sam heart travel

My (Slightly) Disappointing Trip to the Old Balete Tree   Okay, so, full disclosure: I wasn't exactly thrilled about visiting the Old Balete Tree. It was part of a package tour, and honestly, I'd been there before. I'd already done the whole "Old Balete Tree experience," and I wasn't exactly jumping for joy at the prospect of a repeat performance. I tried to gently suggest we skip it, mentioning that I'd already seen the, shall we say, unique charm of this ancient tree. But nope, the tour was set, and off we went.   The thing is, the Old Balete Tree is... well, it's a tourist trap. I'm not saying it's bad, per se. It's just... underwhelming the second time around. The first time, the mystique was there. The sheer age of the tree, its gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, the stories whispered about its supposed supernatural powers – it was all quite captivating. But the second time? It felt a little… manufactured. The ...

Hapitanan Broomshot: A Perfect Stopover After Lunch   After we had lunch, we headed to Hapitanan Broomshot. Hapitanan! (Much better than that other name, right?)   My first visit was… well, let's just say it was a classic tourist trap. The main attraction? Posing on a broomstick for photos. This time, I skipped the broomstick photo, having already experienced it. Instead, I spent my time soaking up the view and window shopping for souvenirs.   This time around, I took a cigarette break, enjoying the scenery at my own pace. It was the perfect stopover after all the earlier adventures. The place has a certain calmness to it that I missed the first time.   So, the verdict:   - For first-timers: Go for it! You'll probably get that iconic broomstick photo. Just be prepared for crowds. - For repeat visitors: Unless you need another broomstick photo, consider it a quick stop for a break.   There's still no entrance fee, but donations ar...