Ironwulf 2016 Flashback on Instagram

[pullquote]“I don’t think that it’s possible to have a truly rewarding experience in travel if it’s simple” – Paul Theroux[/pullquote]

Thinking about what Paul said, 2016 is filled with complications and challenges that made it quite eventful. It feels like everything was a spaghetti dream, a collage of moments in ramble but intertwined. Emotions like a roller coaster. Of failures and rising up. 2016 finds me living in different cities for a time and trying to find my place in this world of ours. It is never without a challenge. But there’s always one thing for certain, the warmth of coming home to my family is always a comfort wherever I’ve been. Bruised ego or of heightened rush of satisfaction, there’s always a place to go back to.

My 2016 Travels

My travels in 2016 were more of micro-escapes. A lot were spontaneous trips and discoveries. Then there were those invited adventures. No matter how small or grand they are, travel is travel and I cherish them especially with new and old friends. I made a run down of images from my instagram I hashtagged #ironwulf2016flashback. It features travel images of different destinations I visited this year. I thought it would be nice to compile those post here.

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback Featuring images from my travels this year. First up was my cloudy and cold summit on the first morning of 2016 at Mt Fato in Bontoc. #travel #mountains #mountainclimbing #outdoors #summitviews #bontoc #maligcong #mtfato

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 21, 2016 at 7:32pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback with a series of images from this year’s travels. This year also marks my 1st #sinulog #festival in #cebu courtesy of @asusph . We field-tested their #asusph #zoom which was used to take this photo #travel #ironwulfenroute #masks #culture #mobilephotography

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 22, 2016 at 3:56am PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. January finds me again joining a #lakbaynorte tour for the 3rd time and we discovered one of my favorite falls up north, the Tangadan Falls in #launion #travel #northluzon #waterfalls #nature #tangadanfalls #ironwulfenroute

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 22, 2016 at 5:41pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images within the year. February found me stepping on Tablas Island in Romblon for the first time. I enjoyed climbing up the nearby hill at Aglicay Beach resort to enjoy the starry night sky and the moonset. #travel #romblon #tablasromblon #nightphotography #nightsky #milkyway

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 23, 2016 at 3:58am PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback with travel images from this year. This year I had a chance to feel what a drone is like as we hover and swoop down Mt Pinatubo in a helicopter coming from Manila. #travel #birdseyeview #mtpinatubo #volcanocrater #ironwulfenroute

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 23, 2016 at 7:46pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with a #ironwulf2016flashback of travel images from this year. Tigbi Falls is just a side trip in #sanandresquezon but it was one of the waterfalls I enjoyed visiting this year that it can stand as a destination on its own. Wishing everyone a meaningful holidays! Merry christmas? #waterfalls #tigbifalls #nature #ironwulfenroute #cascades

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 24, 2016 at 8:23pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback of travel images from this year. One of the sandbars at Alibijaban Island at San Andres Quezon is one fun destination south of Manila. #travel #islands #beaches #sanandresquezon #alibijabanisland #sandbars

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 25, 2016 at 10:04pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. Bontoc is such an underrated destination often passed by for Sagada, Kalinga or Banaue. But the municipality have gems of its own like this Hamuyyo Falls in Talubin offering exciting river trek to this towering waterfalls. The highest in Bontoc. #travel #ironwulfenroute #bontoc #talubin #hamuyyofalls #waterfalls #nature

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 26, 2016 at 9:31pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. Mt Ulap is one of the climbs I really enjoyed this year. It’s not just about reaching the summit but the wonderful trail it has. This iconic Gungal Rock is a favorite spot for many, found midway the trail. #travel #mtulap #itogon #benguet #gungalrock #mountains #mountainclimbing

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 27, 2016 at 5:42am PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback of travel images from this year. For a brief moment of 2016 I lived in Kuwait. The plan was to make it as a base in exploring the nearby regions. Complications from my work there made the plan fall through but it was also an interesting experience as Kuwait is a hard country to get into. Here’s the Constitution Monument inside @alshaheedpark, the largest urban park in Kuwait. Behind is Al Tijiara tower. —- PS: Do help me go to India by voting for me at the Kerala Blog Express (link at the bio) #travel #kuwait #alshaheedpark #monument #urbanparks #ironwulfenroute

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 28, 2016 at 2:12am PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback of travel images from this year. When I like a place, I really go back and explore deeper. Maligcong is one of them. This year we had an exploration climb to another mountain, Mt Matuon to have a different perspective of the wonderful Maligcong rice terraces. — PS: help send me to India by voting for me for the Kerala Blog Express (link at the bio) #travel #ironwulfenroute #travelph #maligcong #bontoc #riceterraces #mountainprovince #mountains #climbs #summitviews

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 28, 2016 at 8:22pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. Sometimes we don’t have to go too far to enjoy places. Revisiting the artist town of Angono, less than a couple of hours drive in Manila, was such a delight. Culturally rich and tummy filling as well. — PS: Please help be get a step closer to India by voting for me at the Kerala Blog Express (link from the bio) #travel #angonoartcapital #lagunadebay #sunset #sunset_madness #ironwulfenroute

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 29, 2016 at 7:24am PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. Batanes was a surprise destination not really planned for the year but thanks to @asusph for bringing us there. I got to go back to one of my favorite regions in the country. Despite the developments the old world charm remains. — PS: Please get me one step closer to India by voting for me at the Kerala Blog Express (link from the bio) #travel #batanes #landscapes #lighthouse #naidihills #batanisland #ironwulfenroute

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 29, 2016 at 2:46pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. One of the exciting trips this year was in Samar. Thanks to @airasiaph for taking us for a thrilling experience at the Ulot River in Paranas. — PS: Please vote for me at the Kerala Blog Express (link at the bio) #travel #ecotourism #river #ulotriver #SparkSamar #ironwulfenroute #samar

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 29, 2016 at 9:03pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. It was also my 1st time to step on the island of Biliran and already it teases to discover the rest of its wonders. The soothing Tinago Falls is just the tip of the iceberg. #travel #easternvisayas #biliranisland #waterfalls #nature_perfection #ironwulfenroute

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 30, 2016 at 3:37am PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images within the year. I think it was almost a decade when I last visited Lake Danao in Ormoc that’s why I was glad to return. This time the weather was bright and sunny that we were able to do some water activities at this legendary lake. #travel #ormoc #leyte #lakedanao #lakes #ironwulfenroute

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 30, 2016 at 8:39am PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. Framing and chasing sunrise in Tacloban. I was also glad to return to Tacloban to see the changes 3 years after Yolanda. Yep they are back on their feet. Like this Oriental Hotel which received brunt of the devastation being close to sea is back in operation again and looking more enticing than ever. #travel #tacloban #sunrise_sunsets_aroundworld #ironwulfenroute #framed

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 30, 2016 at 3:21pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. Explore a destination deeply and you’ll stumble upon hidden gems beyond the tourist radar. This place in the mountain province is one of them that I’d rather keep it a secret known only to people I know. We all want that place we could can come back to to escape. #travel #mountainprovince #ironwulfenroute #mountains #bontoc #somewhereoutthere #placesonlyweknow

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 30, 2016 at 9:17pm PST

Celebrating 2016 with an #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images within the year. Finally satisfying my curiosity of what is like to stay along Halsema Highway. Buguias in Benguet is a gold mine of breathtaking sceneries. I also like that temperature drops as low as 16C. #travel #benguet #buguias #halsemahighway #ironwulfenroute #photographyislife #sunrise_sunsets_aroundworld #landscape_lovers #highlands

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 31, 2016 at 12:12am PST

Celebrating 2016 with #ironwulf2016flashback featuring travel images from this year. My last destination for the year was La Union. Though I was there for the 3rd time this year this last one was just to chill out. I enjoyed watching the waves, they are as hypnotic as watching a fire burn. There’s an insight on how we look at surfers play with the waves. It’s like how obstacles can be intimidating but surfers must not be daunted. One must learn to dive and emerge from it and eventually ride along. Much like my 2016, it was full of learning experiences which I hope to bring the coming year. With this, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year! ?? #travel #launion #elyu #lu #waves #sunset_madness #ironwulfenroute #yearender

A photo posted by Ferdz Decena (@ironwulf) on Dec 31, 2016 at 3:48am PST

I’m looking forward for 2017 already and I feel it will be a great year. One thing I’m working towards to is getting accepted Kerala Blog Express Season 4. I tried on the first season but didn’t make it and skipped the next two seasons. This year, I’ll try my best to get chosen (God willing). That is why I’m asking for your support to vote. I seldom asked for voting favors so please spare a few minutes to visit my profile here and click “Vote Now”. You may use your Facebook account to vote. It’s much faster. I thank you in advance.

With this I wish you a prosperous new year in 2017!