Beautiful Spots, Travel Experience and Travel Info

2 Days Tour to Hongkong 2011

2011-11-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

My two days tour to Hongkong this year 2011 was quite compact and time constraining. It was because I wanted to visit the major or the most visited places in Hong Kong in just two days. Prior to the said travel my friends who came with me had had several itineraries drafted and ask a lot of friends and friends of friends who went there for tips and the best places to visit Hong Kong for them. It was our first time to travel Hong Kong and the very first out of the country trip. We also asked for tips on what questions were asked in the immigration and what documents to bring.
For now, I will be sharing the itineraries in Hong Kong for two days and some tips. I will be sharing in my next post the experiences I had in Hong Kong.

We arrived in Hong Kong from Cebu past 12 midnight via Cebupacific on the 31st of October 2011. Our problems encountered were:

Immigration Booth - No pictures are allowed to be taken however you can always take photos on the airport but not on the immigration booth or anywhere near it. We were kinda lost at finding it so what we did was followed the rest of the group on the plane. Hong Kong airport is quite the busiest and largest airport in the World! When we finally found the immigration booths, there has been a long queue already (this I noticed when we arrived, passengers were running because of the queue). You can submit your passport in group. The immigration officer would ask if your a family or friends. Present you hotel confirmation and your round trip ticket. Bring along with you a money in cash just in case they will be asking for how much you brought with you.
Hong Kong Dollars - Bus from the airport are the cheapest transportation aside from MTR. We were in a tight budget hence we opted to rode on buses and MTR only. However, if taxi were necessary we have spare money with us. What we have was 500HKD and that we need to have it change to smaller bills. We even withdrawn from an ATM in the airport but it dispense 100HKD (200 is deducted every withdrawn money on the ATM). What we did is that we bought a gum in an 24hours store inside the airport just to have the 500HKD change to smaller bills.
Bus - A direction was given when we had our hotel reservation. However, our problem was there was no A21 buses. We have asked several people including the utility man however they don't speak English and only direct us with "sign languages". You better print the direction with its corresponding mandarin translation or any of Hong Kong languages so you can just always point that when you asked. The utility man pointed us to bus N21. We just learned that A21 buses will arrived by 6am. So we decided to take the N21 bus. The problem now is that we don't have Octopus cards (re-loadable) because at past 12 midnight most stores were closed. However, you can always pay the bus with an exact fare bur they don't change. Good thing we have withdrawn money from the ATM. The bus fare cost HKD 23 each. However, you can pay for the group which cost us HKD 92. We have given HKD 100, so there's no change in that we just thought of the HKD 8 is for the "tip" since the driver have dropped us off near Dragon Hostel.
Maps not enough - Dragon Hostel is not quite easy to find because there was no sign for it. Good thing I saw the picture of the entrance to it. Maps were not enough, you need to ask and always look around for signs.

That were the problems encountered. With that, reminiscing it was quite funny. Now, the tour.

Day 1: Ngong Ping and Hong Kong Disneyland

- It is better to buy the tickets at Dragon Hostel because it is discounted and to avoid long queue. Stanley from Dragon Hostel, the cheapest hostel I've found and Stanley is quite accommodating, will give you map when you asked for directions. Dragon Hostel is near the Mongkok station just a few blocks. Purchase a Tourist day pass or the octopus cards. Tourist Day pass is good only for 24 hours from the start of its used and cost HKD 55 while octopus cards can be used anywhere it can bus or mtr or for purchase for food just look for the signs if they accept Octopus cards. The Octopus cards cost from HKD 150 to HKD 300 I think.

Salt Water Pool in Davao City

2011-09-28T03:19:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a salt water pool? You can find a salt water pool in a beach resort in Samal Island, Davao City, Philippines. Chema's by the sea is the "Beach resort that exudes a charm of simplicity and natural beauty." A salt water pool is a swimming pool which is filled with a mild salt solution.

You can contact them at these contact numbers (082) 3030235, (0917) 8140814, (082) 2861352.

Take a tour of their salt water pool:

The rates are as follows:

Boat Transfer - P200.00 per trip for a group of 10 person or less

Entrance Fee - P150.00 per person (day tour)

**Free use of the swimming pool with proper swimming attire

plus:

Umbrella hut - P500.00
*Good for 7erson or less

overnight: Cottage 1 (king size bed overlooking the beach) - P3800.00
*Good for 2*

Cottage 2 (2queen size bed and 4 single bed on the loft} - P8500.00
*Good for 8*

Cottage 3 (king size bed overlooking the beach,cottage on stilts} - P3800.00
*Good for 2*

Cabana 1 w/ 2 separate rooms - P6000.00
*Good for 4*

Cabana 2, 3 and 4 - P4500.00
*Good for 4*
Cabana's Pictures:

Cottages Pictures

** Photos taken on their facebook fanpage: Chema's by the Sea

Zip Line at Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City

2011-09-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

September 25, 2011

This is when I decided to travel along with my partner in life. Xyxa, an Iligan Blogger, emailed me about the speaker whom I recommended for their event, MBS5. It was then that I injected my plans, actually our plans but a lot decline to come with me, to visit Iligan and meet with the Iligan Bloggers. I then decided to try Maria Cristina's zip line which wasn't there on my last visit. I also wanted to try Cagayan de Oro's double deck bus.
We were fetched by Xyza at Iligan's Super Five Terminal and had our lunch at Jacko's Kan-anan where the Iligan Bloggers group together for meetings and bondings.
Before we had our zip line, we strolled NPC's nature's park where there is a crocodile park,
butterfly and orchid garden. They even plan to put deer and wild boar on the other side of the park which was close for now. You'll have to cross the bridge before going on the other side.

The Maria Cristina Falls Zip Line as I've heard from the zip line guide was that the installation started two years ago but it open on June 9 (I must have missed the year since I was busy trying to calm myself and trying to convince that we are almost on the top). Actually, I have to walk the 210 steps up before I can get to the first zip line point. There are four zip line points. The first is where you have to walk 210 steps to get there and its a short trip. You'll pass by a lot trees and lots of ants (caution: they bite lol). The second point was longer and scary because the view below is a cement (I have crazy thoughts) but you can look forward you can see the Maria Cristina Falls. The third point is cool because you'll pass by the water current and the last point is short again passing the water current from Maria Cristina Falls.
The zip line is Php 250. Actually, it was only Php 200 but then I was wearing slippers I had to borrow their shoes (you can choose from all sizes and colors) which cost me Php 50. So there it was my Maria Cristina Falls zip line adventure at Iligan City.

Kagay-an Festival 2010 Events

2010-08-03T08:25:00.001-07:00

Lists of events for the Kagay-an Festival 2010 http://ping.fm/EIC1B

Pick-up Line | Qoutes | Sayings | Messages | Jokes

2010-08-01T22:40:00.001-07:00

A collection of pick-up line, quotes, sayings and jokes in Vernacular, Tagalog and English. http://ping.fm/YGEPY

Short Notice Trip from Jasaan to Opol to Hotel Koresco

2010-08-01T22:21:00.001-07:00

Another trip... Spring View Resort, Solana, Jasaan | Seablings Seafood, Opol | Hotel Koresco, Lumbia http://ping.fm/u5jfD

Underwater adventure in Obrero Place.

2010-07-27T07:30:00.001-07:00

A quiet, peaceful and natural place to be in with. It is located in San Miguel, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon with 100 pesos entrance fee for adults and 50 pesos for children. This was owned by Dr. Faustino Obrero. http://ping.fm/vRGDi

Scheduled NGCP Power Interruption on Sunday, June 27, 2010

2010-06-22T00:11:00.001-07:00

The Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co., Inc. (CEPALCO) would like to inform all customers that power supply will be interrupted on JUNE 27, 2010 http://ping.fm/IxmmR

2010-06-17T18:56:00.001-07:00

gud mawnin!!!

Scheduled NGCP Power Interruption on Sunday, June 20, 2010

2010-06-16T18:16:00.001-07:00

CEPALCO would like to inform all customers that the NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES [NGCP] has advised CEPALCO that power supply will be interrupted on JUNE 20, 2010 as shown below: http://ping.fm/tqqRv

Mga Pasiyo ni Bulilit

2010-06-16T01:46:00.001-07:00

The travels of Bulilit http://ping.fm/ItQsT

Watching Prince of Persia in Gaisano Mall, Cagayan de Oro City got me annoyed!

2010-06-15T20:52:00.001-07:00

annoying experience http://ping.fm/5uyTF

2010-06-15T20:42:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/sB8l0 culinary class in CdeO!

2010-06-15T05:34:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/nbRPL Pool Hopping in Bukidnon...Our Independence day adventure!

2010-06-15T04:24:00.001-07:00

went to Cogon to buy polo and undershirt for my nephew then bought green leafy vegetables in my new dress (lmao)... ;)

2010-06-15T04:22:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/Tw9kW NEW DAILY Brownout GUIDE for June 13 to 21, 2010

Longest Zip Line in Asia

2009-12-29T22:00:00.001-08:00

Last November 30, 2009, my office mates with their family went to Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich and tried Asia's Longest Dual Zip Line. The cost for the ride was only P 500 with three different zip (150 meters, 350 meters and the last 840 meters) and a first come first serve basis so come early hence early booking is not acceptable. It would be best to come on weekdays as it would be fewer people and it is best to come full packed (jacket -- quite cold even if the sun is shining so brightly, camera -- don't miss to capture the place, do come with extra money as the place also have a lot to offer like horse back riding and ATV and with food that's so heaven to the throat). Here's our pictures..

Scuba Diving in Marissa Reef 1 and Garden of Corals in Samal and Talikud Islands

2009-11-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

I went to Davao City last October 31, 2009 along with my partner Dingdong, Myra, Nova and partner Mau2. Our trip was delayed for 2hours and we even look like refugees as the CDO airport was full of hopeful passengers we even met Dante and Ian of Indra.

As we arrived in Davao, we went to this place where we eat dinner then met with Myra's friend Winston. After dinner, we went straight to Jack's Ridge to have a good look of the city at night. Jack's Ridge is comparable to High Ridge in Cagayan de Oro City except that Jack's Ridge was more desirable. We stayed in Winston's humble abode.

Early in the morning, we were preparing for our Scuba adventure with wind and wave.... To be continued

Davao Adventure Trip

2009-10-30T04:08:00.000-07:00

I am quite excited for our trip to Davao tomorrow as this would be my first time... ;)

I made a lot of preparations for this trip like:

making an itinerary so that I could make the most of my two nights and three days including travel
search for the best spots and adventure trips in Davao

Here's our itinerary:

Day 1	6pm	Arrival to Davao
	630pm	Check-in to Rose Inn
		family = 4	890
		twin =3	720
		Sampaguitna Inn	Fully Booked on Oct 31, 2009
		Royale Inn
		triple bed= 3 to 4	1050
		single	650
		twin = 2	915
		Regency Inn
		twin= 2 (extra bed =300 person=200)	1400
		Park square inn
		triple = 3	955
		single =1	700
	7pm	Dinner: Jack's Ridge
	9pm	Strolling People's Park

	12midnight	Sleep Zzzzzzz

Day 2	6am	Breakfast
	7am	Ride a jeepney Road 4 near Bureau of fire and look for wind and wave signage. Scuba plus wet suit	1330
	4pm	End of Scuba
	430pm	The Davao Crocodile Park. The Show start at 4:30 PM, every Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Wildlife Encounter Educational Show. Crocodile Dancing. Pangil Encounter (Giant Crocodile encounter). Wildlife Encounter Interactive Tightrope Walking Crocodile Frenzy	100
Day 3	8am	Giant Water Slide and Canopy Walk	150
	10am	Outland Adventure - Open Every Day (8am - 5pm) Sundays (1pm - 5 pm) or Zip City Adventure is OPEN WED, THURS, SUN (9-5:30PM): FRI-SAT (9-9pm) with P100.00 food consumable either Zipcity's canteen, Dencios Restaurant @ Hilltop or Riverwalk Grill @ Crocodile Park	300
	2pm	Butterfly House - opens 8-5	150
	4pm	Depart Davao for CDO

Tour and Escapade joins MBS 3 with CDOBloggers as hosts

2009-10-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

The Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) group is set to play host to the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, which will be held on October 24, 2009. With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” the MBS 3 aims to uphold the beauty and strength of the island and to expunge the negative notions the world has about it.

(Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines – October 21, 2009) – It’s all systems go for the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) as they play host to the much-awaited Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, an annual gathering of Mindanao-based bloggers, IT industry experts, community leaders and new media advocates, on October 24, 2009 at Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City. Roughly 300 bloggers are expected to attend this year’s summit.

With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” (Changing The Way People See Mindanao) the event aims to uphold the beauty and strength of Mindanao, to highlight the diverse cultures and fascinating tourist spots that are uniquely Mindanao and to provide a platform where bloggers and other new media practitioners can discuss concerns related to Mindanao – all with the help of new and emerging technologies.

“Mindanao is the home of everything fascinating or in bloggers’ lingo – bloggable. Through the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, it is the hope of the CDO Bloggers, along with our partners and generous sponsors, that we listen to knowledgeable resource persons, meet other Mindanaoan bloggers, share and maximize all of our skills and resources and adopt tried and tested practices that can help us to fully promote Mindanao and for us to become better bloggers as well,” emphasized ChiQ Montes, president of CDO Bloggers.

“Of course, we also want all of the participants to have a good time and experience the sights and sounds of Cagayan de Oro,” Montes added.

Montes said that apart from Mindanaoan bloggers, the summit will also see the participation of some bloggers from Luzon and Visayas.

Expected to grace the summit are United States Embassy’s new Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett, Atty. Adel Tamano, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula.

Considered unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a top ranking United States Embassy dignitary is set to deliver the keynote address. Bassett’s trip to CDO will be her first trip to Mindanao since assuming office in June. She previously served as DCM in Mexico.

“We are deeply honored. We’re certain that the summit participants will be delighted to meet her and we can’t wait for her to see our beautiful city,” Montes said.

Other speakers during the whole-day affair include Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Atty. Adel Tamano.

Google’s Philippine representative Aileen Apolo, whose talk will focus on beginners, Digital Filipino’s Janette Toral, who will discuss blog advertising and Lyle Santos, who will talk about making money online will also be present. Representatives of other blogger groups including those in Davao City, General Santos City and Zamboanga will also give updates.

After the summit proper, participants have the choice of joining either the city tour (Xavier University Museum, Cathedral, Divine Mercy Shrine, Opol Aviary, Limketkai Mall) or the whitewater rafting adventure.

Also happening on October 24, right after the MBS 3, is the Philippine Blog Awards – Mindanao awarding ceremonies.

CDO Bloggers, Inc., a group duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is the lead organizer of this year’s Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3. Previous summits took place in Davao City and General Santos City.

The Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 is generously supported by SMART Communications Inc., Nokia, Syntactics, Inc., STI, Rafting Adventure Philippines, MakatiAve.com, Majesty Sales Center, Havaianas Philippines, OLX Philippines Free Classifieds, Clara Shoppe, ASTERISK Events and Communications, RG & K Construction, Paguia’s Cottages, ThePacificaCompanies.com, The Site, Spruce, The City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Office of CDO First District Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy, SM City Cagayan de Oro, Ultra Craft Advertising Corporation, Magnet Advertising, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental and the Mindanao Bloggers community. Media partners include Papa Ardie’s Concepz, STI, ABS CBN, MOR 91.9 and HOT FM 106.3.

For more information about the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, log on to http://www.mbscdo.com

About CDO Bloggers

CDOBloggers or Cagayan de Oro Bloggers, Inc. is a duly SEC-registered organization that promotes Cagayan de Oro through blogging. Among the group’s goals are to create impact in society through blogging, to help promote Mindanao to the world as a bustling and peaceful land, to promote Cagayan De Oro City and Kagay-anons around the world with a sense of pride and to use blogging as a media platform.

The CDO Bloggers group is the main organizer of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 (MBS 3). For more information about MBS 3, log on to http://www.mbscdo.com

For more information about CDO Bloggers, visit http://www.cdobloggers.com or send email to cdobloggersinc(@)gmail.com

About Mindanao Bloggers

Mindanao Bloggers aims to unify the island through this exciting new medium — the way of the blog — thereby promoting deeper understanding of our different cultures and beliefs. Thus, it is hoped that this community blog will help in presenting to the world at large the true beauty of the Philippine South, as well as the marvelous diversity of the peoples of Mindanao. For more information about Mindanao Bloggers, visit http://www.mindanaobloggers.com

- 30 -FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

ASTERISK Events and Communications
http://www.asteriskeventsandcommunications.com
Mobile number: (+63) 919 238 6575 / (+63) 922 478 5218
Email address: asteriskEC@gmail.com

Tour the Majestic Falls of Iligan City

2009-10-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

I just visited Maria Cristina Falls, Tinago Falls and Maze Resort today with my office mates with partners. We rented a van from Cagayan de Oro city to Iligan City and vice versa for P 3,500 inclusive of fuel and driver's meal. We assembled in DVsoria around 6:30 am and was able to left CdeO City around 8 in the morning and arrived in Iligan City around past 10 in the morning.

Bits of info:

Maria Cristina Falls will only be open to visitors on Sundays otherwise you'll have to send a letter for a request to visit.
Tinago Falls is awesome, thrilling and tiring because you'll have to walk 345 steps more or less to get down to the falls yet expect a very very cool nature experience.
Maze Resort has a lot to offer like mini zoo (ostrich, goat, cow, eagle) for kids, flower garden, campsite for overnight stay, a mini tower for lovers in paris thingy, fishing for this outdoor type of person, a variety of swimming pool for expert swimmers (Olympic kind of pool), kids (with slide) and not so expert swimmers (with slide).

Fees as of October 18, 2009:

Tinago Falls entrance: P 10 per head
Tinago Falls life jacket: P 20 to P 25 per head
Tinago Falls table: P 40 per table
Tinago Falls Raft: P 10 per head
Maze Resort entrance: P 25 per head

Baguio's Hotels and Cheap Pension House

2009-10-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

While we were in Baguio and upon our arrival their tourists agents where giving us pamphlets of lists of hotels where they offer a tour of this hotels for P 100 so that we can have a better choice.

Here's what I got from them:

1. AJ's Pension House - accessible to SM, Cathedral, Session Road and Burnham Park

Address: #18 Jungletown Road, Salud Mitra, Baguio City
Contact #s: (074) 442-2206 0r (074)-304-1905 or 0915374952

Tariff :

Common P 900 - 1 double sized bed, common bathroom with hot and cold shower, cable TV and electric fan.
Standard P 1,200 - 1 double sized bed with pull out bed, 1 single bed with private bathroom, hot and cold shower, cable tv and electric fan
Suite P 1500 to P 1700 - has a fully functional kitchen, dining room and living room with veranda.

** extra person charge - P 100 per day/night
** extra bed - P 100 per day/night
** standard checkout is 12nn
** payment is cash and early check-in is allowed if the room is available

2. Belfranlt Hotel ("in the heart of the city")

Address: General Luna Road, 2600 Baguio City, Philippines
Contact #'s: 442-5012, 442-4298 Fax #: 442-4298

3. Microtel Inn and Suites - just near the victory liner terminal
You can check out their website www.microtelphilippines.com

Baguio's Scenic Spots:

Lourde Grotto and Mirador Hill
Dominican Hill
Chinese Temple
Burnham Park
Baguio Mountain Province/Musuem
Sunshine Park
Silver Shops
Wright Park
Mansion House
Mines View Park
Botanical Garden
Camp John Hay
Easter School Weaving Room

Voted Travels and Tours in Philippine Blog Awards

2009-10-07T00:53:00.000-07:00

For the Blogger Choice Special Award my vote goes to Travels and Tours from Mindanao category. I know him for almost 4 years already, when I asked him about blogging he always say that I blog just for “trip” and doesn't mind of the outcome.

But now his blog the "trip" ko lang is nominated in Philippine Blog Awards (PBA). All his effort and being an enthusiast in blogging gave results. So congrats for being a nominee in this Awards. Whatever the outcome is on the awarding, out hearts will be forever grateful for giving us insights and information thru your travel blog posts. Good luck and God bless!!!!

We hope that you will win....

Baguio Trip

2009-09-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

We departed from Pasay for Baguio on a Deluxe Bus (Victory Liner) at around 11:46pm on the 18th of September 2009 with Fred, Ethel, Emma, Clyde, Ding and me and arrived in Baguio around 5:00 am on the 19th of September 2009.

It was my second time now in Baguio.. The first time was when I was 5 years old.

We stayed in Belfranlt Hotel in General Luna Road, Baguio City where it was located in the heart of the city and near the city market and Burnham Park. The hotel has wall to wall carpeted rooms and spacious private rooms with bath.

Scenic spots in Baguio are as follows:

Lourdes Grotto and Mirador Hill
Dominican Hill
Chinese Temple

Burnham Park
Baguio Mountain Province/Musuem

Sunshine Park - the smallest park
Silver Shops

Wright Park

Mansion House

In Mines View Park, we took pictures with the St. Bernard Dog for P25. The Bethoven dog was named after his father Douglas.

Mines View Park
Botanical Garden
Camp John Hay
Easter School of Weaving
Philippine Military Academy

Kennon Road - Col. Lyman W. Kennon was quoted as the Builder of the Kennon Road and named after him

Wordcamp turns to Baguio Escapade

2009-09-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

CdoBloggers had been planning this months before this date as we will joined WORDCAMP to be held in Manila. However, some other bloggers like us (te ems, dingdong and cloyd) was late for the registration hence we decided to go to Baguio instead. We planned for Baguio on the day we arrived in Manila which is on the 18th of September 2009 with Fred and his wife Ethel on board the deluxe bus of Victory Liner which will cost you P700 with CR on the bus and free snacks. I have also made reservations in Kabayan Hotel Pasay as we will back from Baguio on the 20th of September 2009. Hoping that the weather will be with us as it has been raining like there's no other day. I am crossing my fingers on it and would hope for a safe, fun, satisfying trip to Baguio and back to Manila. Te Ems and I had plans of going to Tutuban also for some shopping. :)