Boryeong Mud Festival 2012 Field Demo

Mannam spearheaded a mass performance of Wonder Girls 'like this' during this year's Boryeong Mud festival in Daecheon. And I was fortunate enough to have been a part of it. So yeah officially they call it a flash mob but it was too organized and anticipated that I think of it more as a field demo.

I don't know much but for around 14 years now, Boryeong has been hosting this mud festival where people mostly foreigners play and paint themselves silly with mud. The mud here are supposed to be good for your skin aesthetically. (no surprise there given the vanity of the locals.) Of course, there's a whole lot of drinking everywhere regardless of the time of day. So ok maybe not until 12 noon when it's almost a ghost town due to the din of the day before. It's my first time to go to Boryeong for the mud festival but going there while being a part of the mob was double the fun. I certainly had a blast.

mud galore!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I will voluntarily dance in front of people. Sure there are a whole lot of us (maybe hundreds) but still. Definitely, another jump out of the comfort zone for me. And I am more than glad and thankful for it. Definitely one of the best experience I had so far here in Korea. I have Mannam and new friends/acquaintances to thank for it. Cheers to more happy, fun memories!

while waiting for the "event" to start - in between practice.

woot!

Stop!

Mannam Victory!

after the field demo, it turned into an instant insane beach party. we got soaked/drenched in mud as they hosed the crowd with muddy water.

the beach is not much really. It's the mud and the crazy, fun people/times that you'll be having which makes this a must go!

summer in the Philippines

So yeah, all those posts about people going to the beach back home makes me miss them beaches (pun intended). Of course, it's not just about the places but the people you are with - friends and family. Priceless.




Ilocos Norte (Blue Lagoon) 2007




Puerto Galera 2007




Bolinao 2008



Caramoan 2008

 

Puerto Princesa, Palawan 2008



Boracay 2008

Nasugbu 2009

Potipot 2009



Cagbalete 2010




Puerto Princesa 2010



Calaguas 2010

let's go to the beach: Calaguas

Believe it or not, it's the end of May and I have not once been to the beach nor to the pool! what would have been an Ilocos roadtrip this weekend vanished partly due to my sickness... talk about timing. In any case, I guess I'll just think about these wonderful places I've been to in the past couple of years.

June 2010: Calaguas.

The Bicol region scores high in terms of breathtaking beaches and tourist destinations. One point of destination would be Calaguas. I kid not that I had to gasp and marvel at the beauty of the beach when we first set our eyes on it. It was really beautiful. Check them out:

Walking around the following day, we found this "hidden beach". Didn't I say the place was just beautiful?

Since this is a semi-virgin island, there are no resorts in the area and one has to camp to stay the night there. While we were there, we had the privilege of camping with part owners of the island. Even when camping, they were able to mark the demarcation between us and them in terms of the social status. We started to feel like the native Filipinos, lower class beings to serve as slaves when the Spaniards occupied the country. I guess for others, camping meant the following: dressing room tent, bed cushions, mattresses, generators, electric fans, electric mosquito swats or something, wine using actual wine glasses by a bonfire, etc. Maybe that's what they call camping in style... Apparently, they were supposedly the owners of waling-waling beach resort in Boracay. Possibly the development of a resort in Calaguas is not far behind.

We joined Melvic's group which at that time consisted mostly of our barkada and two smaller ones. http://melvicbrinas.multiply.com

pictorial on the rocks

let's go to the beach: Cagbalate

For some reason, I am not too keen on basking on the sun, playing in the sand and wading in the water this year. It's already mid-May and I don't think I've been to the beach yet or even to a resort with just a pool. Call me pathetic or anti-social fine by me. too skin-white conscious I don't think so. (thank God for rash guards!) flab-conscious maybe yes. Nevertheless, whether or not I get to go this year either's fine by me. This country's got a lot of picturesque, wonderful and breathtaking nooks, crannies and beaches. Maybe in due time I'd get to experience the wonder of the must-sees but so far this is one of those that has taken my breath away.

Cagbalate 2010. An island about an hour away from Mauban, Quezon.
What was supposed to be Cagbalete 2009 became Cagbalete 2010 due to the bad weather we had to content with. Not exactly a virgin beach but it gives you the feel of just the right mix of seclusion, serentiy and simple 'resort life'. There are resorts in the area but camping is an option as well (yes, a shower and toilet's available!). We camped out in Pansacola if I'm not mistaken as they were already fully booked.

Mauban port

this is not how you eat habhab

our "campsite"

sand ripples

long stretch of sand..

redefining low tide...

the water recedes way too far for a swim...

that far from the island and people are still standing.

don't know how to swim? not a problem!

If I can I want to go back here and just laze around... no night life here just "chillax" life...