Ironwulf’s Best of 2007 Destinations
Placing large photo prints on my room wall
Holiday greetings! I hope everyone’s having a grand vacation. Truth to tell, I’ve been yearning to go to a certain destination like back to Sagada or anywhere else since I’m really excited to test my personal gift this Christmas, a 12-60mm (24-120mm) 2.8-4 SWD High Grade Zuiko Lens brought by my friend (Thank you Meg!) from Japan. With its considerably wider angle and longer zoom than my kit lens, and faster speed too, it would be my walk-around lens from now on. I already bought a couple of filters for it as well but things didn’t really work out. With the crazy humid weather we’re experiencing and occasional rains pouring in I thought I just stay here in Manila, which is a good thing actually. Aside from saving a bit of money, I get to spend some time at home with family, and actually clean my room. I’ve been so busy nowadays I didn’t realize dust has already settled on top of my old books I could no longer see the covers! Aside from cleaning and hanging up some large prints on my room wall, this free time has also given me some time to think about what I want for 2008 as well as looking back on 2007, thus producing this list. This would be the first time for me to do a Best-of-the Best series. As all travels has been great but there are some that really stood out in terms of character. So enough yakking and here goes.
Experience Dining at Sonya’s Garden
Best Eats: Sonya’s Garden, Cavite
I really had a hard time with this one, I actually was thinking of a tie with Bohol Bee Farm, but I haven’t fully tried a full course meal with the latter unlike Sonya’s Garden. If one is willing to drive a few hours from Manila to the slopes of Tagaytay, a full course meal at Sonya’s is a must. With ingredients freshly picked from their garden, with spices and sauces richly flavored its hard not to like their food. Meals are served ala carte and it’s up to you how much you want to mix the flavors and the ingredients. And what’s a better deal here is that the full course meal is only Php 500 per person. There’s nothing like good food on a nice garden setting for the perfect dining experience.
A boatman delivering poultry smiles back. Sailing at Isabela Channel, Basilan
Best Off-The-Beaten Path Destination: Basilan, Philippines
Just the mention of the place elicits a lot of fear to many. Even the locals there were surprised that we chose Basilan as a destination. Still, even tugging along a group of local policemen as guards, we were fortunate to be able to go around the area from their famed beach of Malamawi, seeing the stilt village of the Badjaos, and staying at an inland resort. Again, It’s unfortunate that a few months after our visit, the region went back to its tumultuous state, making it harder for people to visit the place once more.
Adventure climb at Bukit Tabur, Malaysia
Best Adventure: Bukit Tabur, Malaysia
I would have chosen Danao in Bohol as adventurous but that was a coordinated trip. When I say adventure, it is more venturing into the unknown and taking lots of risk in the process and such is what I experienced going to and climbing Bukit Tabur in Malaysia. On my lonesome and in a foreign country at that, venturing into a place where not many Malaysians even know about. It was a challenge just finding the place and even climbing it as well. Dangerous, but somehow I pulled it off with the help of local strangers.
Unspoilt beach paradise at Anawangin, Zambales
Best Beach: Anawangin, Zambales
This came as a surprise to me as well. I never knew such a beach can be found a few hours’ drive from Manila. No resorts, no tourist crowds, no noisy bars, just pure unspoilt beauty. This is the place where you could really get close to nature with white sand powdery beach, scenic pine trees, sloping mountains and crystal clear waters. And if the atmosphere is just right, the full moon and the stars illuminating the sea. And best of, I think I only spent around Php 800 for the whole trip.
Scenic view abound at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Best Photographic Destination: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
When photography is your main objective, Lake Sebu offers a lot of scenic views which would delight any landscape and nature photographers out there. Or maybe the timing is just right when we were there. It may be raining at times but when we’re out on the field the weather would cooperate. I especially had fun taking sunrise photos at Lake Seloton there.
Patience of a fisherman on a mangrove, Bohol on the horizon
Best Photograph: Fishing on a Mangrove
Lake Sebu may have wondrous scenery but the photo that strongly appeals to me in many ways is my capture of a Fisherman standing on a mangrove in Sandugan beach in Siquijor. I’ve always been a fan of minimalism but there is so much in this picture for me despite its simplicity.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Best Destination: Siem Reap, Cambodia
I guess this won’t be a surprise to many since at the start of the year, this is listed as one of my ultimate destinations for 2007. It’s great that I was able to visit this famed UNESCO site and really enjoy the place. From temple explorations at Angkor Archaeological Park, a visit to the floating village Tonle Sap, tasting a variety of cuisines at Siem Reap and interacting with the most numbers of nationalities in one place is quite an experience. It was overall a fun destination and also offers a lot photographic opportunities as well.
Ferdz, en route to new destinations in 2008. Photo by Og at Siquijor
Farewell 2007, onwards 2008
I hope you like this summary for the year as this would also be my last post for 2007. There is a lot to look forward to for 2008 as I know would be a very very exciting year for everyone. So to end this entry I would like to greet Happy New Year to everyone! And may you have fruitful days ahead.
Tags: Best of 2007, Destinations, General
Posted on
Monday, December 31st, 2007 at 12:10 pm 
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December 31st, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Happy new year, Ferdz! Thanks to this post, I now have an idea where I want to go this year
December 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Happy New Year to you Ferdz. Hope you give us more of your exciting voyages for the next year
BTW I nearly emailed you for advice of an impulse buy craving I had when I saw a brand new Olympus Evolt-410 with a standard and zoom Zuiko lenses being sold for $650 at a Boxing Day special sale ( dec 26) here. I could have run with it if it was a 510 but I still thought it was a goood buy…dang I passed up hehe
December 31st, 2007 at 4:19 pm
wow! lovely photos to welcome 2008!
happy new year ferdz!
December 31st, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I like those large prints on your room wall, they are wonderful! And the best-of-the-best series is friggin’ cool!
Have a great New Year ahead and may you be blessed with happiness, prosperity, luck, joy, peace and love for the coming 2008!
January 1st, 2008 at 12:08 am
A more blessed 2008 to you!
January 1st, 2008 at 2:21 am
Ferdz, Happy new year!
I can’t wait to find out what destination you have in store for us in 2008
January 1st, 2008 at 3:01 am
I am plannning on doing the same thing, recap the year in photos. Di kita maunahan Ferdz. Hoping for more spectacular shots from you this coming year. Cheers!
January 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Wow! Hanep mga pictures! Happy new year, Ferdz! Hoping to see more beautiful photos in 2008.
January 1st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Happy New Year Ferdz…I wish to see more of your captivating pictures in this year 2008 with International Awards too.
Thanks for including Siquijor as Best Photograph…honestly, the picture speaks a thousand descriptions how life revolves around the core of simplicity…..
January 1st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Hoping you’ll still include Siquijor as part of your 2008 destination for photo’s collections….
Your skills in taking pictures,influenced me to try in photography but as beginner,dont know what kind of digi cam would I need to use for a better capture …any suggestions?
January 1st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
galing talaga. saan nga ba susunod na travel?
January 1st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Great list! Gives me an idea. I should make one too
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 am
Happy is your new year!
aba naman, congrats sa bago mong lens Ferdz. akala ko personal gift mo yung
Zuiko 7-14mm (14-28mm), hehe. baka next year pwede na noh? wala lang, excited lang ako sa capibility ng lenteng yun. personal gift ko sa sarili ko? bagong tripod, nyahaha. pinag-iipunan ko din ang isang bagong lente, yung 12-24mm superwide. sana, sana.
ayos ‘tong best of 2007 destinations mo, galing. at yung first shot, malufet ha. keep it up. di mo lang alam, maraming natutulong ‘tong site mo. isa ako sa mga alagad mo na nagpapalaganap. more powers Ferdz!
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
a zuiko lens! that’s something kuya.
anyway, nice taste sa iyong list! hope you do great this 2008. 
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
hey bai! just dropping by to greet you a blessed new year. more adventures to come!
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:20 am
happy new year! i wish for more milestone for you this 2008!
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 am
yes yes.. i like the summary for your 2007 journey.
i specially like the best beach. nilista ko na siya sa must visted place ko. actually most of your places na pinapakita eh.. nilista ko. haha.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
haha tlgang pumorma ka pa for this shot ha
happy new year tol! 
great list! sana mapuntahan ko na din tong mga to. basilan sounds exciting hehe
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Hello Ferdz, Happy New Year and may you have many more travels and great posts in 2008. You truly are an inspiration. Ang Galing.
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
happy new year ferdz!
more destination to come including ba dyan ang married life na?
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
hapi new yr Ferdz!
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
great post, pre! my fave is the b&w photo. more mesmerizing pics this 2008!
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Beautiful, beautiful year-ender, Ferdz! Here’s to more pasyals in 2008!
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
OMG, that photo of a man fishing on the mangrove is very nice!
nice selection, ferdz! happy new year!
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:24 am
pwede ba magrequest? pwede ba sumama sa next adventure? hehehe.
sabi ko na nanjan ang lake sebu. pero for me, the best picture mo talaga ay yung sa zambales. pero ferdz, thanks so much for showing us the beautiful places and kung ano pa hidden secrets nun. happy new year!
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Oh man, what a year! I would love to see that gallery in your first picture. Grabe, ang ganda ng photo mo ng Angkor Wat! All the best in 2008 Ferdz!
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
happy new year ferdz! lovely photos!
January 4th, 2008 at 3:50 am
nice pics you got!! kaw ba kumuha nyan>>
galing!!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:34 am
how i wish we can go to the places you recommended. hopefully we can visit them all in this lifetime.hehe
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 am
hi… loving your site….
let’s just say im really getting addicted to going to different places in the philippines that im currently a sucker for really great travel sites…. 
cant wait to end the year and summarize the places i’ve been to this year….