/**/ October 2016 - Travel + Decor + DIY

Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora: aka Czech Republic's Bone Church

You should visit the church made up of B O N E S ! A friend of mine told this to me before I head to Czech Republic on a 5-month backpacking trip (spent only 3 months in Europe—thanks to my visa limit ^^).

While touring around the beautiful city of Prague, I remember this suggestion from my friend. Good thing, our walking tour company (Sandemans' New Europe Tours) is offering a guided tour around the city of Kutna Hora where the Sedlec Ossuary, aka The Bone Church is located.

An ossuary is a place, can be a building, a box or even a well (insert Sadako reference here), that serves as a final resting place of human skeletal remains.

I am not sure if we have this concept in the Philippines. I grew up knowing that after you bury a person, that is his/her (earthly) body's final resting place.

I have seen hanging coffins and read about mummified body in a banga (jar), but nothing about collecting skeletal remains and place them all together. I can be wrong though. You see, while writing this blog, I didn’t really think of tackling this area, so, my research was not that extensive, haha. So if you know anything like this happening in the Philippines, please share it to us at the comment section below.




THE TRIP TO KUTNA HORA

Ok, let’s go back to our trip. From my hostel (Equity Point Hostel), I walk to the Old Town Square which is the meeting point for the tour. It is the same meeting place as all Sandemans tour. It is conveniently located at the center of Prague. So aside from joining the tour, you’ll get a little bit of sight seeing while you wait for your departure.

kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church

Because it is located outside Prague, in a city called Kutna Hora, we rode a bus and travelled around an hour and a half from Prague. It was nice to see some people I met from the walking tour the day before (I haven’t blogged this yet, but will surely make one soon).

The travel didn’t seem to be that long as we were all discussing about our experiences during our previous trips. This is the beauty of traveling solo, you’ll get to meet people who are doing the same thing and ended up as travel buddies (yheap we are still friends until now).

We arrived at Kutna Hora around 11:30 am, and first in our itinerary is the visit to the Sedlec Ossuary. The Kutna Hora tour by Sandemans, is a walking tour around the city, and the ossuary is just part of it. But for this blog, I will only focus on this.

[caption id="attachment_4446" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church SEDLEC CEMETERY[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4445" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church THE CEMETERY CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4449" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church THE CRUCIFIX, ONE OF THE FEW ELEMENTS IN THE CHURCH THAT IS NOT MADE UP OF BONES[/caption]

Standing at the cemetery in Sedlec, we were introduced to the Cemetery Church of All Saints. From the outside, it looks like an ordinary Baroque inspired church. Although having a graveyard on its backyard gave me a little bit of creeps already, but, for a small town (suburbs) in Europe, this kind of sight is, I am assuming very normal. I’ve seen a similar set-up when I was roaming Iceland, Vienna and parts of Italy.

The famous Ossuary is located at the lower level of the church. Serving as a small chapel connected to the church cemetery.

[caption id="attachment_4469" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church THE VIEW FROM THE ENTRANCE STAIRCASE[/caption]

It was already evident that most of the people (mainly tourists) come here to visit crypt and stare at the macabre inspired interior decoration, than to attend a mass. You will be welcomed in front of the chapel, posters of  entrance fees and the tourists' rules and regulations (mainly keep quiet and no flash when taking a photo). Also, a souvenir shop at the entrance is a dead (no pun intended) giveaway.

The sight of around 40,000 human skeletal remains artistically decorated the chapel is an overwhelming view. At one point, you have to ask yourself if displaying them in such manner is being disrespectful.

[caption id="attachment_4451" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church A VERY BONY WELCOME. CAN BE SEEN AT THE ARCH OF THE STAIRCASE.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4470" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church ONE OF THE 2 BONE CHALICES[/caption]
HISTORY OF THE BONE CHURCH

The story behind this place started when the Abbot of the Sedlec Monastery was sent to the Holy Land by King Otakar II of Bohemia. He returned with a handful of land he got from Golgotha (the burial site of the Lord Jesus Christ). He then scattered this piece of earth to the ground of the Sedlec cemetery, making it at that time the most sought after burial place in the whole of Bohemia and parts of Central Europe.

With an overwhelming number of people being buried in the said cemetery, Europe, during the 14th century, got hit with the Black Death (plague) and the Hussite Wars (Bohemian War) --- ok too much terms, I am linking wikepedia links on both events---- where thousands more were buried at the cemetery.

When the new (at the time) Church of the All Saints was built, the unearthed skeletal remains where the church got erected where stacked together in an ossuary at the lower level chapel of the church, which is now known as the Sedlec Ossuary.

[caption id="attachment_4471" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church BONES STACKED IN PYRAMID (NOTE: WITHOUT ANY GLUE)[/caption]

How did it turn out to look like what it is now? The macabre style of decoration was brought about when a local woodcarver, Frantisek Rint was employed to artistically arrange the overwhelming number of bones inside the chapel. After carefully bleaching all the bones (imagine, handling them one by one), he started creating the elements that we can now see inside the chapel.

[caption id="attachment_4450" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church A GRAND CENTRAL CHANDELIER[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4453" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church ONE OF THE FOUR TALL CANDELABRAS.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4448" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church THE SCHWARZENBERG COAT OF ARMS[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4447" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church SO MUCH DETAILS (HE REALLY ENJOYED DOING THIS FOR SURE)[/caption]

A central chandelier, a family crest and even a candleholder made of bones are just some of the things you can see inside. There are also 6 huge bone pyramids where according to our guide, not glued together. With all the intricate bone elements inside the chapel, one of the things that really got my attention was Frantisek Rint’s signature on the wall ----yheap, MADE WITH BONES (this gave me a bit of a Hannibal feeling).

[caption id="attachment_4452" align="alignnone" width="800"]kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church A VERY UNIQUE ARTIST'S SIGNATURE INDEED[/caption]

This place is really nothing that I have seen before, no wonder, people who visited Prague, always add this as one of their day trips (whether planned or last minute).




HOW TO GET THERE?

If you are doing a day trip, I would highly suggest to get a tour from a travel agent in Prague. As mentioned, I took Sandeman’s New Europe tour, and it cost me 30 euros which covers the bus and a tour around Kutna Hora (also a lunch stop, but payment for lunch is not included).

If you don’t want to get a tour arranged, and thought of going as a legit backpacker, the best way is to take a train. There is a regular train traveling from Prague to Kutna Hora main station, which is roughly 10 minutes walk to the Sedlec Ossuary.
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Have you been to a similar place like this? What is the creepiest place you’ve ever been? Share it to us at the comments below.

kutna hora, prague, czech republic, travel blog, dubai travel blogger, europe trip, halloween, bone church

DUBAI PHILIPPINES TRAVEL BLOGGER

El Nido Palawan : Island Hopping in Paradise

When I decided to move back home (to the Philippines), one of the places that I told myself to visit is Palawan. I saw photos from numerous travel bloggers around the world of showcasing the paradise- like islands of El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa, and I immediately told myself, I need to go there SOON!! Surely no one will argue why Conde Nast Traveler hailed it as one of the Best Islands In The World. With it’s turquoise waters, white sand beaches and towering limestone formations, it is a wonder waiting to be wandered.

[caption id="attachment_4426" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai ENTRANCE TO THE HIDDEN BEACH[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4420" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai SUNSET AT MARIMEGMEG BEACH[/caption]

There are a lot of cool places to stay in Palawan, but when I got the invitation by Ocean Vista Inn and Sealand Venture to explore El Nido, I didn’t hesitate and said YES I AM COMING right away. I booked a flight via Air Asia, flying from Manila to Puerto Princesa and my El Nido adventure was about to start.




GETTING THERE

It will only take an hour to fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa, but you need to take a van and travel for another 6 hours from Puerto Princesa Airport to the main town of El Nido. Our hotel (Ocean Vista Inn) planned a pick up for us, which connected us to an official transport van that drove us to El Nido.

We were so happy to land on a very sunny Puerto Princesa. You see, the night before our flight, it was raining hard in Manila and the forecast in Palawan was cloudy and heavy chance of rain. The bloggers ( Dada (http://pointandshootwanderlust.com/ and http://vienesloveslife.com/) I was traveling with and I were asked by the tour organizer (5 hours before our flight) if we still want to continue the trip or move it to another day, as most of the tours during the past few days were cancelled. Knowing the risk and thinking that we might regret our decision, still, we all voted to continue our planned trip.

In between the butt-flattening, 6-hour road trip, we stopped to get some breakfast and also the needed pee break. To be honest, this long drive ain’t very exciting. Good thing, I was still geared with the anticipation of the beautiful view of the El Nido beaches I’ve seen from Instagram.

We arrived at El Nido and I was amazed that it is already a proper town complete with a functioning ATM (yey we have food money!). On board a tricycle, we safely reached our hotel.

We stayed at Ocean Vista Inn, which is located along the main beach. It isn’t really a beachfront hotel as I was told initially because there is a vacant property in front of it, but the draw of the hotel is its easy access to the tour boats and also a stunning view of the ocean if you are staying on the second floor (I stayed on the ground floor ---- I didn’t mind though).

[caption id="attachment_4405" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai GOT ROOM #1 AT OCEAN VISTA INN[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4404" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai MY FIRST VIEW OF EL NIDO[/caption]

For our first night, we decided to head down the main beach and look at some of the attractions around. The main beach in El Nido was a bit disappointing (yheap, I do hate saying this). It isn’t the crystal clear water that I was expecting, plus you can see boats everywhere, then combine it with tons of people crowding around. I guess this is the effect of tourism. When I told this to my travel blogger friends, their reply was, wait till you get to the islands. We will be island hopping from day 2 till day 4, and I CANT WAIT! Can it be tomorrow already? We ended the day with a slice of pizza from Tratoria Altrove (apparently very famous to tourists) ---- and a very cloudy evening.

WAIT TILL YOU GET TO THE ISLANDS. These words kept on repeating in my head. Upon waking up, I saw a cloudy El Nido. While having breakfast, we were advised that only island Tour D was allowed because of the strong wind and big waves.

In El Nido, island tours are grouped in several clusters. They are called, Tour A, Tour B, Tour C and Tour D. The famous ones are Tours A and C and the least visited one is D. They were grouped as such because of their location. Tour C covers the farther islands while Tour D are the closer ones, which is the reason why on a strong current days, Tour D is a good/only option. In some cases, when all island tours are not allowed, in-land travel is the only option (this will be covered on another blog).




LET’S TRAVEL THE ISLANDS

From this point, I thought of ranking the island we visited 1-5 shells (5 being my super favorite).

Note: If I didn’t mention a specific island that was supposed to be part of the tour package, it only means that we were not able to visit it due to the weather condition and time constraint.

TOUR D

We sailed on (I am not sure if sailing is the correct term….but yeah I am sticking to it) to our first island hopping adventure. Tour D is known as the lesser popular island tour, to be honest at this point, I didn’t care, I am just glad that with the weather that we have we were even allowed to go out to the ocean. Note that, the days before our arrival, all island tours were cancelled and only land tours were allowed due to the weather condition – so YEY for Tour D.

Tour D covers the islands closer to the main beach (port) compared to the other tours. Our first stop was the Cadlao Lagoon. To put this into perspective, this was my introduction to the lagoons of Palawan. It looks like a small fjord, where, instead of mountains, you are surrounded by huge limestone formations.

[caption id="attachment_4409" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai CADLAO LAGOON. BOATS BOATS AND MORE BOATS[/caption]

Because this was the only tour allowed, the lagoon became an instant boat docking area. It was jam-packed! To be fair, the view was still jaw dropping. I remember saying to my friend, if this is considered a not-popular spot, I can’t wait to see the popular ones. After this thought, we jumped and started snorkeling around. - SCORE: 3 SHELLS

Our next stop, which was also our lunch stop, is called the Paradise Beach. It is still part of the Cadlao Island (this island is considered as one of the biggest islands in El Nido). From a far, the long stretch of the shoreline looks very promising. With the same situation as the Cadlao Lagoon, most of the tour groups were also there to have their lunch (expect a crowded beach). When we stepped on the white sand beach, I instantly saw plastic bottles lying around the beach. It was a sad and disappointing site. I started questioning why is this allowed? And people lounge around like there was no trash surrounding them. Our guide explained that, Paradise Beach is a private beach, and everyday there are caretakers collecting the trash, but because of its location, the beach serves as a filter of trash floating from other islands, including the main land. So, although it was cleaned in the morning, trash will start to show up midday.

Setting aside our trash situation, our lunch was served fresh from our boat to the beach. It was literally grilled and cooked on the boat. We were served with fresh fruits, grilled pork, fish and stewed mussels in boodle fight style (yheap, to be eaten with our bare hands). – SCORE: 2 SHELLS

[caption id="attachment_4411" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai 2 OF THE BLOGGERS I TRAVELED WITH. @pointandshootwanderlust AND @theadvienturer[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4412" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai OUR VERY HEARTY LUNCH[/caption]

After lunch, we head on to explore other more islands, but because of the strong waves, we were not successful to dock.

Our last stop was the Bucal Beach where we dove and snorkeled. Aside from that, we also saw an ice cream vendor on a boat (yey for Selecta!). Having an ice cream on our boat with the view of the island seemed very natural hahaha. I can surely live like this. We didn’t really get on the beach, we just docked a few meters away where it is safe enough to dive and swim. – SCORE: 3 SHELLS

[caption id="attachment_4413" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai FLOATING ICE CREAM VENDOR[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4414" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai CORNETTO AND THE BEACH = LIFE[/caption]
TOUR C

Woke up, jumped out of my bed and look outside the window. SUNNY!!!! I was happy to see that there were a few (white) clouds in sight. I went straight for breakfast and asked around if what tour was available for the day.

[caption id="attachment_4416" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai OK, IT ISN'T THAT CLEAR IN THE PHOTO, BUT THAT BIG CLOUD SURELY DID MOVE[/caption]

We were told that all tours are available! EUREEEEKA!! Because, we were not sure that for the next day we will have the same weather, we opted to go for the “BEST”. It was a toss between Tours A and C-----Tour C won the vote. YEY.

After yesterday’s tour, I have a very high expectation on what we will be experiencing for the day. With a new crew and a bigger boat, off we went and found ourselves looking at our first stop. HELICOPTER ISLAND.

Helicopter Island is probably the most recognizable island in El Nido because of its unique shape. You guessed it right, like a helicopter! Well, some people say it looks more like a whale ( I am one of them). I think, if I am not mistaken, in all tours, you will pass around this island, making it the icon it is now (you can even see it from the Marimegmeg beach).

[caption id="attachment_4427" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai STROLLING ALONG THE SHORE AT THE HELICOPTER ISLAND[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4434" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai THE VIEW OF THE HELICOPTER ISLAND FROM MARIMEGMEG BEACH[/caption]

We were the first tour group who docked in the island. It felt as if we own it and became our playground for the day! We started to go crazy over the clear waters and pristine white sand. - SCORE: 4 SHELLS (oh yeah!)

Our next stop is a place called the Hidden Beach. It is sort of a lagoon but with a proper beach for you to walk on to. The water in most parts are just chest high so it is fairly easy to swim around. We had a good enough time to experience the beach and snorkel. Because the water is shallow and the bottom is covered with white sand, the whole stretch of the hidden beach is covered with clear transparent water, you can even see the fish even if you are just standing. - SCORE: 3.75 SHELLS

[caption id="attachment_4417" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai THE ENTRY WAY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4418" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai DOCKING AT TALISAY BEACH[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4419" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai WATER THIS CLEAR IS -------- WAAAAAAAAH!![/caption]

Our lunch stop for the day was at the Talisay Beach. Compared to the Paradise Beach, this is a very intimate lunch. We have our own small pocket of sand to be our picnic spot.

It is also a good place to snorkel and swim around. For those who are tired of swimming, there is a small recessed area under the limestone, which can provide an ample amount of shade to sleep under. I did both haha (sign of old age) SCORE: 3.5 SHELLS

We were supposed to go to a place called the Secret Beach, but because of the strong waves, it was impossible to us to make our way through the said spot. So for our last stop, we went directly to the Matinloc Shrine. An abandoned shrine, which is also called as the Shrine of Our Lady Matinloc. From a far, when we first passed by the island, the view of the abandoned building on an island can give shivers to almost anyone (I had). We paid 100 php in order for us to access the shrine and go up the steps to have a view of the Tapiutan Straight from a high vantage point.

[caption id="attachment_4425" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai THE ABANDONED STRUCTURES AT THE  MATINLOC SHRINE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4424" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai THE BEST VIEW IN THE HOUSE[/caption]

As we explored the abandoned shrine, I can imagine how grandeur the place looked like when it was first constructed. This is a prime spot, island property at its best. Now being abandoned (but still privately owned), it does give a bit of a creepy vibe for those who ever glance at it.---- oh the imagination, how you are playing at me right now!

The main attraction here is the step going to the top of the limestone which will give you a good view of the whole Matinloc Island and also the Tapiutan Strait. The view was breathtaking. Good thing there are already clear steps built along the path. However, the place is still surrounded with sharp edged lime formations so 100% precaution is needed. One mistake and you already know what’s next.

We also got to snorkel around near the pantoon and saw some clown fish just near the shore. - SCORE: 3.5 SHELLS.

So we ended day 3 on a high and 2 island tours done already! Hoping that the next day, we will have another clear and beautiful weather.
TOUR A

With another beautiful weather, Tour A became our choice for our last day of island hopping. There’s always a debate between tours A and C on which is the best island tour to get if you only have one day in El Nido. I’ll say, let’s keep it a draw (although I have my recommendation at the end of this blog).

Our first stop was the Seven Commandos Beach. It was named after the Japanese soldiers that got stranded in the island. This is still part of the main island of El Nido but can only be accessed by boats (as far as I know there are still no road networks from the mainland to this beach).

Among the beaches we’ve been to, this is the most developed one. Complete with nipa hut cottages and a refreshment station. You can even hop on a swing and take the plunge (owned by a local, I thought it was free but after swinging I was asked for a tip…^^). - SCORE: 3 SHELLS

[caption id="attachment_4421" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai THE BEAUTY THAT IS THE BIG LAGOON[/caption]

One of the highlights of a tour around El Nido, and I think the most famous stop is the Big Lagoon. If you Google El Nido, most likely 70% of the images are from the Big Lagoon. This is also the spot featured in the movie Borne Identity.

The water in the lagoon is a mix of salt and fresh water, making the color deep aqua blue. Although I was tempted to jump, we were advised not to swim, as it is not allowed ( I am not sure why, I think because it is deep and the under current is strong?). You can however, hop on a kayak and paddle your way around the lagoon.

We entered the lagoon on a perfect time. Again, we were the only ones there. I moved my way at the tip of the both (cliché as it may sound, but this is recommendable) It felt as if everything turned into a slow-motion movie. The view was jaw dropping. I know , after 2 days of hopping from one island to another, we’ve been to numerous almost-similar-landscape, but there is something about this lagoon that felt so peaceful.

Peace and quiet broke though when the people on our boat started pushing people (me) aside just to take a (sort –of) artsy photo at the tip of the boat. -SCORE: 5 SHELLS

Shimizu Beach became our choice island for our lunch stop. Although we arrived first, it wasn’t that long when 2 other boats docked and set-up their lunch buffet. If I haven’t been to the Talisay beach the other day (for lunch), I can say that this one is a good place to rest and have a picnic by the beach, but all I can think of was our peaceful secluded lunch stop yesterday. Although you can also snorkel and swim around, the boats passing by and docking made it dangerous. If you really want to swim, the best option is to stay away from the shore and enjoy the view of the beautiful underwater life a few meters from the beach, although on a strong current days, you can easily find yourself near the open waters and can be a priority meal for sharks----ok just kidding, there are not sharks here, but I guess you got the idea right? -SCORE: 3 SHELLS

[caption id="attachment_4422" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai GETTING A DIP AT SHIMIZU BEACH[/caption]

Last and probably the best way to end our island hopping spree was a visit to the small lagoon. The small lagoon is known as the ideal kayak spot in all of the islands in El Nido. The moment our boat reached the (invisible) perimeter of the lagoon, we were welcomed by several kayak operators offering the best kayak deals. Because we came here to kayak, we decided to rent one and split the cost between 2 of my blogger friends. A kayak costs 300 php for rental (not really sure if this is per hour but we surely used it more than that).

[caption id="attachment_4423" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai TESTING OUR KAYAKING SKILLS[/caption]

The kayak we rented can fit 3 people but ideally has a comfortable capacity for 2. We paddled our way from our boat to the small lagoon…left..right..paddle (repeat). The entry point of the lagoon is a small arch opening from the surrounding limestone. There was a bit of a line entering the arch, caused by all the kayaks trying to make their way (and you need to maneuver perfectly in order to get inside---believe it or not, not everyone is a master in kayak paddling). Inside the lagoon, you will feel that you just entered a theater. BEAUTIFUL!! I can imagine a concert happening here soon. Like the Big Lagoon, everything started to move in slow motion. People laughing, people chatting, people paddling, everything in such slow paces.

[caption id="attachment_4428" align="alignnone" width="800"]El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO STAND UP PADDLE ---AND IT WAS A SUCCESS!![/caption]

Aside from kayaking, I had a chance to try to stand up paddle as our boat guide, borrowed the only stand up paddle board in the lagoon (at that time) and he was kind enough to lend it to me. It was my first time to stand up paddle (SUP) and the first few tries, I really had a hard time balancing. Let’s say, I became the attraction inside the lagoon (fell several times and in a not- so-glamorous way). I didn’t mind though, cause the water was refreshing (also a mix of fresh and salt water --- making it a bit harder to float though). Once I mastered the art of SUP, I felt like the president of the small lagoon, towering everyone around me. Haha. I paddled my way back to our boat and now being solo on the board made me appreciate my surrounding more. - SCORE: 5 SHELLS 




SOME TIPS WHEN TRAVELING TO EL NIDO

Tour A was done and it was also our indication that our island tours were over. The past 3 days of island hopping were amazing but at the same time tiring. In my opinion if you are planning to explore El Nido, it should be done in a long span of time (maybe a week or weeks). If you have a chance, don’t cramp it in 3 or 4 days. Try to give at least 1 day break in between tours. There was a time when I wasn’t paying attention anymore as the scene can become repetitive, good thing, tours C and A offer something exciting and new.

If you ask me, which tour should you try if you only have 1 day to explore the islands, I’ll go with TOUR A. As it offers you more jaw dropping views and a wider range of activities in and under water. However, there is an option to hire a private boat and choose your own island stops. I can say that, choose from my 3.75 to 5 shell score haha.

 To prepare, the important things to bring are the following: Aside from your beach ootds, camera, and money of course, you should also keep in mind to pack:

Sunblock as you will be under the sun not only on the beach but also during your boat ride.

Dry Bag – you will be wet all the time and on a boat that will surely have splashes of water inside. A lot of people regretted not getting this and ended up having their gadgets wet. So spare yourself some extra expenses and bring a dry bag.

Underwater Camera/Action Cam – I always have my Go Pro with me. I still have a Go Pro 3+ and I am happy with it. You’ll definitely have a lot of underwater adventures and for sure you want to capture some it right? J

No Umbrella Please! PLEASE! (unless your doctor says so). But please, don’t be afraid to get tanned up. PLEASE.




El Nido didn’t disappoint. Even with a bad weather, it is still a beautiful sight. But do yourself a favor, plan your trip on a beautiful sunny weather. No wonder it is considered as one of the world’s best islands. As someone who experienced it already, one can just hope that the government will do the necessary measures on how this important resource can be protected. We don’t want it to be the next B____cay. ^^

El Nido Palawan sealand venture ocean inn philippines island hopping travel blog dubai

As mentioned at the begining, we also explored the mainland. It offers beautiful stretch beaches and a trek to one of El Nido’s famous waterfalls. I will be blogging about it soon. Watch out for it. ^^



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Kawah Ijen: Blue Fire, Acid Lake and Sunrise

This post was originally published in READ ME magazine. A weekly magazine in The Dubai Metro. For this post, I added more narrative details of our adventure which I edited out because of the magazine’s word count limit. Also, this is a continuation of a series of blogs from my previous #TripOfWonders tour from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism.




Whenever we (most of us) dream about traveling around Indonesia, all we can think of are white sand beaches, clear crystal waters and thriving marine life. Although Indonesia is known for its numerous volcanoes (around 130 active ones), we hardly hear tourists who actually put this as part of their “Wonderful Indonesia” trip.

When I got an invitation from the Tourism Ministry of Indonesia, I was ecstatic to see that part of our 11-day exploration involves a visit to one of its volcanoes called Kawah Ijen (Mount Ijen).

Kawah Ijen is part of the Ijen Volcano Complex found in Banyuwangi Regency at the eastern most end part of Java, Indonesia. It is famous for its blue- fire (flame), sulfur mining and the location of the lake with largest hydrochloric acid concentration water in the world.

[caption id="attachment_4377" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai The hike towards the crater[/caption]

After getting the invitation, to be honest, I didn’t really research further on the places that we will be visiting (I trusted the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism that much--haha). On a casual talk with one of the bloggers who was part of the trip, she told me that she was planning to make an excuse (maybe pretend to be sick), on the day of the hike. She said, based on her research the trek is dangerous, hence it was tagged as the ‘jaws of hell’, and she’s not built to do that. Ok, what did I put myself into?

Note: my blogger friend still joined the trip and it became one of her most memorable experiences in Indonesia (check out her funny Mt. Ijen blog from this link)
THE PREPARATION

We were hosted by the Ketapang Indah Hotel during our stay in Banyuwangi. This place is adorbs. Some lifestyle bloggers and I explored the hotel and did some “lifestyle” photoshoot (I am not fit for lifestyle poses but ended up trying as well haha). We were advised to sleep/rest early, as we needed to wake up around 11:30pm and meet-up at the hotel lobby around 11:45pm. I didn’t sleep because I know that I will not be able to wake up on time (might press snooze on my phone alarm so much and will end up sleeping the whole night). So I decided to hike sleepless than miss it because of oversleeping.

[caption id="attachment_4382" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai The Ketapang Indah Hotel, Banyuwangi[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4383" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai Doin a bit of lifestyle photos with these cool bunch of bloggers. @btara55, @tinorenato, @the_sigit @psimonmyway[/caption]

I arrived in the hotel lobby wearing my (almost) winter outfit complete with thermal under garments. The temperature at the mountain can drop drastically so we were advised to bring clothes fit to protect us from the cold. The expressions on people’s faces were either excited or scared…or confused, hahaha.

We started our journey at 12 midnight. Drove around 45 minutes from our hotel to the base camp. Mid-journey, our car broke down and we had to ask for the assistance of other passing 4x4s . Our driver assured us that it wasn’t a biggie. After jumpstarting our car, we finally arrived at the base camp. Obviously, we where the last group to arrive. We went directly to our group and collected face masks that were handed over to us for sulfur fume protection. Aside from our group, there were also a lot of visitors from different countries who were getting ready to go up to the crater. I guess people really didn’t mind that this place is called the ‘jaws of hell’.

[caption id="attachment_4384" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai PH bloggers waiting for the start of our hike at the base camp[/caption]
THE HIKE AND THE BLUE FIRE

Off we go! Mountain climbing is not a new thing for me, I have been to several mountains during my previous trips around Scandinavia, Australia, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines. So, seeing that there was a clear pathway heading to Ijen’s caldera, I already know that the hike will not be so tough. The challenge arose when sulfur fumes started to spread in the atmosphere. I didn’t mind the smell of rotten eggs, as this seems like Iceland all over again, the hardest part was trying to catch your breath with the gas mask on (the fumes can also irritate your eyes).

[caption id="attachment_4372" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai Sulfuric Fumes spreading around the crater[/caption]

Our group was divided into 3 sub groups, the experienced hikers, the adventurers who occasionally hike (me!!), and those who wished there was an escalator/walkalator heading to the crater. Although I consider myself to be part of the 2nd group, I chose to tag along with the 3rd group, to assist those who don’t normally hike (naks!!). I hiked along side my good friend Gael. We paced our walk slowly to not shock our bodies. While most of the people from our group already reached the crater and we were still halfway through, we really didn’t mind it. Although we can't see the view of the surrounding mountains around us because it was still dark, what caught our attention were the numerous stars looking back at us. They were BEAUTIFUL! Some of our co-3rd group hikers even saw some shooting stars.

After almost 4 hours of hike, we finally reached the mouth of the crater. Now, the main challenge is going down to the where the blue fire and the volcanic lake are.

[caption id="attachment_4375" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai Known as the biggest hydrochloric acid water concentration in the world[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4376" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai The famous blue fire[/caption]

The main attraction in Kawah Ijen is its blue fire. When National Geographic made a documentary feature about it, tourism started to boom. Who wouldn’t want to see a volcano expelling an electric-blue fire from its fissures? Ijen’s blue fire can only be seen in the evening until 5 in the morning. That is why the best time to hike is around 1 am so you can be at the crater before 5 (am) and you’ll have enough time to ascend from the crater to enjoy the sunrise at the summit.

It was very challenging to go down the crater. As when we arrived at 5am, people were starting to climb back up. It was a bit frustrating that those who are climbing back up were rushing and not giving us a way to go down. Where, we should be the one who should rush down to see the fire before the sky will light up (bye fire). Aside from the people climbing back up, you also share the pathway with locals who are mining solidified sulfur (I didn’t mind this, it is actually their right, they should be angry at us for blocking their way and making their hard job even harder).

[caption id="attachment_4378" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai the challenging trail inside the crater[/caption]

Seeing the blue flame was amazing! I can’t believe that there is such a thing. According to National Geographic, the flame is a result of the combustion of sulfuric gases. The landscape around the crater looks like a scene from Star Wars. Imagine being surrounded with white jagged rocks with a stain of yellow sulfur, which made dramatic by smoke coming out of from different fissures around the crater.

Along the crater, you will also see locals who are mining for solidified sulfur. Seeing them carrying baskets full of big sulfur rocks (weighing around 70-90kg) made me realized that this place is real. That this dangerous path is actually a working space for other people. Talk about the hardest (and most dangerous) job in the planet.

We had a mistake of not getting the a mask being rented out by a local before we head down the crater. We thought that our simple surgical mask was enough. Well apparently not. It was hard to breathe without a proper gas mask. Aside from that, the fumes will make your eyes (super) irritated.

[caption id="attachment_4371" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai Upon the time I climbed back up, we were only a few hikers left[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4370" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai ....and the sulfur started to spread drastically[/caption]

With all those challenges pushed aside, I was actually happy that we arrived just dark enough to see the fire and also, late enough to see the crater with a little bit of daylight. The view is totally amazing once the place got lighted up. You will start to see the texture of the place. Plus, you’ll find yourself with only with a few people (everyone left already by this time).
CATCHING THE SUNRISE

When the sky started to light up, it was a signal for us that we should ascend back to the summit. If going down the crater was hard, going back up was a bit confusing (I got lost on my way up, spent 10 min of vertical climb on a wrong path. toinks).

After a tiring hike, it was very apt to end this trip with a view of the sunrise along the summit of Kawah Ijen. Most of the people thought that after visit to the crater, the enchantment of this place is done. I think 80% of those who visit Kawah Ijen skip watching the sunrise from the summit. Only a few of us from our group stayed and walked towards the end of the caldera. Good thing one of my friends dragged me.

[caption id="attachment_4373" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai The sunset looks so enchanting[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4374" align="alignnone" width="800"]kawah ijen, banyuwangi, indonesia, trip of wonders, wonderful indonesia, volcano, crater, blue fire, travel blogger, dubai .....and hypnotizing[/caption]

Everything looks so magical. The light reveals the large turquoise lake that I didn’t even know was there during my blue fire encounter. The view made all effort of climbing for hours and enduring the sulfuric atmosphere worthwhile. Although called as the ‘jaws of hell’, everything about the view at the summit looks so heavenly.

This part of our #TripOfWonders adventure surely one for the books. To think I was having some second thoughts about this trip. The world is full of surprises and definitely this one will shock you.

More adventures coming up in the blog soon!

HOW TO GET THERE


My blogger friend Gael, who writes her adventure in her blog www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com (@thepinaysolobackpacker) gave a detailed DIY guide on how you can reach Kawa Ijen: Check it out in her blog at The Pinay Solo Backpacker.

 



ALSO READ: 


Lombok and The Gili Islands – 5 Things to do in Gili Trawangan


Lombok and The Gili Islands: Sasak Sade Traditional Village


Surprising Things You Can Do in Makassar, Indonesia


Trip of Wonders: Wonderful Indonesia 2016 in a Nutshell






This post is in collaboration with The Tourism Ministry of Indonesia


Check out more information about #TripOfWonders:


Indonesia.travel


#TripOfWonders


@kennethsurat


dubai travel blogger, philippines