :) Hancel saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 9:40 pmTalaga? Hahaha. that would be nice :) Marcos saysJanuary 13, 2012 at 3:01 amhehe, sure :D Grace saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 3:10 pmHEY.. how about doing seminars about your travels?? hehe… like giving us advised, ideas to plan for our future travels and seminars about photography? hehe wala lang ^.^ Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:08 pmWe’ll see, hehe. If the opportunity comes up, why not? ^_^ jnkz04 saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 5:14 pmMadamo gid nga salamat! Marcos, for sharing your travels and tips from the readers including me :), for me reading your blogs feels like Ive been there also. hehe, I am very great full to find your blog, hope to read more of your travels this 2012. More travels to you, be safe and GOD speed. Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:11 pmThank you too jnkz04 for reading my posts. Sharing my travels also makes me feel less alone when I’m on the road :) More travels to you too ^_^ June | Life&Spices saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 2:38 pmwow..di ka naman busy for one whole year..do you travel solo often? Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 4:16 pmIt still wasn’t as busy as I would’ve liked, hehe. My solo travels are probably 30 to 50% of my trips last year. So yeah, I do travel solo often … because I haven’t found a travel buddy for that specific time during my visit.I still prefer traveling with company though. Kung meron, ok na ok … kung wala, then I would still push through with the trip. Hancel saysJanuary 12, 2012 at 2:52 pmPasama ako :) Hancel saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 9:38 pmMost of the time ba you travel alone? Been travelling since last year (thanks for your blog) and this year I plan to do it alone. Is it okay, I mean safe naman ba?I am a fan :) Marcos saysJanuary 13, 2012 at 3:01 amI used to travel solo in 2010. That’s the same year that I backpacked solo for the first time. No one can guarantee that they’ll be totally safe when traveling :p There’s always a chance of misfortune regardless of traveling solo or with a group. The best thing we can do is to minimize them by being prepared. Martin saysJanuary 16, 2012 at 4:03 amWow! a lot of places visited in a year. I also share thesame sentiment with you about wanting to travel but also the need to save for bigger things. Pag early 20s andun yung gastos lang ng gastos pero in the long run mare-realize mo din pala na kelangan din maghanda for other priorities. Ayos tong blog mo! All the best on your future travels! :) Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 2:00 amGreat to know, it’s not only me who has this dilemma. If only we had all the money in the world … dagdagan na lang immortality while we’re at it, hehe :DThanks Martin, loved your blog as well! Photos pa lang, I’m already convinced to walk there WOK has WOK’d :D Mike saysJanuary 16, 2012 at 9:48 amHi Marcos, tani someday makaupod man ko sa mga travels mo ..Its more fun in the Philippines talaga.Love reading your blog bro. I and my collegues will visit Coron this Feb. 17 to 20, 2012 , hope you can give us any advice. Looking forward to hear from you. More power bro Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 2:04 amThat’ll be cool Mike, I post my itinerary for 2012 … joiners are very welcome. Coron … Haven’t been. Ako na ang mangayo tips sa inyo, lol!Enjoy tour trip! tani maka upod man ko ba. Jayson saysJanuary 18, 2012 at 4:23 pmthis is definitely the best blog i’ve ever read. i’m a big fan of yours. you’re blog clearly explains all the details needed for the trip plus you’re such a very good photographer matching with certain explanation. you are such an inspiration to many people whom love to travel. when we are going to travel somewhere, the first thing that comes to my mind is your blog! definitely a bog help. more power and god bless you! cheers! Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 2:23 amOMG! It’s a really nice feeling to be appreciated. Thank you Jayson! I’m so honored. I hope to keep the momentum in months… years to come harley carbonell saysFebruary 4, 2012 at 4:09 amgsto gid ko mag travel pero mag bakal sa una ko sang nikon d3100. hehehe payts na abe na? Jay R saysFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:28 amWhere is that beach of you sitting on coconut trunk? Beautiful… I wanna go there! Usually my journey starts with a picture. If I see a picture (island, beach) and looks nice to me, I book a ticket to get there sooner than I could imagine. Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:55 pmIt’s along the main beach in Carabao Island. It’s most conveniently accessed from Caticlan Port in Aklan. Jay R saysFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:40 amI see myself a lot in you. Just enjoy and be bothered not of the future. Priorities change and while traveling is your thing these years, just let your hair down. One day you will slow down but that does not mean you stop. I remember my first knockout trip after college- to Palawan and spent a month backpacking from Puerto Princesa ending in El Nido. Now in my early 30s, I still travel from time to time if budget and time permits. Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:54 pmCool! I really appreciate inputs from other people who’ve already trudged a similar path to mine, thanks Jay R. I have to let my hair down more often, I agree :D I’m hoping to just sit back, enjoy the experience of traveling this year, and not worry so much about things. joan paulette saysMarch 15, 2012 at 7:59 pmMarcos, Thank you again for showing us Concepcion. You are one awesome travel buddy. Joe and I truely enjoyed your company and we both admire your passion for travelling and meeting your people. Keep me in mind when you do your around-the-world tour :) God speed my friend. Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:23 amThanks for the company too! I’m happy to have found new travel buddies :) ram saysMay 9, 2012 at 3:47 amThanks for the information you have given. ram saysMay 9, 2012 at 3:51 amAnd it seems like your job is one of the most dreamt job and I want to join haha Jennifer saysFebruary 22, 2013 at 3:22 pmWow! And that was just for 2011! It’s nice to make a living and travel at the same time, doesn’t it? It’s okay if you can’t travel to every country you want to go to just yet. Gives you a lot to look forward to. Besides, there are still so many beautiful places to go to here in the Philippines :) Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Hancel saysJanuary 9, 2012 at 8:31 pmany plans na magsama sa mga readers ng blog mo sa mga travels mo? :)
Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:02 pmpwede! will post my travel plans later. If you guys would like to join me, very welcome talaga :)
Grace saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 3:10 pmHEY.. how about doing seminars about your travels?? hehe… like giving us advised, ideas to plan for our future travels and seminars about photography? hehe wala lang ^.^
jnkz04 saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 5:14 pmMadamo gid nga salamat! Marcos, for sharing your travels and tips from the readers including me :), for me reading your blogs feels like Ive been there also. hehe, I am very great full to find your blog, hope to read more of your travels this 2012. More travels to you, be safe and GOD speed.
Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:11 pmThank you too jnkz04 for reading my posts. Sharing my travels also makes me feel less alone when I’m on the road :) More travels to you too ^_^
June | Life&Spices saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 2:38 pmwow..di ka naman busy for one whole year..do you travel solo often?
Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 4:16 pmIt still wasn’t as busy as I would’ve liked, hehe. My solo travels are probably 30 to 50% of my trips last year. So yeah, I do travel solo often … because I haven’t found a travel buddy for that specific time during my visit.I still prefer traveling with company though. Kung meron, ok na ok … kung wala, then I would still push through with the trip.
Hancel saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 9:38 pmMost of the time ba you travel alone? Been travelling since last year (thanks for your blog) and this year I plan to do it alone. Is it okay, I mean safe naman ba?I am a fan :)
Marcos saysJanuary 13, 2012 at 3:01 amI used to travel solo in 2010. That’s the same year that I backpacked solo for the first time. No one can guarantee that they’ll be totally safe when traveling :p There’s always a chance of misfortune regardless of traveling solo or with a group. The best thing we can do is to minimize them by being prepared.
Martin saysJanuary 16, 2012 at 4:03 amWow! a lot of places visited in a year. I also share thesame sentiment with you about wanting to travel but also the need to save for bigger things. Pag early 20s andun yung gastos lang ng gastos pero in the long run mare-realize mo din pala na kelangan din maghanda for other priorities. Ayos tong blog mo! All the best on your future travels! :)
Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 2:00 amGreat to know, it’s not only me who has this dilemma. If only we had all the money in the world … dagdagan na lang immortality while we’re at it, hehe :DThanks Martin, loved your blog as well! Photos pa lang, I’m already convinced to walk there WOK has WOK’d :D
Mike saysJanuary 16, 2012 at 9:48 amHi Marcos, tani someday makaupod man ko sa mga travels mo ..Its more fun in the Philippines talaga.Love reading your blog bro. I and my collegues will visit Coron this Feb. 17 to 20, 2012 , hope you can give us any advice. Looking forward to hear from you. More power bro
Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 2:04 amThat’ll be cool Mike, I post my itinerary for 2012 … joiners are very welcome. Coron … Haven’t been. Ako na ang mangayo tips sa inyo, lol!Enjoy tour trip! tani maka upod man ko ba.
Jayson saysJanuary 18, 2012 at 4:23 pmthis is definitely the best blog i’ve ever read. i’m a big fan of yours. you’re blog clearly explains all the details needed for the trip plus you’re such a very good photographer matching with certain explanation. you are such an inspiration to many people whom love to travel. when we are going to travel somewhere, the first thing that comes to my mind is your blog! definitely a bog help. more power and god bless you! cheers!
Marcos saysFebruary 2, 2012 at 2:23 amOMG! It’s a really nice feeling to be appreciated. Thank you Jayson! I’m so honored. I hope to keep the momentum in months… years to come
harley carbonell saysFebruary 4, 2012 at 4:09 amgsto gid ko mag travel pero mag bakal sa una ko sang nikon d3100. hehehe payts na abe na?
Jay R saysFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:28 amWhere is that beach of you sitting on coconut trunk? Beautiful… I wanna go there! Usually my journey starts with a picture. If I see a picture (island, beach) and looks nice to me, I book a ticket to get there sooner than I could imagine.
Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:55 pmIt’s along the main beach in Carabao Island. It’s most conveniently accessed from Caticlan Port in Aklan.
Jay R saysFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:40 amI see myself a lot in you. Just enjoy and be bothered not of the future. Priorities change and while traveling is your thing these years, just let your hair down. One day you will slow down but that does not mean you stop. I remember my first knockout trip after college- to Palawan and spent a month backpacking from Puerto Princesa ending in El Nido. Now in my early 30s, I still travel from time to time if budget and time permits.
Marcos saysFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:54 pmCool! I really appreciate inputs from other people who’ve already trudged a similar path to mine, thanks Jay R. I have to let my hair down more often, I agree :D I’m hoping to just sit back, enjoy the experience of traveling this year, and not worry so much about things.
joan paulette saysMarch 15, 2012 at 7:59 pmMarcos, Thank you again for showing us Concepcion. You are one awesome travel buddy. Joe and I truely enjoyed your company and we both admire your passion for travelling and meeting your people. Keep me in mind when you do your around-the-world tour :) God speed my friend.
Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:23 amThanks for the company too! I’m happy to have found new travel buddies :)
ram saysMay 9, 2012 at 3:51 amAnd it seems like your job is one of the most dreamt job and I want to join haha
Jennifer saysFebruary 22, 2013 at 3:22 pmWow! And that was just for 2011! It’s nice to make a living and travel at the same time, doesn’t it? It’s okay if you can’t travel to every country you want to go to just yet. Gives you a lot to look forward to. Besides, there are still so many beautiful places to go to here in the Philippines :)