Traveling to Boracay? Here are some activities which you can add on top of the beautiful beach experience.

ATV(All Terrain Vehicle)

If you do not want to get wet and still want to have fun, there are also activities you can do in Boracay. There is the ATV ride. You can rent the vehicle for 1 hour at 3500-4000 pesos. There will be a guide that can take you  sight seeing around the island of Boracay using the ATV. The beach is not the only int

Image via Wikipedia

eresting part of the island. Within the island, there are other sights to see and the guides will take you to see those sights.

Wall Climbing at D’Mall

Believe it or not, Boracay has a small wall climbing facility at D’Mall. It is very hard to miss as it is located along the pathway of D’mall and is an open space wall climbing facility. The price is not too expensive. The last time we went there, the price is just 50 pesos per climb and there are three levels you can try to climb from beginner to expert.

Massage, sunbathing, strolling

Along the coast of Boracay, you can find massage shops that offers from hand and foot massages to full body massages with price ranging from 350-500 pesos. The shops are open space but you will be protected from prying eyes by curtains that surround the bed where you will lie down should you opt to have a full body massage. If you prefer to, you can even have a massage along the shore.

Sunbathing is another activity you might want to do along the shores of Boracay. A lot of foreigners enjoy getting a natural tan under the sun while sunbathing along the shores of Boracay. And Hey, it’s free…

Strolling is also a good way to pass your time when in Boracay as there are plenty of things to see there. From small shops that sell souvenirs, to massage shops and restaurants, to Tattoo parlors that offers Henna Tattoo, the non permanent tattoo. A sight to behold along the shores of Boracay are the sand castles that are built along the pathway of Boracay that can be found on Station 1 and 2. The sandcastles are really beautiful and has an amazing intricate design. You can take pictures beside or inside the sandcastles as long as you are careful, for a small fee or donation.

Nightlife in Boracay

Nighttime is never boring in Boracay. Even during the evenings until late in the  night, The shores of Boracay is alive and teeming with life, with colorful lights decorating the establishments lining the coast of Boracay. Restaurants turn into Bars that offers a variety of cocktails and drinks and good music. During weekends, Fire Dances and Live band performances are held in Station 1 and 2.

Surely, from morning till night, there is a lot of things you can do in Boracay.

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Boracay, being a top tourist spot in the Philippines, is filled with fun activities that would ensure tourists won’t get bored. They have plenty of  both water and land sports and activities you can do. Here are some of them listed in no particular order.

Island Hopping, Snorkeling and Helmet Diving

Island hopping in Boracay is a lot of fun. Small boats that can seat 5 to 10 people can be rented at around 4000 to 5000 pesos.  You just have to ask around the area or the receptionist of the hotel or resort you are staying at.

There are plenty of  islands you can visit around Boracay. If you are early enough and the weather is good, you can even go dolphin and/or whale watching. While island hopping, you can ask the boater to stop at some designated areas where you can go snorkeling. Snorkeling is really fun around the island of Boracay as the area is teeming with marine life that is very colorful and enticing. You can bring some bread with you while you are snorkeling so the fishes would come near you. Snorkeling equipment such as the goggles and the snorkel usually go with the boat rental (you should bargain with the boater for them) 0r if not, they can usually be rented at 100 Pesos. Also, while island hopping you can ask your boater to bring you to the boats that offers Helmet Diving. Helmet Diving is an activity where you can walk on the sand under the sea while wearing a helmet so you can breath for around 30 minutes. The helmet is quite heavy but since you are in the water, it wouldn’t matter much. Under the water, the guides would give you pieces of bread so that you could attract the fishes and they would come close to you and you can feed them. During those times, the guide would take pictures of you feeding the fishes and might sometimes ask you to pose for the camera. Helmet diving costs around 500 to 1000 pesos depending on the number of persons that are going to helmet dive and the package usually includes the pictures under the water in soft copy.

Parasailing, Speed Boat, Jet Ski, and Banana Boat

Another activity that is done within the vicinity of the coastlines of Boracay is parasailing. It is an activity where you and a friend can go airborne while sitting on a seat that is attached to a parachute and is dragged by a speed boat to make the chute fly or float. This activity costs around 1500 to 2000 pesos per person.

Jet skis can also be rented at around 3000-3500 pesos for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Banana boat is a banana shaped floater that can seat from 8-12 people and is being dragged by a jet ski. The riders are all wearing life vests so the ride is safe and if the riders are adventurous enough, they can ask the driver to flip them over and make them fall in the water. It is more exciting that way. The ride costs around 2000 pesos for the whole banana boat and lasts about 15-30 minutes.

These are the activities you can do on the waters of Boracay. But aside from water sports, there are other activities you can do that does not require getting wet. On my next post, I will tell you some of them.

Disclaimer: Prices are all approximates based on my last visit to Boracay, it may be lower or higher than what I indicated. 

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White Beach Boracay, found in Aklan, is one of the best beaches you can find in the Philippines. The coastline is long and the sand is white and really fine. The water of this Boracay beach is so clear that even if you are riding a boat and you are at the deep part of the beach, you would still be able to see the white sand at the bottom and it would make you think you are still at the shallow part.

Boracay Station 1 – Luxury

The coast of Boracay is divided into 3 stations. Station 1 is where you will find the most luxurious and expensive accommodations and establishments. There, you will find D’Mall. It is called that name because it is the Mall of Boracay. But unlike any mall, this has open space with many stalls selling different kinds of souvenirs and keepsakes like t-shirts, magnets and other native products. There are also plenty of restaurants and establishments there. One particular interesting establishment in D’Mall is ‘The Hobbit Place‘. It is interesting because the people serving there are small people. I heard it is a good restaurant but personally I haven’t had the chance to dine there yet. You would also find luxurious hotels at Station 1, such as The Crown Regency Boracay and many posh restaurants and bars, like Ratsky. At night, especially during the weekends, you can watch fire dancers play with fire while dancing to the beat of the music.

Boracay Station 2 – Moderation

Station 2 is where you will find the medium priced hotels, resorts and restaurants. Looking around the place, we noticed that Station 2 is where you will find plenty of buffet food offerings that serves different dishes from different countries, such as Japanese, Thai, Korean, and Filipino. The price is moderate but there are lots of choices for food and accommodations that were also good but not luxurious. You can find hotels and resorts with function rooms too for people who goes to Boracay not only for pleasure but also for business.

Boracay Station 3 – The Budget Station

For people with tight budgets who wants to experience Boracay just because of the beaches, Station 3 is a good place for you. There is where you will find the cheapest resorts and restaurants or rather, carenderias(mini restaurants that serve home style Filipino food at a cheap price)  in the island coast. Some rooms cost around 500- 1000 pesos that were usually good for two to three persons. You do not need to worry about not being able to enjoy the beach and shoreline that the people at Station 1 or 2 can enjoy as the Boracay coastline is an open beach, you can get to station 1 or 2 just by walking along the pathway or riding a motorcycle. You can swim on the shores of Station 1 even if you stay at station 2 or 3 and vice versa.

Wondering what activities you can do at Boracay? I will tell you on my next post…

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Image by enggul via Flickr

Hello! As I have mentioned in one of the previous posts, one of the dish you really need to try when you go to the Philippines is Lechon, a whole pig, seasoned and charcoal roasted.

Here in Cebu is where you could find the best Lechon in the Philippines because here in Cebu, the Lechon is tastier because of the special seasonings that they use to marinate the whole pig before roasting. The best tasting Lechon here in Cebu is CNT Lechon. It is the most famous name in Lechon and whenever my brother asks me to bring home a Lechon, he asks for CNT. So now, I would like to give you some information about where you could find CNT lechon around Cebu. As of now, there are 4 locations I can tell you where you can find CNT.

1. Ayala Mall – CNT Lechon is located at the 4th Floor food court of this mall,  very close to the movie theater. It is located in between Quickly and Smokin rice. Since it is located in a foodcourt, you can order your Lechon and have it Dine in or take out.

2. SM City Mall –  CNT Lechon is located just in front of the grocery supermarket of SM. Here you can have your Lechon either Dine in or Take out.

3. Archbishop Reyes Ave., Cebu City – Another branch of CNT Lechon is located at Archbishop Reyes Ave., near Grand Convention Center, beside Redtag. Here you can only order your Lechon for Take out. If it is meant as Pasalubong(present), you might even be able to ask them to pack it for you in a box, with additional charge, of course.

4. V. Rama st., Guadalupe. – This is probably the main branch of CNT as this is the biggest branch that I have seen so far, well aside from the one I saw in front of SM before but now it is not there anymore. If you are coming from Capitol, it is on the left side of the road going to Guadalupe Church. Here you can order your lechon either dine in or take out with other dishes.

Hope this helps. I will update this blog later if I find more CNT branches around Cebu.

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Kare-Kare. Image via Wikipedia

Here are more choices of food you should try to eat when you come to the Philippines.

6. Sisig – Sisig is a good partner for beer. This dish was actually meant to be taken as a “Pulutan” ( food that is usually taken with alcohol) or as an appetizer but now it has become a main dish when Filipinos go out to dine, taken with rice. Sisig is basically pig’s ears seasoned and grilled, then chopped and mixed with liver, pork and sometimes Chicharon to give it the crunchy feel, sauteed in onions and garlic and seasoned with hot sauce or chili and calamondin (calamansi) and soysauce.

7. Pakbet- This food is made up of vegetables such as sitaw(string beans), squash, ampalaya(bitter gourd), okra(ladies fingers) and kangkong(swamp cabbage or water spinach) sauteed and seasoned with bagoong(shrimp paste). It is a very tasty combination of vegetables and for those who loves healthy, vitamin filled vegetables, this is a must try.

8. Sinigang- Sinigang is a soup based dish flavored with tamarind to give it a sour taste. It can either be beef, pork, fish, or shrimp, depending on your preference. This dish also has a lot of vegetables in it, such as, sitaw(string beans), okra(ladies fingers), labanos(white radish) and kangkong(water spinach or swamp cabbage) and is also seasoned with sili(green pepper).

9. Kare Kare – The main ingredient of this dish is either Ox tail, pig’s leg, beef, cow stomach or a mixture of them, or the main ingredient could be mixed seafoods. The main seasoning of this dish is Peanut butter or ground peanut, so the sauce is thick and the taste is a bit sweet. This dish has plenty of vegetables in it like, sitaw(string beans), eggplant, pechay tagalog(Pak Choi) and puso ng saging(banana bud). It is usually paired up with shrimp paste as the shrimp paste would give it more flavor. Some restaurants mix the shrimp paste together with the Kare Kare so for those who have seafood allergies, you should ask the waiter if they do that just to be on the safe side.

10. Bulalo – Bulalo is stewed beef shank and marrow bones mixed with vegetables. This is one dish you should really try. Due to the main ingredient being bones and marrow, the soup is very tasty. It usually is mixed with vegetables like Napa cabbage, cabbage,  potatoes and corn, seasoned with onion and onion leaves and peppercorn.

Hope this list helps. Enjoy Eating….

See Filipino Foods Part 1

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For those who do not know, Leche Flan is a Filipino dessert made from milk and eggs. It is somewhat similar to Creme Brulee, only that the sugar topping is not crunchy. Instead it is caramelized sugar syrup. Someone requested for me to make this so I am writing this. This is the recipe I follow and you can make revisions to it as you see fit. You would need a steamer, a strainer and elongated baking pans (llanera). Make sure that you baking pan would fit inside your steamer.

Ingredients:

1/4 k                          refined white sugar

1 can(big)                condensed milk

1 can(big)                evaporated milk

7 pcs                          egg yolk

1 pc                             whole egg

Directions:

1. Put sugar on the baking pan and caramelize sugar over low heat. Do not burn the sugar too much as it would become bitter. Let it cool  so it would harden.

2. Take 7 pcs. of eggs and separate the egg yolk from the egg white. You will use only the egg yolks.

3. Add the whole egg to the egg yolks.

4. Add the Condensed milk and the Evaporated milk to the egg yolks. Mix carefully. Do not over mix as it would make the mixture too bubbly and could ruin the texture of the Flan.

5. Boil some water on the steamer. Once the water is already boiling, pour one cup of the mixture into the baking pan with the hardened caramelized sugar and put it in the steamer. Cook for 15-20 minutes over medium fire.

6. Once it is cooked, let it cool down and turn it over to your serving plate and refrigerate. It is best served cold.

This recipe could make 4 pcs of leche flan. Hope this recipe helps.

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Suzhou, China was often regarded as the “Venice of the Orient” because of its many waters in its canals that serves as a means of transport.  This week’s featured photo is the 7-Mile Shantang Water Alley in Suzhou, one of the famous tourist spot in the area.

The Seven-Mile Shantang Water Alley in Suzhou China

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Part of planning a travel is making checklist. As I have mentioned in the previous article, having  a checklist is very important. It is especially important for people who are a bit forgetful and scatterbrained.

To make a To-Bring Checklist, you have to consider how long your trip will be, where you will be going and what you will be doing in that place. That way, you will be sure to bring your necessities with you on your travel.

Example of a To-Bring Checklist for a 3-day trip to Boracay.

•       Tooth brush and Toothpaste
•       Soap
•       Shampoo and conditioner
•       Lotion
•       Sunblock (SPF 45 or higher)
•       2 pairs of swimsuit
•       6 pairs underwear(maybe more?)
•       2 -3 pairs of shorts
•       4-5 pcs shirt
•       1 pair flipflop
•       goggles or snorkel
•       Camera

First Day

8:30 AM – arrival at Boracay. Go straight to accomodation, rest, breakfast

10:00 AM – walk around boracay, look for good restaurants, stores to buy  pasalubong, negotiate with boater for tomorrow’s Island Hopping

12:00 NN – Lunchtime and rest

2:00 PM – swimming on the beach or the pool, snacks

5:00 PM – rest, get ready for dinner

6:00PM – dinner

7:00 PM – Bar Hopping; watch the fire dancers

2nd day

5:00 AM – wake up; get ready for Island Hopping

5:30 AM to 1:00 PM – Whale or Dolphin watching, Island hopping and                                                                 snorkelling

1:30 PM – rest, maybe swimming again and picture taking; go around to explore more places in the island

5:00 PM – rest, get ready for dinner

6:00PM – dinner

7:00 PM – massage; Bar hopping

3rd day

7:00 AM – wake up; breakfast;

8:00 AM – go swimming; enjoy the last day

10:00 AM – shopping for pasalubong

12:00 NN –  Lunch

1:00 PM – picture taking; packing; get ready for departure

3:00 PM – departure time

Those are just samples of checklists. Checklist can help make your trip become more enjoyable. IT being well planned and all…

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Lechon. Image by whologwhy via Flickr

I was going to tell you about where you could find the best lechon in Cebu. But before I do that, let me list a few Filipino foods that you should never fail to try when you are here in the Philippines.

1. Lechon

 Lechon is a whole pig seasoned and charcoal roasted. The skin is the best portion of Lechon. It is crunchy and very tasty. Another best part of the lechon is the “belly” part. It is the tastiest part, specially the meat clinging to the bones, skin aside of course. Here in Cebu is where you could find the best tasting Lechon. CNT lechon is one of the most famous lechon vendor. On the next post I will tell you about where you could find CNT lechon here in Cebu.

2. Crispy Pata

Crispy Pata is a pig’s leg tenderized and deep fried to make it crispy. The best part of it is the skin and the knuckles and it is best dipped in a sauce which is a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, and calamansi with hot chili peppers and onions.

3. Lechon Kawali

Lechon Kawali is somewhat similar to the Crispy pata in the sense that it is also tenderized and fried crispy. However, Lechon Kawali is the belly part of the pig, called spare ribs or Liempo. As with Crispy Pata, it is also best dipped in a sauce which is a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, and calamansi with hot chili peppers and onions.

4. Chicharon

 Chicharon is pork rind(skin) seasoned and tenderized, then fried until it becomes crispy. Sometimes chicharon is all skin, but special ones include the fat and meat of the pork. It is best taken as an appetizer or as a “Pulutan” (food taken with alcohol beverage), dipped in vinegar and garlic.

5. Chicken Pork Adobo (CPA)

CPA is chicken and pork  cooked in soy sauce, garlic and other seasonings. It is the most native food of the Philippines and there is more than one way of preparing this dish. Some put coconut milk to make it creamy and some put sugar to make it sweeter. Cooking it depends on the taste buds of the cook, basically.

This is just five dishes you should try. Next post I will add more to the list.

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Once an old defective building in Cebu reclamation area, it was renovated to be one of the five-star hotels in Metro Cebu. This week’s featured photo is the Radisson Blu hotel in Cebu City. In my future blog post, I will tell my experience eating in their buffet restaurant.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu at night

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