Sometimes you want to just take your camera (or phone) out and shoot!
-me
Every place has its own unique charm. Be it stunning blue waters against equally striking blue skies, or maybe lush green vegetation blanketing rolling hills and mountains, the world does not run out of beautiful things for us to enjoy. As one who loves to take photos of sceneries, it is hard to resist just taking my phone out and taking a handful of snaps when I get the chance.
This year, there was not much travel for me (and probably for everybody) and you know why. So those few chances, I took snaps to add to my Google Photos timeline (which by the way is no longer unlimited 😢). In this quick post, I am sharing some of them to everybody to add to our collective inspiration that things will get better, and when they do, travel when you can!
Cebu
When you’re stuck in the island, there are still lots of places you can visit. While the place is most famous for beautiful white beaches, the Cebu highlands also offer great views of its sprawling hills and mountains.
The Isle of Medellin. Up North of Cebu lies a long stretch of pavement where you can test your car to its (speed) limits. 
If you love plants and plant things, then you will love the Cebu Plant Company. They have a walking tour around the greens that ends in a cafe. What’s better than a cup of coffee after a nice leisurely stroll? Don’t answer that. 
Serenity is a place along the Cebu Trans-central Highway. Here you can find a variety of food stuff, and I heard they have a lodge if you want to spend the night. 
Serenity also has this nice boardwalk that overlooks the valley. People who like to post pics will love the styled seats and the beautiful backdrop. 
Serenity also has this suspension that looks like a huge hammock. I’m not sure I’d be comfortable here, but I guess it’s just for the view. 
Cebu’s beaches offer stunning views, accentuated by powdery white sand bars next to azure blue waters that invite you to just take a dip! This one’s in Medellin’s Paradizzo Beach Resort. 
The night is not much different, other than the horizon turning into deep dark shadows that makes you wonder what’s beyond it. 
The Tree House is a good place to get dinner. Go there late afternoon so you can catch the sunset. 
If you were to visit Northern Cebu, you might as well drop by the Bamboo Forest in Medellin. You’d probably just be impressed by their due diligence to actually wait for the bamboos to be this big, and then to never use them to build anything after all those times.
Bukidnon
In contrast to Cebu where I am currently stuck in the pandemic for work, Bukidnon is a land-locked province that obviously do not have the beautiful beaches that our country is known for. But what it lacks in beaches, it more than makes up for with magnificent mountains covered with lush vegetation, some of the most diverse forests in the country, and of course those clear cold springs and cascading waterfalls. I haven’t been able to explore half of them, so stick around for more. Meanwhile, here are some snaps I took while I was back home at the start of the year.
Bukidnon has lots of breathtaking views, especially when you go up the mountains on the way to Davao. Imagine literally driving on the crest of a mountain, cliffs on both sides. That’s why it wouldn’t hurt to stop and just enjoy the view. 
One of the limestone cliffs that would be so common when you drive across the province. I stopped here for the ray of light, but I guess the angle didn’t capture it very well. 
This is a new road that we just happened to take a leisurely turn to. It turned out to have an absolutely stunning view of mountains that are covered in fast-moving, low-lying clouds that the next minute may already be gone. It is fascinating to just stare at them! 
This was that same mountain a few minutes after. Those clouds! 
We deliberately stopped at the edge of a cliff to witness the sunset, and it never fails to disappoint us. 
Lake Pinamaloy is one of the highlights of my hometown, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. The locals like to come here to jog, cycle, or just plain relax and enjoy the nice cool breeze and relaxing sound of nature. 
This is the way to CEDAR, or Center for Ecological Development and Recreation. It is a natural park in Bukidnon. It is a project of the local government and DENR. If you love trees, forests, and waterfalls, then this is a must-go place for you! 
This is an overlooking view of Impasugong, Bukidnon. Sometimes you just want to stop by the roadside and enjoy the greeneries as far as the eye can see. 
The old Impasug-ong road is filled with amazing views that will leave you in awe. Even better is the fact that not very many people take this route, so there is no rush driving through and basking in the beautiful scenes. 
You would also want to stop by the Impasug-ong overlook park that the locals fondly call Lover’s Lane. It showcases the beautiful grass-laden mountains that are very common in the town. 
From the same Lover’s Lane overlook, the Eastern side greets you with the same lush green grasses carpeting the entire mountainside. I was told those horizontal lines were pathways from a long time ago when people were mining in this place. 
The Communal Farm of Impasugong is a tourist attraction that you would have to book ahead before you can go. That’s why this shot was from far away (yeah, we just learned when we got there). 
This is not part of Bukidnon, but just a couple of hours drive (maybe) and you will be greeted with the beautiful mountains of Claveria, Misamis Oriental. The good thing about this place is that it is not much different from Bukidnon. Farm lands and lush greens everywhere.
I hope you still enjoyed the photos despite the potato quality and the Lightroomy postprocess. In the future, I hope to get a better camera. Stay tuned!