Archive for the ‘ Trips ’ Category

Paris: Must See(s)

Paris has so many popular spots! Here are some places that you shouldn’t miss there, definitely must sees! :D Coz lately, I’ve been getting messages from friends who will be going to Paris and who wants to know what sights they should visit and what to do as well. They want me to share an itinerary for them but I haven’t really been able to do so since I’m away on trips. hehe

Notre Dame Cathedral

I always think of the Disney movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (which was based on a novel by Victor Hugo) when I think of this famous place. hehe They say it’s the most beautiful and popular Gothic church in the world. I found myself always walking towards the direction of the cathedral every afternoon coz I like the atmosphere here. I just love the Parisian sunset by the Seine River while eating crepes or eclairs at one of the benches lining this beautiful building.♥

The buttresses of the Cathedral

St. Joan of Arc

The beautiful ceiling of Notre Dame

Musee d’Orsay

A former train station, this museum is now home to many masterpiece of Impressionist and Post Impressionist painters the most popular of which includes Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh. Free entrance every first Sunday of the month! Otherwise, you’ll have to pay the 9euro entrance fee. I don’t think of myself as an “artsy” person but on trips, I tend to go to lots of them! :D

The museum that was formerly a train station :)

Pantheon

King Louis XV ordered the reconstruction of the ruined church of Sainte-Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, after he had recovered from an illness. The church later on became a mausoleum for notable, distinguished French citizens. Amongst the remains buried here are Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie (yes, she’s Polish but is married to a Frenchman and lived in France most of her life) and Alexandre Dumas.

 

Arc de Triomphe

To celebrate his military victories, Napoleon commissioned the building of this popular French monument. However, it was completed 30years after it was begun and the Emperor Napoleon was already ousted. It honours the soldiers who fought and died for France during the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. Beneath it, lit by an eternal flame, lies the remain of The Unknown Soldier who came to symbolize the rest of the people who died and were never identified in World War I & II.

Avenue des Champs-Elysees

Probably one of the most famous street all over the world, this street is lined with luxurious shop, cafes and other stores. I wasn’t really into this place as I’m not into shopping. Anyways, due to its proximity to popular landmarks, most notably the Arc de Triomphe, parades were usually held along its streets.

 

The Arc de Triomphe as viewed from the famous avenue :)

Louvre Museum

One of the largest mueseum in the world, this along with the Notre Dame are my two favorite place in Paris! This is a fortress turned palace until Louis XIV vacated it for Versailles. The musueum is so huge and contains around 35,000 pieces that they say 3 whole days are not enough to give it justice. I think it’s too much so I just enjoyed myself at the Italian paintings section and some and skipped the others and passed by the rest. That way, I wasn’t overwhelmed. ;) Since I love to read, I can’t help but remember Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code while I was there. Imagining where the scenes took place. It’s not just me though coz as the book (and later, the movie) gained popularity, walking tours of the Da Vinci Code became popular! :D

Inside the musee looking out :)

 

La Tour Eiffel

The iconic landmark that came to symbolize both Paris and France was once described as useless and monstrous when it was being built for the 1889 World Fair that was held in Paris. It was named after Gustave Eiffel, the engineer whose company designed and built the tower. When I first saw it, I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of it! Every few steps, stop, take a picture. If I was in a different angle, I’ll stop again and take still another picture! But it feels like I couldn’t get enough! :)) Of course I wanted to get to the top pf the tower but then you’ll either have to fall in line for quite a while (maybe at LEAST an hour) OR you can buy your tickets online. You can choose to go up via lift or by stairs (ack!), Obviously I chose the former. However, the topmost part could only be accessed with a lift. What I found awesome was that I was able to make friends with random people at the top of the tower and I am planning to visit them in Stockholm and Barcelona! :D On the way down, we (my Paris travel buddy and I)decided to (ah.. uhmm..) walk the rest of the way down (waah!) just to say we’ve done it! My knees were shaking afterwards coz we were in a hurry to get down! lol

One cloudy day in Paris. hehe

View from the top :)

There are definitely more places to go and buildings/monuments to see there but these are those that I think you should definitely visit (amongst others) in your Parisian trip!

Have fun! :D

Related Posts:

DIY: Schengen Visa Application
Getting around in Europe
Practical Tips for Paris
Inside: Louvre Museum
Le French Riviera

2012
05/16
CATEGORY
Europe
France
Trips
TAGS










9 comments

Koninginnedag in Amsterdam

Netherland’s most popular holiday is Queen’s Day locally known as Koninginnedag. And what better time (or not if you hate crowds) to visit Amsterdam for the first time! Street parties, everyone in a chill party mood and orange all around! Crazy fun that’s for sure! :D

Admittedly, I had no idea what the celebration was for. I just booked a ticket on impulse coz somebody brought to my attention the insanely cheap ticket price going there and I wanted to do some partying! ;)

The country’s monarchy before was unpopular to the public but they loved their princess, Wilhelmina. To gain national unity, it was decided that they’ll celebrate the princess’ birthday. It was then called Prinsessedag and fell on the last day of school making it popular with children. When she ascended the throne, it was renamed Koninginnedag.

When Juliana, Wilhelmina’s daughter, became the queen, they moved the date of celebration to her birthdate, April 30. Juliana’s daughter, Beatrix, married Claus (a German who served the German army during the war) causing anti-German riots during the holiday. In a bid to disrupt these riots, officials decided to open the city of Amsterdam to flea markets that are normally held outside the city so there won’t be space for the protesters, starting a new custom.

When Beatrix succeeded the throne, she retained the celebration on the 30th of April as a tribute to her mother and also because her birthday is on January, too cold for a celebration. The queen makes it a point to visit a different town each year and to honour notable citizens of Netherlands.

Some pictures taken during Koninginnedag 2012:

Amsterdam’s canals and bicycles!

Flea markets abound!

The city turns into one big market where you can buy anything from books to (Rembrandt) paintings!

There are lots of good finds. :)

Sellers are anyone from little tykes to these classy ladies ;)

Aside from turning into one big market, the city is bathed in orange! Netherland’s colours :)

People from all over come to celebrate with the locals :D

There just might be as many boats as there are bikes! Haha

Joining the fun with newly made friends! :D

Cheers from Amsterdam! x

This is my entry for Carnival of Europe hosted by DJ Yabis at Dream Euro Trip. :)

Related posts:
DIY: Schengen Visa Application
Getting around in Europe
Practical tips for Paris

2012
05/07
CATEGORY
Europe
Netherlands
Trips
TAGS




7 comments

Practical Tips for Paris

I found the people in Paris to be kind and helpful. Though when I got back to London and told friends about my positive experience, some replied back to me, “Are you sure you went to France?!” lol Maybe it helps to look friendly and to actually make an effort to say some words in French eventhough you’re no good at it. I know I’m terrible T_T Locals still appreciated it!

For starters, a few French words:

Bonjour= good day
Bon soir= good afternoon/evening
Bonne nuit= good night
Au revoir = good bye
Merci= thanks
Oui = yes
Non = no
Sortie = exit (the most common sign you’ll see)
Poulet=chicken
Jambon=ham (gotta have something food related! :D)

Playing with Le Tour Eiffel ;)

The cheapest key chains, 3pieces for 1euro, can be bought from the guys selling them at the metro station when you get off at ‘Tour Eiffel.’

For a taste of good French food! :D

A nice place to dine at is Bergamote. I told a friend I wanted to eat good French food within a reasonable budget so he searched for one and came up with this. It’s off the main road and the place is packed during meal times. A meal (starter+main OR main+dessert) costs around 15euros. The first time I dined there, I ordered some chicken and it was soooo good! The second time, I ordered beef. I guess for a change, mine was medium rare. When it came back to me, it was cooked on the outside but raw on the inside (as I should have expected) but I found out then that I’m really not a fan of raw foods! lol So we asked them if it’s possible to recook it (well done this time around) to which they agreed. hehe Whew!

When at St. Michel, try not to eat at the ‘main street’ where there are rows upon rows of Greek food/ cafes/ etc. according to friends, food there sucks. Disclaimer: I was just repeating what I was told by several French friends! haha

10 days passed by with me not eating any rice, amazing! I was munching on these French breads! :D

For bread (croissants, pan au chocolat, eclairs etc) buy in a boulangerie (bakery) coz that’s what they’re best at, delicious and cheap! Buy cheese in a fromagerie and meat in a boucherie.

With my Paris travel buddy, Kris :)

For travels within the city, it’s mostly done either by taking the bus or the train.  It’s cheaper to buy the 10ticket pass than to get an all day pass nor when buying them one at a time. 1train tix=1.7 euro; 10tix=12+ish. Unfortunately, they don’t have a pamphlet of their train system but signs abound so just check every now and then. Also, there is a downloadable mobile app of the map but I found that I could only use it if I have wifi/3G which wasn’t often as data roaming is expensive for me. :(

Probably what I wasn’t expecting was that since in London, it’s normal to let passengers out of the train before going inside, I found it disappointing that you’re on way out and people would push you back in in their hurry to get in. -_- Also, some trains won’t automatically open their doors. There is a knob there that you have to push upward so that the doors would open up.

Inside the Louvre one busy, sunny morning :)

Entrance to Musee de Louvre is free every first Sunday of the month! Same goes for the Palace of Versailles (November-March)! Entrance to its garden is always free though opening hours may vary according to the season. :)

Have fun!!!!

Related posts:

DIY: Schengen Visa Application
Getting around in Europe
Paris Must See(s)
Inside: Louvre Museum
Le French Riviera

2012
04/25
CATEGORY
Europe
France
Trips
TAGS








11 comments

Getting around in Europe :)

I know I wanna travel all over Europe but I was clueless as to how to go about booking my trips. I’ve asked friends, read websites and based from my experience, it’s quite easy. As easy as booking crazy cheap fares within the Philippines! :D

Travelling within the UK:

There are various modes of transportation within the country. You can either travel by plane, bus or coach which is almost the same, I can’t differentiate one from the other -_-; or train. Buses are the cheapest mode of transportation but it’s where you’ll spend the most hours on the road. Trains are way more convenient but pricier. Planes on the other hand are affordable but the airport/s are outside of London.

Megabus is a popular choice for bus travel because they’re very cheap! And with cheap, something like £1 to go to Oxford or £8 to go to Paris! Because it’s very affordable, many tend to choose this one. I would have to say that their buses aren’t the most comfy but at least you saved some money. National Express coaches on the other hand are almost double the price of Megabus (their one-way trip for Amsterdam can cost £20) but definitely a more comfortable choice. The seats can be reclined unlike the former and you can charge your gadgets which is a big plus for people with an iPhone whose battery life totally sucks! haha :) But I recently took a National Express coach to go to Cambridge and I didn’t find any plug for chargers. Maybe they only them have on selected buses?

I am yet to travel by train within UK. Though options include National Rail, Virgin, Southwest, East Midlands and The Train Line amongst others.

Traveling within Europe:

Visiting other European countries is easy as well once you have the appropriate papers (ie. Schengen visa).  You can do it by bus, train, plane, ferry, your own car, even hitch hike if you want to. I’ve had guests who got to London via hitchhiking.

Aboard the Eurostar enroute to Paris! :D

For my first Eurotrip, I went to Paris via Eurostar. I got it for£84 return trip which according to people I know here is very cheap. I checked the prices there and it’s normally around £100+ so I guess it’s better to book in advance and it also help to travel on weekdays rather than weekends, way cheaper fares! There are several train lines to choose from when you are crossing borders within mainland Europe: TGV, Thalys; and much more if you’re traveling within a European country (ie. Italy’s Tren Italia).

Note: If traveling within mainland Europe, it’s perfectly alright to get to your train at least 10minutes before it departs because they would only check your ticket. But please arrive earlier if you’re traveling between UK and  any other European country. They have border control. I totally forgot this and got to the train station at almost the time of departure that’s why I had to miss my train back to London! T_T Disaster was avoided when they allowed me to board the next train at no extra charge. hehehe (And there I was hoping that I could stay longer in Paris! Oh well! lol)

In Brussel’s Central Station :)

Flying is cheap IF you’re going with low cost carries such as Easy Jet and Ryan Air. A one way ticket between Venice and London cost me £30. There are cheaper flights to other countries. Just be patient in looking for those cheap fares and besides, they always have promos. ;) But just with what I’ve said from the start of this post, these airlines tend to operate in airports outside of London so you have to take into consideration that you’ll travel another hour to get to them (Luton, Gatwick or Stansted) and that you’ll need to buy a bus or train ticket to get there.

On the other hand, if you really wanna travel cheap, go to mainland Europe by bus. I paid £10 (one way) for a Megabus ticket between London and Amsterdam. It entails having to sit for 10hours straight though but I guess it won’t be so bad since I’ll be with other couchsurfers! Eurolines also have cheap fares. ;)

There! Hope that helps you out in deciding on how to travel within this part of the world! ;)

Bon voyage!

ps: If you’ll notice, I’ve already bought many tickets to many countries here. Old habits die hard I guess. hehe

Related posts:

DIY: Schengen Visa Application

Practical tips for Paris
Paris Must See(s)
Inside: Louvre Museum
Le French Riviera

Koninginnedag in Amsterdam

Londres! Londra! London!

Bella Italia!
Rome, the Eternal City!
Rome: Must See(s)
Amalfi Coast
Inside: Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square

2012
04/09
CATEGORY
Europe
Trips
TAGS








18 comments

DIY: Schengen Visa Application

Being relocated to United Kingdom’s London, suddenly, feels like the world of travel threw its doors open wide for me! The possibility of going to Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Berlin and other popular European destinations is easily within reach! However, I just need one more HUGE thing to be able to actually embark on those journeys…. the Schengen visa.

What is Schengen Visa? Why do we need it?

When the European Union was formed, one of their main aim was easier access to each other’s country. They signed a treaty in the town of Schengen wherein it was agreed upon that holders of Schengen visa, they named it after that small town, would be able to travel easily within the borders of member countries.

The European Union now has 27 participating countries, from an original of 6: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Do you need a Schengen visa?

Basically, if you’re not a resident of any of those country, it would be best to check the website of the country you intend to visit just to be certain.

So once you’ve checked and you do realize that you have to apply for a Schengen visa then you apply to the consulate of your destination country (if you’ll visit just one country) OR to the consulate of the first country of your destination (if you’ll visit many countries and you’ll stay stay equal amount of days per country) OR to the consulate to the country where you’ll stay the longest (if you’ll stay longer in any one country).

*Disclaimer: This post is about my Schengen visa application to France. I am a Filipina currently based in London. It would be best if you’ll always check the website of the country wherein you’ll apply for the visa as they may have different/ additional requirements. ;)

Step 1. Decide where you’re headed to and where you’ll apply. Once you’re done with that, download their visa application form and fill it up.

Step 2. Complete the required documents.

1. Filled up application form. Make sure you don’t forget to sign! Anyways, they’ll check your application form and will point out if you missed some or will help you figure out what to write when you get there. ;)

2. 2 identical ID photos: passport size, on a white background, less than 3 months old. One should be attached to the application form.

3. Original passport and a photocopy of the pages with personal info and visas granted. Make it 2 copies of the first page, the one with the personal info. Your passport should have at least two blank pages in it for them to put the visa sticker on.

Note: Your visa to stay in the UK should still be valid for 3months upon your exit from France (or Schengen country of your destination).

4. Old passport and a photocopy of the pages containing personal info, signature and Schengen visas granted (if you have some).

5. British residence permit and photocopy. I’m just outlining it here but basically, it’s already in your passport so don’t worry about it. Just don’t forget to make a photocopy of this as well. :)

6. Working certificate, original and photocopy. This should be less than 3 months old.

7. Last three month’s payslips, original and photocopy.

8. Proof of financial means of support, original and photocopy. This should be pretty recent. Banks normally send a monthly statement of finances. Also, the minimum amount of money on it should be at least (for France) £55 per day of your intended stay. If, say, you’ll stay in France for 10 days, then you should have at least £550 in your bank account (£55 x 10days). If you don’t have one, just go to your local branch and print one from the machine, that’s what I did. :)

9. Lodging attestation or hotel booking, original and photocopy. Fortunately for me, I didn’t have to book for a hotel because a French friend applied for Certificate of Board and Lodging (“Attestation d’Accueil”) in their town hall stating that I’ll be hosted by them and sent it to me.

10. Proof of travel, original and photocopy. They want confirmed travel tickets. It’d be cheaper if you book tickets in advance. I booked mine via Eurostar. £84 round trip ticket, not bad but I guess I’m hoping for something wayyyyy cheaper. Spoiled with crazy cheap fares back home I guess! lol

11. Insurance, original and photocopy. The travel insurance should be valid in the Schengen areas that you’ll be visiting and it should be able to cover at least 30,000euros of medical cost. It should also be able to cover your whole period of stay. I applied at the post office as per recommendation of a colleague at work. Since I plan to travel often, I went with the annual worldwide coverage. Definitely cheaper than if you’ll get one for every trip that you’ll make. ;)

Step 3. Schedule for an appointment. This is done online. Okay, chill, take it easy. You won’t have to go to the actual French embassy. You will submit the documents in TLS Contact. If you’ll check out the French embassy website, you’ll be redirected there as well. Make sure you book for an appointment at least 15days but no more than 3months before your intended visit.

Step 4. Submit your complete documents on the date of your appointment. A short stay visa for France costs £50. You’ll have to pay an additional £23.33 for service fees though. And £8 more if you’ll have them deliver your passport back to you. Alternatively, you can choose to just go back there to collect your passport. You’ll receive instructions online on how to get there. But since this blogpost is to help you out hehe: go to Olympia (Kensington) station, that’s an overground line. Exit at the platform 2 side, the one near the Olympia Exhibition Center. Turn left, walk towards the main road. Across the street, you’ll see The Hand and Flowers shop, turn to the street on its left. Just walk a few more and you’ll see a big sign that says Exhibition House. Go in and just keep on walking until you see the TLS Contact sign. If you’re early, they’ll make you wait outside (bummer!). If you’re late, hopefully not too late, they’ll let you head straight in. Better be early than late to be on the safe side. ;)

Your tube stop in London :)

The entrance to the TLS Contact office.

Once inside, they’ll check your application form and scan your passport. You’ll then be seated coz you’ll have to wait your turn to give your documents. There would be two screens where they’ll flash your name and the counter where you’ll have to head to. When it’s your turn, a staff would go through all your papers with you and collect the papers. Once you’re cleared, some instructions would be given such as what to do next and what to expect. Head over to the cashier and pay. You’ll be charged more if you’ll use credit card. Stick with cash or debit card. Then you’ll be made to wait again for your turn at the biometrics section where they’ll scan your fingerprints and take your picture for the visa. That’s it! I submitted mine on the 21st of February and got a decision on the 22nd! How fast is that?! :D

That’s where you’ll collect your passport as well. ;)

Schengen Visa: check!!!

Good luck guys! Hope this one helped! ;)

Cheers!

Related posts:

Getting around in Europe

Practical tips for Paris
Paris Must See(s)
Inside: Louvre Museum
Le French Riviera

Koninginnedag in Amsterdam

Londres! Londra! London!

Bella Italia!
Rome, the Eternal City!
Rome: Must See(s)
Amalfi Coast
Inside: Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square

2012
02/26
CATEGORY
Europe
Trips
TAGS




27 comments

Bohol: A 3D2N Adventure!

Welcome to Bohol!

Whenever friends would ask me where in the Philippines they should go if they don’t have the time, I’d often say, visit Bohol! Why? That’s because this lovely island is sort of like a sampler of what can be had all over the country! Delicious foods, rich history, endemic animals, scenic sights, eco adventures, beautiful beaches and an amazing  marine life just to name some!

Located in the Central Visayas region, Bohol has two main islands namely Bohol and Panglao. Bohol island, the tenth largest island in the country is famous for its limestone formations more popularly known as the Chocolate Hills. While Panglao is where you have to head to if you want to beach bum or dive.

The first time I was there was when I went on a trip with a German friend I met in Singapore. From Manila, we flew for an hour to Cebu then took a 2hour fast craft from there. Buying tickets for the fast craft ahead of time would really save you money. Say if you buy it on the day itself, you’ll have to pay for the full amount but if you’ll purchase one (online), you would pay only half of it! Alternatively, just book a flight directly to Bohol’s Tagbilaran airport. ;)

To maximize your 3 days there (although you can definitely stay there for an extended period of time), I’d suggest you have an agenda for each day. Something like:

Day1: EAT Danao

Day2: Bohol countryside tour

Day3: Panglao sea tour

Or just remove one from the list so as not to tire yourself out too much. We only did the countryside as well as the sea tour. I have to go back to experience Danao! ;)

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BOHOL + COUNTRYSIDE TOUR

I’d booked with Bohol Bee Farm because I’ve heard wonderful feedback from friends about the foods they have there. And since I sometimes travel for a locale’s food, it was a no brainer for me. Once we’re at Tagbilaran’s port, there was a guy outside waiting for us. This is a free service that they have for their guests. It was just us and another pair of visitors. It was only a few minutes away but the Farm is out-of-the-way from the main road. The road leading up to it was kinda bumpy and wasn’t paved. While I was checking us in, they told us that since they have vacant rooms, they’ll upgrade us to one of their ocean view rooms, free of charge! Sweet!

BBF

I’m not so sure if BBF would appeal to everyone though since it’s quiet there. I love that everything there was very native and they try to be as fresh as possible. Their lounge area (sunbathing platform as they call it), is a nice place to chill in. And not to forget, a perfect spot for taking pictures. To get there though, you’ll have to walk down the stairway they made on the side of a cliff. They don’t have a beachfront (coz it’s on a cliff) but during low tide, you can wade through their waters if you want.

Not normally part of any itinerary, my friend and I wanted to check out Mag-Aso Falls because it was just so beautiful in pictures! We weren’t disappointed, it really is beautiful and more so! My companion was crazy enough to actually trek to the top of the falls so I can take his picture while he jumps. BUT since I wasn’t able to get a decent shot, he did it 4 more times! He didn’t really needed any prompting as he was just so excited to do it. hehe

Mag-Aso Falls

Next stop is the Baclayon Church. Then it’s a buffet lunch in Loboc while on a river cruise. On our way to see the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, we stopped by a roadside to see how small the world’s smallest primate, tarsier,  really is! While I loved how green it was at the man-made forest of Pilar! THe Chocolate Hills didn’t look like chocolates coz they were covered in grass hehe We went to a butterfly garden afterwards. That was the best butterfly garden I’ve been to in the country since the very well-informed guides told it in such a way that you’re laughing while learning at the same time. I bought some souvenirs near the hanging bridge. We also went inside Hinagdanan Cave despite the fact that it’s supposed to be closed. The guides still let us in. Oh, and they’re amazing with all types of cameras! They know how to set it to actually get some good shots in the dark! ;) I can very well say that I learned useful infos from them. hehe Cheap souvenirs can be bought when you stop by Prony the Python’s. He is said to be the biggest in captivity but I couldn’t vouch for this coz he was coiled unto himself when we saw him.  :)

Loboc’s river cruise

At Baclayon Church with the image of Padre Pio

Spot the tarsier ;)

Man-made forest

The famed Chocolate Hills!

Walking along the hanging bridge after buying souvenirs :D

It was already dark when Kuya Tatsky dropped us off in Panglao Island’s Paragayo Resort. It’s in Alona Beach. We stayed there coz there were more options for us with regards to where to stay and eat at (and it’s cheaper here too). The other beach is Dumaluan. On a different trip, I stayed here with my family. The beach here, Dumaluan, is really nice. They have a wide beach front and thw sands are powdery fine here as well! The only drawback is that there were fewer choices to eat and it’s more expensive (Eskaya, Bohol Beach Club, Amarela, Dumaluan Beach Resort to name a few). On the plus side though, it’s a more relaxed  and chill out place. :)

*An option for day 1 is to have your tour guide pick you up from the airport then head straight to the countryside tour. Instead of staying at Bohol Bee Farm, it’s actually included in the daytour itself. Would save more money but it could be tiring. ;)

DAY 2: SEA TOUR

We woke up early so that we could be at sea by 7am. I was sooo excited to see the dolphins! The boat was arranged by Kuya Tatsky as well. There were only 2 of us in the boat aside from our guides. After several minutes, we were out in the open. We saw other bancas (boat) making their way there as well for the same reason. It was so thrilling when I saw a dolphin making a flip and diving right back into the water. There was a whole pod of them! They were fast! It was amazing! I didn’t want to ruin the experience by taking a video so I only took  a few shots and just enjoyed the moment. After a while though, we told the boatman that we had enough and would rather leave. We realized that every other bancas were chasing the pod. I, well… we, didn’t enjoy that cat and mouse game (or so it seemed to us) so we opted to leave. We saw them which was good enough for us. :D

Dolphins!!! :D

Next stop, Balicasag Island for some snorkeling fun! It’s a small island in the middle of a marine sanctuary. I don’t think I’m a good swimmer. I can swim, yes. But if I get scared, I can’t. Totally sucks. Anyways, I told my friend this and was expecting him to not leave me on my own as I’ll go snorkelling by the deep (there was a drop there) without any lifevest on. I was totally enjoying myself and I knew I was swimming away from our boat but I didn’t realize I was completely on my own. When I did, I started to panic (my heart started beating faster)! I tried to keep calm. It’s a great thing our guide was keeping close watch on me and the boat was beside me instantly when I called out to him. I got back ito the boat safely but I was dizzy coz of the panic attack! lol We didn’t bring any lunch  so we had some foods cooked for us there. Yum! I had to wait for a while before I could enjoy it though as my world wasn’t stable yet. hehe Next stop was Virgin Island. To my disappointment. it was high tide so you can’t really see it. Not good for pics! ;) We still enjoyed it there though but the water was up to our knees already.

Chilling by Balicasag Island

DAY 3: CHILL TIME

We had no other agenda here because we have an early flight back home. So we spent the day enjoying the beautiful beach of Bohol. :)

Totally clueless as to how these sand formations came about! haha

Waking up early to enjoy the beach :)

I had a wonderful time when I went there the first time that I came back with my family the second time around :D*pics used were from both trips

*more details coming up! ;)

This is my entry for Pinoy Travel Blogger’s blog carnival for the month of January 2012 hosted by Eileen of Possibly Pinay with the theme “The 3Days/2Nights Challenge.”

2012
01/15
CATEGORY
Bohol
Philippines
Trips
Visayas
TAGS















17 comments

Best of Travel 2011: My Fave Travel Moments

2011 was probably the year that I was most often on the road. On my own, with family or friends enjoying a relaxed trip or exploring new destinations in as well as out of the country! So even if I have never done a travel recap nor a year ender post, here’s one now before I embark on different journeys and adventures for the year 2012! Thanks Mica! Here’s my response to your tag for me about the Best of Travel 2011 survey. :)

BEST DOMESTIC TRAVEL DESTINATION

Enjoying another sunny day! :D

Aside from the expected Boracay, I would have to say that Bohol tops my list for this year. It just has everything! From the countryside to the sea and not to mention that they have eco-adventures and delicious foods too. We went there for my mom’s birthday and she truly enjoyed it and that’s enough to make me happy as well. ;)

My bro and mom by the Chocolate Hills :)

BEST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DESTINATION

Bangkok. I had a wonderful time there coz of all the people I met (our hosts + other travelers)! Though I wasn’t really able to shop nor were we able to explore famous beach islands such as Ko Phi Phi and Krabi, it was enough to warrant another visit in the future. It also doesn’t hurt that it connects you to mainland Asia, making a trip to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the likes a must! Daily foot massage and Thai foods totally made our days there! :D

Bangkok buddies!

BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Traveling with my cousin in Bangkok and El Nido was the best travel experience I could choose amongst all the other great ones I’ve had!

With my cousin aka travel buddy. Thanks Nick for this shot!

Because sometimes, it’s truly the people who you travel with or meet on your journeys that can make or break a trip. When we were Bangkok, we were hosted by two amazing Filipino guys that I met through Couchsurfing. They, along with the other travelers we met there, truly made it a trip to remember for me! Well, it didn’t hurt that we were in Bangkok eating delicious (and spicy) foods, exploring (beautiful) temples and even riding elephants. ;)

I would have to add one more here.

Bucas Grande's non sting jellies! :D

Swimming with thousands of stingless jellyfish was just wayyyyy awesome! I swam with whalesharks in 2009 and it was pure adrenaline rush. The jellies on the other hand was as exhilirating but on a chill mode. What amazes me as well is the fact that amongst my (tons) of travel buddies, there was only one guy who had been there before me and to think that they’ve traveled all over! It felt like we were exploring uncharted territories coz of that. hehe I was apprehensive to get into the water since I don’t want to get stung so our guide just scooped one out of the lagoon and we all tentatively touched it. Not entirely convinced, I still went into the water. When I was in there, I was trying not to get in contact with them which was just IMPOSSIBLE! They’d bump into you. They felt like a little more solid form of gelatins. hehe And did I say that viewing them underwater is just amazing?! Wow!

Surigao buddies! ;)

WORST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

I don’t really have anything to put here because I treat every misfortune as another part of my adventure that makes a trip more exciting. Well, unless maybe it’s really bad. hehe

HK's beautiful skyline in the early morning :)

Hmmm.. though I really like Hong Kong and I’m a budget traveler, skimping on accommodation when you’re with your mom is a totally bad idea! Or, not really thinking about it before hand especially when going to a popular tourist destination as HK.  In my defense though, she kept changing her mind as to whether she will join me and only decided to do so on the day that I was to leave for HK (she was to follow after 3 days and I wasn’t thinking about any bookings coz I almost always couchsurf). I ended up booking for a hostel an hour before my flight and got a confirmation when I was already there. The one I prefered to stay at was fully booked. The hostel room where we stayed at was very small and we were both too disappointed to use the toilet there. It was a good thing we were there literally just to sleep coz we went to Macau early the next morning (where thankfully, you get more than your money’s worth). It’s funny looking back on it but we didn’t find it funny then. hehehe

Nothing to write? Now this part became the longest! -_-

MOST EMBARRASSING TRAVEL MOMENT

Getting ready to try the infamous durian! :D (guys, pahiram ng pic ah)

Not really embarrassing but more of funny. Uhmm.. I often wear beach dresses when I’m on out of town trips because of various reasons (looks nice in pictures and to be always ready for the beach coz it’s normally a bathing suit underneath it and then dress dries easily afterwards). I was in Davao with friends for the Kadayawan festival. It was noon and it was very hot so while waiting for one of our companion (Ed), we went inside the church. One of the old ladies wearing a white clothing with a veil (an active member of the parish?), went up to me and said, “Ineng, di pwede yang suot mo dito!” (Young lady, you’re not wearing appropriate clothing inside the church!) Not wanting any other scolding, I just told her that I had no other clothes left and that I’m sorry. I quickly joined my friends who were seated. Later, I saw her again and had to resist an urge to duck behind my companions! :D

Davao buddies! :) (the dress I was wearing when I got a scolding! hehe)

BEST LOCAL DESTINATION

Photo op!

My dad’s home province is in Bicol. I’m proud to say that we boast of this beautiful place called, Caramoan! My last travel destination in the Philippines for 2011 . A darling destination for several Survivor franchises, the rugged beauty as well as the remoteness of this place captured their attention. Not to mention that it’s very gorgeous! Probably the fact that I’m kinda biased towards places with karsts helped. I felt myself go wow the first time we saw the place (my friends who traveled with me reacted the same way ;))! Not to forget the fact that I really enjoyed the trip there with my workmates who were just a happy bunch!

Caramoan buddies!

BEST TRAVEL DESTINATION

Beautiful El Nido :)

Hands down, Palawan is my favorite island in the Philippines! It just made me a convert. I’m now a beach bum (though I’m no good swimmer too -_-) whereas I’d always prefer a trip to the mountain or cities, now, I find myself going to a beach every other weekend in the Philippines! Long stretch of fine, powdery beaches. Beautiful limestone karsts in the background. Crystal clear waters. Colorful corals. Rich marine life. All to yourself. I have nothing ese to add. ;)

2012
01/12
CATEGORY
Trips
9 comments

Enchanted by Davao’s Kadayawan

August 22 (&23), 2011

The Philippines with its 7,107 islands is second only to Indonesia in terms of the most islands. Being a former colony of Spain, they say we are more Latinos than Asians in the sense that we’re very passionate and emotional.  We have many festivals for various reasons (religion, good harvest, just because. hehe) because of that influence.

I wasn’t really into it coz I don’t like crowds. But a friend, Ed, invited me to join him on a trip. He booked a flight for us along with other travel buddies with the intention of attending the local fest, Kadayawan.

Kadayawan Festival is held annually, every 3rd week of August, in Davao to celebrate the good and bountiful harvest of the people. The different ethnic tribes (there’s about 10 of them) around the foot of Mt. Apo, highest peak in the country, would converge to give thanks to  the gods, particularly to the “Manama” also known as the Supreme Being. The term Kadayawan came from the Mandaya word “madayaw” which is a warm and friendly greeting that means good, valuable, superior or beautiful.

I liked that it was very colorful since the various tribes were all fitted in brightly coloured and intricately designed traditional costumes. Though amongst the people I was with were apt to compare it to Cebu’s Sinulog, the hand’s down biggest festival in the country. I told them to not compare the two (if possible) and to just enjoy this festival. By the way, they got me excited to go to Cebu so I already booked a flight for that one! :D

I had a wonderful time in Davao’s Kadayawan Festival!

Here are some pictures I took. :)

At the starting area

Group #2 is from South Cotabato

Dancing their hearts out!

Photo op with a cheerful dancer :)

Everyone's smiling!

Rice porridge for everyone. It's free!

Some last minute instructions from the choreographer

Little kids, dressed as bats, getting bored hehe

The balloon vendor

A traditional costume

Travel buddies

2011
09/11
CATEGORY
Davao
Mindanao
Philippines
Trips
TAGS




2 comments

Boracay: Where To Go

For most people, Boracay is White Beach. Some probably haven’t ventured out of there except when they island hop or were too lazy or maybe just had no idea where else to go. Here are some spots that might interest the beach bum in you. ;)

Bulabog Beach

Located opposite of White Beach, it takes about 10-15 minutes of walking to get there. Depending on the season, this part of the island is popular with windsurfers and kiteboarders coz of the strong winds.

Diniwid Beach

Located north of Station 1, it took around 15-20minutes of walking before we got there. It’s a chill place to hang out since most of the crowd’s by the White Beach. It’s very nice there. Microtel and a few other hotels can be found here. It’s unfortunate that the effect of soil erosion is most evident on this place. I never got  to see the sands at this beach when I visited in March 2011. However, the last time I was in this beach (July 2011), it was there! hehe So that was why it looked different! Maybe it was also a seasonal thing?

Puka Beach

Puka Beach's crowd ;)

Located at the island’s northern tip, this beach is named after puka shells found along its shoreline. The sands aren’t as fine as those in White Beach. The place is very secluded. It was just me and my companion and another group (a family) when we were there.  You can go as crazy as you want or just enjoy the solitude this beach can offer. ;)  The waves when I visited Puka Beach were quite strong.  The tricycle driver who drove us there even advised me against swimming in it. He said, “Mam, will you go swimming there? The waves are very strong! Be careful. Better to just take pictures.”  I took pictures, yes, but we just had to take a dip in the waters too. hehe  To reach it, you either go there by tricycle (100php one way) or by boat when you go island hopping.

White Beach

Making sand art using a spoon :)

With its powdery white fine sand, it’s Boracay’s main attraction. The reason why it became famous. These famed beach draws in thousands upon thousands of tourists yearly. It stretches 4kms with lodging and dining for every kind of budget available. White Beach is divided into stations 1, 2 and 3. Station 1 is the northern section of this beach and it has the widest beachfront. This is where most of the big (and expensive) hotels are located, giving it some sort of high-end reputation. Station 2 on the other hand is the most happening place in this stretch of the beach, the center of hustle and bustle on the island. Many bars, restaurants are located here, also a good place to look for budget to mid-priced rooms. Station 3, located on the southern end of the beach, is the least popular amongst the 3. I was telling a friend that the sands here felt “fluffier” coz there weren’t that many people walking on it as compared with the first 2 where even if it’s very fine, it feels more compact. hehe

Angol Point

Located past Station 3, you’ll meet few people when you reach this point. Very cheap accommodations can be found here. We saw a dorm room that you can have all on your own for 300php. I’m not choosy with my lodgings but seriously, I would pass that one up. hehe Beautifully designed villas are up for rent too. Further on, there’s one hotel that’s already closed. It has a tunnel that you can opt to explore (with the guards’ permission), at the end of which is a garden with a grotto.  Back at the beach, located several meters away is Asya Premier Suites, a very nice hotel with their own infinity pool and with its distance from White Beach, guests are given ample seclusion and privacy. It’s not the end though, there’s a rock with a passage that leads to another more seclusive spot. My travel bud and I spent our afternoon  lazing by this small part of the beach. An ideal spot for taking beautiful pictures too! ;)

Mt. Luho

Boracay’s highest point, the site offers a panoramic view of the island. From previous readings, to rent a tricycle to get there costs around 250php (roundtrip as you’d be heard pressed to find one to take you back). From experience, every ATV ride makes a stop here. hehe There’s also a mini zoo inside. Entrance fee: 50php/pax

West Cove

West Cove's eccentric design :)

One of my favorite spot on the island. It gained bad rep lately because turns out that some of its cabanas were built over  centuries old rock formation. It was ordered to close but it resumed operations after receiving a go signal from the DENR. To give credit to this place (located in Diniwid Beach, hugging a mountain) famous coz it’s supposedly owned by the Pacman himself (it’s actually a certain Mr. Aquino, Pacquiao’s flag bearer, according to an employee who showed us around), it’s a very good spot to catch the sunset while sipping a refreshing ripe mango shake (the best I’ve tried in Boracay so far!) while watching the bats fly out of their cave heading to nearby islands  to feed for the night. With its eccentrically designed huts and rooms (the Lord of the Ring’s hobbit houses came to mind hehe), peaceful ambiance  with music playing in the background, we truly enjoyed chilling here while star gazing on a clear, night sky. :)

These are just some places you can check out when visiting Boracay Island. Others not mentioned are some coves, caves and other beaches. I’m hoping to visit the others the next time I’m on the island! ;)

Related Posts:

Boracay

Getting to Boracay

Boracay: Where To Stay At

Boracay: Where To Eat

2011
09/08
CATEGORY
Boracay
Philippines
Trips
Visayas
TAGS







14 comments

Boracay: Where To Eat

Andok’s

They have the most number of food chain on the island. It’s a popular choice for people who are on a budget. They serve their chicken roasted or fried plus they have other dishes too like chopsuey and sinigang among others.

Bar Lo

Two Seasons

Bar Lo at sunset

Mojito shots in a pop!

Located in Station 1, this is Two Seasons Hotel’s own bar and restaurant. Uhmm.. my cousin is the executive chef here. haha Should I have said that? Anyways, he’d come up with out of the ordinary dishes like serving crocodiles (okay, that’s more crazy & adventurous ;) ) in his menu. He orders them from the crocodile farm in Palawan. They’ll serve it barbecued, grilled or cooked in coconut milk. I tried it and it was just like chicken (really) though chewier. ;) They also have these cocktail drinks in a bubble. You pop them in your mouth. He’d give me mojitos coz he knows I like it. Their pizzas are good too! I like it a lot so I’d always get one. :D

Cyma

For a dose of Mediterranean cuisine, head inside Station 2’s D’Mall. This place is almost always packed. Cyma was recommended to us by my chef cousin when I first visited the island. I always enjoy eating their spinach and artichoke cheese fondue. Mmm!

Jonah’s Fruitshake

Yummy!

Located by Station 1’s beachfront, this is probably the one food place that got the most write ups and reviews. They relocated a year ago to the mainroad because of the high rental fee.  But they opened another place by the beach so business must be doing great. Good for them! Open from 8am til 12am, the place is popular for their shakes (95-180php). Although they have other foods in their menu, I’m not crazy about them as I found them too expensive for the serving size. However, some of their shakes are heavy enough to be a meal that you don’t really have to order foods. ;)

Mang Inasal

Mang Inasal counter

Located inside D’Mall, Mang Inasal is quite similar to Andoks that sometimes I’d confuse one for the other. Mang Inasal is a big hit to people in the area for their unlimited rice and soup offering (available if you’d order one of their value meals, 99php) !

Real Coffee and Tea

Foods you ordered are cooked in front of you :)

Baking muffins! Made me wanna jump in and take over from them! :D

Omelette with pesto and toast for breakfast :D

Located in Station 1, this is my hands down favorite breakfast place!  With Boracay Regency’s breakfast buffet at a close second. If you do manage to get up by 11am, you can have either free coffee or tea with your order. Popular for their calamansi muffin, a good friend of mine suggested that I try out their omelette with pesto (220php). I kept ordering it everyday for the whole week I was there. I liked it that much!  The owner, a warm lady who hails from the Bay Area, is usually present and chats with her customers.

Sea Breeze Cafe

Sea Breeze’s buffet table

A hearty meal to start the day ;)

One of Boracay Regency Hotel’s many restaurants, this one offers buffet (500php) all day. I like the breakfast here.  When I am feeling that I can eat lots, this is where I’d head to. So many choices to choose from. :D

Smoke

Located inside D’Mall, this place doesn’t seat that many people at a time but that hasn’t discouraged people from eating there. Relatively cheap but good tasting foods are their strongest point. Drinks range from 20 to 60php while you can have a dish from 45 to 120php. Service here varies, they’re sometimes really slow but they there are also times when they’re quick and efficient.

True Food

True Food’s interior

Vegetarian dinner

Not to be confused with Real Coffee and Tea, this is an Indian restaurant located along Station 1. Their brightly colored huge pillows looked so inviting, I had to give in! hehe We had a North Indian vegetarian dinner here. A set (600php) is more than enough for two people. It was kinda expensive there though. That’s probably why there were more foreign than local customers.

Note: There are tons more to choose from in the island – here’s a list of 15 budget restos you can eat at when in the island. One of the reasons I’m excited to visit Boracay is because of the variety of food choices. I love food that’s why. At night, there are many buffet along the beach. Take your pick. The last time we were there, my dad literally gorged himself (he looked pregnant afterwards!) on delicious oysters! OR if you really wanna save, cook your own food and/or eat at local carinderias. ;)

Seafood buffet! :)

Related Posts:

Boracay

Getting to Boracay (and back)

Boracay: Places To Stay At

Boracay: Where To Go

2011
08/14
CATEGORY
Boracay
Philippines
Trips
Visayas
TAGS







12 comments