top 5 getaways of summer 2008 jeo wrote this at 2:15 pm • Filed under Try This On For Size!, The Nomadic Feet, Breakaway Neurons •

since last last weekend, my summer is officially over. its now time to take a breather and settle the damages and eventually build up the stash again. after that, then i’ll be able to really start saving up for my truck. its the rainy season now. and i gotta stay put. it was a very busy first half of the year, and these five are the best of it

RANK #5 — The Batch Sabaw Check-Out Weekend

it was the end of the PADI openwater diver course for 6 of my friends. carl, fhay, bryan, jay, pammy and joby. and the whole FunDiveAsia gang was there to give support and additional chaos. it was a weekend of compressed air, weird poker faces, silly impersonations, buffet wars, brokeback moments, underwater dryhumping and low-low dance showdowns. i couldnt wait to dive with the whole Batch Sabaw again

RANK #4 — The Calamian Islands and Wrecks

it was one of my trips this year that i wasnt really whole-hearted to go but ended up being so damn glad i did. the islands with white beaches. the surreal sunsets. the great food and laid back accommodation. the amazingly clear visibility of the wrecks. the crystalline lakes. and yea, that trip has a few firsts. first time to ride a non aircon airplane and a chaotic superferry. but still, me and my friends had an awesome time and i know id be back there one of these days…

RANK #3 — The Masbate Exploration For New Dive Sites

boss rico arranged a dive exploration in the islands of ticao in the province of masbate. the aim was to find new dive spots in that area to be promoted to foreign and local divers. it was a totally rough adventure. a few spots were a disappointment but most of the areas we tried to dive were promising, expecially the ones with the roughest underwater currents. we slept in tents pitched on white sandy beaches. ate freshly cooked local food. got drunk over cuervo golds and quatro cantos. went gorilla crazy on a huge waterfall. burned marshmallows over a campfire. and more.

RANK #2 — The Four Minus One Getaway

the original line up for this trip was me, bino, myk and dell. it was something we planned since november last year for the four of us. but since i accidentally fractured myk’s left ankle and it had to be cemented like in the old pinoy comedy films, he wasnt able to come with us. so dell, bino and i pushed thru, the first stop was apo island negros oriental, nice resort and great diving. overnight and then we were off to cebu via a ceres bus and ro-ro from dumaguete. malapascua island was the next destination and we were successful on seeing the thresher sharks. went back to cebu city and spent another night there. met new friends and roamed around the nice places in the city.

RANK #1 — The City of Smiles And Way Way More

my first time in negros occidental. and it was purely amazing. the people. the places. the authentic inasal. the seafood. the old friends. the lovely new ones. the long drives. the videoke. the tequila and jägermeister shots. the smb lights and pilsens. the beach and nice dives of sipalay. the napoleones. the cuddly big labs. the superb inaka dinner. the blabs of the drunk. and the long goodbyes. im so amazed and thankful to my bacolod friends and their family for being sooo hospitable. its the best getaway so far for me this year. i’ll see you again in the maskara festival