The Misadventures of Roni G!

HTC One V: One Very bad experience Part III

2012-07-10T10:34:00.000+08:00

Just when I thought that all my troubles about my HTC One V are over, my phone died again. It died on me just 26 days after it was "fixed" by the service center.

I didn't have the time to visit the "service" center so I asked someone to drop off my phone for me. This time I wasn't issued a service phone which infuriated me since I have to look for another phone while they try to revive my dead phone. Instead of enjoying the low price of the HTC One V, I actually spent more, transportation to and from the service center plus another phone.

Side story: I bought a second hand Anycall (Samsung) Galaxy S from Korea for half the price of the HTC One V and it is just awesome. Though released 2 years before the One V, the features and user experience is basically the same, if not better. The Galaxy S has a front camera for video calls, something the One V lacks. It runs 3d games nicely much like the One V and everything else can be customized. This is a great phone for those who want good android phone without a big budget. Best of all, it doesn't die! Sometimes I forget that I still have another phone pending in the service center. It's only when the credit card bill arrives that reminds me I still have to pay for a piece of sh*t.

I've called the HTC Service center once or twice a week since then just to get the usual "next week" response from their service representatives. It was really frustrating to the point that when they offered to make a follow up report I just told them no thanks and hung up. Like any follow up report from their end would actually help. I took to twitter to vent out my frustrations and @htcphilippines replied with a "We sent you a DM :)" tweet. I knew the smiley was for show. And why the DM? Can't @htcphilippines handle their product failures in public? Go on, search "htcphilippines" on twitter and know that I'm not the only one with a dying phone.

Yesterday I called the service center again to check the status of my phone. I talked to a certain Andrew and I expected the usual "still waiting for parts due for arrival next week" but this time there was no "next week." WTF is that?! After 3 weeks of telling me "next week" now they can't even tell me when? Can someone shed some light on how really far Taiwan is from the Philippines? Last I checked it's just hours away. Unless the cellphone "parts" are made in a different planet, I might react differently.

I looked for other ways on how HTC can address my situation thinking maybe it's HTC Philippines that's slacking off. I sent a message through HTC's website and they responded right away. Lo and behold, they replied by email saying the same excuses of "parts" and guess who sent the email? Andrew. *insert rimshot here*

And apparently, it can take weeks or even months for them to get details.

I can do it in a matter of seconds:

Job No. 9892
HTC One V
received: 6/11/12
problem: Dead
action: Fix my phone or better yet just give me my money back.

Read:

Part I

Part II

for those thinking of buying the HTC One V: you may want to check out user opinions/tips here http://www.tipidcp.com/viewtopic.php?tid=21593&page=4

HTC One V: One Very bad experience Part II

2012-06-05T21:25:00.000+08:00

Outside the HTC Service Center

After dropping off my dead HTC One V at the HTC service center, I was informed that I would receive a text message telling me if my phone is fixed and ready for pick-up. I waited a week and called them only to be told their still fixing the phone. A week after I called them again expecting another line from the call center agent telling me my phone's not yet fixed but to my surprise, he told me my phone is fixed and is ready to be picked-up. Wait, where's my notification?

It took them 12 days to fix my phone and they had to replace the mainboard of the phone. Which means what now? I'm just relieved that I got my phone back, the one I paid for brand new just to die in less than a week.

For those thinking of buying their own HTC One V, I'll say it's a great phone for its price but there's a catch. You have to perform your own Quality Control before buying to ensure you won't have buyer's remorse. Look out for yellow tints on the screen. Though I haven't seen it yet, it's the most common concern I've read on the net. Maybe there's a yellow tint on my screen but it's not noticeable. Also check for light leaks at the bottom of the screen.

Click to enlarge to see light leaks
below the Home button and
Recent Apps Button

Performance wise, the HTC One V is good for day to day activities but it lags when playing Temple Run or if too many background programs are running. Make sure to download a task killer to free up memory. The HTC One V has a built in Task Manager but from my experience doesn't kill all running programs. Best is to use them both. The camera is great, no worries there. The speaker however is a bit weak but still acceptable. The advertised 4 Gigabyte Internal Phone memory is useless since you only get to enjoy part of it, a microSD card is a must. As a music player the sound enhancement by beats is a nice touch. Watching videos is great on it's 3.7" screen but only if you're watching bright scenes. Expect light leaks coming from the 3 buttons below that's very visible on dark scenes. Annoying until you get used to it.

Bottomline the One V is an awesome phone, as long as you get The One that has no issues.

HTC One V: One Very bad experience

2012-05-03T21:32:00.000+08:00

I'm well too aware of the limitations of my Samsung Galaxy Y. It's a great entry phone but after saving a few bucks, I felt the need to upgrade. I've been searching the net, looking for a sub 15k smartphone that packs a punch. The first phone that caught my attention was the Samsung Galaxy Ace. But after reading some negative comments, I turned my attention to its latest version, the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus. Again, negative reviews. I looked to other brands and finally, one phone that's sexy enough to tickle my fancy, the HTC One V. Little did I know that this curved-chin looker would be such a tease.

and I'm still waiting

The looks, the specs, the ice cream sandwich android version, and of course the price point were my buying points. Recently launched mid last month, I had to wait a couple of weeks for the One V to pop up on outlet shelves. When it did, I immediately purchased but was immediately turned off. The phone had no "factory charge" and I had to stand there waiting for the phone to power on. I got bored so I cancelled the transaction. Only after an hour that we realized, my sister left her sim card inside the phone. We went back to the shop and the One V was now booting up. I resumed the transaction but was again disappointed after finding some adhesive stuff just below the screen. The shop didn't have extra stocks and asked me to return the next day only to find out they don't have new stocks yet.

Last friday I happened to drop by Megamall and tried to look for my One V. I just don't know why this baby got me hooked. I saw one at e-phone, tried it for a few minutes and bought it right away. For a few days I was really happy with the phone, downloading a number of apps from the Play store, watching movies, and playing games endlessly. Then last night it suddenly died on me.

I tried to return it to e-phone this morning, just 6 days after I purchased it from them but they said they could only replace it if within 3 days of purchase date. I was really disappointed with them not even offering to help bring the phone to HTC's service center. Instead, the counter lady just scribbled the service center's address and treated my phone like it had leprosy or something, not wanting to touch it at all.

SIS Servicing Form

I took a cab and went straight to HTC's service center located at Atlanta Center in Annapolis. I registered at the lobby and was surprised to see a lot of visitors headed towards HTC. Looks like I'm just one of the many having trouble with HTC phones. SIS Technologies is an authorized service center for HTC and their receiving area is small. One desk with two computers, two chairs in front of the desk, and just four more for those waiting to be entertained. Needless to say, they ran out of seats to accommodate all their ~~victims~~ visitors.

I waited for around 10 minutes just to be told that I need to leave my phone for 3-4 days for "diagnosis." After calling in sick for work just to get this phone replaced then be told that I won't have a phone in a week was just unacceptable. And I'm not even considering the hefty amount I paid for that sucker. I demanded for a service unit and they handed me an HTC Desire. They didn't offer until I asked for one. After more than 30 minutes of wasted time, they told me to wait for their text message telling me if my phone is already available for pick-up. Great, I'm really looking forward to that, another day to waste time, energy, and money.

Part II here.

CoRon and Irene (Mt. Tapyas)

2012-04-07T20:18:00.000+08:00

After a rich historical tour of Culion, it was time to come back to reality and head back to Coron town. The 7AM schedule of the public ferry was too early for us that we had to skip breakfast. After the one hour and a half ferry ride, we reached the Coron pier and took a tricycle to reach Islands View Inn to have them arrange for us our transfer to Busuanga Airport later that afternoon.

With a few hours more to spare, we had brunch at Binalot tong Daon. We had difficulty reaching the place since it's located far from view, behind the commercial complex at the baywalk, but with a few questions from locals, we were able to find the place (at the back of Caffe Camo near Lualhati Park). I'm always a sucker for everything binalot (as with most filipinos) and their Lechon Kawali is a must-try.

Binalot tong Daon's Lechon Kawali

Binalot tong Daon was used to be located somewhere in the town proper but as the owner Alvin Gabilla mentioned, the new complex near the baywalk was too tempting of an offer that they had to relocate. Problem is, the commercial complex was good but Binalot tong Daon was located at the back, hidden from the view of tourists enjoying the scenic islands. Alvin was also kind enough to share tips on how to explore Coron DIY style, island hopping as the locals do.

Though discouraged by the scorching sun, we still climbed Mt. Tapyas at high noon since it was our last chance to do so. Not surprisingly, we were the only ones there. Travel guides recommend climbing Mt. Tapyas at sunset or sunrise for amazing views. We were able to reach the top of more than 700 steps after a few short stops on designated rest areas. The Mt. Tapyas viewing deck offers great view of Coron town and its surrounding islands.

Reaching the top was well worth the steps.

at the top of Mt. Tapyas

Going down was much easier but the high noon sun still made it a challenge. Still a couple of hours away from our flight back to Manila, we stopped by WJA 24/7 Kainan sa Coron just at the corner from Islands View Inn. We treated ourselves to burgers and a new Halo-halo experience to fill us up for our journey back to Manila. The WJA Halo-halo (Php50 good for two) had pieces of watermelons on it and though it was weird right off the bat, the fruit made the Coron halo-halo unique. The addition of watermelon slices was a refreshing twist to the filipino favorite under a hot summer sun and a great icing on the cake to our Coron trip.

Tricycle to Culion Port: Php8
Culion Terminal fee: Php20
Ferry back to Coron: Php180
Triciycle from Coron Port to Town: Php10
Brunch (Binalot tong Daon): Php86
Snack (WJS Kainan sa Coron): Php70
Van Transfer to Busuanga Airport: Php150
Fourth Day TOTAL: Php524

Entire Coron Trip TOTAL: Php6,360.88

Previous: CoRon and Irene (Isla Culion)

CoRon and Irene (Isla Culion)

2012-04-05T17:07:00.000+08:00

Sunrise at Culion

I'm a history buff. Lucky for me, Irene shares the same passion for old stuff as me. She suggested we visit Culion Island, a more than an hour ferry ride from Coron and is a former leper colony. I haven't really researched anything about Culion prior to our trip aside from how to get there and where to stay. It has so much history that I'm surprised it was only recently that I found out it existed.

Corong Galeri and other tour operators offer trips to Culion Island for around Php1,150/pax. We chose to go to Culion by ourselves and that means taking the public ferry which leaves Coron Port at around 1-2PM everyday. Our extra time in the morning while waiting for the ferry was spent exploring the town and looking for a cheap place to eat. Enter Trining Bacsa.

Though a bit pricier than carinderias in Manila, Trining Bacsa was a welcome development for us having overspent on our dinners for 2 nights. I ordered their Nilagang Baka while Irene ordered Menudo. Together with 2 cups of rice and 2 bottles of Coke, our total bill was Php170. Their Menudo is the typical homemade Menudo while the Nilagang Baka has a hint of beef stew and is quite good. Trining Bacsa is located at Don Pedro street, near the public market. On the same street is Jackie's restaurant which I heard is also good and cheap.

By 1PM we were already at the pier waiting for our ferry. We were the only people in the waiting area. As it turns out, there's no need for waiting since we can already board the ferry. Thanks for the heads up people. The ferry left Coron after a short delay due to loading almost 100 sacks of rice. In about an hour and a half of water travel, you could already see the La Inmaculada Concepcion Church and Hotel Maya beside it as you approach the island. A Hotel Maya staff and a tricycle were already waiting for us when we arrived at Culion.

I booked a single room at Hotel Maya for one night at Php1,100/night a month before and just realized upon arrival that the rooms don't have air-conditioning. This didn't worry us much since our room is situated facing the coast and a cool breeze circulates our room fairly well. I also didn't realize that we booked a room without a private bathroom. Good thing the shared bathroom and shared toilets are just outside our room.

Since we were on borrowed time, set to leave early morning the next day, we hurried to the nearby Culion Museum and Archives. The museum was nice enough to accommodate us just 2 minutes before closing. The first part of the museum tour was a 20 minute video presentation showing the rich history of the island. The museum provides a glimpse of Culion's triumph over Leprosy and is essential to fully appreciate the island.

The island itself serves as a museum of sorts. Walk along the quiet roads and you'll be able to see different facilities used in the past. It's great that they have provided signs to educate tourists.

One famous landmark of Culion is the statue of Jesus on top of an eagle logo on a hill, visible miles away from Culion. I've seen pictures of it while researching, preparing for our trip, but only upon the suggestion of the hotel staff that we were made aware that you could climb it. 333 steps to be exact.

We took the challenge and braved the drizzle and what seemed like brewing rain. We reached the peak and it was priceless. The highlight of our trip. The steep steps and the strong winds would discourage most, but this was our only chance and we had to take it. Glad we did. The experience was priceless and the view was majestic.

"...In 2005, a stairway of around 333 steps was made to enable town's people and tourists to reach the Aguila."

We took our time savoring the view and at the same time hoping for the clouds to clear. But since this hope seemed improbable and with the sun sinking fast, we headed down the steps, amidst the strong winds. We walked around Culion looking for a decent place to have dinner but the town was struck with power problems (much like Coron), and we weren't able to find one and so we settled with what food Hotel Maya had to offer.

Before going back to Hotel Maya for dinner, we stopped at the adjacent church and fort for some photo ops.

Our just conquered Aguila (view from the church steps)

Irene and La Inmanculada Church

Darkness came and the power was still out. The hotel's generator only provided for a few bulbs lighting our dinner. Hotel Maya's fish steak and chopsuey was nice.

While having dinner, the lights came back and was scheduled to last till 3AM. The calming sounds of the waves made us fall asleep and didn't feel the loss of electricity 'till the beautiful Culion sunrise woke us up

Breakfast (Islands View Inn): Php150
Lunch: Php85
Tricycle to Pier: Php10
Terminal Fee (Coron Port): Php20
Ferry to Culion: Php180
Tricycle to Hotel Maya: Php12.50
Hotel Maya: Php1,100
Culion Museum: Php150
Dinner: Php190 (with 1 can of coke)
Third day TOTAL per person: Php1,347.50

Running Total (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Day): Php5,836.88

Next: CoRon and Irene (Mt. Tapyas)
Previous: CoRon and Irene (Island Tour and Maquinit Hot Springs)

CoRon and Irene (Island Tour and Maquinit Hot Springs)

2012-04-02T10:59:00.000+08:00

With an 8:30AM call time for our Coron Island Tour care of Corong Galeri, we got up early and had a quick breakfast at our hotel. Though blocked by another building in front, Islands View Inn still offers a great view. The hotel is currently expanding and the construction suggests that upon completion, they will have a better view of the islands. Their breakfast is not bad for Php150 with choices of Tapa, Longganisa, Lamayo (Danggit) which comes with rice and fried egg plus drinks (choice of coffee and/or bottomless orange juice or iced tea). Irene recommends the Lamayo.

Though we booked our tour a day earlier, we forgot to reserve for a pair of snorkeling gears. After paying Php650/pax for the Tour B-1, our guide had to look elsewhere for available snorkeling gears for rent. We ended up paying Php150 each for the gears, Php50 more than if we had reserved for them at Corong Galeri.

Tour B-1 or Coron Island Ulitmate Tour offers 6 Destinations: Kayangan Lake, Twin Peaks Reef, Twin Lagoons, CYC Island, Atwayan Beach & Coral Gardens. At Php650 each, the tour already includes Entrance fees, Picnic Lunch with fruits and drinks.

It was a good thing that our first stop was Kayangan Lake. Before reaching the lake, you'll have to climb steep stone steps which is quite tiring. A bit discouraging if this was your last stop after a whole day of swimming and snorkeling. Nonetheless, reaching the lake will make you forget that hike.

After about an hour swimming at Kayangan Lake, we headed next to Twin Peaks Reef for some snorkeling.

Lunch was at Atwayan Beach just beaside Banol Beach. Food served were fish, pork, and eggplants all grilled by our chefs slash boatmen. They also provided some bananas and bottled water. The banquet was more enjoyable eating with the waves splashing on and around your feet.

Just at the front of Atwayan Beach was Coral Gardens. It was a great snorkeling site with colorful corals, a variety of fish species, and a wall leading to the deep.

Next in the intinerary was CYC Beach offering a patch of white sand beach and clear, cool waters for swimming.

Last on the list was Twin Lagoons. The first lagoon was where boats dock and the second can be accessed by going over, or if the tide permits, under, a narrow opening separating the lagoons. We were advised by our guide that snorkeling gears and cameras should be left on the boat since it'll be hard to retrieve if we lose it.

After a tiring Coron Island tour, we headed straight to Maquinit Hot Springs for a relaxing dip. Tricycle fare was a standard Php300 back and forth with the tricycle driver waiting outside. The trip will take around 15 minutes from town. Entrance fee is currently at Php150 per person.

It was getting dark so we headed back to town and had dinner at Bistro Coron. We ordered pizza, pasta, and sausage with french bread. The food was great but is quite pricey. But then again, our Php671 bill was good for three people.

Islands View Inn Breakfast: Php150/pax
Coron Galeri Tour B-1: Php650/pax
Tricycle to Maquinit Hot Springs: Php300 (Php150/pax)
Maquinit Hot Springs Entrance Fee: Php150
Bistro Coron Dinner: Php671 (Php335.50/pax)
2nd Night at Hotel: Php1,500 (Php750/pax)
Second day TOTAL per person: Php2,185.50

Running Total (1st + 2nd day): Php4,489.38

Next: CoRon and Irene (Isla Culion)
Previous: CoRon and Irene (Touchdown)

CoRon and Irene

2012-04-01T21:55:00.001+08:00

How often can you find a place with your name on it then go there and have one of the best experiences of your life? Not that much I presume, or not at all. Coron, in the province of Palawan, is one of the best places in the Philippines to enjoy the summer.

Spend your days in Coron with a loved one and it becomes a paradise. Spend it with a loved one without much wallet action then it becomes heaven on earth.

Our Do-It-Yourself Coron trip was my gift to Irene for our second year together. The trip was jumpstarted way back last October with Cebupacific's promo fare costing us only Php838.88 each for our roundtrip ticket to Busuanga. By the time March 2012 came, we were ready to enjoy the quiet little town of Coron, on a budget of course.

Deluxe Room

Our flight was delayed for more than half an hour and we arrived at our hotel just before 6PM. I initially wanted to stay at Villa Hermosa Bed and Breakfast as it was highly recommended at tripadvisor.ph and is cheaper than Islands View Inn. Sadly, a few weeks before our trip, the last remaining room at Villa Hermosa got booked so we had to book at Islands View Inn. Check-in was easy and the staff were very helpful. Before going to our room, they asked us what we'd like for breakfast which is quite confusing since the Php1,500 per night room that we booked does not come with free breakfast. Only later did we realize that breakfast was indeed not free and is Php150 per plate.

After checking-in, we headed straight to Corong Galeri to reserve our slot for their Island hopping Tour. Located just a couple of blocks away from the hotel, Corong Galeri offers the cheapest way to tour the islands with many packages to choose from. We booked the Tour B-1 or the Coron Island Ultimate Tour. Reservations should be made one day in advance and payment is on the day itself.

Sizzling Bulalo

As advised by friends, we had our dinner at Santino's Grill, a Php10 tricycle ride away from the town. Unfortunately, their bestseller, Baby Back Ribs, was no longer available as someone had already reserved all of them for a function. That someone was no other than Palawan Governor Baham Mitra. Even with that setback, I was still in a good mood. We ordered crispy kangkong for starters, Irene had stuffed grilled squid and I ordered their sizzling bulalo in lieu of the ribs. I also had a couple of bottles of beer which sums up to a total bill of Php690 or Php345 each. Servings are big and our orders were good for three people.

After a scrumptious meal, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for our Island Hopping the next day.

Airfare: Php838.88
Terminal fee: Php200
Airport Van Transfer (arranged by Islands View Inn): Php150
1st Night at Hotel: Php1,500 (Php750/pax)
Tricycle to Santino's Grill: Php10 each
Dinner: Php690 (Php345/pax)
Tricycle back to Hotel: Php10 each
First day TOTAL per person: Php2,303.88

Next: Coron Island Ultimate Tour and Maquinit Hot Springs

Pimp Your Metrobank Credit Card

2012-03-22T23:29:00.000+08:00

Old (top) and New (bottom)

I remember a few years ago I applied for a BPI credit card and got rejected for some reason. Nowadays, getting a credit card is fairly easy. Open a deposit account and that bank will issue you a credit card without even applying for it. In conventions, agents are everywhere convincing you to get a card with only one valid ID as requeirement. I can have as many as 6 credit cards, aside from the weekly calls offering more, but I only use 3: HSBC, Citibank, and Metrobank.

Of the three, I rarely use my Metrobank card compared to the other two and I think I might use it even less now that I'm afraid I'll ruin my awesome personalized card thanks to designmycard.com.ph.

My old Metrobank card is pretty beat up. Rarely used but jammed into my wallet, it's almost splitting in half. The timing couldn't get any better as I chanced upon this free service of Metrobank. I immediately went to www.designmycard.com.ph and uploaded this picture. The shot was taken at the Kuala Lumpur KTM train station in Malaysia where me and my girlfriend spent our first year together. I got my newly designed card in less than a week. It's so much better than getting a conventional replacement card from your bank.

The steps are easy and if you're having a hard time finding your own picture, you can choose from their library of pictures ranging from the Amorsolo collection to animals, to graphic arts, to photographs by a certain Bien. No idea who Bien really is.

Your first designmycard comes free on your first request and will cost you Php450 if you decide to change your card to a different design.

The Jimmy Sieczka Apology

2012-03-20T10:56:00.001+08:00

I posted my thoughts on Jimmy Sieckza a few days ago on my blog entry Man of the Hour: Jimmy Sieczka and I don't know why but somehow I get him and what he's trying to say. Maybe It's the endless hours watching The Simpsons, Southpark, Family Guy, and American Dad that I was familiar Jimmy's style and what he's trying to say.

Jimmy issued an apology which is relatively new since only 340 viewed it compared to the 115,999 views of the dislike video. He looks devastated in the video, probably due to the fact that half of the country doesn't dislike him but worse hate him and wants him out. Or maybe it's part of the show. I don't know. But I hope filipinos would accept his apology because afterall, Jimmy is not the problem.

Here's the link to Jimmy's apology: http://channelfix.com/video/286/

5 months with my Samsung Galaxy Y

2012-03-17T00:10:00.000+08:00

I got my Samsung Galaxy Y last October and somehow forgot my rants about it. After 5 months of everyday use, I find it to be just right for me. The battery is good, lasting more than 2 days (texting and a few calls) with minimal use and a little more than a day with heavy use (wi-fi always on and/or watching movies). It gives me a good (though not great) picture quality watching movies or TV series. The camera is just right. I don't actually need it since I own a digital camera. The size is not too bulky, can fit comfortably in my pocket. And finally, the Android market can really beef up your phone without burning a hole in your pocket and you don't need to break out of jail.

Here are some of my recommended apps for your samsung galaxy y. All free of course.

1. MX Video
There used to be a time when video formats are all either mpeg or avi. For whatever reason, people came up with a lot of different video types maybe for a smaller file size or maybe just to give people a hard time. The built-in media player of the samsung galaxy y cannot play all file types particularly .mkv files. I've downloaded and tried a lot of video players from the Android market and my final choice was MX video for its simplicity and versatility. Unfortunately, with the limited resolution of the Samsung Galaxy Y, you really cant watch a 720p x264 video as it will lag or it will play choppy.

2. Dolphin Browser and Opera Mini
Why would I download 2 browsers? Here's why. You use Dolphin browser if you want to browse as if using a laptop or a tab for a better browsing experience, preferably on wi-fi or time based 3G rate. On the other hand, you use Opera Mini if you're on a per kb 3G browsing rate or if you just want a really fast browser.

3. GO Launcher
This launcher makes your dull samsung home screen to whatever you like. You can download different themes or even create your own.

4. GO SMS Pro
This app makes texting more easy on the eyes. It also has different themes you can download on the app market.

5. App 2 SD
Install your programs on your SD instead of on your phone memory to save internal storage space.

6. Facebook
What's a smartphone without a Facebook app?

7. Twitter
Again, what's a smartphone without a Twitter app?

8. Viber
Talk to your friends for free! Currently operates on Android and iPhone only (sorry BB users, they're still working on it) and requires internet connection.

9. WhatsApp
Chat with your friends for free! BB users are welcomed here.

10. Anything goes
Almost every week I browse the Android market checking out the latest apps. Usually previously iphone exclusive apps. There's still a lot of good stuff there that I haven't tried yet. Some I tried but never really felt the need for it. I downloaded a Pinoy Henyo app wherein you place your phone on the contestant's forehead and the random word will scroll on it. Games such as SpeedCar and Move the Box are quite good. An lastly, download Magic 8 Ball just in case you need a decision maker in your life.

One more thing: Don't install video players and SMS apps on your SD, install them on your internal storage. Reason for this is every time you connect your phone to your computer via USB, your SD card installed programs will be unaccessible and you'll always have to re-assign that program as default once you're done.

Man of the hour: Jimmy Sieczka

2012-03-16T13:21:00.000+08:00

The name Jimmy Sieczka has now become a household name all of a sudden. From one facebook post I saw a few of days ago, he's now got the whole Philippines talking about him. He's even featured on Yahoo! Philippines as the DOT took notice. Comments flooded the facebook posts about him and is mostly dominated by the "get the hell out of my country" type. So what gives?

Many people were eager to hear what negative things he had to say that some never took the time to read the description which reads:

" If you think really hard, I'm sure you can come up with a couple reasons not to like something. In the land he loves so much, let Jimmy take you on a lighthearted tour of the negative aspects of living in a crowded country located at the earth's equator. On the flip side, check out 20 Reasons I Love _____. (the Philippines) at: http://channelfix.com/video/109/."

Below is the infamous video 20 Reasons I Dislike _____. (the Philippines):

The same group of guys also created a video that is the opposite of the video above. Both uploaded by a certain Michael Goodman. Only a few would notice the tone of the titles. The video above used the term "dislike" and not "hate" while the other video used "love" instead of "like."

Here's a link to their video 20 Reasons I Love _______. (the Philippines): http://channelfix.com/video/109
(I originally embedded the video here but was on autoplay and is quite annoying simultaneously playing with the video above. I couldn't get it fixed so just click the link)

Many things Jimmy said on the video are true though some are not. But not absolutely, I mean I'm giving my own opinion here. I disagree with the part about lady boys but I agree with the useless frisking before entering a mall. Need I remind you that 2 shooting incidents happened inside a mall that requires inspection before entry. How did those guns get in there? The peeing everywhere is more of a love-hate relationship. It's featured in both videos. I for one hate it when people do it everywhere but I'm thankful that I can do it anywhere when I can't hold it no more.

It's just unfortunate that Jimmy is not a local. I understand the hate towards him but would people hate me too if I made a video about things that I want to improve in the Philippines? I already talked about trash and I wouldn't be surprised to get a hate reaction if i was a foreigner. On the bright side, I'm quite happy he made the video. Now that his video is on the radar of most filipinos, more and more people are acknowledging the fact that most of his dislikes are true. And if we really want Jimmy to shut up, we can do 2 things: fix the things he mentioned or shower him with more reasons to love the Philippines that he forgets what he dislikes about it. Getting him out isn't the solution. Once he's out, some crackhead can easily come up with a similar video and the cycle continues.

Let's make the Love video as viral as the dislike video. Share the link: http://channelfix.com/video/109

March 20 update: The Jimmy Sieczka Apology

Transport Strike? There's Gotta Be A Better Way

2012-03-15T22:29:00.000+08:00

I first knew of this transport strike yesterday as I was drawn to tweets that had "classes suspended" in them. I followed the tweets and found out "Transport groups have called for a nationwide strike after the decision on their fare increase application was deferred" Their appeal for a fare hike was due to high oil prices.

I woke up today expecting empty roads and sidewalks full of commuters. Surprisingly, it was just like an ordinary day, jeeps crowd the highway and I didn't have a hard time catching one. The drivers were talking lightly with each other asking if they'll join the rally. What's supposed to be a transport strike was now labeled as a protest caravan.

What good does the transport strike do? Make themselves heard by making the commuting public hostage? And what then after the government hears them? Can our government do anything about high oil prices without tapping into public funds? Even if they can, it'll be short-lived since no single country can control the oil prices, much less the Philippines. I just feel that everybody loses when the transport groups decide to paralyze the the metro's transport system. It's not as if the commuting public can also hold a strike by not riding. We are not our own bosses and we can't control the losses for not being able to report for work on time or not at all. There must be a better way at solving this dilemma.

Got off work around 6:30PM and the roads are still normal. Thank goodness. I wouldn't want to walk again from Ayala Ave. to the Gil Puyat LRT station. Takes 30 minutes of walking by the way.

My appeal to the transport groups is this. Talk to the people in charge. If your proposals are rejected, then re-group and send a better proposal. Proposals are rejected for a reason, just come up with a better one. There's no need for a transport strike that paralyzes the transport system. You're barking at the wrong three. If there's a way I could go to oil-rich countries and beg for cheaper prices I would. But since that won't be happening anytime soon, maybe you should just be thankful that you have the Pantawid Pasada Program and a discounted lane at gas stations. The private sector doesn't have that.

The Driver's Triennial Duty

2012-03-13T21:35:00.002+08:00

License Renewal Form

Every driver in the Philippines have a duty every three years, to renew their driver license. The expiration date on one's license is conveniently dated on his birthday 3 years beyond. Drivers may renew their licenses within 2 months of the expiry date or pay a penalty if they renew past it.

I forgot to renew my license before my birthday. The LTO and the License renewal centers are closed during weekends meaning a typical working man had to file for a leave just to renew his license. Fortunately, LTO DLRCs (Land Transportation Office Driver's License Renewal Centers) have been popping up like mushrooms everywhere, spreading out the number of license renewers rather than piling-up in the few LTO offices. Now licenses are renewed in less than an hour.

This was not the case 3 years ago. February 9, 2009, I went to an LTO DLRC at Araneta Square in Monumento to renew my license. I arrived just before 10AM and the lines were already long but the steps were easy to follow. After a couple of hours waiting for my turn, the DLRC started to close up shop for lunch. Another hour I guess. Luckily, the guy printing the license cards saw me as I was about to leave and asked me to stay and wait for my card. Thanks man! That was 3 years ago.

LTO DLRC Araneta Square
Monumento, Caloocan

This year, I arrived 2:18PM at the same DLRC with no one in sight. I asked around and the guys at the Drug Testing Center guided me through the process. I filled up some forms, had my eyes checked, and peed my way to a clean drug test result. I already drank a bottle of water to be ready for the urine test. Bottled water is available for sale at the center to help those not yet ready to "go." After getting my results, my picture was taken together with my electronic signature. Then I paid at the cashier then waited a few minutes more for my new driver's license to be released. I finally got my hands on my new license by 3:07PM. That's 49 minutes in total.

I even would've got my new license 15 minutes earlier if not for the cashier who went outside for 5 minutes, maybe to pee or eat, and for the guy printing the cards who went out for 10 minutes probably to have some snacks. Still, 49 minutes is not bad a wait for renewing my driver's license. What's bad though is the corruption inside the centers.

Cashier and Releasing

First off, there's only one Drug Testing Laboratory and Medical Check-up center and you wouldn't know who's working for whom. Guys from the laboratory go in and out of the DLRC office like it's their own and vice versa. Smells a little fishy. The cashier, a man maybe on his 50's or more is the only guy who doesn't mingle much with everybody and I thought he was legit. Wrong! Just as he called me to pay for my fees, the total amount flashed PHP492.63 but he then asked me to pay PHP495.00. Short on coins perhaps? He also did the same thing to the guy next to me. Php2.37 maybe small but multiply that by let's say a hundred transactions a day then that's Php237 a day, or Php7,110 a month! On a lighter note though, the license jacket, the plastic case with an LTO logo on it, is no longer mandatory but is now only optional unlike the previous years. At Php20 you have three colors to choose from, red, green and a clear one. I chose green.

Inside the Drug Testing Lab

Expenses:

Medical Check-up: Php100
Drug Test: Php300
License Fee: Php350
Penalty for Late Renewal: Php75
Computer Fee: Php67.63

TOTAL: Php892.63*

*Total amount does not include Php2.37 "tong" by the cashier

Moving In

2012-03-11T14:08:00.001+08:00

We've moved!

After weeks of sweating the idea of having my own domain name, I finally did it. I am now the proud owner of www.roni-g.com digitally delivered today via Google. I have always thought that having your own dot com address is pricey but I spent less than Php500 (10USD to be exact) for a year's registration. That's even cheaper than buying a McSavers Cheeseburger every month. A ".ph" however, is much more expensive, offering their domains at 3 times the price of a ".com." I'll stick with the ".com" for now.

The process wasn't easy though. The hardest part was coming up with a name that is unique as you and luckily not registered yet. I was surprised that names that I thought was uniquely me were already taken. Thanks to decades of the internet's existence, many domain names are already registered and if sometimes available are still up for grabs costing more than double the normal rate. Who would've thought there was already a www.ron2ron.com? It's also disappointing that some of the addresses you wished available were left for dead, updated centuries ago with empty promise of adding more content in the future. Better get yours now!

My final 3 choices were ron2go.com, ron-go.com, and roni-g.com. Obviously roni-g.com ended up the winner. This came after a small poll from my friends and the fact that I found out recently that more than 5 years ago, I already chose "roni-g" for my livejournal subdomain.

This move makes me one step closer to my goal of financial freedom, hopefully making my site more easily accessible and more visible, pitching in to my income flow while sharing my misadventures. All proceeds of this site, I'll immediately inject to the Philippine Stock Market, helping both the economy and myself.

More on my Philippine Stock Market experience later.

Go Palawan (DIY Expenses vs Packaged Tours)

2012-03-10T18:42:00.000+08:00

Here's a tabulation of what you can expect to spend going to Puerto Princesa for the Underground River Tour and Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour. As mentioned in my entry Go Palawan! we were lucky enough to have irene's family van take us around which cut our van transfer costs by more than Php2,000.00. I'll post their contact info once their travel and tours permits are ready.

Go Underground River

	DIY (6pax)	DIY/person	Packaged (6pax)	Packaged Tour/person
Airfare (Promo)	Php5,570.40	Php928.40	Php5,570.40	Php928.40
Terminal Fee	Php1,200.00	Php200.00	Php1,200.00	Php200.00
Accomodation (3D2N)*	Php7,200.00	Php1,200.00	Php23,400.00	Php3,900.00
*Underground River Tour*
Van Transfer	Php3,500.00	Php583.33	inclusive	inclusive
Boat Rental	Php700.00	Php116.67	inclusive	inclusive
Entrance Fee	Php1,050.00	Php175.00	inclusive	inclusive
Terminal Fee	Php108.00	Php18.00	inclusive	inclusive
Buffet Lunch	Php3000.00	Php250.00	inclusive	inclusive
*Honda Bay Tour*
Van Transfer	Php1,500.00	Php250.00	inclusive	inclusive
Boat Rental	Php1,300.00	Php216.67	inclusive	inclusive
Terminal Fee	Php108.00	Php18.00	inclusive	inclusive
Isla Pandan Entrance Fee	Php300.00	Php50.00	inclusive	inclusive
Pabmato Reef Entrance Fee	Php300.00	Php50.00	inclusive	inclusive
Luli Island Entrance Fee	Php300.00	Php50.00	inclusive	inclusive
Packed Lunch	Php900.00	Php150.00	inclusive	inclusive
Kalui Dinner	Php1,200.00	Php200.00	Php1,200.00	Php,200.00
Bona's Chao Long	Php720.00	Php120.00	Php720.00	Php120.00
PP Airport Terminal Fee	Php240.00	Php40.00	Php240.00	Php40.00
TOTAL	Php27,696.40	Php4,616.07	Php32,333.40	Php5,188.40

*Marianne Home Inn Package

You can opt to rent tricycles rather than a van for your Honda Bay transfer which would lessen your Island hopping costs but a van is much more comfortable.

It's really up to you if you want a DIY Tour of Puerto Princesa. As you can see in the tabulation, difference per person is just around Php500. If you're the type that wants everything taken cared of, I suggest you take the Packaged Tours. However, it's also a great experience to Do-It-Yourself, plus you'll save a few hundred bucks!

Go Palawan! (Island Hopping and Food Tripping)

2012-03-10T17:29:00.000+08:00

It's our third day at Puerto Princesa and it's time for some island hopping! We were picked up by my girfriend's family van and went straight to Honda Bay. There's no need to get a packaged tour for Honda Bay Island Hopping, all you need to do is find a ride to get there, either by tricycle or van, rent a boat for the day and you're all set. We rented a boat for Php1,300, rented a few snorkeling gears, bought some bread for fish feeding and then we're off!

After a short boat ride, we arrived at our first island destination, Isla Pandan.

Go Family at Isla Pandan

Strong man

Isla Panda is a big island and offers picnic tables and huts for rent. We were offered some fresh catch to be grilled and enjoyed it together with our packed lunch. We stayed at Isla Pandan for quite a while. My mother had a refreshing massage while the rest of us enjoyed the clear waters. A few meters from the beach, you can enjoy some snorkeling and fish feeding as guided by your boatman for no extra charge. After swimming, our boatman was eager to teach us some camera tricks that my father enjoyed. Our boatman was very proud of his tricks asking us if such were taught in Boracay. Palawan pride in the hizouse!

Next stop was Pambato Coral Reef. We docked on a floating platform and enjoyed circling around, snorkeling through the multi-colored coral reefs.

After 20 minutes of snorkeling, we headed next to Luli Island, named as such since the island is "Lulubog, Lilitaw," only visible when low-tide. Unfortunately, Snake Island was closed for some reason and Luli Island became our last stop.

Luli Island

Back in the city, my girlfriend recommended we try Halo-Halo at Nokinocs, just opposite of the Provincial Capitol. Their halo-halo costs Php75 and will give the famous Razon's a run for it's money. Their burgers and pasta aren't bad as well, making Nokinocs a great place for merienda.

Entrance at KaLui

We headed back to the pension house to get some rest and by 8PM we went to Kalui. Almost everyone who's been to Puerto Princesa recommend the place. The food is unique but we never really understood what the buzz was all about. Maybe it's the experience, eating barefoot, sitting on the floor or maybe we expected too much that we were not that impressed. To cap our Palawan trip however, we dropped by Kinabuch's to get my hands on Palawan's delicacy, the Tamilok (Wood worm). It tastes much lake talaba (oysters) but is much sweeter with a hint of wood.

For all our expenses compared to packaged tours, click here.

Tamilok

Go Palawan! (Underground River Tour)

2012-03-09T14:50:00.001+08:00

As luck would have it, irene, my girlfriend is from Puerto Princesa, home of the Underground River and so much more. Last October, when Cebupacific dropped their fares to Php1, I immediately booked my family a trip to Puerto Princesa for my birthday weekend a few months ahead.

Gateway to the Underground

A couple of months 'til our flight, I went to Puerto Princesa last December to see my girlfirend for a couple of days and to have a preview of what the city has to offer. From there I started to check-out places and tours that my family would be interested in and their corresponding prices of course. I want to make this trip as cheap as possible. More luck came our way as my girlfriend's family bought a van recently for a travel and tours business. All we needed was to pay for gas and the driver.

Ann's House
Contact No.: 0919-4903592

Come February all is set. We arrived in Puerto Princesa just before dusk. We had our dinner at irene's house, with her mom serving delicious seafood dishes some not found in manila. After dinner we headed to the apartment my irene's aunt was taking care of. It's located in Brgy Tiniguiban which is quite far from the city proper but is very nice and quiet, ideal for those who want to get away form the hustle and bustle of the city. Two (2) rooms upstairs can accommodate 5-10 pax each room/bathroom each. Rooms are Airconditioned and the apartment has cable tv, wifi internet and offers van rental for tours.

The next day we woke up early for our Underground River tour. For DIY trips, you should get your tickets at the tourism office at Puerto Princesa beforehand since they only allow a limited number of visitors a day. From the city, it takes more than an hour to reach Sabang Port and from there around 20 minutes more by boat to reach the underground river. There were quite a crowd when we got there but not that much to turn the place into a circus. People running the queue were organized and the wait time is negated by roaming around the waiting area admiring nature's works.

Go Family

It was pitch black inside the Underground River. Riding at the front of the boat, you will be tasked to hold the car battery powered spotlight for the entire duration of the tour. Lazy people please sit at the back. Our guide was amusing, lecturing and cracking jokes, making an otherwise eerie place enjoyable.

Inside the Underground River (click to enlarge)

After the tour we headed back to Sabang Port to have lunch. It was way past noon and the buffet tables were empty. It was nice for Taraw Restaurant to still accommodate us and bring out around 5-6 dishes all ours to finish.

We went back to the city looking for another place to stay as my parents wanted to wander around the city on their own. Well actually all they wanted was a chance to play PAGCOR e-Games. We transferred Albon Pension House, just a 5-minute walk from the nearest PAGCOR e-Games at Rizal Ave. Rooms are big, wi-fi is available and is walking distance from the public market, fastfood outlest such as jollibee and chowking, and just infront is a place where you buy all your pasalubongs and souvenirs.

Puerto Princesa City Baywalk

As my parents were playing and my sisters watching tv, my irene and I went to Puerto Princesa City Baywalk for some evening strolling before calling it a day.

For our Honda Bay Tour (Island Hopping and Food Tripping) click here.

To have an idea of how much you'll spend at Puerto Princesa click here.

Amazing Thailand (MBK and Pantip)

2012-03-08T21:57:00.000+08:00

It was our last day at Amazing Thailand and as much as we wanted to go to more beautiful places in Bangkok, time and money aren't on our side. With our flight taking off later that evening, we chose instead to just go around the malls for some window shopping MBK and Pantip.

Located just outside the Skytrain's National Stadium station, MBK Center, also known as Mahboonkrong Center was named after the developer's parents, Mah and Boonkrong. It opened in 1985, the same year our very own SM City North Edsa opened. MBK Center is huge and you can find almost anything you need, in the same spirit as SM's "we got it all for you." The food center have a variety of food choices and uses a coupon system.

After having lunch and shopping for some last minute pasalubongs at MBK, we went next to Pantip plaza or some techie stuff. Walking towards Pantip Plaza we passed by a couple of malls barricaded, visibly damaged by the protests months back.

From LG, HP, Lenovo, Sony, Epson, and other familiar electronic brands, the brand that attracted me the most was A&W. That familiar smiling bear and his rootbeer float was surely missed.

After a quick snack at A&W we walked around some more until we reached the Baiyoke Tower II, Thailand's tallest building. At the ground level was a huge clothing market, closely resembling Tutuban's Cluster building. When it was time to go back to our hotel, it started to rain and we got lost so we hopped on a taxi to bring us to the closest Skytrain station.

For dinner, we chose a nearby place, just below the Chong Nonsi BTS. The food was good and the homemade spicy fish sauce was priceless. I wish they'd sell those in bottles. After dinner, we were supposed to take a taxi to the airport but after reading the local newspaper, we found out that the Airport train was recently opened and accepts passengers for free. Awesome.

Lunch at MBK: Php150
Float and Fries at A&W: Php75
Day 3 Transportation: Php75
Dinner: Php165
Day 3 TOTAL: Php465

Airfare and Hotel TOTAL: Php9,738.52
Day 1 TOTAL: Php1,435.50
Day 2 TOTAL: Php3,615.00
Day 3 TOTAL: Php465
Entire Trip TOTAL: Php15,254.02

***exchange rate assumption: 1BHT = Php1.50

Previous: Amazing Thailand (Floating Market, Siam Ocean World and Pat Pong)
First: Amazing Thailand (Temple Tour and Chatuchak)

Amazing Thailand (Floating Market, Ocean World and Pat Pong)

2012-03-07T22:31:00.000+08:00

When going to a different country, it's vital to get as much information as you can to make your stay easier. Upon arriving at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok we grabbed almost every free map available at the counters. Almost because we didn't get maps not in english. The maps helped us navigate through Bangkok and the ads around the map paved the way for our Floating Market Tour. I've seen Floating Market Tours on the internet go as low as 650BHT. So when we saw an ad on the maps that offered 500BHT per person, we immediatey booked it.

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is roughly 2 hours away from the city proper and is popular among tourists. This floating market is featured in most tourism ads of Thailand. I remember this particular spot in a tourism ad I saw in CNN.

The floating market is a must try for first time Thailand visitors but the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is too much tourist-friendly that somehow I felt like it's a show. It's still a great experience nonetheless and Damnoen Saduak is thought to be better than those near the city, created specifically for tourists.

The food, as with everything I tasted in Thailand, was awesome. I had duck and a bottle of coke for lunch then after strolling around the market, we tried their coffee and was great.

Next time around, I'll visit floating markets, used by locals, selling real everyday items and not souvenirs.

On the way back to the city, there was one last stop which was still part of the tour, the Royal Thai Handicraft Center. I was at awe with the craftsmanship needed to create such pieces.

Back in the city, we headed straight to Siam Square to visit the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, The Siam Ocean World. It has a steep ticket price at 990BHT (2010 price) and is not really a must see for tourists. The experience is much the same with Manila Ocean Park.

We met a couple of friends who are locals for dinner and to hopefully guide us to another Thai attraction, Pat Pong. It's just a few blocks away from our hotel and is not recognizable as a red light district due to the souvenir shops all around. But just walking around the place, you'll know you're there. People will approach you from all angles offering you "ping pong show" and "bottle open." I'll let your imagination figure out what they're talking about. Inside one of the bars and seeing the show, I would say that it might be disturbing for some. The main attraction ladies look horrible and the bare chested pretty ones are actually ladyboys. Having a funny story to tell was the only good thing I got out of that experience.

If you're looking for pictures of what's inside that Pat Pong bar, you won't see a single one here. Believe me, I'm doing you a favor.

Floating Market Tour: Php750

Boat ride to Main Market: Php225

Lunch and Coffee: Php150

Siam Ocean World: Php1,485

Dinner + Pat Pong: Php825

Skytrain day pass: Php180

Day 2 TOTAL: Php3,615 per person

Airfare and Hotel TOTAL: Php9,738.52

Day 1 TOTAL: Php1,435.50
Day 2 TOTAL: Php3,615.00
Total after Day 2: Php14,789.02

***exchange rate assumption: 1BHT = Php1.50

Previous: Amazing Thailand (Temple Tour and Chatuchak)

Next: Amazing Thailand (MBK and Pantip)

Amazing Thailand (Temple Tour and Chatuchak)

2012-03-06T08:30:00.000+08:00

Back in 2010, Thailand, specifically Bangkok, was painted red by anti-government riots. This led to security concerns prompting the Foreign Affairs Department to issue an advisory asking Filipinos to postpone non-essential travel to Bangkok. By June 2010, tensions have waned down. A couple of friends went to Bangkok and enjoyed their trip so much that I cound't resist a Cebupacific seat sale to experience Bangkok for myself. Airfare was Php9,037.04 for me and my girlfriend (Php4,518.52 each then add Php750 Terminal Fee and Php1,620 Travel tax).

Chong Nonsi Station

August came and it was time to fly. Another couple was with us and was great since this makes things cheaper and one of them is already familiar with Bangkok. We arrived around midnight and shared a taxi to our respective hotels. Taxi to Silom was around 400THB or around Php600 for more than an hour ride (Php150 each). We stayed at The Heritage Hotel Silom which at their 2010 rate of Php1,800 per night was a steal given the spacious room and the delicious buffet breakfast. Our friends stayed for free at the Sofitel Hotel using loyalty cards.

After a delightful breakfast, we met with our friends at the Chong Nonsi Station which is just 3 minutes away from our hotel. We bought the Day Pass (Php180) which is ideal for tourists. First stop was Saphan Tak Sin Station and we walked towards Wat Yannawa, a good starter temple for first time Bangkok travellers. After some pictures we walked back towards the train station and then to the Sathon pier to hop on the ferry to the Grand Palace (Php21). Entrance to the grand Palace is 350BHT or Php525. Comfortable shoes are a must since you'll do a lot of walking in this huge complex. Almost everything in the Grand Palace is awe-inspiring with golden temples and amazing sculptures withstood the test of time.

Next on the itinerary was Wat Pho, adjacent to the Grand Palace. Wat Pho houses the largest image of Buddha in Thailand, The Reclining Buddha, covered in gold no less. (Entrance Fee: 150BHT or Php225). Just across the river is Wat Arun. The barge to cross the river costs 3BHT or Php4.50.

Wat Arun

By this time we were tired of all the walking and we hailed a cab to the nearest BTS skytrain station (45BHT or Php67.50). We rode the skytrain to Siam BTS station to eat at the Siam Paragon Food Hall. Unlike food courts in Philippine malls, payment at the Paragon Food Hall was through an electronic card, unused credits of which can be refunded upon surrendering the card. We spent around 150BHT or Php225 each sampling a wide variety of delicious food choices.

We headed next to the famous weekend market, Chatuchak. We rode the BTS to Mo Chit station and walked a considerable length before we reached the market. One can only have enough strength to cover the entire 35 acres of endless stalls but the cheap buys will make you forget the fact you've been walking for hours. I spent around 1,500BHT or Php2,250 for key chains, souvenir displays, t-shirts, and bags.

Needless to say, a whole day of walking made our legs and feet sore so we called it a day by sunset. We went back to Chong Nonsi Station and found a local restaurant just a stone's throw away from our hotel. The food was great at cost us around 250BHT a few dishes and drinks for two (Php375 or Php187.50 each).

Airfare: Php4,518.52
Terminal fee: Php750
Travel tax: Php1,620
Taxi to Hotel: Php150
3 Nights at Hotel: Php2,700 per person
Airfare and Hotel TOTAL: Php9,738.52 per person

Temple Tour expenses: Php1,023
Lunch and Dinner: Php412.50
Day 1 TOTAL: Php1,435.50 per person

*Chatuchak shopping expenses: Php2,250
***exchange rate assumption: 1BHT = Php1.50

Next: Amazing Thailand (Floating Market, Siam Ocean World and Pat Pong)

Hong Kong Hustle (Part 2)

2012-03-05T07:00:00.000+08:00

Up early on our second day, we headed for our new favorite food place Café de Coral. Their breakfast menu didn't disappoint and it was a perfect start for a busy day. (Php1,320 total or Php220 each)

From Mirador Mansion we walked towards Victoria Harbour to the Avenue of Stars. It was a clear sunny day and the view was breathtaking, tall buildings crowding between water and mountains. Clearly, not an inch of land in Hong Kong is wasted.

After admiring the view, its time to go to it. Next stop was The Peak in the opposite side of the harbour. We rode the timeless Star ferry to get to Hong Kong Island and paid only Php12 for the 10 minute ride. Travel guides suggest taking the Tram up to The Peak but after a mix-up in bus numbers, we ended up riding the bus all the way to the top instead of just the tram station. The bus ride up to the peak, particularly on the double-deck bus, was a nice experience. Although a bit slower, the ride gives great views of Hong Kong just the same and is much cheaper than the tram (Php72 vs. Php168). There's not much to do at the peak except admire the view of Hong Kong from the top. We already experienced a Wax Museum in Manila when I was a kid and visiting Madame Tussauds was not that appealing. After having some coffee and buying some stuff, we left The Peak this time using the Tram. The tram ride was a steep ride and the view, though scenic, was short to be awed at it.

The bus ride (Php25) back to the star ferry was far much better. The double-deck bus with an open second level was quite a treat. I think i got a stiffed-neck looking up and marveling at the tall buildings the entire duration of the ride. Look up and see tall buildings, Look down and see Filipinos everywhere. It was a sunday and the streets are filled with our kababayans using every open space as a place to relax and mingle with other filipinos working in Hong Kong.

We rode the star ferry (Php12) back to Tsim Sha Tsui and took the MTR to Mong Kok for some shopping at Ladies' Market. The street was crowded but that didn't stop my family from checking out all the stalls from end to end. My advice to Hong Kong shoppers: Bring a lot of bargaining skills and don't be intimidated by persistent sellers. I remember turning down an offer, which I believe was too high for a certain item, walked away then suddenly this lady grabbed my arm trying to convince me to buy the item. I was already a few meters away from her stall. Another tip, walking away is a good bluff, they usually cut their prices in half when you walk away. We then found a small Vietnamese restaurant for our late lunch (Php300 each). Later, we headed back to the guesthouse to rest our tired feet.

A quick rest and then we're off to the Avenue of Stars once again, this time to check out the Symphony of Lights. It's amazing how all the buildings synchronize their lights to the music every night. After the spectacle, crowds dissipate and the view of Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui at night was impressive. For dinner, we went again to Café de Coral to try other food on the menu (Php280 each).

The morning after, we headed straight to the airport to go back to Manila. This time we boarded the Airport Express train suing what's left of our Octopus Card. We had our breakfast at the HKIA which offers a lot of different dining choices (around Php220 each).

In all, we spent around Php58,084.53 or an average of Php9,680.76 per person for the entire duration of the trip including airfare, taxes, transportation and food. Add your purchase of Disneyland tickets and a little shopping, the total would still be less than Php15,000.

Note: Assumption is Php6.00 per 1 HKD for conservative computation purposes. Current actual exchange rate is at Php5.50 which would mean our costs would me much less.

Hong Kong Hustle (Part 1)

2012-03-04T21:25:00.001+08:00

Nathan Road, Hong Kong

After my Malaysia trip, my next stop was the fragrant harbour, Hong Kong. This time I was with my family, taking advantage once again of cebupacific's promo. Coming from Clark, or as the locals prefer Disodado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), our airfare was Php2,950.76 each roundtrip then add on the terminal fee of Php750 and Travel Tax of Php1,620, then the total air travel expense was Php5,320.76 per person. I knew the DMIA was small but was surprised how really small it was. It's almost the same size as the Puerto Princesa Airport.

We arrived at Hong Kong International Airport at around 9am and took the A21 Bus to the city. The trip costs around Php198, cheaper than taking the train and offers a great view of Hong Kong, a must for first timers. Sitting at the front of the second level of the double deck bus also offers great photo opportunities. After about an hour of scenic views, we arrived at our stop in Tsim Sha Tsui and checked in at the Cosmic Guesthouse, Mirador Mansion. We got 2 rooms, one accomadates 4 and the other accommodates 2, for a total of Php7,890 for 2 nights or Php1,315 per person for our entire 3 Days 2 Nights stay.

Cosmic Guesthouse

After checking-in at the hotel, we immediately looked for lunch and found a hole in a wall of sorts in Tsim Sha Tsui. The restaurant appearance suggests otherwise but it was pretty expensive. Travelling with my grandma and a tired and hungry family, we ate there anyway just to have our first taste of Hong Kong food. Total Bill was around Php2,550 or Php425 each.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Next stop was Disneyland! We got an Octopus Card for around Php900 to get around Hong Kong with ease. And after a couple of changing trains from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR, we hopped on the Mickey inspired train bound for Disneyland. Lucky for us, my sister knows someone who knows someone who works at Disneyland and was able to get us a few passes. Almost all hotels and guesthouses offer tickets to Disneyland at a discounted rate of around Php2,200 instead of the park rate of Php2,400.

The wait time for the rides were quite long and most of our afternoon was spent on queues. We were able to ride on the Jungle Cruise, the 4-D attraction Mickey's Philharmagic, and the indoor roller coaster Space Mountain. Wait times on other rides were much too long that we decided to explore the park instead. We were then able to catch the Flights of Fantasy Parade which features Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, and other notable Disney characters.

Roasted Chicken, Cafe de Coral

It's almost sunset when we left Disneyland and returned to the guesthouse for a brief rest. Nathan road is more alive after sunset as colorful neon signs light up the streets. That's our queue for dinner and we found Café de Coral. The food was great and the price was more affordable than our first dining experience (Only Php1,500 or Php250 each. Going around Hong Kong you'll see a lot of Café de Coral chain, much like Jollibee in the Philippines.

For Hong Kong Hustle Part 2 click here.

Pick and Pawn

2012-03-03T13:31:00.000+08:00

History shows I hated history. During my elementary and my highschool days, I dreaded the history exams. All my grades were decent except for my history class. I couldn't care less about dates and what not. I didn't care who killed who or who conquered what country. I just didn't care.

Years forward and I'm a fanatic of history. I don't know exactly what triggered my passion for history but maybe my desire to travel and learn about everything about the world we live in combined with my fixation with knowledge channels on cable is the culprit. Now I'm hooked with the History Channel particularly the shows The Pickers and Pawn Stars.

The Pickers are a couple of guys going around the US picking items they believe have a historical value which in turn would mean a considerable monetary value. Upon seeing interesting items, the show would display some fun facts about the item then negotiations between the sellers and the pickers take place. The show would then display the picked value and the estimated selling value giving you and estimate amount of profit the guys would get. Pawn Stars is pretty much the same concept but instead of going around the US, people around the US go to them to sell what they think are items of value. cha-ching!

I would love to pick items all over the world and sell them for a profit. Travelling, finding interesting stuff, learning new things, and earning money. Now that's a job!

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2012-03-01T22:31:00.000+08:00

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Walking Short

2012-02-21T22:38:00.000+08:00

Long before the infamous Damaso stunt, me and my friends have always wanted to try and experience Carlos Celdran's walking tour of Intramuros. My sisters joined the tour a couple of months back and had good reviews, much like as advertised on TV or in blogs. I finally got the chance to walk the way of The Pied Piper of Manila last Sunday.

I've been to Fort Santiago a couple of times, latest was just march last year. I was surprised at the number of tourists, foreigners and locals alike, but was surprised most when more or less a hundred of them was also joining the Walk This Way tour. I was really expecting a small group, around 20-30 just like what I saw on TV. It's even more surprising that there are a lot of locals who were willing to shell out a steep Php1,100 for the tour.

The "show" began at the entrance gate of Fort Santiago with the Philippine National Anthem. With a small Philippine flag in the Pied Piper's hand, locals started to sing with their hands on their chest. This, I believe is a really nice touch to the tour.

He started with some historical accounts of Manila, particularly Intramuros, showing pictures to help. Being a performance artist, Carlos really takes storytelling to another level. He is in fact the highlight of the tour. There weren't really much walking involved. At one point you can even hop on a pedicab (or a Kalesa, your choice) to get to the next stop.

On this tour I was looking forward to two things, the San Agustin Church and the Halo-Halo at the end of the tour. I only got one, sort of. We did stop in front of San Agustin Church and he told some fun facts about it but that was it. I thought we'd go inside the church or its museum. "San Agustin Church and Museum" was even included in his poster giveaway. I wonder if the Damaso stunt had anything to do with this.

Though I really enjoyed the performance, the stories, and the Halo-Halo. I was really disappointed and concluded that for Php1,100, the tour was very expensive for an ordinary working Filipino like me. Just as Filipinos are much like Halo-Halo, the Tour was much like a trip-cutting Jeepney. I wanted to hear the stories about the tombs! Students are charged less at around Php600 which I believe should be the price for locals.