Contact lenses vs. Glasses

This is not only my opinion in the matter but also base on my experience. I have a very bad eyesight which makes me in need to wear either contacts or glasses. I am near sighted so things too far from me seems blurry. I experience wearing both the eye glasses and contacts. What is more convenient contacts or eye glasses? I wear eye glasses first in my life but as a girl I became very conscious while wearing glasses because at that time I think glasses make me seem older than I am. One time my glasses broke so I planned on buying my new pair of glasses but then I suddenly change my mind and decided to experience wearing contacts for a change. Contact lens comes with a variety of colors which compared to glasses that time I think contacts makes me feel more beautiful. So I bought contacts and tried putting it on. Apparently putting on contacts is such a hassle. There are many do's and dont's in wearing contacts. It also is more expensive because you need to buy a solution for cleaning and moisturizer to wear contacts. Sometimes if I wear contacts it will hurt that I cried. You also need to clean it thoroughly before putting it on each time. If you didn't clean it better your eyes will get irritated. But when you're used to wearing contacts it felt like you didn't wear anything and seems natural. Sleeping with your contacts is a no-no! Cooking or being near a fire and something heat while wearing contacts is also not advisable because contacts is plastic and plastics tend to melt so no one wants their contacts melting in their eyes because you'll definitely go blind when that happens to you. Contacts can make you feel beautiful but if i were ask which is more convenient I think glasses is more convenient since it's cheaper and easier to put on. But contacts is convenient to wear when there's occasions. I'll wear my contacts during occasions like parties when I need to look my best and glasses during my studies or even during my trips. But despite the contacts many hassles in wearing it contacts is better in terms of people who love sports. I think I'll wear my contacts during a day trek but still have an eye glasses in my person just in case. All in all both have their own advantages and disadvantages. It only depends on the people who wears it which of the two are they more comfortable. I am comfortable with both so I bring both whenever I'm on a trip. It never is bad having both so I always have something to choose to wear depending on the occasions. 

Mt. Gulugod Baboy and Sombrero Island

My feet is again eager for another adventure so me and my friends decided to have a day trek in Mt. Gulugod Baboy. Nothing can stop us continuing in our adventure even with our light pockets. As a dependent student my budget for that particular day is only 1,200 pesos and there are  nine of us who joined.  I packed an adobo as a lunch for the whole gang to make our expenses cheaper. We decided to hire a van as our transportation to go there for comfort. The trip going there is fun because we manage to hire ourselves a handsome driver I don't know if its fate or stroke of luck and with handsome guys it can't be helped that one of us finds herself a secret crush. We take pictures at the town center of Mabini were my friend decided upon himself during a suppose to be group photo with our driver to take pictures of only the driver and our friend with a crush to him. We have our own session of laugh (our driver is not included) when we saw that particular picture it's like they have a romantic relationship. How sweet! (>.<)
I decided to not post that picture here because it's suppose to be a secret.

Arriving to our destination felt so fast, the time sure flies when you have good companion with you. When we arrive there we were greeted by our contact Mr. Globert and his wife. His wife guide as to were we were suppose to register. The trek going only for the registration is one heck of a walk because it is a slope going up we are supporting our own weight there. When we arrive to our destination my knees are already tired and it wasn't even at the beginning of our climb. I'm not a professional climber by the way and I'm only a hobbyist were we decide to lead our destinations anywhere from mountains to seas and even under a cave.   
After a short break from walking into the registration. We started our hike going up to the mountain without any guide. We're short on budget so it's a given and a guide to Mt. Gulugod Baboy will cost us another 400 pesos. So we started our hike there and for me it's more refreshing than the hike going for the registration. During our climb I notice lichens are abundant there that in some cases trees are covered with it particularly fruticose type of lichens that look like green shrubs. If I have known there are that much lichens in Batangas I would have included it in my thesis  locale. What a bummer. There is also store were you can buy drinks to refresh yourselves to the walk Climbing beginners are welcome to try hiking in Mt. Gulugod because it is not that hard a climb. Just always watch your steps because there are part were you might get slip and slipping is dangerous in a hike going up a mountain. It's better to be slow and surely you can get there safe and sound. Slowly but surely. (^_^)

Reaching the top of the mountain we were greeted by a grassland with cows lurking everywhere.

With cows comes their huge poops so watch your feet if you don't want stepping into one of those.
Going up and down Mt. Gulugod Baboy only takes us for two hours with stops.

 Unfortuantely some part of the mountain looked like are being civilized because we have seen tractors working in building a road at the side of the mountain. The mountain is overlooking the sea were we can get a glimpse of some beautiful small islands while on the hike.

Speaking of island our budget is enough to hire a boat going to sombrero island. It's a given that sombrero island are named after a tagalog word for hat because it certainly depicted the shape of a hat.
 
Hiring a boat going to the island cost us 2,500 pesos. You certainly need to bring pack lunch because there is no store selling food in the island only a small cottage consisting of tables which cost around 800 pesos. But since the tables are not included in the computation of our budget for this trip we decided to make it free by eating in the large stones found at the side of the island. Eating in there is fun but hard because we get to experience scavengers in the form of two dogs and crows waiting to snatch our foods.

 

We use the huge rock there as our makeshift changing room. We change our clothes to our swim wear at the back of the huge rock 
Don't forget to bring slippers with you because the shells and stones there can probably inflict wounds to your feet. Walking at the side of the island without any footwear hurts. We go there during November 30 and the waves there are strong that I can't help being swept by it. Snorkling there is also great because you will not need to go far to see fishes under the water. Apparently the town is a popular diving site and according to the locals fishing there is not allowed to conserve marine sanctuary. It's great to know that and if I ever have the chance to learn how to dive I will remember this place.

Enjoying this particular trip once in a while is always refreshing from all the school work that I have been doing lately and it becomes more fun enjoying it with friends.

One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. - Henry Miller

Main menu Majayjay Falls with side dish of Arabela in Laguna

Our eager feet and stomach are aching for an adventure. So as a food lover and explorer we decided to make a road trip in Laguna.

We take a bus going to Laguna in Gil Puyat. We go down our bus in Los Banos, Laguna where we wait for a friend who has our ride that will take us to our destinations. Unfortunately there's a mishap in our adventure because one of our member is late. So while waiting for our friend who is probably cooking our rice that time. We take our first food trip in the car.

Yummy local yoghurt made from carabao's milk. That's one exotic yoghurt. Not bad to start our food trip.
After our friend finally manage to appear in our presence. We decided to hit the road. Since this is a food trip and our stomachs are complaining that apparently it is now lunch time. Our friend who drives for us drops us in a restaurant that will start our heavy food trip.

Yummy!

Well after making our stomachs full and pockets lighter we're off to Majayjay falls. Finding Majayjay falls is difficult but we're glad that locals there are gracious enough to lead us to the right way. After travelling where Majayjay falls is.

We paid our entrance fee which is very cheap. Taytay falls is another name for Majayjay falls. After we park the car we go down a small trek going to the falls. There are public showers available there but few are functional.

When we see the falls we become very eager to swim there no matter how cold the water is that it's freezing when we manage to soak ourselves.

It looks like we rent the whole falls when we get there, there's practically no one joining us with the water. They are probably not as adventurous (insane) as us because the water is freezing there. The rain do help in making the waters temperature drop significantly. But because were insane just like that we enjoyed the water for an hour. (O.O)
After freezing ourselves with the water, we go and clean up in order to make it to our next destination. Arabela in Liliw, Laguna..
Food in there are wonderful. The tall people should watch their heads or else there will be bumping in the ceiling happening there. My tall friend done himself just like that hahaha. There are paintings that we enjoyed looking while waiting for our orders.

Yummy! My favorite there is their blue berry cheese cake.

A great dessert for a sweet tooth like me.

Apparently there is a curfew in Liliw, Laguna so after we finish eating we are the only ones left in the restaurant. At 7pm all businesses and houses are expected to close that's why when we leave, Liliw felt like a ghost town. Wow the people there are disciplined with their curfew law. That is too early for a curfew. Were glad we manage to get there on time and eat because our food trip is incomplete without eating there.

As usual we go to our separate ways home. It's alright since we always see each other in our biology lab.We go home with our stomach full and smiles to our faces.

ciao. (^_^)

Lichens= Mysterious

****Lichen****

 Finding what topic in my research is hard. My classmate decided that he will take lichens as his topic me as someone curious who have no idea what is lichens decided to search it from the net. Turns out during my search that lichens is a very interesting species. I decided to follow my classmate in making my topic as lichen in my research but in a different approach because lichen definitely catches my thirst of knowing.


 We decided that our specimen collection would be in the provinces of Banaue, Mountain Province and Benguet. There's so many different types of lichens I have seen everywhere during our trek with each provinces.

 Because we are trekking in Sagada, Mountain Province just after a heavy storm we can get branches of pine trees full of lichens everywhere as shown in the picture above. Hulog ng langit (pine tree).

Foliose lichens are said to be a leaf like type of lichen that can be easily get from its substrate.

Usneas in branch of a tree above picture are the green one's that look similar to a grass, shrub or if your imagination is more deeper a green beard (O.O) that's why it belong to the fruticose type.

 There are many lichens that is impossible to collect in its substrate without getting the substate with the lichens first. Unfortunately I don't have the right equipment to get those type of lichens during our collection so I disregard it to my thesis. (T.T) huhu..

After our collection of each lichens we put it to a brown paper bag. In Manila we put the lichens that we manage to collect in the refrigerator of our laboratory for a test the following days.
There are many kinds of methods that we can use in order to identify certain lichens through species level. These are spot test, microcrstal test, paper chromatograpy, TLC and HPLC. I decided to use the first two the spot test and microcrystal test because it is more affordable and easier to make.

I think lichens are one tough organisms because unlike higher plants (lichens are considered to be a lower plant with bryophytes) the lichens that I collected manage to survive many days of my experimentation. Although they are dry.

Lichens are a very hard species to identify without the help of an expert. Unfortunately present lichenologist in the Philippines are so few. I can't find lichenologist that can help me confirm the species of lichens ( Too bad!).
Lichens can be used as a bioindicator for pollution. That's why in cities with many vehicle going like Manila lichens are rare or nonexistent to find specially fruticose type of lichens because those type of lichens are more sensitive. Still until now many people don't know what lichens is. I tried asking strangers about lichens and they don't have any idea what that is. Well too bad for lichens it seems that they are not popular but it's okay because they  make up for it with being mysterious.^_^

ciao.

Cave Connection SAGADA

Well here goes my adventurer's side again. Spelunking in Cave connection of Lumiang and Sumaguing cave is my first spelunking experience. Not bad right. I'm 20 years old and in my 4th year college that time by the way. We experience it with my professor and classmates. My professor loves bringing as to many places and most of it can give heart attacks to those less adventurous people.hahaha. What a wonderful professor I have O.O.

We start our adventure by taking a short trek going to the opening cave where the burial sites can be seen

This trek going to the cave is only a little walk compared to what's ahead.

 Pictorial is a must before entering the cave with my group.

 The cave is in my grasp! So excited! (^_^)

.
Were in a cemetery like opening of a cave ooooohhhh. (O.O) I hope there's no ghost in there specially with the darkness and all.

Before the start of our spelunking our would be guides started lighting their lamps. Lamps would be our only source of light inside the cave.
 

Yes everyone that's where our entrance to the cave. I thought our guide is joking but unfortunately his serious. We're seriously getting in the cave using that hole. I'm glad I'm sexy hehehe ^_^.
***My Advice for those who want to experience this too***
Spelunking in that cave is no joke but definitely worth it. I think I prayed thousands of times inside that cave because of how life treatening most of our path there. That totally helps me find my courage inside the cage. So lets not forget to pray when were there prayers definitely help. If you're planning to try getting in this cave you should first try throwing all your phobias like claustrophobia, Acrophobia or any kind of phobias because phobias is not welcome in this cave if you want to survive this. Trust in your guide they will help you throughout the whole experience. Know your left and right foot. Why? because your guide will always tell you what foot to use in landing a certain stone or stalagmites. Remember some stones are very slippery so watch your steps. Tripping there is also a definite NO because you never know where you will land there like a 'cliff' maybe. For those of you who is not a good swimmer you should always take in mind that there is a part where you should hold on to the stalagmites because it is kinda deep. Don't wonder on your own and always stay present beside your guide.
Inside the cave when you entered it keep in mind that there's no turning back.
*** End of scaring the hell out of you***

It turns out that flexibility is also a requirement in surviving this cave. How fun for my bones specially my butt. I used my butt all the way there. Our guide call it the butt technique but I call it 'slowly but surely' for those who don't want to slip that technique is a must.


 Although experiencing spelunking inside the cave is hard It is still worth it because of the formations of stalagmites and stalactites that you will find there. 

 o.O What formation can you imagine with this? (^_^)

 Our guide said this is a frog. Well his right because I can see his snout, external naris, browspot and dorsal part with its hump. That is one sexy frog there! I'm itching to dissect it! I'm a biologist thru and thru even inside of a cave.

Our guide is also our photographer. That's why we take many photographs there. Thanks SAGGAS!
I think SAGGAS is the association of guides in Sagada and they are very professional in what they do.
The next time that I spelunk I want to try the crystal cave of Sagada. The crystal cave is a harder but more beautiful cave in Sagada and It's on the list of adventures that I want to go.

Nasugbu, Batangas

 
OoooMountain Climbing for beginneroooO

O.O
That EVERYONE is the view on top of Mount Talamitam in Nasugbu, Batangas. Spoiler much!. This is my first experience climbing a mountain during my first year of College. Ooooo O.O I still remember those days in the past clearly. If you're a beginner in mountain climbing then Mount Talamitam is a great mountain to start for you. Though it is said to be for beginner It's still a hurdle specially for those beginner. A hurdle it may be it is still worth experiencing because of the view on top of the mountain. The way I climb that mountain is "AWESOME". The way I keep on stopping for a rest,  my thousand "are we there yet?" to our poor guide, stumbling, whining and of course the best part there is my face after that climbing "again of course I will NEVER post here my face after I experience climbing that mountain. At least pardon me because I'm a complete beginner at that time. :3 During our trek our guide advices me on how to breath correctly. He said to inhale through your nose and exhale using your mouth. As a biology student that explains a lot to me.
I felt like a child there trying to learn everything new because I pictured every little scene that I found amusing which is everytime I see the view under me while on trek 'just imagine how obsessed I was'. Well, I can't help it the view there is beautiful and new to me a city girl thru and thru. :-D

****O.O I suck in taking pictures.****
When I manage to go down to Mount Talamitan the sun is starting to set. We hired a jeep and goes to a beach resort and rent a hut to spend our night there. There we eat our dinner while hearing the sea wave. We slept there and in the morning when we wake up the sea is what greeted us. My experience there makes me realize how fun my professors, classmates and course is.

After our breakfast we swim in the sea. The waves at that time are strong so me with my friends played with it. We jump together whenever the waves come to us and that's a great experience.

This picture truly represents how I love the school organization that I belong. I love Biological Science Society with every members and advisers in it.

Unfortunately it seems that locals there don't know how to take care of their beach. There's actually trash in the sand and that's not good for tourist attraction. If only locals take care of their beach they can make income with inviting tourist in it. So we as good biology students decided to TRY cleaning the coastal area.

 Unfortunately we have no such luck in actually managing to clean the whole area that's why the word 'try' is emphasized in my last sentence. We are too few for that kind of coastal clean-up (-.-').
The locals there are the ones who should take actions in cleaning their coastal.

O.O there's also a horse in the beach! We can ride the horse around the coastal for a cheap price. Since I don't know how to ride so the owner of the horse guided me throughout the ride. Riding the horse is great I feel like while in the beach I am riding a carousel. If only I know how to run the horse that will probably make my experience riding the horse greater.

Climbing mountain, swimming in the sea, trying to clean the coastal and riding the horse well that's not bad for our first field trip. So at the end of our field trip we all have smiles in our faces and stories to tell. Ciao :-D