Even before the two dogs moonlighting as our unofficial hiking guides plodding the muddy trail, paused, and looked back at me, I already figured out what they wanted to tell. Surely if they could talk, I'd hear them tell me, "here we up, look up." Taking cue from their excited body language, I directed my eyes upwards. A massive wall covering the length of my vision revealed an unimpeded view of Asik-Asik Falls.

Our two canine companions wiggled their tails, echoing my own enthusiasm and overjoy at finally being able to visit this spectacular waterfalls.

A Hiligaynon word, “Asik-Asik” translates to “sprinkle-sprinkle” in English and towers 60 feet spreading more than 140 meters wide. Known to a few locals before it was discovered as a hiking destination in 2010, Asik-Asik Falls wowed the world when it became the subject of a winning entry for a photography competition in 2012.

Since then, travelers have set out to this sleepy town of Alamada in North Cotabato for a rugged two-hour habal-habal ride and another hour of hiking just to reach this exceptional nature spectacle.

Fortunately nowadays, getting to the jump-off point to Asik-Asik Falls no longer necessitates an agonizing motorbike ride, thanks to the paving of the roads going there. The waterfalls can now be reached after a steep 30-45 minute descent over an established trail.

Hurrying ahead of the rest of our group, I picked up my pace right as I hear the streaming water reverberate louder in the mountain. Making my way across verdant meadows and into a forest, I soon realized I was drawing near the waterfalls.

My two canine companions suddenly quickened their strides as they sense our close proximity to our destination. True to form, the jaw-dropping image of Asik-Asik Falls that I used to ogle at on glossy magazine pages and travel blogs, uncovered itself to me.

Despite wearing a hiking pants and only a boxer shorts underneath, the temptation to gaze closely and enjoy the soothing cool waters of Asik-Asik became irresistible, that I hurriedly stripped down to my short-shorts and dove waist deep for a pleasant dip.

Hearing nothing but the sound of the sprinkling water oozing from the cracks on the wall, I can’t help but marvel at the uniqueness of Asik-Asik, as there’s no body of water flowing from a stream. Instead, water emerges through the holes on a curtain of rocks, like how water from a balloon pricked with needles would flow while gripped tightly.

Asik-Asik, which is surrounded by the waving hills of Barangay Upper Dado in the town of Alamada, is Mother Nature's version of a valuable treasure, veiled in this case by a thick curtain of lush vegetation and steep cliffs.

One by one members of our small group started arriving. I’m already in the water when a couple of drones flown by content creators who were with us starts flying overhead. I wave my hand each time it would hover over me.

Inching my way to the wall and waist-deep in the plunge pool, I started feeling the current getting stronger. Ditching the idea of at least touching the wall of the waterfalls, I opted to sit on a rock and enjoyed dipping half of my body for a rejuvenating dip instead.

Lost in the exquisite harmony of nature; an orchestra of the cascading water, the chirps of the birds and faint sounds of “ohhs and wow” from our group, I remained in the embrace of the gushing water while deeply concentrating my stare on the majestic Asik-Asik Falls.

Even as I am in the middle of a Zen state of existence, the thought of the upward hike came to mind, I immediately dismissed it and with good reason. Blessed to have finally seen the misty beauty of Asik-Asik Falls, it makes sense to free my mind of all the worries in the world. For several precious minutes, I cleared my thoughts to soak at the moment and let a fantastic remembrance with Mother Nature be engraved in my memory vault.

I was swept up once more into the vintage atmosphere of Casa Simeon, as if my return were a physical embodiment of my manifestation to return here and spend the night rather than merely dining in — which what I only did my first time here. Wasting no time after having a bit of downtime after exploring numerous spots in Albay, I barefooted across the polished wooden floor of Casa Simeon, gaping at the various architectural marvels and delicate details that set it apart from the more contemporary lodgings.

There's always something special about old houses that have been transformed into a haven for travelers seeking solace. Casa Simeon, in particular, has a long history, beginning as a modest home for Simeon and Beatrice Alpace in the 1920s to miraculously being spared in the aftermath of World War II, after it was abandoned by the couple following a blitz by Japanese forces in the town of Bacacay in Albay.

As I already have written on my earlier blog post about Casa Simeon, the property features 9 rooms of Family Room, De Luxe Queen and De Luxe Twin classifications, a second-floor dining room, and a library and coffee shop on the ground floor near the outdoor garden.

Today, Casa Simeon is being ran and managed by Enrico Alpace Calleja, the grandson of the Simeon and Beatrice, and his wife Jessica Noelle Wong. The couple also restored the old house and turned it into this current bed and breakfast form in 2018.

"You not only sense the warmth of the wood beneath your feet, you also get a feel of the culture and history of the Philippines", Jessica points out.

The cultural aspect was on full display during my first visit to Casa Simeon. A troupe of performers entertained us with their elegant rendition of the traditional "Sinakiki" dance, a wooing dance with roots in the Albay town of Rapu-Rapu.

Not only did we get to enjoy the enchantment of staying at a place like Casa Simeon, but the delectable cuisine they served us left us wanting more. According to Jessica, the recipes from Casa Simeon are passed down through the generations with each dish comprising of a backstory.

They are then enhanced to cater to modern diners' tastes while retaining the traditional flavors of the cuisine. Just like the feast that Simeon and Beatrice threw for their friends and family in their day, every meal eaten at Casa Simeon is an intimate gathering of family and friends.

With a medley of savory plates, chosen by our group from their menu, I went back to my room to cap a wonderful evening with a massage from an on-call therapist. Given to say, I awoke the next day feeling rejuvenated ready to spend another day of traveling around the province. But first, a nice breakfast is in order.

Till next time, Casa Simeon.

Incredibly surreal, I think to myself as we glide over the choppy waters off Bicol Peninsula towards the island of Ticao. My excitement at finally making it to Masbate, the 77th province I've visited in the Philippines, was palpable as our boat inched closer to the isle's powdery shores.

Aside from being one of Masbate's three main islands, Ticao is also home to the Halea Nature Park. The waters around this marine environmental park are home to newborn sharks, bountiful undersea treasures, and a thriving coral reef that nature has sculpted and decorated with jagged rock formations covered in lush greenery.

Halea natural park is located on San Miguel Island, one of two islands on the northern tip of Ticao, the other being Bagababoy Island. A winding coastline is broken up by a few beach coves, and it was on the biggest of these that we anchored our boats and set-up our boodle-fight lunch.

After chowing down our tropical-themed boodle feast, we lounged around underneath the shade of the many trees and planned our next activity. When our guide, divemaster Junery told us about the high chances of spotting baby sharks even in the shallows, the catchy children’s song “Baby Shark” instantly played inside my head.

We went to the waters in the next cove by batches of six to eight so as not to crowd the habitat of the pre-teen sharks. Our turn came as the waves picked up, making it more challenging to snorkel while wearing a life jacket.

A couple of my free diver companions Milet and Ferdz quickly discovered a school of juvenile sharks. Cautiously venturing further from shore, I spotted a single little shark a few meters ahead of me. As frightening as I thought it would be, it turned out to be really harmless. Perhaps, if I saw an adult shark the theme from the movie Jaws will replace the baby shark song in my head.

There are only around 40 waterfalls in the world that directly debouche into the ocean and one of them can be found here on Ticao Island, Masbate. Catandayagan Falls, located on the western section of the island, features a cascade of more than a hundred feet plunging over the edge of a seashore cliff into the clear waters of Masbate Pass.

As our boat circles to the other side of Ticao Island facing mainland Masbate, we were introduced to a rare view of Catandayagan Falls from afar. Despite the great distance I could already see the white streaming waters falling from the cliffside and straight into the ocean. Coming closer only made it appear more dramatic and spectacular. I’ve seen all shapes and sizes of waterfalls before from wide, tall, to multi-tiered but this one clearly appears in a rarified form.

As soon as we docked fifty meters from the wall of rocky face of the island, I stood on the boat’s edge face to face with the towering and jaw dropping Catandayagan Falls. It was a sight to behold watching endless streams of fresh water crashing into the saline sea below with a deafening noise. Our lady companions from the boat dived into the water with their life vest on and not long after, the deafening boom of the waterfalls merged with the sounds of their delighted giggling.

The rock formations at Borobongkaso islet caught our attention as we traveled to our overnight destination, Ticao Island Resort, a popular spot among scuba divers. To achieve a better view of the pristine waters and the islands of Ticao and Masbate, you can climb over massive rocks of varying forms that looks like it was piled up together by a giant's hand.

Later in the night as we enjoy another feast this time highlighted by a whole lechon; our guides shared to us more reasons to come back. This includes going out on a scuba diving exploration to witness the many Manta Rays, hammerheads, whale sharks, thresher sharks and tiger sharks that are normally spotted in the marine life-rich waters of Ticao Island.

Waiting for sleep to come while I sway on a hammock tied in front of my small villa, I recounted the days’ happenings and easily convinced myself to come back for more of what the island has to offer. Exploring the island's picturesque tiny towns and the undersea wealth, as well as seeing baby sharks, swimming in crystal-clear seas, and being delighted by the uniqueness of Catandayagan Falls, are more than enough reasons to return.

Built between 1605 and 1626 upon the command of Vir Singh Deo to commemorate Mughal Emperor Jahangir's first visit to Orchha (father of Shah Jahan- architect of Taj Mahal), Jahangir Mahal is considered as one of the best representations of classic Indo-Islamic Architecture. Marvelous sculptures, hanging balconies, delicate trellis and chhatris, topped domes, etc., are all examples of the building's exceptional architectural brilliance.

Jahangir Mahal is a three-story palace situated on the banks of Betwa River that combines Hindu and Islamic design elements. This stunning structure has more than a hundred rooms, verandas, terraces, porches, as well as multiple enormous courtyards and ornate ceilings. The original eastern entrance to the palace includes walls tiled in turquoise, and the gate itself is elaborately carved.

Fascinating details include the separate rooms for each of Vir Singh Deo’s six wives and a window in the Maharaja’s bedroom window that looks directly onto the deity altar of nearby Raja Ram Temple. However, its history would take a bizarre twist when Aurangzeb — the son of Shah Jahan and Jahangir’s grandson — would later conquer Orchha as a young 16-year-old and hoist a Mughal flag at the topmost part of the palace originally built in honor of his grandfather as a token of friendship.

During the height of the Mughal empire, I suppose, there were no more permanent allies much like there aren’t in modern politics. After covering the Travel Mart in Bhopal, I selected this leg of the post-event media familiarization trip for a chance to explore more of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Orchha, along with Gwalior and Chanderi were the places we explored for almost a week.

I also found it incredible to connect Orchha with other Mughal Empire monuments that I originally learned about during my first trip to India in 2014. This palace serves as a living reminder of Orchha's struggle to repel invading forces. It witnessed how Raja Vir Singh Deo and his forces protected it from the Mughal invasion.

Fighting to the end, Singh Deo finally surrendered and agreed to be governed by the Mughal empire led by Aurangzeb. Following the defeat to the Mughal army, the military might of Orchha weakened forcing Vir Singh Deo to go into hiding until his death.

The more I satisfy my curiosities examining the palace, from finding myself walking at the uppermost dome to the courtyard below behind the enormous square-shaped water tank to weaving my way to various hallways and rooms, the more impressions of the place's history get imprinted on me.

Jahangir Mahal, along with the other historic buildings in Orchha including the Raja Ram Temple, Laxmi Temple, Sheesh Mahal, and Sri Charturbhuj Temple, reveals the opulence and wide reach of the Mughal Empire as well as the complex political intrigue that went on behind the scenes.