Philippine Travel Itineraries, Events and Tips

Bike Trails: Olango? Let's Go! - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:37:00 +0000

Read Part 1 here.

Back at the sanctuary headquarters, the resident Rufous Night Heron engages its arthropod prey in a vicious fight. The poor bird loses by a literal split-decision (the caretaker had to un-clip the crab from its beak).

We thank Toni (OIWS guide) for sharing is avian expertise with us before saddling up for the next leg of our day trip. Our new-found cycling buddies lead the way this time.

Passing by Maribagini area once again, I couldn't resist posing for a quick photo snap! Props to Larry for taking pictures on-the-go.

Further along, we pass by local kids who cheer us on, bought some bottled Swaki (bottled sea urchin meat) from a lady peddler and ride alongside a sari-sari store on wheels.

We ride back to Santa Rosa township and make a detour towards the Eastern coast before traversing the island to the North.

View Bike Trails Olango in a larger map
The terrain around the island is mostly composed of compacted limestone and soil. Main roads are paved with cement, so beginners have nothing to be scared of.

I feel light-headed as we switch back to the main 'spinal' road. I've always hated the heat whenever I'm biking (or trekking, at that). Only the thought of saang (a seashell delicacy) and Larry's helping hand (pushing my bike to help accelerate it!) got me through three barangays.

We reach a sharp road bend and after a couple of kilometers, we finally reach our destination: a small outpost of a home on the coastline with a sign board that says "Sa-ang for sale".

Checking out the goods, I realized that we didn't work up an appetite for nothing. We must've surprised the cook when our party of four ordered food for seemingly double the amount of mouths.

On our menu: blanched Saang, fried fish, seashell kilaw, swaki, squid adobo and cassava puto.

Olango may not hold the wildest bike trail views, but it sure can satisfy another part of me. I tag this gastro-adventure trip one for the books!

PS. If you're interested in biking Olango, too, I can give you contact info for a guide/bike rental.

Bike Trails: Olango? Let's Go! - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:39:00 +0000

While the rest of the city remain under the spell of Zzz's, I was up and about, making final adjustments to Larry's hard-tailer. Finally, our bike trip to Olango is happening.

Overcast Mandaue

At 6-ish in the morning, Larry and I scoot out of Cebu City and head to Lapu-lapu City in Mactan Island.

Lawlaw dila but still smiling

I've only biked in two areas around Cebu - around Mactan (with bugoybikers) and up the cardio inclines of Busay (a popular morning workout spot).

Whoopee downhill!

Facing the Mandaue-Mactan bridge for the second time, I feel squirmish. This bridge could drain all my morning energy faster than I could read 'Marcelo B. Fernan'.

On the boat to the Island

After successfully conquering the bridge (whew!), we speed on to Angasil port where we would board a ferry to Olango Island. Getting there, we notice that two bikes are already sitting in the boat.

Rolling out of Santa Rosa Pier

We engage in a little chit-chat and find out that the two guys who own them cycles are also doing an Olango day trip on wheels. Their plan was to go on a Sa-ang food trip (a seashell delicacy). We, on the other hand, were planning to go bird watching at the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in San Vicente.

Maribagini forested area (green bike on the map)

Before we knew it, that simple exchange of itineraries resulted to an ex-deal. They've heard about birding activities on the island but haven't tried it, so we'll take them there and then they, in turn, would take us to their secret food trip spot afterwards. Sounds like a plan!

View Bike Trails Olango in a larger map

From Sta. Rosa Pier (blue line on the map), our now group of 4 pedal about 5 kilometers to OIWS. We pay for the registration fees (P20 entrance for locals, P10 fee for point-and-shoot camera) and leave our bikes with the caretaker who assures us that out bikes will be safe.

temporary stable

Our guide, Antonio "Toni" Quijano, lead us to the observation deck by foot. He is armed with a high-power telescope (I don't remember the technical term) and a guide book.

through the mangrove

The best time to do bird watching is during low tide-going-to-high tide, when the water is only a few inches shallow. Migratory birds from Asia (as far as Siberia) and Australia are commonly sighted here, but the peak months is during November to March.

open shallow waters

Big blocks of cement laid out in a straight line serve as our walking path, literal stepping stones leading to the deck (pink line on the map). Halfway, the water level reaches ankle-deep and we have to remove our shoes (I had to roll up my leggings, too).

Look! captured an avian photobomber here (top right corner)

Toni sets up the telescope tripod and peeks into the viewfinder. Not a minute passes when he announces that he spotted a curlew in the mangroves to the left. That was quick - I haven't spotted any bird with my naked eye's wider field of view!

Feels like looking through a microscope

We do this for a few more other birds - an Egret, a kingfisher, and some smaller birds I couldn't name now. I consider ourselves lucky, having been able to spot some birds even during off-peak season.

RAMSAR site - wetland of international importance

In between the 'peepshow', Toni discusses some bits of facts about OIWS. After about an hour, we call it a day (at leat for the first part of our trip) and wade our feet in the shallow waters back to the headquarters.

To be continued...

Read part 2 here: http://www.indieescape.com/2013/05/bike-trails-olango-lets-go-part-2.html

Camping With Kids: Osmena Peak, Cebu

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:34:00 +0000

Camping with kids is not so common in the Philippines, but it isn't so rare either. So far, I've only encountered seasoned climbers bring their kids hiking. Some tag their dogs along.

But we think we're seasoned enough, so...

Happy little campers

Climb preparation

Taking my son, Hann, outdoors as soon as he's fit to amble through irregular terrain has always been the plan. But adventure came sooner when I bought a backpack carrier.

Flash packing in Mandaue

Osmena Peak is a mountain of ironies for two reasons:
1. It's the highest peak in Cebu, but the easiest to climb (as short as a 30-minute trek).
2. It has both the easiest trail (backtrail) and the hardest trail (traverse) in Cebu.

An easy climb doesn't call for early risers. Oh yeah, we were so relaxed that packing didn't happen until an hour before our departure.

Fashionably late

As if we haven't pushed our initial schedule 2 hours behind, we arrive at our rendezvous place fashionably late (so Pinoy). At Caltex in Colon, we wait for the rest of our small group, who came about an hour even later than us.

Sightseeing South Cebu

Anyway, it's a short trek and we didn't want to spend high noon at the campsite, so everything's good.

Our unscheduled bus left once the driver deemed that all four corners of his coach are fully loaded. We journeyed down south to Dalaguete.

Jumpoff point

A slight drizzle greeted us when we arrived at the vegetable basket town that is Mantalongon. We pick up a few items from the public market and start trekking from there.

Gangsta toddler: The kid insisted on wearing his basketball jersey

A few metrers in, we change our plans. I mean, we got kids in tow, so we make an excuse to totally stretch our 'jumpoff point'.

We took a habal-habal motorbike to the last waiting shed before entering the vegetable plantation trail.

Real foot trail starts here

Mountinyeers

The fog was coming in, so we pressed on. We waterproofed the kids (hehe, a garbage bag did it for Ate Raiza), and saddled up Hann on the carrier. For this leg, I was the porter (with the full pack), because I wasn't familiar with the trail (I didn't want to endanger the small one by carrying him).

Selfie moment

Ate Raiza, our friend Ralph's daughter, was a trooper. She walked all the way to the campsite without complaints (we took her small backpack midway). Hann was cooped up behind his dad, craning his neck to get a view of the action.

At the campsite, both kids seemed hungry so I immediately got busy feeding them takeout McDonald's while the men set up camp.

Camp dinner (Hann is loving the tent)

Playing inside the tent was the highlight for the kids. Some children only experience sleeping in a tent in their bedrooms, so this was a real adventure for the two.

Morning duties and summit assault

The Columbia jacket I got for Hann (another Amazon buy) was very useful in keeping him warm and dry through the night. Thank goodness the sky cleared by midnight, or else I'd be worried about squishy ground the next morning.

Layered clothing does the trick

Dawn broke and I was still living in twilight, thanks to the group socials that didn't conclude until all Tanduay bottles were upside-down.

Baby steps will take anybody to the top

After some hot drinks and a diaper change, we set out for the summit - an easy 10-minute uphill. Some climbers were already there, basking in the morning sun.

Daddies and tots

New heights

Taking the kids to the top of Cebu was both an achievement and a humbling experience. It was an achievement to bring them up there safely, but humbling at the same time because we did to show them what we love doing the most. It's no longer about who has climbed the most mountains or who's got the best equipment. Hopefully they appreciate it even at this very young age.

15 years from now, these kids will be looking back at their first climb.

Maybe it's the lack of organized trails and camp system in the mountains that make camping with kids in the Philippines seem like a restriction. But for me, this is definitely not the last of his camping experiences.

View from the summit

You can climb this mountain, too! Check out my Osmena Peak Itinerary.

This climb took place June 2012.
Update April 2013: We just took him beach camping in Calaguas, Camarines Norte! (Blog soon)

Review: Amihan Del Mar Resort - Mabini, Batangas

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:44:00 +0000

Shiny glassy sea in Mabini, Batangas

Resort Review | Amihan Del Mar Resort
Brgy. San Teodoro, Mabini, Batangas

"Would Travel for Beach".

These are probably the words written on me and my best friend's forehead when we went on an extemporaneous trip to the far end of Anilao in Mabini, Batangas.

We knew where we were going, for sure, as far as the resort name and commute directions are concerned.

Not noticing the "Amihan" signage along the road (our friendly tricycle driver wasn't familiar with the newly-renovated resort), we overshot the place by a few meters. It's probably been a minimum of 8 years since I last set foot in this part of Batangas. It wasn't as I remembered it. Well, no place is.

Amihan Del Mar resort is ran by 4 friends who all share the same affinity to the sea. Two of them are dive masters, offering diving packages from the resort - hey, it's Anilao, after all! For those unaware, it's the best diving spot nearest Manila.

Area map taken from Amihan's FB page

HOW TO GET THERE

The beach resort is located along the circumferential road in Mabini peninsula.

Private car: From south Luzon Expressway (SLEX), drive straight through Star Tollway and exit at Batangas City (going to Batangas Pier). Turn right at the diversion road and drive straight towards Bauan. Turn left at Bauan Doctors General Hospital and drive straight to Mabini (turn left at Anilao Port junction). From the Anilao entry point, the resort is about 15 minutes away.

Commute: Batangas-bound bus terminals are located in LRT-Buendia (Gil Puyat). Take your pick from the many bus lines going to Batangas - CALABARZON (P125, travel time around 1.5 hour). Alight at the Grand Bus Terminal in Batangas City and ride a jeep going to Mabini, parked in the same terminal (P35, travel time around 1 hour). Get off at the Mabini town market (bayan) and ride a tricycle to San Teodoro (P40, travel time around 30 minutes).

Google map of Mabini, Batangas:

View Larger Map

parking area and pedestrian entrance

RESORT AND BEACH GROUNDS

The resort entrance is right by the road side cliff lined by low-profile dive resorts and private vacation homes. You'll have to park your car in the 4-car parking area before entering the property afoot.

Its main grounds is accessible by stairs, so consider the short legwork a warm up for your forthcoming beach activities.

Amihan Resort is not your typical hotel-type beach resort. Here, you have the feeling of staying in a family vacation home, or a backpacker guest house. It depends - if you'll rent the entire house or if you'll book a single room only.

The house common areas, viewdeck and the open areas are all free for guests to exploit. Outdoor shower areas and drying lines are scattered for convenience.

Private resorts, dive resorts alternate the shore

There's only a little grassy open space in the center of the compound, but it is being considered to be converted into a massage/lounging area. There's an in-house helper to assist you with cooking needs (maybe some errands, too).

The beach area is just right outside the property fence. The sand is brownish - similar to Puerto Galera's, but this area of Mabini has an assortment of rocks and pebbles strewn across the shoreline.

I'd say you don't come here if you're looking for a hopping beach scene where you can display your sculpted body. Ain't gonna happen here. Here is a laid back dive resort where the beauty is hidden underwater.

ROOM RATES

Main house seen from the mess hall

The big house overlooking the sea is where all the rooms are located. There are two attic fan rooms and 1 master's bedroom (airconditioned). We stayed in the latter. It has a queen sized bed, a closet with dresser and its own t&b.

Basic toiletries, clean bedding and fresh towels are included in the package. These, as well as use of kitchen appliances, drinking water and condiments.

Published rates:

Masters Aircon Room (own T&B) - P3000/ 2 persons; P500 additional person (with cot).
Attic Fan Room (common T&B) - P2000/ 2 persons; P500 additional person (with cot)

Whole house - P11,000 (includes service of helper from 8am-5pm)

The master's bedroom was clean and well-lit. It has wooden floors, queen bed and built-in wooden dresser which kind of smell old (because it's an ancestral home). The aircon unit is new and there's an electric fan in the room, too.

The windows overlooking the property can be opened if you rather breathe the sea breeze. You might want to close these in late afternoon, though, because mosquitoes-on-steroids come out at dusk (yep, they're huge!).

The bathroom looks newly-renovated. It's clean and well-stocked. There's a hot shower unit, but I'm not sure if it works because we didn't use it.

My only suggestions for the room would be -- a chair or a mini sofa for lounging, a towel rack (for all our wet clothes we don't want to display in public) and maybe cloth curtains in addition to the nice sun shade, because our silhouettes can be seen inside the room at night time.

I didn't get the chance to check out the attic fan rooms, but I was told those were ideal for guests who come in groups.

ACTIVITIES

Its obvious that this resort primarily caters divers. I did my very first intro dive on this trip. Anilao is a popular dive spot for beginners because, apart from its proximity to Manila, the seabed terrain and underwater current is just right for first timers.

DM Francis

Other than SCUBA diving, guests can also enjoy snorkeling, skim boarding, island hopping (Sombrero island, Maricaban island) and hiking the nearby Mt. Gulugod Baboy.

There's also no harm in just simply lying around, hanging out on the beach viewdeck, reading a book on the hammock or watching TV. Too bad, Wifi was still unavailable when we went there.

Of course, we didn't pass on the chance to do the intro dive. Prior to the actual dive, the dive master conducted a short lecture about SCUBA safety and procedures. There really is no reason not to dive when you're in Mabini. There's an entirely different world below the surface of the sea that not everybody gets to see. I was told that there was a resident sea turtle seemingly nesting a few meters from the beach shore, so that's a sight to behold!

Flat waters, perfect for diving!

Here are the published dive rates:

Licensed Divers:
P3500 per person, minimum of 4 divers
P4000 per person, minimum of 3 divers
*Inclusive if 3 boat dives, dive pass, service of Dive Master, Lunch, weights (10lbs)

Intro Dive:
P1500 per person
*Includes orientation/briefing, diving equipment. You will be accompanied by the Dive Master the entire time under water.

Kitchen/dining

FOOD

You'll have to bring your own food since the place is not a full-service resort. The last market stop is at Mabini town center (bayan), about 15 minutes away by car. After that, you can only rely on small sari-sari stores for your ration. I didn't notice any sari-sari store nearby, but the resort sells a few items such as bottled drinks (juice, beer).

Anyhow, you can always buy fresh sea bounty from local fishermen. The house help can assist you in turning it into a sumptuous fare.

After your trip, on the way back to Manila, we've been told to try Johanna's Grille, off the national road (across Bauan Doctor's General Hospital). If Cebu has Casa Verde, Batangas has Johanna's Grille. This post has great info about the place which is famous for its delicious and affordable baby back ribs.

Some more snaps of the place:

Common living room

sunset between Maricaban and Sombrero Islands

mess hall seen from main house verandah

we spent most of our idle time here

Amihan del Mar FB page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amihan/401345313256080; Contact# Francis P +63-908-1099715

*This is not a sponsored post.

Siargao Island Tour Itinerary: 3 days

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 08:54:00 +0000

Beach, Surfing, Backpacking, Island Hopping | Siargao Island Tour Itinerary
Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte
Hours: 3 days/2 nights
Specs: Beach, Dapa Pier, General Luna, Cloud 9, Magpupungko, island hopping, waterfalls, surfing, island life

NOTES

This should’ve been my itinerary in Siargao had it not been for unforeseen circumstances. I went there with my small family, and planned to do all this, but our bub caught some kind of tummy bug, so we had to cancel a few things. Anyway, this should be an ideal set-up for anybody visiting Siargao for the first time, with only the weekend to spare.

Getting there and around:

There are flights to Siargao (Sayak airport) from Cebu via Cebu Pacific every M/W/F/Su (Th/Sa added during peak summer season). Only small planes fly this route because the landing strip is small; consequently, the check-in baggage limit is only up to 10kgs per passenger.
You may also choose to travel the old-school way, by taking a bus from Surigao City to its port, and hopping on a ferry to Dapa Pier in Siargao. Airphil Express flies Manila-Surigao daily, while Cebu Pacific flies Cebu-Surigao daily. There are also ferry boats coming from Cebu city.
Landing in Sayak airport is exciting because from Cebu, the plane has to go a little bit around the island to get the right position to approach the runway. If you’re on a window seat, you’ll get to catch a glimpse of the vast Del Carmen mangrove forest.
All arriving passengers are required to sign on the local tourism log sheet (upon airport exit).
Sayak airport is about 40 minutes away from General Luna municipality. You can ride a tandem motorbike habal-habal (P100-P150/person) or hire a passenger tricycle (P300-P500/vehicle) to take you to your lodging. Since there is no standard fare, you can haggle your best price with the driver. For better rates, you can try to go outside the airport compound.
If your hotel provides free airport pick up, use it! Some resorts charge extra for that service (ours charge P300/person).
Motorbikes and tricycles are the main means of public transportation in Siargao. You can rent a motorbike for a daily rate (P500-P1000). Habal-habal rides are P20 per person (short distances).

INDIE TIP: Try to get other passengers with you when you hire a tricycle to save on the fare.

Accommodation/Hotels:

Friendly accommodations are scattered in General Luna area. It is, after all, the place most tourists flock to – thanks to its year-round waves. You’ll find budget rooms for as low as P300-P500 and luxe resorts that charge upwards P4000 per night.

The main town center is about 10 minutes away from Cloud 9 by motorbike, so you’ll have to figure out whether you want to stay in the surfing area or in the town area. I mean, for first timers, they’ll probably hit the waves just once and that’s it, so it would be inconvenient to stay in C9 since the basic needs are in the town center. Here’s the Cloud 9 tourist map I made.

Itinerary:

Day 1

From the airport, arrange a ride to General Luna bayan (town center).
Have lunch at the boulevard carinderias (eateries) and buy some necessities at the public market.
At the far right end of the boulevard, you’ll find fisherfolk where you can arrange your island hopping boat trip (~P1500 per boat to go to 3 islands).
Take a habal-habal (tandem motorbike) ride to your preferred lodging destination (GL town or C 9 are the best choices based on this I.T.).
Check in at the resort and get ready for the island hopping trip. Bring water, snacks and don’t forget to waterproof your stuff.
Three islands of interest on your Siargao island hopping itinerary:

Naked Island – a sandbar, naked, devoid of any vegetation.
Dako Island – the “big” island, nice coast line to relax, some cottages for rent.
Guyam Island – a small island you can circumvent in less than 10 minutes.

After island hopping, ask to be dropped off at GL wharf so you can take a sunset stroll along the boulevard. Have dinner in the area, too.
Before going back to your hotel, arrange your trip to Pilar (magpupungko tidal pools) the next day – you can hire a habal-habal (~P500), rent your own motorbike (best option if you know how to use one) or hire a boat (starts at P1500); both trips last around an hour.

INDIE TIP: A visit to Pilar’s Magpupungko tidal pools should be scheduled during low tide (ask the locals or check online), to make the swim manageable; otherwise, the pools could be too deep or the crashing waves might be too rough.

Day 2

Get an early start – and this could mean a breakfast of bread and instant coffee.
A good part of the land trip to Magpupungko will be on rough road. If you’re not confident on your motorcycling, just hire a habal-habal. If you’ve got a group with you, you can opt for the boat ride or maybe hire a four-wheeled vehicle.
Drop by Pilar town market to get lunch supply – some fresh catch, charcoal and rice is a good idea, but you can also buy cooked food (less effort).
Entrance fee in Magpupungko is P50.
After swimming, make your way to Dapa town, a busy commuter port that connects Siargao to the neighboring Bucas Grande Islands and Surigao del Sur.
Have lunch in Dapa and explore the place a little bit.
Next order of business: taking a dip in a virgin beach – the Pesangan white beach. We just stumbled upon this property between GL and C9. It’s got a sandy beach and calm waves (as opposed to the crashing waves and coral reef in C9). Picnic cottages can be rented for P100.
After a couple of hours in Pesangan, it’s time to get stoked – the tide should be coming out at this time, so it’s not as violent as it normally is in C9. Ideally, surfing should be done during high tide, but for first timers, the ebbing tide should be better.
Surfing lessons in C9 costs P500 (1 hour; board rental included). You can also just rent the board for P500 (whole day), or bring your own board and get lessons for P300 per hour. You decide.
When you're done, you can chill out at the boardwalk till sundown.
Your stomach should be worked up by this time. I recommend dinner at Ocean101 café. Bloggers all rave about their bang-for-the-buck menu.
At night, it’s time to retire. But if you’re still up for some drinks, you can hit one of the many videoke-cum-grill joints in GL.

Day 3

Flights out of Siargao are usually around noon.
A few more options for day 3:

Surf in the morning
Explore Bucas Grande Islands (requires overnight stay)
Explore Taktak falls in Sta. Monica. This is 2 hours away from GL, so you’ll have to check out of your hotel and go straight to the airport after the trip.
Explore Pansukian (now Dedon Resort) mangrove walk – not sure if it’s still open to the public.

INDIE TIP: Look out for freshly-baked ‘puto’ bread – a pan de sal-like bread sans baking powder (like a flat bread for ~P5). It’s a filling snack, delicious even without fancy jams or spreads.

Food:

It’s easy to find carinderia-style places in GL and in Dapa. In C9, however, you may have to dine in a resort café (it’s more expensive for those on a budget).
A pa-luto (cooked to order) service is available in the sari-sari store near the Cloud 9 boardwalk (along the main road, fronting Sagana Resort). You can have small items like noodles, canned corned beef or egg cooked for P10-P25 or have adobo cooked with rice for about P150.
Bottled drinks like coke solos and beer may be stale, as in any other island town. I don’t mind it, but you can always have the option of ordering the canned ones.

Others:

There are only 2 ATM machines in Siargao, located in Dapa town: Green Bank and Cantilan Bank.
If you absolutely need money but your ATM card is not accepted in the above banks (foreign ATM cards), you can get cash remittance through Western Union, LBC or MLhuillier. Some resorts accept credit card payments/advances and even exchange foreign currency.
Internet is available on the island. Most resorts are WiFi capable.
The best time to surf Cloud 9 Siargao is during the dry months of Sept – Nov. At this time, waves in C9 reach as high as 12 feet!

Budget:
Around P 3000 per pax excluding airfare and terminal fees.
Budget estimate for 2 persons:
P600 airport to-and-fro
P1000 lodging (budget room)
P500 tricycle rent
P1500 island hopping boat
P100 habal-habal rides P1200 meals, snacks
P500 board rental
P600 misc (tips, drinks, gasoline, etc)

Touchdown: Sayak Airport in Del Carmen, Siargao

Here are some of the must-see spots on the island

General Luna Pier for small boats

Surfing hour: motorbikes lined up before the boardwalk in Cloud 9

Cloud 9 beach front viewed from the boardwalk

Spectator tower

Small pools, a teaser of what you'll find in Magpupungko

Cloud 9 boardwalk, I just can't photograph this enough!

heading out to the water

Inland roads under construction. These are prolly halfway done by now

Serene scene at Pesangan

Foreigner-turned-local surfing Cloud 9

Rippin' it

Itinerary and expenses recorded on June 2012.

Indie Escape Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:41:00 +0000

What are the things you want to try this year? Are there places you absolutely have to see in your lifetime? I have a lot!

View Larger Map
Every once in a while, I make a mental note of interesting places and travel goals (My social network does a great job in showing me these things). Some of them are fulfilled, while others still remain a possibility. If you've read The Secret, you probably know what I'm about to do.

I'm doing visualization to attract the things that I want. So here's my Philippine travel bucket list. Hopefully this inspires you to dream big, too!

*Last updated: February 23, 2013*

See, walk, swim Batanes - It's been my dream destination since I discovered the Philippine map.
Hop Bucas Grande Islands in Surigao - I missed out on this destination the last time I was in the area.
Visit Dinagat Island - Generally unexplored and totally away from the tourist trail.
See a humpback whale in Babuyan - After seeing the Whale shark up-close in Cebu, I now want to see more!
Jump the bungee in Danao, Bohol - It's. really. wild.
Check out the 3-lighthouses of Cape San Agustin (GovGen) - Lighthouses always leave me at awe, and they got three!
Swim and surf with the dugongs and turtles of Mati, Davao - I want to see a sea turtle in the wild!
Climb Mt.Guiting Guiting in Romblon - The veteran mountaineers I know always put this mountain on the top of their 'best mountains to climb' list.
Finish the Appalachian of Luzon, the Bontoc Circuit - The extended hiking trip of my dreams.
Very far-fetched, but I want to snorkel or dive the Tubbataha - Hey, we're all entitled to dream big.
Beach bum at El Nido, Palawan - Ahh.. to bask in the sun in a perfect island getaway..
Brave the Pacific in Polilio Islands - So near Manila, yet so far...
To walk the streets of Tawi-tawi - Feels foreign, but totally Filipino.
See a Tamaraw in the wild - An endangered endemic specie that I wish would be protected even further for my kid to see.
Ride the Bicol Express all the way! - When I was a kid, our house boy told me about his journey back to his hometown in Bicol. I haven't forgotten about that.
Camp out in Padre Burgos, Quezon - A friend highly recommends this place.
Taste freshly-picked Guimaras Mangoes - Even after the oil spill disaster, their mangoes are still undisputed!

Climbing Mt. Kinabalu - dream come true!

There you go. It's a working list, so let's cross these out one at a time!

Bike Trails: Blazing Coron's Backyard

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:21:00 +0000

Coron, Palawan

The prospect of biking in Coron tickled my fancy the first day I set foot in its small town streets. "It would be cool to roam here on wheels", I thought. And by coincidence, while idly roaming to the direction of the Ro-Ro port, I chance upon a bike rental shop. It just had to happen!

Suggested bike routes in and around Coron

Payong Bike (rental shop) is located along the National road. It is family-owned and managed by husband and wife Joey and Jing. I decided to hit the trails on my third day in the island. The two welcomed me with a big smile and let me pick out my ride without much ado. I chose a black KHS alite bike, tested the fit, wheels and brakes. The bikes were in great condition, almost new actually.

Turn right at the first big junction

Before they let me loose, I was asked to sign a release form (in case of accident and stuff), handed a helmet and a business card. You can also request for a bike chain if you like, at no extra cost. The bike rental fees are: P100 for 1 hour, P150 for 2 hours, P300 half day and P500 whole day.

goats lazying under the morning sun

On a wall inside the shop were suggested trail routes. The shortest one shows a total distance of 13K. I thought I'd go for that since I only had till afternoon to vagabond. Joey suggested a counter-clockwise loop starting towards Maquinit hot spings, but I decided to go other way around. I mean, I've seen the road up to Maquinit yesterday, and it wasn't really a motivating one. I make a quick stop to a water refilling station before I head out.

I trace back my morning walk route to the shop, this time on wheels. Not too far ahead, I turn right at a street that pointed to "Mabentagen Dam" and continued on what seemed like a backroad parallel to where I've just been. Thinking I was lost, I texted the number on the business card to make sure I was going the right way. He reassured me that I was doing fine. Rock and roll!

another big junction, I took the one on the right.

I pass by Mt. Tapyas hotel, still grinding rubber on cement. Things are not looking right. And then a short distance ahead, I stumble onto Mt. Tapyas road. So I was indeed on the wrong track. I just continued beyond the mountain's stairway and asked around for directions to Maquinit (Yes, the long way).

mysterious mountain range

Now officially entering Coron's backyard... Touristy sights are replaced by greenery. Keeping a leisurely pace, I cruise past thatch houses and stray goats. Rural life getting more evident, the concrete road finally reaches its end.

quiet and provincial

It's no single track trail, but I revel at the rough road that stretch ahead of me. It's almost devoid of vehicles and population. I kick up some dirt by pedaling harder. Around this time, the mid-morning sun peeks out of the clouds and reminds me that I should've put on some sunblock.

CCFT compound

All of a sudden, a massive gated compound catches my attention. Isolated like Area 51, I examine its whitewashed walls and find out that it's a school. I reckon seeing only one jeepney in this motorycle-dominated city the last 2 days; it had a sign board that says "CCFT". Connecting the dots, it was a school bus!

first water break

It's my first time to ride alone in an unfamiliar place, and the lack of civilization in sight makes me feel more isolated. I begin to doubt my strength and thoughts of "I should've just gone pasalubong shopping today" hamper my motivation. But then, brightly colored birds cross my path and I am re-energized. I've always wanted to name the birds I see, so maybe I'll be back here with a binoculars and a bird book next time.

another push section

Conscious of the time, I propel the bike enough to cover a good distance but not as much as to endanger myself. Although Joey assured me that he can pick me up anywhere on the trail using his motorbike, I didn't want to risk it (and embarrass myself at the same time).

The uphills are a challenge, mostly because I am not comfortable with the bike I am using. It's like using a different model of cellphone than what your nimble hands are used to. I push the bike on steep portions and get back on the saddle as soon as I find the incline manageable. Overall, the trail is a nice rolling playground, great even for first-timers.

resting at Maquinit hot spring's waiting shed

There aren't any trail signs in the 'woods' but I made a mental note that as soon as I get a glimpse of the sea, it means I am on the last couple of kilometers to Maquinit. The path starts to get narrow now and my heartbeat races as I plunge to a steep downhill. After I make it, I see a nice view of the Siete Pecados islands. Yes! Checking my altitude from my Amazon-bought Suunto Vector watch (yes, it's cheaper there), I discover that I am rolling on sea-level.

Look they're surveying the road. It'd be paved with cement soon.

It's been almost 2 hours when I reach the junction to Maquinit. I take five in its waiting shed, glad to be on a familiar place. After this area, the road sides get increasingly lined with houses and I encounter more faces. It feels great to be back on the radar.

Two roads, one destination. I take the one on the left, passing by a fishing village

I feel proud of myself for having blazed Coron's backyard. I make a quick pasalubong stop at Coron Harvest (cashew nuts) before I dash back to Payong bike shop. They clocked me at two-and-a-half hours but I manage to haggle down my bill to just the two-hour rate (P150).

One great ride!

Later, I would check Google Maps and find out where I deviated from shop's trail map, giving me an awesome 15K workout instead of just 13K! Here it is, the completed Coron bike route loop:

View Coron 15k bike loop in a larger map
*This is not a sponsored post*

Check out my other articles on Coron here:
Coron tour itinerary (3D/2N)
10 things I learned about Coron
List of Coron accommodations

List of Coron Accommodations

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 01:40:00 +0000

Coron, Palawan is a fast-growing tourist hub. And where there's visitors, there's got to be accommodations.

When I visited the place for the first time, I had to walk around the city to look for a cheap place to stay. I got a bunch of brochures here, and instead of throwing them straight to the bin, I'm putting them to good use.

Here's a round-up of Coron resorts, hotels, inns, lodging houses (in no particular order):

***This is not a sponsored post and I am not connected to any of these resorts, so please contact them yourself for reservations***

Budget Rooms

Kokosnuss Resort
Rudolf & Jorg Weih, National Road, Bgy. 6, Coron
(+63919) 4487879, (+63919) 7769544
www.kokosnuss.info
Price range: ~P600 small cottage, shared bath. ~P880-P1500 large fan rooms. ~P1980-P2880 aircon rooms, hot shower, TV.

Coron Backpacker Guesthouse
Coron bay
(+63947) 9595205
palawan-coron-backpacker.com
Price range: ~P380-P500 fan rooms, shared bath. Includes use of living room, kitchen, WIFI, unlimited coffee/drinking water, TV.

Samantha's Place
(beside PSU) Sitio dipulao, National Highway, Bgy. 6, Coron
(+63917) 9337223, (+63919) 6323224
Price range: ~P500 fan room, ~P750 aircon double room (I suppose it's a shared bathroom set-up). Includes welcome drinks,linens, towels, TV, unlimited coffee/creamer/drinking water, toiletry pack.
A fully furnished transient house, 10 minutes from downtown.

Seadive Resort
Coron bay
(+63920) 9458714, (+63918) 4000448
www.seadiveresort.com
Price range: ~P400 fan room, shared bath. ~P800 fan room, private bath. ~P1100-P1400 aircon room, private bath. Hot/cold shower included.
Dive resort. Visa and Mastercard accepted with 5% surcharge.

Villa Hermosa Bed & Breakfast
San Agustin St., Bgy. Pob 2, Coron
(+63929) 3204018
villahermosabnb@yahoo.com
Price range: ~P500 single/P700 double occupancy fan room, shared bath. ~P1100 twin sharing, aircon, shared bath. ~P1400 twin sharing big room, private bath.
Breakfast P100/day. Unlimited coffee/drinking water.

Rudy's Place Lodge
Barangay 6, Coron
(+63949) 6474175, (+63905) 3188502
Price range: ~P600-P1000 fan room good for 3. P900 superior fan room good for 4. P1200-P1500 aircon good for 3-4, some rooms have kitchen . All rooms have private bath, TV.
10 minutes from downtown.

Crystal Lodge
Coron bay
Price range: P450-P600 fan rooms, shared bath.

Cozy/Mid-Range Lodging

R2R Bayview Inn (Rags 2 Riches)
207 Pob. 5, National highway, Coron
(+63928) 5002994, (+63999) 6643554
bayviewinn@rocketmail.com
Price range: P500 fan room. P1000-P1250 double occupancy, aircon, hot/cold shower. P1800 room for 4, aircon, hot/cold shower.
All rooms airconditioned, with veranda, private bath and cable TV. Free WIFI, videoke.

SPA Paradise n Cafe
Bgy. Pob. 1, Coron (Next to Coron Village Lodge)
(+632) 5420274, (+62928) 5083074
Price range: (single rate/double rate: cash payment) P1300/P1500 room, P1400/P1700 room with breakfast, P1650/P2250 room with bfast and back massage.

Ralph's Pension House
172 National highway, Bgy. 3, Coron
(+63921) 6315449, (+63915) 4432193, (+63918) 7162753
www.ralphspensionhouse.webs.com
Price Range: ~P1000-P1300 rooms good for 2. ~P1300-P2500 rooms good for 3-4, ~P3200-4400 rooms good for 5-7. Some bathrooms are located outside the room.
Welcome drinks, towels, bath soap, toilet paper, unlimited coffee/drinking water, WIFI, videoke. All rooms have aircon and TV.

Oriental Lodging House
Mao building (in front of tourism center), Coron
(+63919) 8282934
coronorientallodge.webs.com
Price range: ~P980 twin room, shared bath. ~P1280-P1680 rooms with private bath. All rooms have aircon and hot/cold shower. Other services: Free WIFI, internet cafe, massage, airport transfer, satellite TV.

Coron Village Lodge
134 National highway, Bgy 1, Coron
(+632) 8053414, (+632) 4013493, (+63928) 2020819, (+63916) 4200252
www.coronvillagelodge.com
Price range: (just some rates I got from Facebook) Triple Room P1850. Family room P4200, Good for 7 persons. Rooms have aircon, private bath, hot/cold shower and cable TV.

Shirl Baywalk Pension House
Barangay Pob. 3, Coron
(+63916) 6636631
shirlbaywalkpensionhouse.webs.com
Price range: ~P1200 double occupancy, shared bath. ~P1400-1500 double occupancy, private bath, TV. ~P2500 room good for 4, private bath, TV. All rooms airconditioned.

Hotel/Resort Type

Coron Ecolodge
Calle Real, Bgy. Pob. 2, Coron
(+63906) 4556090, (+63919) 2048824
www.coronecolodge.com
Price range: ~P1898 double standard room with buffet breafast for 2.
Airconditioned rooms with cable TV, WIFI at the lobby, hot/cold shower.

Asia Grand View Hotel
Jolo, Bgy. 5, Coron, Palawan
(+632) 4006261, (+63917) 5507375, (+63917) 5507374
www.asiagrandview.com
Price range: ~P13,700 3D/2N single occupancy package, includes airport transfers, island tour, welcome drinks, use of facilities, meals and back massage.

Coron Hilltop View Resort
Bgy.Sitio Dipulao, Poblacion 6, Coron
(+632) 775-4517, (+63908) 7272595, (+63916) 7303081
www.coronhilltopview.com
Price range: P3000-P5000 depending on room size. includes welcome drinks, breakfast, gift, use of facilities.
Villa type buildings, aircon rooms, hot/cold shower, intercom, cable TV, pool, trekking area, WIFI at lobby, parking. 10 minutes from downtown.

Mt. Tapyas Hotel
Calle Nueva St., Bgy. Pob. 5, Coron
(+63917) 5005566
coronpalawan.net
Price range: Bayview rooms - P1694-P1936. Mountainview rooms - P1392-P1513. Family bayview room good for 4 - P2420.
All rooms with aircon, hot/cold shower, TV, intercom. 10 minutes from downtown.

Coron Gateway Hotel & Suites
Coron town
(+6302) 8877107, (+6302) 8874590
www.corongateway.com
Price range: ~P3960-P6800 Junior suites, 2-4 persons. ~P6000-P8000 executive, presidential suites, 2-4 persons.
All rooms have private balcony, Cable TV, Reverse cycle air conditioning, WIFI, marble bathrooms, hot/cold shower.

***All information were taken from brochures I gathered during my trip to Coron in July 2012 (updated room rates were taken from their websites)***

Check out my other articles on Coron here:
Coron tour itinerary (3D/2N)
10 things I learned about Coron
Biking in Coron's backyard

Are you a resort/inn/lodging house owner? Please leave a comment or contact me to get your place listed here :)

Coron, Palawan Tour Itinerary: 3 Days

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:02:00 +0000

Found my spot in Coron, overlooking town and nearby islands

Backpacking, Beach | Coron Town and Island Hopping Tour Itinerary
Coron Town, Busuanga, Calamianes group of islands, Palawan
Specs: Town tour, hiking, island hopping, snorkeling, white sand beaches, lagoon, Maquinit hot springs, mangrove walk, souvenir shopping.
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

NOTES
This was roughly my 3-days-2-nights itinerary when I went on a solo trip to Coron, Palawan; it is best suited for a long weekend escape. If it is your first time to do a Coron tour, I suggest you visit this page, too: 10 things every tourist in Coron might want to know.

Getting there:

There are daily flights to Coron from Manila via Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express and ZestAir.
The airport in Coron Island is located in Busuanga (airport code USU), about 30 minutes away from Coron town proper.
Passenger vans await outside the airport terminal to take you to Coron town proper (P150 per person).
There are also jeepneys to Coron town, but these are rare and would take 2 legs.

INDIE TIP: The van from the airport can take you anywhere within Coron town. I asked the driver if I can stick around while he drops off the other passengers (some to their doorstep!) so I can get a quick city familiarization tour.

Accommodation/Hotels in Coron:

There are many lodging houses in Coron to suit every budget. Backpacker style rooms cost around P300-P450 per night; Small hotels charge around P500-P1000 and more popular resort hotels can cost upwards P1200 per night. If you’re also travelling solo, ask for a single occupancy room rate, most of the time, the hotel can slash a few hundred pesos from the published rate.
To make your life easier, I will make a list of hotels/lodging/resorts in Coron (soon).
Some lodging houses are located by the floating houses on the bay like the Seadive Resort, Coron Backpacker Guesthouse and Crystal Lodge. The idea is really good but it requires about a 2-minute walk on stilt paths - not good for a female soloist (or a drunk male!) at night - and it left me wondering where the waste water goes, so I opted for the ones inland.
I checked in at R2R (Rags 2 Riches) Inn because the room was clean, had its own bathroom, TV (not that I needed it), free WiFi and I got the single occupancy rate even if the room had two beds in it.

Itinerary:
Day 1

The airport in Coron is pretty small, so arrival is a breeze. You claim your baggage right at the gate since they don’t have a conveyor belt.
Pick up some brochures from the airport in case you are still looking for a place to stay. Sun cellular network has no signal in Coron.
If your hotel reservation allows free airport transfers, take advantage of that. Otherwise, take a van to Coron Town (P150).
Ask to be dropped off at the tourism office so you can ask for travel information and a city map (if available).
There are 3 ATMs in the town center: BPI, Landbank and Allied Bank. Other options are Western Union, Palawan Pawnshop, LBC and the like.
Pick up tour brochures after lunch as you do your walking tour around town. Island hopping tours in Coron are set up in packages which vary per tour operator. It’s usually 4-6 islands/areas per package (P600-P1000+ per person). This means that you won’t get to visit all destinations in one go as each tour can last an entire day.
Visit the Coron Harvest’s cashew processing shop (factory?).

INDIE TIP: If you’re travelling large (or in a large group), you can do a custom island tour by renting your own boat. That way, you can choose where you want to go and have more control of the time spent in each destination. It’s more cost efficient to split the cost in a larger group but honeymooners might also want to do this option so they can have the boat for themselves.

After signing up for an island tour, set off for Mt. Tapyas.
The entry point to Mt.Tapyas can be found on Tapyas Road, and the end of San Agustin St. You can take a tricycle or hike your way there (it’s hard to miss). The 700-plus-step climb to the viewdeck should take less than an hour. Mt. Tapyas offers a panoramic view of Coron town and the outlying Calamianes islands.
It would be nice to witness the sun set atop the mountain but this also means that you may have to descend the mountain in the dark. Okay, there are lightposts, but you’ll never know because Coron implements rotating brownouts throughout the day
Last items on the day’s agenda: shower and dinner before before calling it a night.

Food:

Coron people eat the same stuff Manila people do. Traditional local fares can be found in carinderias (eateries) all around town. Some may specialize in a particular dish, but overall the choices are pretty standard.
Restaurants in Coron are simple. Some may offer intecontinental dishes like Schnitzels and pancakes but don’t expect to see franchised fastfoods nor fancy airconditioned joints. I spotted a few neighborhood coffee shops for those who need their daily caffeine fix.
You’d expect seafood to be cheap and abundant in a beach town. I did, too. But when I looked around, it seemed like good seafood fares had a tourist price tag. So I settled for cheap fried fish in a local carinderias instead.

Itinerary:
Day 2

Day 2 is reserved for your island hopping tour. Simply show up at the pre-arranged rendezvous spot and wait for your tour guide. Lunch is usually included in the tour package cost, so you only have to bring water and some snacks with you.
If you’re a brekkie, go ahead and have breakfast first before you embark on the tour.
Aside from your swim-ready outfit, I suggest you pack these, too, for island hopping day: dry bag, waterproof gadget bag (a ziplock bag will do), cover up such as a sarong, water, snacks, camera, sun protection (sunblock, shades, wide-brim hat) and snorkeling gear (otherwise, it’s P100-200 to rent them). Bouyancy vests are provided in the boat.
Taking a packaged island hopping tour means you’ll be sharing a boat with other guests. Take this opportunity to get to know other travelers like you.
The island tour usually ends at around 5:00PM, when the tour boat drops you off at the dock.
From the dock, walk back to the main road and hire a tricycle to take you to Maquinit hot springs and back. It’s about P200-300, depending on how much time the driver has to wait for you. An hour is usually enough to relax your tired muscles.
Explore the mangrove walk and take a dip at the hot spring pools of Maquinit (37-40 degrees Celsius). Entrance fee is P150 for all-day use, including picnic tables and changing rooms.
A sari-sari store sells basic needs and snacks inside the compound. Pretty handy because guests are not allowed to bring outside food.
There are no shower areas in Maquinit so you can either change into dry clothes or ride back to town sporting a ‘wet look’.
After taking a shower in your room, invite your new found friends for dinner and maybe a round of drinks.

Day 3

You’ll be flying home on day 3. Depending on the time of your flight, you can still maximize your stay in Coron
o Mid-morning flight: souvenir shopping, zipline
o Afternoon flight: rent a bike (this is what I did), half-day island tour
o Night flight: another day-long island hopping tour
Contact your van driver from Day 1 to arrange your airport transfer. Fare is still P150.

Options:

From Coron town, you can also explore neighboring towns by land or boat. Famous ones include Culion, Coron (Island) and the Calauit Safari.
Trips to El Nido can also be arranged from Coron. Travel time is around 6 hours on boat. In comparison, it is 5 hours by land + 1 hour boat ride to El Nido if you’re coming from Puerto Princesa City.

Budget: around P 3950 per pax excluding airfare
Budget estimate for 1 person:
P300 van
P350 tricycle rides
P1000 lodging (budget room)
P650 island hopping package
P150 Maquinit hot spring
P1000 meals, snacks
P500 misc (tips, drinks, etc)

Itinerary and expenses recorded on July 2012.

Roads are ruled by motorbikes and tricycles

Backyard of mountains

View of the town, reclaimed land and Coron island

Cheapest island hopping tour at a shop near the wharf

Spending sundown at Maquinit hot springs

Coron harvest: cashew processing and souvenir shop

I rented a bike. Bike Trails blog about it soon!

Kasoy - Cashew produce and a native basket

A windy afternoon at the boulevard.

Inside Coron airport, see you next time!

EndDanger: Art and Music Fest Fundraiser 2013

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:25:00 +0000

EndDanger: Art and Music Fest Fundraiser
Conspiracy Garden Cafe, 59 Visayas Ave., Project 6, Quezon City
January 19, 2013 (Saturday)

Artists for Nature and Save Philippine Seas (SPS) present: EndDanger, an eco art and music festival fundraiser for the benefit of SPS' Pawikan Watchers.

There is undeniably a growing problem of endangerment to our ecosystem. Our forests and marine life are increasingly affected by habitat destruction, pollution and commercial exploitation. Many animal species are now in the brink of extinction. It's time to End the threats that pose Danger to Philippine animals.

The event seeks to raise funds to help conserve, raise awareness and protect these endangered species. It will kickoff on January 19, 2013 with performances from Flying Ipis, Extrapolation, and Peso Movement at Conspiracy Garden Cafe. The highlight of the event is the mixed media artwork exhibit by Artists for Nature, which will be on display until Feb 8, 2013.

Ticket price is P120, including 1 beer stub.

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to SPS' Pawikan Watchers training program to strengthen the monitoring of the Philippines' most threatened species, the Pawikan (sea turtle).

How to get there:

View Larger Map

~

Save Philippine Seas (SPS) is an independent movement that fights abuse of our aquatic resources through legal discourse and social media. It runs in cooperation with Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).

Pawikan Watchers aims to educate volunteers from different parts of the Philippines on the ecology and biology of sea turtles (under PAWB-approved guidelines).

Travel Tips: 10 Things I Learned About Coron

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:56:00 +0000

It's been a while since I went on an independent journey, so I was as giddy as a preschooler on her first field trip the day of my Coron flight. Just as I boarded the bombardier plane, it was Traveler Mode: ON. And it stayed on until I was back in Manila 2 days after.

Coron gave me a taste of Palawan that lingered so much so that I wanted to book another flight back there to experience more. Of course, I wouldn't have made it alive without the help of some friendlies I met, from the person sitting next to me in the plane, to the stranger I travelled with on the way back to the airport. In my 3 days in Coron, I learned quite a few things about the place, some of which would be really helpful for first-timers. So here are 10 things (I think) every Coron traveler should know:

About Coron

1. Arriving in Coron - The airport in Coron is actually located in the Island of Busuanga (boos-wang-ga) in a town named after the same island (airport code USU). Coron Island is the large island facing Coron town. Confusing, eh? Anyway, it's about 30 minutes to get to Coron town proper by van (fare P150).

2. The airport cows - Grazing cows welcome arriving passengers as soon as they drive out of Busuanga airport. From what I heard, the cows were part of the late president Marcos's project to turn Palawan into a tourism frontier. They're said to be imported from New Zealand. It was an odd sight for a city girl like me since I've never seen that many cows outside of a Monterey farm.

3. Cuyunon - Busuanga Island is a part of Palawan's Calamian group of islands. The major dialect spoken there is supposedly Cuyunon, but in Coron town proper, pretty much everyone speaks English and Tagalog (National language). A lot of the people are migrants from other parts of the country. But nobody is a stranger, everybody knows everybody in town.

Accomodation and Tours

4. Coron hotels - Coron offers different types of accommodations, depending on the traveler's preference and budget. A lot of them are right smack in the town center while others are a tricycle ride away. Some lodging houses are located above the waters on the bay like the Seadive Resort, Coron Backpacker Guesthouse and Crystal Lodge. Although I liked the idea of staying near the water, getting there requires about a 2-minute walk on stilt paths - not good for a female soloist like me (or a drunk male) at night. It also got me wondering where the waste water goes, so I opted for the ones inland.

5. Getting around - Tricycles are the main means of transportation around the town. It seemed like jeepneys are saved for long distance destinations and delivery of produce. But walking is an even healthier option. The town proper is small enough to be toured on foot, from the harbor center, to the Roro port, all the way to Mt. Tapyas viewdeck 700+ steps above the sea! (Yes, i went on foot to these places)

6. Island hopping - It used to be that you have to rent your own boat and pay entrance fees at every island/destination you wish to visit, spending upwards P2000 on a single day tour if you don't have company. Now, the island tours have been packaged so that tourists can simply sign up for a tour and the operator would pool them together to maximize each boat trip. These new island tour packages start at P600 per person and come with buffet lunch (rates vary depending on the destinations included in the package). DIY-ing it is still possible if you want to take full control of your boat.

Business in Coron

7. Souvenirs - When shopping for take-home gifts, only 3 things stood out for me: dried seafood, cashew nuts and handwoven baskets. I was surprised to find out that the major pasalubong (take-home gift) item, cashews, was only harvested once-a-year (Feb-May). So sellers have to keep them stocked for as long as 8 months to make sure they have cashews to sell all year round. Bring a recyclable bag if you can because Coron is a no-plastic city.

8. Business - Coron town proper is still provincial at best. Establishments generally close early; the latest restaurants would stay up is around 10PM. Some banks are visible, such as BPI and Landbank but you'd still want to have cash with you because when I was there, the phone lines went down and some tourists couldn't withdraw any money. Sun cellular (mobile service provider) signal was poor (in fact, zilch), but I assume that would improve since Sun has been absorbed by Smart.

9. Rotating brownout - There's a shortage of power in Palawan, so in Coron, they implement a rotating brownout scheme. It's like the rolling blackout of the US, but in a small scale. At night, you could be walking on a street where people are eating in candle light to your left side and people singing videoke on your right. When I came back to town from Maquinit hot springs, we passed by a blacked out street but I could see the lone cross atop Mt. Tapyas all lit up in glory (which was quite ironic, nobody needed light up there at that time of the night).

10. Food - Food in Coron is nothing special, when you eat in carinderias. I expected cheap seafood, but no, seafood is sold at a premium. Small al-fresco restaurants that dot the town offer them but I felt they're too pricey for a budget traveler like me. Apparently, good seafood bounty are all exported to Manila (and onwards to other countries including Japan and China). When some food are exported, some are imported. A local Palaweno told me that most meats and even vegetables are imported from Manila! Oh, and the beer, too. So that explained the food prices.

Coron is fast developing but still has that provincial charm that backpackers love. 3 days was only enough to explore the town and a handful of islands. There are still a lot to explore in this part of Northern Palawan, and I intend to share them with you when I come back!

Check out my other articles on Coron here:
Coron tour itinerary (3D/2N)
Biking in Coron's backyard
List of Coron accommodations

Suroy-Suroy Sa Sugbo (Cebu City Walking Tour Itinerary)

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:29:00 +0000

It was Sinulog week and my sister is visiting Cebu for the first time. She had just graduated from college and by coincidence there was an airline seat sale. As a graduation present, I booked her a ticket so she can join me and my kid on our visit to Cebu.

I'm no Cebuano but I've been there quite a lot in recent years, so I pretty much know where to bring first-time visitors. For her first day, we did a Cebu City Heritage Walking Tour!

This walking tour was memorable to me because I got to play the tour guide and we did it with my then 2-year old kid in tow!

First off, here's a quick map of our route:

View Cebu City Walking Tour in a larger map

The entire walking tour covers less than 2 kilometers of road, so this should be a piece of cake; no need to be fit or anything like that.

So let's go!

From the place we were staying at in Mandaue, we took a taxi cab to Casa Gorordo Museum in Lopez Jaena St. Our fare was P105.

Casa Gorordo Museum was the home of the first Filipino bishop in Cebu, Juan Gorordo. Inside, we saw some antiques, church memorabilia and more antiques. Photography was not allowed inside the turn-of-the-century-home-turned-museum, so we settled for outdoor pics instead.

The entrance fee was P40 (adult). My sister was still technically a student then (she still hasn't 'marched'), so hers was P15 (college student). Hann got in for free. International guests would have to pay P70, HS students P10.

We stayed there for about an hour. After rubbing our soles on the lovely bermuda grass and 50 failed jump-shots, we started on foot to the Yap-Sandiego house. It was just a few meters away but the midday sun beat down on us, so we couldn't resist buying some milky buko (coconut) juice from a peddler (P10 x 2).

The Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House was filled with antique nick-knacks. Heck, the house is so antique, the entire structure creaks whenever somebody walked on its second floor! It's an exaggeration, but it's really in disrepair - really old.

The entrance fee was P50 (adult) and P25 (student). Inside the pseudo-museum, one would have a good idea how the Cebuanos lived back in the days. The ancestral house is open at 9am-6pm daily.

Our next stop was the Cebu Heritage Monument. It was located in a triangular lot right across the street.

There's no entrance fee to this one, but as much as we wanted to stay longer, the sun got more fierce. Note to reader: you might want to bring a wide-brimmed hat or an umbrella when you do this walking tour of Cebu.

We took some requisite shots and then we proceeded to our next stop at the oldest street in the Philippines - The Colon Obelisk at Colon Street.

This marker, which also serves as a sundial, stands in the middle of a busy street so look out for it or you might miss it.

Not feeling tired at all (chos), we troop to our next stop two blocks away: The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Beside it is the Cathedral Museum which also houses religious relics and artifacts.

I recommend that even non-Catholics visit the churches included in this itinerary because these are part of the Filipino heritage.

Just a stone's throw away is the more famous Basilica Minore del Santo Nino de Cebu. The place was packed that day being only a few days before the annual Sinulog Festival (feast of Santo Nino, the Child Jesus).

The main building is centuries old but still stands grand to this day. Colorful buntings add festivity to the church's usually solemn atmosphere.

A short prayer, some requisite shots indoor and outdoor, and we were on our way to another famous landmark.

The birth of Catholicism all started at this place, the Magellan's Cross. Ferdinand Magellan planted a wooden cross at this spot many, many moons ago.

We've all seen it in books during grade school, but when we actually come face-to-face with it for the first time, my sister's reaction was the same as mine: "Ito na pala yun". But this is really a significant turning point in Philippine history, so that's that.

Getting a little hungry now, we fuel up on some sugar (P10 x 2). When we finished, we ambled to the next destination in our itinerary: Plaza Independencia.

The plaza was freshly renovated when we got there. It wasn't as clean and open the first time I went there. I was glad they polished this place up.

My sister has been a good sport the entire day. We took turns carrying the little tot around. Sure he can walk, but he prefers to run around to places kids are not supposed to go.

At the Plaza, we encounter a busload of students heading for our next stop. We decided to fall behind so we can have better (clear background) photos in Fort San Pedro.

Fort San Pedro is like a miniature version of Manila's Intramuros. It's said to be the oldest standing triangular bastion in the country. The walls are made of coral stone and a small museum is housed inside.

Some souvenir shops can also be found inside the fort, but we passed on those. No time for shopping - we were famished!

Ahhh yes! Our last stop is at AA BBQ (Barbecue), a popular grill-style restaurant that turns into a watering hole at night. Food there is affordable and cooked upon order.

We rested our tired leg muscles while feasting on grilled chorizo, pork liempo, scallop soup and seaweed salad. Yuuum! Our bill totaled P395.

This entire itinerary took us around 4.5 hours to complete. And looking back at the Cebu City Tour Itinerary I drafted over three years ago, this one took more time. I'd say that is because of the additional destinations and the added effort in walking. Still, it's doable and most definitely worth it!

Total expenses: P670 for two people (one person on student rate)

This is my contribution to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers Blog Carnival for October 2012 on the topic "Philippine Walking Tours" hosted by Glenn Martinez, the Traveler on Foot.

Here are the past blog carnival topics: PTB Blog Carnival

Siargao Resorts: Cloud 9 Tourist Map

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 02:32:00 +0000

-->
When I went to Siargao a couple of months ago, the strategy was to wing it - 'no reservations' ala Anthony Bourdain. But the motorcycle driver didn't seem to know which resorts to recommend so I had to rely on the little research notes I managed to jot down on my plane ticket print out (thanks to other bloggers!).

Doing research on Siargao resorts was quite a pain because of limited resources - and partly because I was cramming at the time. That's why I decided to create this Siargao Tourist Map series.

Here is a detailed map of the most happening area in Siargao: Cloud 9 - where arguably the best swells in the country crash all year round!

-->
HERE is the full-size image link.

Here is a list of Cloud 9 resorts with contact numbers:

Ocean 101 - (+63)910-8480893, (+63)919-8268837
Patrick's on Cloud 9 - (+63)920-4024356, (+63)929-3455566, (+63)920-8929727
Ocean Pacific Inn - (+63)908-3932796
Point 303 - (+63)919-9371611
Sagana Resort - (+63)919-8095769, (+63)928-960 7745, (+63)921-5395485, (+63)928-7942865
Boardwalk Inn At Cloud 9 - (+63)939-1641268
Kesa Cloud 9 - (+63)929-4116464
Kawayan Resort - (+63)920-3640663

* +63 is the country code for Philippines; these are all mobile numbers.

Hopefully, this will be helpful for those who are visiting Cloud 9 for the first time. At least you have an idea which resorts to search for, or where to direct your motorcycle driver when you arrive on the island. ~~I'm still working on~~ Here is a link to my Siargao Itinerary; follow me on FB to receive new post updates!

If you have additional information for this info map, feel free to contact me, or simply leave a comment so I can edit it.

*updated March 2013

Bike Trails: Morning Rides at MOA

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:03:00 +0000

Here's something I've been missing these past few weeks: Biking in MOA. Every morning, the stretch of road behind SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay turns into a fitness haven. You'd be surprised at the amount of city folks who turn up at the boulevard, panting their socks off just as the sun rises.

Better than spinning class

I start my bike route from our home in Quirino Ave., make my way towards Taft Ave. and then on to Roxas Boulevard. The road is pretty quiet at 6:00 in the morning, but I am still cautious because the next car could be driven by a drunk driver who has just seen an installment of a Fast and Furious movie.

Red means stop

Turning left at the intersection, I catch a glimpse of Manila Yacht Club before entering the CCP grounds. I usually pedal on Sundays, but lately fun runs (mini marathons) have been blocking off a good part of my bike route, so I try to go out on Saturday mornings instead.

CCP fitness center

Groups of joggers challenge themselves up and down the CCP building ramp. Sometimes, I spot members of the Philippine Coast Guard do their morning training here, too. On the opposite side of the road, patrons swing and sway their bodies in chaotic unison to the loud, energetic disco-version music of Gotye (or some other pop music). Their leader, clad in full aerobics gear, stands in front on a low platform that passes for a stage.

Thankful for these lanes

Moving along, I pass by Harbor Square, the tennis courts, badminton courts, basketball courts and the Folk Arts Theater. People of all ages mill about, some already onto their breakfast. I chance upon a couple of guys carrying boat paddles. They're probably dragon boat rowers, fresh out of Manila Bay.

The WTC in Pasay

Past the Coconut Palace, I start to pick up some speed since there is less foot traffic in the area. There goes Sofitel and the Film Center to my right. As I turn the corner, the World Trade Center appears in my line of sight. I have now passed my self-imposed halfway point.

Here is a map of my MOA bike route (~10km):

View MOA morning bike route 10k+ in a larger map
The CCP side of Macapagal Boulevard is lined by 'dampa'-style restaurants. They're restaurants that cook fresh food customers pick right out of a wet market conveniently located in the premises. I stay on the motorcycle lane and try to keep my pace as I pass by the establishments. This portion of the ride serves as my warm up for the workout that lay ahead of me.

I race only with myself

Turning right on Seaside Boulevard, I am immediately joined by (okay, joined into) hundreds of bikers. Much like in CCP and Luneta Park, people come here to engage in different sorts of exercises. But MOA has, in my opinion, the most bike-friendly route because the road is hump-free and pedestrians keep their loitering to the baywalk area.

Asleep: the MOA Eye is still closed

In the morning, the mall complex looks like a sleeping giant, playing only the role of a backdrop to all the action happening outside it. "Inhale, inhale, exhale exhale" - I pump on the pedals - right, left, right, left. The wheels gain some velocity and I settle for a pace I can live with, at least for the next 2-3 laps.

My lap ends here.

In my case, each lap begins at the Seaside Boulevard entrance and ends at the Shrine of Jesus the Way church, where I make a u-turn. Some bikers go way past this landmark - I really don't know how far they go.

I have developed a liking to this building

During the rounds, I encounter a group or two of road bikers (those with skinny bikes and tight cycling shorts) going twice my speed. They're probably on a time trial run or training for something big so I get out of their way and retreat to the far side of the road.

PICC and the Coconut Palace

I trace my course twice or thrice, until my legs start to feel like jelly. That's my cue for a short water break. Gauging my strength and the sun's position in the sky, I decide whether to go for another lap or just cool down on the way home.

Airing up before the ride

Each morning ride to MOA is a short (indie) escape on an otherwise lazy weekend. On the way home, there are slightly more vehicles to dodge. But I don't mind because I am now in a happy place, thanks to the morning endorphins!

Dingalan: Aurora's Cul de Sac

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:21:00 +0000

On our way to Baler last year, we made an overnight stopover in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija to visit some relatives. From there, a trip to Dingalan was irresistible.

The municipality of Dingalan flanks the Sierra Madres to the Southeast. It is separated from the rest of Aurora province by the said mountain range. Access to its main town center is easy via the scenic Gabaldon-Dingalan road.

To reach the rest of Aurora, though, one has to backtrack as far as Bongabon before re-entering Aurora via the mountainous Bongabon-Baler road or the farther Pantabangan road - hence, a cul de sac.

Here is a map if Dingalan, Aurora:

View Larger Map

A known fish port, locals of neighboring Nueva Ecija and even Bulacan flock to Brgy. Aplaya in Dingalan carrying empty coolers early in the mornings to get their share of the day's catch.

Yellow fins, large shrimps and squids were a popular sight in the seaside fish market that day. There were also some fishes I couldn't name.

I forgot how much the going rate was but I reckon the prices did not veer away that much from Manila's. I wondered if we were getting the 'tourist' treatment.

The place indeed has a promising tourism potential. Beach resorts can be found along the coast of Dingalan bay. The sand is grayish, but the Pacific water is inviting nonetheless.

Fisherfolk offer boat tours to hidden beach coves, including the curious Lamao cave. There are also numerous waterfalls to be discovered inland.

The newly constructed (re-constructed, I believe) port is like a shining pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that is the highway. It is rumored that the area is being groomed to be the another 'Port Irene (Cagayan North)'. It left me with an impression of progress.

Our visit to Dingalan was brief and before long, we were making a u-turn to head back to Gabaldon once again.

Review: Calatagan Peninsula Resort (CAPOceans Foundation), Batangas

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:19:00 +0000

Tranquil afternoon in Calatagan

Resort Review | Calatagan Peninsula Resort (CAPOceans Foundation facility)
Brgy. Bagong Silang, Calatagan, Batangas

I don't know how many times I went back and forth Calatagan to look for a resort that would be perfect for our family summer vacation. Thankfully, I only did it in Google Maps.

My effort proved to be worth it when we arrived in the CAPOceans Foundation facility (now Calatagan Peninsula Resort).

We got there earlier than expected. Upon checking-in, I learned that our room was still occupied by guests from the day before. The resort accommodated us by giving us a smaller temporary room before we could settle into the seaside dorm/family room that we originally reserved.

Before I dive into the details, some basics first:

HOW TO GET THERE

The resort is located on the road leading to Cape Santiago lighthouse. Its green perimeter fence is hard to miss.

Approaching the main gate (shot taken along the main road)

Private car: Drive to Tagaytay (via Aguinaldo highway or Santa Rosa exit in South expressway). From Tagaytay, take the road to Nasugbu, Batangas. Drive straight to Palico junction; from there drive towards the direction of Lian, Batangas. Calatagan is the next town after Lian.

From Calatagan town proper, the resort is about 10 kilometers into the peninsula.

Commute: Take a bus going to Calatagan, Batangas. There are buses in Pasay-EDSA, Lawton terminal, Alabang terminal and Cubao (Ali Mall) bus terminal. From the town proper (where the bus terminal is located), take a tricycle (passenger motorcycle) to the resort.

Travel time is 3-4 hours. See the detailed Calatagan itinerary here.

View Larger Map
RESORT AND BEACH GROUNDS

Yesyes, pleasecomein

CAPOceans (Conserve And Protect Oceans) Foundation's Calatagan Peninsula Resort is located within the Madrigal's span of land in Barangay Bagong Silang. The place is a working facility that overlooks the maintenance of the artificial reef and general waters in the area.

The main gate opens up to a parking lot which can fit vehicles as large as a tourist bus. A few steps away is the main building where the small admin office is located. The rest of the building is dedicated for the multipurpose hall, kitchen, outdoor dining hall and restrooms.

All facilities are available for guests to use. Sit around and enjoy the sound of rustling leaves while checking your email in the WiFi zone main building. Although, there's probably a fee to use the multipurpose hall for an extended period (seminars, team building, and the like).

Across the main building is a row of room accommodations aptly named after different fish species.

The resort's beach line is located further down the property. A cemented path with blooms and tendrils overhead leads down to the shore which is only a few meters away.

Rooms to the left, main bldg to the right

beach coming, turning over rocks haha

It is quite a different scene on this side of the resort. A tall Talisay tree guards the sandy tanning (tambay) area. The water is separated by a low cement wall since their part of the beach is more rocky (corals) than sandy. The dorm-type beach front rooms are located here.

FOOD

Squids at (gasp drool!) P70 per kilo

The kitchen is open for anybody's business (pots, pans, stove, utensils, refrigerator) as long as the place isn't too busy. There are also outdoor grilling stations in the beach area where guests can cook barbecue-style. Calatagan Peninsula Resort is not a full-service resort where you can call room service at the drop of a hat, but when food is concerned, their staff are willing to source ingredients and do the cooking for a small fee.

A tiny sari-sari store can be found across the road outside the resort. It only sells a few basic needs so I suggest you fill up on supplies from the public market in Calatagan town proper (10km away). Another option is driving to the fishing village where fresh seafood and a much bigger sari-sari store can be found. Just drive past the resort and look for the basketball court (about 3 km away).

ROOMS

The resort offers two types of rooms - one for a small group and another for a big group. The smaller rooms are located in the complex beside the main building. Each room can sleep 2-3 guests (up to 5 when additional mattresses are requested). It has 2 beds (1 single, 1 double), airconditioning, a small patio, toilet and bath.

Our temporary room

A single and a double bed, good for 3

The rate is P2,500 for a 24-hour stay (extra charge for mattress is around P400, can't remember the exact figure). The rooms look and smell quite new. The beds are made from wood (not the cheap bamboo types) and I don't remember seeing a monoblock chair around.

Reef pyramid blocks (see them when you go for a dive)

The dorm-type rooms to the left)

Down by the shore are the dorm-type family rooms. Four bunk beds sleeps 8 persons (plus a couple more when you request for extra beds). It is also air-conditioned, has extra ceiling fans, a verandah, its own toilet and bath, and an outdoor shower. I guess I got too busy to take a photo of the room interiors, so just check the resort's FB page for those. For P4,000 at full capacity, it is a great deal (that's around P500 per person). Mind you, other places here charge much more with less facilities.

The neighbor's sandy front

Bring swim booties for the kid

The resort's shoreline is short, but you can always stroll around the neighboring coastlines (shorelines are public property). I admit having spent more time on the shoreline of a private vacation house beside the CAPOceans property because the area has more sand deposits.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

sunset looms

I booked our stay through text and Facebook messaging. The contact person I found in the resort's FB page is Jessie delos Reyes. He was very accommodating, even if I had to re-schedule our booking twice. I didn't get a chance to meet him in person though, because he's pretty busy body. The other contact person in the resort in Jen - she was the one manning the admin office during our stay. She was eager to answer all my questions and even gave her mobile number just in case we need her help around Calatagan.

The place doesn't employ a lot of manpower, but the ones we encountered (cleaning lady, cook, boy helpers) were all really nice. When we ran out of charcoal for our barbeque, a boy helper gave us some leftover ones he previously collected that we can still use. This, and other little things.

MORE TIPS

The resort arranges diving and snorkeling tours for a fee. Just approach Jessie or the officer in charge for information.
The Cape Santiago lighthouse is about a kilometer away from the resort. You can walk or drive there. The lighthouse keeper arrives just before sunset. If you wish to arrange an earlier visit, you can ask the resort personnel to contact the keeper.
Just a little extra info I want to share with you guys. There's a mini zoo (mostly exotic birds) right across the street. It's a private gated compound (also Madrigal's), so you'll have to ask the caretaker for permission to enter. Inside, you'll find a Kalaw bird, cockatoo, hornbill, love birds, ducks, turtles, civet and other animals I couldn't name.

Here are some more pictures:

Lovely peacock with almost perfect (intact) tail

Is it starfish mating season?

low tide in the afternoon

Yoga at dusk: great idea

high tide in the morning

For further information, visit Calatagan Peninsula Resort's FB page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Conserve-and-Protect-Oceans-Foundation-Training-Center/113361678688041

*This is not a sponsored post.

Osmena Peak, Cebu Itinerary - 1 day

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 03:53:00 +0000

Stunning view at Osmena Peak!

Hiking, Mountain Climbing | Mt. Osmeña Peak Itinerary
Osmeña Peak via Mantalongon, Dalaguete, Cebu
1044 MASL (taken from waypoints.ph)
Hours from Cebu City: around 3.5 hours by bus
Specs: Highest point in Cebu, vegetable market, leisurely trekking, camping, coastal view of Dalaguete on the East and Badian on the West, optional side trip to South Cebu.
Trek time: About 45 minutes to campsite

How to go there:

There are two main options to go to the town of Mantalongon:
First option: Minibus (P100). The bus terminal is located in Caltex (yes inside the gas station) Magallanes Street in Carbon Market area. The bus goes straight to Mantalngon public market.
Second option: Bus (P79) and motorbike (P50). From the Cebu South Bus Terminal, take the bus trip to Bato-Oslob or Dalaguete. Get off at the Mantalongon-Dalaguete junction and then take a jeepney or habal--habal (motorbike) to the public market.
Pros and cons: The minibuses are pretty ghetto - it's cramped, there's no airconditioning and there's no clear schedule as to when the bus will leave (it leaves when there are 'sufficient' passengers). On the good side, the fare is cheap and you don't have to transfer to another vehicle because it drops you right off at Mantalongon. As for the regular buses, the are scheduled trips and comfortable seats (some airconditioned), but it can only take you to the highway junction. The winding mountain road to Mantalongon town is pretty scary and I don't think I'd be confident to ride a motorbike up there, especially on a rainy day.

Notes:

Osmeña Peak is the highest point in Cebu. Ironically, it is one of the easiest climbs, too!
This mountain is great for beginners, even kids. The trail is fairly easy and it only takes a maximum of 1 hour to reach the campsite (rest stops included).
From the campsite, there is a connecting trail to Kawasan Falls in Badian (western side of Cebu). Trekking time is around 6 hours to traverse to that side of the mountain, coming from Mantalongon.
The jumpoff point for this itinerary is in the mountain town of Mantalongon, Dalaguete. Most of the elevation is is reached on wheels, that's why it doesn't take as much time to hike the mountain's 1000-meter summit.
Basic supplies can be bought from the public market. From there, hire a habal-habal (motorbike) to take you to the foot of the mountain (P20 per bike - can ride up to 2 passengers).
The first stretch of foot trail is cemented. You will pass by vegetable plantations of cabbage, pepper, pechay, chayote and others.
Some local kids may offer to be your guide. It's not really necessary, so it's up to you. You may, however, employ their service to fetch water because there's no water source in the campsite (P10 per container).
The uphill trek doesn't require huge steps. It passes by a few quaint houses, then a big rock wall; before you know it, you've already reached the campsite.
The summit is only a 5-minute hike from the campsite. It rewards the hiker with a view of Badian and Pescador Island on the West, vegetable farms of Mantalongon, jagged Mantalongon range akin to the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and coastal town of Dalaguete on the East.
The campsite area is grassy and huge - you don't have to worry about finding a place to set up camp. There are no trees, though, so it can be hard to find a secluded area when nature calls.
The campsite is a privately owned land - a representative drops by every morning to collect a P20 (per person) entrance/usage fee.
On the way back, you'll have to hire a habal-habal from Mantalongon town proper to take you down to the highway junction in Dalaguete. This is because the last mini bus leaves the public market at around 1:00PM. From the highway, you can catch a regular bus back to Cebu City (South bus terminal).

Options:

If you plan to stay overnight, make sure you have enough water (there's no water source in the camp area) and warm clothing.
Drop by the Barangay hall to register your names - for security. I didn't get to find the Barangay hall during my trip so I skipped this part.
You can also skip the habal-habal and start trekking from the public market. It should add about an hour to your itinerary.
More experienced climbers can do the Mantalongon-Badian traverse of Osmena Peak. It takes roughly 6 hours to reach Kawasan Falls in Badian.
If you're looking for a side trip, there are beach resorts in Dalaguete, Argao, all the way to Oslob. You can also do a City tour of Argao, Carcar (links soon), or visit the famous Simala monastery church.

Mini buses carrying city goods to the mountain town of Mantalongon.

Check the signboard

Mosdef ghetto but all good

Arriving at the public market

Cloudy day at Mantalongon range

Sunset from the campsite.

Morning breaks - this is the view from my tent.

On the way to the summit.

Southwest view from the summit

Northward

Climbers posing on background of Pescador Island and Badian coastline

Westward?

Some guys are doing a prenup shoot on the summit that day.

My own summit shot :)

Itinerary and expenses recorded on June 2012.

Manila Tour: 5 LRT Sights You Shouldn't Miss

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:24:00 +0000

It's usually packed like a can of sardines, but the LRT1 (Light Rail Transit line 1) is the most efficient way to traverse old Manila. It connects Baclaran to Roosevelt in less than an hour, making it indispensable to the riding public. The fare is cheap - P12 to P20 - and the train cars are air conditioned. I should warn you though, don't expect a dry underarm when you ride it on a summer rush hour!

The first car is for PWD, elderly, women and passengers with small children

Students, yuppies and the rest of the masses rely on the LRT to reach their destination in photo-finish time. But aside from being part of the daily grind, this mode of transportation is also great for sightseeing!

The yellow stations are all with Manila's city limits

If you don't have time to do an all-out Manila tour, you can try my idea for Plan B: LRT Manila sightseeing tour. The LRT1 was built along old Manila's glorious structures. I've listed down 5 sights you definitely shouldn't miss. Here they are:

1. De La Salle University's St. La Salle Hall (Vito Cruz Station)

Photo from Wikipedia (it's a shame I don't have a photo of my Alma Mater)

Designed by the country's first registered architect, Tomas Mapua, the St. La Salle Hall is an iconic neoclassical structure in Vito Cruz (now Pablo Ocampo Sr.) Street. It houses the College of Business classrooms, the De La Salle Brothers residence (on the top floor) and the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The building is witness to one of the most gruesome massacres of WWII - which took place right inside its chapel. These days, it hosts some of the most important national qualifying exams such as the Bar Exam. Subsequent buildings erected in the university seem to have been patterned after this original one - whitewashed with tall pillars and arches - giving the DLSU campus a uniform look.

2. Philippine National Museum (between United Nations Ave. and Central Station)

Formerly home to the Philippine Congress, the stately Philippine National Museum stands alone at the triangle island between Taft Avenue, Padre Burgos and Finance road. It was designed in 1918, originally to be a library, by Ralph Harrington Doane and Antonio Toledo according to Daniel Burnham's Plan of Manila. But original plans were modified when the Congress decided to use the building instead. Juan Marcos Arellano, the famous architect responsible for other visionary structures in Manila re-did the layout.

After WWII, the structure was severely damaged. Although it was not rebuilt down to detail, one can still sense the architectural genius behind it. Today, the building houses the National Art Gallery and other support divisions. It curates Juan Luna's award-winning painting, The Spoliarium.

*Here is a map of the LRT-1 stations (zoom out to see more):

View Larger Map

3. Manila City Hall (between United Nations Ave. and Central Station)

The city hall's South entrance (the foot of the coffin)

The seat of power of Manila is hard to miss, with its clock tower rising like a beacon. The SM Mall standing adjacent to it attempted to contest the height of this tower, but failed - retreating to a height that doesn't destroy the city skyline.

The highest clock tower in the country

The building, designed by Antonio Toledo, is enveloped with architectural controversies like not having enough entrances, and - more popularly - having the same shape as a coffin (check Google maps and see the aerial view for yourself). Despite its issues, the Manila City Hall serves its purpose well for Manila residents, owing to its strategic location.

4. Manila Metropolitan Theater (between Central and Carriedo Stations)

Art-deco inside and out

Just after Central Station emerges the Manila Metropolitan Theater, also known as MET. It's one of the few known art-deco structures still standing today (another example is the FEU building). Its pink ornate exterior and the the stained glass art above the entrance way is enough to give it a second look. The building was designed by Juan M. Arellano; the sculptural works were by Italian Francesco Riccardo Monti (facade) and Isabelo Tampingco (interiors).

The theater seems to fall in disrepair after each rehabilitation, the last one being in 2010. Right now it looks as if its non-operational again. I'm quite lucky to have seen this from the inside sometime during my childhood. I hope the city hands over the care and management of this structure to a more specialized group, say the NCCA.

5. Manila Central Post Office (between Central and Carriedo Stations)

Central Post Office by the river

Just before crossing the Pasig River, another eye-catching structure looms. The head office and main sorting facility of PhilPost is housed in this neoclassical building designed by Juan M. Arellano (yes, it's him again). Like other structures in Manila, this, too, fell into rubble during WWII. It was also not rebuilt down to detail, but most of its original design was preserved.

Right now, the Post Office building is facing a crisis as plans of converting it into a 5-star luxury hotel is in the talks. The post office is having difficulty in keeping up with the costs of maintaining the building, especially now that we use email more often.

There you have it! Riding the LRT is not just about boxing-out other passengers and getting a firm grip on the handle rails. It can double as a sightseeing opportunity for those who ride it for the first time, or on a daily basis.

Fete de la Musique 2012 - Manila (Band Lineup)

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 05:49:00 +0000

International poster

FETE DE LA MUSIQUE 2012 - MANILA
"Tribute to the Beatles"
June 23, 2012
Makati Avenue (between Kalayaan Ave. & Valdez St.)
4:00 PM - 01:00 AM (next day)

FREE ADMISSION TO ALL VENUES!

This year's French music festival pays tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the first Beatles EP release. The event will feature Chinese Man of French DJ Collective and 10 Filipino Bands + Pocket venues.

Too bad I won't be in Manila to see this celebration (scroll down for band lineup).

Organized by: Alliance Francaise de Manille & the French Embassy in partnership with B-Side Productions.

*The portion of Makati Avenue from Kalayaan to B. Valdez will be closed to traffic (see map below)*

View Larger Map

BAND LINEUP

MAIN STAGE
Makati Ave, near Kalayaan.

1) Brigada
2) Paul Zialcita & Bakunawa
3) Julien Drolon
4) Cynthia Alexander
5) Johnny Alegre + Affinity feat. Alvin Cornista
6) Blue Rats feat. Cooky Chua
7) Jonan Aguilar & Anak feat. Tondo Tribe
8) Chinese Man (France)
9) Hijo
10) Flippin Soul Stompers
11) Indio I
12) Pepe Smith

MOVEMENT BY:
1) Planet Zips
2) HoopNation

ELECTRONICA by NOMAD MASSIVE
Time in Manila

Main Room:
1) Morse
2) James Haresco
3) Ann Barcelona
4) Erwin Edralin
5) Tom Turner
6) Liquid A x Tino Valentino
7) ConRank (UK)
8) Mulan
9) Salamangkero
10) Alpha Shiva
11) Marts Ballesca

Roofdeck:
1) Tribo Manila
2) Helen
3) Similar Objects
4) Feen
5) Firefly Logic
6) Flipperbaby
7) Pasta Groove
8) Pixie
9) Massive Jam

BLUES/SOUL by MANILA SOUL x MAMBORAT
Heckle & Jeckle Bar

1) Chillitees
2) JR Oca Experience
3) Bleu Rascals
4) Conscious & The Goodness
5) Cheeba
6) The Go Signals
7) Ian Lofamia Blues Band
8) CisNikki Power Band

HIP HOP by RENEGADE COLLECTIVE
Kyss

1) Picoy
2) Jazze N Maria
3) D-Coy and Wika Artists
4) Jolo
5) Kush (UK)
6) Miscellaneous
7) People’s Future
8) Hukbalahap
9) Bradezz Zon
10) Tempes
11) Red-I
12) Nothingelse
13) Rye
14) D’Tech
15) Arbiewon

JAZZ by PIJazz FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
St. Giles Hotel

1) Rated A
2) Christian Herve
3) Batu Yilmaz (Turkey)
4) J'Co Razon
5) Zen
6) Tonet Lipana
7) Christine Carlos
8) Luisa Sta Maria
9) Fuseboxx
10) Tricia Garcia
11) Paolo Blaquera Trio
12) JFK with Johnny Alegre
13) Carlos Castano
14) Humanfolk
15) Lunastra
16) Absolute Zero
17) Musica ni Cadio

LATIN
Chihuahua

Featuting The Salsa Fanatics

REGGAE/WORLD/SKA by REBEL LION x AVA PRIME
venue: to be announced

1) Tropical Depression
2) Milagros Dancehall Collective
3) Neighbors
4) Manila Royale
5) Superkendi
6) Robert Green
7) Hegalong Project
8) Kadangyan

ROCK STAGE by DOPE MNL X DEAR PRUDENCE X MANILA BIKE FESTIVAL
B-Side (located in Malugay Street ~ not in Makati Ave. area)

1) Slapshock
2) Radioactive Sago Project
3) Ciudad
4) Outerhope
5) The Strangeness
6) Bee Eyes
7) Imago
8) The Discoball
9) RH Xanders
10) People's Future
11) Stick Figgaz
12) Misyonaryo
13) Wilabaliw
14) Cosmic Love
15) The Butchercons
16) Earthmover
17) Nyctinasty
18) Paranoid City
19) Curbside
20) Hilera
21) Flying Ipis
22) Wilderness
23) Nityalila
24) Mike Pepito
25) Jeepney Joyride

AF poster

Sponsors:
MAKATI CITY
Red Horse Beer
Rustan's
Dr. Marten's

PROD PARTNERS
Nomad Massive
Renegade Collective
PI Jazz Festival Foundation
Rebel Lion x Ava Prime
Dear Prudence
Manila Soul x Mamborat

VENUE PARTNERS
Time in Manila
Kyss
Chihuahua
Heckle and Jeckle
St Giles Hotel
Century Properties

MEDIA PARTNERS
Radio Republic
splinter.com
sarisarisounds.com
atthewomb.com
gig.ph
Hertz So Good!
MYX

Photos and line up taken from Fete dela Musique FB event page.

How I Afford The Travel Lifestyle

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 03:51:00 +0000

"Magkano budget?" ("How much is the budget?") is usually my answer to a climb or an out-of-town trip invitation. Let's face it, travelling comes with a price tag. No matter how frugal you want to be, you'd still have to pay for your bus fare and carinderia dinner.

Jotting down the expenses before I forget them!

It's a thrift thing

My dad once referred to my spending habit as something comparable to using a tweezer - money is plucked out one at a time. Indeed, I always over-rethink any purchase over P300 (is this too frugal?), I only buy second-hand clothes and haggle whenever I can. The words 'impulse' and 'shop' doesn't come together in my dictionary.

When travelling, I try to keep within the budget by abiding to my "gastos studyante" (spend like a student) philosophy. It's as simple as spending like you're only receiving a meager allowance. Climbing Mt. Pulag back in college, our group passed on renting a jeep and instead walked from the DENR office in Kabayan, Benguet all the way to the Ranger Station in Babadak to afford the climb.

Babadak Ranger Station in Mt. Pulag

Saving Secrets

Back in my corporate slavery days, the expenses of travelling were admittedly easy on the pocket. Even so, I would bring with me canned goods to cover some of my meals on a weekend in Puerto Galera. When out and about, I turn to sari-sari stores and carinderias (where the locals buy their food) to avoid overspending on tourist trap restaurants. Saving on little things can go a long way. Do you really need to buy souvenir keychains whenever you visit Baguio?

Delicious meal from a hole-in-the-wall eatery in China

Carpooling on the road has also saved me a few bucks. Once, I was running late for an early flight out of Cebu. When I learned that the other lady waiting at the jeepney stop was also headed to the airport, I immediately asked if she wanted to share a cab with me.

A similar thing happened just a few days ago. Upon landing in Siargao, I learned that a tricycle to Cloud 9 charges P500 (!). To cut the cost, we shared our tricycle with another traveler from the same flight - he happened to be Marcos of Ambot-ah travel blog!

Spotted Marcos on this Paparazzi (-esque) shot

On being a WAHM

Since I quit my job almost 6 years ago, my income stream been divided. I said goodbye to my hefty (?) paycheck to travel the US. When I came back, I did not feel like re-joining the grind. So, with my leftover savings, I made do with what I can. But one can only stretch savings for a few months.

Having a kid reinforced my decision not to go back to the corporate world. So to keep me afloat, I exploited the power of the internet. Here's the part where I reveal my online activities. Some call it freelancing, but in general, I am a work-at-home mom (WAHM).

eBay - An online garage sale. It's easy money if you know where to source your items.
manilababy - Crafting is my thing and this is one of the things that I do with pride :)
online work - I work part time as an... uhmm... I don't really know how to call it. Let's just say I'm a virtual assistant in the broad sense of the word.

Split-screen technique: a win-win solution for me and my kid!

blogging - We read about earning through blogging all the time. There are s number of ways to monetize a blog but right now I'm only doing the ads. I keep a couple of blogs, but honestly, I have yet to reap the fruits of my blogging efforts.

There are a lot of other ways to fund your wanderlust. It all boils down to creativity (in saving money) and resourcefulness. Money should not be a drawback in travelling, but a challenge. So how much is the budget to _____? Whatever the answer is, if it's worth going to, I'd say pencil me in. I'd definitely find a way to fund it!

This is my contribution to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers Blog Carnival for June 2012 on the topic "How To Fund Your Wanderlust" hosted by Journeyingjames.

Here are the past blog carnival topics: PTB Blog Carnival

Last Wild Place: Adventure Travel + Advocacy on TV

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:57:00 +0000

Four ordinary people embark on an adventure to explore the last remaining off-the-grid places around the Philippines. They will hike, swim, climb, dive, paddle - basically put themselves in great risks - to showcase the country's hidden natural beauty waiting outside commercial travel destinations.

At last, a new reality TV show that doesn't just focus on celebrity drama - The Last Wild Place.

The cast includes adventure-travel outfit Intrepid Adventure Lifestyle's Paul Cuenca (who's also the executive producer), renowned wildlife photographer Ivan Sarenas, businessman-cum-family-man Rico Calero and visual-artist-slash-mother-of-6 Anna Varona.

The show aims to promote responsible tourism by showing the importance of sustainable travel practices not only to the viewers, but also to the locals living in the featured frontiers. The reality is that wildlife poaching, deforestation and sea destruction are ongoing threats. By inspiring awareness over these issues and leaving a positive impact on the local communities, the sooner they can be addressed.

All four members of the cast share the same passion for discovery and conservation. Visiting these remote places, they battle with the forces of nature and with their own personal fears. But as Varona shares, "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle".

The cast of LWP at the media launch

Backed up by an equally adventurous production team, the cast voyages to places such as the Babuyan Islands, Romblon Province and Mindoro. The show will showcase the Filipino people and its colorful culture in the backdrop of pristine locations, some of which have never been caught on film.

The final episode for season 1 is still in the drawing board, and the Last Wild Place team is inviting one lucky viewer to join them in their journey. If you're adventurous, gutsy and don't mind being subject to the elements even in your sleep, then you could be the person they are looking for.

To enter the Last Wild Place Casting Call competition, you must:

Like The Last Wild Place Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lastwildplace) or follow @LastWildPlace on Twitter.
Email info@lastwildplace.ph explaining why you think you would be a good host for the show, and what eco-tourism and preservation means to you. Video entries are optional.
Log your entry via the LWP FB or Twitter page by posting "I entered the #LastWildPlaceCastingCall".

*Deadline for submission is on June 26, 2012. For complete contest details click here or visit the LWP official website: LastWildPlace.ph

Meanwhile, check out the show's teaser video:

Bike Trails: Rural Meets Regal in Calatagan

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:53:00 +0000

I was up early on our second day in Calatagan, Batangas. I insisted on bringing my bike on this trip even if it meant less leg room for us in the vehicle because I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to pedal on provincial road (read: better views, less pollution).

CAPOceans Foundation/Calatagan Peninsula Resort in Madrigal compound

The chilly 5AM air rivaled the air conditioning in our dorm-type beach front room. I scanned the beach and for a while contemplated on doing some yoga poses first (it was so tempting). I decided to make a bottle of milk for my kid instead - to buy me extra time for my morning ride.

Sonrisa, channeling South American, perhaps?

The morning sun peered from the Eastern side of the peninsula. Calatagueños are proud of the fact that they can witness the sun's performance twice in a day - pick your side.

The lighthouse has been here longer than any other resident

I ventured North, passing by vacation home after another. Regal properties dotted the coast land, in between seemingly miniature versions of Negros sugar cane plantations. It was no surprise to find out that Calatagan is the playground of the elite. No less than the Zobels and Madrigals own vast properties in the area.

A nice shaded path

The lack of kilometer markers on the road got me doubting whether I can reach my target finish line which is the town church (in the town center). But the prospect of sightseeing quickly dissolved these thoughts.

The guard couldn't let me in (because the resort manager has just arrived)

Grand trees line the both sides of the cemented road which sloped gently up and down. I rolled from one shadow-island to another. Even the cracks on the ground seem to smile as the first rays of sun touch its surface.

No such thing as an empty road

Somewhere, near or distant, fallen leaves are being burnt. You know how a smell can take you back to a certain place in your memory? For me, the smell of smoke from burnt leaves in the morning reminds me of my childhood days living in an old house with a huge backyard.

self portrait attempt

The authentic rural charm of this place is not swayed by the fact that several exclusive resorts have put up shop in the area, including the posh Playa Calatagan and the strictly-by-invitation-only Stilts Resort. A short uphill challenges me as I pass by the latter resort. I pumped on the pedal until I reached its apex.

car-less road- just the way I like it.

I pass by Barangay Santa Ana. Fresh from a fiesta celebration the day before, its people are just calling it a night at 6AM. Further along, I see a group of friends jogging on the side of the road. I wonder where they're headed...

I can see the East coast from here

By this time it seemed that I've reached the highest point on the road, in Barangay Tanagan, for I can see both shorelines of the peninsula. I half decided to go back, because the morning is getting long. Pushing my defeatist thoughts aside, I raced on to the finish line. The town center, I'd later find out, is about 10 kilometers away from my starting point - not bad for a morning ride (how much is that in calories again?).

Santo Domingo de Silos Church will celebrate its centennial next year

The church doors were open but it was quiet inside. After a quick inspection, I find that a wedding ceremony is being held in it, at 7AM! That, and my exhaustion from the long ride is my excuse for not having noted down the name of the historical church. But online search reveals it for me: Santo Domingo de Silos Church built in 1913.

The facade has a subtle hint of baroque in it

I started taking pictures from this point on (so those images above were posted in reverse order). It probably took me another hour to get back to our resort in Barangay Bagong Silang. For more information on how to get here, check out my Calatagan Beach, Batangas itinerary post. Anyway, here are a few more snapshots from my ride. I hope you enjoyed my first Bike Trails post!

Wall art outside the police station

Road to paradise: Turn left at Apacible St.

Barangay Bagong Silang vicinity map

Check out my bike trail map here:

View Calatagan 10k bike route in a larger map

Calatagan Beach, Batangas Itinerary: 2 days

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:56:00 +0000

Sweet escape in Calatagan, Batangas

Backpacking, Beach | Calatagan Beach Itinerary
Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines
Hours from Manila: 3 hours
Specs: beach, cable wakeboard park, museum, lighthouse, snorkeling, diving, artificial reef.

Notes:
- This itinerary is ideal for a weekend family or barkada trip to Calatagan, Batangas.
- Calatagan is a provincial town located in a peninsula in Batangas surrounded by the Verde Island passage (from South China Sea) and the Pagapas Bay.
- Barangay Bagong Silang, in my opinion, has the best shores in Calatagan. Check Google maps to see the white coastlines yourself! The water is clear and shallow, but on most areas the seabed is rocky only a few steps from the shore.
- Accommodation in Calatagan is not a problem, if you have the budget. There are full service resorts and beach houses for rent (prior reservations necessary). But for the budget conscious, there are also some modest accommodation available.
- On this trip, we stayed in the Calatagan Peninsula Resort (CAPOceans foundation). Rooms are at P2500 (good for 3-4), P4000 (beachfront, good for 8-10). I will post a list of Calatagan resorts later for reference.
- The bus station in Calatagan is located in the public market. Upon arrival, the first agenda is to look for a good place (read: carinderia) to have breakfast.
- The tourism office is also located in the area, I suggest dropping by the place if you haven't made any reservations (ask them for recommendations).
- After breakfast, do a quick rundown of your shopping list (food ration, toiletries) and tick off the missing ones before heading to the beach resort/rest house.
- Rented beach houses and some resorts allow full use of the kitchen for cooking.
- From the town center, take a tricycle to Bgy. Bagong Silang (P80-P120).
- Save the rest of the morning for swimming because the tide starts to ebb by late afternoon (around 3PM).
- Arrange a snorkeling tour after lunch. Our resort offers them for P100 per person, plus P500 for each guide (goggles and life vest included).
- The water should have partly receded by around 4PM, take this opportunity to stroll along the beach and explore the area.
- You can buy fresh catch from the fishing village nearby. They sell their haul in the village every morning (before 9AM) and afternoon (4PM). Just tell the tricycle driver to bring you to the village with a basketball court to buy some fish. Bring a cooler to keep the sea bounty fresh.
- Next, head on over to Cape Santiago Lighthouse. The keeper arrives just before sundown and will gladly give you a quick tour up the tower. A stunning view of the peninsula awaits 92 feet above.
- After shooting the sunset, it's time to go back to the resort for dinner and some socials.
- The next day, watch the tide flow in as you do your morning stroll/jog. Biking all the way to the town is also a great idea (read about my morning route here).
- After breakfast, it's time to pack up and check out.
- Visit the Calatagan Art Gallery before heading to Lago de Oro Cable Ski Park.
- The wakeboard park opens at 9:30AM. Walk-in guests can try out the sport for P400-P550 (1 hour). See other rates here.
- Have an early lunch before taking the bus home back to Manila.

How to get there:
via commute
- From EDSA-Taft in Pasay, take a bus bound to Calatagan, Batangas: Crow Bus or Celyrosa Bus (first trip to Calatagan at 4AM, last trip 4:30PM); last trip to Manila at 4:00PM).
- If you're coming from Lawton, take Erjohn bus.
- There are also buses going to Calatagan from Ali Mall Cubao bus terminal and in Alabang.
- You can also take a commuter van. They're parked in the basement of Metropoint mall in EDSA-Taft Pasay.
- Travel time from Manila is about 3 hours, via Aguinaldo Highway-Tagaytay-Nasugbu.
- From the bus terminal in Calatagan bayan (town proper), take a tricycle to Bgy. Bagong Silang (P80-P120)
via private car
- Drive to Tagaytay via Aguinaldo highway in Cavite or Santa Rosa, Laguna.
- Follow the directions to Nasugbu, Batangas. This highway goes straight all the way to the junction of Palico.
- From Palico junction, you will pass by Lian, before entering the town of Calatagan.
- To reach the barangay, just drive straight, passing by more famous resorts like Lago de Oro, Stilts and Playa Calatagan.

Here is a map of Calatagan, Batangas:

View Larger Map

Options:
- There are many other resorts along the road before reaching Bgy. Bagong Silang, like Ricky Reyes's Golden Sunset, Lago de Oro and Matabungkay beach resort (in Lian).
- Divers can arrange a dive to the artificial reef maintained by CAPOceans fundation. It features underwater pyramids made of cemented coral blocks.
- This sleepy town doesn't have a lot of options for night life. I think you can check out the bar at Ronco beach if you're looking for some drinks and music (videoke).
- The next day, you can choose to maximize your stay in the resort and go for a morning swim before checking out.
- Before going to the art gallery, you can stroll around the town plaza to see the church and get a glimpse of the people's daily life.
- If you're not up for wakeboarding, visit Burot beach (Elizalde compound), another prized stretch in Calatagan, before SM develops the place (the corporation just bought the property early this year).
- A stopover in Tagaytay is a great way to end your trip before finally heading back to Manila.

Budget around P1750 per pax (via commute)
Budget estimate for 4 people:
1600 bus fares
400 tricycle fares
2500 room
2000 food share
500 misc

Cape Santiago Lighthouse

Dusk atop the lighthouse tower

Afternoon scene in CAPOceans/Peninsula resort

See these blocks arranged in a pyramid underwater

Late afternoon stroll on low tide. Notice the virtually garbage-free beach!

Calamares-quality large squid @ P70 per kilo

Clear water, peaceful tide, shallow beach.

Itinerary and expenses recorded on April 2012

New Bohol Tourism Campaign Unveiled

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:55:00 +0000

It's more fun in the Philippines indeed as the Provincial Government of Bohol introduces its newest tourism campaign dubbed "Bohol: Heart of the Islands - Truly Philippines". The campaign aims to showcase the rich historical and cultural backdrop of Bohol that is truly Filipino.

Brand new logo showing the famous Chocolate Hills

One day is not enough

Bohol has a lot to offer to tourists. For starters, there are the essential Bohol tourist spots which include the historical blood compact site, colonial churches, the scenic Loboc River, Tarsier sanctuary, Panglao beach, and the postcard-famous Chocolate Hills.

For the more veteran traveler, Bohol boasts itself as home to some of Asia's superlative destinations such as the largest mangrove project, the best preserved Jesuit church and the Dajanon double-barrier reef (one of only 6 in the world).

According to legend, these were formed from a broken-hearted giant's tears

"Bohol has it all - It's all in Bohol!" - Gov. Ed Chatto

Heart of the Islands - Truly Philippines

Bohol geographically sits at the center of the Philippines. Literally it is at the heart of the islands. But more than that, its people and its well-preserved heritage makes the heart beat. The Philippine culture is very much alive in Bohol. Amor Maclang of GeiserMaclang, the marketing agency in charge of the campaign summarized Bohol's Truly Filipino characteristics in these 5 Pillars: Sense of Spirituality, Architecture, Art and History, Food, and the Sense of Vibrancy of the people.

A heart melting performance by the Loboc Children's Choir

"You can eat in 10 houses for free!" - A. Maclang on Bohol Fiestas

This year, and beyond

Starting this year, the province gears itself with even more reasons to be visited. A second airport is set to be constructed in Panglao Island and a zipline in Danao that would rival the longest in Asia is in the works (pegged 1.5km long).

There are also plans to restore historical structures and revive the dying art of pottery in Albur with the help of the Philippine Bohol Art Foundation Institute (PBAFI).

The official launch of Bohol's new tourism campaign is slated in 2013. Leading up to it, a number of events are lined up this year to showcase the rich and vibrant culture of Bohol. Kicking it off is the Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK), a grand homecoming of Boholanos from around the world happening on May 10, followed by a food festival in conjuction with the Sandugo Festival in July.

Gov. Chatto and Sec. Jimenez Jr., together with Bohol's provincial representatives

"I am emotionally connected to Bohol" - Sec. R. Jimenez Jr.

Bohol's new brand

Bohol markets itself as an all-in destination where one can truly experience Philippines in all its aspects. The new brand should help posit Bohol as the number one tourist destination in the Philippines, for local and foreign visitors alike.

The unveiling event was attended by no less than the Governor of Bohol, Edgardo Chatto, and the Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. I felt honored to be an audience in the event as well.

Boracay de Cavite, Ternate Itinerary: 1 day

noreply@blogger.com (IndieEscape) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:50:00 +0000

Beach | Boracay de Cavite
Calumpang, Sapang I, Ternate, Cavite (near Caylabne and Puerto Azul)
0 MASL (beach)
Specs: Beach within a Marine camp, magnetic hill, Pico de Loro
Travel time (from Manila): 2 hours

Notes:
- Also known as the Gen. Gregorio Lim Marine Base beach, Boracay de Cavite is a white sand beach cove in Ternate, Cavite.
- The beach is open to the public. You don't need to have internal connections to get in the compound.
- Since is it a fully functional Marines camp, men in uniform are visible throughout the area. You can see some of them training, while others are on beach maintenance duty.
- An entrance fee of P100 per person, plus P50 for vehicle parking is collected at the main gate.
- The beach cove is about a 2-kilometer drive from the main gate.
- Tables and cottages are available for rent: P250 for a single table with chairs, P650 for a beach front cottage.
- Overnight rooms can be rented out for P750 per night (concrete rooms with own bathroom). You may also pitch your own tent (cheaper option).
- Open-air showers, closed shower stalls and bathrooms are available.
- There's a small sari-sari (variety) store near beach entrance which sells snacks, softdrinks, basic toiletry needs. Yes, alcohol is available. You may have to bring your own ice and water, though just to be sure.
- The place can be packed during peak season and weekends, so better go early to get a good spot (reservation for cottages are not entertained).
- The cottage area has the atmosphere of a town fiesta - people eating, cooking on the grill, drinking (at high noon), singing videoke.
- Taking pictures is only allowed in the beach area.

How to get there
via commute:
- From Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran, Take the Saulog Liner bus (~P85) or any minibus to Ternate Cavite (~P75).
- Get off at the bus terminal in Ternate, located just at the foot of the mountainous area.
- From the bus terminal, hire a jeepney to the road entrance of Gen. Gregorio Lim Marine Base ({~P500 one way). There is no public transportation available.
via private vehicle
- Take the coastal road all the way to Cavitex (Cavite Express highway).
- Exit at Noveleta (~P65 toll fee) and drive straight all the way to Ternate.
- You will pass by the towns of Kawit, Tanza and Naic before reaching the foothills of Ternate.
- The marine base main gate is located along the road between Puerto Azul and Caylabne Bay resorts.
- The coast is about a 2-kilometer drive from the main gate.
- You can see Corregidor Island and the Mariveles mountain range from the cove.

Road map:

View Larger Map

Options:
- Taking a private car is recommended. No bad roads on the way.
- The Saulog bus drives by Quirino Ave. corner Taft avenue before passing by Baclaran, so that is also a possible assembly location.
- I suggest going there on a weekday, to avoid the crowd. If you're going on a weekend, you can expect the crowd to dwindle down by 4PM.
- A climb to Pico de Loro (itinerary) is not a long shot because it's just around the area. It's a good idea to do a day hike there before hitting the sands.
- The nearest gasoline station is in Ternate town proper, so better make sure that your car has enough gasoline to get through the trip back.

Budget around 860 per pax (via commute)
Budget estimate for 5 people:
425 bus Baclaran-Ternate
1000 jeep rental (two-way)
500 entrance fees
50 parking
650 cottage
425 bus Ternate-Baclaran
1000 food share
250 misc

Welcome to Ternate Cavite arc en Espanol!

Bora de Cavite beach resort

Gen. Gregorio Lim Marine Base main gate

marines training in full battle gear

Proof of payment

Anything goes at the picnic/cottage area

Food, motor vehicles not allowed in the beach area

Beach front cottages @ P650; That yellow structure on far left are the overnight rooms. Photo was taken after a rain shower, so notice the sand is slightly darker.

Enjoying the beach and view of the mountains beyond.

Itinerary and expenses recorded on April 2012