Friday, May 25, 2012

Ni Hao from Pinas

 
QUANZHOU CITY, FUJIAN, CHINA. A view form Mt. Success (as we call it). The heavy breathing and nonstop sweating after taking more than a hundred steps, was left in oblivion as soon as we reach the top and be presented with a spectacular view of the city we call home for 8 days.



And in all those days, I was witness to a life both very similar and different to where my home was.They have more bikers on the road (and the sidewalk) than pedestrian. Their BMWs, Benzs, Jaguars etc. are our Toyotas and Hondas. And they have, I would commend, a way better urban planning. But it has the same simple feel like our Manila - a Binondo across the globe. They have the same love for street foods and bargains. And though communication was a gap, we still felt the same warmth and hospitality common to most Filipinos. The few locals we knew had so willingly and unselfishly given them...and we're thankful.

And though we only have limited time, we were still lucky to see a little of culture. The Kaiyuan and Shaolin temples are one of those who'd present them. The two pagodas in Kaiyuan temple is tallest in China. As it stands tall in the complex of natural greenery and man-made structures, it also reflects the art, religion and history of the city. And to for the Shaolin temple experience, it was almost like watching a Jet Li or Jackie Chan action flick -- only better.So it's real. They aren't just any tricks. It was all physical and mental preparation and concentration. I was left in awe seeing one Shoalin monk break the iron sheet of maybe half an inch think, by nothing but his bald head. Everyone was speechless for a few seconds and there was loud applause after. 

Quanzhou City in Fujian province of the People's Republic of China may not be as popular as the bigger cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen and Guangzhou (yes, watch the spelling) but it builds the same memories of an authentic China trip.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

BOHOL Do-It-Yourself


Duration of Stay               :4 days
Travel time from MM       :app 2 hrs.
Budget Hotel                   :Dumaluan 2 Beach Resort in Panglao island, check http://dumaluanbeachresort.tripod.com/home.html, or www.dumaluanbeach.com
Activities                         :Countryside tour, Dolphin watching and Island hopping, E.A.T Danao
Means of Transpo           :Van for hire, tricycle, boat, jeep, habal-habal, bus
Budget                            :5,500 more or less (ours was just tipid, app 4k because we shared with some new-found friends)
Best Pasalubongs            : Peanut Kisses

ITINERARY for 4D3N Stay
Day 1
8:00-9:00-Arrival and preliminaries
9:00-5:30-City tour
                Baclayon Church
                Phyton
                Loboc river cruise
                Tarsier Sanctuary
                Butterfly garde
                Manmade Forest

                Chocolate Hills
                Hanging bridge
                Blood compact site
6:00-6:30-Check in at the resort (in Panglao)

Day 2
6:00-8:30-Dolphin Watching
8:30-9:30-To Balicasag
9:30-11:00-Snorkeling
11:00-1:00-Rest and Lunch on Balicasag island
1:30-2:00-To Virgin Island
2:00-3:30-Swimming on Virgin Island
3:30-4:30-Back to resort
I guess, there is still enough time for a panglao tour in the afternoon. But because we were already exhausted...we opted to just rest and bond inside our rooms. Stayed late for the night too. More chitchats with our travel buddies--the Baeck family.

Day 3
7:00-7:30-To town proper and Tagbilaran terminal
7:30-11:30-Travel to Danao by bus
11:30-11:45-To Danao Adventure Park by habal-habal
12:00-1:00-Lunch
1:00-3:00-Explore the park (We didn't really, because we limited ourselves to the area where the famous "Plunge" is. We stayed too long, observing the others, watching, thinking...could we do it? we'll never know if we don't try, so we did. And done in less than 20 mins)
3:00-6:30-Back to Tagbilaran
6:30-7:00-Quick stop at the mall
7:00-7:30-Back to the hotel

Day 4
Departure
9:00 - To airport with stopover at pasalubong shop
10:00 - Back to Manila

CONTACTS
Driver and city tour guide - Kuya Rab (see related post: Bohol: Bits and Pieces)
Boat rental for Dolphin watching and island hopping - Kuya Geging (see related post)

Related sites:www.eatdanao.com        
              

Friday, May 11, 2012

BOHOL: Bits and Pieces of a 4D3N Tour

Day 1 - Countryside Tour

There's just so much to do in the island province of Bohol. And day 1 was a hard proof. It was one heck of a schedule of places to go and sights to see. 

Plus, the best part in traveling...meeting people.This trip had loads of them. And the Backs (from Netherlands) were the ones so dear. They were awesome companions. We were with them for the duration of the 3-day trip (except for the last) and explored Bohol together. We've made not just acquaintances but real friends. I look forward to traveling with them again...and soon.
 For this countryside tour of Bohol, Kuya Rab would do a very good tour guide/ driver. His contact detail is (0908)9348063.

1. BACLAYON CHURCH

The oldest stone church in the Philippines, which has the image of Padre Pio mystically drawn on its aging walls.Tourists actually has the option to go to the museum, but we didn't. It was close to lunch already and we were also very eager then to have one in the famous floating restaurants of Loboc.
 
Cost: Free.
Tip: Dress appropriately. It's a tourist attraction but it is still a religious site.

 2. LARGEST PYTHON IN CAPTIVITY
Just being the python Prony is, makes him really scary and threatening, not to mention its size. But his stillness and sometimes slow and quiet movements seemed to erase the thought. Lia (below), one of the Backs, was good at that.
Aside from Prony of course, there are others of his kind...and some others of a different one. I had a choice to be taken a photo with this giant reptile, I just didn't have the courage. To those who aren't as brave as Lia, a replica of Prony's is available for that photograph.
 
Cost: app 10-20/head.
Tip: There are souvenirs sold here but I would recommend buying at the hanging bridge. It's cheaper.

3. LOBOC RIVER CRUISE
Nothing compares having lunch while on board the restaurants floating on the river of Loboc and being welcomed by it's naturally green waters and abundant greenery. Being audiences to the talent of Loboc's locals was a plus.
I just didn't particularly love the food of our floating restaurant, it was short than ordinary. I don't know...or was I just expecting too much that it seem to fail my taste. 
 
Cost: app 300-400/head for the cruise and lunch.
Tip: Bring extra for a small gratuity to the performers.

4. MAN-MADE FOREST 
Need I say more? Was man competing with nature in creating this? Nope. It was just man's help to make nature more beautiful than it already is.It was relaxing taking covers under those towering mahogany trees. It was also quiet and peaceful. We could only hear the sounds of ourselves laughing, our cameras clicking and the beeping of a car so rare we would almost forget we're actually on a national highway.

Cost: absolutely free.
Tip: Sometimes you'd get too engaged in the photo-ops...you forget that it's still a highway so careful of cars.


5. TARSIER SANCTUARY
Proved two things: they are the size of a closed fist and they sleep a lot (it's morning when we visited and they're nocturnal...that's why). 

We almost wanted to take them home only that, their population now equals their size. 
I hope Bohol's tarsier sanctuary would keep these cute little creatures for our generation to see.
Cost: Donation only.
Tip: Turn your camera's flash OFF.

6. BUTTERFLY GARDEN
Along the way to chocolate hills was this garden where a less-than-30mins-tour was more than enough to have an info-overload of its main inhabitants - butterflies.

It was a learning experience really but we must admit, aside from being refreshed of fatcs we already know, and being amazed of what we still don't know, we were entertained of how everything was delivered to us. Our guide's crazy and funny antics worked. He earned our praises. Bow to kuya "budderfly".  

Cost: app 50/head.
Tip: Don't forget to have yourself photographed in a butterfly's wings. An awesome trick.

7. CHOCOLATE HILLS
This is nature's handicraft at it's best. On the way, you would see pieces of nature's work, but it is in the summit of that over a hundred steps of journey to the top of the view deck, would you really marvel the work. 

We arrived at the viewing deck when the sun was high up. We were'nt prepared for the scorching heat. So if you'd be doing a tour, a handy umbrella would be great. But of course, everything boils down to the reward that awaits so...we couldn't be happier and thankful of the fine weather.
 
Cost: app 50/head.
Tip: Don't forget to have yourself photographed on a witch's broom. It produces a real nice effect.

8. HANGING BRIDGE
The twin bridges also provides a view of the Loboc River. It was fun crossing the bridge but more fun balancing the walk, especially if too many crosses. The challenge is to maintain that balance. Across, souvenir shops await. I was able to buy two shirts, one at 100, the other at 120. I guess it was a decent buy already plus the packs of peanut kisses and a number of key chains. Buko would also a perfect refreshment. We had one for a cheap P15 which we share among us four.

Cost: app 10-20/head.
Tip: Perfect for souvenir shopping.

9. BLOOD COMPACT SITE
The site reminds its visitors of the first Treaty of Friendship between two races - the whites and browns. Toast!

Cost: absolutely free
Tip: Can put this last in your itinerary so you'd enjoy the shade.
 








Day 2 - Dolphin watching, Balicasag and Virgin island Tour

I thought we already experienced Bohol at its best….the second day adventure we would know later was equally amazing. Waking up to meet the 6am call time of our boatman was pretty hard (almost an early morning exhaustion) after that the previous day’s tour. But as we stroll and walk by the shore and enjoying the color of the morning sun blending with the turquoise water and white, creamy sand – all the weariness faded away real fast.
 
Kuya joven - 09065077848 or Kuya geging - 09187103016 would be nice contacts for an island hoping tour and dolphin watching. Plus, you can bargain with them. And with the tour includes:


1. Dolphin Watching in Pamilacan
In almost an hour, we arrived at where the dolphins’ natural playground is. Our spotter was really good, often giving us the first glimpse of these creatures. There were almost twenty boats in that area but we are the luckiest... where we go, they just follow.  Two thumbs up to our guides!


Cost:boat rental - 4k
Tip: You should have a pretty good spotter. They know where just to follow these amazing creatures.

2. Snorkeling in Balicasag Island
There can't be a more sumptuous lunch than the one we had in Balicasag. The fish and sea food dishes were all freshly cooked - served the minute it it was taken from fire. And what could be a more perfect dessert than to savor the view of the waters and its many small, colorful inhabitants. Like Nemo's long lost relative here....

Cost:included in the day tour
Tip: Better if you really know how to swim...snorkeling would be all that easy!!!

3. Swimming in Virgin Island
I never thought something like this could be found in the Philippines until I saw it. And the moment I stepped on that shore - "I want to go back here". I can't even think how to leave. It was hard. And what's really fun? you get to shop at some points in that long circling stretch of white sand. Yes! Filipino meriendas made available for you.


Tip: Try to really catch the low tide!!! 





Day 3 - Extreme Adventure in Danao

Off the road almost the whole day for one thing - PLUNGE. It was frightening. Yes...at first and towards the end. The thought of being suspended on air and hanging above that vast space between the river below and the sky above...almost made me want to just enjoy seeing the others and how they seem to fall out of breath and scream moment after. But I can't permit myself to just watch and be left wondering how, just how it felt. And so the flight...one which you'd later wish to not land that soon.




Cost: Forgot the transpo costs but since we took public transports, it was well really cheap. Van rentals are available but we traveled in a group of four so rental will not be practical.
Tip: Do the head start. Check  www.eatdanao.com


After that extended time at the flight deck and arguing whether to really do the head start or not and constantly confirming my safety with all the staff who obviously were already ensuring that all those gears are tightly locked in place...it just went all too fast, I couldn't handle even my breathing and whatever sense I know I have but I think I totally lost it in that - droooooooooop.



It was less than ten seconds I guess when I later heard my screaming (or did I?) and my friends' cheering, when I then saw the blues and greens, when I felt the breezy air and when I smelled victory and relief -- I'm alive

They were right in saying that you're not paying for the ride but for the adventure. It's true! Because after doing the "Plunge" I think I could now do every little daredevils would do. I could claim right at that moment, hey give me a
nything and everything!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

My versions of MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES Photos

The "it's more fun in the Philippines" campaign of Department of Tourism seem to interest me and my colleague Mars, shortly after browsing photos of our Pinatubo trip. Crazy little ideas of how to tag some of the pictures were pouring in and so I thought to make a few from them and from the other trips in the past. I hope that brainstorming would actually make good results for this project...and I hope I would do justice in the slogans. Here it goes:

1. Tacsiyapo Wall at Isdaan restaurant in Gerona, Tarlac.

2. Stairs down the crater of Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales.

3. Bamboo bridges connecting islets at SEAFDEC in Guimaras.

4. Campers on the shores of the crater lake of Mt. Pinatubo.

5. The arid lands with spectacular lahar formations in Zambales.

6. The busy port in Sabang, Camarines Sur - your gateway to Caramoan Peninsula.

7. Boarding Ferris in Sabang Port in Camarines Sur

8.Watching the sun set on Lahuy Island in Caramoan.

9.Buko and banana cue vendor at the sand bar in Virgin Island, Bohol.

10. Man-made mahogany forest covering an area on the to Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

11. Transpo to Potipot Island in Zambales.
12. Raging the rapids in whitewater rafting at Cabayan de Oro river.
13. Zipline at Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

ILOILO-GUIMARAS: Religion, Culture and History at a Grasp


Iloilo presented a backdrop rich in religion, culture and history which was so willingly and generously presented to us in that two-day stay. Not far from Iloilo is the island of Guimaras, which  has its way too of giving us a taste of history, adding its natural wonders on the side.

Day 1-Iloilo
July 2011 via Airphil which we got on another discounted fare of P688. As did before, it was an unusual travel hour of 5AM on a Friday. And so it means we took a leave from work. I guess it was just fine since there was so much to work on to...and learn in the process in this Visayan province.

We visited churches; a botanical and wildlife garden, and on the way, saw houses of people from the past (and now).
House of Graciano Lopez Jaena

Jaro Cathedral

Molo Church
Tigbaun Church

Arevalo Church
Clements Church

Guimbal Church

Miagao Church


Biscocho House

Botanical Garden

Iloilo's Starbucks: Coffee Break

Tatoy's with Anne (third from right), your resident Ilongga

 Day 2-Guimaras

I know very little of this island province and visiting the place did all the help. Then, I didn’t knew that it has the same white sand beaches like the more popular tourist destinations in the country. Then, I didn’t knew that there, mangos grew like wild grass. Then, I never knew that it has more than beaches and mangos, it also has its own (hi)story intact.

Guisi Lighthouse
The ruins

SEAFDEC reminded me of waterworld

The surrounding islands of SEAFDEC

Not a destination
Rocks in Turtle Island

The classic jump
Turtle Island
Trappist Monastery gift shop
Camp Alfredo's

Flight

First: Zipline

Second: Hanging Bridge

Third: Rapel

Smallest Plaza

Ted's

My top 5 special interests:

  1. Miagao Church (Iloilo) is no less than a UNESCO world heritage site. It really is world class – a defining structure. It left us all in awe watching its grace stand before us. It was a wonder how those intricate piece of art seem so perfectly seated on the church's facade. It was humbling to have witnessed its beauty.

  1. Magdalena Jalandoni Mansion (Ilolio) was another beauty. I specially loved this former abode of a famous Ilonggo literary genius. It housed pieces of art – on its walls, the staircase, the doors, windows, etc. It could have been called a canvass concealed in a big mansion. 

  1. Guisi Lighthouse and Ruins’ (Guimaras) could almost still reflect the past where it once was – resilient and standing strong in the hills of Guisi. Its old, rusty metal frame still remains a sight worth seeing aside from that perfect view that await after a careful climb on its slowly corroding stairs.


4. Smallville (Iloilo) is Iloilo’s Eastwood, I may say…a night life at its best. A Lifestyle hub and a hot spot to the young, the professionals and the adults. It has its party-feel all over and was almost like the more famous Metro Manila


 

5. Mangos (Guimaras) and Batchoy (Iloilo) are still best eaten in the province where they grow abundant or where they originate …and it won’t fail your taste buds. It didn’t failed mine. Thanks to Ted’s, I’m beginning to wonder: “does it really make any difference if batchoys are prepared in Manila because there, it was really heavenly”.




ILOILO-GUIMARAS Do-It-Yourself
Duration of Stay               :2 days
Travel time from MM       :app 1.5 hrs. by air (Airphil express)
Budget Hotel                   :Century 21 Hotel
Activities                         :Iloilo City tour, Island hopping in Guimaras
Means of Transpo           :Van for hire, tricycle, multicabs, ferry
Budget                            :4,000 more or less
Best Pasalubong             : Biscocho (Iloilo) and Dried Mangos (Guimaras)

ITINERARY for 3D2N

Day 1
6:30-7:00 - Arrival  and check-in at the hotel
7:00-8:00 - Breakfast in the city
8:00-5:00 - City Tour
5:30-6:30 - Back to the hotel and rest
7:00-8:00 - Dinner
8:00-10:00- Night life at Smallville

Day 2
6:30-7:00 -Breakfast
7:00-7:30 - To port
7:30-8:30 - Travel to Guimaras
9:00-10:00-Guisi Lighthouse
10:00:10:30-To resort
10:30-1:30-Island hopping
2:00-3:00-Late lunch and shower
3:00-4:00- Camp Alfredo Adventure Park
4:00-4:30-Pasalubong with stop over at Trappist Monastery and Smallest Plaza
4:30-5:30-Back to Iloilo
6:00-6:30-Hotel
6:30-8:00-Dinner at Ted's (the best la paz batchoy ever!!!)

Day 3
5:45 - Departure

Suggested Reads

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...