After spending much of the Covid-ravaged year socially distancing myself from other people and the great outdoors, I welcomed the spontaneity to experience nature once again when I received an invitation from an old friend. “Hi Marky, are you free this Sunday to Tuesday?” Jackie wrote to me on Messenger. “I’m going to Cavinti. I was going solo, but the place is kind of off the grid so maybe I shouldn't go alone. Would you like to come?” she wrote in a follow-up message that reached my inbox just as I was about to reply “Yes”—even without knowing the details yet.

Like manna from heaven, Jackie’s invitation was exactly what the doctor ordered, as I was about to go out of my wits from reading travel books and watching NatGeo shows to cure my thirst of wanderlust. It had been a couple of months since I last went out on a trip—a travel writing trip visiting organic farms in Quezon.

After we set the time and place of our meeting place, I hurriedly packed my things inside my backpack because the journey was only two days away and because of my sheer excitement.

Already appreciating Jackie’s gesture of inviting me, I also valued her straight-to-the-point declaration that the trip should be a friendly one. “I’m sorry, but I have to say, this isn’t a romantic vacation. Ha-ha. I just want to reset. So, flirting is off the table.” Since we had hung out on a few occasions that could be labeled as dates in the past, I appreciated her candor in clearing up any expectations she thought I might have.

Her Waze directed us to drive through the backroads of Rizal going to Laguna as opposed to the straight-up path from South Luzon Expressway. It was a longer route but one that was blessed with a photogenic sight of the rolling hills of Rizal passing through the windmills of Pililla and the winding roads of Baras before moving towards the lakeside roads of Caliraya and finally, Cavinti, Laguna.

It was a Sunday, so the roads were filled with cyclists coming from both directions. Throughout the ride I was salivating at the thought of doing my own bike ride over the same route. However, I thought to myself that I would need more training first, so I can negotiate the uphill terrains with ease.

Situated on a lakeside property dishing a sense of isolation since you need to ride a boat from a nearby small port to reach the place, Glamping Etc. appears lush with smooth lawn grass, towering trees and an air of Zen.

From the docking bay, you'll walk on a short uphill trail leading to the restaurant and reception hall and from there, a footpath leads you to the spot where three Geodesic domes and a Triangle tent are built with ample space for free movements allotted for each.

Inside our tent, there is a double-sized bed, two chairs and a small table positioned beside the see-through wall (covered with plastic cover) that offers a magnificent view of the lake.

Our Geodesic Dome facing the Eastern side of the lake was a cozy one with more than enough space to move around, hang out and even do yoga. Each Geodesic Dome is good for 2 persons while the Triangle tent can sleep up to four people. Each one has their own private toilet and shower rooms.

The property, according to its Airbnb page and as told to us by the staff, is owned by an Indian couple. That explains the Indian influence on the menu as we had Chicken Biryani on our first night and Chicken Masala for our lunch the next day.

The staff manning the property is composed of one extended family who are long-time residents of a small town near Lake Lumot. Therefore, staying at Glamping, Etc. emits more of a sense of immersing in a community rather than staying in an exclusive resort. When I say a whole extended family, adorable little kids running around are included.

Waking up on consecutive mornings to bird songs and quacking ducks was something to behold. After a night of star-staring, downing a bottle of wine and musing conversation, it was a delightful feeling opening my eyes to a serene scene.

Jackie and I spent our early afternoons kayaking around the lake. The water is so still with barely a ripple of current, making it a lot easier for us to paddle and explore the lake by slicing our way over the glass-like water circling smaller islets and passing by other lakeside houses and resorts.

Afterward, we’d wait for the sunset seen on the side facing Mount Banahaw while swimming on the shallow part of the lake near a bamboo jetty. I can say, life is ideal in this lovely spot of Cavinti.

It was the week after my birthday in January and the anxiety caused by the unstable curve of new infections and the uncertainty of when our Government would procure the vaccines needed to achieve herd immunity had piled up a mountain of worries in my head. Same with Jackie, I was also badly in need of some nature resetting.

The three days we spent at Glamping, Etc. comprised a blissful cycle of swimming and kayaking in the lake, chilling on a hammock, meditating and practicing yoga—plus the usual eating, sleeping, talking and wine drinking.

I sure did milk every moment of it because of one thing this pandemic has taught me: it is how the universe can press the pause button anytime.

After being faced with the ambiguity of when I can experience doing all the things I love again, this quick nature and chill trip to Cavinti gave me a glimpse of the old normal as we wiggle our way out of this pandemic.

As a traveler, I strive to take trips to locations I've never been before. This rule, nevertheless, comes with a few exceptions. Bagan, Myanmar, was one of the places I returned to sooner than I expected. After my first trip there in March 2013, I always felt like I had unfinished business when I returned home. This is why, exactly three years later, I set out on another journey to this ancient city. This time around, I arrived as a lone tourist armed with more days exploring this historic city teeming with centuries-old temples and pagodas.

Riding an electric bike in the hot sun of March, I travelled far and wide, capturing the magnificent images of millennia-old ruins of the Pagan Kingdom. Much of my time here was spent marveling at the magnificent and timeless vibe that persists in this city, populated by some of the warmest and nicest individuals I've encountered. All of it added up to yet another unforgettable collective incursion to this city.

By taking off-the-beaten-path routes, I was able to see some of the most obscure temples and pagodas while covering more land than on my last trip. Bagan is an iconic historic city in Myanmar's Mandalay Region. The ruins that today rest scattered across its golden powdery plains are from kingdoms that existed from the 9th century until the 13th century. At the time, it served as the capital of the Country of Pagan - the first kingdom to unite all of Myanmar under one control. More than 10,000 Buddhist pagodas, monasteries, and temples were erected on the immense Bagan plains during the sovereignty of this dynasty. Over 2,200 pagodas and temples still survive today as majestic ruins and a striking reminder of that illustrious history.

Slowly opening up to tourists, Myanmar has managed to position the Bagan Archeological Zone as its principal visitor draw and is now regarded by many as equivalent to Cambodia's Angkor Wat complex. As an old-city junkie, I can state that Bagan can hold a candle on its own by possessing a powerful magnetism that appeals to people like myself seeking historic ruins with breathtaking landscapes to photograph.

To let the images, speak for itself, here are some more photographs that best exemplify Bagan as a place of timeless beauty.

These are just a few of the photos I wanted people to see whenever they ask why I went back to Myanmar. I traveled from Bagan to Mandalay and then returned to Yangon. Two weeks is a short time to truly absorb Bagan and the rest of this lovely nation; perhaps after reading this essay, you will be motivated to travel to Myanmar and see the timeless old city of Bagan.

Mandalay was a place I regretted not seeing during my first visit to Myanmar in 2013 with friends. Things were different during my return trip in 2016, when additional days worked on my side. After almost a week of exploring the vast plains of Bagan aboard an e-motorcycle, I made the half day land trip to the former royal capital of Myanmar.

Dizzy and tired from the sleeper bus journey, I relaxed for a few minutes at my fine accommodation—the Hotel by the Red Canal—before setting out to explore the food scene of the city.

In stark contrast with Old Bagan, the streets of Mandalay slightly mirror the bustling local scene of Yangon with motorcycles, automobiles and public buses coming at you from all directions and blaring horns at each other. I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around downtown Mandalay before taking a short nap back in my room. Come sunset, I once again went out not only to sightsee more but also to meet a Filipina expat in Mandalay I matched through the ever-reliable travel app, Tinder.

While walking to the meeting place I set up with Rhodora, I caught a glimpse of the spectacular sunset lowering over the fringes of Mandalay Hill and appearing stunningly on the pond of Mandalay Palace. Cliché as it sounds, it was one of the most arresting sunsets I’ve seen.

Since I was still early for our planned dinner, I stayed a bit at the park where I watched dozens of locals do various exercises. I thought about running one or two laps around the oval path but decided against it—since I can’t be drenched in sweat meeting a new friend.

An hour later I found myself seated on a table of four people enjoying some of the finest Mandalay dishes and engagring in a lively conversation about expat life in Myanmar. Rhodora brought along a couple Filipina English teachers Mileth and Rose. Among the three, Mileth has been in the country working the longest.

She described how Myanmar was like before hordes of tourists started arriving in the country prior to opening its doors to mass tourism more than a decade ago. We capped our engrossing dinner with a karaoke session at the city’s lone Karaoke bar until midnight.

The next morning, I woke up a bit buzzing from the previous night’s fun meet-up with new friends. After a full breakfast and a brief tour of the property of Hotel by the Red Canal, I borrowed one of their bicycles to explore the city.

Although, I have ample time to tick off most places listed on “Places to see in Mandalay” listicle articles, I decided to spend most of the day on a chill bike ride around town. My first stop was Mandalay Hill, which stands 240-meter high, and where the Sutaungpyei Pagoda sitting on top dishes a splendid panoramic view of Mandalay.

Smaller pagodas and monasteries are also situated on top of the hill, making it a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists for almost two centuries. After parking my bicycle, I went to climb the covered stairway snaking around from different directions of the hill.

At the peak, I met some local kids who asked where I came from and witnessed a small procession highlighted by children dressed up in vibrant costumes. Someone told me that this was a "Shinbyu" or a novitiation ceremony—a Theravada Buddhism tradition celebrating the monastic ordination of a young boy.

Followed by several long-tails macaques, I walked towards a small terrace and sat idly for an hour just staring at the bustling streets of Mandalay from below. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed with blues at that time as I was only a few months removed from a romantic break-up.

However, that moment homered a realization that being alone isn’t such a bad thing. I recalled a quote from a movie I’ve seen years ago “the greatest of men are the loneliest”. Not that I see myself as someone remarkable, rather, it’s moments like this when I can explore and be curious about the world at a whim, that makes up the exquisiteness of being in a state of solitary.

Being married to the road sounds more like it. I’ll have another shot at feelings of amorousness but the desire to be on the road shall remain and forever accompany my thoughts and endless wonder.

Gathering my opinions about my life at that time, I also collected myself and started going down the steep stairway. I would spend the rest of the afternoon cycling to random corners before stopping by the Shwenandaw Monastery.

Situated near the foot of Mandalay Hill, this monastery is regarded with historic and religious significance by Buddhists. Built in 1878 by King Thibaw Min, it is known for its intricate teak carvings of Buddhist tales seen on its ceilings and walls. Designed with traditional Burmese architecture, it remains as the only original structure inside the Royal Palace.

A short distance away situates the sprawling Mandalay Palace, where other pagodas and former royal houses can be seen—all glossing a fine set of architectural details.

Before heading back to Bagan the next day, I once again met up with Rhodora and Mileth and for one last time, their company added up to my already wonderful experience in Mandalay.